Chapter 1237: Merit Conferment and Dao Stipend (II)

Stars shimmered across the sky as night deepened. The sea lay calm for thousands of kilometers, waves still as glass. Seagulls soared high, their distant cries echoing faintly before fading into silence.

Cool wind drifted through the maple grove. Clusters of jade-like lotus lanterns floated gently in the stream as light shimmered brightly upon a jade-green platform. A cultivator in a white-gold Daoist robe opened his eyes just as heavenly radiance burst forth and purple flames flickered and dispersed, illuminating the forest.

Li Ximing had spent the past few days cultivating in seclusion within the woods. His injuries had nearly healed. The Nine Mounds Immortal Mountain had arranged this cultivation site for him; it was no inferior to Zhijing Mountain in spiritual energy.

On rare occasions, white jade lotus lanterns would drift down the stream, each containing a trace of Valley Water spirit item that was good for healing. Its fragrance was soothing. Though of little use to wounds of the Purple Mansion Realm, it showed careful thought.

My Heaven-Venerating Gate divine ability has made little progress. Though I brushed against life and death and gained a bit of Dao comprehension, my cultivation has stalled due to recovery...

Refining one’s divine ability was a slow, grinding process. Li Ximing estimated it would take another thirty years to perfect the Heaven-Venerating Gate. He calculated silently,

My cultivation speed isn't slow according to Jiangnan’s pace. If I spend thirty years to perfect this ability, then I can transition directly to the Scripture of the Body Guarding Tiger Pass. Without needing the Profound Method of Continuation, another ten years to forge my Dao foundation, and I can begin refining Sovereign In Peril.

There's little record on how long it takes to master a second divine ability; it depends entirely on one's aptitude. It's hard to gauge without experience, so I'll assume ten years. Sixty years to achieve Sovereign In Peril and if all goes well, I can condense the third divine ability in one hundred and twenty years, reaching the mid-stage and touching the Purple Immortal Threshold.

The Purple Immortal Threshold was renowned, and Li Ximing could calculate no further. Once he mastered three divine abilities, he would stand among the backbone of Jiangnan's Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. Li Zhouwei would likely progress at a similar pace; by then, he would not be far inferior to even Changxiao in battle.

But to survive these one hundred and twenty years under Changxiao's shadowy hostility will not be easy.

Li Ximing's situation was awkward. If he returned to Jiangnan, he had no confidence in evading Changxiao's open and hidden strikes. Yet if he stayed overseas, his family would still be in danger.

Although Zhouwei took a great risk to eliminate Situ Mo, ending our family's century-old threat and destroying a key weapon, Changxiao will surely find other blades to borrow once he returns to Jiangnan, even if none as formidable as Situ Mo.

He sighed inwardly, sinking into quiet frustration, when suddenly the wind chime hanging from the maple tree jingled softly. Dressed in white, Xia Shouyu emerged from between the trees, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Honored Daoist Master, the two Daoist Masters have sent word. They say the matter discussed earlier is now ready, we may set out."

Xia Shouyu's days on Nine Mounds had been nothing short of blissful for the past half year. It was luxurious compared to the hardship of her earlier life. The spiritual energy in her cave dwelling was so dense that even the thinnest spot she could find along the mountain paths was several times richer than that of Qingxu Temple.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The days of comfort had made her radiantly beautiful. A few dharma artifact ornaments only accentuated her charm. The slightly sharp impression once given by her thin brows was now softened by the pendant resting between them. Xia Shouyu had always been adept at poise and presentation; she now resembled a proper daughter of a great sect, or even a Purple Mansion Realm direct descendant.

Li Ximing was not a petty man and felt no annoyance at her transformation. The once plain, rustic woman had become graceful and poised; it merely drew a faint smile and a nod from him as he folded his sleeves and rose, a thought forming in his mind,

I can take this opportunity to ask Houfu to bring her to the lake. It's both safe and convenient, and it might even serve as a subtle warning. Zhouming is no longer young, yet he still drifts about without direction. Who knows which pleasure house he's idling in this time? That won't do.

As he stepped out, he asked, "Lingdu is a kindly elder. I heard that although you're called a guest of the Immortal Mountain, your treatment is more like that of an outer disciple, with several Dao Collections opened to you, is that true?"

Xia Shouyu panicked slightly and replied urgently, "Yes, Daoist Master. But all the dharma artifacts and garments I possess were exchanged using the spirit items you bestowed upon me. I have not taken anything from the Nine Mounds Dao lineage itself..."

Xia Shouyu was quick-witted, already considering several possible explanations. But Li Ximing was not nitpicking; he merely nodded slightly and said, "Not bad. I'll find you a slightly better position when the opportunity arises, but you must prove yourself worthy of it. Since several Dao Collections are open to you, use this time to read and study."

Xia Shouyu's heart trembled with both joy and disbelief. Though gifted in talent, beauty, and wit, her lowly birth had long filled her with hidden inferiority. Tears welled up in her eyes as she replied, "Daoist Master, no sacrifice could ever repay your grace in reshaping my life!"

Walking ahead with his hands behind his back, Li Ximing nodded slightly and said, "Study more in the days to come. Lest you cannot hold it steady when fortune is placed in your hands. When it's exposed and lost, regret will come too late."

Xia Shouyu nodded repeatedly. The two soon arrived beneath the great maple tree they had spoken of earlier. Houfu stood below in his shamanic robe, conversing quietly with the aged Lingdu.

Upon seeing Li Ximing approach, Lingdu rose at once and said hoarsely, "Greetings, Daoist Friend Zhaojing. Time is pressing, please, let us depart together."

Li Ximing nodded. Houfu merely greeted him briefly and remained silent. The three stepped into the great void, boundless darkness engulfing their surroundings. Only then did Lingdu speak softly, "Daoist Friend Houfu and I have been preparing for days, hoping to handle everything discreetly and quietly, hence the delay. But word arrived the day before yesterday that the Merciful One who went to the Buddhist land to report has passed through the trials of blades and flames, endured punishment, yet was not demoted. Instead, he has returned under censure to investigate. Thus, we had no choice but to summon you in haste."

Li Ximing shook his head. "What could he possibly uncover now? If anything could have been divined, it would have been long ago. Had any trace been found, he would've pursued it already; there'd have been no need to go to the Buddhist land for punishment."

Though he said so, a faint unease stirred within Li Ximing,

Such a grand commotion... I only hope that man won't return under pressure and throw all the blame on me. I'd best finish this matter quickly.

Lingdu seemed to share the same thought. Instead of traveling directly through the great void, he detoured via the mortal sea, whose currents allowed for rapid traversal. It did not take long for them to reach the northern region of the Peacock Sea, where he drew a lotus from his sleeve.

The lotus was pink and delicate, no larger than a palm. A withered pod hung from another stem, its five holes arranged neatly. Standing beside Lingdu, Li Ximing could see them clearly.

Lingdu formed a hand seal, and three of the five holes responded, releasing three white jade-like seeds. The old cultivator said softly, "Please, take one each and keep it pressed against your tiger's mouth; it will shield you from Maha's divinations."

You had something this good and never mentioned it... You could've said so earlier...

Relief loosened Li Ximing's chest. He pressed the lotus seed to his palm as instructed and immediately sensed a subtle change in his body as a faint five-colored treasure light rippled beneath his skin. They followed Lingdu through the great void and emerged beneath the depths of the Peacock Sea.

The waters here were dim and heavy, tinted with deep copper green. Following the others into the depths, Li Ximing soon reached a vast undersea canyon. Lingdu said, "Please, wait here for a moment."

The old man dove into the canyon's depths. Though Li Ximing knew the chance of betrayal was slim, unease still gnawed at him,

If they've laid a formation here and the two strike together, my life would be in grave danger... I'd have a sixty percent chance of dying here without using the Profound Light...

Fortunately, his suspicions proved unfounded. Fifteen minutes later, the seabed quaked violently and the entire ocean floor trembled.

Boom!

A magnificent surge of five-colored treasure light erupted from the depths, as vast as a mansion, piercing through the layers of ocean and rushing toward the heavens. Houfu, who had been muttering incantations without pause, suddenly stopped and shouted, "Rise!"

A small brown pouch with intricate markings instantly flew from his sleeve, slicing through the seawater. It intercepted the surging five-colored treasure light midway, its mouth pulsing as the five-colored treasure light bent away from the sky, curving several miles through the depths before being drawn into the bag.

Suppressing such a phenomenon was no simple task. Even though the five-colored treasure light had not pierced the heavens, clouds of auspicious glow still rippled above the sea.

Knowing what to do, Li Ximing refrained from using his own mana and instead activated the jewel in his hand, the Mountain-Charging, Sea-Pacing Tiger. Beams of Stable Earth light shot skyward, dispersing the swirling clouds one by one.

Houfu furrowed his brows, one hand maintaining control over the brown patterned pouch while he glanced at Li Ximing. He said quietly, "Daoist Friend Zhaojing, take heed. The Peacock Merciful One can sense this object. Though we've suppressed its aura, the Peacock Sea lies close at hand. That Merciful One will surely ride the winds here soon."

Li Ximing nodded slightly. The beam of light finally began to subside after several breaths. Houfu's shoulders eased a little, until a deafening cry split the horizon, sharp enough to pierce gold and shatter stone.

Rooaar—

A colossal beast surfaced from the sea, its feathers a blend of iridescent hues and burnished bronze. Its eyes gleamed crimson, its beak gold, and its body was as large as a small mountain. The light trailing behind it shimmered in brilliant rainbow colors, painting half the sky with treasure light.

The peacock leaped upward and tore through the sea, straight toward them. From its beak came the deep, resonant voice of a middle-aged man, "Who dares to steal from my Peacock Dao Lineage?!"

The Merciful One had arrived in an instant, transforming mid-sea into a middle-aged monk clad in a robe of five-colored silk. Six burn marks glowed upon his shaved head, each a different hue. His hands were empty, and his eyes wer blazing with fury.

Li Ximing glanced sideways at Houfu, who stood in his shamanic robes, clearly delighted by the sight of the monk. Laughing boisterously, Houfu replied, "Your father."

The monk turned toward the sound, froze on the spot, and felt his heart seize in shock,

Purple Mansion Realm cultivators?! Two of them?!

The Merciful One himself was roughly at the early stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. Though sitting beneath the lotus throne greatly enhanced one’s survivability, it did little to increase raw power. At best, he could match cultivators wielding two divine abilities. But against those who had crossed the Purple Immortal Threshold, it would take three to five Merciful Ones like him to stand a chance...

The sight of two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators made his heart sink. Since Li Ximing and Houfu had both restrained their auras, concealing their true cultivation, he could not gauge their strength.

Still, he was a peacock, a Merciful One of the Great Boon Bronze-Color Temple; his pride held firm as he said coldly, "Daoist Master, I do not know which Dao Lineage you hail from, but surely you know the Peacock Sea is under the dominion of the Great Boon Bronze-Color Temple! That treasure light belongs to our Dao Lineage; relinquish it at once. Our Great Boon Bronze-Color Temple commands four Merciful Ones in total; they are already on their way. Do not make a mistake, Daoist friend!"

Li Ximing's Bright Yang divine ability was not suited for concealing his presence, and he could not gauge the monk's power of divination. Thus, he kept silent. Houfu, however, burst into wild laughter, his tone arrogant and unruly as he replied coldly, "My name needs no hiding nor change! I am Daoist Master Buzi of the Supreme Yang Azure Pond Sect! Now get lost!"

Li Ximing stood stunned, nearly turning his head to look at him, muttering inwardly,

Wait—Houfu... you—what?!