Chapter 1323: Yin Banishing Transformation (II)

Li Ximing had also heard of Daoist Master Yangya. He was a member of the Cui Family who had split off to the Western Sea and had little contact with the main lineage. He had not expected the separation to be so absolute.

After a brief hesitation, he asked, "What treasure is it?"

Yan Dushui lowered his voice and said with great seriousness, "A portion of Banished Essence."

Li Ximing asked in confusion, "What kind of treasure is that?"

The other party paused first, then avoided the topic and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist need only offer a small measure of assistance. After the matter is accomplished, please keep it confidential for my family. Mount Thistle will certainly provide a generous reward!"

He smiled slightly and continued, "This item grows upon a stretch of Soul-Tuning Mulberry Wood. After the matter is completed, I will take the treasure itself, while the Soul-Tuning Mulberry Wood that serves as its host can be given to you. Any additional requests may be raised afterward."

Although Soul-Tuning Mulberry Wood is only a Foundation Establishment Realm spirit item, it is exceptionally precious because it is rarely produced in the present world. Most specimens are found within grotto heavens and secret realms, with a small portion obtainable in the southern border.

This material could be used to craft soul lamps of excellent quality, greatly reducing the influence of Purple Mansion Realm divine abilities when revealing life and death. One had to know that this was a material used only for the soul lamps of cultivators from the three major sects. If one's own family could possess a portion, predictions of fortune and calamity for the direct lineage would become far more accurate, making it a rather important spirit item.

Li Ximing still remembered Minghui of the Lotus Temple asking him to search for this spirit item. If he ended up with some to spare, he did not know whether that monk would even accept it. However, Li Ximing had always held a poor impression of monks and remained wary of them, so he merely stroked his beard without speaking.

After a few breaths, Li Ximing deliberately said, "I still hope that Fellow Daoist can explain clearly. If I do not even know what kind of treasure it is, and whether it might involve some trouble, how could I agree?"

No one knew what Nine Mounds's people had said to Yan Dushui, but the old man seemed to trust him quite a bit. He hesitated, nodded, and then said in a low voice, "Then I will no longer keep it hidden...

"The Twelve Essences originate from Pure Essence. The various essences were born beneath the profound wind, yet one essence had its Fruition Attainment seized at the moment of its birth and fell into the boundless Underworld, becoming a hazy and unseen Dao.

"That was an extremely ancient matter... This essence was locked away, while its Fruition Attainment fell into the Underworld and underwent all manner of transformations. Its manifestation in the present world grew rarer and rarer. It was said that it could still be reclaimed and reattained in those days, but the difficulty was immense, and no one was willing to gnaw on such a hard bone.

"Only the ancient Immortal Dao still maintained some cultivation of it. As this essence merged more and more with the Underworld, it in turn nourished the Underworld, and the qi manifesting in the present world dwindled rapidly. Its Dao lineage was soon cut off, and it rarely appeared in the present world thereafter.

"In ancient times, this essence still had a name. But as its traces grew fewer and fewer, people came to call this event the Yin Banishing Transformation. That name was buried in the historical records. By the near ancient era, it was called the Essence of Banishment, and this name has been passed down to the present. Even those who know of its existence can only refer to it as Banished Essence."

He was clearly eager for the other party to take part in this matter. He spoke in great detail, his expression full of emotion, as he continued, "The Soul-Tuning Mulberry Wood and Nine Refined Soul Essence of today are all derived from this essence. One could say it belongs to the Immortal Dao, yet if one were to measure it precisely, it has only left behind traces so faint they are almost imperceptible.

"The reason why crushing jade talismans, command tokens, and similar items can serve as warnings today can also be traced back to this Banished Essence Fruition Attainment."

Li Ximing nodded thoughtfully. Yan Dushui's gaze grew deep as he spoke softly, "The Yin Banishing Transformation also provided a shortcut for a certain Revered One to seize another Fruition Attainment. It even involves the secrets of several Dao lineages. Alas, the matters within are tangled and complex, and the closer they are to the present era, the less they can be spoken of. Please forgive me..."

Yan Dushui soon fell silent, while Li Ximing asked softly, "In that case, Fellow Daoist truly has some fortune, to even be able to reach something from the Underworld."

Yan Dushui shook his head heavily, sighed, and replied, "That is not how it is. My ancestors fled here and managed this place for dozens of generations. By chance, they formed a connection with a certain figure of the Underworld judiciary. This item was a treasure he left behind when he departed. Unfortunately, my family has no means to move it... We can only watch anxiously...

"It was not until I achieved the Purple Mansion Realm and visited Nine Mounds several times with sincere requests for guidance that I finally obtained the method to retrieve it. Yet it requires the Bright Yang divine ability Radiance Under Heaven together with the ancient divine ability Emperor's Mandate, or assistance from the Sheji Dao lineage. One only needs to display the divine ability."

Li Ximing remained fairly calm in his heart and did not harbor much suspicion toward this request. For one, the value of Soul-Tuning Mulberry Wood was not particularly great, merely rare. Mainland cultivators could search for it in the southern border, and its level of preciousness would even be somewhat reduced.

If this were truly meant to lure me, the reward offered is far too untempting. Moreover, Radiance Under Heaven is still far beyond my reach...

From this perspective, it was likely just a small effort. With Nine Mounds vouching from the side, and Daoist Master Yuandao of the Profound Fire of the Three Phases' Guard acting with great decisiveness and clearly explaining the aftermath of the peacock matter, Li Ximing had formed a rather good impression and was willing to believe it.

Still, he smiled faintly and nodded as he said, "Fellow Daoist overestimates me. Such an advanced Fate Divine Ability as Radiance Under Heaven is not only something I have yet to master, I do not even possess the corresponding method. How could I possibly help you?"

Yan Dushui shook his head repeatedly, a carefree smile appearing on his face, as he replied, "The Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven has manifested, and Bright Yang techniques should be everywhere. With Fellow Daoist's talent, achieving divine ability at such a young age, how could Radiance Under Heaven be far away?

"It doesn't matter. This old man still has a hundred years of lifespan and should be able to see that day. If I cannot wait until then, we can discuss it again."

Li Ximing understood where his confidence came from. In the old man's view, Li Ximing could not possibly avoid using the Profound Method of Continuation as long as he possessed Foundation Establishment Realm techniques, nor could he refrain from cultivating a Fate Divine Ability when three divine abilities stood before him at the Purple Mansion Threshold. In that case, Radiance Under Heaven would be only a matter of time.

He pondered briefly and replied, "Since Fellow Daoist has already waited so many years, there is no need to rush. I still have one or two pills yet to finish refining. May I make a trip to Nine Mounds along the way and then return to seek you out?"

The only possible flaw in the other party's words was invoking Nine Mounds's name. Li Ximing naturally wanted to confirm it to be at ease. Yan Dushui was not surprised, smiled, and nodded as he replied, "It does not matter. I will wait for Fellow Daoist here. As for Nine Mounds, there is no need for you to make the trip. Senior Lingdu is nearby. Fly a bit west and you will meet him in person."

"Oh?" Li Ximing felt a stir in his heart, while the smile on his face deepened as he replied, "

Haha

... So the senior is here. Then I would be embarrassed to run back to refine pills again..."

Almost as soon as Yan Dushui finished speaking, Li Ximing grew suspicious and thought,

I suspect it may not be Yan Dushui who wants to take this Banished Essence, but Nine Mounds instead... Could there really be such a coincidence?

Yan Dushui merely smiled and said, "There is an excellent hidden trove in the Western Curtain Sea. Nine Mounds sends people to train in these waters every year. This year, the senior personally led people here, arriving at just the right time."

Li Ximing replied with a smile, rose into the air following his directions, and sighed softly in his heart,

Is this the Western Curtain Sea of your Mount Thistle, or the Western Curtain Sea of Nine Mounds? It is indeed rather humiliating for the hidden troves of the Western Curtain Sea to be taken by their people.

Clearly, although Mount Thistle had not fallen to the same plight as the Cui Family, surviving for so many years meant being constrained by others in certain ways. It was very possible that they had been Nine Mounds's vassals for many years. If not for Yan Dushui achieving the Purple Mansion Realm, their situation might have been even more miserable.

As for whether Yan Dushui achieved the Purple Mansion Realm at Mount Thistle or at Nine Mounds Mountain, that was even harder to say...

So the territory controlled by the Nine Mounds Dao Lineage has already extended this far... That makes sense. Daoist Master Yuandao's lifespan seems inexhaustible. Whether it is Yan Dushui or some other vassal, what kind of waves could they really stir up?

He flew in silence the entire way and soon saw a pillar of light shooting up to the heavens. An old man stood on a flying boat with a smile. Upon seeing Li Ximing, he raised his brows slightly and said with a smile, "Zhaojing. To think I would meet Fellow Daoist here."

"Greetings, senior!" Li Ximing actually had a fairly good impression of Senior Lingdu. Seeing him like this, he temporarily suppressed the doubts in his heart, performed a salute, and replied, "This junior came at the request of Mount Thistle to obtain some sort of essence. It was said the information came from you. I did not dare delay and came along the way to ask about it."

Lingdu suddenly understood, invited him onto the boat, and shook his head as he said, "He begged bitterly over this matter for a long time. I thought it would also be beneficial to you, so I revealed a little. I only mentioned that you cultivate Bright Yang. I did not expect that fellow to have such quick wits. Putting everything together, he must have identified you at once."

Li Ximing nodded slightly and saw Lingdu sigh as he continued, "You have met him as well. He must have poured out quite a lot to you. Perhaps he is a bit too eager for quick success, but once this matter came out of his mouth, his descendants will likely have no chance even to barely survive if he cannot retrieve it."

He glanced at Li Ximing, seeming to understand his concerns, and smiled as he said, "You must understand that if this item remains in his hands, it truly cannot be handled or publicized. It indeed has to be delivered into the hands of our Nine Mounds. But to Nine Mounds, the item will not run away just by staying there. Whether he retrieves it now or Nine Mounds retrieves it in the future makes no difference."

When he finished speaking, Li Ximing immediately understood. Clearly, Nine Mounds had not known from the beginning that Mount Thistle possessed such a treasure. Once Yan Dushui made his request, Nine Mounds became aware of it. Although the item was precious, it was not an urgent matter to Nine Mounds. Yan Dushui was advanced in age, and if he retrieved it, he would naturally present it. If he failed to do so and passed away one day, Nine Mounds would still have the opportunity to take it.

But for Yan Dushui, offering it himself and having it taken after his death carried completely different meanings.

Li Ximing stroked his beard and nodded, the doubts in his heart suddenly dispelled, as he heard Lingdu said with a sigh, "After all, we have known each other for many years, and it is hard to watch him fall to such a state. Setting aside my identity within the Nine Mounds Dao Lineage, on a personal level I still hope he can find a turning point... That is why I revealed a bit. I ask for your understanding, Zhaojing."

"This junior understands."

Li Ximing's heart immediately became clear. Lingdu had explained things plainly, showing that he truly valued him. By obtaining this information, Li Ximing had effectively grasped the other party's bottom line. As long as his requests were not excessive and did not offend too many people, he could even ask this Purple Mansion Realm cultivator to take action.

If Daoist Master Yuandao's assistance could be attributed to displaying the bearing of Nine Mounds, then the deliberate care shown by Lingdu here was even more apparent. Although the Nine Mounds Dao Lineage never spoke openly of helping others and disliked deep involvement, its favoritism toward its own always manifested both overtly and subtly, leaving Li Ximing feeling both pleased and uneasy.

After all, assistance from a Dao lineage of this level often comes with expectations or guidance...

Even so, everything up to this point bore signs of goodwill. He still nodded silently, performed a salute toward the Nine Mounds Daoist Master, and replied with genuine sincerity, "Thank you, senior!"