Chapter 1365: Crimson Light (II)

Multicolored clouds billowed upward at once; golden radiance blazed brilliantly; and the cries of cicadas and roars of beasts echoed across the sky. Li Ximing watched with an aching heart,

I can only hope that after consuming such a portion of spiritual essence, it does more than merely increase the speed.

Chu Minglian pressed two fingers together and expelled True Fire. Li Ximing glanced down, then invoked his divine ability to raise the Profound Fire of the Three Phases' Guard and joined in refining the dharma artifact. The Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators within the twelve subsidiary towers also took their seats and began channeling their mana.

Boom!

Such a method could only be employed because a spirit embryo existed between a dharma artifact and a spirit artifact. Streak after streak of golden runes descended upon the Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers and embedded themselves one by one.

Chu Minglian's skill was truly formidable. Though modest in speech, his ability was evident the moment he acted. With the support of Li Ximing's divine ability and True Fire, he moved with perfect ease, inscribing runes fluidly and without hesitation.

As light and shadow interwove across the platform, the runes upon the jade ruler gradually solidified. Li Ximing withdrew his hand and stepped back. Chu Minglian remained suspended in the air, directing the gathered mana of the others as he focused intently on the nurturing process. Members of the Li Family had already prepared numerous Bright Yang spirit items and Fire Baleful Qi, delivering them with pills for restoring mana.

These spirit items were not particularly precious, yet some were difficult to obtain. It was only because the Li Family was deeply rooted and maintained ties with the surrounding families that they could acquire them so swiftly.

Li Ximing smoothed his sleeve. Merely initiating this process had already cost him nearly half a month, yet the gains were considerable.

Chu Minglian's status is indeed different. His methods far exceed my expectations. With the spiritual essence and the lake's resources supplied in full, it should take less than two years... The final quality may even surpass my earlier estimates!

In a few more days, we can withdraw the personnel and restore the rotation to two shifts.

He entrusted the Viewing Pavilion to Chu Minglian, feeling greatly relieved, then turned and rode a streak of light back toward Qingdu.

Li Ximing had originally come to bring good news to Li Xuanxuan. As he descended upon Talisman Peak in Qingdu, he heard a burst of laughter. Raising his brow, he looked up and saw a young man in red standing outside the courtyard.

The young man held a jeweled fan and carried himself with a somewhat elegant air, though he wore powder on his face and struck an affected pose. With both hands raised in salute, he called out, "Old elder! Old elder! Please hear me out..."

Li Ximing recognized his grandson. When the Li Family had recounted the events of these past years, he had heard the story of this boy once assisting Zhouluo, which had earned him a rare nod of approval from Li Ximing. He was not in a hurry and paused to listen.

Li Xuanxuan hurried down the stairs, staff in hand, and scolded, "Off to the pleasure boats again! I told you clearly yesterday that sixty is a life and death barrier. Whether you wish to or not, you must cultivate the final stages of Qi Cultivation Realm. You must break through!"

Li Zhouming's innate ability was mediocre, and comparable to his elder brother Li Zhoufang. Li Zhoufang had stagnated, but Li Zhouming could at least still cultivate. To squander it so carelessly made Li Ximing frown as he stepped forward silently, listening to Li Zhouming plead, "No, no, old elder, you misunderstand. A new play is being performed on the painted boat. It tells the story of Yu Mugao... Such a bold drama is rare. Our household does not lack a few talismans today. Please come and watch. It is better than sitting idly in the courtyard..."

Li Xuanxuan was about to rebuke him when he suddenly saw Li Ximing. Joy lit his face as he descended the steps. Li Zhouming misunderstood and hurried forward to assist, only to hear a respectful voice call out, "Grandfather!"

The white golden robed figure had stepped forward and helped Li Xuanxuan down. Li Zhouming immediately dropped to his knees with a thud and kowtowed as he said, "Greetings, Daoist Master!"

Li Xuanxuan's eyelids twitched in alarm, fearing Li Ximing might be angered. He stepped forward and barked, "Go back and cultivate!"

Li Ximing clasped his hands behind his back and watched without temper. He walked inside with Li Xuanxuan and took a seat. Li Zhouming refused to give up. Having finally seen Li Ximing, he shuffled forward on his knees and kowtowed in the courtyard.

"Daoist Master, you move without a fixed trace and are rarely seen. I waited for a long time at Zhijing Mountain but did not encounter you. Father... Father has not seen you for many years!"

At the mention of Li Chengzhi, his eldest son who possessed no spiritual orifice, Li Ximing's expression cooled. Someone brought tea, and he accepted it before setting it aside, saying only, "You have come to ask something of me."

Li Xuanxuan gathered his sleeves and sighed as Li Zhouming began to weep, saying, "Father's health has been poor of late... He survives only through the aid of cultivators. He may not have many years left. Each time you depart, it is for three or five years. I only hope that your immortal presence might briefly grace him and allow him to see you once more!"

Li Ximing seemed struck by a thought. He turned his gaze aside and looked down at the steps, taking a sip of tea. Li Xuanxuan's tone softened as he waved his hand and said, "Go on now."

The young man withdrew reluctantly, his red robes vanishing into the hills. Li Xuanxuan said, "For all his faults, the boy is filial. His mind is firm and he has his own opinions. He is likable, and with you here, none beneath dare slight him..."

Li Ximing shook his head and replied, "Who among them lacks opinions? There is Chengqi, and there is Zhoufang. The first lineage has many children, and all have their own minds. What is difficult is unity. Moreover, in such a position, if he cannot even seize the opportunity to attempt the Foundation Establishment Realm, there is no need to indulge him.

"Yet he spoke one truth. Grandfather should watch a play and listen to music now and then, and worry less."

He did not appear shaken by the news of Li Chengzhi as he recounted recent events in full. Li Xuanxuan alternated between sitting and standing as he listened. Finally, he collapsed into his seat, tears streaming down his aged face in overwhelming joy. "The ancestors truly protect us. If not for Qinghong, our family, newly risen as an immortal family, might have fallen again..."

The old man stroked his beard for a long while before composing himself and speaking solemnly, "Only a few need know. It must not be publicized."

Li Ximing rose and paced the courtyard, hesitating. In the end, he felt the lake lay too close to the north and chose not to mention the matter of the True Monarch. Just then, thunder roared and a storm swept up outside.

Sensing something, he stepped out and gazed northward. The darkened sky was confined to Jiangnan, while Jiangbei remained bright, tinged with a hazy red glow. The red hue stretched into the heavens, and faint blossoms of pale crimson light descended one after another. Thunder grew louder still. Li Ximing's figure dissolved into heavenly light and reappeared swiftly upon the northern bank.

Cautious, he did not even approach the riverbank. The hazy red glow nearly blanketed all of Jiangbei, standing in stark opposition to the torrential rain over Jiangnan. A youth cloaked in flames stood among the clouds, radiating boundless light.

He held a long sword and pointed it proudly at the heavens. The black-robed cultivators before him were engulfed in surging crimson light and could not move. His voice rang like thunder through the sky, "Locust Soul Hall! It is thanks to you that I have achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm. All the humiliation I once endured will be repaid a hundredfold today!"

Li Ximing's long-held suspicion was finally confirmed, and he sighed inwardly,

To speak such ruthless words upon merely achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm, to claim that one man alone will make Locust Soul Hall repay a hundredfold... Who else could it be but that lord?!