Chapter 1390: Established Momentum (I)

When Ding Weizeng heard this, his eyes reddened and he immediately knelt. His voice was choked with emotion as he said, "Weizeng thanks the Daoist Master... When the Ding Family cultivated under the rule of the Golden Tang Gate, Situ Chen was tyrannical and overbearing, harming us again and again. It was only because Senior Situ Ku made arrangements on all sides that we were able to survive... When my parents were still alive, they repeatedly instructed me... to remember this debt of gratitude.

"It is only that he failed to recognize the situation and opposed those on the lake, and in the end was captured by you, my lord. I could only secretly provide him aid... You have fulfilled the Ding Family's obligation of gratitude... I do not know how to repay you!"

Old Situ Ku kowtowed along with him, his back drenched in cold sweat. In truth, the arrangements he had made had all been the result of heavy bribes from the Ding Family. Among the many families at the time, although the Ding Family did not give the most, they acted the most honestly, which was why he had favored them.

Naturally, none of this could be spoken aloud. Situ Ku murmured his thanks obediently, but the main reason Li Ximing spared him was because of Ning Wan.

Li Ximing said, "No need to say more. This life spared is his own fortune. The Situ Family has many enemies. Keep a close watch on him."

Ding Weizeng nodded respectfully, rose, and led the old man away. Situ Ku had clearly not expected that he would still have a chance to live after so many years in the Li Family. Overcome with joy, he wept as he followed.

Li Ximing turned to look at Li Quewan, who was putting away the talismans. She reported, "Daoist Master, there are no direct descendants of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator here... only one or two female relatives somewhat close in bloodline... The male members were likely taken away or killed..."

"Make the arrangements."

Li Ximing casually instructed Li Jiangqian. The Li Family Head nodded and reminded him, "However... from what this junior can see, the techniques here are likely incomplete. In its prime, the Golden Tang Gate was famous for far more than just the Heavenly Lustrous Gold Sutra."

"Mm..."

Li Ximing nodded and quietly looked at the pile of jade slips. Though there were many techniques, their quality varied greatly. "At the very least, the Flameshadow Crow Qi from those years is absent. Even if it was not world renowned, it was at least infamous. After all, Situ Tang did not obtain just the Heaven Whisker Dao lineage. He had also gone to Mount Douxuan in those days. Either those monks did not hand everything over, or the last Golden Tang Gate Master, Situ Mo, tampered with them and moved them elsewhere."

Li Jiangqian bowed and said, "Since it is the Douxuan Dao lineage, it would be reasonable for the Golden Feather Sect to take it in advance. They likely feared it would be unjustified to take everything, so they left behind the Heaven Whisker Dao lineage."

Li Ximing had seen the Douxuan Dao lineage in Changxiao's hands. It surpassed both his own family and the Buddhist cultivators’ lineage by a wide margin. Although the power of a spell art ultimately depended on the person and their cultivation, a truly superior spell art could not be underestimated.

"As for the dharma artifacts..."

The Golden Tang Gate possessed quite a number of dharma artifacts and pills. However, the pills of a declining sect like this could not compare to those of the Li Family, which had a Purple Mansion Realm alchemist. Fortunately, there were many dharma artifacts, and most were imbued with mana. Naturally, he could not have the two of them refine each one individually. Li Ximing flicked his finger, and a sweep of Bright Yang radiance passed over them, refining all the dharma artifacts on the ground in an instant.

"Nothing remarkable..."

It was unclear whether the truly powerful dharma artifacts of the Golden Tang Gate had already been plundered or sold off by Situ Tang and his descendants. Li Ximing's standards were now high enough that he frowned repeatedly at what he saw. Fortunately, there were many feathered robes. The two best were Metal Virtue feathered robes at the Foundation Establishment Realm. However, Li Jiangqian and Li Minggong had no use for them. One was given to Li Quewan, and the other was stored within the family to be bestowed later according to merit.

Li Jiangqian flipped through the items with some interest and only found a single fire token. Upon closer inspection, it was of Merging Fire. Although this Dao lineage was looked down upon, it was still quite useful in combat. He then said, "The Golden Tang Gate specialized in Metal Virtue and did not dabble in other side paths at all. As for these additional Dao lines, they were likely seized from others. That Flameshadow Crow also carries a trace of Merging Fire. It must have been taken from some Douxuan Dao lineage.

"The Golden Feather Sect is a True Monarch Dao lineage of Metal Virtue, and they also cultivate Radiant Essence, Fire Virtue, and even Ancient Merging Daos. Who only walks a single path?"

At the mention of the Golden Feather Sect, Li Ximing's expression grew somewhat complicated as he murmured, "As for this matter now..."

Although the Buddhist cultivators had now claimed to occupy the north, there were only a few Dharma Masters among them, and they had always shown deference to Mount Luoxia. As for the Golden Feather Sect's actions, even if they had not been directly instructed by Mount Luoxia, they must at least have reported the matter. Mount Luoxia had clearly acquiesced.

It could be seen from this True Monarch matter that the Golden Feather Dao lineage was in fact subordinate to Luoxia. A True Monarch had only given them a degree of autonomy. Now that this issue with the monks had surfaced, it was evident that Luoxia and the Golden Feather Sect were not entirely harmonious above and respectful below...

It was already an awkward affair. In everyone's hearts, it was considered an internal entanglement within Luoxia's faction. The Supreme Yang Dao lineage had even less reason to intervene. Even in their usual clashes with the Buddhist cultivators, neither side dared mention Luoxia. Although the Supreme Yang Dao lineage was noble, it was no longer the era of the Six Sons of Green Pine...

He believed that the Wei's Li title of his family could not be cast off and suddenly felt considerable pressure. As he sat silently, a sheet of Radiant Light rose into the sky, and he lifted his brows to look.

Li Quewan sensed it first. After a brief moment, she smiled and said, "Jiangxia has come out of seclusion!"

Li Ximing glanced at the Radiant Light in the sky, nodding as he said, "Have Jianglong informed... let them both come and meet me. I recall you still have two younger brothers. One cultivates Radiant Fire... the other Jade True. How are they faring today?"

Li Jiangqian ordered someone to summon them and reported, "Fourth Brother Jiangliang has grown into a refined young gentleman, but by nature he cannot stay idle... In recent years, he has nearly finished learning the spell arts taught by Lord Cui. When I urged him to continue studying practical skills, he refused. Day after day, he is nowhere to be seen. If he is not allowed to go north, he heads south instead. Sometimes he escorts spirit items from the lakeside markets to the various markets of the Azure Pond Sect... Sometimes he cannot be found for three or five days at a time."

He let out a heavy sigh, looking deeply remorseful as he continued, "Fifth Brother Jiangnian is the complete opposite... He stays in his cave dwelling year after year and has not come out even once. Whenever asked, he is always in seclusion and cannot be disturbed. It is my failing as an elder brother that I could not guide them to steady their hearts."

Li Ximing shook his head and replied, "Cultivation and experience are both good things. In the past, the conditions were lacking. Now that the Azure Pond Sect is relatively safe, moving about is no harm."

Li Quewan said with some regret, "It is only that Jianglong and Jiangxia have never quite gotten along since childhood. Fortunately, neither delays important matters. But as for any show of closeness between them... that will not be seen."

Li Ximing did not care much. Having already reached the Purple Mansion Realm, his perspective differed greatly from that of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. He said softly, "It does not matter if they do not get along. When a family grows large, harmony in all things is impossible."