Chapter 1399: Breaking The Flame (II)

Great void.

Though Li Ximing had entered the great void, his aura remained locked onto the other party. Since a group of Merciful Ones had arrived, the two naturally retreated together. The Buddhist cultivators would have been happiest if the opponent had seized Master Baiyin[1] and escaped.

However, the Daoist Master approached with a full smile, not sparing the Merciful Ones even a glance as he moved south and praised, "Zhaojing, what fine skill. I am Xuanyi. I have long admired you!"

"I have long heard your name!"

This man was none other than Daoist Master Xuanyi of Jingyi Mountain!

His reputation was well known, and Li Ximing had heard of him countless times. Daoist Master Xuanyi had suffered greatly during the Chunyi Dao Gate encirclement years ago, and thus the two had never met until now.

Li Ximing discreetly glanced at the Black Cloud Silver Sparrow Bottle at his waist. Nuxiao clearly recognized Xuanyi, and their relationship seemed poor, which made him a potential ally. Moreover, Master Baiyin was in his hands.

He smiled and said, "This place is dangerous. Please!"

There was no enmity between them and even some shared ties. He had benefited from small favors. If they seized the prize, it would naturally be shared. Li Ximing was not concerned about what followed.

Daoist Master Xuanyi appeared unexpectedly young. Regardless of what lay within, his outward bearing was elegant. He laughed lightly and said, "I did not intend this. I never expected to encounter you here... It seems I have offended you!"

In the current situation, to snatch food from the jaws of the Buddhist cultivators, much was owed to Daoist Master Xuanyi...

Li Ximing had truly resolved to seize Master Baiyin even at the cost of severe injury. Though Xuanyi had ultimately taken him, Li Ximing had long known he was watching and was not surprised. He had even accounted for him from the beginning.

Though he had already captured Master Baiyin with the Supreme Yang Resonance Radiant Art, without Xuanyi's appearance, he would have lost half his life escaping!

Moreover, had the item fallen into the hands of the five-eyed Merciful One, a fierce battle would have been inevitable. There would have been no possibility of negotiation. That five-eyed Merciful One was likely equal to two Nuyans. Xuanyi forcing him to abandon pursuit was a far better outcome.

This was why Li Ximing had let Xuanyi take it. The Buddhist cultivators already hated him. If they truly contested it while the item was in his hands, matters would become difficult.

After all, the Buddhist land stands before us.

The two traversed the great void as tremors spread in all directions. It was clear that conflicts raged across Jiangbei and the fighting had reached its final stages. Li Ximing asked, "There are still spoils to divide. Will Xuanyi not take a look?"

Daoist Master Xuanyi waved his hand, his tone calm as he replied, "One appearance is enough. Chunyi Dao is also in Jiangbei. There is a risk of being caught by them wherever I go. Even if I fight, I may not win. If I am delayed, matters will become troublesome."

Daoist Master Xuanyi was an outer-sea cultivator who had contended with Chunyi Dao for many years and clearly had his own way of survival. Li Ximing nodded inwardly and had no interest in seizing anything else. He led him to Zhijing Mountain and appeared beneath the jade pillar.

Xuanyi, clad in a Daoist robe with dark patterns on a blue base, seemed surprisingly suited to the gardenias covering the ground. He looked around Zhijing Mountain with appreciation. "What fine scenery!"

He set the kasaya on the ground and nodded kindly with a smile, "The matter of Shouding has troubled your esteemed family. He is ignorant and reckless, and I lack the ability to divide myself. Thanks to your esteemed family for mediating. My thanks in advance."

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"It is nothing!" Li Ximing laughed and waved his hand, taking the initiative as he poured tea calmly, avoiding any appearance of eagerness. He said, "Let us first check Master Baiyin and ensure he has not been deceived by the Buddhist cultivators."

"That is reasonable."

Xuanyi nodded and beckoned lightly. The kasaya, already weakened by his divine ability along the way, trembled and fell apart onto the ground.

Master Baiyin tumbled out in a daze and cried out, "

Ow!

"

Li Ximing suppressed his excitement and watched quietly. The old man climbed up and recognized him immediately, his eyes reddening as he kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you Daoist Master for saving my life! Thank you Daoist Master for saving my life!"

Xuanyi's divine ability still lingered upon him. Li Ximing smiled. "It was Daoist Master Xuanyi who saved you."

Holding his cup, Xuanyi smiled at Master Baiyin and said, "The storage pouch."

Master Baiyin hurriedly handed it over, and Xuanyi accepted it casually. With a sweep of his divine ability, the storage pouch was forcibly refined and burst open with a bang, spilling its contents across the ground.

This act before them was a gesture of transparency. Li Ximing's gaze appeared casual, yet his peripheral vision caught sight of a small, bright white Spirit Stone hidden among the clutter of bottles, talismans, and spirit items in an instant!

The item lay discarded like refuse among the spirit items, only half exposed, while two brown Qi Cultivation Realm spirit items were carefully placed above it within a translucent jade box. The talisman seed within Li Ximing's qi sea throbbed continuously, releasing wave after wave of cool currents. His blood surged with excitement, yet his face remained calm as he relaxed his brow.

Not to mention him, even Daoist Master Xuanyi across from him relaxed, though it was for the dharma artifacts on Master Baiyin. He laughed and asked, "Will Zhaojing take first, or shall I?"

He paid no heed to Master Baiyin kneeling at the side as he asked openly. The old man remained kneeling, his gaze somewhat dazed.

Numerous jade bottles and boxes shattered, revealing spirit items of varying worth, as Li Ximing's gaze swept lightly over them. The main pile had four dharma artifacts, each gleaming impressively. A small box lay among them, untouched by the divine ability's force. It was entirely white with golden patterns and clearly no ordinary item.

He smiled faintly and replied, "My family does not seek much, and he likely does not have it. Let us first take a look..."

Xuanyi smiled and nodded. With a flick of his finger, the white box with fine golden patterns opened on its own, revealing its contents.

Inside were five small leaves shining with silver light, each no larger than a fingernail yet covered in fine fuzz. Every delicate hair emitted a faint glow, and a rich spiritual energy rushed forth, refreshing the mind.

Li Ximing needed only one glance. The sensation was familiar to his spiritual sense. After brief consideration, he sensed the subtle mystic of the Capital Guard Dao.

"So it is a Purple Mansion Realm spirit material."

Xuanyi lifted the jade box lightly and examined it in his hand. Though he said nothing of claiming it, his interest was evident.

Seizing the moment, Li Ximing feigned sudden realization. With a quick flex of divine ability, the remaining items followed and settled upon the table, while the rest of the clutter rolled to the ground. With a casual sweep of his sleeve, he gathered them all inside.

Secured!

He settled inwardly and nodded silently. Having already spread out all the spirit items and examined them with his spiritual sense, Xuanyi had no objection and merely nodded with a smile, saying, "Do you recognize this item?"

1. Previously known as Bai Yinzi. ☜