Chapter 1405: Registering Name (II)

Hidden Pavilion of Profound Seven within the Sacred Purity Palace.

Cloud and mist drifted through a bright courtyard where ancient trees stood tall. A youth with pale green eyes lay reclined upon a branch. A command token hung at his waist. He held a scroll in one hand and a silver flask in the other, looking carefree and at ease.

Two strongmen waited like statues beneath the tree, stacks of books in their hands, as he sipped leisurely at his flask. After a while, they saw the light upon the jade table flicker faintly and heard a low humming sound.

The youth reacted as though he had been shocked. He leapt down from the tree, shifted twice in midair, and landed by the table in an instant. He tossed aside the silver flask, which clattered loudly, and cried out in wild delight, "Which fellow Daoist has come to visit?!"

After Immortal Official Liu descended to the lower realm and Chi Buzi had fallen silent once more, Dangjiang had suffered greatly. He immediately strode forward, kicked the door open, and hurried out without even closing the courtyard gate. In a few steps he was already among the clouds, narrowing his eyes to examine what lay ahead.

A Daoist clad in white and gold robes was standing in the clouds. His features were upright but not particularly handsome. If not for the faint glimmer of transformation at the center of his eyebrows, he would not have appeared remarkable at all.

The youth suddenly stepped forward and said with a smile, "I am Dangjiang. Greetings, Fellow Daoist. From which Immortal Mansion do you hail?"

Li Ximing did not dare be careless when he saw such a person appear so suddenly. He quickly stepped forward to greet him and replied, "I am... Zhaojing..."

As for which Immortal Mansion he belonged to, Li Ximing naturally could not answer. Yet just as he spoke, something struck him and his expression changed as he thought,

...Dangjiang...

Dangjiang? The Immortal Official of the Dangjiang Creek Water Mansion under the Immortal Lord!

The Li Family had heard this name back when Chi Buzi had left the Li Family. Later Li Qinghong met Chi Buzi again. It was said that this Dangjiang had already died, though whether it was the same person was unclear...

It cannot be that this Dangjiang is Chi Buzi...

When Dangjiang had been at the Li Family years ago, Li Ximing had not been present and had only heard of it later. Now that they met face to face, Li Ximing did not dare acknowledge him, and Dangjiang did not recognize Li Ximing either.

Instead he wept with joy and exclaimed, "At last, a human voice!"

Dangjiang looked Li Ximing up and down and asked eagerly, "Fellow Daoist, are you... a soul?"

Li Ximing hurriedly cupped his hands and replied, "Immortal Official, I received guidance in the lower realm and ascended into Heaven. At this moment I am utterly bewildered and cannot clearly discern where I am..."

Someone from the lower realm?!

Dangjiang's expression changed at once. Though he was merely a collating official, this entire region fell under Shaohui's administration. Something major must have happened.

His eyes burned as he replied, "This is truly rare! Why not come with me to see my lord?!"

After speaking, he slapped his forehead as realization dawned. "My apologies, my apologies. We must first find you a body."

He led Li Ximing into the courtyard. Two strongmen stepped forward to receive them. Dangjiang casually grabbed one and held him in his hand, grinning, "This strongman has only a body and no soul within. His dharma body is not weak either. He is the most suitable!"

Li Ximing examined it carefully, yet doubts stirred in his heart. A body was no trivial matter. If something went wrong, the loss could be fatal. He secretly called upon the Immortal Mirror, intending to probe the matter. Yet the moment he formed the incantation, streams of white light burst from his soul. The Profound Pearl Talisman Seed appeared out of thin air. It felt as though cold water had been poured over him from head to toe as the talisman seed transformed into a body.

The body was identical to his own. Even the white and gold Daoist robe manifested from nothing and settled upon him. He stood firm in the courtyard and felt all manner of wondrous powers reattach to his dharma body. At last he felt solid ground beneath his feet, and his Purple Mansion Realm divine ability returned as well.

"

Phew...

"

He let out a breath, confidence returning to his heart. Dangjiang's eyes shifted as he sensed something extraordinary. He exclaimed in admiration, "Fellow Daoist, you actually possess Purple Mansion Realm cultivation. No wonder you carry yourself so well. From which region of the lower realm do you come, and from which family?"

Li Ximing gave a slight bow. He noticed something extra in his sleeve. Focusing, he saw that the command token from the pavilion was now tucked within it. He replied, "This minor cultivator's surname is Li. I cultivate upon a small lake."

At these words, the expression on Dangjiang's face changed. His eyes widened and his expression contained both doubt and delight as he cried out, "Do you have any command token as proof?!"

Li Ximing lifted his sleeve and took out the command token. The moment Dangjiang saw the character Li upon it, his eyes reddened. His lips trembled as he cried out, "So it truly is Li... Fellow Daoist, you have caused me such suffering!"

He had muttered and fretted about Immortal Official Li for who knew how long. Now that someone surnamed Li had finally appeared, he poured out his grievances and lamented, "Lord Li descended to undergo reincarnation and tribulation. All the affairs of this mansion had been left to me. How could I possibly manage them all? Scroll after scroll, volume after volume, they have piled into mountains...

"Fortunately Lord Liu has shown me much care and given me a task or two for diversion. Otherwise I would have worked myself to death!"

Li Ximing's mind buzzed,

Reincarnation? What reincarnation could there be? Could it possibly be me?

The Li Family had long speculated about the origin of the Immortal Mirror. Now that a grotto heaven secret realm existed within it, its origins seemed elevated even further. The Supreme Yin Moonlight that had poured forth night after night in years past pointed directly to that Origin Mansion.

The person Dangjiang spoke of was undoubtedly the former master of the Immortal Mirror. At the mention of reincarnation and tribulation, Li Ximing almost immediately had a suspect in mind.

It must be Li Jiangqun, who was besieged and killed by various families in those years. That pavilion and small courtyard were likely left behind by him. The inheritance of the Moonlight Origin Mansion he obtained must also be inseparable from the heavens.

He looked at Dangjiang, who sighed endlessly and seemed burdened with deep grievances. Li Ximing immediately cupped his hands and replied, "I fear the Immortal Official has mistaken me. My family has worshiped an immortal artifact for generations, and only thus did I gain the chance to continue upon the Dao. I do not know any Immortal Official. I am but a minor cultivator."

The joy that had just flared within Dangjiang vanished in an instant. He stood stunned for a brief moment before he muttered, "So it is not you..."

In principle, the man before him had no reason to deceive him. Dangjiang's heart sank as he pondered inwardly,

If not you... then it must at least be someone from your family, some ancestor or elder from the heavens. They go play happily in the lower realm and leave me here to toil like an ox and horse!

Only then did he notice the Bright Yang radiance upon Li Ximing's body and finally realized something. He thought,

Cultivating Bright Yang... it seems similar to Chi Buzi. Chi Buzi is trapped under Pristine Water, but this one is in an even more awkward state than Chi Buzi...

First there was Chi Buzi, now there is this Bright Yang Zhaojing... Whose Fruition Attainment are they shaking this time? The great lords in heaven are playing a grand game!

He felt a shiver of cold excitement at his own deduction and forgot to speak further. At that moment, light flowed through the clouds, and a streak of color arrived, transforming into an immortal general within the courtyard.

The immortal general wore silver white armor and carried a sword at his waist. Dangjiang did not dare hesitate and immediately bowed. The immortal general, however, paused when he saw Li Ximing and smiled. "Greetings, fellow Daoist!"

Li Ximing raised his eyes, and was taken aback by those sharp brows and strikingly familiar eyes. He was momentarily at a loss and nearly called out.

So very alike!

Fortunately, he now had excellent control over his emotions. Outwardly he showed little reaction and simply returned the bow.

The immortal general said with a smile, "I am the Supreme Yin Bright Immortal General, Zhen'gao. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. By order of the Supreme Yin Immortal Mansion, the command token of the Immortal Official has stirred and returned to its rightful place. The Realm of Sun and Moon Radiance has reopened, and so I have come to see you."

Li Ximing hurriedly bowed as Dangjiang remained kneeling. Zhen'gao turned and led Li Ximing outward, speaking softly, "The immortal palace has long been sealed in dust. Matters of the manifest world are never governed by heaven and are decided instead by the immortal artifact. You should not have been brought up here, but the profound decree of the Upper Firmament Pavilion bears the legacy of Immortal Official Li. Since you have received it, this journey was necessary.

"That profound decree of the Upper Firmament Pavilion has already been registered in heaven. From now on, once you return, you may freely enter and exit the Upper Firmament Pavilion."

Joy rose within Li Ximing. The benefits of a grotto heaven were immense. No family would refuse more of them, though few dared to hope. He offered thanks, but before he could say more, Zhen'gao continued, "The immortal palace has not yet manifested. It will be sealed again after seven days. Since you are fated to inherit this immortal decree, within it lie the immortal merits you have accumulated over the years, aligned with the Pavilion of Profound Seven. If you require cultivation techniques, you may seek them from the Upper Firmament Pavilion.

"This immortal decree contains three hundred fifty seven immortal merits. Several Purple Mansion level arts have already been exchanged and may be viewed. As for sacrificing demons, eliminating devils, and suppressing heterodox Daos, all of these grant immortal merits. It is a fine opportunity for those in the lower realm."

Li Ximing quietly let out a breath of relief as he listened to Zhen'gao continue, "Take care. While heaven remains closed, this effectively places you in the position of Immortal Official Li. Do not let those at the level of True Monarch see it, or it may cost you your life."

Li Ximing had experienced too much in a single day. For a moment he did not know what to feel, as though he were in a dream. He only said softly, "I accept the honored immortal decree!"

After speaking, Zhen'gao grew solemn as he said again, "Matters of heaven must not be disclosed. Cultivate well in the lower realm. If one day you ascend to Fruition Attainment and achieve the rank of True Monarch, there will be another chance to ascend and meet again."