Chapter 1419: Ziyu (II)

Moongaze Lake.

Thunder rumbled and lightning flickered as heavy dark clouds spread across the lake, reflecting on the water like ink. Several commoners fled across the lake in small boats, and after a short while cultivators emerged to receive them.

Apricot-colored flames fluttered and gathered in midair. A man in a crimson robe stepped upon the fire, gazing toward the distant mountain peaks. Unease lingered in his eyes as he watched the heavenly signs. As he waited, thunder exploded across the sky and a faint light flashed. A bolt of lightning rushed forward, illuminating a burly man.

"

Hahahahaha!

"

The man was tall and powerfully built, with thick hair and an extremely robust physique. He wore jade armor, and two bronze bells the size of fists hung from his waist. His expression was spirited as he shouted, "Family head!"

Li Jiangqian clasped his hands and let out a breath of relief. There were still guests on the mountain, so when the sky had suddenly darkened he had feared that the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators had failed to reach an agreement and started fighting.

Now that he knew it was someone from his own family breaking through, he quickly smiled and said, "Congratulations, family uncle!"

The man before him was naturally Li Zhouda, the one who had inherited Li Chenghui's legacy and lineage. After enduring for so many years, he had finally succeeded. Now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, he was full of pride and satisfaction.

He raised his hand as if to say something, paused for a long time, and finally said, "How exhilarating!"

Li Jiangqian could not help but laugh as he welcomed him down. "Family uncle has broken through at just the right time. Congratulations, congratulations!"

Li Zhouda had spent quite a long time reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm. It seemed the pills had played a significant role. Without the family's provisions and medicinal pills, the chances of this man reaching Foundation Establishment Realm would truly have been low. As time passed, rumors of his death had even begun to circulate.

Li Zhouda had only just come out of seclusion and naturally knew nothing of this. In high spirits, he simply laughed loudly and replied, "The ancestors have truly blessed me. I once feared I was incapable and would fail to continue the lineage. Now this is a great joy. When I return I will host a grand banquet. All the lineages of the family must come and share a drink!"

He was clearly not a reserved person. Pride filled his face as cultivators of the family gradually gathered around. Li Jiangqian stepped aside with a faint smile, his gaze sweeping across the crowd as if counting people.

Li Jiangqian had been out of seclusion for more than half a year. Not only had he broken through to the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had also stabilized his cultivation. In truth, if he took the Talisman pill, advancing to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm would be easily within reach. Yet with so many eyes watching, doing so would appear unreasonable, so he had refrained.

During this time after leaving seclusion, he had rarely taken up family affairs and focused carefully on cultivating spell arts. The Great Radiant Book[1] was already an excellent Dao lineage. His radiant expression showed that his progress in cultivation and spell arts had been quite good.

As everyone celebrated, the heavy layers of black qi gradually dispersed. The eastern sky grew dim and a faint purple glow appeared. A streak of heavenly light leaped out from the lake and manifested as a figure nearby. Everyone hurriedly bowed and said respectfully, "Greetings, Daoist Master!"

"Not bad."

The figure who manifested was none other than Li Ximing, who had just returned after seeing someone off. He nodded toward Li Zhouda in approval, yet his gaze remained fixed on the distance, half surprised and half solemn,

What a vast stretch of purple clouds.

Heavenly signs were never simple matters. The clouds in the east were thick with purple hues, piled together like stacked tiles filling the sky. When the morning glow shone upon them, they turned into a festive and magnificent field of purple and gold.

For the moment he could not think too much about it and simply gave an order, "You all settle things here properly. I will go take a look."

He transformed into light and headed east. After only a few steps, he arrived above the bustling scene of Yufu Prefecture. Cultivators rose and fell through the air, whispering among themselves and quietly discussing matters. Divine abilities flickered in the sky as a man in a brown-gray robe drifted forward.

"Senior Houfu!"

Daoist Master Houfu was nodding repeatedly in admiration. When he saw Li Ximing, he descended from the clouds to greet him and gestured for him to come closer, praising him as he spoke, "It is a great matter. The divine ability has been achieved."

Those simple words made everything clear. Li Ximing had already harbored some suspicion in his heart, and was overjoyed upon hearing them verified. Clapping his hands, he said, "Good. Good indeed. The Purple Smoke Blessed Land truly possesses deep fortune!"

Purple qi swirled and rose from the blessed land. A woman appeared within it, wearing garments wreathed in violet mist. A long purple jade sword was strapped to her back. Her face was delicate as she bowed in midair with a smile, "Ziyu greets all fellow Daoists!"

Standing before her was Tinglan, dressed in autumn-yellow robes. Her joy was even more evident as she said, "This is Kan Ziyu, Dao title Wenqing. Today she has successfully achieved a divine ability..."

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Everyone began offering congratulations. Kan Ziyu was equally full of joy and followed Tinglan in returning greetings to each of them. The blessed land was filled with celebration, with light shining everywhere.

Kan Ziyu...

Li Ximing calculated silently. Strictly speaking, Kan Ziyu belonged at least to the same generation as his great-uncle Li Xuanfeng, while he himself should be of the same generation as Qianlizi. Yet Jiangnan did not pay much attention to such distinctions. Unless they were of the same sect, seniority depended on who achieved divine ability first and who possessed greater attainment. Thus Daoist Master Wenqing still came to salute him.

Daoist Master Tinglan looked around and smiled, "Ziyu still needs time to nourish her cultivation and stabilize her divine ability... Many thanks to all Fellow Daoists."

Li Ximing was clearly pleased and sighed inwardly,

This is truly help in a time of need.

By that calculation, there were quite a few geniuses of the same generation as Kan Ziyu. Aside from those in seclusion at the Azure Pond Sect, there was also Lin Chensheng of Xiukui, who cultivated the Supreme Shaman Dao. It was still a mystery whether he had successfully broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm.

As he pondered this, he suddenly realized that Houfu should have been in the Great Western Plains. He could not help asking, "Senior, the matters in the west..."

Houfu looked at him with a smile and replied, "The Supreme Yang Dao lineage taking turns guarding this place has always been the established rule. But I have stayed here long enough to grow weary of it. After discussing it several times with the Sword Gate, we arranged a handover with Xiukui Dao Gate. The Sword Gate will take over the duty for the remaining years, and we have also invited Daoist Master Ni of Wu State to assist. When the next cycle comes, we can repay the favor."

Li Ximing smiled and said, "That is indeed a good method."

The Sword Gate was rigid by nature and had that sword scripture suppressing matters. Although there were two Daoist Masters, Li Ximing had never once seen the Daoist Master surnamed Cheng meet with the Supreme Yang Dao lineage. This alone made his stance clear. He evidently preferred seclusion. The only one truly inclined to change the situation was Ling Mei.

Under such circumstances, Ling Mei faced considerable resistance if he wished to act. This exchange of duties was clearly a subtle form of assistance. Li Ximing nodded inwardly,

And they even drew in Daoist Master Ni. Indeed, the Daoist Masters of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage clearly did not waste a moment when I was in seclusion. They have been constantly accumulating strength.

As he pondered this, Tinglan approached riding purple qi. Kan Ziyu's breakthrough had clearly been beyond her expectations. Even with her usual composure, she could not fully hide her joy as she smiled and said, "Zhaojing has come out of seclusion."

Li Ximing smiled and nodded. He followed as she indicated they should head toward Mount Tangdao together.

"Ning Wan has gone to the Shahuang Kingdom and then on to the Southern Sea. She is not here at the moment..."

Her expression turned serious as she said, "After all, whether it is the Shahuang Kingdom or Southern Shun Raksha, there are personal connections there. It is worth making inquiries. If the chance arises, they may provide support..."

Li Ximing nodded to show he understood. Mount Tangdao had already appeared before them. A layer of dark radiance covered the mountain, overlapping and transforming into various shapes of light. An ancient aura rushed toward them.

Tinglan and Ning Wan had not constructed a full Purple Mansion Realm grand formation as the Li Family had done. After all, building such a formation was no simple task, and this place was not the mountain gate of any particular sect, so it was unnecessary. Instead they used a Purple Mansion Realm formation plate spirit artifact for protection and amplified the formation nodes with their mastery of formations, which created quite an impressive display.

Yet when Li Ximing saw this scene, he sighed inwardly,

So it truly is a spirit artifact from the Dao lineage of the Great Xiukui Temple[2]. It seems Kuiqi was right. Their trip to the Northern Sea returned without success.

1. Previously known as Great Li Codex. ☜

2. Also known as Xiukui Dao Gate. ☜