The Mirror Legacy -
Chapter 1543: Transformation (II)
Master Dingyang’s smile faded, his expression gradually returning to calm as he returned to the main point. “The current situation is because the [Martial Inquiry Purification Vessel] has been shattered!”
“For years, Mount Changhuai carefully regulated spirit veins and laid formation nodes, finally constructing this supreme method to control all of Wu State. With the shattering of the [Martial Inquiry Purification Vessel], it has all dissipated like clouds of True Essence smoke!”
Li Ximing frowned as understanding formed in his mind, No wonder the spiritual energy is fluctuating and the baleful earth qi are erupting…
He then said, “This will be quite the headache for Mount Changhuai…”
Master Dingyang shook his head. A different expression appeared on his aged face as he chuckled. “Haha! The ones with a headache are the Nine Families! After Mount Changhuai lifted the restrictions, there were barely any annexations. That alone shows the regions had long been divided among the Nine Families, who are tightly intertwined and acting as one. Now that this has happened, who knows which of them is secretly pleased?!”
Li Ximing felt like something was off. Though he nodded outwardly, his mind continued to turn. What kind of Dao lineage is Mount Changhuai? A lineage where a True Monarch walks the world! If they truly didn’t want power to fall into the hands of local elites, why divide everything among the Nine Families over the past century? To Mount Changhuai, handing over regional control to them may well have been a long-laid plan. Now that change has arisen, there must be a scheme behind it…
In this era… there isn’t a single faction that isn’t stirring.
He set the matter aside and asked, “And this time, Fellow Daoist, you invited me here for…?”
Master Dingyang shifted his gaze, then took out two jade boxes from his sleeve and placed them gently on the table.
“Please take a look.”
Li Ximing opened it with a divine ability. Inside the first box lay a piece of crimson-gold ore no larger than a fingernail. Its edges shimmered with bright white light, and a dense Radiant Fire aura surged outward, manifesting into all kinds of birds circling the box.
[Heavenstar Crimson Gold].
Master Dingyang said leisurely, “This is half a portion of [Heavenstar Crimson Gold], brought back by Daoist Master Luo.”
He set the first box aside and opened the second, allowing a burst of light to spill out. Inside was a liquid resembling a white ocean, faintly reflecting shifting hues of color, yet each time it surfaced, it quickly withdrew back into itself.
“This one is [Xiao Metal], the [Brilliant Insight Golden Quintessence].”
Li Ximing praised, “[Xiao Metal]? That’s quite rare in Jiangnan.”
Master Dingyang pressed a hand lightly over the jade box and said seriously, “I’ve been entrusted with this, so I must be clear about it.”
“Although [Heavenstar Crimson Gold] is a spirit material, [Radiant Fire] materials are always in high demand. This one is not inferior among them and has wide applications. Your [Wondrous Wisdom Tendril] is also rare, but it was only enough to exchange for this half portion—and he only had half to begin with.”
Li Ximing naturally understood how much was hidden behind the phrase “also rare.” Spirit materials derived from spirit items like this could hardly compare to something like Crimson Gold. From the perspective of Dao principles, among the Five Virtues, Wood Virtue was the weakest. Spirit fruits and tendrils generally could not match the flourishing strength of Radiant Fire.
So he shook his head and replied, “Being able to exchange for half is already excellent.”
“Good!” Master Dingyang praised him and said with a smile, “As for the [Brilliant Insight Golden Quintessence], it can cleanse residual auras, conceal one’s presence, and sever karmic traces. It is an exceptionally fine item, said to possess a nature opposite to Geng and Dui Metals, while remaining balanced with Xiao Metal. It forms deep underground for over six hundred years in isolation, and very little of it exists in the world.
“Most importantly, [Xiao Metal] does not conflict with [Bright Yang]. It is also known as the metal of carefree concealment, the metal without cause or effect. It can be used with most spirit artifacts without conflict.”
Li Ximing nodded repeatedly as he listened. His family had encountered the descendant of True Monarch Xiaojin[1], that young Sword Immortal Wang, and he had personally experienced the nature of this carefree concealment.
Smiling, he said, “I wonder who this is from…”
Master Dingyang smiled as he said, “Daoist Master Junjian[2] came to my humble mountain a few months ago, hoping to exchange something with me. When he heard news of you, he was quite pleased, so he left this item behind specifically, asking that it be used to trade with you.”
“What?!”
After all these years, this was the first time Li Ximing had heard the name Tulong Jian. Back then, this Daoist Master had repeatedly claimed Li Yuanjiao as his benefactor, yet in the end, he had become a benefactor to the Li Family instead.
Li Ximing shot to his feet in excitement and asked, “Has Senior Tulong returned to his sect?!”
Master Dingyang shook his head. “He is currently in the Northern Sea seeking something. He came to me in search of a portion of the [Cold Essence] spirit material, [Cold Cloud Heart Iron], to forge a spirit sword.”
“[Cold Cloud Heart Iron]?” Li Ximing frowned slightly, puzzled as he asked, “I don’t quite understand. Why forge a Cold Essence spirit sword? For one, Senior Tulong does not use a sword. And secondly… the [Virile Fire] Dao lineage even suppresses [Cold Essence]…”
Master Dingyang smiled, shaking his head as he took a sip of tea. “You don’t understand. The Slaughter Jun Gate originally cultivated cold fiend energy. Naturally, he intends to revive his sect’s Dao lineage. I’ve heard he has a particularly valued junior who cultivates [Cold Essence]. That one went into seclusion around ten years ago to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm. Tulong Jian is simply preparing in advance.”
“I see!” Li Ximing fell into thought then muttered, “It should be that Master Gaoxuan…”
Master Dingyang replied, “I don’t know who it is… I only remember him smiling and saying something like… you were the one who should handle it!”
“That’s only natural!” Li Ximing nodded with a smile and said, “After all, Ning Wan cultivates [Cold Essence], so there are many paths to explore. There is also Tianwan in the Eastern Sea. Since Senior Tulong prefers to avoid entanglements and has had some unpleasant history with them, this matter should indeed fall to me. I’ll find a few fellow Daoists to handle it.”
“Good!” Master Dingyang agreed immediately, clearly in good spirits. With a wave of his hand, he produced another box and said with a smile, “As for this [Cangzhou Serpent Scale]…”
“Leave it to me!”
Li Ximing was more than happy for him to bring out more items and accepted them readily. At the same time, he recalled the [Cangzhou Serpent Scale] he had previously taken for himself, feeling a hint of embarrassment, This thing isn’t easy to bring out now. Since [Pit Water] isn’t of use to me, it would have been better to trade it for spirit materials… Now that I have it, I might as well use it to exchange for [Cold Cloud Heart Iron].
Having accepted the task, he turned his thoughts and took out a glass bottle from his sleeve. Inside, a gray mist drifted and shifted restlessly.
This item had been brought to the Li Family by Kong Guxi during the downfall of Profound Peak Gate. It was said to be the scale of a Purple Mansion Realm demonic creature. Unfortunately, it had never been properly identified. All they knew was that it belonged to [Pit Water] Dao, making it largely useless.
Since he was coming to Reverent Yang Mountain this time, and recalling that the pills Master Dingyang consumed were aligned with [Pit Water], which itself was close to the [Supreme Shaman] Dao, he deliberately brought this item along to show him.
Master Dingyang picked up the glass bottle and examined it closely. A look of surprise appeared on his face.
After studying it for quite some time, a spark of excitement flashed in his eyes before he finally said, “Where did you obtain this, Fellow Daoist?!”
Li Ximing had no idea where Changxi had gotten it from and brushed it off with a vague excuse. Master Dingyang nodded in praise. “This is [Yu Heart Armor][3], extremely fine like powder. It is indeed a type of scale… but its properties are unique and extraordinary. It should never be used to forge a spirit artifact.”
“Oh?”
Li Ximing felt a flicker of doubt, but listened as Master Dingyang continued, “This item is scarce, yet its quality and origin are exceptionally high. It is likely rare even in this age. I’ve heard it is meant to be consumed. It should be preserved carefully. When the time comes to use such a spirit item, it will surely serve a great purpose.”
Li Ximing had never held high expectations for the things left behind by Daoist Master Changxi, thus he was a little startled to hear such a high evaluation now.
Is that really the case? No wonder Changxi never used it, even until his death… that old man wasn’t simple at all. Over the years, he’s left behind quite a number of valuable items, not to mention that demonic embryo…
As for this item, I can also consult Senior Chuting about it.
He offered his thanks. After these exchanges, his trust in Master Dingyang had grown. He took out the [No-Fault Spirit Wood] given by Chen Yin and handed it over, calculating inwardly as he said, “Senior Chen exchanged this with me. I’ve heard it’s used for crafting sword hilts, but I have no need for it. I’ll leave it here. If Senior Tulong finds it useful, let him take it. If not, please help me trade it for something else.”
After several failed meetings with Tulong Jian, Li Ximing had already sensed that the man had certain reservations. Perhaps it was because of Li Zhouwei, or perhaps there were other reasons that made meeting inappropriate.
Yet judging from how he provided spirit materials, his intentions still leaned toward the Li Family. Li Ximing chose not to trouble him directly, instead asking Master Dingyang to handle it, achieving two goals at once.
With the arrangements settled, he rose into the air on a beam of light and headed toward the Eastern Sea.
————
Xuanmiao Temple.
Ancient pavilions stood quietly among the mountain forests, lit by soft golden lantern light that lent the place an air of refined elegance.
For years, Jiangbei had been ravaged by constant warfare, drastically altering its landscape. Let alone pavilions, even the forests had mostly vanished. Yet Xuanmiao Temple had repeatedly escaped destruction. The pavilion personally built by Sumian still stood to this day.
A young man in a white gauze crown and robes patterned with dark cloud motifs sat on the steps, casually flipping a few bone tiles in his hand. They clicked together with crisp sounds. Behind him, the doors remained tightly shut.
Smiling, he said, “Fellow Daoist Murong has arrived!”
A ripple formed in the great void, and from it stepped a stout man. His expression was far from pleasant. With his hands clasped behind his back, he nodded. “Lord Ch’i lives quite leisurely.”
A trace of disappointment flickered through Ch’i Lanyan’s heart at the sight of an unharmed Murong Yan, though he smiled. “Hardly as well as you, Fellow Daoist Murong. You were fighting in Jiangbei with cultivators protecting you at your side. Not like me, alone and quiet, guarding Xuanmiao Temple!”
Murong Yan did not take offense at the sarcasm. Instead, he smiled in return. “I did sustain some injuries. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken this long to come find you, Lord Ch’i.”
Murong Yan understood clearly that in this battle, Xindu had been nothing more than a sacrifice. He himself had never truly been in danger. Ch’i Lanyan’s words about the surrounding cultivators were not false, even if those cultivators had not been there to protect him specifically.
He also knew that many of the higher-ups had acted for the sake of Wanlin Heaven, and he was aware that Xindu, who possessed the [Floating Cloud Body], would never meet a good end. But there was one thing he had failed to anticipate, that this day would come so soon.
Even though he had not been harmed, the events had fostered a deep sense of crisis within him. The fact that he knew nothing about Xindu’s fate was reason enough!
After retreating from the river, he had sent several letters back to his family. Yet those who had once sworn to guarantee his safety had all fallen silent, offering only vague assurances and urging him to seize opportunities within Wanlin Heaven.
Those bastards sitting high in the Buddhist land… There’s no way they didn’t know about Xindu… This was deliberate… They deliberately kept it from me!
Murong Yan was almost certain that shortly after he left Yan State, a silent but drastic shift in its leadership’s decisions had taken place. That change had excluded him entirely, and perhaps even considered setting him up for death.
A dark shadow flickered through his seemingly dull eyes as suspicion settled deep within. Like walking on thin ice…
1. True Monarch of Xiao Metal. ☜
2. Also known as Tulong Jian. ☜
3. 蜮 (yù) is a mythical, venomous creature said to lurk in shadows and harm people invisibly. ☜
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