Chapter 1368
Dao Inheritance
Chapter 1368 Dao Inheritance
"His name is... Li Ximing..."
As dusk fell, at the end of the flagstone path nestled beneath the mountains, stood two figures. One man sat astride a stone, while the other stood with his hands behind his back. Upon hearing the question, he replied:
"Yes, he must be of the same generation as the King of Wei..."
"That's still considered young."
The man who had been sitting astride the rock stood up, straightened his sleeves, and, gazing at the rapidly approaching light on the horizon, casually remarked:
“Fellow Daoist Lü… but in my opinion, if we exclude the King of Wei and his son, the Li family has only produced two Purple Mansions in two hundred years… which is actually quite few and does not live up to the title of descendants of Emperor Mingyang. As for the Li family of Ningguo… they are also somewhat lacking.”
Lu An turned his head slightly, shook his head and smiled:
"It's hard to say! Even among the descendants of emperors, how many are true Qilin? Once they reach shallow waters, without supplies or assistance, they might have to fight and be wounded. If two of them emerge, that would be considered quite good..."
"And Ning Li..."
He pondered for a moment, but before he could answer, two True Immortals landed one after the other in front of him. The one in the lead had a light between his eyebrows and was deep in thought, while the one behind him appeared unrestrained and unruly, with golden energy surging around him, his sharpness concealed.
"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing! I am Lü An."
He paused, then said formally:
"Dedicated to the Lü family of the Six Palaces of the Spiritual Treasure Dao Guide of the Profound Great Dao!"
Lu An is naturally pleased with himself now. In this major upheaval, his Lu family has emerged unscathed and even made many good connections. He has a carefree and natural air about him, which is completely different from when he came in a huff.
Li Ximing rushed over from the west, his mind full of calculations and thoughts, and hurriedly said:
"I have long heard of the great names of the Two Lüs!"
Lu An turned around, pointed to the people behind him, and laughed:
"This is Master Yu from Gaoping, whose Taoist name is Zunxian. He only came to the county a few days ago, so it's quite a coincidence that he has a connection with your Li family!"
Li Ximing looked closely and saw that Master Zunxian had an extraordinary demeanor. He nodded with a smile and had an otherworldly air about him. His feathered robes fluttered in the wind, as if he were about to take flight at any moment.
Given Fu He's example, the person sent to greet him must have been chosen after careful consideration. Li Ximing followed up with a smile:
"Mingyang?"
Master Zunxian shook his head and said with a smile:
"Unable to aspire to the throne, I am but a wandering cultivator from beyond the realm of mysteries, without any proper path or authority, humbly cultivating in Gaoping, inheriting the Dao from [Shangmiao Hongwai Feijun], my ancestor... was named Yu Feiqing..."
'A cultivator from beyond the Heavenly Realm?!'
Li Ximing had met very few cultivators outside the Three Mysteries. After all, in this world, which cultivator didn't try to claim themselves as one of the Three Mysteries? Those somewhat famous rogue cultivators, whether it was Su Mian or Chang Xi, all tried to embellish their reputations…
Seeing his surprised expression, Zunxian smiled and said:
"My ancestor was the sixth disciple of [Shangmiao Hongwaifei Jun]. My third senior brother's secular name was Li Hengqing. He was born in the Mingyang realm and achieved the Taiyin realm..."
"So it was Ning Li!"
Li Ximing noticed something amiss and immediately had an idea. He sighed with considerable guilt:
"That's too far... My family has no records of it..."
Zunxian said softly:
"Mingyang is still near, how far is Hongwai? That lord cultivated with the spirit maiden, and their offspring went out, bringing a lineage from the Yuan Mansion, which led to the vast Jiangbei Li Clan. Their Taiyin lineage and bloodline come from Feijun, so they can be considered half descendants of the patriarch..."
Of course, this was just polite talk. After all, judging from their behavior, the Li family did not seem like they had sacrificed their lives for the family. At most, they were descendants of Li Hengqing's generation, but only in name. If they really had this intention, Zunxian should have come to see them long ago. Why wait until today?
However, the implications it reveals are worth pondering.
'Back then… the Venerable Master Yuan Shang of the Pure Dao Sect passed away. He once explained to me the origin of Ning Li, saying that he was a disciple of the wandering immortal Wu Che, a person who had reached the Taiyin Perfection stage…'
'And now, judging from his words, it's one thing that Ning Li's father is a True Monarch, but her mother is actually the daughter of that Loose Immortal Wu Che. This bloodline of magic is probably extremely astonishing…'
Li Ximing smiled politely and then said:
“I have never heard of this ‘Flying Lord’ before.”
Lu An, who had been listening nearby, then interjected with a smile:
"They are Golden Core cultivators outside the Xuan realm! According to current rules, they are also True Lords... After all, with the collapse of the established order, these distinctions are no longer made, and they can all be called True Lords. However, in ancient times, the Daoist tradition was particularly valued, and True Lords were usually those who understood the Xuan Dao..."
"And among the cultivators outside the Xuan realm, there are many called Fei Jun, Qiang Jun, and Gong Jun. The word 'Fei' signifies that they are without reason, without basis, and without mystery or Dao."
His tone was calm, and Zun Xian beside him showed no unusual expression. Whether it was because these weren't particularly offensive words, or because he was already used to them, Li Ximing silently nodded before turning around and saying:
"This is True Person Chang Yun... who is also a rogue cultivator."
Chang Yun was not reserved and nodded casually. The four of them then went inside. After stepping onto the bright stone bricks, Li Ximing entered Chuncheng, which resembled a small town, and was surprised.
The inconspicuous blue stone is actually a precious spring stone. The river flows gently, carrying clear water. The houses are staggered, with carved beams and painted rafters. The red is filled with fire and the blue is painted with water. The mystery is wonderful and the rare flowers and herbs are scattered with leaves from the horn tree and the soil is fertile with female water.
Even the visitors coming and going, the idlers chatting under the willows, were all people with cultivation. The servants under the eaves, the boys serving tea and inkstones, were actually cultivators with accomplished righteousness.
The shimmering spiritual light almost condensed into a ball in his spiritual sense; even a random piece of bluestone would be a treasure worthy of a minor cultivator's attention. Li Ximing was speechless for a moment, and only after a long while did he look up, exhale, and praise:
"As expected of Gu County!"
Everything before my eyes was not only extravagant to the extreme, but also a perfect display of the nobility of these direct descendants. Even with the current wealth of the Li family, they could not possibly build such a town built with treasures...
Upon hearing this, Lü An simply shook his head and said:
"It's nothing but a useless thing!"
These six words, seemingly plain as water, caused all the powerful figures to nod in agreement.
It's just a useless thing.
Outsiders may fight tooth and nail for resources, but in reality, these are just useless things from the Purple Mansion. They are taken casually and placed in the town as stepping stones. As for the outsiders... they are killed for refining spiritual artifacts, or their cultivation is cut off for a drop of water or a breath of air. They are really not worth mentioning.
Li Ximing, however, had once been groomed to be the head of the family and had witnessed firsthand the immense turmoil and carnage these useless individuals had stirred up. He felt a slight sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, mixed feelings of emotion and reflection).
'For generations, my Li family has governed Huzhou, balancing power, and establishing a complex network of immortal palaces to cultivate immortals and govern the people. In the eyes of these Purple Mansions, it's nothing more than taking useless things and distributing useless people… There are simpler ways to handle things.'
'That means storing it away to display in the palace, not giving it to anyone.'
In just a few words, we had crossed the bluestone road and gradually arrived at the depths of this town. Suddenly, we saw a pavilion surrounded by a cluster of towers. It was made of bluestone and redwood, and its appearance was unremarkable. Only when we got closer did we see three large characters.
【One-Eave Pavilion】.
Lu An bowed respectfully, turned around, and said:
"This is the [One-Eave Pavilion], originally left by Dao Chun Zhenjun. Taking the meaning of combining the Three Mysteries into one eave, we invited many Daoist lineages and several Zhenjuns from Gujun to personally paint it, explaining the ancestors of these lineages!"
He said seriously:
"There weren't many here originally, mainly Qingxuan and Tongxuan disciples. It was only because it became a popular topic of conversation that various sects sent disciples to come, either presenting calligraphy or diagrams..."
"From then on, all the extraordinary masters came from afar to follow the map and trace the lineage. If there were any omissions, later disciples would also bring the painting inside. Whenever my Three Mysteries disciples entered the prefecture, they would come to the pavilion to pay their respects. There are various scenes here, which vary from person to person!"
Li Ximing was slightly startled and began to think:
'Tracing back to the source? My family has no lineage or doctrine, we rely solely on... bloodline...'
From the perspective of bloodline, the Wangyue Li clan originated from the Mingyang Li clan and then the Jiangbei Li clan, only now having drifted to Jiangnan. Although there was the involvement of Xuanwai methods, the Jiangbei Li clan was a prominent family in the Da Ning dynasty, clearly bearing the name Douxuan...
'But which side of the sky it is... is hard to say...'
He was indeed somewhat guilty, but having been a Purple Mansion cultivator for many years, he could also see the other party's purpose in bringing him here:
'This is clearly Long Kangyao offering a way out for both sides, aiming to internalize this conflict as an internal dispute within the Three Mysteries, elevating it to a major issue of the separation of Daoist lineages. If the battle is unsuccessful, it means the descendants of Douxuan have a slight advantage; if peace is negotiated, it means the Three Mysteries can turn hostility into friendship…'
Firstly, he probably couldn't refuse directly under everyone's watchful eyes; secondly, Li Ximing was also extremely curious about the scene inside the pavilion.
Is it Mingyang? If it is Mingyang... what's the scene inside?
His momentary hesitation was misunderstood by Lü An, who laughed:
"Don't worry, Zhaojing, I will never harm you. If you do see any trace of Mingyang, it will only bring benefits, not harm!"
He was afraid that Li Ximing would misunderstand, and also afraid that he would be disappointed due to excessive expectations. After all, Li Ximing was not Li Zhouwei. If he really said that he would not see anything after going in, Lü An would not be surprised. He just smiled and said:
"This Xuan Pavilion may not be accurate... After all, the current inheritance is far less strict than in ancient times. Some disciples of the temple who did not pay homage to their ancestors or offer incense may naturally be gradually dispersed in the inheritance of later generations. As long as you see them... there will definitely be benefits."
"Even seeing a portrait or a few words is a great opportunity to cultivate supernatural powers, no less valuable than ordinary elixirs or spiritual objects..."
Li Ximing was slightly tempted, pondered for a moment, and had some confidence in the concealment of the talisman seed:
'Even magical treasures can't detect anything unusual, so there's no way I'd fail at this ancient formation! If I back down now, not only will Long Kangyao be displeased, but I might also attract criticism…'
So he bowed and stepped forward, placing one hand against the door of the pavilion. He saw that the door was made of gold, and when he held it in his hand, it felt slightly stiff.
"crunch..."
Since it was left behind by the True Lord, even though he possessed supernatural powers, he still found it somewhat difficult to move this object. With a soft sound, a golden light suddenly shone through the small crack in the pavilion door.
Daylight!
Li Ximing felt much relieved. He used his supernatural powers to push open the door and slowly stepped inside.
"Boom!"
The sound of the pavilion door closing echoed, and in an instant, the pavilion became pitch black, appearing extremely deep and mysterious in the detection of spiritual sense, as if everything was standing in the distance where one could not see one's own hand in front of one's face.
After a long while, a faint ray of light finally appeared.
The place was not large, but in the center stood a mysterious platform, from which golden light emanated, like a slowly moving serpent, baring its fangs and claws, illuminating all the dark places.
On the right, there are faint colors, and you can see a painting hanging in the hall. The texture is like silk, the ink is ancient, and there is a person in the painting, shining brightly in the golden light.
The person stood dressed in white, with no facial features, and a pale gold hue flowing around him. His long hair was tied up with a hairpin, and his long robe was made of a material that was actually gold. There were two halos around the back of his head, one as fiery as fire and the other as bright as gold, which were extremely different.
Li Ximing felt a wave of unfamiliarity wash over him, his gaze lingering, while words suddenly lit up on the edge of the scroll:
'【Zhaoyuan Heming Sisu Xianmingyang】'
As the light shines, another bright line appears on the left, with a paper-like texture, vibrant colors, and rich radiance.
The figure in the painting is neatly dressed, with a blank face, a vertical line between his eyebrows like a jade tablet, and yellowish-green sleeves. There are wispy clouds and smoke around his body, and he wears a leather belt around his waist. He stands sideways.
The painting evoked a strong sense of familiarity, with a vibrant, luminous energy emanating from it. For no apparent reason, Li Ximing felt an instant déjà vu, and the painting, "Huaijiang Map," suddenly flashed before his eyes.
Golden Radiance:
【Shang Yao Huang Ming Xuan Ji Chen Ming Yang】.
Li Ximing's heart stirred.
Who else could it be?
'It must be... True Lord Shangyao, Cui Yan!'
With a single stroke, the "Huaijiang Map" was transformed from a painting into a spiritual treasure!
Even if it's just a painting, the familiar atmosphere is already overwhelming. It's the Huaijiang Map, Huangyuan Pass, Shangyao Fuguang, and Xiaxing Baopan... Li Ximing's supernatural powers are almost simultaneously activated, which is indescribable.
'Your subject, Mingyang…'
His face flushed slightly, but before he knew it, the entire pavilion brightened up, with countless lights flowing through it, vaguely transforming into an infinitely vast world!
Surrounded by the painting on both sides, the painting in the center finally shines brightly, its light continuously illuminating the world, as if cast from black gold, causing all the radiance to suddenly flow back and gather around it.
There is also a person in the painting.
This person had a blank face, wore a black robe and golden armor, and rode in a white phoenix carriage. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him. Behind him were six halos, layered upon each other, each radiating its own light. Even in the painting, they still revealed a variety of captivating colors.
For the sovereign and father, the emperor pays homage, and is crowned and enthroned; for union, the birds rise and the nightingale falls, yin and yang unite; for heavenly light, the light shines brightly, the mystery roams freely; for the bright sun, within the three yangs, it rules over all directions!
He was stunned for a moment, as if a thousand thoughts were rushing through his mind, exploding and leaving him utterly disoriented, his thoughts fragmented, his mouth tasteless, and he didn't know where he was or who he was seeing...
A moment passed, or perhaps years, before the golden words were finally reflected in his pupils.
【Minghua Heavenly God Emperor Mingyang】.
Emperor Mingyang!
These words seemed to have come from time immemorial, jolting him awake and causing him to break out in a cold sweat. This time, he could finally understand the words and felt touch on his lips, but his entire mind still seemed to be shrouded in that terrifying light.
'Emperor Mingyang…'
The First Bright Sun, Lord of Wei Huangtian, Emperor who ended the chaos and created the Celestial Dynasty, deposed all the immortal sects of the North, the Lord of Bright Sun who reigns supreme, the supreme ruler of the human world…
Emperor Wei, Li Qianyuan.
Some readers have said that there was no notification for the pre-sale of the third volume.
Yue Ren felt that sending individual chapters to notify readers about the physical book too frequently was a bit too much. If everyone is waiting to grab autographs, he will try to send individual chapters earlier in the future, or remind them in other ways.
The third physical book, *The Great Whale of the Sea*, went on pre-sale yesterday at the event center. This volume includes chapters 173 to 259. The rules remain the same: once pre-sales reach 5,000 copies, a new community title will be unlocked; this time, it's paired with the "Moonlight Palace."
Q: "Why isn't the title 'Long Whale Moonfall'?"
This is because "The Moon Falls on the Whale" is part of the storyline of the fourth volume, and we haven't reached that point yet.
Q: "Why haven't the community titles for the second volume been issued yet?"
Currently, the second volume is only 500 copies short of the 5,000-copy target. If you've been wanting to buy the book but haven't done so yet, you might want to consider it. ^
(End of this chapter)