Chapter 1416
Flying Gold
Chapter 1416 Flying Gold
Golden Feather Sect.
Smoke and dust swirled before the Purple Qi Cave. The Great Immortal, shrouded in true fire, paced back and forth atop the mountain, unusually agitated. He walked from the cave entrance to the steps, then turned back, looking at the composed old man leaning against the table, sipping tea, and said:
"It's been an hour already!"
Not even an hour?
Chunshuo blew on his tea and said:
"Then you underestimate 'Inexhaustible Edge' too much. The Sun Dao lineage is passed down and the sword intent is matched. There is no higher level of attack than this. Even if you let Yao Guanyi take this sword, he will be able to make mountains collapse and rocks fall."
The mountaintop was crowded with people, and there seemed to be cultivators from the Purple Mansion standing on the left and right, quietly guarding the void. To the side stood a person with a slightly bowed posture, tall and with slightly deep-set eyes.
After Chunshuo finished speaking, he smiled and squinted at the person beside him, saying:
"You must be Fei Yuan! You're quite lucky."
The tall and imposing Fei Yuan Zhenren nodded and bowed, wanting to say more, but was interrupted by the Grand Zhenren beside him.
"Harmful!"
Tian Que sighed and shook his head, saying:
"In my opinion, Daozi's foundation is already deep enough. Why bother going through all this trouble? Li Ximing will definitely have something to say about Cheng Xunzhi's death—he specifically went to the north to borrow that person's talisman and gave it to Cheng Xunzhi for consultation. I didn't understand at the time, but now that I think about it, he might have been secretly pleading for Cheng Xunzhi's life..."
These words made the old man pause for a moment, a hint of surprise on his face, and he nodded, saying:
"I see... Zhao Jing is also a man of hidden talent..."
But he showed no hesitation, and instead said:
"This isn't just Daozi's problem. Didn't Pingyan just die? The previous one was 'Gui Tu,' this sword immortal with both Dui and Geng bodies perished... also in this same place..."
Tian Que was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized and said:
"Elemental Magnetism!"
"good."
Chunshuo said:
"As the saying goes, 'When encountering evil, one sinks.' Eastern Taoism says that metal is the offspring of earth, wood is the maiden of earth, and water and fire are both extinguished, thus becoming the ghost of earth—they believe that this earth virtue, residing in the central earth, is above the four virtues, being both the center of the four virtues and the foundation of the four virtues..."
"Since we've already broken one inclusive and all-encompassing Gui Tu, the desert is already teeming with earthly evil spirits. If we break another precious sword now, the golden energy will sink down, and naturally, the profound mysteries of primordial magnetism will emerge."
He laughed:
“Collect this Yuan Magnet; it can serve as his supreme resource.”
"Been taught a lesson…"
Tian Que nodded repeatedly, seemingly lost in thought. The old man seemed quite confident, paying no attention to the external fluctuations. Instead, he put down his tea, revealed a slight smile, and said:
“Since you mentioned the Li family, I like that child from the Li family. He is very similar to Qiu Shui back then, but with a bit more fierceness... Didn’t Qiu Shui still have one of her [Flying Stone Profound Origin Medicine] left? I think... I should take it and give it to her.”
Upon hearing the name of the Li family, Fei Yuan slightly raised his eyebrows, while Tian Que resolutely shook his head, saying:
"How is this possible? Daozi said this item is comparable to sacrificial medicine. If you were to tell her to use it to seek gold, I would certainly not be stingy. How could such a good thing be used for cultivation for no reason?"
His voice was so loud that the man standing in the forest with his hands behind his back immediately turned around, revealing his dashing appearance, and shook his head with a smile:
"I had already prepared something for her."
"However, if Tianyi Zhenren succeeds, she won't need this medicine. If she fails, she won't be able to use it. Rather than letting it gather dust in the treasure vault, it's better to give it to the destined person. I think you should take it. If there's anything, just use my name."
Tianhuo's status was different, and now he was even more dependent on his father's status, with his entire family rising to prominence. This Great Master respected him even more and nodded in agreement. Just then, he saw a sharp and powerful aura in the distance, with golden sand pouring down like endless swords straight to the sky, stirring up the wind and clouds of heaven and earth, but then it crashed down, leaving only a shattering sound!
"Clang!"
A clear, faint sound, like a mournful cry, drifted from the void. The sword at Tianhuo's waist trembled slightly, emitting a low hum. The woman arrived riding the golden wind, landing among the mountains, and laughed:
Congratulations! Congratulations!
She bowed deeply, then smiled and said:
"My lord! Daozi has succeeded in his mission and, with his momentum, has returned to his grotto!"
Needless to say, a joyous atmosphere filled the air. The several immortals all felt relieved and congratulated each other. Chunshuo stroked his beard and sighed deeply. On one side, a woman said, "Congratulations, Ancestor," and on the other side, someone replied, "Congratulations to you too!" Amidst the commotion, Tianque laughed:
"After all these years, finally a true ruler is about to emerge. Next time something happens, go north, and let's see what they have to say then! What Zhang or Wang..."
The woman beside her covered her lips and laughed:
"My lord is being too calculating. They always talk a lot, mentioning both the highest and lowest ranks, but haven't they remained quiet for hundreds of years? We don't even know if that Yinghuo has made any requests. He's hiding in his grotto-heaven. Who knows what the outcome will be?"
Tian Que just smiled, took out the talisman from his sleeve, and it was flickering on and off. Without thinking too much, the cave was filled with joy and excitement.
Zhang Yige's matter was closely related to their lives, and the group finally lost their usual composure, laughing and talking. Even the seemingly unfamiliar Master Feiyuan offered his congratulations repeatedly and took the opportunity to ask:
"So it turns out that you went back to the grotto-heaven to seek the Dao, but I haven't learned it all yet, and I've always heard that you can't get it in the grotto-heaven."
Chunshuo laughed:
"You don't understand. Don't you even know where the Duijin Fruit Position is? Of course, you can't communicate with other grotto heavens, but the Duijin True Lord is already behind you, so there's no need to worry about so much. If Qiushui wants to seek the Dao in the future, of course he should come back to the mortal world to seek it!"
The old man stroked his beard, and accepted Zhang Duanyan's offer of tea with a smile and a slightly flushed face. He casually said:
“The rogue cultivators of the Middle Ages were ignorant. They believed that one could only attain a higher level of enlightenment in the mortal world, while extra merit could be obtained in a grotto-heaven. This only scratches the surface and doesn’t understand the essence. If you were truly in a grotto-heaven, would you dare to go there and ask for extra merit that is unrelated to you?”
Fei Yuan suddenly realized, nodded quickly, and said:
"I see! I've learned a lot..."
Everyone was in a good mood and answered him with smiles. After a while, they heard someone from below report:
"Master Zhaojing has come to pay a visit!"
After asking several times, the laughter above finally subsided slightly. Tian Huo said:
"Alright...alright...bring the real person up here!"
Chunshuo nodded and led the people into the cave first. Tianque also stepped aside. For a moment, only Tianhuo, Zhang Duanyan, and Feiyuan remained in front of the cave. Then they saw the True Man coming up from the foot of the mountain, his face full of worry.
Li Ximing set off from Chengdu and soon saw the desert covered in golden sand, with autumn rain and white dew covering the entire desert. He wondered what a momentous event this was!
The fall of the Shu Emperor caused strange phenomena to blanket almost half of Jiangnan. While this particular phenomenon was less pronounced, it possessed a tangible quality, causing violent fluctuations in the void. He felt a slight unease, but upon arriving in the mountains, he disregarded everything else, first returning the greetings to the two, and then asking:
"With Chengdu at peace, it's time to return to the lake. But judging by the days, it's almost time. I wonder... where is the Immortal Yuanbian..."
Tianhuo and Zhang Duanyan exchanged a glance. Jin Yi's young master laughed twice and said:
"Fellow Daoist, you always distrust us. Our methods are certainly not so clumsy, and we do not owe anything to those with ability. It is you who have been frightened into a bird startled by the twang of a bow."
The woman smiled sweetly and said:
“He’s in the mountains, I’ll go down and get him.”
Zhang Duanyan was always polite and dignified, but today, with such a joyous occasion, she showed some girlish manners and went downstairs excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Li Ximing finally felt relieved, his expression softening. He sighed deeply and said with a wry smile:
"It's not that I don't trust them... it's just that after all these years... I'm really scared!"
Master Feiyuan, who had been waiting for quite some time, saw that the conversation between the two had paused slightly and there was an opening, so he immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said with a smile:
"Greetings, senior!"
Li Ximing found the face extremely familiar, but now that he had gained supernatural powers, it was very different. The question he wanted to ask was stuck in his throat, and he suddenly paused, startled:
"You are…"
"Qiu Xin?"
The Flying Yuan Immortal nodded vigorously and said:
"Senior, it's been a long time!"
This fellow was none other than Qi Qiuxin, a disciple of the Xuanmiao Temple!
But her attire and demeanor were now quite different; her face looked much gentler. Li Ximing was slightly startled, stood up, and couldn't help but say:
"It's you? Congratulations... I wonder what Senior Su-Mian is like..."
Mentioning Su Mian, a hint of sadness flashed across Qi Qiuxin's face, though not overtly so. She sighed deeply and said:
"My elder elder... has passed away!"
Li Ximing frowned slightly and turned to look at Tian Huo. This True Person remained silent, letting Qi Qiuxin speak. This former chief disciple of Xuanmiao Temple and a direct disciple of the Purple Mansion Sect was quite distressed and said:
"My lord had been in distress for a long time and wanted to fight to the death. Before leaving, he entrusted his many treasures to the immortal, and through his friendship with the Heavenly Immortal, he sent me to the grotto-heaven to cultivate... I have only just emerged from seclusion, and I heard that he passed away a long time ago..."
Li Ximing opened his mouth and said:
"That...Xuanmiao Temple..."
Fei Yuan sighed, finally raising his head to look him directly in the eye, his gaze still relatively calm, and said:
"There's nothing more mysterious about it!"
"Too."
Li Ximing was speechless for a moment. He paused briefly, then composed himself and said:
"Thankfully, thankfully, our people went up to Baihai back then. The northerners left in a hurry, so the Qi family is mostly unharmed. It's just that the main mountain is gone, and now they have no choice but to stay on that Gehu Peak... It'll be convenient for you to go there..."
"Oh?"
Fei Yuan shook his head and said:
"The senior is from the old days, and the name Qi Qiuxin is not commonly used in Feiyuan anymore."
For some reason, Li Ximing fell silent for a moment. It wasn't until the Flying Yuan Immortal handed him the tea that he seemed to snap out of his reverie, took the cup, and rubbed it in his hand before saying:
"Things are different today."
Tian Huo finally put down his cup and said seriously:
"Master Su Mian was once a good friend of mine, Jin Yi. He came from humble beginnings, worked tirelessly, and endured a very difficult journey. He was always worried about making enemies, which is why he entrusted Fei Yuan to us before he died..."
"It was all a matter of fate. Fortunately, this child has received our lineage's teachings and is quite promising. His breakthrough was accompanied by extraordinary phenomena, which caught the attention of an uncle in my clan. After asking him a few questions, the uncle took a great liking to him. He thought of his daughter and worried that she would be left without anyone to rely on after he was gone..."
"I understand, I understand..."
Li Ximing responded twice and clasped his hands together, saying:
"Congratulations!"
Fei Yuan quickly stood up and said with a smile:
"You're too kind, Master. I'm just here to do some odd jobs in the sect and teach the disciples. I'm still very young, so please bear with me in the future."
"polite…"
Li Ximing's eyes held a complex expression. He nodded, then noticed voices nearby. Zhang Duanyan had already led his men up.
He turned around quickly to look, and his eyes lit up.
Liu Changdie's body was radiant with supernatural powers, smooth and round, with golden energy swirling around him. He could also vaguely see the interaction between Sheng Yang and Tai Xu, clearly indicating that he had received a great benefit.
For some reason, he seemed somewhat dazed, his lips slightly pale, and he remained silent with his lips pursed. Only upon seeing Li Ximing did he reveal a hint of joy and say:
"Zhao Jing!"
Li Ximing nodded quickly, looked him up and down, and felt relieved for a moment. He was quite curious, but since the other person hadn't mentioned it yet, it wasn't appropriate to ask in person. So he turned his head away, looking at the golden sand outside, and his unease grew stronger. He asked:
"What's wrong now...?"
Liu Changdie sat down quietly, holding his tea and remaining silent. Tian Huo, however, took the item from Zhang Duanyan's hand, and instead of answering his question, sighed:
"How is Que Wan?"
Li Ximing said:
"He secluded himself to seek two supernatural powers."
These words made Zhang Duanyan frown, and Tian Huo shook his head, saying:
"Something's not right... I'm afraid we're too slow."
Li Ximing looked slightly embarrassed and tactfully explained how busy he was at home. Tian Huo shook his head repeatedly and said:
“That’s where you’re wrong, fellow Daoist. While Mingyang is certainly important, how can you neglect it for the sake of it?”
He reached into his sleeve, took out a long gold box, and said solemnly:
"Her Dao wisdom and temperament are sufficient; she would be considered an unparalleled genius even in my grotto-heaven. This time when I returned to my grotto-heaven, I specifically retrieved the precious pills that are used to cultivate disciples with high Dao wisdom and temperament. This is a resource that should be available within the Daoist lineage."
He handed the gold box to Li Ximing:
"There are five [Precious Mercury Elixir] here, specially prepared for her supernatural power. She can only take one a year, and absolutely no more. Combined with her 'Hou Shen Shu' which can nurture supernatural powers, once she has taken them all, her second supernatural power will be perfected."
Li Ximing was an expert in alchemy. Just by touching the jade box, he knew that this thing was no less valuable than the [Heavenly One Essence Pill], and was a genuine internal item used in the Golden Core Daoist tradition. He wanted to say more, but was stopped by the other party. Tian Huo said solemnly:
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to say more. This little bit of stuff is nothing to me, Jin Yi. When my niece reaches the third level of supernatural powers and encounters Can Zi, I hope she will come to the sect and prepare some truly good things for her."
Jin Yizong had countless schemes, but so far, his kindness towards Li Quewan was unique. Li Ximing also understood that his family was actually a burden to this child, so he finally didn't refuse, put the gift in his sleeve, and bowed, saying:
"I thank you on behalf of Que Wan!"
Tian Huo smiled and shook his head, saying:
"Now that Shu is pacified, I, Jin Yu, am considered one of our own. True Person Tian Que will be stationed at the sect for a long time. King Wei, please feel free to do as you please. No one can invade this area of Xiao Shi and Da Mo!"
These words, though seemingly ordinary, are extremely valuable. They indicate that this vast desert no longer needs to be managed, and the entire Jianghuai system has finally been connected!
This unexpected joy was rare, and Li Ximing immediately returned the greeting with a smile. Tian Huo, however, paid no attention, only patted Li Ximing's shoulder with a somewhat indescribable expression, and sighed:
“Fellow Daoist… the matter of the King of Wei is essentially also a matter for Jin Yu. It has now gone too far, and we are all under considerable pressure…”
Li Ximing quickly raised his hand to express his gratitude, but Tian Huo only gave him a meaningful look and sighed helplessly:
"I dare not ask for your kindness, I only hope that you will not hold a grudge against me!"