Chapter 1436
Scheme
Chapter 1436 Scheme
The Li family has held a grudge against Can Lu Fu for nearly two hundred years, and Li Ximing also considers this matter a matter of great concern.
'My grandfather didn't live to see this, and though he didn't say it, he must have had regrets. Now that our family is growing stronger and the King of Wei is at the height of his power, it is only right that we give our ancestors an explanation on behalf of my grandfather…'
Especially since news of this demon is spreading more and more frequently, it is clear that it is about to break through. If we don't seize the time, it is very likely that it will become complacent and lose the opportunity for revenge.
'However, Shenlu Fu is a truly powerful demon with perfect supernatural abilities, and he has lived for a long time with countless trump cards up his sleeve. Although King Wei is extremely strong, Shenlu Fu is not only skilled in healing, but also has the ability to escape. If we are not well prepared, he will definitely get away...'
Li Zhouwei mentioned a few things in the golden talisman: first, to use his connections to find one or two allies to oversee things; second, it would be best to find a powerful spiritual treasure that could suppress the Green Water and bind the great demon.
His expression was very serious. He let out a soft breath and lowered his head to ponder:
"To fight against Canlu Fu, only a Grand Master could protect oneself, and there aren't many Grand Masters in the world these days... Although I have Yu Xixin under my command... that's for suppressing the North, and Shan Yin isn't skilled in combat, plus he's injured."
Originally, Li Ximing had a preferred candidate—the sword immortal Ling Mei—but she had already passed away, which was a great tragedy.
'And the power of Grandmasters is truly limited. If we could borrow some strength from the Dragon faction, that would be much more convenient…'
As he was pondering this, he suddenly saw someone else coming up from below. The person hurriedly bowed in the mountains and said:
"Reporting to the True Immortal! True Immortal Chehong of the Pure One Path has come to visit and is waiting at the foot of the mountain."
Li Ximing's eyes lit up, and he said:
"Alright! Hurry up and come to meet us!"
Needless to say, it must be about the golden talisman that Li Ximing sent over. Since the Dragon Sect has received the news, Chunyi Dao should have been there in a short time. I just didn't expect that this True Person would come back in person to answer!
"That's true... Firstly, the King of Wei has a lot of influence; secondly, Chunyi is nominally a vassal state of the Song Dynasty. With such a big commotion in Western Shu, they're full of questions and just happened to be passing by to ask me."
Then they saw the white-clad youth emerge from the mountain, exuding an elegant air. Li Ximing immediately rose to greet him, but Che Hong simply waved his hands repeatedly, saying:
"Your Highness is too kind!"
Li Ximing was stunned for a moment after hearing this.
This was the first time he had received such a title, and strictly speaking, it wasn't wrong, but the implication it conveyed made him even more emotional:
'What does this mean...? It means that my status as an elder of the King of Wei is just as important as, or even more prestigious than, my status as a True Man, so I was changed from True Man to Prince...'
Che Hong was, after all, a cultivator of the same generation as Li Qinghong, and to bow down and call him "senior" would be utterly obsequious. This prince was simply opportune. Li Ximing could only smile and shake his head, while Che Hong said seriously:
"My father went to Beihai in person. The Lady Yinmiao felt very guilty and apologized repeatedly. She punished many people and asked me to pass on a message to the Master."
Li Ximing thought to himself:
'Hey! It's dual cultivation, isn't it...'
Sure enough, Che Hong's expression was somewhat strange, and he said:
"This master has obtained a method of Yin-Yang union and wishes to consult the prince."
Li Ximing was both amused and exasperated.
'Cultivators speak with more decorum...unlike that demon general, who practically threw the words "dual cultivation" right in his face.'
He smiled and shook his head, saying:
"I see…"
But his mind was elsewhere. He gave the other party a general overview of the situation in Western Shu, but his heart was full of thoughts about Shen Lu Fu. The appearance of this master was a perfect opportunity!
'I once helped that Ji'an Zhenren, who possessed the power of the Li Huo sect. Judging by the days, if he hasn't perished, he should be out of seclusion by now, simply recuperating somewhere.'
'And that Master Fu Xuan has also been in seclusion for a long time; I wonder if he has achieved anything yet. I can take advantage of the pretext of my previous intervention to subtly inquire about it.'
Last time, Chunyi came to help, and although he left quietly after the matter was resolved, Li Ximing remembered it and sighed:
"Last time there was a dispute in the desert, we were fortunate to receive your assistance across the sea. Now that you, sir, have arrived, there's no need for me to go and invite you again... This is a return gift..."
Chehong felt somewhat ashamed and said:
"It's really hard to say. We came here to help, but we couldn't protect the great formation for the nobles. My father and I were very disappointed when we returned, and we couldn't possibly offer any return gift!"
"Eh..."
Li Ximing laughed heartily and said:
"There's no rush to refuse, please wait a moment."
Che Hong was slightly taken aback. Li Ximing had already stood up solemnly and stepped into the void. In an instant, he reappeared on the mountain with a solemn and dignified expression, carefully holding a jade box in his hands.
Upon seeing this, Che Hong's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes were immediately glued to her.
Rumors about the Li family possessing the radiance of the moon have been circulating among these immortals for a long time!
The biggest weakness of the Pure One Daoist is the Moon Essence of Taiyin. Over the past few hundred years, he has only collected a few strands, almost all of which were concentrated in the first hundred years. The further back in time, the more elusive they become. Just seeing this solemn posture, he felt his mouth go dry. Unconsciously, he stood up and murmured:
"This...this is..."
Li Ximing carefully lifted the lid of the jade box slightly, and Che Hong stared at it for a second.
That thing was as clear as moonlight and as fluid as water. It didn't have a strong spiritual energy, but it exuded an incomparably noble aura. What else could it be but the essence of the moon?
In his eyes, this was not just the essence of the moon, but also an opportunity for his elders to seek the Dao and an unparalleled chance for him to advance further!
He stared at him intently for several moments, and the dignified master, bewildered, raised his hands, wiped them on his robes, and murmured:
"Good heavens... what is this person doing... sigh!"
His expression was very awkward, and he held the jade box in both hands, saying:
"I can't accept this..."
Li Ximing smiled without saying a word, releasing his hands. After a long while, a moment of struggle flashed in Che Hong's eyes, but he ultimately placed the jade box back on the table and sighed:
"As the saying goes, one should not accept a reward without merit. My family came here, but we failed to stop any important figures and even caused the noble family to lose a great formation. We absolutely cannot accept this item!"
Li Ximing read it from beginning to end, and felt quite moved. He said solemnly:
"I have something to ask Junichi."
He raised an eyebrow with a half-smile, noticing the surprise in Che Hong's eyes, and said:
"How is Master Ji'an?"
Che Hong replied without hesitation:
“I say I do not know yet, and besides, he probably shouldn’t get involved in the important matters of the King of Wei.”
Li Ximing shook his head and smiled:
"No... I'm just inviting him to exorcise the demon. Firstly, I want to ask him about it, and secondly, I also want to ask about Master Fuxuan of your sect."
A hint of doubt appeared in Chehong's eyes as he said:
"Oh? What kind of demon is it that would dare to..."
"Ginseng and fragrant!"
These three words resounded, and a look of realization finally flashed in Che Hong's eyes. He nodded solemnly, pondered for a long time, and said seriously:
"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by the princes and nobles, but in fact, Master Ji'an has already broken through and is now stabilizing his cultivation. As for me, Master Chunyi, I have also become a Great Master!"
Li Ximing met his gaze, laughed heartily, and shook his head, saying:
"Are you afraid I'll harm him?!"
Che Hong shook his head awkwardly and said:
"It was personally instructed by my senior, so I had no choice but to do it!"
Li Ximing, however, didn't think anything of it; in fact, he felt that Che Hong was a trustworthy person. He nodded, letting it go, and felt a surge of satisfaction. Che Hong, however, raised his eyebrows and said solemnly:
"This Shen Lu Fu is a descendant of the Eighth Prince. He has been tyrannical in the Southern Frontier for a long time, and the mountains and rivers there are as impregnable as an iron fortress. He should not be underestimated..."
He paused, then said:
"Furthermore... we can ask the Dragon Clan about this matter. Their people are not allowed to act in the sea, but the Dragon King is determined to obtain the demonic body of this descendant of the Eighth Prince. The Dragon Clan has many treasures that can be of great help."
These words did not please Li Ximing; instead, they made him frown. He had originally intended to borrow strength from the Dragon faction, but this was not a pleasant prospect.
'How could I possibly give this demonic body to someone else…'
Li Ximing frowned and said:
"If we don't rely on dragons... does Chunyi know of any family's treasures that can suppress and block the great demon of the Green Water Path?"
Che Hong was merely testing them. Hearing this, he understood that the Li family didn't want the dragon clan to get a share of the spoils. He nodded and said:
“That’s not difficult. My Dao has a technique called ‘Penetrating Shadow Pivot’ that can break his ‘Chou Gui Hidden’. The Sword Sect has a technique called ‘Precious Heart Wish Box’ that can contain his ‘Heavy Turbidity’. If we can also borrow the ‘Sun Evolution Treasure Bag’ from the Owl Sunflower Sect, we can suppress his ‘Loss of Calamity’.”
Li Ximing, belatedly realizing what was happening, asked:
"'Looting Dew'? I've never heard of it."
Che Hong said:
"This divine power has been dead for a long time. He has a different bloodline and cultivated this power when he came of age, and used it to form the Purple Mansion. I heard that it is especially powerful. It is very difficult to kill him without summoning the sun."
Li Ximing said regretfully:
"Other treasures shouldn't be difficult to obtain, but Que Wan has already gone into seclusion. Even if we borrow treasures, no one will use them!"
Li Quewan was in seclusion to break through to a higher level of supernatural power, so naturally he shouldn't be disturbed. Although Li Ximing didn't say it explicitly, Che Hong guessed a lot from his words. After hesitating for a moment, he whispered:
“Besides the sun, there is also the moon… I, the Pure One Dao Master, am a moon cultivator, which is perfect for me, but I will have to trouble you, True Man, to borrow it.”
Li Ximing understood and asked:
"Whose treasure is it?"
"Kim Il!"
Che Hong paused, then said rather mysteriously:
"Jin Yi has a treasure... called [Xuan Dan Divine Treasure Mountain], which is said to be a supreme treasure."
Li Ximing had seen countless treasures, and the treasure he currently possessed could be considered a supreme treasure capable of suppressing a lineage even in an ordinary Purple Mansion. He was actually quite unimpressed, only paying special attention because he still held some influence with Jin Yi. Therefore, he asked:
"A supreme treasure?"
Che Hong said solemnly:
"This thing was forged by the ancient Grandmaster Sikong You. Before creating the [Second Phase Taigong Star], he used three spiritual treasures to test its magic, and this was one of them. In other words... this is the prototype of the magic treasure's trial form!"
He said:
"Back then, Master Tianyi saw this once and described it as perfect and domineering. If Master Tianyi could lend this thing out, even if that demon had nine lives, it would perish here today."
Li Ximing then showed some respect and said seriously:
"Okay! I'll ask first."
He then captured the golden talisman and recounted everything he knew, including the matter of Chuyi Heaven. He sent it to Li Zhouwei, while others went to question Jin Yi. Che Hong racked his brains, trying to handle the matter perfectly. Having made up his mind, he stood up and said:
“In that case, we should act sooner rather than later. I will go and contact Senior Ji’an to inform our master. If Jin Yi is willing to lend it, we can meet in the Southern Frontier.”
"it is good."
Li Ximing, of course, couldn't wait to see the other party off, and sneered:
"The King of Wei personally suppressed it, with three Grand Masters assisting him from the side. The spiritual treasures they possessed were too numerous to count on one hand. It is an honor for you, old monster, to perish under such a man-made disaster!"
With this matter resolved, Li Minggong, who had been listening intently with wide eyes and a heart pounding with excitement, seized the opportunity to step forward and bow respectfully, saying:
"Reporting to the Master... the secret techniques of Guest Elder Wei Zeng are complete."
This speed clearly exceeded the power of the real person, obviously, this guest elder still had some background. Li Ximing raised an eyebrow, slowly nodded, and praised:
"Let him come up."
Before long, the burly man with a swallow's jaw and tiger's beard arrived in the mountains. Despite the passing years, he remained unchanged, his features hardened, his demeanor composed. He bowed to the ground and said:
"Greetings, Master!"
Li Ximing sized him up. Back then, he had wondered why, among so many cultivators, this guest elder was the only one with the potential to reach the Purple Mansion stage. Sure enough, his body was brimming with true essence, his aura soaring to the heavens, which made him feel quite regretful.
'Even if nothing had happened, this day should have come long ago! How could it be that now, amidst this gathering of Li family members, there is not a single pillar to guide the future!'
The man, still smiling, took out a jade box, handed it to him, and said solemnly:
"This is a treasure I obtained from the secret treasury of the people of Shu when I conquered the passes. It is called the [Precious Balance Disaster Relief Stone]."
He said with emotion:
"When I broke through, I used the [Mingfangtian Stone], which was considered top-grade among the spiritual items in the Purple Mansion. Using it for a breakthrough was truly a waste. If it weren't for a stroke of luck, I would never have had the chance. Although yours is not as good as the [Mingfangtian Stone], it is the only kind of spiritual item I have found in all the places I have searched!"
Ding Wei was so moved by what he said that tears welled up in his eyes. Li Minggong, however, had already stepped forward with a jade tray in the center, upon which rested a wooden bottle, and said with a smile:
"These pills were prepared long ago by the Master, using Heng Zhu's spiritual resources. They have been stored in the treasury for many years. Now I'm taking them out for Fellow Daoist Ding to use!"
Ding Weizeng sobbed:
"Your humble servant was saved by the True Immortal's three attempts to find a skilled physician. How dare I covet this heaven-reaching treasure today! Please, True Immortal, take it back!"
Li Ximing sighed, took his hand, and helped him straighten up. A strange bitterness welled up in his mouth. He patted his shoulder and said:
"So he returned... He is my wise prince, a man of exceptional talent. Since the King of Wei, only Changli and Suyun have attained enlightenment. He possesses both Changli's unrestrained spirit and Suyun's gentle kindness..."
He sighed and said:
"Chen Yang is not upright in his conduct, so his long-term plans are not comprehensive; Shouyu Dao lacks ambition; Jiangzong is vulgar and undignified; Zhou Da is rash and lacks integrity; Queyi is too busy taking care of himself; Qinggong, although not yet fully developed, lacks outstanding talent in cultivation and lacks the demeanor to command the masses. I once asked the old master, and he said, 'They are steady and reliable, but not quick to make decisions. They are good at maintaining peace, but easily confused in times of crisis.' They have the will but lack the courage, and they have the courage but lack the ambition. They all need to be trained... Perhaps they can improve in the future, but they are still far from it now."
“My family can offer so much now, but the hurdle of boundless imagination is not something that can be overcome with an ordinary mind. You are his father-in-law, your talent is decent, but your temperament is top-notch. I have seen both of your secret techniques, and they are quite difficult. You have cultivated them so quickly, you must be a person destined for enlightenment…”
Ding Weizeng was already terrified. He quickly took the jade plate with both hands and listened as Li Ximing whispered:
"Although I have Qiao Yue and others left behind, you are my only relative. I only hope that you will succeed and assist him, so that we can settle our fate and the debt of gratitude between us!"
Thank you for the reminder. Chapter 1253 mentioned that Shen Lu Fu had no spiritual energy, which is incorrect. The descendants of the Eighth Prince should have been born with the Dew of Calamity.
Rest assured, the choice of which supernatural power is used in the final battle will not have a significant impact. There will be no increase in difficulty or padding. The reason for not changing the later part is twofold: firstly, there was foreshadowing, and it was a backup plan; secondly, it was actually to showcase Lu Shui's final supernatural power, thus completing the demonstration of all five supernatural powers. The changes have now been made.