Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1182 Hou Shenshu

East China Sea.

Five-colored seawater surged beneath the mountains, and clouds rolled across the sky. A figure rode the light of the setting sun eastward, venturing deep into the sea. After flying for an unknown period of time, a fairy mountain covered in red maple leaves appeared on the horizon, and only then did the figure pause briefly.

"The Daoist lineage of Jiuqiu, Lingyi Yueqing Mountain."

This person is none other than Guo Nanwu, the Purple Mansion True Man of the Shaoyang School!

He was entrusted by the Li family to come to Jiuqiu to learn from them. However, although this master was young, he was quite shrewd. He did not fly straight east, but pretended to visit Qu Si in the south. Then he traveled in a roundabout way, went deep into the South China Sea, went east along the edge of the world, and finally detoured to Peacock Sea.

Guo Nanwu was genuinely in a difficult position.

"King Wei may indeed be a powerful figure in both the north and south, but with his current injuries... who knows how many families wouldn't want him to recover? I'm just a minor cultivator from an unorthodox sect; I might run into someone who could kill me or ruin my cultivation path."

While working for the Li family was lucrative and provided support, it came at a price. Guo Nanwu was a cautious man, and his secret visit had actually taken him more than a month.

Upon arriving at the gate of this lineage, the young master hesitated again.

There was nothing else to it. The entire Nine Hills Mountain Gate was filled with swirling clouds, black and white, and water from the heavens dripped down like dew, silvery white like mercury, sprinkling across the entire sea. Each round drop of mercury water sank into the depths of the ocean like a silver bead.

High above, wildfires rise, round and round, nestled in the dark clouds, compressed into a fiery wheel like a pill. On one side, spirits lurk, their bodies low, cradling placentas in their arms. On the other side, a divine court stands, empty and deserted, with only a vast expanse of cinnabar gushing forth from its gates, pouring down upon the earth.

Guo Nanwu had lived a hundred years in vain and had never seen such a sight. He stared in stunned silence, a question forming in his mind:

'Judging by this, it's either some kind of achievement in Taoist magic or the creation of a celestial artifact; to put it more negatively, it might even be the fall of some immortal being… How could they bear to let me go in?'

He hesitated for three breaths, when a man emerged on the wind, wearing a tall crown and white robes, with handsome features, stepping on rising flames, and laughed:
“My elders have long ago calculated that Shaoyang is coming from the south, and should be in the process of cultivating his supernatural powers, so that I will come out to greet him. I am Fuchi, please follow me into the mountains!”

Guo Nanwu glanced at the man and saw that although he exuded an imposing aura, his supernatural abilities were weak. He must have only recently broken through to a higher level, within the last five years. Yet, he still harbored fear of Jiuqiu. How could he refuse? He quickly agreed and followed him into the mountain. When they landed on the bluestone slabs, the ground was covered in cinnabar. Guo Nanwu whispered:

"I have long admired the name of Jiuqiu! I wonder if the Great Master Tantai is in the mountains?"

Fu Chi rolled up his sleeves and laughed:
"Our ancestor has gone out."

Guo Nanwu breathed a sigh of relief, but understood his meaning, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"So you are the daughter of Tantai! My apologies!"

Fu Chi's expression was slightly complicated as he said:
"Although I am a descendant of Tantai, my lineage is in the sun. The seas are in turmoil, so I chose this place to break through... Since you come from the west, you must know Qingchi. Yuanxiu Zhenren is my master!"

Guo Nanwu suddenly realized, a strange feeling creeping into his heart. He didn't reply much, straightened his collar, and followed him up the mountain, sighing as he did so:
"Truly a paradise on earth."

At this moment, the cinnabar rain in the mountains had become intense. Master Fuchi held an umbrella and escorted him forward. When they reached the highest point of the maple forest, they saw an old man sitting under a tree.

The stone table was a deep blue-green color, seemingly glowing. In the center sat a jade cup, filled with a blood-red spiritual liquid. Even with the sky filled with cinnabar and the darkness obscuring the colorful halo emanating from the cup.

Fu Chi introduced in a low voice:
"This is the Immortal Lingdu."

Guo Nanwu hurriedly addressed him as "senior," and the old man, sitting upright, smiled and said:
"Watch the tea."

Guo Nanwu pondered for a moment, about to ask, but Lingdu waved his hand, signaling him to wait.

'I wonder which of the Nine Hills' prodigies has broken through!'

The immortal had no choice but to remain silent, watching as the various strange phenomena in the sky gradually dissipated, their colors dissipating, and a single point of color plummeted straight down, stirring the clouds and creating a white mist in the mountains. Only then did a person emerge from within it.

It turned out to be a woman.

This woman has willow-leaf eyebrows and bright eyes, with a glimmer of light between her brows. She is quite beautiful, especially her eyes, which are large and bright, with a graceful charm that enhances her overall spirit and gives her a unique and dignified air.

She wore a long satin dress without any extra embellishments. Her slender hands were draped over her arms, and she moved gracefully. The bright light from her fair brows was fading, turning into a solid cinnabar mark.

This change shifted the focus of her face from her brow to her almond-shaped eyes. The color between her brows no longer overshadowed her eyes, and she became like a goddess from a fairyland stepping into a Taoist temple, becoming a true person who gathers the essence of the rosy clouds and lives a carefree life beyond worldly affairs.

The man stepped into the trees, bowed, and said:
"I've met two seniors!"

Her voice was soft and polite, causing Guo Nanwu to stare blankly for a moment. He felt that the woman's aura was obscure and unclear, yet she seemed familiar.

A true master of the "Complete Elixir" path!

Lingdu smiled as she stood up, picked up the blood-stained cup, and handed it over, saying congratulations:

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on achieving the Purple Mansion! Please drink this cup!"

The woman blinked her almond-shaped eyes, politely accepted the gift, and said:
"You're too kind, senior!"

Fu Chi, standing to the side, looked quite moved. Sensing the situation, he spoke gently:
"This is the water of the Mysterious Pond, which can strengthen the foundation and nourish the vital energy, and help those in distress and ward off evil. I also took this when I broke through to the next level... It is a rule in the Nine Hills, so there is no need to be polite!"

"Thank you, senior!"

The woman pursed her lips slightly, her cup empty, and raised an eyebrow. Her noble air vanished, revealing a familiar face. Guo Nanwu finally pieced together this face from his past memories and exclaimed in shock:
"Que Wan? It's you! In Jiuqiu!"

This woman is none other than Li Quewan, who broke through in seclusion in Jiuqiu and achieved the title of "Hou Shen Shu"!
Guo Nanwu couldn't help but be shocked. How many years did it take Li Zhouwei to achieve his goals? How many years did it take Li Jiangqian to achieve his goals? And how many years did it take this person in front of him to break through to the Purple Mansion realm?
'Senior Zhaojing's achievements were surprisingly swift. The King of Wei's breakthrough in supernatural powers was terrifying, occurring within ten years. Changli's ascension to the Purple Mansion realm wouldn't exceed fifteen years… Although we don't know when she arrived in Jiuqiu… it wouldn't be more than twenty years at most!'

Even if we don't mention ten or fifteen years, people who break through to the Purple Mansion realm in twenty years are rare in the world!

The achievements of the King of Wei and his son can be attributed to the extraordinary bloodline of the imperial lineage. With the addition of the woman before them, the Li family now has a fourth Purple Mansion, and this one is a True Person of "Complete Elixir" virtue and "Performing Meridians with Subtlety"—comparable to the heyday of the Qingchi Sect!

"The King of Wei is destined to reach the Purple Palace realm, and that young master's chances are equally high. Li Quewan and True Person Zhaojing can at least reach the mid-stage of the Purple Palace realm. These are geniuses that ordinary sects see only once in a hundred years, treasured and used to suppress their fortunes—and Tingzhou alone has four of them!"

What does this mean?

The Purple Mansion has a lifespan of five hundred years. If these four geniuses emerge one after another and pass on their knowledge in an orderly manner, it will be enough to protect a Dao lineage for more than fifteen hundred years. Even for cultivators outside the Xuan realm, it will be enough to nurture a Dao lineage that is known throughout the world.

The Li family has a history of less than two hundred years... only a little longer than Guo Nanwu's cultivation time!

The Shaoyang cultivator, his heart filled with complex emotions, gazed at the woman before him, a bitter taste in his mouth, and whispered:

"The prosperity of Tingzhou is unparalleled in the world."

Li Quewan had just drunk the water from the Xuan Tang Pool when a chill ran through her lips. She first used her supernatural powers to restrain herself from sinking into her dantian, and took a breath. Although the words in her ear were words of praise, they made her heart tremble.

The Li family harbored too many secrets, and they had always maintained a low profile. Even though the entire clan did their utmost to minimize the impact, the turbulent times made it impossible to conceal certain aspects. She politely said:

"The bright sun shines down, bringing many opportunities. If it weren't for the King of Wei, even I, a junior, would never have had the chance to inquire about the Purple Palace!"

These words attributed all the credit to Mingyang, causing Lingdu to stroke his beard and laugh, saying:

“Zhaojing and the King of Wei and his son were favored and thus attained enlightenment. As for you… since you are cultivating the ‘Complete Elixir,’ there is no need for humility.”

These two sentences broke Guo Nanwu's emotional turmoil. Although he was still moved, he had calmed down and took the opportunity to sigh:

"However... the King of Wei's current condition is... truly dire!"

Before Lingdu could react to these words, the woman with the red dot between her brows moved her head, her anxious and worried gaze falling on his face:
"How is the King of Wei?"

"Slay Qi Lanyan! It's a pity... he's afflicted by the Earth element calamity..."

"what?"

Li Quewan was stunned for a moment, a flash of shock crossing her eyes. Listening to Guo Nanwu's hurried description, Lingdu pondered for a moment, then said:
"Have you sought out a pure lineage of Daoism?"

Guo Nanwu nodded and replied:

"Master Zhaojing went to visit early, but he was afraid there wouldn't be enough time, so he asked me to come over at the same time."

Upon hearing this, Lingdu rose and paced back and forth in the mountains, seemingly pondering something deeper. After a long pause, he said:
"I have been following the long pond of Jiuqiu to avoid disasters and calamities, which goes without saying. I also have a lot of Taiyin items. If the King of Wei needs them, he can send someone to retrieve them. Avoiding disasters and calamities does not necessarily require Taiyin. It is just that Wutu is leaking, so tricks such as 'Xuantu' and 'Gengmu' cannot be used. We can only take a direct approach."

Although his words were calm, the unspoken strength and confidence he exuded made Guo Nanwu glance at him sideways. Ling Du turned his head, smiled at Li Quewan, and said:
"I do have a suggestion... I have a Taiyin Ancient Spiritual Artifact in my Daoist tradition. How about letting Que Wan take it back and try it out?"

Taiyin Lingbao!

Upon hearing this, Guo Nanwu's astonishment deepened, Li Quewan was quite surprised, and even Master Fuchi was shocked:

'In this world, even spiritual objects of the Yin nature are few and far between, let alone spiritual treasures of the Yin nature!'

The Nine Autumns Daoist lineage was quite low-key, yet their every move exuded extraordinary skill. Even so, none of the three expected that Lingdu would open his mouth with the Taiyin Spiritual Treasure!

Li Quewan paused for a moment, then said cautiously:

"Isn't this too precious... If you, senior, were to bring out such a valuable treasure, and I were alone, unaware of its past, I wouldn't know if I could safely return to the sea..."

Lingdu smiled and said leisurely:

"Taiyin spiritual artifacts have been rare since ancient times. With the disappearance of Yin and Yang and the extinction of spiritual objects, they are even less likely to be forged again. At the same time, there are few Taiyin cultivators. Occasionally, one or two Taiyin spiritual artifacts are discovered, but they cannot find a suitable owner. They are flashy but impractical, and are melted down by others, either to provide guidance for integration or to invigorate the Yin..."

"In this cycle, if any Taiyin artifacts have survived to this day, they are almost all spiritual treasures that people are reluctant to melt down—and it's not just Taiyin... 'Shangyi', 'Baomu'... Most of the Daoist traditions that have been severed today only have spiritual treasures left behind."

"It is indeed quite valuable. If you want me to take out a Taiyin spiritual artifact, I wouldn't be able to do so immediately..."

Li Que nodded thoughtfully. Ling Du had already raised his head, stretched out his hand, and with a gentle flip, a ring the size of a copper coin appeared in his hand!
This object is thin and flat, crystal clear, with very faint silver lines on its surface, depicting seemingly indistinct floral patterns. It looks unremarkable, yet a soft moonlight emanates from it.

Guo Nanwu's pupils dilated as he scanned the area several times with his spiritual sense, then hesitantly said:
"I can't see it at all!"

Lingdu chuckled at first, then hesitated and said regretfully:
"This object possesses boundless immortal power and can be integrated into the physical body. In the hands of a Taiyin cultivator, it possesses four divine mysteries! Unfortunately... in the hands of another cultivator, it only has the most basic [Illumination of the Moon] ability, like two treasures. If it weren't for this, you could travel through the void with the wonder of [Unique Treasure] within it, and no one could fathom your abilities!"

"That's not surprising... It's normal for a spiritual artifact to lose 30-40% of its power if it doesn't fall into the hands of someone from its own lineage. And since Taiyin is the first treasure house, it's bound to cause trouble..."

Guo Nanwu pondered for a moment, observed Li Quewan's expression, and, feigning a question, specifically reminded him:
"In that case, wouldn't we have to find another Taiyin cultivator to activate this artifact? The exposure of potential dangers and the attention it attracts would also be a problem!"

Hearing these worried words, Li Quewan didn't seem troubled at all. Instead, her eyes brightened, and she looked at Lingdu, saying solemnly:

"Senior, why don't you let me try it first!"

Lingdu had some doubts, but she entrusted this invaluable treasure to her with complete peace of mind. Having changed hands, the newly promoted 'Full Core' cultivator closed her eyes to sense it for a moment, then thoughtfully raised her head, her eyes gleaming with a strange light, and said:
"I'm afraid... there's no need for that trouble!"

In the blink of an eye, a riot of colors, interwoven with crimson and silver, as if gold and iron, emerged from her soft hands, intertwining and leaping, ever-changing.

'The transformation of the properties of matter leads to the formation of the complete elixir; this is a profound and mysterious doctrine, yet the Daoist nature remains unchanging!'

It is the supernatural power "Hou Shen Shu"!
With the activation of her supernatural powers, the dim Taiyin artifact gradually brightened, bursting forth with rich colors. The ring of this Taiyin spiritual treasure melted like water, surging upwards along Li Quewan's fingertips and slowly merging into her physical body!

Thick moonlight poured down, illuminating her fair face. To the astonishment of the assembled immortals, the woman slowly opened her eyes, and a small, bright moon appeared in her left pupil.

"Waiting for the Divine's Manifestation" involves taking the entire elixir from its infancy, gathering immortal light, nourishing all the internal organs, refining gold and mercury, and tempering the essence of heaven and earth. Thus, supernatural powers are achieved, transforming into mysterious light, and forcibly seizing the wondrous uses of the elixir's artifacts!

This "Waiting for Divine Power" can not only unleash more wondrous power from spiritual artifacts that do not belong to its own lineage through the transformation of material properties, but also force obscure and unknown spiritual artifacts that have not yet encountered a wise master to obey and be used!