Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1185, Chapter 1174: Song Ci
Li Zhouwei's words echoed in the pavilion for a long time. Li Ximing was stunned for a moment, his heart pounding. He withdrew his hands, paced around the pavilion, and said in a chill:
"I understand!"

Li Zhouwei's theory about life and death is generally understandable; it's nothing more than finding the most abundant Yin spiritual energy, which is really not difficult for him.

Then he rolled up his sleeve and took out a light blue jade slip.

It is a secret treasure of the Taiyin obtained from the Pure Dao, named [The Secret Treasure of Embracing the Mysteries Under the Moon]!
In exchange for this item, the Li family took out a copy of the treasure-refining method from the cave, the "Six Harmonies Treasure Bottle Treatise," and Chunyi Dao did not shortchange them in the slightest, recording a vast array of Yin artifacts with almost no omissions!
The spiritual sense of a Purple Mansion cultivator is extremely fast. A dense mass of pure white information flooded through his mind. In the blink of an eye, Li Ximing's eyes lit up.

"There is a substance... as bright as the moon, as heavy as lead, that cannot be dispersed by touching it. It is made by using the [Moonlight Brightness Abundance Secret Method] to collect the [Extreme Northern Moon Liquid] water, which is illuminated by the moon in the sky thousands of feet high. It takes five years to make one strand, and ten strands to complete it—[Mysterious Moon Essence]!"

"This spiritual energy... will take a full fifty years to collect, and we'll need to use spiritual treasures from the Purple Mansion to collect it!"

Clearly, judging from this description, the difficulty of collecting this spiritual energy is much higher than that of the [Shaoxu Yin Qi] that Jiang Chun collected in the Great Void. If [Taiyin Yuehua] is at the top of the Taiyin spiritual energy tower, then this thing is only at the next level, and it is the one with the strongest spiritual energy in the next level.

If the "Moonlight Essence" has a rank of ten and a spiritual energy of three, then this item has a rank of nine and a spiritual energy of eight. Its value is probably not much less than that of the Moonlight Essence.

He didn't make a hasty decision, but continued reading through the chapters until he had reviewed all the recorded spiritual energy before he was certain:

"At least within the Pure One Dao Treasury, this is the most abundant spiritual energy."

Li Zhouwei nodded secretly, but Li Ximing couldn't wait any longer; he too had many thoughts in his mind:

"My [Divided Spirit Body] is nearing completion. For a long time, I haven't dared to condense the essence of the Taiyin Moon into it. But if the spiritual energy of [Mysterious Moon Essence] is abundant enough to be used as the king ingredient in elixirs, and with just a little spiritual energy to neutralize its Taiyin energy, I dare say my [Divided Spirit Body] can devour the rare elixirs that ordinary cultivators would find rare even after a hundred years, like beans!"

His thoughts drifted, and he rose to his feet. He decisively took out a copy of the Moon Essence from the pavilion, read it over with the [Chanxuan Cilin Chufa], and then couldn't help but let go of it, raising his eyebrows to look at Li Zhouwei.

The King of Wei chuckled and said:
"We might as well wait for Que Wan. She is knowledgeable about changes. If we are lucky, we will have more than just Taiyin at our disposal."

His words were loaded with meaning. Li Ximing sighed twice, turned around, put the things away, and said:

“It’s not that it can’t be used, it’s just too advanced and takes a lot of time. Although you can gradually speed it up once you get used to it, with Que Wan here, there’s no need to waste your time.”

Li Zhouwei took out a jade talisman from his sleeve, looked at the warm light above it, and smiled:
"Uncle, don't be disappointed, isn't there good news?"

Li Ximing looked up, paused slightly, then exclaimed with delight:

"The Song court has arrived?!"

……

The black mist in the sky stretched out like bolts of silk, interwoven horizontally and vertically, as the bronze celestial chariot galloped past, leaving behind two rows of purple mist.

A series of bronze chariots, laden with treasures, including several precious caskets, were guarded by heavily armed soldiers as they headed north. Li Jiangliang, dressed in a robe, stood before the chariots, accompanied by a woman beside him. Both of them had somewhat unusual expressions.

This carriage is heading to Tingzhou.

Even though the carriage was filled with fine silks and jewels, and the gifts were abundant, and he was heading to his hometown, Li Jiangliang found it difficult to feel joy. The words spoken in court just now still echoed in his ears, filling him with worry.

'The General... intends to resign from his post as the Garrison Commander of the North...'

After a long period of secret deliberation, Song Tingzhong took stock of the meritorious officials, comforted and pacified them, and then arranged for rewards. After this long list of rewards, Yang Ruiyi took responsibility for Liu Bai's death and wanted to return the military tally.

Although Emperor Song rejected Yang Ruiyi's offer to exchange military tallies and even bestowed more rewards upon him, it was clear to everyone that this great general intended to retire to the second line. As a result, all the immortals and various forces were filled with worry.

Yang Ruiyi wasn't particularly likable. Although he didn't do anything extraordinary, he was relatively gentle and didn't use any harsh methods against the various powerful families—that was enough. With such a great general around, there was no need to worry about anything major happening.

Now that he has stepped down, the Yang family certainly has no generals who can command respect. The King of Wei, who is both prestigious and powerful, is not benefiting from the glory of Xiuwu and is ruling over his own small territory. He cannot stay in the court for long. Therefore, at least one other person must be chosen to govern the Jianghuai region.

Unfortunately, the Jianghuai region is not easy to deal with. Among the several mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivators, Situ Huo is ambitious and urgently needs to cultivate martial arts to reach the Purple Mansion realm. Chang Yun, with his merit in persuading the land, also has the desire to suppress Jiangbei. The land of Jianghuai can also enhance the light of martial arts cultivation, and many True Persons below want to benefit from it. Even Ye Hui, who resigned his throne, wanted to devise a plan for Guan Gongxiao to hold the Xuan position.

Under these circumstances, undercurrents were surging within the court and among the people, and these few people who held the profound realm with the foundation-building stage were inevitably in an awkward position.

He was lost in thought, and Yang Tianyou beside him was also vaguely uneasy, even harboring a heavier worry than he did.

'The Grand General voluntarily relinquished power… Without his presence to safeguard the court and the people, sooner or later… it will become a one-man show under the Song Emperor.'

Since the founding of the nation, this Song emperor had always exercised restraint and maintained a high degree of tacit understanding with Yang Ruiyi. At most, he would not promote Yang Ruiyi's confidants... But in Yang Tianyou's eyes, this Song emperor was no ordinary person!
"Whether it's the King of Wei or the Emperor of Song, they are both people destined by fate. Even in ancient times, they would be considered to possess extraordinary bodies and be holy sons of immortal sects. How could they remain subservient to others for long?"

If Lady Yang were to loosen her grip on him, and Yang Zhuo were to have any other ideas, such as making a northern or southern tour, would Lady Yang cooperate or not? Wouldn't she be being led by the nose by him?
Even if it doesn't go that extreme, as long as he favors a certain person, how could he possibly disobey the emperor's command?

The couple, each with their own thoughts, both sensed that beneath the surface of the great victory, the Song court was rife with undercurrents, and it was only when the brightly flowing Wangyue Lake appeared before them that they suddenly realized what was going on.

The Taoist master in the white-gold robe had already arrived in a radiant light to greet us.

Although Li Ximing was overjoyed to receive such wonderful news, his serious face still carried a heavy, unyielding worry, and his furrowed brows revealed a hidden heartache.

This sight startled Li Jiangliang. He forcibly suppressed the urge to ask about his father's situation, turned around, lifted the curtain, and revealed the man inside.

"Lord Yang, please."

This person was none other than Yang Ruizhao, the former head of the Yang family of the Qingchi Sect.

This person is not very talented and is quite old. Back when he was in the Qingchi Sect, he couldn't even get to see a True Person. It was all just a twist of fate. The Yang family had no one else to rely on, which allowed him to rise from an ordinary person to become a descendant of the Emperor, Chi Xuan. Even True Persons would have to pay their respects to him.

Yang Ruizhao was very close to the Li family. Back then, when the Li family planned to annex the West Bank, it was through his connections that they reached an agreement with Daoist Nahe, thus avoiding a bloody battle. He had also met the Li family members at that time.

Now that they were old friends meeting again, Yang Ruizhao was very polite. Having had his cultivation level reduced to Foundation Establishment, he dared not be arrogant in the slightest. He got off the carriage and immediately offered two words of congratulations, saying:
"The three nobles who held the Xuan position were all promoted and their official salaries increased. Jiang Xia received the greatest favor and was enfeoffed as a marquis, named Fu Yang."

The rewards bestowed upon these three Xuan masters were actually of little significance to the Li family. Li Ximing responded with a smile, and Yang Ruizhao immediately pulled out the golden scroll to read it aloud.

This imperial edict was unprecedented in its length, praising the King of Wei as "the foundation of the dynasty and the pillar of the great cause." It also praised Li Ximing for "being diligent and outstanding in his duties" and Li Jiangqian for "helping those in distress and deserving of national honors." The edict was then combined with praise, stating that he was "born to receive a great honor." This shows the high regard the Song emperor held for him.

The Yang family might not be too pleased with this North-South conflict, but the Song Emperor was probably overjoyed. Li Ximing chuckled inwardly, rolled up his sleeves, and said:

"Tingzhou will live up to the emperor's expectations and will surely rebuild its glory."

Yang Ruizhao clearly didn't understand the game involved, repeatedly praising it. Accustomed to the Xuan realm, his experience of returning to the Foundation Establishment stage made him extremely insecure, and he hurriedly said:
"Please, Your Excellency, accept the reward on behalf of the King of Wei!"

Two armored Song generals then stepped forward and carried a table out of the seemingly deep and unfathomable underworld. Each held one end of the table, and upon closer inspection, they saw a red silk cloth with a small bottle and a stone box on top.

Yang Ruizhao first took out the box and said with a smile:

"Master Changli is exceptionally talented and stepped forward to help those in distress, which we have all witnessed. Although Jin Yu was greedy for Baijiang and did not enter the lake, he still managed to hold back Tuoba and the others. This reward is exclusively for him."

He spoke sweetly, but Li Jiangqian's contribution was the least significant, and he was the first to mention it. Li Ximing watched with a smile as he opened the jade box, revealing the dark red aura inside.

"【Li Cheng Sha Yun】".

Yang Ruizhao said:

"This thing is especially special. It is neither fire nor cloud. In fact, it is a malevolent force. Whether you are practicing special techniques or refining spiritual weapons, it can produce extraordinary effects!"

The Song court was wealthy and powerful; even though Li Jiangqian hadn't played a significant role, out of respect for Tingzhou, they still presented him with a portion of the Li Huo spiritual item! Yang Ruizhao didn't elaborate, but Li Ximing understood perfectly, secretly praising them in his heart:

'That's not bad. I wonder if I could combine it with his newly acquired [Vast Desert Fire] to exchange for a good spell to cultivate!'

Having finished this appetizer, Yang Ruizhao smiled more and took the small bottle:

"This is a treasure bestowed by the court, specially prepared for the True Man!"

Li Ximing examined it closely. The bottle was crystal clear, with eight sides. The body was no more than the size of a fist, while the mouth was two fingers wide. It shone brightly, but there was nothing particularly remarkable about it. Yang Ruizhao, however, said:
"This item belongs to the ancient cultivation site [Tianlangtai], and is specifically for alchemists. Although it was considered a trinket by ancient cultivators, it is still a remarkable treasure that has survived to this day. Most importantly... this item is the long-lost 'Qingxuan' artifact!"

"Qingxuan?!"

Li Ximing's heart stirred slightly.

The only Qingxuan divine power he had ever seen was [Qingyan]. This demon has most likely already perished in the hands of the Great Western Plain. Despite his regret, he still cannot forget the feelings that Qingxuan divine power brought him.

"What kind of wondrous wonder is it?"

Li Ximing asked expectantly, and Yang Ruizhao had already delivered the item for him to take, saying:

"I've heard that this thing can hold things. If you pour ordinary water into it and let it sit for a year, you can collect the miraculous 'Azure Xuan' and drink it into the Giant Palace to make elixirs!"

'It really is a blessing technique!'

Li Ximing had enjoyed the "Upper Rock God" of the Qingyan lineage back then, how could he not know the power of this lineage?
'Even if it doesn't significantly increase the success rate, just one or two extra pills per batch will add up to a considerable profit after a few batches!'

He was overjoyed, but Yang Ruizhao laughed and said:
“We are not Qingxuan cultivators, so we can hardly make full use of its wonders. The most useful wonder is the Blessing Pill. The remaining wonder, which condenses the light of Qingxuan to kill enemies, is not very powerful. It can be used when you first enter the Purple Mansion, but it is not worth mentioning in the hands of nobles.”

Li Ximing didn't feel any regret and nodded with considerable satisfaction:

'Where in the world can you find a cultivator like Qingxuan? This is more than enough!'

This dish was already quite substantial, but Yang Ruizhao remained unconvinced and finally said seriously:
"Your Majesty has pondered the King of Wei's reward for a long time. Firstly, the King of Wei's merits are extremely great and immeasurable, and you are afraid that ordinary gifts would be disrespectful to him. Secondly, the King of Wei is injured and has not yet fully recovered, which Your Majesty is particularly concerned about."

Upon hearing this, Li Ximing's heart skipped a beat:
'Perhaps you'd like to fetch me a divine artifact of the Yin realm!'

While Yin spiritual items are indeed extremely valuable, given the infinite possibilities of the [Yin Exorcism Method], Li Ximing no longer wants to acquire a Yin spiritual item without knowing the full story!

Perhaps even the most precious Yin treasures were insufficient to bestow upon him, or perhaps the Song Emperor himself did not possess any sufficiently valuable Yin treasures. Yang Ruizhao opened the jade box, revealing a jade slip and a small, red-patterned silver pill the size of a fingertip inside!

This instantly piqued Li Ximing's interest. He looked at her intently and tentatively asked:
"Spiritual treasure?"

Yang Ruizhao nodded with considerable envy:

"The spiritual treasure of the Hengzhu Dao, the [Xuanheng Imperial Elixir]!"

Upon first glance at this item, Li Ximing almost mistook it for a healing pill, and his heart leaped into his throat!

'It's not that we don't need this pill, it's that it's long been unnecessary!'

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the man in black continued to speak in detail:

"This item originated from the ancient 'Complete Elixir' lineage, the Dongzhen Platform. Originally, there were five of them, which together formed a set called the 'Five Edicts of the Mysterious Vows.' However, they were scattered and lost in various places, and their reputation did not flourish. Later, a minor cultivator from the Zihui Platform obtained them. With the help of this spiritual treasure, he rose step by step and achieved supernatural powers. He also had the opportunity to find the other four pieces. He once dominated a region and made a great name for himself!"

"After his death, this item was scattered again, and people of later generations tirelessly searched for the Five Pills, and countless people imitated its refining... Together with the cultivators who imitated the Douxuan Daozhuxuan Token at that time, they created countless imitations, which became a trend!"

Li Ximing was secretly delighted, his heart pounding:

"I've never seen anything like the 'Hengzhu' technique before, let alone a spiritual treasure with such a prestigious background!"

　My flight arrived in Guangzhou at 3 a.m. today. I'm exhausted and it's a bit late. I can finally focus on writing tomorrow.

　　(End of this chapter)