Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1215 Respectful Address
'Chengqian.'

The flames roared, their light like mist. The immortal, hidden in the void, pondered in his heart:

'This person is no simple character either, but he has no choice but to go with the flow. The "Complete Elixir" is good, but it also has its drawbacks.'

If my younger sister hadn't cultivated the 'Complete Elixir' today, the importance of Chengqian would be extraordinary. But now that Li Quewan has achieved it, Li Jiangqian is complaining that Chengqian shares the same lineage as her. If resources are divided, it will seem even less desirable.

'As for the most crucial matter in the family, the Taiyin Spirit Essence, it's impossible for him to interfere.'

However, even if its effect is somewhat smaller, the daily uses of the "Complete Elixir" are far more numerous than those of ordinary Daoist traditions. After pondering this, Li Jiangqian immediately began to consider:
'This will also allow him to share some of my sister's worries. Once the grand formation is established, I'll find an excuse to summon him over for three to five months, in preparation for any actions taken by Western Shu.'

When Li Jiangqian arrived at Chengyun Gate by fire, he saw that everything was dazzlingly bright. The immortal gate was vast, and white mist was like a waterfall. The entire mountain range was shrouded in a dignified and pure aura, shining brightly amidst the colorful lights.

"What a sight... Shuiling... is probably the most peaceful and intact area in the Jianghuai region."

This is quite a rare and wonderful thing. These demonic cultivators from the sea established a sect and passed on their lineage, only to encounter the greatest upheaval in Jiangnan in a century. Surprisingly, the people under their rule are the most prosperous, even more peaceful than those on Wangyue Lake. Li Jiangqian merely glanced at them and sneered inwardly:
'This Master Chang Yun really picked a good position; he's got the fists and the connections…'

He rode the fire down, and his disciples below immediately came up to greet him, respectfully leading him into the formation. There, in the palace, golden lightning rolled, water floated and fire rose, and a whirlwind swept through, revealing a man in black!

This man had an ordinary appearance, with some delicate features. His eyes were bright and piercing, radiating a powerful aura. He carried a gleaming black iron spear on his back. With his fists clasped, he said:
"I have met His Highness!"

This person is none other than the renowned Master Chonggong—Zhong Qian!
Since the fall of the Thunder Palace, cultivators of the Three Thunders have gradually disappeared from the world. Li Qinghong, who once cultivated a single Thunder technique, couldn't even find a low-grade one, let alone any Three Thunders supernatural abilities. Those that existed were mostly unorthodox or unorthodox methods. This was the first time Li Jiangqian had encountered a cultivator of the 'Primordial Thunder' technique. Upon closer examination…
'Thunder is gentle yet powerful, unpredictable, and possesses the subtle ability to absorb metal and attract earth—this is the elemental magnetism that cultivators at the 'Complete Core' stage fear most…'

When Li Jiangqian saw him, her heart pounded, and a faint tremor surged within her. The talismanic energy within her body vibrated slightly, responding continuously.

【Greedy Net, Mysterious Separation】!
His aura, though capable of capturing shadows and controlling destiny, was the first time it had repeatedly given him such subtle hints, almost explicitly telling him that the person before him was of extremely high importance and was no ordinary person.

In contrast, the person before them had just broken through from his cultivation and, before he could even rein himself in, suddenly possessed the initial stage of supernatural powers, his aura was complete, and he had clearly not yet restrained his arrogance, having already achieved the second stage of supernatural powers!

'What a promising candidate for cultivating the Dao of Breath Control and Self-Nourishment…'

Li and Zhong Qian had a past relationship. Zhong Qian had even helped her elders in the grotto-heaven. Later, when he achieved success, Li treated him with particularly generous gifts. Li Jiangqian simply praised him, saying:
"Senior is so awesome!"

Zhong Qian naturally knew what he was talking about, and with a very polite expression, he replied:

"Your Highness is of noble birth, please do not be modest. Treat each other as equals... Furthermore, I ask that my divine power has exhausted its years, how can it compare to Your Highness? Now, this second divine power... has already damaged one of my immortal foundations."

His words only made Li Jiangqian think more highly of him.

'Such a fast cultivation speed.'

It should be noted that when Zhong Qian broke through to the Purple Mansion realm, the Great Song Dynasty was on the verge of being established. It has only been twenty-eight years since then. Zhong Qian has already perfected his first divine power. He failed once in his attempt to obtain the second divine power. Now, he has become a foundation for immortality and successfully ascended to immortality. All in all, he has achieved the second divine power in less than thirty years!
The Li family members possessed the Qi of the talisman and the elixir, but their understanding was not profound. Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing could be described as having progressed incredibly quickly, but in reality, the time spent refining their supernatural abilities after initially advancing to the Purple Mansion realm was not insignificant. Sima Yuanli achieved his goal six or seven years earlier than Zhong Qian, and his extravagant spending, using several spiritual items to refine elixirs, has only reached the first level of supernatural power to this day…

'He is also a brilliant talent…'

While Zhong Qian was indeed a product of Mingyang, Mingyang has produced at least eighty or a hundred talents. Fortune and misfortune are self-inflicted. The Li family has encountered quite a few, some of whom are exceptionally talented, like dragon slayers with limitless futures, but there are also many less talented ones. Not to mention that Xu who died suddenly on the lake, causing the Xu and Liu families to disappear from the high places, wasn't the Xianyao Zhenren, the "Over the Ridge Peak" that Li Jiangqian just passed through, also a product of Mingyang?
He said seriously:

"Fellow Daoist Zhong is truly remarkable."

Zhong Qian shook his head. What he had just said wasn't a subtle boast; he genuinely felt it was nothing surprising. He sighed and said:

"Which of the True Immortals at Wangyue Lake is not more powerful than me?"

After saying this, he led him into the pavilion and said with a smile:

"I didn't know Your Highness was coming today..."

Li Jiangqian smiled in response and replied:

"We've come to exchange for spiritual resources."

After all, he was an old acquaintance, so there was no need for formalities. He took out the list and showed it to Zhong Qian one by one. After reading it, the man in black showed no obvious emotion on his face and first asked:
"Your Highness is still missing a few items."

Li Jiangqian was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized something:

'You misjudged him; this one is the truly wealthy one!'

So he said seriously:
"We are still missing four items... If you can find them for my family, fellow Daoist, we will certainly treat you well!"

Zhong Qian smiled, his eyes sparkling with life. He poured tea and replied:

“I also have a request, and I should have come to see Your Highness. However, I am too demanding in my work. I am not satisfied if my immortal foundation is not perfected by even one point, and I have been dragging it out until today.”

Li Jiangqian took the tea and listened to what the Master Chonggong had to say:
"Helian Wujiang possesses a [Ten Thousand Fiends Piercing Golden Blade], which should still be in the hands of the nobles."

Li Jiangqian immediately understood and smiled:

"Not bad...this is a good treasure."

The most valuable items of the Helian family are actually on Helian Wumeng. Of the three spiritual artifacts in Helian Wujiang's possession, the most valuable is the [Ten Thousand Fiends Piercing Golden Blade], which is also the only one that is qualified for the Li family to keep and use. How could Li Jiangqian not know this!

'Situ Huo was too slow; this thing will be traded to someone else!'

As expected, Zhong Qian said seriously:

"Your Highness may not know, but the divine power I used to enter the Purple Mansion is called the 'Master of Evil's Ritual. It was born from evil and is the most suitable Yuan Thunder Divine Power for breaking through to the Purple Mansion. Back then, the divine power was not yet complete, and there was no Yuan Magnetism at all, only rolling demonic evil. Now, after being reborn, it still has the power to master evil."

“In this world, ‘Yuan Lei’ is hard to find, and this treasure that combines evil metal is extremely useful.”

Li Jiangqian nodded, and Zhong Qian continued:

"This second..."

He stood up, with a hint of pleading in his voice, and said:
"I hope... that I can borrow the noble's [Dao Sha Xuan Ming Sword] for use."

The "Dao Sha Xuan Ming Sword" he mentioned was precisely what Helian Wujiang had left behind. Li Jiangqian understood his meaning, sipped his tea, and said in deep thought:
"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but my family has already had this sword reforged. If you want the Xuanming Daosha sword, you'll have to wait a while."

Actually, if you calculate the dates, [Xuanming Daosha]

He was about to get his hands on it. Li Jiangqian had considered this item when he was thinking about the formation. However, he had heard that this item was valuable. Seeing that someone was coming to exchange it immediately, he took note and did not want to agree hastily without asking about its purpose.

But his excuse was so natural that Zhong Qian nodded in agreement:
"That's not urgent."

The two brought the topic back to the spiritual resources, and Zhong Qian said seriously:

"Four kinds of spiritual resources cannot be exchanged for such a precious sword, but I have heard about something before. I wonder if Your Highness is interested?"

"Oh?"

Li Jiangqian sipped his tea and, upon seeing the other person, remarked with emotion:
"During the war between the North and South, the sun lost its brilliance, and Luoyang and Xianhu suffered repeated defeats. Supernatural powers perished, and treasures were lost. A magical sword called the [Dahe Kui Bronze Sword] and a mysterious rope called the [Eight Ghosts Facing the Frontier] both fell into the hands of the Northern Cultivator..."

"Among them, the [Dahe Kui Bronze Sword] was obtained by Bei Xiu Zhu Kui, and the [Eight Ghosts Face the Frontier] was given by Qi Lan Yan to the Han family's Shang Dong Zhenren."

Zhong Qian paused for a moment, then said:
“I have an old friend who is a disciple of Master Shangdong. He can help me get the [Eight Demon Faces] back.”

Upon hearing this, Li Jiangqian put down his cup and smiled:
"【Chongyang Juxing Treasure Plate】?"

"Exactly!"

The Chongyang Star Treasure Plate shone brightly in this Battle of Xianhu. His father made no attempt to hide his admiration for it, and cultivators from both the north and south also rediscovered this treasure plate, which had been famous since the Ning Kingdom era but had always been regarded as a ritual object... To put it bluntly, the Li family was determined to obtain it!

However, the [Chongyang Juxing Treasure Plate] is also a treasured possession of the Daxiaokui Temple. Not only is it extremely valuable, but it's also difficult to face one's ancestors if one gives it away. The two families have a good relationship, and the Li family is willing to exchange it, but they are also secretly having a headache. If the Li family mentions it, the Daxiaokui Temple will probably exchange it, but how much friendship and dignity will be lost is another matter entirely.

Zhong Qian had clearly come prepared; the "Eight Ghosts Facing the Frontier" was precisely the bargaining chip he intended to use to negotiate with the Li family.

'Although this item is not as valuable as the [Chongyang Star-Controlling Treasure Plate], it is a relic of the True Man Kui Qi. Only this item could make the Lin family feel that they wouldn't regret taking a loss! It truly satisfies both their sense of duty and their desire for face!'

Li Jiangqian found it interesting:

'Chang Yun… this was his doing. Our ancestor once suspected he was connected to Jin Yu… now it seems his skillful maneuvering truly has the aura of Jin Yu!'

But a new problem immediately arose. Li Jiangqian paused slightly, then smiled and said:

"But the [Eight Demons Facing the Front], the [Ten Thousand Fiends Piercing the Golden Blade], and the [Soaring Sun and Star-Controlling Treasure Plate] cannot be compared to each other!"

Although the [Eight Ghosts Face the Frontier] was crafted by Master Kui Qi himself, it surpasses the [Ten Thousand Fiends Piercing Golden Blade] and is probably comparable to his own female lotus flower. Meanwhile, the [Chongyang Star-Controlling Treasure Plate] in Li Zhouwei's hands is as effective as a spiritual treasure and is probably comparable to the [Great Harmony Kui Bronze Sword], a heirloom of the Owl Kui family!
If the Li family wants to exchange the [Chongyang Xiaxing Treasure Plate] for the Lin family, the [Dahe Kui Bronze Sword] would be the equivalent. If Zhong Qian wants to exchange the [Eight Ghosts Face the Frontier] for the [Ten Thousand Fiends Piercing the Golden Blade], then the Li family should be paying him extra for the spiritual resources.

But Li Jiangqian thought of something deeper:

'Xu Kui still possesses the [Unharmed Stone], which is said to be a supreme treasure of the [Complete Elixir] path. If we could obtain the [Great Harmony Bronze Sword] and offer it a generous gift, wouldn't that be enough to find a spiritual treasure for my sister?'

So he asked:

"Why don't we ask about the whereabouts of the [Dahe Kui Bronze Sword]?"

Zhong Qian's expression changed slightly, and he replied:
"In the hands of Master Zhu Kui, he... regarded it as a treasure... unlike the [Eight Ghosts Face the Frontier]. In the hands of certain cultivators, this sword truly has a use comparable to a spiritual treasure. Once such a thing falls into the hands of others, it is almost impossible to exchange it."

Li Jiangqian nodded inwardly. He had quite a few items of his own, and unless a spirit treasure was incomplete, he wouldn't even consider exchanging it. He sighed regretfully, then, after sorting things out in his mind, he said:

“The Owls have a close relationship with my Li family, so my family will naturally not miss out. I have the [Ten Thousand Fiends Piercing Golden Blade] in my hand. We can discuss it in detail after you get the [Eight Ghosts Facing the Front]. I am not in a hurry to use the four spiritual resources... I will come to ask about the missing ones when the time comes. Please keep this in mind, Master.”

Zhong Qian said:
"If I go into seclusion, I will leave the spiritual resources within the sect."

This was already blatant favoritism, yet Zhong Qian didn't even care what he had to exchange it for; as long as he could help the Li family, it would be considered a favor. Li Jiangqian praised him, saying:

"Fellow Daoist, your kindness is appreciated; Changli accepts this offer!"

He hadn't forgotten that Cheng Qian was still collecting spiritual items for him. Since the array foundation wasn't complete yet, these seven spiritual items could wait a while, so he wouldn't owe anyone too much of a favor. But with Zhong Qian as a safety net, he was sure he could collect the remaining four items no matter what.

With this matter resolved, a great weight was lifted from his heart, and he secretly praised himself:
"Our ancestors did us a favor and helped others, so things are handled very well!"

In this brief encounter, Li Jiangqian had already grasped most of the man's character. After chatting for a while, he raised his hand and asked:

"I wonder what Senior Chang Yun is like..."

Zhong Qian smiled and said:

He went out to visit friends.

The other party's words were vague, and Li Jiangqian didn't say much more. He immediately stood up from his seat, bowed deeply, which startled Zhong Qian, who quickly stepped aside and said:

"What is this!"

Li Jiangqian's eyes were heavy, his gaze intense, as he said:
"There is something I need your help with, fellow Daoist!"

Zhong Qian stared at him blankly for a moment, and the eldest son of the King of Wei said in a low voice:

"My father was seriously injured and went into seclusion for many years. He is plagued by serious illness, and all kinds of medicines and supplies are like a drop in the ocean... Meanwhile, the Western Shu army is at its peak, and I fear... they will take over Huzhou!"

A thoughtful look appeared in Zhong Qian's eyes as he said:
"If Western Shu advances its troops, the Song court will surely respond!"

Li Jiangqian raised her head, staring intently at him, and replied:

"I fear that the Jianghuai region will be on guard against the northern defenses, making it difficult for them to come to our aid."

At this point in his speech, Zhong Qian seemed to understand and asked:
"I've heard that Western Shu is stirring up trouble and intends to attack Zhao. It won't be a matter of a year or two before they turn back; it'll probably take three to five years..."

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he said:
"I heard that the nobles have been visiting all over the country, seeking medicine to heal their wounds, but I never imagined that they would be so troubled by this calamity of the Earth element... It could keep the King of Wei occupied for three to five years!"

Having grasped this point, the young man's expression clearly changed; lightning crackled in his pupils. He lifted the person before him, pondered for a moment, and said:
"If war breaks out in the west, and Master is inside the sect, I will definitely invite him over. If he is not here, even if I am the only one, I will come to the lake to offer my assistance!"