Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1222 Creek Hook
Li Jiangqian smiled as he carefully examined the woman before him, but found that no matter how he observed her, he could not discern any difference between her and the woman before the ordination. He then nodded secretly and said:

"The current situation is [the ominous sign]."

Li Quewan lowered his eyelashes and nodded, feeling the wondrous response constantly emanating from the rising sun. He let out a soft sigh and said solemnly:
"There's an advantage right now—if we were to attempt to transform [Xuanqing Yuecui] again, the success rate would definitely be more than 70%. As for the exact percentage, we'd have to try it out to find out!"

Li Jiangqian considered it for a moment, then shook his head and said:
"It's not a good time to do this now. If something goes wrong and the timing is wrong, it could delay things. Although you don't need to hone your supernatural abilities, you can practice magic or make arrangements in advance... Take it easy."

Li Quewan's eyes lit up, and he nodded slightly, replying:

"I was just about to mention the matter of magic. I should have gone to the pavilion to change to a different spell a long time ago, but considering that the talismanic energy would be beneficial, I postponed it in order to coordinate with it."

She said seriously:

"Now that we are about to engage in a magical duel, let's focus on the [bright talisman] used in the duel."

The man in the crimson robe before him instantly understood his meaning. His golden eyes flickered slightly as he said:
"I understand. This talisman balances gains and losses, controls the mind and spirit, and can also restrain the actions of others. Naturally, it is a superior great spell similar to the [Great Li Bai Xi Guang]!"

“Powerful spells often consume a huge amount of magical power and casting time, and are often interrupted. Some even require advance preparation... Since it is possible to predict the actions of others, it is easier to dodge, and spells are not easily interrupted. When casting, it is also easier to hit the other party... so that the enemy cannot escape.”

Actually, there are exceptions to this type of technique, such as the life-sensing technique that Li Zhouwei and his son are currently practicing. Its power can vary greatly and it hardly requires any incantations. However, this is a righteous technique, and Li Quewan cannot master it.

After saying this, Li Jiangqian suddenly realized something, his gaze held a strange look, and after thinking for a long time, he asked:
"But I have an idea."

Li Quewan raised his eyebrows to look at his elder brother, who paced back and forth, deep in thought:
"I've heard that even when Grand Uncle uses the [Divided Spirit and Different Body] to refine pills, he can still receive the blessing of the talismanic energy."

Li Quewan was stunned for a moment, his gaze flickering as he listened to his brother's laughter.
"Since the key to these two talismans, Brightness and Obscurity, lies in injury, why not try creating an 'External Body'? If you close your eyes and concentrate, and walk with the 'External Body,' and the 'External Body' is injured temporarily, does that count as Brightness or Obscurity?"

"If we consider the Bright Talisman, wouldn't you be able to receive its telepathic blessing without getting hurt? When it's no longer needed, you can simply retract your outer body; the true body is obscure, the outer body is bright—wouldn't both paths be simultaneously achieved..."

Li Ximing has been cultivating this [Divided Soul and Different Body] technique for years. Li Jiangqian had actually taken note of this life-saving method and reacted immediately. When she heard it, she was stunned. For a moment, she found that there was really no problem. It wasn't until Li Jiangqian rummaged through his sleeve and handed over this scroll of wonderful method that Li Quewan realized something was wrong.

"No—for the [Divided Soul and Different Body] to be linked by life and death, one must first [seal life and death] and bite off a piece of finger."

Li Jiangqian suddenly realized:
"This already counts as an injury to the main body..."

"pity!"

"It's not a pity."

Li Jiangqian suddenly said:

"The [Different Body and Multiple Souls] technique has more than one method of cultivation; it is divided into upper, middle, and lower levels. Legend has it that those who cultivate to the highest level will have a clone that is as real as their original self..."

Compared to Li Jiangqian's ambitious considerations, Li Quewan seemed more worried, saying:
"However, the resources required for the [Divided Soul and Different Body] technique are enormous, and whether it can achieve the desired effect is still unknown... There are countless strange methods and spiritual treasures in the world... We should keep an eye on this matter, but if we specifically search for it, it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Li Jiangqian had no choice but to nod. Having completed this important matter, he was in a great mood. As they chatted casually, he prepared to leave with her, but before he could even register what was happening, his spiritual senses stirred, and he suddenly paused, whispering:
"Master Chen has arrived."

Li Jiangqian was cautious in his actions. His younger sister was receiving the Qi of the talisman in this place, so he would use his magical artifact to investigate whenever he walked around. The old man had just stepped onto the lake when he was immediately detected by him.

The brother and sister exchanged a glance. Li Quewan immediately sensed the spiritual treasure and disappeared into the shadows. Li Jiangqian then got up, took out a scroll, and pretended to study the magic, but there was something mysterious in it.

Chen Yin can be said to be an asset that Li Jiangqian had decided to appoint early on. Naturally, he could not ignore the Li family's ostentatious display of their array construction these days. Li Jiangqian could not leave the lake, but he sent a letter to specifically inquire about Chen Yin.

The answer was unclear; according to the Chen family's reply, the old master had already gone into seclusion…

But as he pondered this, he heard an old voice from outside:
"Is Fellow Daoist Changli here? I've come from Yushui to pay my respects!"

"Please come in, venerable master!"

Then a bright light shone down, the color of the Fu River fell, and a sharp sword aura spread out. An old man with white hair was already standing on the mountaintop.

Chen Yin was quite old, and since the death of Chen Xuanyu, on whom he had placed high hopes, he had aged faster each year. This was especially true after the great battle. He had become thinner, his cheeks were gaunt, and his whole appearance was gloomy, giving him a rather emaciated look.

Li Jiangqian and he could be considered to have fought side by side. During the great battle, this old master had protected him quite a bit. Although it was to curry favor with his own side, they had still managed to forge a bond. The young man said with a smile:
"Senior, you flatter me... I've already said there's no need to call me 'fellow Daoist'... Since our two families are of one mind, it would be presumptuous of me to call you 'Uncle' as a senior, how could I dare to call you 'fellow Daoist'?"

Chen Yin shook his head with a smile, his eyes dim and his smile somewhat withered and weak.

Li Jiangqian could actually tell that Chen Yin was not in good condition at the moment. Although the injuries from the great battle back then had healed, the failure to raise his supernatural powers had aggravated the old injuries. It seemed that he had also suffered from the side effects of some kind of pill, and he looked listless.

'Year after year of great battles... and he still manages to maintain this level of cultivation speed... I wonder how much resources he's poured into it; perhaps he even consumed all the resources originally intended for that Purple Mansion seed...'

Perhaps due to a change in his mind, the old master's sword aura intensified, his eyes blazing, and he said:

"I heard that the King of Wei is seriously injured, and the Li family is on the front lines... I am worried about Western Shu..."

Li Jiangqian nodded helplessly, listing the excuses he had prepared one by one, his expression showing great worry. The old man in front of him forced a smile and said:
"I failed to raise my supernatural powers just now. Upon receiving the news after leaving seclusion, I rushed here without stopping. Wangyue Lake is a vast lake in the world. I wonder if it would be possible for me to have a small place to heal my wounds? That would be good... to protect the borders of the nation..."

Li Jiangqian was overjoyed:
"With such assistance, how could we refuse!"

Although Chen Yin came to the lake to heal his injuries, Wangyue Lake is no longer a sacred place of the Fushui River. Even if the Fushui River is indeed abundant, there are no formations or treasure lands to guide it. How could it compare to the ancestral land that the Chen family has cultivated for generations? It was just a polite remark!
'Truly a veteran... this timely help is truly wonderful!'

Li Jiangqian is currently unable to act personally due to the need to guard against the west, and can only send envoys to travel between various families, which will take an unknown amount of time... Chen Yin has considered this very carefully. His arrival at this moment will not only guarantee a mid-stage Purple Mansion combatant, but also free up Li Jiangqian's resources!

'More importantly, with my younger sister secretly watching over me, I can truly leave with peace of mind, without worrying that this guy might notice anything or discover my family's secret.'

Li Jiangqian was overjoyed and raised his eyebrows, sighing:

"How is Uncle's injury?!"

Chen Yin seemed to have considered something for a moment, his expression changed slightly, and he said:

“My family has a secret technique for refining water-based divine powers. Although it consumes more resources, it is quite useful. However, if it fails, there will be some side effects. But don’t worry, Changli, this injury will definitely not hinder your combat…”

Seeing Li Jiangqian shake his head repeatedly, Chen Yin understood that the Li family truly intended to help, and shook his head as well:

"I have practiced magic and left some wounds on my body so that I can use my swordsmanship more effectively."

Li Jiangqian nodded slightly, slightly visibly awestruck, and poured tea for his senior. Chen Yin, however, lowered his head and said:

"However... there is something I need to trouble Jiang Qian with..."

"Please speak freely, senior!"

Seeing Li Jiangqian's solemn expression, Chen Yin quickly said:
"It's nothing serious... My husband, Wen Yao, gained merit through the influence of the King of Wei, which gave him the opportunity to hold the position. He also serves in the same court as Jiang Liang, and they have a good relationship. I've always admired him and have been thinking about... arranging a marriage between him and a nobleman..."

'So that's where it was!'

Li Jiangqian's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled:

"I don't know... is it..."

In fact, the only member of the Li family of the same generation as Chen Wenyao who was unmarried was Li Quewan. However, firstly, in the eyes of others, Li Quewan was still in seclusion, and secondly, Li Jiangqian did not believe that the other party would have the courage to say such a thing. Sure enough, upon seeing Chen Yin, he said:
"Oh... he's his youngest son, just starting out in the Qi Refining stage. He's the most talented in the Chen family, and also very intelligent. I've heard that the noble family has a young prince of similar age, named Yu Sui..."

Li Jiangqian certainly knew that name… it was his second younger brother's youngest daughter left on the lake! A strange light flashed in his eyes, and his first question was:
"Has Uncle Shi gone to Jianglong?"

Chen Yin nodded and smiled, and said:
“That’s right. What the Second Prince means is… this matter is none of his business, and the decision should be made by the lakeside.”

Li Jiangqian smiled but remained silent.

'Li Jianglong is still cold-hearted... So whether it's returning the money or Yu Sui, Li Jianglong is attentive, but he doesn't have much affection for her... He just treats it as returning it to her family...'

'In this respect, Li Jiangxia is more compassionate; she always keeps the two children by her side and takes care of them personally, and it's been a long time since she's been willing to return to the lake.'

Since his second brother had made the promise, he must have received quite a bit from the Chen family, but simply hadn't taken the initiative. Li Jiangqian thought he understood him fairly well, and sneered inwardly, but his tone remained warm:

"With such a close relationship between the two families, marriage is only natural. However, since they are the direct descendants of my family, firstly, this matter cannot be left unresolved with my father, and secondly, we must wait for a suitable opportunity to let the two meet..."

Even if he wasn't particularly keen on it, he gave a perfunctory reply for now. His first priority was to get Chen Yin to stay on the lake willingly, and he would discuss the matter later after receiving the benefits. He smiled and said:
"How about... Senior, you let the young master come to the lake for a year or two of cultivation, so that my niece can meet him, and so can all the elders meet him? What do you think?"

This was perfectly reasonable, Chen Yin nodded repeatedly and replied:

"Jiang Qian is very thoughtful!"

Li Jiangqian smiled and said:

"I remember... my third brother also had a son and a daughter, both living in the capital..."

Chen Yin only replied:
"Actually, I also asked... Jiang Xia has been in seclusion for some time now, and both princes are cultivating at their residences, so there is no chance for them to meet. It may be many more years before they meet."

'His movements were swift...after all, he had the support of the Song Emperor, so he wasn't much slower than Jiang Liang.'

Li Jiangqian subtly probed the progress of his two younger brothers' cultivation before getting up and leading Chen Yin to the west bank. He settled Chen Yin in a nearby lake, instructed Li Suihuan not to disturb him, and then left.

Unexpectedly, upon entering the hall, a ray of clear light appeared, revealing a figure about ten feet away. It was the color of lead and mercury, displaying a graceful figure, which was none other than Li Quewan.

This truly startled Li Jiangqian. The real person's golden pupils widened instantly, even showing a hint of surprise and uncertainty, indicating considerable shock.

'Amazing!'

This is a distance of one zhang... at the Purple Mansion level, it's practically the same as being right next to someone's face. If Li Quewan were to hold a spell, it could land on him almost instantly!

'The Taiyin Spiritual Treasure and the blessing of the talismanic energy... it's actually reached this level!'

Li Jiangqian was secretly alarmed, but Li Quewan had other thoughts on her mind, her eyes filled with confusion, and she said softly:

“Brother, this Senior Chen… I just took a look at him, and his supernatural powers seem to have some problems.”

"Some problems?"

This momentarily alerted Li Jiangqian, but Li Quewan's abilities were ultimately a good thing, so he immediately put them aside. He frowned, his expression serious, and saw Li Quewan's doubts:

"When I saw him arrive, I vaguely sensed the aura of 'Kan Water'. If... he really came here as soon as he came out of seclusion, how could he carry the aura of 'Kan Water' on him?"

The woman's gaze was peculiar:

"So my brother left with him, and I went back to the mountain. I immediately cast a spell to verify it... It really was 'Kan Water', or even 'Vast Ocean,' a sign of the destruction of one's immortal foundation."

Li Jiangqian was slightly taken aback, remained silent for a moment, and then replied:

"You mean... the fourth supernatural power he wants to cultivate is 'Vast Ocean'?"

Li Quewan nodded solemnly.

Li Jiangqian's eyelids twitched slightly as he replied:

"He's a ruthless character... Given his abilities and lifespan, there's absolutely no way he would seek a leap year. He must have found some secret method to stop at the fourth level of supernatural power... in order to gain some temporary prestige to protect Chen Wenyao's Purple Mansion."

Li Quewan said in a deep voice:

"It's more than that."

Her expression was solemn as she whispered:
"This 'Vast Ocean'... is the one in my house."

"He found someone to exchange it?"

These words caused the young man in front of him to turn around abruptly, staring intently at her. After a moment of contemplation, he said softly:
"It's just that those few families... that's why they gave it to Chunyi Dao... no, it's not them. From gathering Qi to cultivating and then breaking through to the Purple Mansion... the timeline doesn't match up."

Li Quewan's expression hardened, but Li Jiangqian shook his head slightly. In just a moment, he had connected all the information he had obtained, narrowed his eyes, and replied:
"I'm afraid it's not as simple as just exchanging them. Don't you think... neither this secret method for breaking through nor this ingenious way of cultivating the fourth supernatural power seems like the Chen family's methods?"

"Besides, the speed at which he perfected the three supernatural powers was too fast... there must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Upon hearing the words "pushing hands," Li Quewan reacted instinctively:
"Golden Feather? They got it a long time ago too."

Seeing that his younger sister had an answer, Li Jiangqian's eyes showed a hint of doubt, and he said quietly:

"The relationship between the Chen family and Jin Yu is not good... Although it may be just a superficial disagreement, I have another candidate."

"He also obtained the [River and Mound Classic] early on, and more importantly, he has a deep entanglement with the Chen family... even involving a blood marriage..."

Li Quewan reacted quickly, his eyes instantly understanding. He raised his head and whispered:

"Master Chu Ting!"