Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1244 Peony
Li Quewan remained silent for a moment, but Tian Huo was not surprised. He sipped his tea, pressed down on his cup, and waited for her to silently process the meaning of his words before finally hearing the woman say:
"Your Excellency possesses extraordinary abilities and is the master of the Metal element, which is beyond the comprehension of a humble cultivator like myself... I have been ignorant and uninformed."

Tian Huo smiled and said:
"I dare not... Even so, the foremost of the Three Golds should still be the Gold of the Free and Unfettered. That lord has a great seniority and supernatural powers. My lord's attainment of the Dao was greatly aided by His assistance... However, it is not advisable to travel to his family's lineage. This matter can be considered as mutual assistance."

These words were of great significance; she had never heard them before, causing Li Quewan's heart to tighten.
In other words, Xiao Jin owes Jin Yi some debt of gratitude for his guidance in achieving enlightenment. The two Jin elements are very close, and their interaction, one in the south and one in the north, is likely intended to mitigate the influence of Wu Earth…

After all, considering Jin Yi's past actions and the hints he gave to the lake at certain times, the Zhang family, who held the Tongxuan identity and colluded with the Sun Dao lineage, seemed to nominally submit to the North. It's really hard to say what the true situation behind the scenes was...

Seeing her thoughtful expression, Tian Huo said no more, refilled the teacup, and the woman in golden robes, already swaying like a fairy, passed through the misty bamboo forest and landed to the side, holding a jade tray in her hands, looking slightly apologetic.
"The golden book is precious and has a connection with my True Lord, a karmic link. It is stored in the cave heaven [Zunzhi Shangqing Palace], and retrieving it is quite troublesome. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

She leaned forward, revealing the object on the jade plate: a small scroll, about the length of a palm, gold and white at the top and bottom, exquisitely crafted, tied with a red ribbon, and with two characters in ancient seal script on the side:
【White Rice】

Zhang Duanyan smiled and said:
"This is the same copy from back then, and my True Lord was also involved in it. After that great man failed to attain enlightenment and perished, this golden book returned to our hands according to the law of fate and was stored in the cave."

'The body of the golden book...'

Although Li Quewan also cultivates the Golden Book, what he received was a talisman seed bestowed upon him, and he had no chance to see the true form. As for the Golden Feather Sect's share... it was most likely placed on the Dragon Tiger Platform back then!

With just one glance, she could feel the immense attraction this golden scroll held for her. Even without using her spiritual sense to get close, she could vaguely sense that this was definitely not just a simple cultivation technique.

'The Golden Book itself is also an extremely powerful spiritual treasure. Furthermore, due to its connection with several True Lords, it has accumulated an incredibly profound karmic bond, perhaps even rivaling the [Qingya Huazhi]!'

Tianhuo looked at the book, his eyes also filled with emotion, and smiled:

"White is the color of the metal element in the West. '飬' (a type of glutinous rice) is the way to nourish the profound. Ancient cultivators have said: 'Nourishing mercury and feeding lead.' The resulting supernatural power is 'the ability to control the feeding,' which, along with 'waiting for the divine to manifest,' constitutes the virtue of the instrument for the 'complete elixir'... Because of the word 'white,' some unorthodox methods use 'secret white mercury,' which leans towards the metal element and cannot attain the true mystery of the 'complete elixir'!"

Li Quewan had naturally heard of "Secret White Mercury," which was one of the few "Complete Elixir" methods circulating in Jiangnan. His family also had a copy of Qingchi's cultivation method, "The Method of Consuming Mercury to Complete the Essence," which had been kept in the pavilion for a long time, but no one had ever mastered it. Even though this direct descendant of the Golden Core lineage considered it a heretical path, those who had mastered it were considered high-level cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage.

After the young man finished speaking, the woman in golden robes beside him took out three incense sticks from her sleeve and said:
“The Golden Book is the lineage of Su De Dao, and it is also the place where my family’s True Lord’s destiny lies. Su Yun, please offer these three sticks of incense and bow to the ancient Su De Dao to complete this master-disciple relationship.”

She straightened her face and said:

"This also completes the ritual of grace in the [Houshu Golden Book]."

These lineages often differ, and once one formally accepts the mantle of a particular lineage, one inherits a significant portion of its essence. Moreover, given Jin Yi's close ties with Longhutai, Li Quewan naturally knew that such a procedure was necessary.
'Needless to say, True Person Qiushui must have inherited the Fourteenth Preface of the Golden Book. This bow will provide a basis for protecting my lineage should she one day truly ascend to the throne.'

She had come here specifically for this matter. After stepping back slightly, offering incense, and performing a simple ritual, Tian Huo's expression visibly softened. He warmly helped her up and said:

"please!"

Only then did she take the small scroll with both hands, gently unroll it, and densely packed golden characters danced on the ancient scroll, like a vast ocean, surging into her mind!

'What a profound skill!'

The [Hou Shu Jin Shu] and the [Bai Yun Jin Shu] are not much different in terms of their profoundness and wonder. Both are supreme methods that are extremely profound and mysterious. However, the [Bai Yun Jin Shu] is more sophisticated in terms of transformation and mercury cultivation, and is closer to the virtue of metal. It is obviously the work of this Taiyuan Zhenjun!

She was momentarily captivated, eagerly etching each small character into her heart. After what seemed like an eternity, she regained her composure, returned the item, and, filled with joy, said:
"The grace of attaining enlightenment is etched in my heart!"

Seeing that the matter was settled, Zhang Duanyan put away the jade plate and the golden book, took his leave, and departed, clearly returning to the grotto-heaven. Tian Huo then smiled and rose, saying:

"please!"

Li Quewan, unaware of his intentions, still strolled leisurely along the winding stone path, following his lead. Tian Huo said:

"Fellow Daoist... do you still remember the 'Jianghe Daling Jing' from back then?"

'They've come, just as I expected!'

Upon hearing this, Li Quewan understood that the most worrying trouble she and her brother had discussed before coming had finally surfaced. This direct descendant of the Jin Yi lineage had no reservations and asked directly, leaving her no choice but to nod.
"Have heard a little bit."

Tianhuo laughed:

"This item has a very long history. It was obtained when our two families became connected. I have been cultivating on the mountain for many years and know little about the changes and ups and downs of the world. I misunderstood you, senior, and blamed it on the Xiao family... Now it seems that the fate has revealed itself early on."

Li Quewan didn't believe a word he said. Anyone else might have been somewhat credible, but Jin Yi Dao Tong was incredibly shrewd, even a passerby would be suspicious. Naturally, he wouldn't mistake the Xiao family for someone else. He simply said:

"Now that the opportunity has fallen into the hands of the Immortal Sect, it can be considered over."

Tian Huo shook his head meaningfully and said calmly:

"No...it's not that time yet. I'm sure the nobles already know a lot about these things. As for Su Yun, she's practically family now, so I won't waste my breath on those empty words."

“The Xiao family… I, Jin Yu, tried to win them over. At that time, he also consumed the food of his closest relatives, pretending to cut off his own path. The person behind him has not yet revealed himself. He has been half-heartedly resisting, and it has been going on until today.”

"But now it seems that his resistance to my family's attempts to win him over is not due to any real dislike or hatred, but rather because he doesn't want to rely on any of the forces that can't give him the opportunity to achieve enlightenment. Xiao Chuting has calculated this very clearly; he just wants money!"

Li Quewan was secretly shocked and felt a chill run down his spine. The young man continued:

"In that case, there will likely be a contest. Su Yan is indeed a genius, but compared to Xiao Chuting, he is just a greenhorn... It remains to be seen who will win this opportunity."

Jin Yi is a shrewd strategist, and there are few things he can't figure out. But only Xiao Chuting, this old but shrewd and cunning fox spirit, can make Tian Huo wary!

Li Quewan only said:
"Kim Il-sense is flawless, he is being too modest."

Seeing that she was only praising his own, the young man sighed inwardly:

'In the end, we were thwarted by the sudden intervention of the Buddhist monk, losing by a hair's breadth. If Li Tongya had followed our family's path, even if he hadn't achieved the Purple Mansion realm, Li Zhouwei would certainly be on our side now!'

He glanced at the woman and, noticing her continued indifference, said softly:

“We understand that Xiao Chuting wants to seek the Dao. In fact, his cultivation path isn’t that problematic. Even if he used unorthodox methods, there’s no Thunder Palace or Heavenly Dao now. Success isn’t about how dirty the methods are. As the saying goes, one must cultivate one’s own nature to achieve the Dao. Essentially, it’s just that his supernatural powers are stable enough. His remedies are clever. That’s not enough to warrant severing his path to the Dao…”

"But as all of you understand, it is absolutely impossible for him to succeed. This has nothing to do with how high his supernatural powers or cultivation level are. He also has no possibility of achieving enlightenment while facing the unusual Kan water."

Li Quewan raised an eyebrow, and Tian Huo said calmly:

"He was born at the wrong time; the future was not in his hands."

The young man sighed and said:
"Chi Buzhi's situation is awkward, but Xiao Chuting's is even more awkward. Both of them are facing the fact that none of the Water Virtue Daoists can accept them. Xiao Chuting doesn't even have anything that the adults can use him for!"

"Does Su Yun know the state of the Kan River?"

Li Quewan frowned and said:

"The vast ocean?"

"good."

Tian Huo was not surprised at all. Clearly, for these people, some things that even a lifetime of cultivation would not know were common knowledge. He said quietly:
"The vastness of 'Fu Water' was taken by 'Kan Water,' which directly led to a complete imbalance between the two—this has been going on for many years. People say: 'When Kan is depleted, Fu Water dries up, and when Li is prosperous, it truly collapses.' This is because water and fire are excessive and out of balance."

Li Quewan was quite skilled; he understood immediately, and his eyes lit up.
"【Kanyifuhe】? So accurate."

"The rivers are overflowing and the lakes are dry and parched. Those who dredge them do not dredge them, and those who fill them with water do not have room for them. This is because the dragons have lost their virtue."

Tian Huo nodded, a cold smile in his eyes:

“If the Golden Virtue is an internal matter between our two families, then the Hidden Female Water and the Water Virtue are unique to the Dragon family. The absence of Kan Water and Fu Water is currently what other families are most wary of—even Chi Buzhi knows that they will only allow changes to Fu and Kan after the great event of the True Dragon attaining the Dao is over.”

“There is absolutely no possibility of change now—once the transformation of the true dragon is threatened, the madness of the dragons is beyond the imagination of others, and the sacrifices they are capable of will far exceed the imagination of ninety percent of the world’s population.”

He explained in such detail that Li Quewan had roughly pieced together the whole story in her mind, and lowered her brows to say:
"Senior Xiao..."

Tian Huo seemed to know what she was saying, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Xiao Chuting couldn't possibly not know, but he couldn't wait any longer."

Li Quewan's eyes flickered slightly, while Tian Huo's expression remained indifferent:

"I said he was born at the wrong time, and that's why. If he had been born a hundred years later, just a hundred years later, someone would have taken up the mantle of the Xiao family for him. He wouldn't have missed the opportunity to murder Duanmu Kui and start his own family, and he would have had the resources to calmly deal with the situation—just like Chi Buzhi, who was also in an awkward situation, but he was young and could now sit back and watch the changing times without any urgency."

“But Xiao Chuting is too late… If I’m not mistaken, his various methods of prolonging life have reached their limit, and he has only managed to hold on until now. He doesn’t cultivate the ‘Complete Elixir’, and he doesn’t have the ability to transform mercury and preserve his nature—in fact, my Master Tianyi himself is waiting for time to transform mercury and preserve his nature so that seeking the Dao will be easier. He is not comparable to him!”

"Given the situation, he had absolutely no chance of succeeding; he was simply unwilling to give up and wanted to try before he died."

Tian Huo gradually stepped inside, and the mountain beneath his feet became increasingly steep, with each step reaching half a person's height and displaying a bright, shimmering blue color. He quietly said:
"It's no harm to give it a try. I, Jin Yi, have never looked down on the heroes of the world. They all rely on their own abilities to gain benefits. Xiao Chuting, a commoner, has come this far by relying on his keen sense of timing and his full of calculations. He is already worthy of our respect. But destroying this inheritance will hinder my possible future plans."

The young man turned around, his back against the misty, white fog covering the mountains, and stared intently at her:
"Since he is taking a desperate gamble, even if it's impossible, he will still offend millions of people. How are you all supposed to conduct yourselves? King Wei has helped him achieve his goal, but where does that leave the dignity of the imperial family?"

He gazed intently at Li Quewan and said softly:
"The reason I invited Su Yun here this time is not only about the cultivation method. The Xiao family and the Li family are related by marriage and have been on good terms for generations. Master Zhaojing is one of the few people he can trust. I just hope that the Master can pass on a message to him..."

"If Elder Master Xiao can retire gracefully and reincarnate to cultivate, without taking away my Dao's opportunities, and one day achieve great success, my Dao will surely treat him with kindness and generosity!"

The white mist behind him gradually dissipated, revealing a pool of golden water. Bathed in the sunlight shining from the sky, the pool shone with a vibrant, bright color, and each ripple of water radiated intense supernatural power.

Beside the pool, shrouded in colorful clouds, stood a tall platform, its white bricks exuding a sense of familiarity. Above it climbed a pale white branch, winding its way up the platform, where palm-sized flowers were in full bloom.

This flower is extremely white, with each delicate white petal tinged with gold, exuding a strong and alluring aura, resembling a peony, and brimming with an extremely rich and bright spiritual energy!
As the white mist in the mountains receded, it seemed as if all the light in the world had gathered on this one peony. Li Quewan only glanced at it before quickly realizing what it was.

Purple Mansion Spiritual Root!

Adding to this boundless radiant energy that seemed poised to soar into the sky, yet was restrained by the formation, Li Quewan instantly understood:
'It's that Purple Mansion Spirit Flower!'

"Jin Yu obtained this treasure from the Eastern Fire Cave Heaven, known as the Bright Sun Purple Palace Treasure, which is said to 'bloom and wither annually, its fallen petals becoming insects!'"

The dazzling white flower was reflected in her pupils. A gale swept up from the mountains, and the golden-robed youth, his robes billowing, turned around and laughed:
"If Fellow Daoist Zhaojing can persuade the Xiao family to settle for second best, or if King Wei can consider some past relationship and stand on Jin Yi's side, then this supreme spiritual root from the Eastern Fire Heaven, the Emperor's Fiend White Peony, is willing to be given to King Wei to help Mingyang achieve the Dao!"