Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1297 Guidance
The two stepped forward in tacit agreement and quickly crossed the great river, where they saw the largest lake in the south, its waters sparkling and its scenery ever-changing. Qiao Yue gazed at it intently and couldn't help but sigh.

Ju Liangwang, however, said:
"What's there to sigh about, Fellow Daoist Qiao?"

"Leaving one's hometown..."

Qiao Yue gave a quiet reply, but Ju Liangwang laughed and said:

"I envy you, Qiao clan, for even you are sighing. When King Wei pacified Xiang, my Ju clan had neither secret realms to offer nor supernatural powers to assist us. Our centuries-old foundation rested solely on Liangchuan. If my Ju clan could not defend it, then it all became the achievement of Master Jia."

"Now I am filling the Jianghuai region, all alone and helpless. I am not capable of achieving enlightenment, and I am already old. If Liangchuan is in trouble, and my cousin breaks through and falls, the world will be in turmoil. My Ju clan is nothing but an ant!"

This Taoist priest from the Ju family seems to have the opposite mindset from many other members of the Qiao family. He is not afraid of losing money, but he is afraid of having no money to lose!

His gaze was calm as he stared at Qiao Yue. The young man was taken aback at first, then silently offered words of comfort:
"At least... there's still the Yu family!"

The Ju and Yu families had intermarried, and Ju Liangwang was Yu Xi's grandson-in-law. He should have received some preferential treatment, but he shook his head:
"My wife died young without children, and what's more... Old Master..."

'Master Yu himself is nearing the end of his life, and has no successor; how can he possibly care about the Ju family!'

The two fell silent, each taking two attendants, and crossed the surging river to reach the lake. Before they had traveled more than a few miles, someone stopped them. The man, a very young man, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting and smiled, saying:
"Fellow Daoists...we are already in Tingzhou territory!"

Even though the person before him seemed to have just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Qiao Yue quickly bowed and said:
"Greetings, fellow Daoist... I am Qiao Yue, a cultivator of the Qiao clan. This is Fellow Daoist Ju, originally from a prominent family in Luoyang, but recently moved to Jianghuai. We have come here to express our gratitude!"

Ju Liangwang didn't say much, but the young man, with bright eyes, smiled and said:

"So you are a highly accomplished cultivator from the North. I am Pu Xinya of the Pu family, currently serving in a local post. You two are too kind. Please follow me."

'A prominent family on the lake…'

The two men recognized his background and exchanged a glance.

To put it bluntly, if it weren't for the King of Wei and people like Pu Xinya, once they arrived in Luoyang, any direct descendant of either family could have given him the cold shoulder and ordered him around at will. They wouldn't have been qualified to stand tall in front of the two of them.

'The rise and fall of social status can happen in the blink of an eye.'

The two didn't say much, remaining polite as before, and headed towards the prefecture. They found the area bustling with activity, with many people announcing good news. Ju Liangwang smiled and said:
"You've come at the perfect time; something good has happened on the lake."

Mentioning this, Pu Xinya was in a very good mood. He casually cupped his hands towards the south and then smiled, saying:
"King Wei is divinely mighty, and his masterful methods have established a great karmic connection for our eastern bank. He used supreme treasures to create a sacred land, and that mountain is now a place of myriad wonders, filled with the fragrance of spiritual energy..."

"With the spiritual energy of the entire East Coast recovering, my Pu family, the Chi family, and all the families on the East Coast have benefited greatly. The fire veins within our clans are surging, and our places of cultivation are shining brightly!"

He was beaming with joy—Li's goal was merely to lift up the entire mountain of dense forest for alchemy and cultivation in the Purple Mansion, but the small amount of profit that slipped through his fingers made the families on the East Bank ecstatic and their coffers overflow with wealth.

Upon hearing this, Ju Liangwang stroked his beard in slight confusion:

"The other day they said... there were signs in Tingzhou that the 'Fire God' had perished; that must be about this... the secret within that palace."

The two congratulated him, and Pu Xinya led them inside to the main hall. He quickly reported the matter and received a reply. The young man turned and smiled.
"What a coincidence, His Highness is currently dealing with matters on the East Bank. Please, both of you, make yourselves at home!"

Upon hearing the words "Your Highness," Ju Liangwang finally felt a sense of solemnity.

'The golden-eyed direct descendant of the Mingyang Li family!'

'A pure-blooded Golden Core descendant!'

Ju Liangwang followed the envoy forward and entered through the main gate. The brilliance of the main hall immediately struck him. The interior was extremely spacious, with twelve pillars standing tall. At the top of the nine golden steps was the main seat, where a handsome man sat.

Strangely, this prince seemed to have already dealt with everything and appeared quite casual. He did not sit in the main seat, but instead sat on the third golden step, holding a jade slip in his hands, deep in thought.

The main seat, bathed in shimmering sunlight, lay prostrate behind him, like a wild beast hidden in the background.

"I have met His Highness!"

The young man raised his head. His golden pupils were not fierce, and his expression was even gentle, yet it made the two men who had looked up at the King of Wei feel uneasy. They lowered their heads for a moment, their hearts trembling.

"Please rise, both patriarchs!"

The young man kindly asked the two to stand up before saying:
"Have the two companies already arrived in Jianghuai?"

Qiao Yue hurriedly said:

“We are not as well-off as they are. The cultivators have arrived first, and the mortals have already transported two batches. We are grateful for the rescue by King Wei and True Man Qingfeng, and have come to pay our respects immediately.”

Qiao Yue's ancestors were also supporters of the Cui family. Qiao Yue had exchanged a few words with Cui Jueyin back then. Perhaps it was old friendship, or perhaps it was the phrase "are you a descendant of Shangyao?" that had an effect. In those few words, he had already sensed the goodwill this master had for him and his family.

'My family possesses such vast spiritual resources, unlike the Wei and Ju families who have cultivators in seclusion, nearing the Purple Mansion stage… If we cannot obtain the protection of the Purple Mansion, we will inevitably lose a portion today and compensate for it tomorrow, being gradually eroded day by day!'

At this moment, Qiao Yue was desperate to grasp at any straw, so naturally he couldn't let Cui Jueyin go. He intentionally tried to bring him up, but the young man in front of him sighed:

"Lightweight? That's a bit of a disservice to the Qiao family head."

Qiao Yue was taken aback at first, then hesitated somewhat uneasily. Li Sui, however, changed the subject and chatted with the two about the situation in the north. He then understood and said softly:
"My grandfather Pingxiang, everyone contributed a great deal. Master Cui also mentioned the head of the family. The Qiao and Wei families once served under Shangyao and are both old officials."

Qiao Yue quickly bowed, his heart filled with excitement, and sure enough, he heard the prince say:

"Master Cui is on the mountain; you should go and pay him a visit!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"

Qiao Yue's eyes immediately reddened.

He was all too aware of the current situation. It seemed like the Qiao family would face countless difficulties in establishing themselves in the Jianghuai region, but in reality, all it took was a single word from the Li family! Not even the direct descendants of the Li family were needed; as long as this Master Cui was willing to inquire and show concern, his entire clan could be protected!

He bowed again, rose, and hurriedly withdrew. Ju Liangwang waited by his side until Qiao Yue disappeared from sight, at which point the Taoist priest bowed and said:

"I, Ju, have come to the lake to present something to Your Highness!"

Li Sui turned around, his golden eyes sweeping over him, and said:
"What is this, Patriarch Ju..."

Ju Liangwang moved forward, raised his hands, and revealed what was in his palms—a pale gold jade slip!

The middle-aged man bowed and said:

“My Ju family has a shallow lineage, but we have never been restricted by any Taoist methods. Our ancestors cultivated the ways of thunder and lightning and the ‘Shen Kui’... Later, the energy of ‘Shen Kui’ was cut off, so we used the ways of metal and water to supplement it. Today... we offer it to the lake!”

His expression was resolute, and he said in a deep voice:
"Here lie the fundamental techniques of 'Xiao Lei's' 'Wo Dong Zi' and 'Xuan Lei's' 'Lu Yan Wei' and 'Fa Feng Tan,' as well as 'Sha Shou Gong' and 'Ru Zhong Zhuo' obtained over hundreds of years!"

This Foundation Establishment cultivator actually took out the entire Ju Clan's heritage, quietly headed south, and offered it all up!
There are a total of five Purple Mansion Divine Power inheritances. The two Golden Water Divine Powers are already valuable enough, but the three Thunder Techniques are rare—they are extremely rare in the world today!

Such a precious gift demonstrates Ju Liangwang's resolute heart. Li Sui remained silent for a long time, then said:

"What does Fellow Daoist Ju want?"

Ju Liangwang, with bright eyes, replied:

"Guidance from the Immortal Clan."

Li Sui frowned:
"Guide?"

Ju Liangwang said softly:

"I have heard that the noble family has a Jade Palace in a secluded forest, which oversees all cultivation on the east bank. The Ju family has long admired Mingyang, but being in a remote location, we are unable to support our descendants. We only hope that there is a place for cultivation on the immortal mountain so that our descendants can learn immortal techniques and build a foundation for immortality."

Li Suihuan's gaze shifted slightly, looking at him with admiration. Ju Liangwang said softly:

"Our clan hastily migrated south, leaving behind many spiritual roots connected to the great formation. They were all left behind in their old lands, unable to make a living. However, Liangchuan is connected to Jin, and for hundreds of years, cultivators have come and gone, staying in the market to cultivate... The clan's members know some business and hope to exchange it for entry into the dense forest market to make a living traveling around."

Li Sui stood up, descended the steps, and said softly:

"That's it?"

"That's all!"

The Daoist Ju, without changing his expression, knelt down and respectfully said:
"We humbly request Your Highness's permission!"

……

Cui Jueyin led his people eastward from the lake to the top of the mountain. He couldn't help but stop and look at it with amazement on his face.

He had been diligently guarding the dense forest for decades when Cui Jueyin was building his foundation, and he was extremely familiar with every peak and rock in this place. What was presented to him now was no longer the dense forest mountain from back then.

The mountain slopes have become quite undulating, rising several tens of feet in some places. Most of the vegetation on the mountain has receded, revealing the crimson ground. The remaining 30% of vegetation has also changed color, displaying an uneven red hue.

The spiritual energy of the entire dense forest mountain has more than doubled, with some places rivaling that of Zhijing Mountain. Even in relatively sparse areas, it far surpasses what it was back then, and can be vaguely compared to Huzhou before the formation was established. What is even more abundant are the underground fire veins, which are densely packed and there are no fewer than thirty places where fire can be used to refine weapons and pills.

The gifts brought by these three divine powers of the peony fire, which have been nurtured for thousands of years, are far more than this; they have even left behind three wonders in this mountain!

Located at the foot of the mountain, this is a fertile land rich in spiritual energy and with a continuous flow of fire. It gathers the nurturing virtue of fire. Although it is not particularly special to the Purple Mansion, its advantage lies in its vastness. The dense forest is already known for its fertile land, and this fertile land surrounding the mountain can produce a lot of spiritual resources.

Upon reaching a slightly higher elevation, one will find a ground fire, a smoldering flame that moves continuously beneath the ground, radiating intense heat. Once one approaches this place, an invisible fire will naturally arise, which can be used for refining weapons.

Because of Li Ximing, the Li family has made great strides in alchemy and weapon crafting. They have finally found such a good place to refine weapons, and the area has long been surrounded by several weapon refiners who are eagerly watching.

At the highest peak, a mountain covered with red fig trees had sprung up, and an invisible fire rose, with a fire spring exposed in the very center, where a huge golden alchemy furnace stood.

The Taoist master in the platinum-gold robe stood before the furnace, a dot of heavenly light between his brows, standing gracefully with two fingers together, seemingly sensing the celestial sun.

"grown ups!"

Cui Jueyin bowed, and the True Man turned around, smiling and nodding. Qiao Yue secretly raised his eyebrows, realizing that this True Man Zhaojing was indeed very kind and friendly.

He dared not look closely, but Li Ximing was also observing him, without saying a word, only saying:

"Jueyin has arrived!"

Cui Jueyin bowed and smiled:

"Congratulations, sir!"

Li Ximing stood up, looking very pleased. He pointed to the fire vein behind him and praised it:

"Thanks to Kuang Hong, who cultivates the 'Jian Kuang Xiang' and is quite knowledgeable about the changes of the spiritual energy and the void, when the peony fire divine power fell, he buried two spiritual resources to guide the fire vein. When he reached the top of the mountain, he used the characteristic of the transcendent divine power to connect yin and yang to bring it out... That's how this [Tingpeng Flame Spring] came to be!"

"The meaning of this spring is that the male fire accumulates, gathers and enters the main body, and bursts forth with the meaning of change. It is mainly the male fire that nurtures, and it is rare to mix in the change of the flow."

He smiled and said:
"Refining pills here will not only greatly improve the quality of elixirs, but also speed up the refining process, making it far superior to my Zhijing Mountain!"

When someone breaks through to the Purple Mansion realm, there is often a change in the location, which has a magical effect, like the finishing touch on a painting. Zhijing Mountain was originally quite deep, and when Li Ximing broke through, it was enough to provide a place for cultivation in the Purple Mansion realm. When Li Quewan broke through to Jiuqiu, the spiritual energy there was even stronger, and a peak was created, with cinnabar like a waterfall and gold and stone surging, forming various shapes, lifelike.

Jiuqiu therefore changed the name of that peak—originally called [Qushi Peak], it later became [Xuancheng Peak].

However, the foundation of Zongquan Island that Li Zhouwei broke through to was too poor. Even though his breakthrough greatly increased his spiritual energy, which could be used for future generations to cultivate, it was not enough to nourish the Purple Mansion. Li Jiangqian's abnormality was suppressed, and he only managed to create a cave dwelling.

The spiritual energy atop the dense forest mountain was slightly inferior to that of Wushan in the past, but it couldn't withstand the fact that these three divine abilities had been nurtured for a thousand years. Li Ximing was extremely satisfied with what he saw. Upon hearing this, Cui Jueyin smiled and said:
"That's not all. Senior Liu's array formation skills are astonishing. Once things settle down in Luoyang and he has a chance to leave, he can come here. With his cultivation, there's no need to set up a grand Purple Mansion Array. With just a few clever ideas, he can surely improve it by several times."

Li Ximing nodded, his gaze already fixed on the man kneeling on the steps behind him. Cui Jueyin immediately understood and said:
"Your Excellency's alchemy is unparalleled and renowned throughout Jiangnan, yet few have passed on the tradition. I have just encountered a promising talent in Luoyang and brought him here for Your Excellency to see."

His words were unequivocal and fell directly into Qiao Yue's ears. How could this Taoist priest, kneeling on the steps, not understand—this promising talent was clearly Qiao Yue himself!

'I'd like to become your apprentice!'

A thunderbolt seemed to explode in the Taoist's heart.

Whether it was Ju Liangwang or Qiao Yue, they came to pay homage to the sect and seek protection. Qiao Yue was only thinking about showing his face to Cui Jueyin, and dared not even think about attaching himself to the Li family, let alone becoming a disciple!
Who is this Zhaojing Zhenren Li Ximing?

The first True Man of the Li family, the uncle of the current King of Wei, is a pillar of the Li family. He is low-key in his actions, but he has unparalleled alchemy skills in Jiangnan, and therefore has close relationships with various schools of Zifu.

His personal disciple is on par with the Mingyang bloodline in the hall just now, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he can walk sideways in the Jianghuai region!
(End of this chapter)