Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1368 Homecoming (1+12) (Bonus Chapter 36113)
When this thought echoed in his mind, it seemed that it was too late. His newly formed eye was stinging under their gaze. This King of Wei did not choose Qiu Shenshi, nor did he look at Shen Sou. His figure transformed into a stream of light and came through the air!

He no longer cared about his injuries; the divine lightning trembled continuously, and he suddenly responded:

"Lawyer's Wife"!
His most powerful technique, the "Divine Palace Oath," which amplifies the speed of divine lightning, was injured by the sun. He had no choice but to use the slightly less powerful "Law Manifestation." However, Lin Chengsheng had been held up by him for so long, and his supernatural powers and spells had been repeatedly broken by lightning. How could he let him leave so easily?

He suddenly clenched his fist, and billowing black energy surged out. A dark, black box suddenly shot out from the sky, its mouth wide open, revealing runes. Blood energy cascaded down like a waterfall, imprisoning him like a deadly ghost.

Lin Chengsheng possessed a lineage treasure, making it much easier for him to activate his spiritual weapon. Moreover, this was a treasure of his own path. In an instant, black winds rose, continuously absorbing the lightning on his body. Even though divine lightning repeatedly shattered this darkness, it was ultimately a moment too late.

Having been targeted by Mingyang, Jun Daowei charged in, already in grave danger, and now blocked by the person in front of him, Shangguan Mi felt an immense chill in his heart.

"Boom!"

He had only flown a few miles when a scorching heat appeared behind him. He didn't look back, but the terrifying light of day had already caught up with him, and a faint yet continuous buzzing sound reached his ears.

"Boom!"

He felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow; all the colors of the past became disordered, as if he had fallen into a sky of mixed colors, and his supernatural powers, which had been operating at their peak, came to an abrupt halt.

The Xuanlei Divine Power was high above, and with a slight activation, it startled him awake. However, all colors before his eyes were shrouded in darkness, and the white Qilin in black robes was already standing in front of him.

Those golden eyes stared down, and the fierce general fell silent for a moment. He finally raised his weapon, his expression calm, and accepted what was before him.

"When two nations clash, there is no room for compromise. We must consult the King of Wei!"

But he didn't hear a reply.

It seemed that an opponent of his caliber was no longer worthy of the King of Wei's interest, or perhaps the other party's anger had reached its limit. The moment these words rang out, billowing flames emerged from behind him like ghosts, greedily clinging to his body. All that remained before his eyes was a single point of light that seemed to pierce his vision!
The sound of halberds echoed!

Shangguan Mi's divine lightning exploded in the sky, but he was injured and could no longer easily break free from the flames on his body. When he barely took a step forward, the halberd was already at his chest.

"Boom!"

Lightning illuminated the sky, and Shangguan Mi's figure reappeared in another location. A golden gash, almost piercing his entire face, now marred his features. He covered his face with one hand, causing the wound to shrink rapidly, while his other hand formed a talisman, and he shouted:
"Edict!"

Endless thunderbolts descended from the sky!

His spell looked simple, but it was actually quite profound, as he had used his most powerful and secretive lightning technique. The silver waterfall flowing in the sky was filled with a terrifying aura of destruction.

'Let's stall for as long as we can...'

He didn't really believe Pingyan would come to his rescue; at this point, no one could save themselves...

Upon realizing this, a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

With Mingyang's activities on the lake in full swing, how could Shangguan Shi, with his sensitive background, not have noticed? Just watching the six families submit one by one made Shangguan Shi's feelings increasingly complicated.

The Shangguan clan's entry into Shu and their separation from Mingyang were not actually that deep. In fact, this branch of the Shangguan clan entered Shu because of the Li clan. Furthermore, because of these past connections, they took care of the then-weak Tanshan Li clan, thus offending many True Persons.

Of course, now that the situation in Mingyang has become clear, the Li family of Tanshan has deliberately severed ties with Mingyang, even breaking off their long-standing marriage with the Shangguan family, almost to the point of becoming enemies. The Shangguan family already had few friends in Shu, and this situation has made things even more difficult for them.

It's impossible not to hate them, but the past grievances still exist, and the Shangguan clan still maintains at least some respect for the Li clan of Tanshan—even if the other party may not necessarily give them face.

As for joining Mingyang... Shangguan Mi had considered it.

'Is the area under the command of Qingji Fang... a place fit for a human being?'

"Although he is currently in seclusion and the Shu Emperor is in power, things are much better now. But he will eventually emerge from seclusion, and once he does, what will become of those of us who are close to the Shu Emperor!"

He also had a fiery temper. Back then, whenever he was verbally provoked, ostracized, or taken advantage of, he felt an urge to throw himself into Mingyang's camp and give Qingji a good beating in revenge!

Unlike the other five clans, the Shangguan clan, being based in Shu, had already caught the eye of the Shu Emperor. To put it bluntly, they were all under his control. When the Shu Emperor asked about the story of Mingyang, the old master of his family was trembling with fear. Shangguan Mi didn't really care who he was used by, but he couldn't sacrifice his entire clan.

'It's not that Lady Shangguan had any ulterior motives...it's just that she no longer had the right to choose.'

The Shangguan family had limited connections in Shu and had made many enemies. Not to mention, the entire clan was under the noses of others. Shangguan Mi could only rely on the Shu Emperor. He wanted to die a glorious death, even if it meant standing in the way of Mingyang!
'Now, I've also laid a hand on his daughter, Quan Dan. I've always heard he dotes on her, and he'll eventually kill me to vent his anger.'

The thought flashed through his mind, but just as the wound on his face began to scab, his pupils suddenly dilated.

The King of Wei had already stepped out.

The solidified lightning poured down from his black helmet like molten lava, scattering in all directions along the gold and black patterns, yet it could not shake the man in the slightest. The raging fire on his body mixed with the bright sun, like a halo, causing all the lightning to brush past him.

The man emerged from the thunder step by step, as if bathed in a spring breeze.

In that instant, Shangguan Mi suddenly understood Shan Yin and why he was the number one under the Mingyang Dao regime.

But his enlightenment could not change the course of the battle. The terrifying flames flickered once again. The King of Wei had not used any other supernatural powers yet. Instead, he slowly stepped forward and stared at him quietly.

The enormous setting sun rose above the ground, plunging the terrifying figure of the white Qilin into darkness. Looking at the pair of golden eyes lurking in the darkness, Shangguan Mi felt a moment of suffocation.

He slowly pinched the Xuan Lei, only to hear a majestic and heavy voice resound.

"I... promised Senior Di Yan."

Upon hearing the name, Shangguan Mi froze, raising his head in disbelief to look at the enormous white unicorn under the setting sun.

"He begged me to spare your life and also asked me to subdue the Shangguan clan so that the Mingyang subjects would not be displaced."

Shangguan Mi's face turned pale instantly. He lowered his head, then raised it again in disbelief, looking at the Prince of Wei walking quietly in front of him, and said calmly:
"Together with me, we broke through the pass and entered Shu, bringing Lady Shangguan out."

'He intends to invade Shu and bring out my Shangguan family!'

The other party had pinpointed his deepest doubt, making everything seem incredibly tempting. Shangguan Mi's heart skipped a beat. Thinking of that great master from the southern water towns, a wave of pain surged to his eyes, and he gritted his teeth:

'But what if we can't break through? How can we risk the lives of our entire clan!'

He leaned forward slowly, bowed deeply, and thought to himself:

'The road to Shu is treacherous, with four majestic passes. I will go with him; if we fail, I will commit suicide before the passes to repay my clan's kindness! This will also appease Mingyang's hatred... If we succeed...'

He paused slightly, then said angrily:

"If the King of Wei can protect my Shangguan family, Shangguan Mi will do everything in his power, even at the cost of his life, to repay him!"

……

Snowflakes fell heavily on the pass, and a cold wind blew from the mountain all the way to the front of the main hall. The people of the county had been settled in the kitchen, but the main hall, protected by the spirit array, was as warm as spring all year round, with only rolling mysterious light.

The tea on the table was boiling vigorously. The purple-robed Grand Master stroked his beard and smiled, while the crimson-robed youth in front of him looked thoughtful. He said:

"What the real person means is... this fire... ultimately has an owner, that's undeniable."

After all, the Purple Mansion True Man's ultimate desires were only a few things. He clearly understood the meaning of the prince before him and smiled:

"Your Highness is the Vice Minister of the Mingyang Academy, there is no need for you to worry!"

Li Jiangqian chuckled and said without any hesitation:

“You are mistaken, Master. When it comes to the path of enlightenment, one must listen to all sides to gain clarity, while listening to only one side will lead to obscurity. How can one be complacent and worry-free when it comes to secondary matters!”

The great master dared not say more, nodded thoughtfully, as if remembering something, and said:
“I do not see the true fire in my lineage, but there was once a great immortal named Wei in the Zitai lineage. He was questioned by the True Lord and was a close friend of my elders. So he had some information and advised him to seek the rest. If he was willing but unable, he should seek the true fire and the rest.”

Li Jiangqian was shocked to find that this great master was indeed knowledgeable, and began to have doubts.

"Back then, the heavens, through Suining's mouth, gave me a formula, which said, 'The correct position does not leap, the ending position does not have a remainder.' Fire (Li) is not good for leaping, and seeking the remainder is correct, but 'seeking the truth and seeking union'... Is the mountain trying to harm him, or...?"

He pondered deeply, and the great master before him then said:
“Our lineage records that true fire can be broken, and fire can burn excessively. The proper position has a master but is not proper, and it attaches itself to the brilliance. This is the current state of fire virtue.”

Li Jiangqian pondered for a while, picked up these few sentences and read them carefully, thinking to himself.

'This True Fire has its setbacks… I've heard it more than once. It seems that many things related to the Li Fire are discussed by bringing up this True Fire…'

The True Fire Dao is not widely spread, but its power is already considerable for independent cultivators. Its value lies in its ability to create alchemical artifacts, which gives it a unique significance. Apart from the difficulty of cultivation, it has almost no particular drawbacks...

After all, the energy of True Fire mostly comes from precious spiritual fire and treasure lands—the earliest True Fire cultivation method of the Li family was based on energy drawn from spiritual fire, which is almost impossible for independent cultivators to obtain.

However, when focusing on those at the Purple Mansion Divine Power level, the power of True Fire is not low. Whether it is King Gao Fu of Bo Lie or Tian Que of the Golden Feather Sect, they are not inferior in the way of fighting.

"Everyone says it's broken, but it doesn't look like a broken lineage at all..."

Li Jiangqian replied, and the purple-robed Grand Master poured himself a drink, chuckled, and said:
“Your Highness is using materials like wood and water, but true fire is different. Whether it’s its origin or the remedies made by later generations, it is far superior to these two.”

He said:

"It is said that the position of True Fire was originally held by an extremely powerful figure, whose name we do not know. As for how remarkable he was... back then, the State of Chu had the Southern Fire Heavenly Palace. Do you know about him, fellow Daoist?"

Li Jiangqian's eyes lit up, and he nodded, saying:
"Of course I know! I've heard it's the lineage of Douxuan!"

"Haha... After all, it's called Tianfu... Who else would dare to consider themselves the heavens?"

Yu Xixin smiled. Her words were ambiguous, sounding both like praise and sarcasm, yet the name itself revealed the family's powerful origins. She said:

"This is what I heard: Before the master of Tianfu, that Chongli Zhenjun, attained enlightenment, a senior disciple asked him to seek the True Fire. This Zhenjun politely declined, whether out of uncertainty or sincerity, but he said something like, 'This humble junior dares not violate the rites of Zhengshi!'"

After a brief pause, Yu Xixin said calmly:

"Back then, this person didn't even give face to those on the mountain, yet he spoke such humble words, which shows the majesty of the First True Fire."

Li Jiangqian wrote them down one by one and pondered them:

'That's certainly true. Since this so-called senior uncle also urged this True Lord to seek the truth, it means there must be a significant connection between the two...'

He pondered for a moment, and Yu Xixin continued:
"This True Lord's words are not without reason. That True Fire went to the outer heavens long ago, and the position remained vacant for a long time. After the [Cataclysm of Severing and Nurturing], the True Fire was injured and weakened for a time... It was the combined efforts of the various Divine Lords of the Douxuan Dao who went elsewhere to fill the gap for the True Fire—that's how the True Fire came to be as it is today. Fellow Daoist, you seem to have no major problems, and that's precisely why!"

Li Jiangqian immediately understood, nodded repeatedly, thanked the person before him, and was about to ask more questions when he heard Wu Miao ride the wind into the hall, laughing:
"Your Highness, Master Zhaojing has returned!"

Li Jiangqian was greatly moved and quickly got up. He stepped on the fire to greet them. When he arrived at the high wall, he saw his elders with beaming faces, walking through the snow. Behind them were the Master of the Lü Clan and the Sect Master of Cheng Yun. They were extremely polite and there was a lot of laughter.

"No need to see me off! No need to see me off..."

Li Ximing just chuckled, but Lu An behind him shook his head repeatedly and sighed:

"Master Zhaojing has turned hostility into friendship, stopping this earth-shattering war and preventing widespread bloodshed. He has rendered meritorious service through his supernatural powers and benefited all living beings. We will certainly escort you safely!"

These words were half praise and half flattery, but Lü An was very worried.

'Li Ximing holds a special position, and now he carries a set of priceless treasures given to him by the Grand Master. No matter how short the journey is, we can't afford to let anything happen to him…'

If something were to happen on this short stretch of road, who knows how embarrassing it would be! He, Gujun, would truly be caught in the middle, losing both people and money, and would be in serious trouble.

Upon seeing Li Jiangqian, Lü An's eyes lit up:
"This must be His Highness! Please allow me to meet the King of Wei and personally express my gratitude..."

Li Jiangqian smiled.

Li Zhouwei is no longer here!

No sooner had Li Ximing left than Li Zhouwei rushed south. Judging by the timeline, he was most likely already embroiled in battle with the Grand Master of Western Shu. How could he possibly see this man before him? However, he remained calm and composed, shaking his head and saying:
“Father went to see General Yang to discuss other matters, so I’m afraid we won’t be able to meet.”

"I see!"

Lu An secretly suspected:

'Does the Yang family truly intend to attack Gu County? Logically, it should be him advising Li Zhouwei, not this Prince of Wei?'

Since he couldn't see Li Zhouwei, he could only retreat with his men. Li Jiangqian was filled with anticipation and quickly dismissed everyone, leading Li Ximing towards the main hall.

"Crench."

As soon as the palace doors closed, Li Jiangqian looked at Li Ximing expectantly. Seeing him nod slightly with a smile, he was overjoyed and laughed loudly, but said aloud:

"Does Master Longkang have something good for us?"

He was always cautious. This place wasn't just on the lake; it was very likely right under the True Lord's nose. Of course, he wouldn't say anything. A nod was enough for him to understand. He naturally revealed his joy, explaining that it was a return gift from Long Kangyao. Li Ximing naturally understood and smiled broadly as well, saying:

“But they are all good things!”

So he took out the items one by one, and for a moment the entire hall was filled with a dazzling array of items, their colors overwhelming. The Immortal Zhaojing introduced them one by one, which truly stunned Li Jiangqian. Li Ximing particularly emphasized the precious purple qi, and said earnestly:
"With this supreme treasure, your and Que Wan's supernatural powers will be secure!"

Seeing the bottles of purple qi displayed there, he was genuinely delighted, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled:
"Now I've lived up to my father's expectations!"

Li Zhouwei had given him instructions long ago, and all sorts of spiritual items related to the Fire of Departure were sent to him at any cost. In recent days, he has been taking them and cultivating at the same time, and his spending has become astonishingly extravagant. The foundation for immortality is naturally not a problem. The only worry is that the promotion will fail!
After all, he was not Bai Qilin. Apart from Li Zhouwei, no one was confident that he could master the supernatural power in one breath. Even Li Zhouwei used a lot of treasures to help him break through. Now that he had the [Listening to Purple Qi], the heavy stone in his heart was finally lifted.

Overjoyed, he said:

"Grand Uncle is absolutely right, we can start preparing spiritual energy at home!"

Li Ximing laughed heartily, then casually rolled up his sleeves, seemingly unintentionally pulling out the jade box, and said casually:

"And this treasure... I can let Senior Cheng examine it to repay his kindness!"

Li Jiangqian, of course, knew what it was. Her heart pounded with excitement. She carefully opened the box, glanced at what was before her, and, equally overwhelmed by the golden aura, burst into tears, saying:

"It's good stuff..."

Li Ximing then said:
"It's time to go back to the lake!"

He was eager to send the fragment to the lake, to the heavens, and naturally wouldn't linger here. He immediately took out a portion of [Listening to Purple Qi] and gave it to him, saying thoughtfully:
"But this [Mingzhen Heshen Pill]..."

It's not that using the [Listening to Purple Qi] guarantees the completion of this supernatural power, eliminating the need for the [Mingzhen Heshen Pill]. In fact, for refining supernatural powers, using multiple methods simultaneously is often the most suitable. If you succeed, it's naturally worthwhile; if you don't, it means you truly gave it your all and gained a deeper understanding…

Li Jiangqian smiled slightly and said:
“This time, there’s no need. I just asked Master Yu, and he has a disciple named Xun Tiao, who is also a Master. His family has been making incense for generations, and one of their incense ingredients, ‘Mysterious True Incense,’ can help with the cultivation of supernatural powers.”

He said seriously:

"I have accumulated some things over the years. Whether it was going to Dalingchuan or guarding this place, I have benefited a lot. I can exchange these things myself. There is no need to trouble Grand Uncle."

His words made Li Ximing nod repeatedly. Just as he was about to ask, Li Jiangqian already knew what he was going to say. He himself had been paying attention, and smiled:
"But this is a rare treasure, and he's keeping it very safe. If there's any extra, I'll have someone send it to my sister in the south!"

"well!"

Li Ximing was eager to return home, and Li Jiangqian knew what he meant. Without saying anything more, he immediately took out a storage bag from his sleeve and solemnly said:
“During the time my great-uncle was away, I have collected the spoils of the campaign left by my father. Because so much of it was taken by these supernatural powers, and there was no action of breaking through formations and massacring cities, it seems a bit meager. However, everything inside has been arranged. Please take it back with you so that my father can appease the generals and provide supplies for the secret realm.”

Counting the days, the achievement of the secret realm is almost here. The opening is getting bigger every day, and there's still Cheng Qian who deserves a generous reward. Li Ximing nodded solemnly, and Li Jiangqian continued:
"Before my father went south, he specifically left Master Yu with me, instructing me to consolidate my power, return the various territories to them, and station my troops at the foot of the Taihang Mountains and beside the Liangchuan Mountains, to support Luoyang and prevent any unforeseen events!"

As agreed by both parties, Long Kangyao would immediately go out to retrieve the various passes, and the Li family's power would retreat to Qiao Wenliu's former residence, Juancheng, relying on Guangping in the north. Li Jiangqian briefly stated:

"The alliance has been established in the east, so there will be no war. Guangping in the north is a formidable city, small in area but teeming with powerful cultivators. Several of those with lower levels of power obeyed orders yesterday and were led south by Master Sima, seemingly to support Father. The rest are tough nuts to crack; none of them will dare to challenge them!"

The group currently guarding the north is easily vulnerable in the entire Gu County, but when they are concentrated in these two or three cities, they are like a tightly clenched fist, extremely difficult to deal with!

He smiled slightly and said:
"Thanks to my father, I have obtained the sign of 'Shunping Zheng', and my cultivation path is now smooth. I am now guarding this place and cultivating in peace. Please do not worry about me, elders and sister!"

Seeing that the father and son had made arrangements, Li Ximing was immediately relieved. If he had to stay and deal with such a large group of matters, he would have been in for a terrible headache. Now that he was freed from the crisis in the north, he felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders, nodded slightly, and said:
“Your father doesn’t need much support, but he will definitely take people with him. I don’t know how your sister is doing. She needs someone to look after her on the lake. I still want to take Senior Changdie with me.”

"It doesn't matter!"

Li Ximing, without delay, went out and summoned Liu Changdie. This monk, who was not used to staying in the north, was eager to return home and happily said:
"Having gone through these experiences of seeking enlightenment, I have gained many insights and am looking for a place to calmly cultivate myself and experience these feelings!"

The two traveled south at top speed, their supernatural powers propelling them forward. Along the way, they witnessed the snow-covered landscape, the icy rivers, and the turbid Baijiang River, now shrouded in gray clouds. Finally, the familiar lake came into view.

Looking out into the distance, Li Ximing saw that everything was still white. Floating white silk hung on the high-rise buildings, and round white paper like flowers fluttered in the streets. Layers of white hemp were also blowing around the lake. There was only silence and the sound of weeping.

His burning heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cave; he paused for a moment, and a sharp pain pierced his heart:
“Father…Father…Your son has brought the things back.”

(End of this chapter)