Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1417 Minor Success
Li Ximing stayed in the mountains for a while, but didn't linger. He raised his hand to take his leave. Tian Huo glanced at Fei Yuan Zhenren and said:
“Alright… Fei Yuan, you escort the real person back to the lake for us.”

The Flying Yuan Immortal hurriedly bowed and nodded, not allowing Li Ximing to refuse, and politely saw him out, stepping out of the towering mountain gate and gradually entering the desert.

After leaving the Golden Feather Sect, Liu Changdie's complexion improved significantly. However, after walking for a while, the three of them saw a dense, rain-like mass of gold that completely obscured their view. The vast void was as high as a mountain, and the ground was filled with magnetic fields.

What was once a vast expanse of yellow sand has solidified into a smooth, mirror-like surface, resembling a meticulously polished stone platform, stretching as far as the eye can see, seemingly boundless.

On the smooth ground, thousands upon thousands of sword-shaped shards, sharp as ridges, were stuck in the ground, each one pointing towards the sky, drawing down the ethereal golden energy of heaven and earth, mixing with the autumn dew and attracting thunder, creating a deafening roar.

For a moment, golden sand, autumn dew, and thunder shimmered and reflected each other, mixed with ever-changing magnetic fields—a truly astonishing sight. Li Ximing's expression changed slightly; he turned around and exclaimed in shock:

Who has fallen?

Liu Changdie finally sighed and replied:

"Jin Yidao, Zhang Yige, killed Ling Mei, the Great True Man, in Guyan, seized his image, and returned to his cave to cultivate and break through."

"Senior Li...Cheng?!"

Li Ximing's ominous premonition came true with a bang. He felt a slight numbness in his lips and tongue, and his heart was pounding. Suddenly, he understood the profound meaning in Tian Huo's eyes and stood there dumbfounded.

Compared to the cold and ruthless Cheng Xunzhi, Li Ximing was actually more familiar with his predecessor, Li Mei. He had visited him before, and the Li Mei of that time was naturally otherworldly. He could chat and laugh with him, and also talk in a friendly manner with a group of low-level Foundation Establishment elders without any arrogance.

Later, after the Salt Lake Incident, Cheng Xunzhi broke through the barrier and emerged from seclusion. His power and prestige were completely different. His strength and temperament had changed drastically. He no longer communicated much with the outside world. He spent his days either in seclusion or practicing swordsmanship. He rarely saw people, but he still took strong action for himself in the desert.

However, in just one round trip, Cheng Xunzhi, the great master and sword immortal who was famous throughout Jiangnan and possessed all five skills, suddenly and silently died here.

In these times of great upheaval in the world, not a ripple was made, and few people even knew that he was the one who died.

Li Ximing, who had been riding high on his power, was now suddenly struck by this news. His face turned pale, and considering Fei Yuan standing beside him, he remained silent for a long time, his eyes welling up with tears. He closed his eyes and murmured:
Why bother…

Liu Changdie said in a low voice:

"It's all destined, it's all fate."

He kept his eyes tightly closed. Although Li Ximing hadn't heard him elaborate, he knew that he had most likely been used as a stepping stone for others, and perhaps even had his own karmic consequences on the surface. He opened his mouth, speechless, and said in a hoarse voice:

"What about the relics? What about the sword?"

Liu Changdie said:

"It's been sent to Jianmen."

Li Ximing was speechless again. He suddenly raised his head, his expression changing slightly:
"The reason we invited him to the desert was precisely for..."

The timing was perfect. Li Zhouwei was vying for power with the emperor in Chengdu, with Jin Yi standing behind him. Everyone's attention was on Chengdu, so there was no chance of anything embarrassing happening.

Li Ximing's words were stuck in his throat, and he felt powerless. He lowered his head and walked forward step by step, and soon passed through this treasure land where the magnetic field was shimmering. Fei Yuan still followed behind without saying a word.

Li Ximing turned to look at him and found that the man had also put his hands behind his back and seemed somewhat silent.

Upon meeting his gaze, Fei Yuan smiled, changed the subject, and said:
"Senior... I'm afraid you're going to look down on me."

Li Ximing understood what he meant. Back then, when he, the True Man Zhaojing, visited the Xuanmiao Temple, he met Qi Qiuxin. The old True Man Sumian had a kind face but a cold heart, yet he only regarded Qi Qiuxin as his true disciple.

Su Mian didn't value Xuanmiao Temple too much, so it wasn't too much for Qi Qiuxin to disown it. However, the fact that she wouldn't even use the name Qi Qiuxin seemed disrespectful to Su Mian, who had devoted so much to him.

Li Ximing might have given him a perfunctory reply on ordinary days, but at this moment his mood was truly terrible, and he could only force a smile as he said:

"What are you saying... Jin Yi's family is so prestigious that many people want to curry favor with him, but they still can't get a chance."

Fei Yuan smiled and said:
“You’re too kind, senior. Actually, my master left me a letter. Jin Yi handed it over to me in its entirety. I know in my heart who harmed him and what he did. He also instructed me to leave some foundation in the South China Sea. If I really have nowhere to go, I can go there to take refuge temporarily… He was actually thinking of avenging him.”

"But I am different. I saw it in that cave and realized what true supernatural power is. His desire for revenge is far too naive... I am no match for that person's supernatural power, and Jin Yixian would not allow it..."

He sighed and said:
"In fact, if it weren't for that fortuitous encounter in the cave, which allowed me to stay in the Immortal Sect, I would be a fugitive now, and I don't know when I would lose my life."

Li Ximing did not respond to him, and Fei Yuan chuckled:
"In the end, these are superfluous words... It's just that not many people in the world know Qi Qiuxin, and Xuanmiao is gone, so I don't feel any burden in doing this. I used to feel fear and terror when I heard about Jin Yu, but now that I see it, the Immortal Sect treats its people... really well."

He paused, as if that was all he could say, and lowered his head in silence, leaving Li Ximing feeling a pang of sadness.

'Ha! This is probably just for my benefit.'

The Golden Feather Sect operates according to a clear system. Talented cultivators in the Immortal Sect often go to the Grotto Heaven to cultivate, while the Grotto Heaven sends members of the Zhang family to govern the Immortal Sect. The two do not interfere with each other. Qi Qiuxin's ability to enter the eyes of the Zhang family's True Persons and bypass the rules to assist in managing the sect is actually largely related to the Li family.

Especially Li Quewan.

At first, Li Ximing wasn't quite sure, but Huo spoke so casually that day, making such a fuss about entrusting something before his death, and saying that he would be left with no one to rely on after his death, leaving behind only a daughter. Li Ximing had already sensed something was amiss. Now that Qi Qiuxin had come along specifically to say such a thing, it must have been the same thing.

'As long as they don't completely break ties with Jin Yi, they will do their best to handle Li Quewan's situation after Qilin's demise.'

The Flying Yuan Immortal was actually a role model for the Li family, showing that even if they didn't share the same surname as them, they could still be accepted by the group of immortals.

Li Ximing was well aware of this, but his family was at the height of its power. Seeing them arrange things in such detail was heartbreaking. Thinking of Cheng Xunzhi's death, he suddenly felt the gold box in his sleeve burning hot. Overwhelmed with grief and complex emotions, he forced back his sorrow and said:

"No need to see me off anymore, go back... go back! Tell Tianhuo... I already know about his good intentions."

Fei Yuan bowed deeply and rode away on the wind. Li Ximing, head down, crossed Xiping and landed on his own mountain. He closed his eyes and finally let out a sigh.

He said:

"Senior Cheng...how did you get there?"

Liu Changdie followed him quietly all the way. Listening to his words, he poured him tea and recounted his experiences in the desert, making the master uneasy before finally speaking:

"To fight with all one's might and die honorably in battle... is not a regret."

Li Ximing said:

"With the murder of my wife and children still unresolved, and my desires still unfulfilled, I've become a stepping stone for others. How can I not feel regret!"

Liu Changdie remained silent.

This master had witnessed the battle between two great masters, seeing their earth-shattering divine powers, and seemed to have lost his soul, remaining in a daze ever since. Now, he was at a loss for words to comfort him. Li Ximing sighed and finally said nothing more, only stating:
"Did he...give any explanation?"

Liu Changdie remained expressionless, straightened his back, and sighed:

"Before leaving... he did give instructions, entrusting only the King of Wei to get rid of Tian Langzhi and settle his lifelong hatred!"

Li Ximing's eyes lit up instantly. He seemed to find some kind of solace, and the feeling of powerlessness dissipated considerably. He sighed deeply and said bitterly:

"Even without being entrusted with anything, I will still eliminate this scourge to repay past kindness!"

Liu Changdie raised an eyebrow, already having made up his mind, and sighed:
"Yes... this matter still depends on King Wei. I'll trouble Zhaojing to convey that I've witnessed the struggle between the two golds this time, and I've also received nourishment from the treasures. I've also obtained the Qi treasury's intention, and I'm going into seclusion to digest it... I wonder if there's anything else that Shu can use..."

"Oh?"

Li Ximing knew that Liu Changdie was facing a great opportunity this time, and without delaying him, he said:
"You don't need to worry about that. There are always array masters available. But your opportunity is fleeting, so don't let it slip away!"

Liu Changdie bowed respectfully and hurriedly withdrew. Li Ximing drank three cups of tea, which slightly eased his inner turmoil. He paced back and forth in the mountains several times, his heart heavy with sorrow.

"In short, I need to go overseas. I haven't been to that immortal array yet, and the matter in Zhentao Prefecture isn't settled. It'll be a good opportunity to go to the Sword Sect... But... I need to take care of a few miscellaneous matters first."

He slightly raised his hand, made a hand seal to sense the movement, and in a moment of subtle change, a beam of colorful light came from the lake, swift as lightning, and stopped in front of him, revealing its true form.

This person had a peaceful face and regular features; it was none other than Li Ximing!

This is precisely the [Divided Spirit and Different Body].

The current [Divided Spirit Body] no longer has the pale and crimson feel of a paper doll, but looks exactly like Li Ximing, and its aura is just like that of the same person. Standing in the mountains, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the real and the fake.

Li Ximing took a deep look, exhaled, his distress dissipated, and finally revealed a happy expression.

'Having obtained that treasure from heaven, this extraordinary being has already made some progress!'

He went out to wander around, leaving the alien body to cultivate in the world. Every eighteen days, it would take a drop of the precious liquid, and it had already used up a little less than half a pot. But this little less than half a pot had a greater improvement on the alien body than all his previous efforts!
Don't underestimate this small achievement—it's a masterpiece from ancient cultivators, who described supernatural powers as merely 'slightly wondrous'!
'This thing can now freely enter the realm where the sun and moon shine together under my control. If outsiders were to see it, unless they possess supernatural powers to distinguish the real from the fake, they would be completely unable to tell the difference between this alien entity and my true self!'

His alchemy skills are now beyond question; he can now do it almost entirely on his own, requiring only his assistance from the sidelines—meaning that Li Ximing practically has another version of himself who can refine pills at will.

'Back then, I envied Tinglan's "Crossing the Path Order," but now it can finally completely replace the wonders of that magical treasure.'

Furthermore, the combination of [Divided Spirit and Different Body] and [Bright Under Heaven] has been further enhanced. Driven by this supernatural power, he can now sit in the mountains and move freely with a body that is similar to the second level of the Purple Mansion supernatural power. Except for the fact that his physical body is slightly weaker, it is almost no different from Li Ximing himself when he goes out to fight!
Of course, there is also the most essential and most important change of this divine being.

To avoid disaster and calamity.

Li Ximing can transfer the calamity to the alien body. If the original body perishes, he can also use Shengyang to control this alien body to escape!

'It is the rising sun, not the true spirit! And where the rising sun is, the supernatural power is!'

Of course, if it really comes to that, one must also accept the many flaws of this alien body: limited spiritual awareness, fear of fire, ugly appearance, and the loss of many spells related to the physical body...

Li Ximing didn't care—this was a qualitative leap, meaning he had finally mastered this technique!
'This thing's lifespan is currently only sixty-nine, but it can continue to increase with cultivation, and it might even reincarnate into this alien body, potentially increasing its lifespan even further... By then, I might no longer be considered a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao...'

The two identical Li Ximing statues exchanged a glance, and a look of emotion appeared in the real person's eyes:

"After spending so much money... we've finally made it through..."

He was overjoyed with his new treasure, and with a slight flick of his finger, he touched the other's brow, blocking out the sliver of sunlight, and chuckled:
"From now on, you are Gu Feng!"

Master Gu Feng smiled and returned the greeting, taking the alchemy furnace from Li Ximing's hands. He then went to the side to start refining pills according to the formula. Li Ximing watched with satisfaction for a while, feeling that the burden of his previous distracting thoughts had been greatly reduced. It was as if the person before him could think for himself, and he only needed to guide the direction. He was immediately overjoyed and said:

"it is good!"

Then he turned around, and there was a small urn in his palm:
【Heaven-Nurtured Jar】!
Just as he picked up the urn, he suddenly remembered that Li Suining had not yet come out of seclusion. Without this junior, he really couldn't deal with Tian Su. He paused for a moment, but someone from the front of the mountain came to report urgently.

The newcomer was a middle-aged woman dressed in a red dress. She gave a slight bow, looking as if she had been granted a pardon. However, she was stunned when she suddenly saw two Li Ximings in the mountains.

However, she had also seen Li Ximing's otherworldly form, and sighed inwardly:
'The real person's supernatural powers have become even more formidable!'

Suppressing the horror in his heart, he said:
"The real person! The real person is finally back!"

Seeing that Li Minggong was unusually flustered, Li Ximing frowned:

"What happened?"

Upon seeing that it was the person in front of him, 'Li Ximing,' who spoke, Li Minggong quickly turned aside, gave a bitter smile, and said:
"It is our ancestor who has come down the mountain to seek an audience with the immortal!"

Li Ximing asked curiously:
"Ancestor, which ancestor?"

Li Minggong lowered his head and said:
"It's my aunt... Xiang Pinggong's granddaughter, Elder Donghe's daughter, the old woman who married into the Xiao family..."

These names were like a thunderclap, cleaving through the fog in his mind. Li Ximing suddenly understood and said:
"So it's Aunt Qingxiao..."

When Li Qingxiao was in her clan, it was a small family that hadn't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage. The Xiao and Li families intermarried, which led to their later relationship...

Li Qingxiao married Xiao Xian of Yu Shan. They had some contact in the past, but later the Xiao family moved to Beihai, and it became too troublesome to keep in touch, so they gradually lost contact.

Hearing that it was his aunt returning, Li Ximing understood what was going on. But with so many familiar relatives passing away, and fewer and fewer old friends remaining, he took it all more seriously and asked:
When did you arrive?

Li Minggong lowered his head and said:

"It's been a while now. The Xiao family brought it over personally. The old man had a hard life in his early years and is in poor health. The journey has only worsened his condition. He's being cared for by Lord Xiao while waiting for the real person to return..."

Li Ximing nodded silently and said:
"Let's go take a look together."