The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1597: Layered Fire (II)

Li Jianglong answered respectfully, "Daoist Master, the riverbanks remain unstable. Buildings are still continuously falling above the Turbid Slaughter Mausoleum, and it has now become little more than a ruin... There has been no news from the north for many days, and no one knows what they are waiting for. Only a few monks occasionally descend from the Wilderness, but Jiangxia is keeping watch."

Li Ximing's expression grew thoughtful as he asked, "And what of Mushroom Forest Plain?"

Having managed the family's affairs for many years without any major mistakes, the man was experienced and immediately understood what Li Ximing was asking. "The Azure Pond Sect hasn't reacted at all. They've been steadily pulling back their influence..."

"Mmm..." Li Ximing considered this for a moment before looking down with a smile. "How is Suihuan doing these days?"

Among Li Zhouwei's descendants, only Li Jianglong had been blessed with an eldest son. The child had been born during the period of conflict between north and south when cultivators were departing for battle, and so he was named Li Suihuan. Since Li Ximing had chosen the name himself, he still remembered it clearly. The moment it was mentioned, Li Jianglong immediately bowed.

"He has already been tested. He possesses a spiritual orifice and is currently in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He seems to have a fair amount of talent as well..."

Li Ximing exclaimed, "Excellent!"

Li Ximing had only recently obtained the [Scripture of Refulgent Firelight]. It was a legitimate cultivation method that could be openly passed down, and it even came with its own spiritual qi.

His mood immediately brightened and he said, "Your father obtained an ancient cultivation technique from the grotto heaven. It belongs to the Radiant Fire Dao and has its own strengths compared to your elder brother's cultivation method. Since fate has arranged things so conveniently, let him cultivate that instead."

Li Jianglong looked overjoyed. "Many thanks, Daoist Master!"

Smiling, Li Ximing casually made the arrangements and bestowed both of the excellent cultivation techniques obtained from the grotto heaven. Yet just as Li Jianglong received them, he knelt once more and kowtowed.

"My cultivation has already reached the point where I should attempt a breakthrough to the middle stage. I had intended to enter seclusion for it, but after all these years of being occupied with affairs, I've finally had a chance to meet with Daoist Master... I wished to ask something..."

Li Ximing nodded inwardly. Li Jianglong truly had devoted many years to the affairs of the lake. Otherwise, Li Ximing would not have personally named his son and bestowed cultivation arts upon him.

Hearing this, he smiled and asked, "Do you have anyone in mind to recommend?"

Li Jianglong replied, "Fifth uncle is kind and magnanimous, able to handle great responsibilities with ease. He's also free-spirited and detached from worldly concerns. I cannot compare to him..."

"That brat?" At the mention of Li Zhouming, Li Ximing immediately shook his head and said with a laugh, "Shouyu may have kept him in line these past few years, but how could he possibly manage anyone else? Don't push your fifth uncle into the fire."

The remark instantly made cold sweat break out on Li Jianglong's forehead. He lowered his head and repeatedly apologized, but the Daoist Master seemed entirely unconcerned. Taking a sip of tea, Li Ximing fell into thought.

The Wilderness has become an important region now, so Jiangxia cannot be moved. Little Cui has returned to the island, and Weizeng isn't suited to internal administration. We no longer have anyone who combines both civil and military talents while commanding broad respect...

He mused aloud, “Aside from you brothers, the Jiangque generation is dominated by women, with very few promising men. Only Jiangzong has shown any real promise. Don't burden him with major responsibilities yet. Give him an official position and let him act in the role for a time. Have Minggong teach him the ropes. Consider it a test.”

Li Jianglong bowed. "This junior obeys!"

With a few casual words, Li Ximing had set in motion political changes that could reshape the balance of power around the lake and even affect the transfer of authority between the clan's first and second lineages.

Yet he showed no hesitation whatsoever and still wore a faint smile. "His cultivation may not be impressive right now, but it's fortunate we have him."

Li Jianglong nodded repeatedly before taking his leave. Only after he had gone did Li Ximing's smile gradually fade. Within his qihai, the purple-gold thunder mace remained firmly suppressed as he quietly watched the gardenia blossoms drifting down from above.

I've already gathered enough [Radiant Fire] spirit items and [Whole Pill] spirit items, but I still haven't settled on the [Converging Water] spirit item... At this upcoming gathering of cultivators, plenty of people will be seeking out artifact refiners. It should be a good opportunity to acquire enough spirit armor...

I should also make a trip to Lacquer Marsh. Zhouwei has accumulated quite a few Buddhist cultivators' treasure artifacts over the years. Perhaps it's time to approach Lotus Temple and see what can be arranged.

As for myself... I've accumulated quite a number of spirit artifacts by now. I should sort through them and exchange a few for something more useful. After all, quality matters far more than quantity with spirit artifacts. To think there would come a day when I'd have such concerns!

The thought made Li Ximing chuckle. For control and suppression, he had the [Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers]. For travel, he possessed the [Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger]. For offense, there were [True Fire], [Radiant Fire], and [Merging Fire]. As for the newly acquired [Mountain-Supervising Spirit-Pointing Talisman], it was most likely a protective spirit artifact focused on mystical effects. The number of treasures in his possession had already reached an astonishing level.

"All the treasures on my person are probably worth more than my life. If news ever gets out beyond the clan, a few Purple Mansion Realm cultivators might just decide to join forces and kill me..."

As he was musing over the matter, a clear and pleasant voice echoed through the mountains. "Is Fellow Daoist on the mountain? Kuangyu has come to pay a visit!"

Li Ximing immediately recognized the voice. Knowing she had likely come to repay the favor involving the [Flying Profound Chaos Stone], he rose to greet her. "What an honor..."

"You're too polite." Daoist Master Kuangyu was still dressed in her light green robes. Smiling, she descended into the mountains and replied, "On my way back, I hurried off to find Fellow Daoist Liaoluo. He was quite fortunate. After spending so much time wandering around the grotto heaven, he suffered very few injuries and even managed to gain quite a few benefits."

She sat down openly at the stone table in the mountains and took a white jade box from her sleeve. She smiled as she set it on the table. "He kept talking about how he ran into your family's Daoist Master Minghuang together with Yangya. Worried about causing a misunderstanding, he left early. When he heard you were looking for Bright Yang materials, he gave me a piece of [General's Victory Stone]. It's a spirit material as well..."

Kuangyu paused and raised an eyebrow. "Perfect for refining spirit armor!"

Li Ximing was briefly taken aback, then quickly understood. When Master Dingyang had been refining artifacts for him, he had promised to help inquire after suitable materials. The request had likely spread through one of the Daoist Masters.

He thought to himself, She, Xuanyi, and Liaoluo are probably part of the same circle, perhaps even from closely related Dao lineages. They're distinct from the Supreme Yang Dao lineage, yet maintain close ties with Supreme Yang.

With that thought settled, he opened the jade box. Inside lay nothing more than a thin jade shard, yet it radiated dazzling brilliance. A rich aura of Bright Yang immediately washed over him.

He accepted the gift and expressed his thanks. "Fellow Daoist Kuangyu has helped me resolve a difficult problem."

Kuangyu smiled and said, "It's nothing. This is a mutually beneficial exchange. There's no point thanking each other over and over."

Her manner was open and generous, which left Li Ximing with a favorable impression. Remembering the jade ring spirit item in his possession, he considered the matter for a moment before asking, "Does Fellow Daoist happen to know Fellow Daoist Zhusheng of the Jade True Dao?"

A trace of curiosity crossed Kuangyu's face, but she nodded. "Of course I know him..."

After a brief hesitation, she elaborated, "To explain it more clearly, the Three Yuans of the Azure Pond Sect were active in the Southern Sea during their early years. All three were remarkable figures and built up quite a network of connections. Whether it was my grandfather, Mount Qusi, or even Jingyi Mountain before it split away from the Southern Sea, all of them had dealings with Daoist Master Yuansu.

"Xuanyi and Daoist Master Qiuhu met when they were still young and became quite familiar with one another. As for me, I spent most of my time studying under Hengzhu Dao, so I actually saw them less often.

"As for Daoist Master Zhusheng, he's closer to Daoist Master Yuanxiu. If you need something from him, it would be far more effective to ask the newly advanced Daoist Master Qinghu."

"So that's how it is!" Li Ximing silently sorted through the relationships in his mind and said with a nod, "Many thanks for the guidance, Fellow Daoist!"

Kuangyu smiled and said, "The old Daoist Master of Mount Qusi is still around, and he's particularly skilled in artifact refinement. If you have any further need in the future, I can also introduce you to Fellow Daoist Liaoluo..."

Her eyes shone brightly as she lifted her head slightly, revealing the graceful curve of her profile. Her voice remained soft and gentle, yet the seriousness behind her words was unmistakable.

"Supreme Yang has lost its radiance, but you and I are tied to the same rope. Tianwan favors the Immortal Dao and has little desire to harm others, yet there are still Changxiao, Baoqing, and Jinghai... The future is difficult to predict, but precautions must be made.

"Maintaining closer ties with them can only be beneficial."

Li Ximing was momentarily taken aback. He nodded with equal seriousness, sighing inwardly, She knows quite a bit as well... After following Hengzhu Dao for so many years, it would only be natural for Hengxing to have given her some guidance before the end...

Meeting Kuangyu's smiling gaze, he poured tea into his cup and raised it. "I'll certainly pay them a visit!"

————

Bei Sea.

Dark hues shifted and churned as the void trembled. Gray streams of light streaked through the vast great void, and within those heavy colors flickered occasional traces of iridescent radiance. It was as though countless enormous and terrifying shadows lurked beneath the surface, revealing only the faintest glimpse of their forms.

Wind, rain, and crashing waves battered the sea. A woman stood quietly amidst the storm, while the Dragon King loomed over her with his immense body, his expression cold and silent.

Boom!

Lightning tore across the night sky, turning the world white for an instant. The glare revealed a red-haired man clad in golden robes. His expression was unreadable as he said in a low voice, "Wanlin Heaven has fallen."

He held a mirror in his hands. Within it flickered a crescent-shaped glow, blue above and white below, shining deep within the great void. The image shifted between clarity and obscurity, but one could still make out countless ruins and fields strewn with shattered bones and fragments of corpses.

The Bei Sea Dragon King standing beside Daoist Nun Xiangchun remained calm, his voice carrying a rough, gravelly quality. "It truly is deserted... Douxuan has no dignity left to lose. They aren't even bothering to hide it anymore.

“It's a display of power as well. The mighty Wanlin Upper Sect has fallen so low that even a stray dog by the roadside can come and tear off a piece of flesh!"

Across from him, Dongfang Changmu's expression gradually darkened as he replied, "It was only to be expected. Tianwu was so open and honorable, yet its end was hardly graceful. The Wanlin Sect was even less likely to escape such a fate. The lineages of Douxuan Dao are scattered throughout the world, each occupying its own mountain. How many of them have ever truly come together?"

Xiangchun lowered her head slightly as she listened to Dongfang Lieyun ask, "Who ended up obtaining Lin Hengjiang's Dao lineage?"

Dongfang Changmu shook his head with a trace of puzzlement. "I couldn't tell. Perhaps someone concealed it."

The minor matter drew little attention from either of them. Thunder rumbled ever more violently across heaven and earth as Dongfang Changmu said in a low voice, "The plans of all the major powers are approaching their final stages. The White Qilin happens to be within the territory of the Underworld's judiciary, entangling the interests of all three sides...

"The Yang Family has secured the support of the Underworld's judiciary and is determined to claim the position of [True Essence]. The conflict between north and south has already removed most of the obstacles within Yue State. Yang Jinxin now lacks only a favorable wind..."

His eyes were filled with both gloom and anticipation, trembling faintly with excitement. Across from him, Dongfang Lieyun's expression shifted as well, and he slowly closed his eyes. "The entirety of Yue State is already dry kindling in the heat of summer. Layer upon layer of oil has been poured over it. All that's missing is a single spark... and in an instant, a storm will rise. This will be a storm capable of overturning the order of the south."

Dongfang Lieyun raised his brows and abruptly opened his eyes, staring directly at Dongfang Changmu across from him. In that moment, the divisions between the various branches of the Dragon Clan seemed to vanish, leaving only surging ambition and a restless yearning that could never be suppressed.

"Success and failure, triumph and ruin... are separated by only a single step."

Dongfang Changmu's eyes gleamed brightly as he replied in a cold voice, "He is an Immortal. He cannot be wrong."