Chapter 1542: Transformation (I)
Yet just as his gaze lifted from the endless slaughter beneath his feet, the disturbance within the great void suddenly intensified. Waves of soft white light flickered into existence, cascading downward like a surging river.
Li Ximing observed in silence, making a quiet judgment within his heart, It's coming from the direction of Mount Changhuai.
Unfortunately, the white light only flickered briefly. As though drawn by some unseen force, it quickly gathered back toward the center, vanishing as suddenly as it had appeared.
Li Ximing cast a few more glances around. Finding nothing out of place, unease began to stir in his heart. The surroundings were silent and shrouded in darkness, and not a single Purple Mansion Realm cultivator had appeared.
Where have all the Wu State cultivators gone?
With no other choice, he returned to the manifest world, riding the wind as he surveyed the area. Even then, he found no cultivators clad in Mount Changhuai attire. As he continued his inspection, he could only shake his head in silence.
Beneath his feet, the grand formation flickered in and out of existence, appearing fragile under the glow of firelight. A crowd of cultivators hurled their dharma artifacts at it, each strike producing thunderous bursts of sound.
After all, he was a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Though unfamiliar with Wu State, the fluctuations of spiritual energy and the surging Baleful Qi were enough clues.
This must be due to the earth veins... There's a violent shift in the earth veins, causing Baleful Qi to surge. That's why the formation is reacting like this. If it were an ordinary formation, it would have already shattered by now.
He saw it clearly. While a group of Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm minor cultivators scrambled over one another, a late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm youth hovered in the air, concealed by an art, quietly observing something.
Li Ximing made a subtle gesture with his hand. Threads of heavenly light descended like silken strands, and in his daze, the youth lost his bearings, guided by the light until he stood before him.
Seeing the divine ability illuminating him, the youth immediately understood he had been brought here by a Daoist Master's divine ability. His body trembled as he bowed deeply in respect.
"Greetings to the Daoist Master!"
Li Ximing noted that the youth showed little fear, only unease and caution. His reaction was swift, suggesting this was not his first time encountering a divine ability. Understanding dawned in his heart, Another one with backing.
So he said indifferently, "Which family do you belong to?"
The youth bowed respectfully and replied, "I am Li Nitan of the Li Family of Mount Tan in Wu State. I was assigned by my family to observe the situation in the land of Shu. I did not expect to encounter Daoist Master here and failed to greet you properly. I ask for your forgiveness."
So he's from the Li Family of Mount Tan!
Wu State was different from Yue State. When the Supreme Yang Dao lineage divided Yue State, only a few territories remained. They governed these regions through their own influence, and many of the rules were still those established by the Origin Mansion of old.
Most of Wu State lay under the influence of Mount Changhuai. Aside from the four sects that had first submitted, nearly all rising powers thereafter were deeply tied to Changhuai, some even originating from it. Across generations, nine Purple Mansion Realm figures had emerged among them, forming what was commonly known as the Nine Families of Wu State.
The Li Family of Mount Tan was one of them!
Mount Changhuai styled itself as the Changhuai Dao lineage and enforced strict governance. Its subordinate Purple Mansion Realm cultivators were gathered closely together and rarely interacted with the outside world. In return, Mount Changhuai offered them strong protection. With such backing, and with the Mount Tan Li Family's Purple Mansion Realm cultivator still alive, in his prime, and with capable successors, they had little reason to fear any Daoist Master seeking trouble.
Powerful as they were, the Mount Tan Li Family had long identified themselves as a local Li branch and naturally never dared to involve themselves with the Bright Yang Wei's Li.
Li Ximing gave a casual smile and replied, "Then we are of the same family."
Li Nitan was no ordinary man. Seeing the Bright Yang divine abilities surrounding Li Ximing, those words alone were enough to make cold sweat break out across his back as he respectfully replied, "So it is Daoist Master Zhaojing! Then we are indeed of the same family. When news of your attainment reached us, the family was greatly overjoyed... it is just a pity that Mount Changhuai forbids us from freely associating with outsiders..."
Li Ximing had no interest in listening to his rambling. "That's enough!"
He had only grabbed someone at random to ask questions, so why would he care about the stance of the Mount Tan Li Family?
He simply said, "I'm just passing through. Do you know what's happened here?"
Li Nitan hurried to respond, "Daoist Master, I had also just left my cave dwelling and do not know the exact cause... But from what I can see, the fighting across the region stems from shifts in the earth veins and spiritual energy. Many family estates, marketplaces, and even alchemy pavilion and cave dwellings have had their formations fail all at once.
"How could ordinary people resist such temptation? Naturally, they've begun looting, smashing, and fighting. Amid the chaos, several local families have become entangled with one another. It's likely some are taking the opportunity to annex others!"
This was precisely what puzzled Li Ximing. Normally, most sects would suppress powerful local families and forbid annexation.
So he asked, "Where are Mount Changhuai's prohibitions?"
Li Nitan gave a bitter smile. "Daoist Master, ever since Grand Daoist Master Pingwen fell, the mountain has been hoping for more Purple Mansion Realm cultivators to emerge, so the restrictions were lifted. Many of the prohibitions now only bind the Nine Families. With chaos breaking out everywhere, upheaval is inevitable."
Hoping for more Purple Mansion Realm cultivators?
Li Ximing mulled over the words and felt something off. But even if Li Nitan knew the true cause of this upheaval, he likely would not speak of it. So Li Ximing simply let him go and vanished into the great void.
Though Li Nitan had seemed calm before him, he had still been facing a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Unease lingered in his heart, and it was only as he descended on the wind that the cold sweat on his body finally began to subside.
To think I'd run into the Moongaze Li Family here!
The Mount Tan Li Family did not have a particularly strong foundation. Their ancestor, Daoist Master Tanfu, had originally been a cultivator of Mount Changhuai and only achieved the Dao after receiving guidance from Daoist Master Pingwen. After leaving the mountain, what they feared most was becoming entangled with the Wei's Li.
Wu State had indeed once produced nine Purple Mansion Realm Families, but with the fall of many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, some names existed in title only. His own ancestor had been in seclusion for years, rarely stepping out, yet remained among the stronger figures of the Nine Families. Though advanced in age, with his grandfather Li Muyan having recently attained the Dao, the family now held two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and was flourishing. Why would they provoke unnecessary trouble?
Could it really be such a coincidence... or is some family plotting harm?
He hurried back to his cave dwelling, striking down a few lurking devil cultivators at the mountain's edge with several palm strikes, then immediately took to the wind, rushing to report back to his family.
————
Reverent Yang Mountain.
Li Ximing descended on a beam of light and found the area relatively calm. Master Dingyang's disciples recognized him at once and came forward to pay their respects.
By the time he reached Lacquer Marsh, the chaos within Wu State had somewhat subsided. Unlike the densely populated counties, this place was mostly wild mountains and marshlands. With several rogue Purple Mansion Realm cultivators overseeing the area, large-scale conflict was difficult to ignite.
Master Dingyang sat beside the furnace, chanting incantations while forming hand seals to control the spiritual flames. Yet from his somewhat grim expression, Li Ximing could tell his mood was far from good.
"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing!"
Li Ximing returned the greeting with a bow. The doubts in his heart remained unresolved, and he did not even ask about the spirit materials. Instead, he brought up the situation in Wu State first.
"I saw a vast expanse of white light in the great void above Mount Changhuai, yet it came from Wu State. The regions below have already descended into chaos. Do you know the reason?"
Master Dingyang let out a heavy sigh. Turning away from the furnace, he invited him back into the pavilion to sit, poured him tea, and shook his head. "It's because the [Martial Inquiry Purification Vessel] has shattered."
Seeing Li Ximing's puzzled look, Master Dingyang said softly, "Fellow Daoist, are you familiar with Daoist Master Pingwen? Or rather... do you know Qing Tangyin?"
Only then did Li Ximing stroke his beard and reply, "Qing Tangyin... is a Grand Daoist Master of Mount Changhuai."
Of course, Li Ximing had heard that name before. Back when he had just broken through and went to visit Yuanxiu of the Azure Pond Sect, it had coincided with the fall of this very Grand Daoist Master, when the spiritual aura of the world underwent a transformation.
Master Dingyang nodded, his expression complicated. "Pingwen is his Dao title. He was born in Jizhong State and roamed that region in his early years. His reputation in Jiangnan was not particularly prominent. The [Martial Inquiry Purification Vessel] is his treasure."
Li Xixing murmured, "Oh?"
"The [Martial Inquiry Purification Vessel] is a spirit artifact, but no ordinary one. It was cultivated through a specific Dao lineage. There are even rumors that it is connected to True Monarch Tianwu. It is extremely formidable, and he became famous because of it..."
At this point, Master Dingyang's expression turned somewhat strange as he said, "In all respects he was admirable, except for one flaw. He was notoriously stingy among the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators."
He shook his head and continued, "I'll give you an example... He had a descendant named Qing Jifang, also quite a troublemaker. Back when he had yet to reach the Purple Mansion Realm, he got into disputes with Tuoba Lan and was constantly competing with him. When Tuoba Lan came as a guest to their Dao lineage, he took a treasure out to show Qing Jifang...
"At the time... several Daoist Masters and I were present, examining a spirit embryo for Daoist Master Pingwen, when the young master came to ask..."
Li Ximing sensed something was off as Master Dingyang continued slowly, "Daoist Master Pingwen only said: 'This is a weapon of True Martial origin, obtained through my own fortune. What does it have to do with you? What is there to see?'"
The old man revealed a mocking smile and went on, "Qing Jifang refused to accept it and even dared to say in private: 'There will come a day when I can examine it closely.'"
"Oh!"
Those were no small words. Li Ximing was momentarily stunned, clicking his tongue inwardly. At a loss for a response, he could only shake his head with a faint smile. "After all, he was a late-born son of Senior Pingwen, conceived with the aid of the precious [Radiance Profound Essence]. It's only natural he would be doted on..."
He had learned of this secret while inquiring about the [Radiance Profound Essence] from the Cui Family. Master Dingyang seemed surprised that he knew of it, pausing slightly before continuing, "Daoist Master Pingwen was never a lenient man. He summoned him and simply said: 'Then watch.'"
"He immediately brought out the [Martial Inquiry Purification Vessel] and, using supreme divine ability, sealed it within the great void, merging it with a grand formation to form an extremely special spirit artifact that could never again be removed."
Li Ximing smiled inwardly, but Master Dingyang continued, "But I told you earlier, this man is not one to suffer losses!
"At first, everyone treated it as a joke. But as time passed, cultivators of Mount Changhuai continuously refined and extended it. The artifact spread its influence through the great void, linking with Mount Changhuai's grand formation and extending downward along the earth veins, regulating the spiritual energy and spirit veins of various regions, quietly unifying them.
"This artifact also became a tool to validate his personal cultivation. The flow of spiritual energy and the shifts in earth veins across regions may not have been entirely under his control, but he could influence at least half of it. It also placed a kind of shackle over all the forces under his rule..."
Li Ximing nodded silently, while Master Dingyang laughed openly. "The Daoist Masters of Lacquer Marsh often joke that cultivating in Wu State doesn't just require paying tributes. Even absorbing a bit too much spiritual qi means you owe an extra spirit stone to Daoist Master Pingwen!"
Hearing this, Li Ximing sighed inwardly, This father and son... quite something.
