The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1468: Profound Lake Unified Origin Qi (I)

Qunyi Strait.

The Qunyi reefs were densely packed, with waves surging violently. Beyond the scattered smaller reefs lay larger islands, stretching endlessly, where cultivators rose and fell from time to time.

Li Ximing met Li Zhouwei on the northern shore, gave a few instructions, then soon entered the great void and departed. Pretending to search for traces of spiritual flames, he wandered the Eastern Sea for quite some time. Only after ensuring no one was watching did he follow the map step by step and arrive at his true destination.

Before him were a pair of islands, one small and one large. The smaller resembled a deer’s head, the larger its body, with jagged rocks protruding like a helmet upon it.

The smaller island was called Lulai Island, while the larger was Everstream Island. Their size was not small within the Qunyi region, yet they were remote and lacking in spiritual energy, thus entirely obscure. However, the Li Family was not unfamiliar with them. Their Family History had recorded these islands, and both Li Xuanfeng and Li Qinghong had once come here.

Yet when Li Ximing looked from within the great void, a trace of surprise arose in his heart, There are actually quite a few signs of human activity here.

He saw many temples as he scanned the island, with monks moving about. Though their cultivation was weak, there was still a lively air to them. They called themselves the [Earth Abode Palace], but the spiritual energy was thin, and only a single Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator presided as abbot.

These people were clearly cut off from the outside world. Though they took the name of a palace, they only had Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators. Li Ximing glanced over them, stepped down through the air, and discovered that the entire [Earth Abode Palace] possessed only three cultivation methods. Stacked together, they were thinner than bedding, and as for their quality, they were not even stable enough to prop up a table leg.

Even more strangely, the [Earth Abode Palace] worshipped an odd, mismatched monk. He clearly cultivated a Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, yet claimed it was a Buddhist method, even calling the Embryonic Breathing Realm a Dharma Protector.

Unwilling to expose himself, Li Ximing only gave a cursory glance. He picked up a transmitted text, skimmed a couple of pages, and immediately understood the reason.

Back then, Aunt and Great-Uncle came here. Great-Uncle even shot and killed a monk called Ewu. The locals had once worshipped that monk, and it was passed down like this until it became what it is now.

Originally, it was mostly Sons of Diyang who raised mortals to cultivate together, but after several uprisings, they were nearly wiped out. Spirit items grew scarce, and gradually mortal cultivators took over.

It did not seem that any Buddhist cultivators had established themselves here. It was merely coincidence. He quietly let out a breath of relief, stepped into the great void, and headed deeper along the earth veins.

After going a short distance underground, where water veins and earth veins intertwined, Li Ximing suddenly felt fluctuations within the great void. He probed forward and backward, both feeling off, and a realization dawned in his heart, “The spiritual energy here must be abnormal. One cannot gain a foothold within the great void!”

After a brief calculation, he broke out of the great void and manifested within the earth veins. Heavenly light flickered around him as the black stone melted away, forming a small cavity just large enough for him to stand.

This place aligned directly with the earth veins, and Baleful Qi surged violently. Li Ximing focused his gaze, finding black stones on all sides. Forming a hand seal, he transformed into a streak of Radiant Light and followed the earth veins downward. Soon, the space opened up, revealing a vast, dim cavern devoid of light.

The cavern was vast and empty. Countless pitch-black stalactites hung like fangs from above, while an expanse of dark water spread below, the slender stone tips piercing through its surface revealing the countless stalagmites.

The place was filled with extremely dense Baleful Qi. There was not a trace of spiritual energy in the air. The earth baleful forces within the entire cavern had formed a complete cycle, and from time to time, the sound of dripping water echoed.

No wonder the great void cannot perceive this place.

The lake of Baleful Qi surrounded a stone platform like a deep blue halo. The entrance to the cave dwelling was tightly shut, appearing especially deep and ominous within the dim Baleful Qi.

Li Ximing withdrew his divine ability and looked closely, a trace of delight immediately appearing in his eyes. He thought to himself, This entire lake is [Nether Binding Baleful Fluid]… formed when [Earth Fiend’s Cold Spring] encountered the qi of Pit Water and underwent dilution and transformation into a second-grade spirit item… There must be a spring source of [Earth Fiend’s Cold Spring] at the bottom…

[Earth Fiend’s Cold Spring] was also a Foundation Establishment Realm spirit water. But a spring source was unlike other resources. As long as it was not destroyed, it would continuously produce [Earth Fiend’s Cold Spring]. Even if it took a long time to yield a single portion, it was still an excellent prospect!

He did not rush into the lake. Instead, he stepped through the air and reached out, lightly touching the deep blue glow on the lake’s surface. A dark, murky aura immediately surged forth. It was clearly the fluctuation of a formation.

A Purple Mansion Spirit Formation!

This spirit formation was unlike the [Zhaoguang Profound Purple Spirit Formation] of the Li Family lake. It was not built as a mountain-guarding formation, appearing instead delicate and refined, steeped in ancient elegance.

“As expected, it’s still here…”

A hint of joy rose in his heart. Extending a finger, he drew out a wisp of deep blue light and examined it in his hand, nodding inwardly as he thought, A [Mansion Water] spirit formation… how unusual. It is said that Mansion Water is water of black and white, yet here it bears a deep blue glow. There must be something peculiar about it.

Opening this formation would by no means be easy, yet Li Ximing remained unhurried. Closing his eyes, he raised one hand before him. His figure vanished into thin air, then reappeared in an instant, now holding a jade box.

From the jade box, he took out a small bead the size of a fingernail and placed it quietly before him.

The bead suddenly melted, releasing strands of pale white light that leaped out and resonated with the formation’s glow. The colors of the formation began to fade, trembling slightly.

This bead had its own wondrous use. It was formed from a trace of aura, and Lu Jiangxian’s divine sense had long since penetrated the formation. With its domineering force, it had engraved a matching wisp of aura onto the formation plate!

Now that it was brought out, the formation’s glow faded as if recognizing its master, allowing Li Ximing to drift calmly into the formation. Seeing this, he grew even more certain in his heart, This cave dwelling was indeed left behind by a figure from above!

As he stepped before the entrance, he saw a plaque above bearing three words.

[Zhen Tao Residence].

The tightly shut stone doors burst open. Inside was a glut of white mist, filled with abundant spiritual energy and extremely pure spiritual qi, yet it was sealed behind a semi-transparent barrier at the entrance, unable to spill out.

With the formation undone, the cave dwelling was practically defenseless. Li Ximing stepped inside and was met by a spacious circular hall. Above, in the dim height, stood a table, and behind it stretched a massive mural covered in extremely strange patterns.

The circular mural seemed to project across the entire cave, extending all the way to the ceiling. It depicted turtles entwined together in a magnificent scene of interwoven black and white. The intense colors gathered into a circle, concentrating the hall’s hues upon the central seat. The remaining strands of black and white gathered overhead, casting light onto the ground as scattered points.

There were three tables on each side, descending in order. The exceedingly luxurious tables and wine vessels were all deep blue with golden patterns, exuding a strong sense of depth and a faint cold gleam.

Li Ximing suppressed his faint astonishment. He recognized at a glance that the tables were made of [Clear Mansion Blue Gold]. Nowadays, such spirit items were used to forge daggers and blades, yet the cave’s owner used them for furnishings. It spoke volumes of their wealth.

A circular pit had been carved and paved with exquisite jade at the center of the hall. Within it, waves of glowing white spirit liquid surged, constantly releasing wisps of white mist that filled the cave with spiritual qi.