The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1516: Reverent Yang Mountain (I)

At that question, Kong Tingyun could no longer remain silent. She saluted respectfully and replied, “Thank you for your concern, my lord… It is just that after our founding ancestor fell in those years, no one in the gate could carry the burden. Who knows how many contingencies were arranged. This matter of the mountain gate may have long been promised to another party. It requires careful consideration… I should consult some old friends first.”

Wei Xuanyin turned back and smiled. “That is only natural. Bring the person back first. As for your territory, my martial nephew Ch’i will arrange matters.”

Ch’i Lanyan smiled and nodded, then invited Kong Tingyun to step out. He said, “Fellow Daoist, please… go to my side hall first and review the gate records. Quite a lot has happened in Jiangbei over the years. Once you have read through them, I will accompany you there.”

Kong Tingyun could only nod in agreement and quietly withdrew. Ch’i Lanyan turned back and said with a sigh, “That Daoist Master Changxi was originally quite scheming; he was only restrained by that one. In his later years, he had a change of heart and, relying on his accumulated resources, managed to push someone into the Purple Mansion Realm. In the end, I miscalculated. If I had known Kong Tingyun would be of such use, I should have met Changxi back then.”

“You cannot be blamed.” Wei Xuanyin spread open a scroll, picked up his brush, and said calmly, “We can only go along with the current of events. Fortunately, it is not a major matter. If anyone is to blame, it should be me. That year, I also visited Maha Liangli of the Sea of Desire to check on his injuries. I had heard of Changxi then as well. Who could have imagined that a destitute rogue cultivator would leave behind such a contingency?

“Whether it was luck or true foresight, it has ultimately handed us a lever to use. And this Kong Tingyun is a clever woman. We also hold the complete set of divine abilities that match her, along with the broader situation of the north and south…

“If she follows us, she can climb into the Exalted Immortal Pavilion Viewing, reconnect her Dao lineage, obtain abundant resources, and reclaim her mountain gate. Otherwise, she would have to offend her own origins and ruin her future. Then she would either wander in exile or bow in humiliation to the Supreme Yang, becoming a devil cultivator who must devour others just to continue cultivating. She will see this clearly.”

It was clear that the master of the Pavilion of Profound Order had known of Daoist Master Changxi all along. He had only been playing along with his martial nephew earlier.

Ch’i Lanyan lowered his head and said respectfully, “There are plenty of excuses, and she is not the only option. It is just that her arrival is the most suitable. This excuse is the most aligned with the Orthodox Dao, the most proper, and the most effective in undermining the Supreme Yang Dao lineage, causing them to lose cohesion.”

Wei Xuanyin frowned and asked, “Was Bai Ziyu… involved back then as well?”

Ch’i Lanyan nodded silently and heard his martial uncle say, “It works out well to have another person to use, so Jiangbei is not left with only his voice. As for the matter between the two of them, they will never truly get along anyway. It serves as a balance and makes things easier for you to manage.”

Ch’i Lanyan quickly acknowledged and withdrew with thanks.

————

Eastern Sea.

Blazing heavenly light and a hazy green glow came from the west. The Demon King Qingyan’s gaze was deep and contemplative, while Li Ximing remained silent, worry filling his heart.

After leaving Zhugong, Li Ximing already knew that the matter had mostly turned into a problem for the Supreme Yang Dao lineage. As he waited for Zhugong to take the pill, he began to plan in his heart, No matter what, there is no news at all right now. I cannot just wait here for nothing. I should settle the matter of the pill as soon as possible, then make another trip to Lacquer Marsh.

So he retrieved [Yuan’e] from the lake, gathered some valuable spirit items and dharma artifacts, then went to Huyi and brought Qingyan out.

Before long, a man in white rose on the wind and came toward them, speaking with a hint of unease, “Fellow Daoists… how did it go?”

The moment Liu Changdie saw the expression on Demon King Qingyan’s face, he understood inwardly. But when he noticed that Li Ximing still looked troubled, he grew confused and asked cautiously.

Only then did Li Ximing force a smile and reply, “The pill is complete!”

A heavy weight instantly lifted from Liu Changdie’s heart. If the pill had failed, he would not have known how to explain it to Fuxun. Not only would it have weighed on his conscience, it might have made things awkward between Fuxun and Li Ximing.

Now that he was relaxed, Li Ximing also steadied his thoughts, At least those troubles are theirs to bear. My own crisis still lies in the north. I should focus on my own matters first…

He offered his congratulations, then rose into the wind together with the man and the demon. After flying for a while, Li Ximing’s thoughts shifted, and he said seriously, “I have many matters to handle inland. Since the pill is complete, I will not trouble you to make another trip with me. I ask the two of you to deliver the pill on my behalf.”

After all, he had already obtained his Radiant Fire and refined the required pill. There was no need to travel all the way to Poluoduo again.

He took out the jade bottle sealed with divine ability and handed it to Liu Changdie, saying solemnly, “Travel safely!”

Liu Changdie had long noticed that something was off about his expression. Although he felt that, for such a favor in alchemy, it would be better for him to come in person and accept it properly, he did not press further.

With a sigh, he replied, “You’ve worked hard… About the nurturing spirit material I mentioned earlier… don’t forget it.”

Li Ximing would naturally not forget. The [Under-Neck Feathers] were a valuable item. Seizing the opportunity, he immediately asked, “After you return to Poluoduo… do you have other matters to attend to, senior?”

Liu Changdie stroked his beard and smiled as he replied, “I am an idle man, what business could I possibly have? If you can arrange the time, I will be waiting for you at Splitreed Island. I have just taken on a formation repair agreement there, so I have plenty of time. Whenever you are free, come find me at the usual place.”

Liu Changdie was genuinely kind and sincere. Of all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators Li Ximing had met, not one had ever come to help him and then patiently waited like this.

Li Ximing felt moved and sighed. “Many thanks, senior!”

Liu Changdie smiled and shook his head, departing into the great void together with Qingyan. Li Ximing raced along a streak of light and soon arrived in Wu State.

This was not Li Ximing’s first time in Wu State, but he had never been to its southernmost region, Lacquer Marsh. Before him stretched a vast expanse of dark green wetlands. The rising sun reflected in the fragmented pools beneath his feet, casting patch after patch of golden light.

After flying for a while, he finally saw Reverent Yang Mountain. It was not tall at all, merely a hill by Jiangnan standards. There were few buildings, scattered sparsely across the bare slopes, with little of the grandeur expected of an immortal family.

As soon as he landed, someone came to receive him and led him up to the summit. A wave of heat struck him immediately. Flames roared, and a massive cauldron stood atop the peak, glowing with a deep red light.

Master Dingyang came forward to greet him, his face filled with surprise. “Fellow Daoist Zhaojing! What a rare guest!”

He stretched out his hand, tossed the item he was holding to several cultivators nearby for safekeeping, and led Li Ximing down to a small building at the side. The building was extremely simple, as if it had been scorched by fire more than once. It was not pleasing to the eye, with only a few tables and chairs inside.

Master Dingyang poured tea and asked, “Has the pill been successfully refined, Fellow Daoist?”

The old man was far less eloquent in person than in his letters, with somewhat stiff speech. Li Ximing did not waste words. He took out a jade box from his sleeve and gently pushed it over.

Master Dingyang opened the jade box and examined it closely. At last, he smiled and said repeatedly, “Your alchemy is truly impressive, Fellow Daoist!”

Li Ximing smiled in response. He understood that this Daoist Master was not one for idle chatter or flattery.

Acting decisively, he produced a gleaming suit of scaled armor from his hand and said with a cupped fist salute, “Please have a look, senior!”

Master Dingyang showed a hint of satisfaction. He put away the pill from the box and took [Yuan’e]. He first ran his divine ability over it, then infused it with mana, causing each scale to rise.

He frowned and said, “[Desert Profound Sky Iron], [Radiant Origin Stone], [Wolfscale Bone], [Crimson White Feather]. Refined using True Fire.”

With just a glance, he had already identified all the materials used to forge the armor. After inspecting it back and forth twice, he said bluntly, “Other than the [Desert Profound Sky Iron], none of the materials are worth mentioning… The refining method is passable at best.”

Li Ximing was not surprised. He only felt a trace of bitterness.