The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1616: Changing Tides (II)

In my previous life, I remained in seclusion for over a year before I became qualified to break through the Qi Cultivation Realm... Could it be that the family only obtained it during that period?

Li Suining fell into thought for a moment before returning to the pavilion entrance. There he saw a middle-aged man organizing jade slips. The man's head was lowered as he carefully polished them with an oil-soaked cloth. When he noticed Li Suining approaching, he quickly looked up.

"This humble one greets the young master... Are you looking for a particular cultivation art? My surname is Chi. I serve as one of the caretakers of the secret pavilion..."

Li Suining glanced at him and asked with a frown, "Can senior make decisions?"

"Of course not." Caretaker Chi gave an awkward smile and gestured as he explained, "I'm only here to run errands. If young master finds something he likes, I can go across and ask Lord White Ape to retrieve it. But judging from your expression... I suspect you've come for a cultivation art. In that case... it depends on matters of spiritual qi..."

Only then did Li Suining nod. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "That won't be necessary."

Those words triggered something in his mind, and for a brief instant his thoughts went blank.

That's not right... Gathering qi takes five or ten years at a minimum. If the family truly doesn't have the [Golden Chapter Court Tablet Art], then what about the spiritual qi? Even if they obtained the art within a year, how much longer would be needed to gather qi? How could I possibly make it in time? It definitely existed in my previous life!

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he prepared to leave the pavilion. Before he could take a step, however, a gust of cold wind swept in. It descended into the hall, revealing a white-robed youth riding the wind.

The youth's attire was simple. He had refined brows, dark eyes, slightly prominent brow ridges, and a straight, elegant nose that lent him an air of maturity. His long hair was tied back neatly, and his appearance was strikingly handsome. A sword hung at his waist in a white jade scabbard, one of the few adornments that added a touch of nobility to his otherwise understated bearing. As he stepped into the pavilion, he casually lifted his gaze and looked over.

Caretaker Chi hurried forward and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, my lord..."

His voice was clear and crisp. "No need for formalities!"

Caretaker Chi immediately rose to his feet. The youth’s gaze swept across the hall before settling on Li Suining.

A trace of surprise appeared in his eyes, and he asked with a smile, "Which clansman might this be?"

Li Suining froze for a moment. Then he immediately bowed deeply to the ground, carefully steadying his voice. "Greetings, little uncle... I am Suining, a direct descendant of the Yuanwan lineage..."

"A direct descendant of the Yuanwan lineage?"

The white-robed youth before him looked even younger than he did, yet he belonged to the uncle's generation. Taking a step forward, he placed a hand on Li Suining's wrist and quickly helped him up with a smile. "Good... so you're Suining! You actually recognized me?"

The voice was bright and amiable, yet Li Suining felt his breath catch in his chest.

How could he possibly not recognize him?

This uncle of his, Li Jiangchun, was not particularly old, yet he was the man who, after a century-long gap, once again linked the Li Family to the great sword immortal clan. With his Celestial Moon Sword Art and Lesser Yin mana, he slew the Shu general Li Nitan in battle formation, an achievement so remarkable that the Emperor of Song summoned him to the capital for rewards. In three separate competitions, he humiliated the Second Prince of Great Song so thoroughly that the prince abandoned swordsmanship altogether.

His untimely death later shook both the court and the realm. It prompted the King of Wei to return with his army, brought the officials into the palace at midnight, and could even be said to have marked the beginning of the growing hostility between Shu and Song...

Now, seeing him standing there in person, so bright and detached from the mundane world, how could Li Suining not be momentarily dazed? Fortunately, his mind was quick, and he replied without hesitation, "Suining has only met a few of the brothers. I guessed that you must be one of the elders, and after considering your age, attire, and dharma sword, I was able to figure it out..."

Li Jiangchun nodded thoughtfully and said with a smile, "There's no need to be so formal... You and I are about the same age."

Li Suining immediately felt embarrassed. It was precisely because they were of the same generation that Li Jiangchun had drawn the attention of every family in his previous life. When Li Jiangchun was slaying the Shu general on the battlefield, Li Suining had still been worrying over his prospects of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Li Jiangchun walked over in two strides. His eyes were clear and bright, yet every glance carried the sharp edge unique to sword cultivators.

Leading Li Suining deeper into the pavilion, he smiled and said, "I've just come down from Zhijing Mountain, and I was actually looking for you. I heard that this year the elders acquired a batch of cultivation arts and spell arts, including several sword arts. They've already been sent down the mountain and are being added to the pavilion collection one after another. Delighted by the news, I came to seek out Senior White Ape, intending to retrieve the sword arts before heading west to find you...

"And now, as it happens, you're here as well."

The doubts in Li Suining's heart immediately eased by half, and he nodded inwardly, Just as I thought... whether it was the [Golden Chapter Court Tablet Art] or the [World-Watching Awakening Star Art], they were added in this period. I've arrived slightly ahead of schedule, so naturally I couldn't find them.

While he pondered this, Li Jiangchun led him up to the second floor of the pavilion. With a casual motion, he closed the door and activated the grand formation. Only then did the smile fade from his face as he said seriously, "There is already news regarding the formation cultivation art you mentioned. I came down from the mountain under the Daoist Master's orders."

Li Suining knew that things had changed and would surely differ from the course of his previous life. He immediately bowed in gratitude. Setting down the jade slip in his hand, Li Jiangchun laughed. "No need for that. If you're going to thank someone, thank the Daoist Master."

His expression turned serious as he said, "The Daoist Master has gone to the Eastern Sea and has yet to return. He has some matters to attend to there and is also seeking to exchange for a formation Dao lineage on your behalf from a certain senior. It is uncertain when he will return; however, Daoist Master Minghuang has already emerged from seclusion and sent me down the mountain to find you... First, to meet you in person... and second... to arrange some pills for your cultivation."

Li Suining was deeply shaken and quickly bowed. Li Jiangchun merely shook his head and continued, "These pills are for your seclusion... Use them to complete the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm as quickly as possible. Once you've done that, come find me again. I still have another pill for you, and I'll arrange a cave dwelling where you can bring your Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivation to perfection."

Li Suining's heart stirred. He had already pieced together most of the situation from those few sentences alone.

First... the Daoist Master has gone to the Eastern Sea to obtain a Dao lineage for me. He is most likely seeking out Daoist Master Yuanbian.

In my previous life, I only heard that he went directly to the Western Sea and was delayed there for some reason, unable to return. Could it be that because I revealed my talent in formations ahead of time... the trip to the Western Sea has been postponed?!

A surge of joy flashed through him. Slightly shaken, he asked, "I was only thinking of advancing to the fifth stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm first. That way, when I meet the Daoist Master and receive the formation Dao lineage, I can do so with greater confidence."

"Exactly so!" Li Jiangchun smiled and replied, "The Daoist Master said he should return within a few months. That will be more than enough time for you to break through."

Li Suining pondered silently. In his previous life, after entering the island to cultivate, he had spent six months in seclusion within his cave dwelling. Then, without warning, the earth started to shake and the mountains trembled. Only then did he learn that Buddhist cultivators had arrived...

The Wilderness was under sudden attack, as a great battle erupted among Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. Chaos spread everywhere, and casualties were immense. It was in that conflict that Ding Weizeng and An Xuanxin had both perished.

At the time, the lake had been caught completely unprepared. Only Li Zhouwei had been able to take action, while Li Ximing was still far away in the Western Sea, unable to return!

This may actually allow the Daoist Master to return in time...

Li Suining had never imagined that he could influence Li Ximing's movements! Even after being reborn, he had never expected to set everything right. Faced with the coming turmoil in the Wilderness, he had only hoped to save Ding Weizeng's life. Never had he imagined that his actions might affect a conflict at the Purple Mansion Realm level.

One had to remember that in his previous life, the Li Family had done little more than protect itself during that great war. Li Ximing's involvement might not necessarily be a good thing. A tremor passed through his heart, leaving him caught between hope and worry.

If the Daoist Master truly returns in time, will the final outcome of that war be changed? And if it changes... will it bring fortune or disaster? If the Daoist Master's involvement leads to injury, or even greater misfortune... wouldn't I become the one responsible for it all?!