Chapter 1805: Turning The Tables (I)

Li Ximing gradually emerged from meditation. The golden-eyed young man was already seated, one arm raised while his other hand rested on his wrist, gently turning the [Dry Yang Bangles]. When he saw Li Ximing finally wake, he let go. The sleeve of his black robe, patterned in gold, fell to cover his wrist completely.

Li Ximing felt as though he had just awakened from a dream. Sweat dampened the back of his head, yet his mind felt wonderfully clear.

He exclaimed, "I understand now... So that's where the key lies! Of course! Of course!"

"When I obtained Cui'e's [Qilin Radiance Refining Method], I found six Bright Yang alchemical arts and studied each one... Only the [Setting Sun Armor-Sundering Pill], which follows the path of evasion, always felt difficult to grasp. So this was what I was missing..."

His eyes shone as thoughts poured through his mind. Muttering to himself, he took a couple of quick steps across the hall and added, "And [Divided Spirit and Variant Body]... If one Yin were applied to it, that might greatly reduce the risks of reincarnation and rebuilding one's body!"

Li Zhouwei listened to it all, then smiled. "[Divided Spirit and Variant Body]? Granduncle, when you arrived, I saw a second image overlapping your body, and your life force was incomplete. So you've been relying on something else to preserve your life!"

Li Ximing gave a wry smile. "Those eyes of yours are formidable. Before I returned to the lake, Helian Wumeng gave me a terrible beating. His divine ability has improved, and he swallowed some sort of precious iron pill. Even Merging Fire couldn't burn him!" 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

He took the small mulberry-wood figurine from his sleeve, and handed it to Li Zhouwei for a closer look.

"Interesting." After examining it for a while, Li Zhouwei could not help warning him, "Granduncle, you must be careful. Whatever you do, don't let Merging Fire burn this. Something that damages both your nature and your life, especially when it's been placed in wood, could do several times the harm. It could truly kill you."

He then changed the subject. "You meditated for nine days. Aunt Minggong came by once, but the divine ability kept her outside the hall."

Li Ximing understood at once. With a sweep of his sleeve, he said with a sigh, "I know what this is about... Yang Ruiyi must have come looking for me again. He's eager to put you to use!"

"Oh?"

Li Zhouwei's interest was piqued. Li Ximing went on, saying, "While you've been in seclusion these past few years, the north has grown increasingly restless. The turmoil in Jiangbei humiliated Dayang Mountain and left Western Shu green with envy...

"As time passed, the Pavilion of Profound Order committed all its troops, and Dayang Mountain kept raising its stake in the open conflict... Worse still, Qing Jifang wasn't satisfied after taking Mount Xiaoshi. He sent forces to the Great Western Plains, allowing the Pavilion of Profound Order to withdraw its people from Longdi one by one and threaten Mount Tangdao!"

Li Ximing's brows were tightly knit. The pressure on him was clearly immense. "There's another matter, and it could prove fatal. The Great Desire Dao's current Liangli is Tianlang Zhi. His strength is terrifying, far beyond Guangchan's.

"Back then, True Monarch Shangyuan drove that wretch into a corner with his sword. He severed his dharma body and nearly took his life. Only after a powerful figure in the north intervened did Tianlang Zhi swear an oath never to go south. But Great Song has now pushed deep into Jiangbei, past the mountains and almost to the Central Plain. I don't know the precise terms of that oath; he may well be free to act now.

"That makes Situ Huo even less willing to leave the mountain. All he can do is hold it. Things have deteriorated so badly that the northern forces have gone around the mountain and fought their way to the river, reaching the bank opposite the Wilderness. We haven't lost the White River, but Jiangxia was badly wounded."

Places farther east in Jiangbei, including Chengshui Marsh, had never been recaptured. A retreat to the riverbank was therefore hardly surprising.

Li Zhouwei asked, "If the northern front is under such pressure, how did you find time to come back?"

Li Ximing sighed. "Ordinarily, I couldn't have... We even asked someone to mediate in the south so Jiangxia and Chengqian could be brought north. Jianglong and Yang Ruizao were also temporarily assigned as Profound Holders to help guard the riverbanks. More than eighty percent of Great Song's forces are now stationed on the two banks.

"The territory I guard isn't exactly the front line, yet Helian Wumeng and his people have breached its mountain defenses several times. My [Divided Spirit and Variant Body] happens to be suited to withstanding his arts. That's why I seem largely unharmed... though my dharma body has taken some damage...

"The reason I could return is that General Yang personally summoned me to ask you to come out of seclusion!"

To everyone else, Li Zhouwei still possessed only two divine abilities. But equipped as he was now, he was no weaker than an ordinary mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. He was also a target of great importance to the forces across the river, which made him particularly useful.

Li Zhouwei thought for a long while before asking, "What sort of man is Situ Huo?"

Li Ximing hesitated for a moment before answering, "Yang Ruiyi thinks highly of him. He picked several of the survivors Situ Huo brought back and promoted them. The old fellow is cunning and unscrupulous too. Yang Ruiyi chose the right man to guard Mount Tangdao. It's just that... Things have been difficult for Ning Wan, so Yang Ruiyi had to send her to Tongmo Prefecture to guard the west."

Li Zhouwei was a little surprised to hear Li Ximing call the man cunning and unscrupulous. He said, "Such high praise from you, granduncle. If he's a clever man, he certainly won't make trouble for you right now..."

Li Ximing nodded. Li Zhouwei lowered his hand and said, "I still need to visit Mount Dali. You can tell Yang Ruiyi that I've come out of seclusion. We needn't guard against him for now. The last battle to seize the mountain showed that he's a skilled strategist who favors surprise attacks. If we're going to get rid of some monks, we'll need his help.

"As for the two children... Quewan's spirit item..."

At the mention of Li Quewan and the other child, Li Ximing smiled, looking rather pleased with himself as he said, "Quewan mastered all the secret techniques long ago! I traded a great pill to Chunyi Dao Gate for the remaining Whole Pill spirit items she needs, then sent her into seclusion. It's been..."

He counted on his fingers, then said, "About two years now!"

"At this rate... she's almost caught up with me!"

Surprise showed on Li Zhouwei's face. He left looking quite pleased, quietly concealing his aura as he went.

Watching his junior depart, Li Ximing could not help laughing to himself. "This should be entertaining!"

————

The Wilderness, Jiangjun Prefecture.

The surging river glittered in the light. Before long, a streak of radiance came flying in from the north, brilliant with shifting colors.

The man wore black and had an honest-looking face. Riding fire and driving rain, he passed through the clouds and landed before the great hall. He entered on foot, bowed, and called out, "Greetings, grand general."

Yang Ruiyi, who stood at the head of the hall with his hands behind his back, immediately came down to meet him. "What did you find?"

The man replied, "I scouted all the way north. Helian Wujiang has joined Helian Wumeng's camp, and Shilou Fangjing has left Qi territory. As for Ch'i Lanyan, I couldn't find where he's gone...

"I saw a vast array of banners beyond the mountains. At times, demonic flames surged beneath them; at others, the light of Lesser Yang appeared. Clouds of Converging Water rolled without cease. The reports that the Tuoba Family is heading south appear to be true!"

He hesitated before adding, "There were also strange disturbances in the great void around that place. I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't dare get too close. But even from a distance, I could see a string of heavy, shadowy lights. I suspect... I suspect it's some kind of treasure."

Yang Ruiyi's expression darkened at once. Still, he nodded and said courteously, "You've worked hard, cousin!"

The man was none other than Yang Ruizao, Li Xizhi's brother-in-law!

Yang Ruizao bowed and shook his head, then voiced his concern, "I think... the Tuoba Family has something unusual up its sleeve."