#1083 - Liuhe

The river surged, water splashing.

A long, pale cyan stone wall, etched with mysterious patterns, stood on the bank, constantly battered and eroded by the river. On a magnificent tower high above, a man in crimson robes gazed into the distance, a hint of pensiveness in his eyes.

A man in black robes stood beside him, appearing more mature and possessing a deeper cultivation level. However, his face was adorned with a courteous smile as he said:

“Brother-in-law, you've worked hard. The Longrang Army is already stationed on the shore. You can leave this place to me.”

Hearing him address him, the crimson-robed man turned his head, revealing a face with well-defined features. It was none other than Li Jiangzong, who was now in charge of affairs, having successfully established his Foundation and emerged from seclusion.

The man in black robes beside him was Sima Xunhui, Li Queyi's husband. Li Queyi and Li Jiangzong both came from the Bo lineage, born of the same father, sharing a close relationship. Naturally, they were quite close to Sima Xunhui.

Sima Xunhui represented the Song court and the Sima family. Stationed on the riverbank to prepare for the Northern invasion, although the number of troops was not large, it was a burden shared for the Li family. Li Jiangzong appeared very polite and replied:

“It's the rainy season, and the river is even wider. I went to the river yesterday. There have been conflicts in recent years, with many casualties. The fish in the river have been fed so well that they're plump, but their bellies are full of fingernails, making them inedible.”

Sima Xunhui sighed in silence, while Li Jiangzong pointed and said:

“Yesterday, Guest Elder Ding successfully carried out an ambush and captured another group of people. Finally, we caught a Zhao general and brought him back. He's being held in the pavilion. You can go and take a look.”

The two then walked down the steps. Sima Xunhui said solemnly:

“I came precisely for this matter! My Real Person has been observing for a long time. He blocked the approaching Maha in the Taixu, and finally caught him. We must thank your clan for your cooperation!”

Li Jiangzong waved his hand and shook his head.

The great war that established the Great Song had passed for more than three years. The great formation on the north bank was rebuilt, with high walls erected, connected to the formation, and troops stationed, making it heavily guarded.

Perhaps the great war three years ago had also pained the North. In the past three years, there had been minor frictions between the North and South. Occasionally, Lian Min and Maha would cross the river to probe, but ultimately, there were no significant battles. Clearly, it had become much more peaceful.

The Li family had benefited greatly. Li Minggong, Li Zhouda, and others had recovered from their injuries, and their cultivation methods and Dao techniques had improved. Li Jiangzong had also survived this tribulation, but the worries in his heart remained:

‘Wei Wang is injured… According to Real Person Qing Hu, the injury is not light. He will definitely be unable to act in the next few years. Real Person Zhaojing remains in seclusion, with no trace. Everything on the lake has to trouble Real Person Qing Hu. Over time, this is not a good solution…’

Li Jiangzong led the way to the highest tower. It was still early, but the sixteen lampstands in the square were brightly lit. The doors of the main hall were tightly closed, and two guards knelt before the hall, silent.

Clearly, someone was already inside. Li Jiangzong calculated the time and understood in his heart. He turned his head and smiled:

“It seems that my father has come to the shore and is in the hall… I'll take you to meet him.”

“So it's my Father-in-law!”

Li Zhoufang's talent was not good, his cultivation was lacking, and he had no reputation. But no matter what, he was Sima Xunhui's father-in-law. This Violet Palace descendant straightened his clothes and followed closely behind his brother-in-law. Li Jiangzong took a step forward, but then heard the creak of the main hall door opening on its own.

His father, Li Zhoufang, was indeed there, standing at the very end of the hall. A woman in red and gold ornaments, her True Fire Qi surging, and a burly man in gleaming armor, with a swallow's chin and tiger's whiskers, stood on either side of the main seat, both standing sideways and silent.

A man knelt in the center of the hall, his face quite stern and extremely pale. He wore noble armor, knelt in the hall, closed his eyes, and remained stubbornly silent.

But this man was clearly a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet his face was white and beardless. His helmet had already been removed, and the top of his head was bald, without any facial hair – most likely a Buddhist cultivator.

Li Jiangzong stepped inside, and Ding Weizeng immediately cupped his hands and said in a low voice:

“Real Person Qing Hu instructed that he must not be harmed… He also refuses to speak.”

The crowd looked at each other, finally turning their gazes to Sima Xunhui. Who knew that this Sima family cultivator was also at a loss, smiling wryly:

“I'm afraid we have to wait for the Real Person's orders!”

But at this moment, the entire hall was filled with a white mist, like a gentle fog in the morning, floating softly. The burly man with the swallow's chin and tiger's whiskers knelt down as if pushing a golden mountain or toppling a jade pillar:

“This subordinate greets the Real Person!”

A middle-aged man in a white-gold Daoist robe was now sitting in the very center of the main seat!

This man had long, relaxed eyebrows and majestic eyes. The golden light between his eyebrows was dazzling. The lines of his face were natural. Although his expression was casual, he exuded an awe-inspiring and inviolable majesty.

‘Real Person!’

It was none other than Real Person Zhaojing, Li Ximing!

Perhaps his divine powers had become even more profound, but the current Li Ximing was somewhat different from what he remembered. His features had undergone subtle changes. Li Jiangzong dared not look closely, only feeling that his eyebrows were slightly longer and the bridge of his nose was more prominent. Although he was still the same, he had an extremely distinct air of majesty.

Joy and trepidation surged into his mind at the same time. Stunned for a moment, Li Jiangzong withdrew the half of his foot that had been raised onto the steps and knelt down on the spot with a thud, saying respectfully:

“This junior greets the Real Person and congratulates the Real Person on the completion of his divine powers!”

Li Jiangzong was still somewhat relaxed in his own hall, but Sima Xunhui was already somewhat restrained. His reaction was even faster at this moment, and he quickly knelt behind his brother-in-law, only then hearing the faint voice from above:

“Jiangzong has established his Foundation, not bad.”

Li Jiangzong quickly sang some auspicious words about the Real Person's divine power protecting them. Li Ximing then smiled and nodded, telling him to rise.

“Everyone, rise.”

Sima Xunhui quickly got up, took a few steps forward, and stood beside the person on the side. Li Jiangzong quickly raised his eyebrows and glanced. A man in green robes was sitting in the guest seat on the side at some unknown time. He dared not look at his face, but judging from Sima Xunhui's actions, it must be Real Person Qing Hu.

Neither of the two Real Persons displayed any divine powers, but the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became solemn. Only the Zhao general's face was slightly red. He raised his eyebrows, revealing a look of hatred, and opened his mouth to curse.

But Li Ximing just happened to take a cup from Li Minggong's hand and quietly looked at him.

His face was like warm jade, and the divine light in his eyes was slightly restrained, like a mysterious spirit sitting in a shrine. The white light floating in the hall was like the curtain in front of the shrine, making him mysterious and unapproachable.

This one glance made the Zhao general's expression become confused. In an instant, it was as if something had swept across his face. The hatred was like a turbid Qi, blown away by the invisible object that came at him. It disappeared from his face, and his eyes revealed a deep, uncontrollable reverence. He sobbed:

“This subordinate has seen the Great One!”

The spiritual lock that tightly bound him clanged to the ground. The man stood up and naturally knelt below the main seat, in front of Ding Weizeng, blending into the Li family, respectful and courteous.

For a moment, the hall was filled with horror. Even Ding Weizeng's eyelids twitched, and he felt a little apprehensive.

Li Ximing didn't even glance at him, but nodded slightly towards Sima Xun. The direct descendant of the Sima family quickly bowed in return. Li Ximing took a sip of tea and said quietly:

"Speak."

This was clearly directed at General Zhao, who respectfully replied:

"Your subordinate, Li Ju, is from Lingbei and cultivates under the rule of the Great Mu Dharma Realm. I followed Guangchan Mahākāla southward and served in the army..."

Li Ximing looked thoughtful and turned to Sima Yuanli. The Qing Hu True Man nodded slightly, looking solemn, and replied:

"This year, I observed the opposite bank and noticed a large number of troop movements, all people from the Great Mu Dharma Realm. I felt that the North had some plan, so I devised a scheme to capture one of them... It just so happened that Fellow Daoist emerged from seclusion, so we discussed countermeasures."

Li Ximing frowned slightly.

He naturally knew the name 【Guangchan】, and even through that former woman, Sa Rei... and also knew that this Mahākāla also had Wei Li bloodline!

'This is not a good thing…'

As he pondered, Sima Yuanli looked at his expression, smiled, and said with a hint of envy:

"Congratulations, Daoist Zhaojing... Rare... so rare!"

Having emerged from seclusion today, his Fate Divine Power 『Clarity Under Heaven』 was complete!

Fate Divine Power had a completely different meaning for cultivators throughout the world, not only as a shadow looming in the hearts of all lower cultivators, but also as an important means to supplement the Violet Palace status. Now that it was completed, he seemed to have completely transcended the mortal world, as if he were a different person!

'It really wasn't easy!'

Li Ximing felt quite emotional.

The cultivation of Fate Divine Power highly valued Dao attainment and fate, and was already difficult. For the current Li Ximing, it was even more so. This time, he had been in seclusion for five or six years, and even almost failed!

'I was a bit hasty this time... Although I refine pills every year and become more proficient in the Way of Bright Yang, when it comes down to it, my Dao attainment is still lacking... If it weren't for that 【Listening Purple Intent Qi】 to supplement this aspect, I would have failed again this time!'

Now, Li Zhouwei's Dao attainment had reached below the Great True Man level, but Li Ximing was only at the ordinary early Violet Palace stage when he went into seclusion. Many True Men with extremely high Dao attainments had not cultivated Fate Divine Power, let alone him?

But now that he had succeeded, his Dao attainment had improved a lot, and he felt quite comfortable. He could be said to have finally come into his own, and he raised his eyebrows and smiled:

"Just luck…"

Sima Yuanli shook his head and said with emotion:

"That's not certain. First, your family has high destiny, and second... Fellow Daoist is also brilliant... My elders have also suggested that if you can't achieve Dao with Fate Divine Power, you should try to refine Fate Divine Power as much as possible with the second Divine Power if your talent allows it. After all, the further back you refine Divine Power, the harder it becomes. The third Divine Power is even harder. If you encounter Can Zi and then go to practice Fate Divine Power... that's simply unthinkable!"

Sima Yuanli really felt a bit envious in his heart. His Dao lineage was clearly inherited, and now that his Fate Divine Power had become the foundation of his Dao, he had no confidence... But the situation was urgent and he couldn't afford to make no progress in strength, so he had been entangled in his heart. Seeing Li Ximing overcome this great difficulty, how could he not be envious?

Li Ximing smiled slightly as he listened to his words.

With the completion of his Divine Power, the world in his eyes was completely different!

Streams of profound light, like luminous pearls, hung above everyone's heads, with different colors, bright and clean, or full or shriveled, corresponding to their spiritual energy cultivation, which was what 『Clarity Under Heaven』 sensed!

In other words, everyone in the hall was under the shroud of his Fate Divine Power, and even beyond the hall, wherever his spiritual sense could reach, was under the shroud of 『Clarity Under Heaven』.

The marvel of this Fate Divine Power was mainly divided into two parts, primary and secondary. The most important thing was the marvel that acted on Li Ximing himself—known as 'Born of the sacred, achieved by the royal, governs the six directions, balances heaven and earth, matches the gods, asks about the universe.'

This part of the marvel was related to his own Dao attainment, power, and status. Once activated, it would be blessed by 『Clarity Under Heaven』, and a light of the six directions would be conceived out of thin air, ordering confinement and dissolving evil.

This 【Light of the Six Directions】 was closely related to 『Clarity Under Heaven』, and even more so to the Dao attainment of the Bright Yang path. In addition to being used for fighting, it also had the so-called use of balancing heaven and earth and asking about the universe, and could be used for calculation and inquiry.

And apart from the Light of the Six Directions, the remaining marvels highlighted the uniqueness of Fate Divine Power even more.

If the Bright Yang Violet Palace cultivators were compared to mortals, 『Visit the Heavenly Gate』 would be like a sharp weapon in their hands, 『The Sovereign Steps Danger』 would be like armor on their bodies, and this part of the marvel of 『Clarity Under Heaven』 would be like invisible things such as appearance, strength, temperament, cultivation, and fortune.

This Divine Power was not like 『Visit the Heavenly Gate』, with the concept of offering and restraining. 『Clarity Under Heaven』 was more like the ascension of one's own characteristics, naturally formed…

Rather than saying that the Divine Power 『Clarity Under Heaven』 shrouded a range, it was better to say that it shrouded the power relationship of a force.

This Divine Power controls promotion and demotion, and favors those who are close and loving, who are graced by 『Clarity Under Heaven』 with promotion. Heavenly light is born in the Qi Sea, enabling them to use righteous thoughts to dispel evil and illuminate the source.

Among the marvels, it was used to govern subordinates, so that those who were removed from their positions could not harbor disloyalty, and those who died for their cause would not harbor resentment. People like Ding Weizeng and Qu Bushi, who harbored disloyalty and resentment, would immediately be sensed by him!

Once sensed, if anger arose in his heart and he rebuked them, he could even cut off these people's cultivation. Qi Refining and Fetal Breathing need not be said, even Ding Weizeng, who was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, could have his decades of hard work abandoned and fall to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment with just a word from him.

And the marvels that matched 『Clarity Under Heaven』 were not limited to this. As long as the previous 【Light of the Six Directions】 gently brushed over them, it could immediately make people's souls upside down, completely forgetting themselves, and treating his various orders and words as the golden rule.

'Although it won't be like a reincarnation of the sovereign father and become a different person... unless it is exposed by the special Fate Divine Power of other Violet Palaces, otherwise this person will always be loyal to my instructions until death! Even after a long time, they will completely lose their minds... Even if other Violet Palaces intervene, they can't be saved.'

At the same time, 『Clarity Under Heaven』, as the culmination of the Bright Yang method, could respond to 『Visit the Heavenly Gate』!

Once 『Visit the Heavenly Gate』 was offered, golden armor and golden clothes would come all over the sky. The soldiers summoned were only at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment levels. Apart from a little fighting instinct, they had no consciousness. If there were no Wei Kingdom methods, they would always be unable to get on the stage in front of the Violet Palace, but it was only a matter of a breath.

But the marvel of 【Light of the Six Directions】 so-called 'Matching the Gods' lies in this: as long as the golden armor and golden clothes all over the sky were gently stroked by the 【Light of the Six Directions】, their intelligence would immediately increase greatly. If his Dao attainment was high enough, he could even use the 【Light of the Six Directions】 to gather Divine Power and transform into Golden Armor Immortal Generals to participate in the fight between Violet Palaces.

'This... should be the embodiment of the Wei Li Heavenly Dynasty method!'

Main characters in this chapter

—

Li Ximing 【Early Violet Palace】

Sima Yuanli 【Early Violet Palace】

—

ps: I'm leaving at four o'clock tomorrow morning to take a plane back to Guangzhou... I've been exhausted physically and mentally for two weeks ^