Chapter 637 473: Traveling Through the Great Void (2)

"The clan's allotment of elixirs for this year—send someone to my Pill Pavilion tomorrow to collect them."

He left behind these words and departed. Li Yuexiang was about to withdraw, but Li Qinghong stopped her, saying gently:

"Your elder brother resides within the sect. Someone among this branch must voice their presence."

Li Yuexiang paused, nodded, and halted her steps. The cultivation techniques were divided among them; the fifth-grade Fetal Breathing Art, "Scripture of Observing the Grand Hua Mountain," was naturally kept as a direct lineage secret, while the Li Family had always been generous to outsiders—fourth-grade techniques like "Six Chapters in Search of Immortals" and "Scaled Beast Inquiry Method" were to be bestowed upon children of those who rendered meritorious service.

As for ordinary outsiders and those of the lesser-born cultivators, they might obtain third-grade Fetal Breathing Arts, which could already be considered quite favorable, nearly equaling the status of some overlooked direct descendants in other noble families.

Li Qinghong carefully read through "Inquiry into Thunder with the Cloud Above," pondering it over and again, but felt it was little superior to the "Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique"—only lacking that effect of extinguishing one's line, yet giving scarcely more longevity.

"How strange… It seems a change in Heaven and Earth, not a fault of the cultivation art itself."

Now, with her profound mastery of Thunder Arts, possessing two ancient thunder techniques, Li Qinghong swiftly discerned the truth and murmured:

"Even so, there is much here to learn from. Over the East Sea, water descends while thunder rises. Once the clan is settled, I shall depart for cultivation in seclusion upon the overseas isles."

Li Qinghong glanced around. They discussed at length recent changes in the clan, yet found no major trouble. Li Xijun then whispered softly:

"Outside… news has come: Yuan Licheng, patriarch of the Yuan Family, failed to break through to Zifu, perished during his sitting transformation. This unceasing rain beyond the hall must be the portent of his death."

Prompted thus, Li Qinghong started, then said in a low voice:

"I was contesting for spiritual objects beside Qing Song Island then, and rescued a member of Han Family from Eastern Sulfur—seems rumors spoke of a Yuan cultivator's death… After all, they are our allies…"

Li Xijun nodded and said:

"I have already sent someone there."

Li Qinghong secretly furrowed her brow and softly spoke:

"I've heard… that Yuan Licheng once cultivated under Perfected Person Buzi, but later committed an offense, was sent back by that master. Now, Buzi is missing, Yuan Licheng has perished; I fear… the Yuan Family faces trying times."

Li Xijun gazed at the endless rain in the sky and nodded gravely:

"Let's hope it does not affect the sect within. By the reckoning of days, Brother Xizhi should have achieved Foundation Establishment by now."

…

Within the Mirror World.

Lu Jiangxian possessed the Metal Nature of Mingyang in his hand, and with lofty status, it took him half a month to forge a faint connection between this Metal Nature and the fetus, before carefully letting it recede.

As a mere fetus, he dared not link too deeply, lest both mother and child be burned to ashes by the Mingyang fire. The difficulty was extreme; even with his mastery of immortal techniques, he spent half a month to accomplish this initial connection. Were he his former self, such a feat would have been utterly impossible.

"Difficult as it is, yet without flaw!"

His method was ingenious—relying on the Dharma Mirror's undetectability, he stored the Metal Nature inside it, letting it subtly exert influence, complemented with the True Penetration Secret Formula. Even if Lu Shui came herself, unless she first uncovered the Dharma Mirror, she would not find aught amiss with the fetus, believing it only to be the blessing of fate.

Lu Jiangxian, much pleased with his scheme, felt the Dharma Mirror growing ever brighter as the Jade Buckle merged within. Retracting his divine sense, he gently closed his eyes to savor the moment.

It had been so, so long since Lu Jiangxian acquired a component of the Dharma Mirror. Compared to the many pieces he received when freely entering and leaving this realm, and after several years' unconsciousness, this Jade Buckle generated in him only faint drowsiness.

"Three Talisman Seeds; the Taiyin Profound Light's elevation to Zifu is only second to this…"

This growth did not move him much. As half a month passed and the Jade Buckle gradually melted, the Mirror Body finally gained a new and peculiar capability.

"Traverse the Great Void!"

The Jade Buckle was apparently a function of the Immortal Mirror, meant to escape into the Great Void; somehow it had been stripped out, crystallized into this very Buckle. Now, with its return, the power restored to the Immortal Mirror.

Lu Jiangxian finally let out a breath. After all his toils over the years, the Immortal Mirror could now connect to the Great Void and allow him to escape within! With the Mirror's inscrutability, any below the Golden Core would never hope to touch him.

Moreover, he need never again journey across the world chaperoned by masses; the Immortal Mirror could now float between Void and realm, descending from any Talisman Seed's location at will.

He might through the Great Void commune with any Talisman Seed, cast down the Taiyin Profound Light in grand force from beyond, slaying foes at will. This meant, should Lu Jiangxian set his heart on slaying a Zifu, there would be few refuges left in this world.

Of course, who knows how many monsters and ghosts conceal themselves in the Great Void? To strike from a thousand miles through the Void is little different from setting off firecrackers beside the slumbering ear of a Golden Core.

Having considered all, his spirits greatly aroused, Lu Jiangxian slowly formed seals. Outside, the engraved altar shimmered; the mirror's face turned a bright, cold white. Lu Jiangxian felt a chill all over, illusion faded. The Immortal Mirror simply vanished from the spot.

…

Li Xuanfeng had entered seclusion for but half a month; his wounds healed almost entirely, thanks to the use of a single Precious Medicine—which cost some hundred or eighty Spirit Stones. The efficacy, of course, was remarkable.

"Good indeed, but one cannot reckon in such a way…"

Upon reaching Foundation Establishment Late Stage or even Zifu, Spirit Stones lost much of their worth. For true Zifu-level spiritual artifacts, precious medicine, rare Spiritual Qi, or spirit water, bartering had become far more common than using Spirit Stones.

He felt his storage bag at his waist, took out several letters and magic artifacts, pondering:

"I must find an opportunity…to make a round by the lake."

Back when the Green Pond summoned forces, he was hardly the only one to leave clan for the Southern Border. After so many years, most who went had perished or been crippled, with few left alive.

Rumor spreading that Li Xuanfeng would depart the Southern Border, those cultivators naturally sent letters in droves. The fallen had their belongings deposited in the city. As they had fought side by side, sentiment still held; Xuanfeng would make the circuit to return these keepsakes to the various families.

Li Xuanfeng turned these thoughts within, calming his breath, then left the cave mansion, musing:

"The Immortal Mirror devoured the Jade Buckle and has yet to react—I wonder how it fares now. I should have a look first."

It was only then that Li Xuanfeng entered the secret room. He lifted his brows and startled; above the sacrificial altar—nothing remained.

"What!"

For a moment he froze. His mind went blank, yet he vaguely sensed something present before him. Calming his gaze, he felt the Talisman Seed within stir; suddenly, a phantom shadow flickered atop the altar.

"This is… an escape into the Great Void?"

At that moment, an invisible ripple spread out. Outside, Li Qinghong suddenly lifted her head, joy flashing in her eyes—a gaze seeming to pierce through clouds, sensing the Immortal Mirror's trace in some distant quarter.

On the stone path, Li Xijun's brows shot up. Realization flooded him just as the resplendent Pill Pavilion let out a violent roar—a plume of crimson flame burst forth. Ximing, scorched and grimy, leapt out, obviously disturbed from alchemy by this very insight.

The brothers' eyes met—they nodded in unison. Li Xijun whispered:

"That was the Jade Buckle!"

In the arts of alchemy, Ximing was exceptionally gifted, rarely ever blowing up a furnace. Yet now he was soiled head to toe for the first time. He promptly wove a Cleansing Technique and, with Xijun, hurried toward the ancestral hall.

Within the secret chamber, Li Xuanfeng gazed at the bare altar. Seasoned in the affairs of Southern Border and acquainted with many Zifu, he quickly discerned the truth. Thoughts flashed through him; after brief consideration, he unclasped his Green Ruler Sword.

Li Yuanjiao, in designing this altar, had clearly anticipated all contingencies and prepared a substitution with Green Ruler Sword. Xuanfeng placed the sword gently upon the altar; it fit perfectly, as if it belonged there all along.

The stone door behind inched open—several direct descendants of the Li Family had arrived early. Li Xuanfeng waved his hand, signaling them to withdraw.