Chapter 1596: Layered Fire (I)

Heavenly light shone brilliantly as gardenia blossoms drifted through the air.

The Daoist Master in white-golden robes sat quietly among the mountains, his hands forming seals before his sea of qi. Streams of Bright Yang heavenly light divine ability followed his hand seals, pouring inward and sinking into the depths of his qihai.

Within his qihai, the heavenly gate divine ability shone resplendently as it refined and suppressed a treasure as round and perfect as a Golden Core. After countless years of attrition, the divine ability contained within the treasure had grown increasingly unstable, flashing weakly as its power steadily waned.

After an unknown span of time, heavenly light finally descended from above. The treasure, round as a Golden Core, suddenly trembled. The layers of protective radiance surrounding it scattered away, and the heavenly light in the area flooded into its body and dyed it the golden hue of Bright Yang!

"At last, it's been refined!"

Li Ximing's heart stirred, and delight rose within him. As expected, information poured into his mind like a river breaking a dam.

[Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire]!

His eyes snapped open. Raising a hand, he summoned the spirit treasure into his palm. It resembled a Golden Core, but its entire body was crimson-red. Rings upon rings of golden lines coiled around it, converging into five radiant halos while Radiant Fire circled its surface, radiating intense heat.

A Radiant Fire spirit treasure! And one deeply connected to profound rites!

His thoughts stirred, and the mystics of the [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire] instantly surfaced in his mind. There were no fewer than five of them.

The first was [Radiant Sea]. It was the treasure's Radiant Light within the grotto heaven, famed for its layered brilliance and vastness as deep as the Eastern Sea. It could obscure illusions and envelop an entire region, confusing and restraining those trapped within. Its range far surpassed that of the jade ruler at Li Ximing's waist, the [Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers]. Given sufficient mana, it could continue expanding until it covered an entire territory.

[Radiant Sea] had little effect on Li Zhouwei, but that was only because [Sovereign In Peril] could break through it. Any ordinary Daoist Master caught within would undoubtedly find themselves heavily constrained and forced to expend considerable effort to escape.

The second was [Layered Radiance], an exceptionally unique combat ability. It moved with tremendous speed and possessed the power to repel and sweep away opponents. Once struck by its light, the light's dispersive force would continue activating, relentlessly driving enemies backward.

Moreover, [Layered Radiance] could be strengthened by the Radiant Fire placed within it by its owner. Although it could contain only a single type of Radiant Fire at a time, once infused, [Layered Radiance] would inherit that fire's unique characteristics and destructive power, giving it extraordinary versatility.

Currently, I can only place the [Red Pheasant Surging Radiant Flame] within it. That should grant it greater spirituality and make it especially effective at refining metals. But if I one day obtain a Radiant Fire renowned for its destructive might, such as [Heavenly Apricot Radiance Rain]... its power could rise to an entirely new level!

Both of these mystics were comparable to the greatest mystic of a spirit artifact, yet they were merely supportive functions of the [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire]. Its true power was concentrated in the mystic known as [Profound Seizure]!

The five layers of golden threads encircling the [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire] were forged from [White Day Clear Pivot Gold] and refined within [Golden Crow Bright Light Flame] for a hundred years. The result was something that neither decayed nor dissolved, neither scattered nor vanished. Once [Profound Seizure] was activated, the five layers of golden threads would descend from the heavens, each transforming into a ray of light.

These rays could disperse spell arts and bind weapons, with virtually limitless uses. Their only weakness was Converging Water. Moreover, those with profound attainment in the Radiant Fire Dao and a corresponding Dao lineage could unlock even more transformations. At the highest levels of cultivation, when both Dao lineage and Dao conduct had reached extraordinary heights, activating [Profound Seizure] would even allow one's dharma body to exchange positions freely with any of the five golden threads, revealing yet another layer of profound mystery.

Even for someone like Li Ximing, whose Dao lineage differed greatly from the treasure's intended path, the innate properties of [White Day Clear Pivot Gold] alone, its inability to decay, dissolve, scatter, or be destroyed, made it an exceptionally formidable treasure!

Of the two remaining mystics, one was [Dao Merit], a function designed to aid the cultivation of Radiant Fire and True Fire divine abilities, making it a treasure intended for transmitting a lineage. The other was known as [Myriad Lights].

Once the [Myriad Lights] mystic was activated, it would stir the spirit item within the [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire] and bring down radiant light from above, suppressing foreign paths and wearing away evil influences...

The awkward part, however, was that this suppression of foreign paths seemed to affect even the modern Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao... As the master of the spirit treasure, Li Ximing himself was unaffected, but if he were fighting alongside fellow cultivators, activating [Myriad Lights] could easily become a nuisance.

He murmured, "Even so, it's already an excellent mystic..."

As his thoughts reached this point, quiet astonishment filled Li Ximing's heart, No wonder Daoist Master Yuansu was able to roam unchecked with nothing more than the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal]. Even mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivators feared him. These ancient spirit treasures are truly extraordinary... And with his Fate Divine Ability and Body Divine Ability united as one, who would willingly provoke him...

Besides, the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal] had once belonged to an ancient Feathered Serpent. Rumor held that it even possessed the potential to become a Dharma relic. Compared to it, the [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire] likely fell somewhat short.

Before those thoughts had fully faded, he sent his spiritual sense into the [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire]. He had intended to examine it carefully, only to pause in surprise. What flooded into his mind was an immense and intricately profound Daoist treatise, vast as an ocean of clouds and mist!

To his astonishment, the treasure contained an inheritance known as the [Southern Radiant Method of Consumption]. It was an authentic ancient Immortal Dao method of Qi Ingestion!

This was neither the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao nor the Heavenborn Shamanic Talisman Dao. It was the inheritance of techniques and spell arts belonging to the most orthodox and authentic branch of the Immortal Dao, the [Spiritual Cultivation Dao].

The text stretched for tens of thousands of words, written in mysterious golden script and filled with endless profundities. It expounded the Great Dao of Radiant Fire and the union of oneself with heaven and earth in pursuit of mystics. To attain such mystics was to become a Yellow-Crowned Daoist. To attain them within oneself was to become a Daoist Master. To attain them fully was to become a True Monarch Feathered Scholar. As for Embryonic Breathing, Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, or Purple Mansion, not a single word of those realms appeared anywhere in the text!

Li Ximing read through it again and again. Suddenly, a realization dawned on him, So it really is the Dao lineage of that young Sword Immortal Wang!

The young Sword Immortal Wang had made it perfectly clear back then. The Wang Clan of Yinghua cultivated the [Spiritual Cultivation Dao]. In their eyes, the so-called Immortal Dao of the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao and the orthodox Devil Dao of the north were ultimately the same kind of Dao, both unorthodox deviations from the true way.

It's actually a method of the ancient immortal cultivators. No wonder it had to be recorded within a spirit treasure!

Li Ximing was delighted at first, and excitement surged through him.

I've heard the threshold for this Immortal Dao is exceptionally high, but if one of my juniors could cultivate it and wield this spirit treasure as well, wouldn't they possess the power of an ancient immortal cultivator?

The thought tempted him greatly, but after studying it more carefully, he suddenly sensed something wrong. His brow furrowed, and alarm crept into his heart, What in the world is all this...

Li Ximing was a dignified Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who possessed divine ability and had cultivated for over a century, yet after reading only the opening section, he could barely make sense of half of it!

How is anyone supposed to cultivate this?!

No matter how modest his Dao conduct might be by Purple Mansion Realm standards, he was still a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Although he did not cultivate Radiant Fire, Bright Yang and Radiant Fire were naturally close in nature. When he had studied Li Jiangqian's [Heavenly Scripture of the Dimming Radiant Day], he had found it intuitive and gained considerable insight from it. Yet this inheritance was on an entirely different level. The deeper he read, the more he felt that its difficulty surpassed even the [Golden Book of Singular Attunement].

"The [Golden Book of Singular Attunement] is difficult as well, but from the perspective of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, its difficulty lies mainly in its complexity... This [Southern Radiant Method of Consumption], however, is difficult because of its profundity. It's so obscure that it's almost terrifying!"

For a moment, he was left speechless. He had never imagined that the famed high threshold of the Immortal Dao meant something like this. Awkwardly setting aside his earlier hopes, he could not help but wonder, How can this be? There must be something missing here... No cultivation art should be this difficult. What kind of genius would it take to truly walk this path?

In that case, it wouldn't be suitable for my own family members at all... Someone who could reach the Foundation Establishment Realm through the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao might spend an entire lifetime on this art and achieve nothing. Even someone capable of reaching Purple Mansion Realm might not be able to cultivate this method properly. It would do more harm than good.

With those thoughts temporarily set aside, Li Ximing continued examining the inheritance in detail and soon noticed something else.

The [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire] contained more than just the [Southern Radiant Method of Consumption]. Its previous owner had also left behind a message!

The man identified himself as Daoist Master Nanzhao, Lu Xian, of the Douxuan Dao lineage. He had lived during the era of Great Liang, cultivated the Radiant Fire Dao, and had been a Grand Daoist Master whose divine abilities had reached perfection.

More importantly, he made no mention of Wanlin Heaven. Instead, he described himself as a cultivator of the Southern Fire Heavenly Mansion!

Southern Fire Heavenly Mansion?

Li Ximing was far from unfamiliar with the name. In fact, most people in Yue State knew it. The famous Yi Mountain City, once located south of Yue State and renowned throughout the Azure Pond Sect, had been constructed by the Southern Fire Heavenly Mansion.

Daoist Master Nanzhao belonged to the Douxuan Dao lineage... which means the Southern Fire Heavenly Mansion must have belonged to that lineage as well. Later, the mansion disappeared, and Lu Xian took refuge in Wanlin Heaven, another branch of Douxuan. That would certainly make sense...

After all, a Radiant Fire Grand Daoist Master whose divine abilities had reached perfection stood among the foremost figures in the world. Such a person would be welcomed wherever he went, including Wanlin Heaven.

The message itself was brief, containing only a few sentences giving context before the tone suddenly grew heavy, In my day, I oversaw Heaven and supervised Earth, and all followed my command. Yet the realm has strayed from the Dao and fallen to such a state. Now we lower our hearts and comply, placing our aspirations in distant mysteries... Yet they still style themselves the Upper Sect, governing the world through Tianwu's authority and correcting the four directions. They remain merely a second Thunder Palace, nothing more than a banquet held within a tomb!

This year I seek the Radiant Position. Should I succeed, Southern Fire shall rise again and a final breath of hope may remain. Should matters fail... then there shall be no more radiance...

Whoever obtains my Bright Rite, cultivate it when Wanlin Heaven falls!

Li Ximing read the words several times before quietly sighing. "Lu Xian... was a clear-sighted man. It seems the Wanlin Upper Sect still cannot let go of Thunder Palace's former position and refuses to lower itself. For all these years, it has continued cleaning up the messes around it, eliminating demons and defending the Dao. In doing so, it has offended many people and made all the major powers increasingly wary."

With a casual lift of his hand, the spirit treasure transformed into a streak of light and returned to his qihai. Only then did he notice the jade pendant among the mountains trembling gently, a sign that someone had come to report a matter.

Li Jianglong carried himself with great respect, while Ding Weizeng followed behind him. The two bowed deeply at the foot of the steps as though toppling a mountain of gold and a pillar of jade.

Li Jianglong said respectfully, "My lord, the matter you arranged half a year ago still has not borne fruit. We have sent people to the Shahuang Kingdom three times, but none have been able to find any trace of the Daoist Master. It is said that he has not returned for quite some time..."

Li Ximing possessed a jade ring spiritual item whose most suitable owner was none other than Daoist Master Zhusheng of the Shahuang Kingdom. He had sent inquiries long ago, only to discover that no one could find the man himself.

"It doesn't matter..."

He made a quick calculation with his fingers and realized that more than half a year had already passed. His eyes swept over Ding Weizeng below. The man had remained at the peak of Foundation Establishment Realm for who knew how long. Though his cultivation was complete, no path forward remained open to him.

Li Ximing sighed inwardly and asked, "Has there been any news lately? How are things at the lake?"

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