Chapter 39: Taiyin Mysterious Light

“This month, the Lake Reflection Autumn Art—once a technique passed down from the Immortal Abode—is quite extraordinary. It requires two types of heaven and earth spiritual energy: the first is called Taiyin Moon Essence, and the second is called Golden Autumn in the Lake. The sect has some reserves of the Golden Autumn, but as for the Taiyin Moon Essence, it hasn't been seen for hundreds of years since the Immortal Abode withdrew from the world.”

“A few hundred years ago, the Peak Master of Moon Lake happened to receive a gift from the Immortal Abode and thus mastered this technique. Since his death, no one has been able to practice it successfully.”

Li Chijing had also heard rumors of that Immortal Abode; it was said to be a colossus spanning several nations, though it had not appeared in the world for centuries. He let out a low sigh in his heart, nodded, and said in thanks

“I see. Thank you, Senior Brother, for clearing my doubts!”

————

Lu Jiangxian’s divine sense projected through the mirror, watching the child currently operating the "Guiding Method."

A faint, shimmering white light emerged above the boy's head, about seven inches long, emitting a soft glow.

“This child's compatibility with the Black Pearl Talisman Seed is quite good, but I wonder how his cultivation talent is.”

As Lu Jiangxian withdrew his divine sense from Li Xuanxuan, he felt a sudden, violent surge in his heart. His vision blurred, and for a moment, it was as if a pure white, jade-like disc appeared before his eyes, bringing a sudden moment of enlightenment

“That child, Li Chijing, has broken through to the Yujing Realm!”

A mysterious and unpredictable force traveled ten thousand miles through the connection between the Black Pearl Talisman Seeds, gently merging into the grayish-blue mirror on the stone platform. Lu Jiangxian felt his soul lighten as a streak of moon-white light emerged.

Previously, when Li Tongya and Li Xiangping had broken through, a tiny amount of power had fed back into Lu Jiangxian's mirror. Combined with Li Chijing's multiple breakthroughs, and specifically the feedback from his breakthrough to the Yujing Realm, Lu Jiangxian had finally condensed the Taiyin Profound Light.

“This Profound Light likely possesses the striking power of a cultivator's entire Yujing Realm cultivation, but its attack range is massive—it even exceeds my current divine sense coverage.”

Having mastered this Profound Light, Lu Jiangxian's divine sense expanded to cover the entire size of Lijing Village. He was instantly exhilarated; the mirror body grew slightly warm, and a vague sense of attraction surfaced in his heart once more.

“My divine sense range has expanded; I can perceive things much further away!”

Lu Jiangxian carefully sensed in that direction and pondered

“It seems to still be above Moon-Watching Lake, just much further away than before. Should I signal the Li family to go and take a look?”

“No.”

Lu Jiangxian’s heart tightened as he thought to himself

“Judging by the location, it seems to be within that lakeside market. I should wait until the two Li brothers have mastered the Yujing Realm before going to investigate.”

With a creak of the door, Li Mutian and the two Li brothers entered the room. Li Xiangping patted Li Xuanxuan on the shoulder and said solemnly

“Are you prepared?”

“I am ready!”

Li Xuanxuan nodded vigorously, handing the wooden slip back to Li Xiangping.

Watching Li Xiangping put the wooden slip away, Li Mutian respectfully invited the mirror onto the table and lit several sticks of incense.

“Li family disciple, Li Xuanxuan, respectfully requests the Profound Method of Mysterious Clarity, to soothe the spirit and follow the Dao in cultivation.”

“May the words of time serve the merit, without failing faith; as the talisman burns, may the body thank the Taiyin.”

As soon as Li Xuanxuan finished speaking, Lu Jiangxian activated the technique. The surface of the mirror glowed with brilliant colors, pulsing like a breath, and suddenly spat out a white bead.

Li Xuanxuan hurriedly sat cross-legged, guiding the technique to receive the Talisman Seed.

“Liu Rouxuan became a Profound Landscape Realm cultivator last night. In a few months, Xuanxuan will also achieve the Profound Landscape Realm. By this count, our Li family will have six cultivators.”

Li Tongya watched Li Xuanxuan on the floor, turned to tighten the door, and whispered.

“Two Zhouxing Realm, three Profound Landscape Realm... Jing'er should have become a Yujing Realm cultivator in the Immortal Sect by now.”

Li Xiangping looked at the colorful, glowing grayish-blue mirror on the table and continued

“Our main Li family still lacks cultivators of higher cultivation. Setting aside Ji Dengqi from the Qi Refining stage, even the neighboring Wan family has a peak Yujing Realm cultivator.”

“Only when a Yujing Realm cultivator develops spiritual consciousness can they refine pills, forge artifacts, set formations, use storage bags, and travel to markets safely.”

As Lu Jiangxian listened to their conversation, his divine sense suddenly stirred. He vaguely sensed a strange aura coming from the west, hovering indecisively not far away.

Lu Jiangxian's perception was divided into two layers. The first was "Visual Perception," which had a massive coverage area, potentially even covering the entire Li family's sphere of influence from Lichuan Mouth to Lidao Mouth. This visual perception was equivalent to a mortal's "sight"—it could only observe and sense general images. Its advantage was that such detection was rarely noticed; even Si Yuanbai, who was at the Foundation Establishment stage back then, had not discovered him spying.

The second layer was "Divine Sense," which covered approximately the size of Lijing Village, equivalent to a mortal's "touch." Within this range, Lu Jiangxian could scan a person entirely with his divine sense, but depending on the strength of both parties, the other person would feel a very obvious sensation of being watched. Within the divine sense range, he could also use the Taiyin Profound Light to strike enemies.

Currently, his Visual Perception sensed that the aura was roughly at the Yujing Realm level, loitering suspiciously near Lichuan Mouth. Feeling uneasy, he thought to himself

“Why is a cultivator of the Yujing Realm wandering here... I should alert the Li family.”

With a thought, silver-white moonlight surged from the mirror surface, gathering into strands of moon-white silk that coalesced in the air.

This sudden change startled Li Tongya and the others. Seeing the silver light continuously gathering in the air, they could only look at each other in confusion.

Li Mutian narrowed his eyes and said deeply

“Don't panic. Look closely first.”

“It looks like a map of our Li family lands,” Li Tongya said, stroking his chin with some hesitation.

The moonlight gradually condensed into a bright white map. All the villages—Lichuan, Lidao, Jingyang, and others—were present without exception, looking incredibly exquisite. Only the area of Lichuan Mouth was constantly flashing with silver light.

“Lichuan Mouth?” Li Xiangping muttered to himself.

————

Chen Erniu had managed affairs at Lichuan Mouth for several years; he had grown a bit fatter and had grown a beard on his chin, finally looking less like a common farmer.

During the day, after settling the accounts for the field heads and resolving disputes between brothers over land, he would lie contentedly on his couch and begin thinking about tomorrow's itinerary.

“The few plots in the east of the village are decent. I'll send a few people to reclaim them tomorrow and claim a few more plots.”

Lichuan Mouth and Lidao Mouth were adjacent, and administratively, they did not have the hierarchical distinction that the other pair, Lijing Village and Jingyang Village, possessed. Naturally, he, as the manager, had to fight for everything.

Xu Wenshan had originally wanted to expand trade routes, but who would have thought the Wan family would almost lose even the Ancient Lidao to the Ji family? There was naturally no path to the east. This had made the man extremely irritable over the past few months, constantly trying to compete with Chen Erniu in everything.

“What a hassle.”

Just as he was thinking, Chen Erniu heard a commotion outside. His eldest son rushed in in a panic, shouting loudly

“Something bad has happened! Father! Someone died at the village entrance!”

Chen Erniu jumped up from his bed and cried out in shock

“What?”