The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1230: Great Li Codex (II)

Li Jiangqian helped him to a seat, offered him tea, and said softly, “Old elder, I have fully mastered the Great Li Codex. This Immortal Foundation is primarily art-based. It can store Li Light, command fire with great speed, and connect with the heavens’ foremost manifestation. It can also dispel evil spirits. Its inherent wonder lies in its compatibility with medicinal wood; when refined, it yields substances that extend life, heal wounds, and strengthen vitality…”

“Oh?”

Li Xuanxuan’s eyes brightened, and he asked, “Medicinal compatibility? Do you mean like alchemical pills?”

Li Jiangqian shook his head. He extended his hand and pressed his thumb against the middle joint of two joined fingers. A bright apricot-yellow flame bloomed with a soft pop.

This flame differed from the lively Radiant Fire that was usually seen. It was also unlike the five varieties surging within the Yang Radiant Red Sparrow Banner. Instead, it remained perfectly still at his fingertip, unwavering and steady.

He smiled. “The extraordinary quality you mentioned, old elder, is likely this very flame. The fire of my Immortal Foundation is called Apricot Radiance. Ordinary flames fear earth, but this one resists most forms of it. The inheritance text describes it in great detail, and only two earths, Manifest Earth and Returning Earth, can restrain it. Unfortunately, when placed within a furnace, it burns too fiercely to refine pills. My qihai now glows entirely apricot-yellow; even should I one day attain the Purple Mansion Realm, I would remain estranged from pill refinement.

“As for the medicines it produces… most can only be taken by myself. Perhaps creatures of the phoenix or luan lineages might tolerate them as well.”

Li Xuanxuan nodded to show his understanding and sighed, “As expected of a sixth-grade Radiant Fire technique. It embodies nearly every advantage that Radiant Fire could possess, and even manages to squeeze in a miraculous healing property.”

Li Jiangqian quickly waved his hand and replied, “There are still limits between Dao lineages. Concealment, pill refinement, and healing others are Dao lineages I cannot touch. Though my fire control is swift, the Li Light burns too fiercely, making escape arts hard to cultivate. It’s all a matter of gaining one aspect while losing another. It is never complete.”

The elder nodded repeatedly, his expression full of emotion. He exhaled a long breath and said, “Now that you’ve come out of seclusion, I’ll have to trouble you with family affairs once more.”

The elder took a small wooden box from beside the desk, opened it with one hand, and revealed a thick stack of meticulously written silk scrolls. Li Jiangqian, not knowing what it was about, accepted it and began to read.

The young man skimmed through a few pages, flipped all the way to the bottom, then turned back to the beginning. After carefully reading the section on the western shore, he smiled and said, “They must have eaten leopard gall to be this bold.”[1]

Li Xuanxuan’s heart tightened at those words. People like Li Xixuan were mortals; none of them could withstand Jiangqian’s kind of “handling.” The elder quickly pulled him back and said, “In the end, these people are still elders. Many of them are respected and have children who’ve sacrificed for the family. The island’s problems must be solved, yes, but we can’t chill too many hearts in the process.”

“I understand… I understand!” Li Jiangqian held the scroll in one hand. The long strip of white silk unfurled to the ground, fluttering softly in the breeze. He looked down at it and smiled as he said, “Leave this matter to me. Uncle Zhouluo should continue managing the household for a few more months, so the people below won’t have too much to say.”

————

Outside the hall.

Li Zhouluo exited the main hall, leaving it to the two within, and descended alongside Li Chenghuai. Only then did he remember the letter from Li Xizhi, and brought it up.

Li Zhouluo spoke with pride, his tone slightly excited. Li Chenghuai, however, showed little visible reaction. He waited until his son finished speaking, then after a long silence, finally said, “He has always been exceptional.”

Li Chenghuai’s relationship with Li Xizhi had never been particularly close. After a brief hesitation, Li Zhouluo continued, “Grandfather wishes for me to visit the Southern Sea before I reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. He plans to help me choose a suitable Dao companion… and have me complete my breakthrough there.”

Li Chenghuai nodded in response and said, “That would indeed be best. Marriage is no small matter; it’s much better to have him look out for you in that regard.”

Li Zhouluo observed his father’s expression and said softly, “Grandfather also sent his disciple Quan Yuduan to deliver a letter. But you were still in seclusion at that time, and he insisted on handing it to you personally. He returned a year ago and has been cultivating in the Wilderness region. I’ve already sent someone to fetch him.”

Wang Quwan and the others had gone north together. Letters had quickly come back saying they’d entered the underground palace and encountered several families’ direct descendants. But over half a year had passed since, and communication had been severed. Even Quan Yuduan could no longer reach anyone inside.

By now, the Dao lineage of Mount Xiaoshi in the north had been silent for three full years. It was suspected that a hidden grotto heaven existed beneath it. Unable to remain idle, Quan Yuduan, who had been assigned as an escort, had left to wander across Jiangbei. It was uncertain whether he had ever completed his sect’s mission. However, he had recently returned again to the Wilderness.

When he heard Li Zhouluo mention that Li Xizhi had left a letter, Li Chenghuai finally appeared uneasy and paced around the courtyard twice. Just as dawn broke, a man in a bright red robe, Quan Yuduan, arrived swiftly with an escort.

The youthful man wore a jade coronet on his head. He recognized Li Chenghuai immediately from his Dharma robe and the black jade pendant at his waist. His eyes lit up with emotion as he bowed deeply and said respectfully, “Greetings, young master! My master and mistress have missed you dearly all these years. They often speak of you… but with such distance between you, meeting again has not been possible.”

Li Chenghuai awkwardly helped him up. After speaking, Quan Yuduan indeed drew a letter from his sleeve and said softly, “This letter was written personally by my master. He instructed me to deliver it into your hands only, have everyone else withdraw, and open it yourself.”

Li Chenghuai felt the letter; it was not thick, even rather thin. The outside was wrapped in spirit cloth, plain and unadorned, and was clearly handwritten. He glanced around, and Li Zhouluo quickly ordered the attendants to close the hall doors and withdraw.

Only then did he remove the outer seal, and take out the pure white letter. The flowing handwriting of Li Xizhi immediately came into view, Written on the twentieth night of the Spring Moon. I, your father, am temporarily stationed in the Southern Sea. All matters have been settled, and I am presently selecting a wife for your son.

If you possess the aspiration to cultivate the Dao and seek a divine ability, follow Yuduan south across the sea. Profound pills, mystical medicine, dharma artifacts, spirit treasures, sacred lands, and immortal mountains; whatever you require, I will spare no effort to provide.

If your heart lies instead with protecting the family and living out your years in peace, I have sent Yuduan with a Dao Collection, fine silks and satin, and splendid garments and delicacies. It will be enough to shelter your descendants and sustain their honor for three generations.

Written by your father’s own hand.

Li Chenghuai read each word clearly, then flipped the letter over, though he knew nothing more was written. Still, he scanned the back from top to bottom and turned it over repeatedly in his hands.

Quan Yuduan, hearing no response for a long while, waited quietly before asking quietly, “My lord, the master instructed me to deliver the Dao Collection, sealed in a Purple Mansion Realm talisman. It includes all necessities for the Foundation Establishment Realm; dharma artifacts, spirit items, talismans, and treasured panaceas alike…”

He continued listing the items one by one, but Li Chenghuai seemed not to hear them at all. As if waking from a dream, he rasped, “Did he leave… any other instructions?”

An uneasy Quan Yuduan bowed again and replied respectfully, “The master… in his earlier years could scarcely care for himself, let alone look after you. He now wishes to make amends.”

1. 吃了豹子胆(chī le bào zi dǎn) is a Chinese idiom meaning to act with reckless boldness or outrageous courage, as if one had eaten a leopard’s gallbladder. ☜