Chapter 1610: Crimson Radiance (II)

Since the slaughter of the Chengming generation by the riverside, the Li Family's descendants had never truly flourished. Talented descendants had become increasingly rare, and both the Zhouxing and Jiangque generations appeared dispirited.

If not for Li Zhouwei and Li Quewan brought back from the lakeshore, there would have been only Li Jiangzong... Still, their personalities differed too greatly to compare directly. In terms of innate ability, Li Jiangzong was roughly comparable to Li Chenghui, yet whether in experience or fortune, the gap between them was far from small.

However, looking across the hall, Li Ximing could now see three or five children whose innate ability was well worth cultivating, along with several whose talent was exceptional enough to delight the eye. How could Li Ximing not be pleased? His gaze swept across the gathering before settling upon the face of a young boy below.

Seeing those golden eyes, he smiled and pointed toward him. "You're Suihuan, aren't you?"

The youth possessed handsome eyes, elegant brows, and brilliant golden pupils. There was an unmistakable air of nobility about him. Stepping forward, he respectfully replied, "Suihuan greets Daoist Master!"

The youth was indeed Li Suihuan, the son of Li Jianglong. He was one of the reasons Li Jianglong had specifically emerged from seclusion for this occasion.

His name had been personally bestowed by Li Ximing. Counting the years, he was now thirteen. The eldest son of the Bright Yang bloodline, he ranked fourth among the Suiyu generation. His cultivation had also progressed faster than anyone else's. He had already entered Qi Cultivation Realm and cultivated the [Scripture of Refulgent Firelight].

With Li Ximing and Li Zhouwei having successively reached the Purple Mansion Realm, the resources available to the Li Family's younger generation had improved dramatically. Beginning cultivation at the age of six, and with both techniques and provisions of the highest quality, Li Suihuan had completed the six cycles of Embryonic Breathing at a pace of one cycle per year. Had the [Scripture of Refulgent Firelight] not been particularly difficult to cultivate, he might have broken through even sooner.

Standing before the younger generation now, he already carried the bearing of someone exceptional. Many cultivators found themselves glancing repeatedly at him, drawing a broad smile from Li Ximing.

"You have your father's bearing... With talent and presence like this, even the direct descendants of the immortal sects would struggle to compare!"

Though still young, Li Suihuan lacked neither courage nor confidence. Facing the gazes of the gathered cultivators and the attention of a Daoist Master, he raised his brows and replied with bright eyes, "What immortal sect descendant could have dared face grandfather's halberd in those days? As descendants of the White Qilin, we shall spread brilliance far and wide, raise the sun ever higher, and make Moongaze shine brilliantly. The divine ability of two generations will not be our limit."

Those around him exchanged astonished looks. A smile appeared on Li Minggong's face. Li Jianglong's eyelid twitched as he frowned slightly.

Li Ximing merely raised a brow and smiled. "Excellent ambition."

"Come here." He took out a jade box from his sleeve and placed it in Li Suihuan's hands with a smile. "This is a Radiant Fire dharma artifact of our family, called the [Radiant Light Splendor]. I originally had it forged during my spare time while verifying certain divine abilities and arts. Now that I no longer need it, I'll give it to you as encouragement."

For a moment, only Li Suihuan’s words of thanks and the admiration of those around him could be heard. Standing quietly below, Li Suining did not raise his head. Listening to Li Ximing's praise, he felt neither jealousy nor envy. What filled his heart instead was something far more complicated.

Fourth Brother...

Li Suihuan's words had not been empty boasting, nor were they mere grand declarations. Even years later, after the eldest young master broke through to the Purple Mansion Realm, people still spoke of his 'divine ability of two generations.'

His fourth brother's cultivation speed was astonishing in its own right. By the time the immortal decree reached the lake, his Immortal Foundation had already reached perfection; his secret techniques had been mastered; and he stood only a single step away from the Purple Mansion Realm.

Yet, who could have imagined that the Li Family, once blazing like the midday sun, would end up with such a fate?

He raised his brows slightly but did not dare look directly at Li Ximing. Listening to the satisfaction in the man's voice, and perhaps because of the foreknowledge lingering in his heart, he felt that Li Ximing was not quite as delighted as he appeared.

Li Ximing soon turned his attention elsewhere. Looking down with raised brows, he pointed toward Li Suikuan at the side and smiled. "And you are...?"

"I am Suikuan... a descendant of the Yuanwan branch!"

The child immediately dropped to his knees and answered with utmost respect. Li Ximing nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Rare indeed!"

In his previous life, he had been too ignorant to understand. Now, however, Li Suining knew perfectly well why Li Ximing had singled out Li Suikuan. Among all the children present, Li Suikuan appeared the most outstanding, and that was naturally thanks to his foolish granduncle, Li Chengzai.

The old man knew nothing about cultivation, but he was willing to put in the effort. Through personal connections, he had obtained spirit materials from several guest cultivators and fed them to Li Suikuan from an early age.

With Li Suikuan's level of Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivation, it was like feeding peonies to an ox. How could a Daoist Master fail to see through it? On the surface, Li Suikuan appeared far more talented than Li Suining, but Li Suining himself knew the truth. The two brothers were more or less equals.

As expected, the Daoist Master's gaze swept past and quickly settled upon Li Suining. Even after living two lives, his fear of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and his respect for his family's Daoist Master had not diminished in the slightest. Li Suining's heart immediately tightened.

As Li Ximing examined him for a moment, Li Minggong's gentle voice sounded from the side.

"This is Suining. His father was Jiangwu, who once cultivated the Mount Xiaoshi Dao lineage. He suffered severe injuries from Merging Fire during the turmoil in the Wilderness, and passed away not long afterward. His grandfather was Li Zhouhuan, who died of old age by the lakeshore. Zhouhuan is the second son of my second elder brother, Li Chengdu."

This was precisely why Li Minggong treated Li Suining with greater care than the others. Li Ximing studied him closely and asked with a smile, "Fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm already?"

Suppressing his excitement, Li Suining respectfully answered, "Daoist Master, I've been at the fourth stage for half a year now."

"Good..." Li Ximing glanced at Li Jiangzong and said, "Have him collect a portion of cultivation provisions from the clan, along with two medicinal pills. He can begin Qi Cultivation Realm now... Have you inherited any Dao lineage, or is there any skill in which you excel?"

Li Suining stepped back, knelt, and bowed deeply. "Daoist Master, I have done some study of formations... I hope to pursue the Dao of Formations!"

Having lived two lives, Li Suining naturally knew exactly what his family lacked most at present! He also knew how to display his talents. In his previous life, nearly everyone of the Suiyu generation had studied books on formations, and no fewer than three of his brothers had ultimately been directed toward the path of formations!

The family's alchemy is renowned far and wide. Artifact forging has also risen rapidly under Uncle Jiangzong's leadership. The only thing we're missing is the Dao of Formations. It's been a longstanding concern for the elders!

"Oh?" Yet the moment he finished speaking, the eyes of the Daoist Master before him slightly opened. Light glimmered within them as he quietly examined Li Suining. "The Eastern Residence has spent many years beyond the island. It seems you've accumulated quite a bit of wealth if you're able to dabble in the Dao of Formations."

There was little joy in Li Ximing's heart. He watched coldly and glanced at Li Jiangzong, causing the younger man to frown slightly as his expression changed.

Of course Li Ximing knew his family lacked formation masters. He had even discussed the matter with Li Jiangzong not long ago. Yet he had never expected such an answer to come from Li Suining. After all, he had been asking about practical skills, things like weapons and combat arts!

As a descendant of the Eastern Residence whose branch had declined and fallen into hardship by the lakeshore, he should have only reached the fourth stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm through constant cultivation. How could such a person have spare time to study the hundred cultivation arts, let alone the Dao of Formations, a path that required costly formation flags just to begin?

Yet this boy had immediately chosen the very field the family lacked most, and where they were preparing to cultivate new talent. Claiming to have already studied it was naturally suspicious. Li Ximing knew all too well how skilled some people were at currying favor!

Though he spoke no harsh words, those fleeting suspicions alone seemed to cool the light within the hall. The atmosphere stiffened at once. Li Minggong's expression changed, concern appearing in her eyes.

A Purple Mansion Realm cultivator possessed divine ability capable of influencing the very atmosphere around them. A change in mood or thought could affect an entire area. Most children would have been frightened into tears by such pressure and blurted out everything they knew.

Li Suining, however, remained completely calm. "Daoist Master, when my grandfather passed away, I once came to the lake alone. At that time, I met Dharma Protector Ren. My father had once served under him, so they shared a bit of friendship. After hearing that I possessed a spiritual orifice, he gathered the various manuals my father had left behind and allowed me to take them home to study. Among my father's belongings was a book called [Comprehensive Explanation of Formations].

"I became utterly engrossed in it and could hardly put it down... It's been nearly ten years now."

What ordinary child could lie so calmly before him? Seeing that Li Suining's expression had not changed in the slightest, Li Ximing had already accepted most of the explanation.

His expression softened somewhat as he said, "Oh? Studying formations without formation flags must have been difficult for you."

Li Ximing was not wrong. In his previous life, Li Suining's perseverance had been remarkable. Even if it had not truly been ten years, he had certainly studied for six or seven. Yet without formation flags, how could entering the path of formations be easy?

Although the experience had proved beneficial to his future cultivation of formations, even by the day he stood in this hall in his previous life, he had only gained vague insights. His understanding remained hazy, and he had never managed to produce any real results. He had not dared claim anything, and had merely humbly stated that he would follow whatever arrangements the family made.

But now his gaze was steady and composed. He bowed once more before rising and respectfully said, "Daoist Master, other objects can be used as substitutes."

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