Chapter 287: The Last From Li Zimei
There was something else at the end of the tributary besides the Young Arbiter Sect. There was a fleet from the Heavenmirror Treasure Sect. They had twelve ships, upon which Xu Qing spotted cultivators from the Heavenmirror Treasure Sect, seated cross-legged in cultivation. They were all Special Security Division officers, and they had been stationed here waiting for Seven Blood Eyes to relieve them.
The Captain went out to handle the formalities. After the official handover, which included transferring the coalition flag, the Heavenmirror Treasure Sect officers saluted those from Seven Blood Eyes and sailed back downriver. The day they arrived back at the coalition, the Special Security Division from the next sect would start the journey upriver to relieve Seven Blood Eyes.
In the meantime, the Seven Blood Eyes Special Security Division would be garrisoned here, and would keep the coalition flag flying on the shore.
Xu Qing and the Captain were in charge.
Although it might seem like a lengthy mission, both the time spent on the river and the time spent at the final destination came with plenty of benefits for cultivation. That said, cultivation wasn’t easy at the end of the tributary. Most disciples actually couldn’t quickly acclimate to the surroundings because of the very strong immortal energy.
As for the low-level disciples of the old Young Arbiter Sect, they were only able to practice cultivation here thanks to the protection of the sect’s spell formation.𝘦𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝗇𝓔t
Even Xu Qing felt dizzy, and after disembarking onto the shore next to the mainstem, could only stand there and try to catch his breath. The immortal energy buffeted his face, streamed into his nose and pores alike. After gritting his teeth and forcing himself to acclimate, he sat down cross-legged to start cultivating.
The Captain did the same. As for the other Seven Blood Eyes disciples, they also disembarked, checked the area for safety, then used their own various ways to acclimate and start meditating.
Time passed. A month later, Xu Qing opened his 109th dharma aperture. He didn’t use soul power, but instead, relied on the strong immortal energy and the Life Nurturing Incantation. It would have been very difficult to do that on the continent of South Phoenix, but here, it was a much easier task.
Xu Qing was excited.
I only have 11 dharma apertures left before I can ignite my fourth life flame!
With that fourth life flame, he would have battle prowess truly capable of crushing everything in Foundation Establishment.
Without any additional assets, he would have six-flame battle prowess. When adding his imperial-class technique, he would reach the seven-flame level. The combination of his two life lamps wouldn’t push him completely to the eight-flame level, but he would definitely be at the limit of seven flames.
Another mission came in during that month, and it was to hunt down stragglers from the Young Arbiter Sect. The search itself wasn’t important. Rather, this announcement alone was intended to send a message to the rest of Emperor-Receiving Prefecture. And that message was… the Eight Sect Coalition would not permit another dam to be built.
If someone tried, they would incur a death grudge! And the Special Security Division was responsible for making sure that message came through loud and clear.
Xu Qing had no idea what secret deal had been made between the coalition and the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society, but for whatever reason, the latter had remained silent on the entire issue.
The survivors of the Young Arbiter Sect apparently realized there was no way they could ever rebuild their sect in the area, and had evacuated. When the Seven Blood Eyes disciples returned from the search, they reported that there was no sign that any Young Arbiter Sect cultivators remained. It was the same results as when previous sects from the coalition had scoured the area.
Xu Qing continued working on his cultivation. When it got too difficult for him to be near the water, he would back away from the shore, wait for his body to acclimate again, then return and begin again.
The Captain disappeared for a while. Before leaving, he’d told Xu Qing that he was going to explore the area. Xu Qing could tell that there was more going on that the Captain didn’t want to explain, and thus didn’t ask any questions. The Captain respected Xu Qing’s desire to keep secrets, and Xu Qing did the same with the Captain.
Days passed. Truth be told, most disciples found it too dull and boring to literally sit around all day working on cultivation. So few people spent all their time doing breathing exercises and meditating. Most of them took opportunities to explore the area, or go entertain themselves in a nearby nation.
Xu Qing let them do what they wanted, while he took advantage of every possible moment to further his cultivation. There were a few others who did the same as him, including the Mute.
Three months passed. Xu Qing’s diligent work resulted in him opening his 110th dharma aperture, which gave him more abundant dharma force.
Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder. There were currently only thirty other disciples who were still in the area working on cultivation. After looking at them, Xu Qing was about to close his eyes again when suddenly his expression flickered and he looked in the direction of the mainstem.
It was evening, and the colorful clouds in the sky were exceptionally beautiful. Beneath them, a fleet of ships sailed across the water.
There were several of them, and they were clearly different from Seven Blood Eyes ships, as they were shaped like willow leaves. They looked to be made of crystal or spirit stone, making them bright, glittering, and translucent. They were coming from the direction of the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society, and a host of disciples could be seen on them, many of whom wore long white gowns. [1]
Females were in the majority, and all of them wore veils. Extraordinary fluctuations rolled off of them in all directions.
Xu Qing knew exactly who these people were.
The Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society.
As the ships got closer, the disciples on the ships and the disciples on the shore were separated only by water, giving them both a very clear view of each other.
As the two groups examined each other, Xu Qing noticed the three female disciples who had visited Seven Blood Eyes not very long ago. Though all of the disciples from the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society were dressed identically, and had veils on, they all had unique auras. Xu Qing had keen powers of observation, and having seen these three disciples from a distance back in Seven Blood Eyes, they stood out to him. [2]
There was another familiar person on one of the ships. She had the same white gown and veil that the others wore. She carried herself in such a different way from before that she almost seemed like a different person, and in fact, if it wasn’t for the stubborn determination in her eyes, Xu Qing wouldn’t have recognized her.
She was… Li Zimei!
Zhang San had previously mentioned that she was taken to the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society, and had even given Xu Qing a letter from her. The letter hadn’t said much other than some general words of appreciation. [3]
Xu Qing recognized her, but thanks to the jade slip Master Seventh had given him, he looked like a stranger to her. Their gazes met briefly, and then the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society ships were gone, heading in the direction of the Supreme Arbiter Salvation Mountains. Xu Qing watched them disappear in the distance, then looked away.
Four of us climbed the Seventh Peak that day. As of now, Zhou Qingpeng is dead, Xu Xiaohui has given up on cultivation, and Li Zimei is with the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society.
He sighed inwardly. Four years had passed, but he remembered everything clearly.
Closing his eyes, he went back to cultivation. However, before long, one of the ships from the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society fleet returned. As it approached the shore, Xu Qing opened his eyes and looked vigilantly at the newcomers.
It was one of the female disciples that had visited Seven Blood Eyes. Li Zimei was with her. They didn’t disembark. However, as Li Zimei stood further back, the female disciple looked at Xu Qing and asked, “You’re from Seven Blood Eyes?”
Xu Qing nodded.
She waved her hand, causing two jade slips to fly toward him, one violet and one blue.
Expression calm, he caught them, simultaneously plastering a look of surprise onto his face and pretending to stagger backward about ten paces. He didn’t want small details to give clues about his real identity.
“Give the blue jade slip to your sect leader’s third apprentice. The violet one is for a Seven Blood Eyes disciple named Xu Qing.” With that, she turned the ship around and then left with Li Zimei. During the entire time, Li Zimei didn’t say a single thing. However, after they were on their way, she looked over her shoulder briefly at Xu Qing.
After they were gone, Xu Qing looked down at the two jade slips. Putting away the one for Third Elder Brother, he looked at the violet slip.
It’s for me?
After some thought, he cast his senses into the jade slip, whereupon the message within entered his mind.
“Elder Brother Xu Qing, it’s me, Li Zimei. Do you remember the very last thing you ever said to me?”
Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. This jade slip wasn’t an ordinary item. It was locked, and he needed to answer this question to see the full contents. If someone tried to unlock it with force, it would self-destruct.
“Keep up the good work. I look forward to the day when you can get that dharmaboat.”
He sent those words into the sealing mark on the jade slip.
Instantly, a detailed message appeared.
Elder Brother Xu Qing, I’ve been doing well in the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society. I’m sending you this message because I started studying a new technique from my sect. It’s completely different from the cultivation methods from back at Seven Blood Eyes.
The Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society believes that cultivation base is cultivation base, while domain realms are domain realms. And they put less of an emphasis on cultivation base, and primary emphasis on domain realms.
The domain realm doesn’t have anything to do with Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Gold Core, and the like. Instead, it’s about… the will domain!
The Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society believes that the will domain is the true ‘great dao.’ That said, will domains require enlightenment, and that’s something very difficult….
That’s all I understand so far, Elder Brother. I know it’s not much. I just hope it can be of some help to you. Perhaps you can spend more time working on enlightenment. I’m not fully convinced that the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society is correct, but their beliefs do have redeeming qualities.
What’s more… I’m not going to disappoint you, Elder Brother Xu Qing. I’m going to participate in one of the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society’s ceremonies of enlightenment. They told me that it’s very difficult. If I fail, I’ll die. And even if I succeed, it’s possible that my personality will change.
That itself isn’t a big deal. I’ve never liked my personality anyway. Sometimes I’m too weak. Sometimes I’m too proud. A change would be good. I don’t know if I’ll succeed, and if I do, I have no idea how I’ll transform. By the time you get this message, I may already be dead. Or who knows, maybe I’ll have succeeded.
Either way, this is my choice, and I’m going all the way. I plan to work hard. I know I can do it! I just hope my personality doesn’t change too much.
Maybe I’m being too forward with this message. But this is the last letter I’ll write before my personality changes. I have no other relatives. For years now, I’ve only had you and Elder Brother Zhang San. I know that Elder Brother Zhang San looked after me for your sake. I hope you can forgive me for any trouble I caused you.
Finally, Elder Brother, I want to offer you my sincere well wishes. I hope you do really well in life. Forever. Always.
—Li Zimei.
1. In case you aren’t familiar with what willow leaves look like, here’s a picture of one. They’re long and slender. ☜
2. As mentioned in another recent footnote, the three Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society disciples arrived in Seven Blood Eyes in chapter 226, and one of them was “on-screen” briefly in chapter 236. As far as I recall, there was never a scene in which Xu Qing actually laid eyes on them, but considering how much time passed during that part of the story, it doesn’t seem beyond the realm of possibility that he would have seen them. ☜
3. Li Zimei was with Xu Qing on his first trip up the Seventh Peak in chapter 51. He gave her some words of encouragement in chapter 68, and the last we saw her was when he greeted her in the Transportation Division in chapter 79. Zhang San gave Xu Qing her letter in chapter 276. ☜