Li Zhouwei smiled and replied, "That should be the case."

A trace of regret soon appeared on his face as he continued, "It's just a pity that during this period, every spare moment was spent either cultivating in seclusion or practicing spell arts. I never had the chance to carefully observe the changes, so I can't tell which encounters granted those immortal merits!"

Li Ximing nodded inwardly before quickly smiling. "That's no issue. Just pay closer attention next time. There's no urgent need to spend them right now. As long as we know they can be obtained, there's nothing to worry about!"

Li Zhouwei nodded and said, "At the time, I was overjoyed. I used the [Immortal Ascension Method] to pay homage at the highest prayer cushion within the Upper Firmament Pavilion, then wrote down my request for the [Imperial Divergence Light] talisman and cast it into the bronze furnace. There's been no response yet for now."

"Good, good, good!" Li Ximing knew Li Zhouwei would already have arranged everything properly, so he laughed and said, "It's fortunate the family has you... I'm always handling things alone, constantly stretched too thin between alchemy and cultivation. It's inevitable that I overlook things from time to time."

He glanced at Li Zhouwei and quietly asked, "There's still one more thing I want to ask... Since receiving the [Illuminating Sun and Moon], have these recent battles helped your Dao conduct in any way?"

Li Zhouwei pondered briefly before replying, "Though these battles were fierce, none truly threatened my life, nor did I suffer any serious injuries. They weren't enough to push me to my limits, yet there was indeed some feedback to my Dao... As for exactly how it benefited me... I couldn't tell at the time."

He took a seat, his thoughts remarkably clear as he said, "But after witnessing so many divine abilities recently, I've begun to form a deeper understanding of Dao conduct itself. That day, when I returned alongside Daoist Master Yushui, he was grateful for my generous assistance and was also eyeing the [Under-Neck Feathers]. We ended up speaking for quite some time, so I took the opportunity to ask him about it specifically. On one hand, I could quietly gather information, and on the other, I could sort out a few distinctions for myself."

Chen Yin[1] possessed considerable strength, and his ancestors also had ties to the Golden Feather lineage, so his insight carried weight.

Li Ximing listened attentively as Li Zhouwei continued, "When speaking of Dao conduct, all of Jiangnan acknowledges the Two Purples, with Daoist Master Zimu, Wen Qingzhou[2], ranked foremost among them. But in my opinion now... there's still one other individual, if he can even still be considered human."

Li Ximing seemed to realize something. "Suiguan?"

"Exactly!" Li Zhouwei's expression turned solemn as he said, "Though Dao conduct does not necessarily grow stronger with age alone, given enough time, one can gradually temper and refine it little by little. And in his case, he's intimately connected to a True Monarch... That's the truly terrifying part.

"In terms of Dao conduct, people like Suiguan and Dongfang Heyun could probably be considered unmatched beneath the True Monarch. Their foundations themselves are extraordinary, beyond the reach of ordinary people, so there's little point discussing them further.

"Below those two stands Daoist Master Zimu. Though I've never met him personally, it's said that Zimu surpasses Zipei by an entire level. His reputation is well known, and among those who have perfected divine abilities, he's considered one of the absolute finest."

A trace of astonishment appeared on his face as he said, "Daoist Master Chen[3] holds him in the highest esteem. He only said a single sentence about him, 'To cultivate to such a level may truly be called the utmost pinnacle.'"

Li Ximing sighed with emotion. "I've long heard of him!"

Li Zhouwei still remembered the Grand Daoist Master from Mount Luoxia, though he never learned the man's title and thus could not speak carelessly about him. He did not elaborate further and merely placed that individual alongside Zimu above Zipei.

He continued, "Daoist Master Zipei may not excel at battle, yet her Dao conduct is still renowned. Chunyi Dao Gate once had Daoist Master Yuanshang, whose Dao conduct was similarly profound, as well as the late Grand Daoist Master Qing of Mount Changhuai. Those figures can all be considered first-rate, the very peak a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator could hope to reach in an entire lifetime."

Li Ximing clicked his tongue in amazement. "For even Daoist Master Zipei to rank that far down the list... Ninety-nine percent of all Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in the world ought to be ashamed of themselves!"

Li Zhouwei shook his head and said, "That is already exceptionally impressive. Below them are Grand Daoist Masters who inherited precious Dao lineages, or whose Dao lineages themselves are openly radiant and naturally suited for refining Dao conduct, such as Changxiao and Chi Buzi. There are also mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivators who obtained fragments of Golden Core inheritances, such as Daoist Master Puyu of Penglai. These individuals would be considered second-rate, those who have cultivated their Dao conduct and arts to an extremely profound level.

"The third tier consists of ordinary Grand Daoist Masters and certain mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivators whose Dao conduct surpasses their peers, such as Chi Wei and Daoist Master Fuxuan of Chunyi Dao Gate...

"One tier lower are Grand Daoist Masters whose divine abilities suffer from innate flaws or restrictions, as well as mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivators who painstakingly devote themselves to Dao conduct, such as Helian Wujiang... As for the Grand Daoist Masters themselves, he did not dare speak too openly and only hinted at such matters indirectly."

"Oh?"

Li Ximing's eyes lit up. Rarely did he get to hear such gossip, and he immediately focused his attention while Li Zhouwei lowered his voice.

"Chen Yin claimed that among the Twelve Essences, [Radiant Essence] and [Cold Essence] correspond to one another. Apparently, back in the primordial era, both were subjected to some unimaginable method by a certain Immortal Lord and were forced into submission. As a result, cultivation became easier, but their divine abilities were permanently weakened by a degree, and their Dao conduct became extremely difficult to deepen... When Wei State collapsed, [Radiant Essence] broke free from those shackles and was no longer affected, leaving only [Cold Essence] still burdened by the restriction."

Though no names were explicitly mentioned, the implication could not have been clearer.

"Tianwan of Crimson Reef Island!"

Li Ximing himself did not cultivate Cold Essence, so he simply treated it as an amusing story and laughed it off as Li Zhouwei finished, "The fifth tier can finally be considered entering the hall and grasping the fundamentals. There are at least some people at this level. Typically, once someone cultivates two or three divine abilities, they can begin touching the edge of this realm."

"Heh!" Li Ximing had always been optimistic by nature. He pressed a hand lightly against his teacup and laughed. "I was wondering whether I might qualify as having entered the hall already. Turns out I'm still standing at the foot of the mountain."

Li Zhouwei laughed awkwardly and said, "Granduncle has spent the past hundred years diligently devoted to alchemy. Naturally, you shouldn't compare yourself to people like them..."

Only then did Li Ximing begin seriously considering the matter and said, "Changxiao truly is formidable. I still remember one of his arts vividly... Where would you place yourself?"

Li Zhouwei nodded solemnly before replying, "In my early years, I studied quite a number of arts and benefited greatly from those secret techniques. If I had to estimate, my Dao conduct has likely reached the threshold of entering the hall.

"Now that I've gained this bit of improvement, I've been weighing things in my heart. If I can achieve tenfold this progress, I should be able to test myself against Helian Wujiang."

Li Ximing calculated silently for a moment before replying with a hint of envy, "That's already quite fast! And you still haven't even fought to your heart's content yet."

Li Zhouwei gave a slight bow as Li Ximing rose on a streak of light, heading toward the Eastern Sea. Li Zhouwei escorted him partway before reminding him, "Since granduncle is heading to Poluoduo, you should also ask Demon King Qingyan about spirit items. The path he cultivates is precisely [Azure Manifestation]. Do you remember the [Nine Dams of Azure Ram Mountain] art in our family archives? Its grade is extremely high and the requirements are too strict for us to cultivate properly, but it should fetch an excellent price in trade."

Li Ximing immediately felt that made perfect sense. Judging from Qingyan's rough and imposing appearance, his fighting style was probably broad and overwhelming as well, making it highly suitable for him. Pleased by the thought, he readily agreed.

1. The given name of Daoist Master Yushui. ☜

2. The given name of Daoist master Zimu. ☜

3. Referring To Chen Yin. ☜