The Li Family did possess a Purple Mansion Realm resource gifted by the Kong Family, also in the form of scales. Unfortunately, it was of the Pit Water attribute and unusable.
Li Ximing took out a brocade box from his sleeve, revealing pearl-like white stones inside, and said softly, "These are [Six-Form Spirit Stones] of the [True Essence] Dao. They are compatible with all True Essence disciplines and should be useful. They can serve as a backup option."
Only then did Master Dingyang show some genuine consideration. After letting him look, Li Ximing put it away and brought out another box. Inside lay three long white feathers that looked almost metallic. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
He said seriously, "These are [Under-Neck Feathers]. I leave them with you as collateral. First, as a sign of sincerity. Second... if anyone comes to you to forge treasures and you encounter suitable materials, please exchange them on my behalf."
Li Ximing understood this well. Just as he, as an alchemist, had seen many Purple Mansion Realm materials for consumption, this man would surely encounter far more materials for artifact forging than he ever could. Searching across the ends of the world would be less effective than trading through him. Since the man had already agreed to design it for his family, he might as well swallow his pride and entrust the matter fully to him.
Master Dingyang saw through his intent, accepted the jade box from his hand, and the two exchanged jade tokens. Stroking his beard, the old man said, "I understand..."
Li Ximing smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "If there is anything you need from me, feel free to ask..."
Then his tone shifted, and he said seriously, "As for the [Supreme Shaman] spirit embryo you promised me back then... is there any news now?"
Master Dingyang shook his head. "How could it be that fast?!"
Li Ximing himself had used the rapid refinement methods of the Pavilion Viewing faction, along with spiritual essence from the Xiukui Dao to accelerate the process. Master Dingyang followed a different Dao lineage and would never expend such spiritual essence for him, so it was naturally far slower. Realizing this, Li Ximing felt a sting of regret.
For two major matters in a row, I had no choice but to prepare the spirit embryos in advance, which cost me two portions of the spiritual essence of the [Guarding Toward the White Yang]... If I had not been in such a rush back then, those two portions would have been better used now to refine this armor...
He had no time to think further when a noise suddenly came from outside the pavilion. Master Dingyang excused himself and quickly brought someone in.
The old man's expression had turned stern as he said coldly, "The man is right here... ask him yourself!"
Li Ximing saw that the man entering had a head full of gray hair and wore a black robe covered in brown circular patterns. He recognized him at a glance and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Luo, how have you been lately!"
"So it is Brother Zhaojing!"
.bg-ssp-10081{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} This man was none other than Daoist Master Luo, a devil cultivator from the southern border. Seeing Li Ximing, his face lit up with delight, then he examined him with some surprise. "So it truly is the path of regrowth. Your body has completely recovered, Fellow Daoist!"
The man had probably assumed he would be unwilling to use a pill. In truth, Li Ximing had taken one, but he did not reveal his wealth and simply laughed it off. As expected, Daoist Master Luo soon set his sights on the spirit embryo.
"I have passed by this place several times and seen the treasure on that altar... I must say, I am quite envious..."
Li Ximing suddenly thought of something. He smiled and refused, not giving the man time to press further, and said, "Take a look, Fellow Daoist!"
He produced an item from his hand. Inside the box, layered clouds seemed to fold over one another, with a faint yellow-white glow within. It was the [Wondrous Wisdom Tendril] gifted by Liu Changdie.
The [Wondrous Wisdom Tendril] was a spirit item of the [Gathering Wood] Dao. In all of Jiangnan, Daoist Master Luo was the only person Li Ximing knew who cultivated this Dao lineage.
Sure enough, when Daoist Master Luo saw the spirit item, his smiling eyes froze. He examined it closely for a while, then said with clear surprise, "[Wondrous Wisdom Tendril]... Have you been to the Western Sea, Fellow Daoist?"
These Purple Mansion figures were all well-versed in the origins of their Dao lineages, and he had seen through it in a single sentence. Li Ximing did not mention Liu Changdie and simply said, "I obtained it by chance. Can you make use of it, Fellow Daoist?"
"To say it is useless would be impossible." Daoist Master Luo seemed to be examining its quality. After a while, he spoke absentmindedly, his eyes never leaving the material. "Put yourself in my place. If you came across a Bright Yang material, even if you had no immediate use for it, would you not still take it? It is only a matter of price..."
Li Ximing knew this man was cunning. He chuckled inwardly, closed the jade box, and sighed. "So that is how it is... I thought that since it is rare to meet a Fellow Daoist of this Dao, and I happen to have a matching material, it would be useful. But it seems it has no immediate use after all!"
.bg-ssp-10016{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;}