Chapter 900: Fei Qingyi (I)
The formation in the grand hall shimmered faintly. Li Qinghong suddenly recalled the Falling Water Rising Storm years ago, when she had ridden lightning over the sea. A True Monarch of the Yue Cultivating Sect, Taiyue, had severed a celestial phenomenon with a single slash, causing countless comet-like stars to fall from the sky.
Back then, I couldn’t make out the True Monarch’s form. I could only see a blur of white light. Though the first disciple in the hall also has no visible face, there’s an uncanny sense of familiarity, thought Li Qinghong.
True Monarch Taiyue had attained Fruition, and beings of that level, once seen, could probably be recognized instantly even if only drawn roughly. After much thought, she swallowed her words and said softly, "He simply feels familiar."
Li Xijun wisely refrained from pressing further. After a moment of silent observation, he replied, "The hall in the painting should be Chongming Hall."
"Correct," replied Li Qinghong.
Though the Six Sons of Chongming were renowned, the painting depicted seven figures. Li Qinghong recalled that the Chunyi Dao Gate of the Eastern Sea also hailed from the Green Pine Dao lineage. She had once crossed swords with Xi Chang of the Chunyi Dao Gate, whose cultivation method was rooted in the principle of Taiyin. It was an encounter she remembered vividly.
"The one outside the hall should be the founder of the Chunyi Dao Gate."
The guardian-like figure outside the hall was most likely a member of the Xi Family. The crescent moon on the sword matched perfectly.
She explained her deduction in detail, and Li Xijun, gaining insight, nodded and said, "The Purple Essence Radiant Canopy, the guardian treasure of the Purple Smoke Gate, is famous. The senior in purple robes must be their founder. The one in red likely represents Hengzhu Dao Gate; the white-robed sword-bearer is from the Wanyu Sword Gate; the one in hemp robes must be from the Changhuai Sect; and the seated first disciple..."
Li Qinghong responded, "He's likely the one from Jiangbei."
The two counted and identified each figure except for the youth in green robes and black boots. Since they were on their turf, they knew better than to speak of him openly. Li Xijun carefully examined the image and soon spotted a few lines of text-like markings in the dark green pattern on the side.
Li Xijun naturally couldn’t make much sense of it, but Li Qinghong closed her eyes to concentrate. Drawing on her connection with ancient dharma artifact techniques, she soon deciphered the meaning, "These markings are the unique arcane seals of an ancient cultivator. They roughly mean...