Chapter 1054: Records of Wanyu (II)
Li Ximing himself possessed three spirit trees. The Snake Dragon Fruit tree and the Wanglin Blossom tree had yet to awaken. The last was a spirit persimmon tree he had brought back from Mount Quanwu. Though its foundation was far inferior to the first two, it had already shown faint signs of awakening.
The Profound Horn Treasured Cluster Pine gave no response. Ling Mei quickly explained, "The venerable elder often slumbers. It has made no sound for nearly fifty years. Please do not take offense."
Li Ximing[1] nodded and simply followed him forward.
Daoist Master Ling Mei lifted his sleeve with a smile and said, "This elder has an extraordinary origin. Years ago, True Monarch Taiyu once cultivated on this mountain. His golden qi soared into the heavens, leaving the land barren for hundreds of kilometers where no grass or trees would grow. Thus he planted this senior to conceal his qi. Later, when our gate's founding master, Cheng Liuxing, entered the True Monarch's tutelage, he too had to address this elder as Martial Uncle..."
So it was actually planted by True Monarch Taiyu! Li Ximing was instantly shaken down to his heart. What kind of figure was True Monarch Taiyu? The strength of this ancient tree was certainly unmatched within the Purple Mansion Realm. As long as it stood here, who would dare to attack the Sword Gate?
Ling Mei was clearly proud as he said, "My Sword Gate's long sword pierces the heavens, its golden qi overwhelming. Yet it has never harmed the common folk of Jingchuan Prefecture. That is all thanks to this venerable elder!"
As he spoke, he drew Li Ximing to sit beneath the tree. The table was covered with pine needles as lustrous as jade tassels. Ling Mei brushed them aside with a wave of his sleeve, poured tea, and said with a smile, "Zhaojing's arrival is something I truly did not expect!"
Li Ximing only smiled and spoke politely, "My forebear was renowned as a Sword Immortal, and his name is inscribed within the Wanyu Sword Book of Chenghua Hall. Now that I, Zhaojing, have achieved the Purple Mansion Realm, it is only natural that I come to pay my respects. Not to mention, my family has practiced the sword for generations and shares a Dao lineage bond with Sword Gate. How could I not come?"
"Indeed." Ling Mei nodded, looking pleasantly surprised. His face was somewhat square and his brows and eyes firm, yet his gaze brimmed with admiration as he said, "Our gate's founding master once said that anyone in this world who left their name upon the Sword Book would forever be an honored guest of our gate. Should matters of life and death arise, they may always seek our aid.
"Although many years have passed and the founder has already ascended, our sect still regards the sword immortals of the world as friends. It is a pity... by the time we learned of it, the esteemed elder of your family had already been slain!"