《The Mirror Legacy》
Chapter 1: First Entry
Chapter 1: First Entry
Lu Jiangxian found himself immersed in a very, very long dream where he saw fields with rice paddies, the gleams of swords, an immortal sect, a woman, and a hugeke.
¡°Hand over the Supreme Yin Breathing Qi Sutra and the Moonlight Secret Decree, and we¡¯ll cripple only your cultivation.¡±
A pleasant but cold female voice echoed in Lu Jiangxian¡¯s ears. He strained to discern a face within the haze, yet its features remained elusive and indistinct.
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BAM!
The violent shaking jolted Lu Jiangxian awake.
Visions of light and strange colors swirled in his mind. He tried to open his eyes and rise, but his body refused to obey as if an unseen force anchored him to his bed.
All of a sudden, a brilliant white light pierced through the dense darkness before him. Though the darkness surged like a tidal wave, the column of light stood unyielding, as eternal as the sun.
Golden runes erupted from it, stretching into the darkness and scattering across the sky like a celestial shower of stars.
How beautiful, Lu Jiangxian thought to himself in a daze.
As more and more runes appeared, eventually reaching a pinnacle, Lu Jiangxian heard a sound akin to ss shattering resonating in his ears.
The world then burst into light.
Lu Jiangxian saw a sky as blue as the sea, a vast primeval forest, and nearby, a small crescent-shapedke. A white stream of light cascaded into the sparkling water.
Below, thatched huts and rice paddies peppered thendscape.
Like a swallow, he swiftly soared over the small tawny viges, their smoke and fires, and a clear stream.
In a fleeting moment, he caught his reflection in the stream.
That looks like a round, shiny thing... he thought, perplexed.
A vague realization then surfaced...
Am I no longer human?
Suddenly, the violent shaking returned. Lu Jiangxian plunged into the water. The stream, too shallow to absorb the impact, led him to gently collide with a blue stone at the bottom.
The impact felt like a punch to his chest, knocking out the air in his lungs. With the stream¡¯s agitation and the force of the recoil, his body steadily righted itself, facing up toward the sun-dappled water surface.
¡°Wasn¡¯t I up all night in my rented room, revising my work?¡±
Lu Jiangxian gazed silently at the sun reflecting on the river, watching as turbulent waves twisted the light patterns beneath the water¡¯s surface.
His head throbbed relentlessly as he recalled fragments of the past. All he could remember was weakly copsing onto the bed, with the smoke and glow of the neon lights in his rented room weaving around him.
He also remembered opening a can of beer and sitting down at his dimputer desk, feeling his heart racing and his breathing bing progressivelybored as the world around him began spinning even more.
Did I... die? Well, this isn¡¯t so bad. At least, I don¡¯t have to worry about my future or the burdens of living.
This thought, perhaps born from long-suppressed feelings, fluttered through his mind, surprisingly lifting his spirits.
Looking around, he observed the dark green treetops with their dangling aerial roots, nimble fish swiftly gliding overhead, and the soft sshes of water.
¡°But if this goes on, it¡¯s bound to drive me crazy with boredom,¡± he added with a sigh.
He watched as the sun gradually descended from overhead, painting the sky in warm hues of pink and orange, and the water darkening beneath the treetops.
Two fish curiously circled him, and even a crab attempted to turn him over.
As the moon rose, its luminous glow gently bathed the river. Lu Jiangxian felt a cool qi flow prate the water, bringing a subtle sense offort.
As he watched the moonlight envelop his body, forming a mesmerizing white halo, he was rendered utterly speechless. This experience transformed his state of mind in an unexpected and profound way.
¡°What is this? Am I absorbing the essence of the sun and moon like an immortal from legends? Wait, does that mean immortals, divine abilities, demons, ghosts, and gods are actually real?¡± he wondered in awe.
¡°What have I be, an artifact spirit?¡±
Curiosity and excitement surged within him as the moon¡¯s halo seemed to gather strength, settling upon him.
A cool sensation enveloped his body before he slipped into a meditative state akin to drifting in and out of sleep.
Time passed. As the qi flow thinned, Lu Jiangxian awoke. The crescent moon had vanished, reced by the sun peeking over the treetops, casting a warm morning light across the river.
¡°That was fast.¡±
Lu Jiangxian could not help but feel a surge of joy. With focused attention, he sensed a stream of qi serenely flowing within his body, moving in circr motions around the edges.
If he concentrated hard enough, he could catch a glimpse of a bluish-gray mirror lying peacefully at the bottom of the river, nestled among various colored stones.
Fish swam nearby, feeding at the bottom, and a river crab busied itself with digging at the side. His vision was limited to about a meter around him. It was not particrly clear, but instead like the fuzzy and bulky television he watched in his childhood.
¡°This is my current form, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lu Jiangxian smiled wryly. He then consciously stopped the flow of qi and gathered it at the center of the mirror, which emitted a faint glimmer.
¡°It seems that it doesn¡¯t do anything other than glowing. I should absorb more moonlight, maybe that¡¯ll change something,¡± he mused.
¡°I don¡¯t know what this mirror is made of, and I have no idea what the outside world thinks about sentient artifacts. Best stay hidden, just in case I¡¯m found by an immortal cultivator who can destroy me without a second thought.¡±
Chapter 2: Li Family
Chapter 2: Li Family
Li Mutian woke up in the early hours of the morning, his gaze fixed on the dpidated roof of his house. A faint glimmer pierced through the darkness, a reminder of the small opening that had formed a few days ago.
He did not have the time to repair it, which led to three nights of restless sleep. Beside him, his wifey deeply asleep, prompting a deep sigh from Li Mutian.
¡°She might not be aware of what¡¯s going on, but these past few days have been wild. Those immortals around Mount Dali are going crazy, turning the ce upside down as if they¡¯re on some kind of treasure hunt. Everyone¡¯s terrified. All they can do is kneel and bow their heads to the ground whenever those streaks of light pass by...¡±
Frowning, Li Mutian¡¯s mind was fraught with worries. At the foot of Mount Dali, their small vige had always been tranquil. However, recent events had cast a shadow of fear over everyone.
¡°The mountain roads are narrow and secluded. The imperial court is too far away to be concerned, and we¡¯re usually fine with that. But... a battle among immortals? Their immortal techniques could easily wipe out the entire Lijing Vige without sparing even a single soul.¡±
Unable to sleep any longer, Li Mutian got up and peered out the window into the dark night.
¡°My boys¡¯ appetite grows day by day. They eat more with every meal. I¡¯ll catch some fish and crabs at Meiche River tomorrow.¡±
¡°No one can escape their fate, even if it means being killed by an immortal. The Li family has worked hard on these barrennds for over two hundred years. We can¡¯t just up and leave.¡±
With a shake of his head, Li Mutian turned and left his house with hands sped behind his back.
Outside the house, the brown dog was still sleeping. Li Mutian walked through the gentle morning mist, observing Lijing Vige as it awoke¡ªthe sound of chickens, the barking of dogs, and the smoke rising from the houses.
¡°Xiangping¡ª!¡± Li Mutian called out loudly toward the side house. He heard some noises inside before the door creaked open and a teenager burst out.
¡°Father!¡± Li Xiangping, a decent-looking boy with mischievous eyes, tilted his head as he looked up at Li Mutian and asked, ¡°What will we be doing today?¡±
Li Mutian waved his hand and said, ¡°We¡¯re going to Meiche River to fetch some river fish and crabs. There¡¯s not much work today. Let¡¯s bring some fresh vors home for your mother.¡±
¡°Yes, Father!¡±
Li Xiangping grabbed a rope basket and a long fork, ready to set off.
With a heartyugh, Li Mutian headed toward the fields.
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The Meiche River was both shallow and wide, its banks lined withrge amounts of mudts and reeds.
Rather than feeding their dozens, sometimes hundreds, of geese and ducks every morning, the vigers set them free to wander freely toward the river.
Later in the evening, someone from the vige would make their way to the riverbank and call out to the birds. Familiar with their keeper¡¯s voice, the geese and ducks would then follow them back home.
Li Xiangping arrived at the Meiche River before the geese and ducks were released for the day. The river was quiet, with only two small rafts swaying on the shore. Rolling up his sleeves and kneeling in the mud, he blindly felt around with his hands, then fixed his eyes on a sh of green in the water.
¡°That¡¯s a good fish.¡±
Li Xiangping held his breath and moved swiftly. With a firm grasp, he caught the green-tailed fish by its gills and pulled it up.
¡°Hehe.¡±
He chuckled, tossing the fish into his rope basket. The fish in Meiche River were not usually this easy to catch. This green-tailed one must have carelessly swum downstream, and Li Xiangping was lucky to have caught it.
As he looked at the riverbed, Li Xiangping noticed something unusual. A spot under the water was too smooth, faintly reflecting a silver light.
Just as he was about to hold his breath again and dive in for a closer look, a loud voice called from the shore, ¡°Brother Xiangping!¡±
Li Xiangping instinctively hid his rope basket and turned toward the bank, where a boy that looked just over the age of ten emerged from the reeds.
¡°Oh it¡¯s you, Little Brother Ye, are you here to watch over the ducks?¡± Li Xiangping asked, relieved.
He then held out the basket. ¡°Look at this greentail, I caught it barehanded.¡±
¡°Awesome!¡± Li Yesheng eximed, looking enviously into the basket.
Li Yesheng¡¯s father had been bedridden for years, and his elder brother was a freeloader at home, so they often struggled for food. They frequently relied on Li Mutian, their uncle, for meals. Li Xiangping, his first cousin, had always treated him like a younger brother.
After a brief exchange, Li Yesheng shook his head and said, ¡°All right, brother, I better go check on the ducks. If I lose any, my brother will beat the crap out of me.¡±
¡°Off you go, then,¡± Li Xiangping urged, eager to investigate the mysterious object at the bottom of the river.
¡°All right!¡±
As soon as Li Yesheng left, Li Xiangping took a deep breath and dived into the riverbed. He groped around and, sure enough, his hands found a round object.
Emerging from the water, Li Xiangping gasped for air and wiped his face before examining his find.
The object was a palm-sized te, with a bluish-gray center and a dark iron frame.
It was broken into several pieces, held together only by the frame. The back was engraved with strange symbols that Li Xiangping could not decipher.
¡°This looks a little like my aunt¡¯s mirror," he mused. His aunt, who owned thergest field in the family, was the only one in the vige who could afford such a luxury. Ordinary vige girls had to make do by looking at their reflection in the water.
Li Xiangping remembered his mother taking him to see it when his aunt first acquired it¡ªindeed, it was more convenient than relying on water.
Yet the piece in his hands was a far cry from that mirror¡ªmurky and blurry. Shaking his head in disappointment, Li Xiangping tossed it into his basket and turned back to his fishing.
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Lu Jiangxian had been submerged in water for nearly half a month. Starting from the third day, the moonlight¡¯s energy had stagnated, showing no signs of increase.
Despite a week of effort, there was no growth. He could only make himself glow.
One morning, as his gaze lingered absentmindedly at arge green fish, a hand suddenly pressed the fish into the silt. With a swift movement, the hand seized the fish by its gills and lifted it.
Lu Jiangxian, still grappling with the shock of seeing a living person for the first time, watched as arge hand scooped him up.
He caught sight of a rather handsome face and felt a flicker of nervousness. The boy uttered a few unintelligible words and tossed him into a basket, leaving him to stare at the wide eyes of the green-tailed fish inside.
It was at that moment, Lu Jiangxian realized a serious problem¡ªhe could hear, but he might not understand.
The local dialect sounded simr to the Fujian and Zhejiang dialects from his previous life, which werepletely foreign to him. Even if he managed to speak, the likelihood was that the locals would not understand him either, thusplicating his integration into this new world.
Observing the fish being thrown into the basket one after another, Lu Jiangxian focused, probing his surroundings.
He watched the boy carefully raise the long wooden fork in his hand. From this vantage point, Lu Jiangxian had a rough idea of what this boy was thinking and the specific fish that had captured his attention.
Every time the boy caught a fish, Lu Jiangxian saw him murmuring to himself. In no time, Lu Jiangxian learned the specific pronunciations of numbers three to six and the names of different fish species. Each catch provided a valuable learning opportunity, all thanks to the boy¡¯s self-talk.
I guess I¡¯ll take it one step at a time.
Watching the boy get up and leave, he sighed. The child seemed to be from a farming family, so perhaps he would offer what he found to his parents.
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s n was to engage with more people to gradually learn the local dialect. Meanwhile, he would seek ways to amass the energy of the moonlight while ensuring his own safety.
Chapter 3: Mirror
Chapter 3: Mirror
¡°Hey, Brother Xiangping.¡±
Li Xiangping was walking home with a basket on his back when he spotted a girl approaching from a distance. She had a round face with in features, but her broad smile lent a certain charm to her appearance.
¡°Little Sister Yun,¡± Li Xiangping greeted her with a smile, turning around to offer her a view of his basket.
¡°Look at these fish I¡¯ve caught. You should take a few home to try,¡± he offered.
¡°Oh, I couldn¡¯t possibly,¡± Tian Yun demurred, smiling shyly and looking down. The girl had matured early; at eleven, she was already taller than thirteen-year-old Li Xiangping.
In Lijing Vige, men and women usually marry around thirteen or fifteen. Of all her peers, Tian Yun had long set her heart on Li Xiangping as a future husband as they were closest in age.
¡°Please take them, I insist!¡± Li Xiangping insisted, pushing two fish into Tian Yun¡¯s hands. He had no ulterior motives; Tian Yun¡¯s father was the most generous in the vige, and Li Xiangping naturally wanted to treat his daughter better.
After parting ways with Tian Yun, Li Xiangping hurried home, lowering the basket into the small pond.
He thought for a moment, then took out the mirror he had found earlier and pocketed it. Taking along the three wooden boxes from the table, he headed toward the fields where his father and two elder brothers were working.
The Li Family had four sons¡ªLi Changhu, Li Tongya, Li Xiangping, and Li Chejing. In Daya Vige, the Li brothers were highly respected.
Every time the topic of the Li Family¡¯s four sons came up, Tian Yun¡¯s father would oftenment enviously, ¡°Li Mutian is one lucky man!¡±
However, Li Mutian, the only one in Daya Vige to have traveled far and wide, did not share this sentiment. As he watched his sons toil in the fields, he felt a sense of regret.
¡°A good man should pursue studies or military service. Working the fields is nothing to be proud of!¡±¡ªhe would say this while pointing at Uncle Tian.
s, life had its own designs; those who had seen the world beyond often found their return to simpler lives the hardest.
Li Mutian, a former soldier who had killed in battle, returned to his vige after the age of forty with his military sry. With that money, he boughtnd and became a prominentndowner. Yet, this was the life he found least fulfilling.
Arriving at the field¡¯s edge, Li Xiangping found his eldest brother, Li Changhu, already waiting under a tree. At seventeen, Li Changhu was already sporting a beard.
¡°Watch where you go, Third Brother. There¡¯s no need to rush,¡± Li Changhu called out.
¡°I heard from Uncle Tian that you had quite the catch today.¡± Li Changhu smiled and affectionately tousled Li Xiangping¡¯s hair, looking at him with a gentle expression.
¡°Absolutely, Big Brother! We¡¯re gonna have a great meal tonight!¡± Li Xiangpingughed heartily.
¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Li Changhu smiled while he wiped away the sweat on Li Xiangping¡¯s face.
He then picked up a wooden box and shouted across the field, ¡°Second Brother!¡±
¡°Coming!¡± The second brother, Li Tongya, hurried over with his hoe, sitting down and addressing Li Changhu respectfully as ¡°big brother¡± before turning to Li Xiangping with a smile.
¡°You guys go ahead and dig in, I¡¯ll head back now,¡± Li Xiangping said. Famished from the morning¡¯s work, he promptly made his way home.
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Inside Li Xiangping¡¯s rope basket, Lu Jiangxian sensed an inexplicable force drawing him closer. As they neared his house, the sensation intensified.
Passing therge acacia tree at the vige entrance, Lu Jiangxian felt his chest tighten and his breathing quicken. The mirror in the basket trembled, emitting a faint red glow.
¡°That must be a part of me, or at least something important to my existence.¡± Lu Jiangxian realized.
¡°It¡¯s to the north, toward thatrgeke!¡± The pull faded as Li Xiangping moved away from the vige entrance, and Lu Jiangxian mentally marked the direction.
Staying close to Li Xiangping and observing life around the vige, Lu Jiangxian began to understand the locals¡¯ speech bybining his own mental perceptions with observations of their movements and tone.
The vige appeared ordinary, with no signs of martial arts experts or flying immortal cultivators.
The people followed a simple routine¡ªwork at sunrise, rest at sunset. The tools they used and size of the fields they tended to were nothing out of the ordinary.
¡°This seems to be just an ordinary vige. Even thergest house is only a two-story building made of wood and mud. There¡¯s no way immortal cultivators would live in such modest homes, right?¡± Lu Jiangxian mused.
¡°Great powers usually bring about great productivity, but this vige seems way too old-fashioned,¡± he concluded.
With some of this stuff figured out, he began formting a n, envisioning a framework for his future actions.
Meanwhile, the Li Residence bustled with activity. The mother and two youngest brothers were busy preparing dinner.
Li Xiangping hade home with a full basket, and his youngest brother, Li Chejing, had triumphantly brought back a horde of fat voles caught in a grain bag while he was out gathering mulberry leaves in the back mountain for raising silkworms.
Their father, Li Mutian, patted them on the back and showered them with praise.
At fourteen and fifteen, the boys were growing rapidly, and the food on the table barely sufficed to fill their hungry stomachs.
Li Mutian had only a quick bite, and Liu Linyun, the mother, watched her four sons with a smile. Only the big brown dog under their table seemed anxious, weaving between the legs of the six family members.
After dinner, the moon began its ascent over Mount Dali.
Leaning against the corner wall with a straw in his mouth, Li Xiangping watched his father frown at the sky as if searching for something.
¡°By the way, Father,¡± Li Xiangping said, tugging the leg of his father¡¯s pants to get his attention, then pulled out the mirror from his chest pocket.
¡°I found this in the river this morning.¡±
Li Mutian took the object and then examined it closely. ¡°This isn¡¯t made of iron or copper. What exactly is this thing?¡±
The moonlight, casting its glow in front of the house, suddenly seemed toe alive as it converged above the mirror, forming a captivating halo.
Li Xiangping, unable to believe his eyes, rubbed them, transfixed by the most stunning moonlight disy he had ever witnessed in his entire thirteen years of existence.
¡°Father!¡± he whispered urgently.
¡°Quiet!¡± Li Mutian, visibly paled, forced himself to look away from the moon halo. He shakily pushed the mirror back into Li Xiangping¡¯s arms and whispered, ¡°Keep it hidden. Tell your brothers to grab their sabers ande out.¡±
For the first time, Li Xiangping witnessed a look of murderous intent in his father¡¯s eyes. They were narrowed and piercing, resembling those of an eagle, sharp and focused.
¡°G-Got it...¡± His voice quivered as he stumbled back into the house.
The night was still young. Li Xiangping pushed open the bedroom door.
¡°Brothers... Father said to grab your sabers and head out,¡± Li Xiangping tearfully ryed his father¡¯s message to his two elder brothers, who were lounging on their beds.
¡°What?!¡± Li Changhu stood up abruptly, gripping Li Xiangping with concern. ¡°Is father in trouble? What¡¯s going on?¡±
Li Tongya, meanwhile, sprang into action, retrieving two sabers from under the bed and taking down the rattan armor and a long pole from the wall.
He peered out the window somberly and quietly said, ¡°It must be an enemy seeking revenge.¡±
Keeping the long pole for himself, he handed the saber and rattan armor to Li Changhu, then patted him on the back. ¡°Take these, Big Brother. Third Brother, you go get Mother and Youngest Brother to the backyard.¡±
After acknowledging his instruction, Li Xiangping rushed to find his mother. Li Changhu quickly calmed himself down and donned the rattan armor. With a saber in hand, he moved toward the door.
Outside, Li Mutian stood silently, surveying the melon field in front of the house.
Once his two sons joined him, he took one of the sabers and instructed, ¡°Look around the house, one on the left and one on the right. Make sure no one¡¯s lurking around.¡±
The brothers hurried off to their assigned tasks.
Meanwhile, Li Mutian walked to the front of the house. With surprising agility, bent down in the melon field and, astonishingly, pulled a person out from its depths.
Chapter 4: Li Yesheng
Chapter 4: Li Yesheng
¡°Please spare my life, Big Uncle!¡±
The man was terrified. As soon as he hit the ground, he began begging for mercy, clinging to Li Mutian and curling up into a ball.
¡°Oh please, Big Uncle, spare me!¡±
Li Yecheng, who had only intended to steal a melon to satisfy his craving, was petrified to find his most feared uncle standing before him. The saber in Li Mutian¡¯s hand only served to intensify his fear.
¡°Yecheng?¡± Li Mutian immediately frowned, his expression a mix of confusion and irritation. He stroked his beard, scrutinizing the young man.
Li Yecheng, known for being a freeloader at home and swindling others, was the older brother of Li Yesheng, whose father had been bedridden for years.
Hearing themotion, the two teenagers rushed over. Li Tongya raised the long pole in his hand and pressed it firmly against Li Yecheng¡¯s shoulder, causing him to break down in fearful tears.
Li Changhu, upon lifting the boy¡¯s head for a closer look, was struck by a sense of recognition.
¡°Cousin?¡± Li Changhu exhaled deeply, his voice tinged with confusion.
¡°What are you doing here?¡± Li Tongya asked coldly, pressing his pole down harder.
¡°Stealing melons from our family!¡± Li Mutian answered coldly on behalf of the stammering Li Yecheng. With a flick of his saber, he turned and walked away.
¡°Please excuse us, Cousin,¡± Li Tongya said, lifting his pole. He threw onest nce at Li Yecheng before following his father back to the house.
Li Changhu remained, helping Li Yecheng to his feet. He wiped the guy¡¯s face and offered a fewforting words before politely escorting him out of the courtyard.
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Inside the house, Li Chejing and Li Xiangping sat at the table nervously. The mirror was still hidden in Li Xiangping¡¯s chest pocket, and he dared not move around recklessly.
Soon, their father and second brother entered the living room.
¡°Where¡¯s Big Brother?¡± he inquired, looking around anxiously.
¡°He¡¯s seeing a guest off,¡± Li Mutian replied, shaking his head. ¡°I know Yecheng oftenes to steal, but I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll speak of tonight¡¯s incident and possibly put our whole family at risk.¡±
Li Tongya took a seat on a small stool. He nced at Li Xiangping and was about to speak when the door creaked open before quickly closing again.
Li Changhu took a seat and turned to his father with a puzzled look, shaking his head disapprovingly.
¡°Aren¡¯t you overreacting, Father? Yecheng was just stealing a melon. Why risk offending his family instead of showing kindness?¡±
¡°What do you mean by his family? We¡¯re two branches of the same Li Family,¡± Li Mutian retorted.
He leaned against the window and motioned to his wife and youngest son. ¡°Watch the front and back doors. Alert us if anyonees.¡±
After they left, Li Mutian shut the door and window tightly then turned to Li Xiangping. ¡°Tell them what happened!¡±
Li Xiangping nodded and began exining in a quiet voice, ¡°I found something while fishing in the Meiche River today.¡±
After a pause, and seeing his father¡¯s nod, he took out the mirror from his chest pocket.
Li Changhu turned his gaze from his younger brother to his father, then took the bluish-gray mirror. He examined it closely, yet its purpose remained a mystery to him.
Li Mutian retrieved the mirror from his eldest son and carefully ced it on a stone stool beneath a small hole in the roof. He then turned to look at his two sons.
Moonlight began dancing on the mirror¡¯s surface like water ripples, converging to form a mesmerizing white halo, jewel-like in its brilliance.
Li Changhu shot up from his seat abruptly, staring at the moon halo around the mirror. Li Tongya was equally spellbound, watching it in deep thought.
The Li Family gathered around the mirror in silence, each absorbed in their thoughts for the duration it would take to drink a cup of tea[1].
Li Xiangping was still visibly shaken despite witnessing this phenomenon for the second time. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this in my entire life...¡± he murmured to himself.
¡°Haha, not just you, son. Even your old man here has never seen such a wonder,¡± Li Mutian chuckled, but hisughter did not reach his eyes, which remained stern.
¡°This might belong to an immortal,¡± Li Tongyamented softly. He picked up the saber and wiped it continuously, his eyes fixed on the mirror. Despite his apparent calmness, his trembling hands betrayed his inner turmoil.
¡°Such a discovery could bring about trouble for our family.¡± Li Changhu paced anxiously in the living room, his voice tinged with excitement and worry.
¡°What should we do if an immortal manages to find his way here tomorrow with some sort of tracking technique?¡± Li Tongya looked intently at his father, his expression serious.
Li Xiangping nodded, then remarked with a cheerful tone, ¡°I¡¯m sure the rewards he¡¯ll offer us will be fantastic.¡±
¡°Nonsense.¡± Li Mutian dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve heard tales of immortals¡¯ wrath. We must not keep it! If it had been important, its true owner would have reimed it long ago before any ordinary humans like us could. This might have been misced by an unlucky immortal.¡±
Li Changhu listened with growing apprehension, frowning deeply in thought.
A thought suddenly urred to Li Tongya, and he spoke in a low, serious voice, ¡°But didn¡¯t Yecheng see this item as well?¡±
¡°Brother Yecheng was most likely in the fields when I was showing it to Father out in front of the house,¡± Li Xiangping replied, dropping his gaze to the ground.
¡°I¡¯m going to kill him!¡± Li Tongya dered decisively, donning his rattan armor and grabbing his saber before storming out.
Li Xiangping, seeing this determined expression on his brother¡¯s face for the first time, could not help but take a second look.
¡°Come back here!¡± Li Mutian called out sharply, halting Li Tongya in his tracks. He nced at Li Xiangping, who appeared visibly shaken.
¡°But Father! Li Yecheng is an ungrateful and pretentious two-faced snake! It¡¯s better to deal with him now rather than risk him carelessly revealing our secret and bringing ruin to the Li Family,¡± Li Tongya argued with a sense of urgency.
It seems like Second Brother has learned some big words from the schr in our vige, Li Xiangping thought to himself while listening silently.
He lowered his head, feeling a pang of shame, recalling how his father had sent them to study with a schr in the vige. His elder brothers were favored for their diligence, while he, being younger and more yful, now found himself struggling to even understand the big words in his brother¡¯s speech.
¡°What if it was your youngest brother instead? Would you kill him too for spilling your secrets?¡± Li Mutian challenged his second son with augh.
¡°We have no such viins in our family!¡± Li Tongya retorted sharply.
Li Mutian shook his head and adjusted the wooden table. Then, with agile ease, he leaped onto the table and deftly retrieved a wooden box concealed in the roof beam.
cing the box on the table, he addressed his three sons solemnly, ¡°There are things you should know. I left home at the age of thirteen and joined the army on the Guli Road, in Anli County. General Yang, under orders from the court, was recruiting soldiers to fight against Mount Yue. With nowhere else to go, I became a soldier.¡±
¡°General Yang was a strict but fair leader. He treated us like family, sharing our hardships. He taught us the battle tactics of the Yue soldiers, emphasizing the importance of martial arts. This method is widespread and easy to learn, but difficult to master. Without proper training, it''s just physical exercise, nothing extraordinary.¡± Li Mutian paused and let out a sigh.
Seeing his sons listening intently, he continued, ¡°I documented his teachings on a wooden tablet when I returned home. I¡¯ve instructed you in these practices before, but I¡¯ve yet to see any remarkable progress. That¡¯s the first item in this box.¡±
He opened the wooden box, revealing its contents¡ªa wooden slip, a talisman, several pieces of broken silver ze, and other misceneous items.
1. Time taken to drink a cup of tea is estimated to be between 10-15 minutes. ?
Chapter 5: Rarity of an Immortal Destiny
Chapter 5: Rarity of an Immortal Destiny
¡°During the battles against Mount Yue, their shamans often used miasma, gues, snakes, and insects as attack. The army issued these talismans as protection against such witchcraft. This particr talisman had saved my life, but now its power has faded, and it¡¯s no more than a scrap of paper. That''s the second item.¡±
¡°People of Mount Yue were skilled in using animal bones, feathers, and ze. I scavenged these valuable items from those I defeated in battle; these are the third.¡±
¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll present this piece of ze to your uncle, iming it¡¯s something Xiangping found in the river. Whether Yecheng saw it or not, we¡¯ll insist that it¡¯s just a piece of broken ze that happens to shimmer in the moonlight.¡±
Li Mutian, holding a fragment of ze, carefully packed the item and whispered his n to Li Tongya.
¡°Father has a good eye for things.¡± Li Changhu nodded in agreement. ¡°Our second uncle is a reasonable man. I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t fuss over such a small matter just to keep the peace.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just unfortunate that Yecheng is a piece of trash,¡± Li Tongyamented softly, ncing at his father.
Li Mutian ced the mirror on the wooden table, shaking his head slightly.
¡°Now, the value of this treasure depends on how we use it. It might turn out to be useless if we don¡¯t use it right.¡±
Lu Jiangxian, listening from within the mirror, began formting his own n. Trapped in the mirror, he pondered how to protect himself and find a way out.
He realized he might need to rely on the resources and help of the people in this vige to navigate the long path of immortality unless he could escape from the mirror.
The Li Family, though of humble peasant origins with shallow roots, had remarkable members.
Li Mutian, the father, was courageous and perceptive. Li Changhu, the eldest, was mature and magnanimous. The second son, Li Tongya, was brave, keen, and decisively bold. Li Xiangping and Li Chejing were also quick-witted and agile. Together, they formed an impressive and formidable family unit.
What¡¯s more, Lu Jiangxian was helpless,cking both hands and feet, unable to walk or run. How could he even think of escaping or hope to be in the possession of someone else?
Was he doomed to be discarded like trash in the river, imprisoned in silence for a hundred years?
Whatever the case, I must at least take a look East, even if it¡¯s from a distance, Lu Jiangxian thought, channeling the qi within his body toward the mirror¡¯s upper left corner.
Inside the house, the Li brothers fiddled with the mirror, cautious not to damage it and lose their chance at an immortal destiny.
The moonlight felt cool and soothing upon touch, but the moon halo remained unaffected by their efforts to influence it, whether by blowing on it or attempting to manipte the surrounding airflow.
It was only when Li Xiangping picked up the mirror and gently caressed its reflective surface that something changed.
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s efforts catalyzed a reaction, and the upper left corner of the mirror suddenly illuminated, startling Li Xiangping so much that he trembled and yelped, unsure whether to hold on to it or set it down.
Li Tongya leaned in for a closer look. The mirror¡¯s upper left corner glowed with a bright white arc, thin on the sides and thicker in the center, a sight that gradually faded after the space of a few breaths.
¡°It lit up, brother!¡± Li Xiangping eximed in a hushed, excited voice.
Li Tongya took the mirror, mimicking Li Xiangping¡¯s actions. Indeed, a white light illuminated the mirror. He then passed it to his father, gesturing for him to try.
Both Li Mutian and Li Changhu stroked the mirror, expressing their admiration for the phenomenon.
However, Li Tongya, after a soft exmation of surprise, took the mirror from his elder brother and stroked it while turning away from the others.
¡°Father, regardless of where it¡¯s stroked, the illuminated area always points north. It¡¯s just like...¡± Li Tongya paused, pondering as he held the mirror.
¡°Apass.¡± Li Mutian nodded in agreement.
Inside the mirror, Lu Jiangxian was cheering internally, impressed by Li Tongya¡¯s quick thinking!
¡°Let¡¯s head to the vige entrance first.¡±
Li Mutian stroked his beard thoughtfully after saying that, then turned back into the room to address his children, ¡°Grab a chunk of cured meat, we¡¯re going to visit the schr first instead.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yecheng, with tears still in his eyes, stomped into his front yard, cursing under his breath and kicking at the stones on the path.
¡°Why are they acting as if a few melons are some great prizes when they¡¯ve got a real treasure on hand? Raising sabers in the middle of the night, those idiots must be hiding something!¡± he muttered, sitting down on a stone, his mind racing with thoughts.
¡°Li Mutian spent twenty years wandering around; he must have collected some valuable things! There¡¯s no way he doesn¡¯t have treasure hidden around somewhere,¡± he mused.
¡°But those stubborn fools are so tight-fisted, I couldn¡¯t coax even a speck of mud from their hands. The old man is just as obstinate, always keeping his secrets closely guarded. If only Li Mutian was out of the picture, we¡¯d get a share of whatever treasures he¡¯s hiding!¡±
Li Yecheng nced toward the courtyard door as his younger brother, Li Yesheng, timidly entered.
His re intensified, and he barked at the boy, ¡°Get over here, you brat!¡±
He grabbed his brother¡¯s cor and flung him toward the front of the house. Li Yesheng tumbled to the ground, curling up in fear.
¡°I know you¡¯re chummy with that runt Li Xiangping. Tomorrow, you¡¯re going to sneak into their house and steal a couple of their melons,¡± he snarled viciously.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Mutian, apanied by his three sons, walked from the end of the vige to the entrance, receiving smiles and greetings from vigers resting at their thresholds.
¡°Uncle Mutian! Where are you off to?¡±
¡°Just delivering something to the schr!¡± Li Mutian replied cheerfully, hoisting up the cured meat in his hand.
At the vige entrance, he scanned the surroundings, then patted Li Tongya and Li Xiangping on the shoulders and whispered, ¡°Go ahead.¡±
The two nodded in understanding and quickly vanished into the dense reeds with a swift turn.
Li Mutian gazed into the distance with a look of concern.
Li Changhu, sensing his father''s unease, offered a reminder. ¡°We should have told them earlier to keep their distance if they encountered anything unusual. It¡¯s better to be safe than sorry.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure Tongya knows what he¡¯s doing,¡± Li Mutian reassured, squinting as a myriad of thoughts flitted through his mind like fleeting shadows.
He was acutely aware of the risk posed to his sons tonight; the possibility of losing them, leaving Li Changhu as the sole heir. However, their safe return could elevate the Li Family to new heights. Clenching his fists, he grappled with the weight of his decision.
¡°For two hundred years...¡±
The Li Family had toiled on thisnd for two hundred years. Now, faced with a potentially life-changing opportunity, Li Mutian had made a rational decision that aligned with the best interests of his family, although it was an emotionally excruciating one.
The courtyard door suddenly opened, interrupting his thoughts. Han Wenxu stood there, a small bowl in hand, looking perplexed.
¡°Brother Li!¡±
¡°Master Han,¡± Li Mutian greeted, his face breaking into a broad smile as he stepped forward and ced the cured meat on a wooden table.
¡°How generous of you,¡± Han Wenxu said with a smile and a nod.
He sliced off a piece of the meat, finely chopping it onto a dish, and served some pickled vegetables alongside it.
The two then pulled out a small table made of eucalyptus wood, poured two cups of rice wine, and sat by the door to chat.
¡°Those flying immortals have finally ceased their visits.¡± Li Mutian sighed as a sense of relief washed over him.
Han Wenxu shrugged and clicked his tongue. ¡°Immortals, eh? When I was twelve, an immortal visited our town.¡±
With a nostalgic look on his face, he continued, ¡°He imed to be looking for enlightened individuals. Out of over a thousand children, he found only three and took them away. Who knows, some of these immortals we see today might be those very townsfolk.¡±
¡°Such opportunities to encounter immortals are truly rare!¡± Li Mutian responded after a pause, consoling the schr.
¡°Indeed, rare and elusive...¡± Han Wenxu murmured, staring at the moon, lost in thought.
Both men sat in contemtive silence, each burdened with their own worries.
Chapter 6: Jade
Chapter 6: Jade
As Li Tongya and Li Xiangping made their way through the reeds, parting theyers gently, the grayish-blue mirror in their hands emitted a warm, pulsating white light.
Li Xiangping looked in the indicated direction and whispered, ¡°This way leads to Moongaze Lake. It¡¯s about half an hour''s walk from Guli Road.¡±
Li Tongya shook his head and said, ¡°We can¡¯t use Guli Road. Let''s cut through the reeds.¡±
Li Xiangping murmured his agreement and followed his brother.
Lu Jiangxian sensed the pulling force growing stronger. As they ventured deeper into the reeds, the light in front of him brightened, revealing an image of a serene, crystal-clearke, where a flock of white gulls stood one-legged along the edge, resting.
The mirror in Li Xiangping¡¯s hand grew increasingly hot, filling him with apprehension. Looking up at Li Tongya, he saw his second brother¡¯s expression was stern and silent. Only concern filled his eyes.
Is immortality really within the reach of us mortals...? Li Xiangping pondered, seemingly oblivious to the burning sensation in his hand.
¡°Hang in there, mirror. We¡¯re almost there,¡± he muttered, clutching the grayish-blue treasure.
Soon, they emerged from the dense reeds to find Moongaze Lake shimmering before them, with a startled flock of gulls taking flight.
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s gaze was fixed on a rocky sandbar in the middle of theke. Among those moss-covered stones, a piece of jade was wedged firmly in a crevice, glowing with a white light.
As the mirror emitted a beam of brilliant white moonlight, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping could faintly discern the glowing white jade thaty wedged between the rocks before them.
Exchanging looks of amazement and excitement, Li Xiangping eagerly began to remove his clothes, preparing to enter the water.
¡°Wait!¡± Li Tongya cautioned, pulling him back.
¡°I¡¯ll get it. You stay here with the mirror. If the moon reaches that position in the sky and I¡¯m not back...¡±
He pointed upward, indicating the moon''s trajectory before continuing, ¡°Then, hide the mirror in the reeds and head toward the Guli Road. Don¡¯t go back home right away,¡± Li Tongya instructed, looking earnestly at his brother.
¡°Wait until sunrise, then return to see how things stand.¡±
¡°Got it...¡± Li Xiangping¡¯s voice broke, betraying a hint of sadness. He wiped his eyes and gazed at his second brother.
With a reassuringugh, Li Tongya stripped off his clothes, revealing his lean and muscr arms. He then turned and swam toward theke, leaving Li Xiangping concealed in the reeds, watching him intently.
Years ago, he swam in Moongaze Lake numerous times during visits with his father and brothers. Drawing on this familiarity, he effortlessly made his way to the center of theke.
Li Tongya thoroughly examined the rocky crevices on the ind. After spending what felt like the time needed for an incense stick to burn, he let out a sigh.
¡°Nothing,¡± he muttered with a frown. As he checked once more, he inadvertently pulled out five or six small river crabs.
Then, his fingers brushed against something smooth and cool. With a gentle tug, he extracted a jade piece about two fingers thick.
This cylindrical shaped jade had characters engraved on it, which Li Tongya strained to read under the moonlight.
¡°Supreme... Qi... Meridian Nourishment...¡±
He could recognize only a few words. Though he had learned to read at a young age from the schr in the vige, the intricate patterns on the stone made it difficult to decipher.
ncing back at the shore, he clutched the jade and swam back.
¡°Third Brother!¡± he called out softly as he neared the reeds.
Li Xiangping emerged, and Li Tongya reached out to show him the jade. But as soon as he opened his hand, the jade transformed into a beam of white light and whooshed into the mirror.
The brothers watched in shock at the white light above the mirror and moonlight swirled together, before merging into the ss.
Inside the mirror, Lu Jiangxian felt as if struck by lightning. Knowledge flooded his mind so rapidly that he cried out in pain and lost consciousness.
After the jade¡¯s absorption, the white light in the mirror gradually faded.
As the golden-red sun cast its first rays, they illuminated Li Tongya¡¯s bare torso, revealing golden lines that glowed.
He turned to face his younger brother and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s head home first.¡±
Li Mutian sat at the redcquered wooden table, attentively listening as his two sons recounted the events.
He nodded approvingly at Li Tongya and said, ¡°Well done.¡±
He and Li Changhu had spent a restless night, fraught with worry. Now, seeing his two sons return safely, his anxiety finally eased.
¡°Our home is spacious, with the backyard against the mountain and two melon fields in front. I¡¯ve been thinking of expanding, building two more houses there and a courtyard with a secure front gate to prevent prying eyes,¡± Li Mutian shared thoughtfully.
He had contemted this for some time, anticipating the day his growing children would need their own space.
The Li Family was well-respected in the vige, thanks to Li Mutian¡¯s savings and thend he had bought after leaving the army¡ªover ten mu. This,bined with an additional five mu inherited from his father, brought their totalndholdings to approximately twenty mu.
The fertilend of Lijing Vige, along with the valuable reeds and mudts, sustained them well.
In a prosperous year, the yield from their twenty mu ofnd couldfortably sustain more than ten people. Such productivity had the potential to elevate the Li family from mere farmers to the status ofndowners[1].
Despite their wealth, Li Mutian insisted his children engage in both academics and farming, preparing them for independent lives.
¡°We need to keep the family together. When ites to finding spouses, they should be connected to the Li Family,¡± he mused, reflecting on the opulence of the city¡¯s elite families, where multiple generations lived under one roof, engaged in schrship or military service. In contrast, poorer families often split up, each member fending for themselves.
¡°I¡¯ve made my decision,¡± Li Mutian dered with conviction, turning to his sons.
¡°Call your eldest brother from the fields. We¡¯ll level the foundation and rent them out. The tenants can manage the fields from now on. Your youngest brother doesn¡¯t need to gather mulberry leaves this afternoon. From now on, he¡¯ll spend his days studying with Master Han.¡±
¡°All right,¡± Li Xiangping replied energetically, despite a sleepless night, and hurried outside.
Li Tongya, after a moment¡¯s contemtion, addressed his father, ¡°Are you thinking of adopting the ways of the n? Establishing ancestral halls, opening a n residence, focusing on education and military training?¡±
¡°The Li Family has been saving for two hundred years. It¡¯s time,¡± Li Mutian affirmed with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.
¡°As for pursuing academics and martial arts, traveling the Guli Road is filled with danger, and venturing in and out of Mount Dali is a life-threatening journey. There¡¯s no need to go all the way to Yue State to study or train in martial arts. We only want to build a legacy for our family business and to ensure our survival.¡±
¡°I agree, who knows we may find something more interesting than academics and martial arts,¡± Li Tongya responded softly.
¡°Don¡¯t say such nonsense.¡± Li Mutianughed heartily, patting Li Tongya on the shoulder before strolling out with his hands sped behind his back.
1. Trantor''s Note: 1 mu equals around 1/15 of a hectare, so 20 mu would be 1.33 hectare, or 13,333 square meters. (Thanks, Inanis) ?
Chapter 7: Spell
Chapter 7: Spell
The morning sunlight burst forth from Mount Dali, bathing Moongaze Lake in a golden glow. The wind whispered through the reeds, carrying the distant sound of childrenughing along the Meiche River.
Chen Erniu sat on a ridge, his gaze heavy with worry as he surveyed the crops in his field, his mind clouded with thoughts about his bedridden wife.
Born in Lichuankou Vige on the eastern side of Mount Dali, Chen Erniu had witnessed a severe drought there ten years ago. The ground had cracked, emitting white smoke, sending the vigers into a panic.
As a young boy lost in the chaos, he fled to Lijing Vige, where the farmer Li Genshui took him in. The following year, he was given a plot ofnd to farm.
As he grew older, he rented another plot ofnd, built a house, married Li Genshui¡¯s daughter, and settled down in the vige.
However, his wife¡¯s sudden illness weighed heavily on him. Thankfully, he had some savings and sought the help of the schr who lived near the vige entrance.
The illness was minor, treatable with a few doses of medicine. However, he was still worried about the potential financial strain if her condition were to worsen.
¡°Uncle[1]!¡± Lost in thought, Chen Erniu was startled by a cheerful voice.
Looking up, he saw a handsome young man at the courtyard entrance, smiling warmly in greeting.
¡°Ah, it¡¯s you, Changhu! Please, I hardly deserve such respect!¡± Chen Erniu replied modestly, bending over slightly. As a tenant farmer married to a concubine''s daughter of the Li Family, he felt undeserving of such honor.
Li Genshui, though intelligent and capable, had a wandering eye. Unsatisfied with just one wife, he took two concubines.
With his first wife, he fathered two sons. From his concubines, he had three sons and four daughters.
Li Genshui was dying of old age, and the youngest son to his first wife who remained by his side suddenly died. Meanwhile, the children born to his concubines were eyeing the family¡¯s fields.
Li Mutian, who had been away from home, returned with a saber in hand, alongside his men. This formidable veteran ruthlessly killed the housekeeper who conspired against the family. No one from the prominent family who poisoned his younger brother was spared for poisoning his younger brother, not even their dogs.
Li Mutian, nked by his two men, his saber still dripping with blood, dragged the dead bodies away on a cart through the vige. From one end to the other, they left a trail of blood, sending a clear message. The vigers shuttered their homes, sensing the danger.
Li Mutian¡¯s illegitimate younger brothers, were initially terrified, thinking that they would have no share of the fields now that the Li Genshui¡¯s legitimate heir had returned.
To their surprise, Li Mutian gathered them together. He dered that regardless of status, they all shared the same blood. He then generously distributed the family¡¯snds¡ªtwo mus[2] to each of the family members, and four mus to each of the two men he brought here.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, everyone addressed him as the head of the family, solidifying his leadership within the Li Family.
As Chen Erniu gazed at Li Changhu¡¯s gentle smile, he could not help but recall Li Mutian¡¯s face, starkly marked by blood stters in jarring contrast. Even under the warmth of the sun, this haunting image sent a shiver down his spine.
Nevertheless, he respectfully asked, ¡°Changhu, what brings you here?¡±
¡°Uncle, you¡¯re being too formal with me. I heard Auntie is unwell. My father figured you might be too busy to cook, so he sent me to invite you and Little Ze over for a home-cooked meal prepared by my mother,¡± Li Changhu replied with a smile.
¡°Oh... I can¡¯t possibly impose...¡± Chen Erniu replied with an embarrassed smile, looking clearly torn.
¡°It¡¯s settled, then! Mother has already prepared everything,¡± Li Changhu insisted, patting Chen Erniu¡¯s shoulder before taking his leave.
¡°All right," Chen Erniu agreed, shaking his head in amusement.
He called into the house, ¡°Little Ze, get changed. We¡¯re going to your uncle¡¯s house for dinner tonight.¡±
The Li Family had renovated their mansion two years prior, expanding it significantly. The estate stretched from north to south in a rectangr shape. The front yard, paved with stone bricks and adorned with stone locks[3], looked like a martial arts training ground.
Chen Erniu could not help but admire the heavy stone locks, remarking, ¡°The Li Family sure keeps up with their martial arts training. Those look really heavy."
Entering the main courtyard, they were greeted by a pond in the middle, which was home to several blue fish. The courtyard branched off to the side houses of Li Changhu and Li Tongya, located on the left and right. Various rooms lined the connecting corridors. The grandeur of the estate was further entuated by the meticulouslyid stone paths and steps.
Li Tongya, now eighteen and yet unmarried, greeted them as they entered. Li Changhu had recently married the second daughter of the Ren Family in a grand ceremony.
After dinner with the Li Family, Chen Erniu sat in the courtyard chatting when he noticed Li Chejing rush into the yard to whisper something to Li Mutian.
Although only nine years old, Li Chejing possessed a strikingly handsome appearance and disyed clear signs of intelligence. He was a favorite among all the rtives and his siblings.
Li Mutian, who had been casually watching his children, leaned in to hear Li Chejing''s hushed words¡ª¡°Father, the mirror... it¡¯s glowing!¡±
Nodding, Li Mutian patted his legs and addressed the group, ¡°This old man needs some rest now. Please, don''t mind me and carry on with your conversations.¡±
With that, he turned and headed to the backyard. After the group acknowledged Li Mutian with nods and murmurs of understanding, Chen Erniu rose promptly. He bowed respectfully and announced his intention to leave.
There were several rooms in the backyard. Li Mutian entered the central ancestral hall, the most spacious of them all.
In there, offerings of fruits and melons were presented to their six generations of ancestors, whose histories were traced through the vige records.
Pushing on one of the walls, he revealed a hidden room behind the hall.
The roof window above was open, allowing moonlight to bathe the bluestone tform below. Resting upon it, a grayish-blue bronze mirror emitted a bright, watery white light.
¡°It¡¯s been three years... Jing¡¯er, go get your brothers over here,¡± Li Mutian said, staring at the mirror with a furrowed brow.
¡°Right away,¡± Li Chejing responded energetically before hurrying off to find his siblings.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Upon waking, Lu Jiangxian¡¯s mind overflowed with newfound knowledge. He paused, taking as long as an incense stick would take to burn, topose his thoughts. Then, he began to carefully explore the wealth of information contained within the jade.
The Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra!
The doctrine focused on manipting the spiritual qi of heaven and earth through the human body¡¯s ¡°orifices¡±. It involved stirring up the supreme yin energy of the moonlight, ultimately cultivating it into the six chakras of Embryonic Breathing.
Mastery of these chakras could prolong life, nurture one¡¯s spirit, and enable the casting of various spells. Once the six chakras were fully developed, akin to a full moon, one could progress to the Qi Cultivation realm.
Additionally, the scripture outlined several minor spells, such as the Golden Light, Purify, Water Avoidance, Exorcism, and the Mind Net.
These could be practiced once the six chakras were cultivated, harnessing the spiritual qi in ordance with the scripture¡¯s teachings.
Furthermore, the scripture delineated the six realms of immortal cultivation¡ªEmbryonic Breathing, Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul.
The jade recorded the Embryonic Breathing Meridian Nourishment Technique from Moonlight Origin Mansion of Yue State and distributed to disciples from the Moonlight Immortal Mansion at the Embryonic Breathing realm.
After absorbing the jade¡¯s knowledge, Lu Jiangxian experienced a profound transformation. His divine sense expanded to 66 meters, and the capacity of his moonlight energy increased exponentially.
With sufficient moonlight energy, he could perform the various minor spells recorded in the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra, anywhere within three meters of the mirror.
Most importantly, a specific spell from the mirror¡¯s memory emerged prominently in his mind¡ªthe Profound Pearl Sacrificial Spirit!
1. Li Changhu refers to Chen Erniu as a paternal uncle, so this means he is the husband of Li Mutian''s sister ?
2. Mu (Chinese: Ķ; pinyin: m¨³ or ®€, m¨³) is a unit of area measurement used in the Far East, and particrly in China. It corresponds to 1/15 of a hectare, or about 666.67 square meters. ?
3. Ancient stone weights for lifting exercise?
Chapter 8: Reception Method
Chapter 8: Reception Method
The Profound Pearl Sacrificial Spirit Spell was much more extensive than the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra. It primarily detailed the use of the mirror to harness Supreme Yin moonlight energy and condense the profound pearl talisman seed.
This talisman seed, when imnted in another person¡¯s dantian, could aid their cultivation. Upon their sessful cultivation or demise, it could nourish them, furthering their practice of the Supreme Yin Profound Light...
Included in it was a Reception Method, guiding the recipient in drawing the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed out from the mirror and nurturing it within their dantian.
Lu Jiangxian paused, feeling a sense of unease about the Profound Pearl Sacrificial Spirit Spell. It seemed almost sinister, like one of those demonic arts he had read in books before.
After careful consideration and thorough reading, he confirmed that the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed was not only harmless to its recipients but also offered significant benefits.
Profound Pearl Sacrificial Spirit Spell was an inherent spell the mirror had awakened to. The number of Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds he could condense was limited by the strength of his divine sense. Currently, he could sustain only six seeds.
Reflecting on this, Lu Jiangxian swept his divine sense through the Li Family¡¯s residence, noting the many changes.
¡°What a transformation!¡±
During his three years in the mirror, the Li Family had constructed a pond, expanded theirpound, and flourished! Li Changhu had married and grown a beard, stepping up as the new head of the family.
Using his spell, he scanned the Li Family but found none with a ¡°spiritual orifice¡± necessary for immortality. Although he had already expected this, he was still a little disappointed.
It seemed that, barring an unlikely event, no member of the Li Family would achieve immortality. Their fates were tied to the mortal world, with lifespans not exceeding seventy years.
Observing the Li Family, Lu Jiangxian sighed deeply and activated the spell.
Li Chejing, with keen eyes, was the first to notice a change and called out, ¡°Father, look!¡±
The other brothers of the Li Family also promptly gathered around.
Li Mutian focused intently on the mirror. A white light shed across its surface, and a tiny script appeared. He patted Li Chejing¡¯s shoulder and instructed, ¡°Bring me cloth and ink!¡±
The brothers quickly went off to gather the required materials.
The Li Family¡¯s foresight in building a study proved useful. It was well-stocked with the four treasures of the study, which Master Han had donated to them. Otherwise, they would have had to travel to the vige entrance for these supplies.
Li Changhu quickly fetched the cloth while Li Tongya brought a wooden table and ink. Fortunately, Li Chejing, who was by the mirror, had already memorized the earlier script that had appeared and vanished.
Among the brothers, Li Chejing was the youngest but also the most well-read. Therefore, Li Mutian entrusted him with transcribing the small characters that appeared.
The transcription of the Reception Method was a lengthy process. Li Chejing wrote diligently for as long as it took for an incense stick to burn until his wrist ached. Then, Li Tongya took over, while the others watched carefully to ensure uracy.
The task took two hours toplete, with the brothers alternating in their efforts.
Eager to guarantee uracy, Lu Jiangxian allowed the script to manifest three times. This included detailed annotations of Daoist jargons, along with diagrams of qi cirction and meridian paths.
Only after watching the brothers carefully verify each detail did he gradually retract the light.
¡°The Reception Method,¡± Li Xiangping read aloud from the cloth, his voice steady.
¡°In the initial phase of the first cycle, the Profound Pearl True Elixir gracefully descends into the heart¡¯swork. This marks the positioning of the Elixir Cavity within the central pce. Following the elixir¡¯s descent, one must hold their breath nine times,pleting one cycle. Repeat across nine cycles, nine times each, a total of eighty-one times. This is referred to as the nine heavenly cycles...¡±
¡°This is an immortal spell!¡± Li Changhu eximed, both surprised and ted, barely resisting the urge to embrace the mirror and kiss it.
The brothers passed the cloth around, reading it thoroughly and silently,mitting the notes to memory.
Li Xiangping¡¯s gaze then fell on a few final sentences.
¡°Toplete the reception, choose days such as Jiazi year, Gengshen year, the year of your birth sign, the three yuan festivals, the eighth sr terms, or the first andst day of the lunar months. These are auspicious times when Yang dispels Yin.¡±
¡°Perform the ritual under the moon¡¯s glow, burn incense, and take a purifying bath. Bow deeply to invoke, saying, ¡®As a disciple from a certain family, I respectfully request the Profound Light. I dedicate myself to pursuing the Dao and my destiny rests in your hands. When the timees, I will remain true to my oath. With this talisman burned, I express my gratitude to Supreme Yin¡¯. After this, swallow air thrice.¡±
¡°When the timees, I will not fail to uphold my promise. With this talisman burned, I express my gratitude to Supreme Yin,¡± he repeated softly to himself.
Li Mutian watched the young man intently, then gently stroked his head and spoke calmly, ¡°Obey your fate and dedicate yourself to the Dao Path.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the early morning, slender wisps of smoke rose from the vige rooftops, mingling with the mist in the air.
¡°Uncle Li, you seem to be in a good mood today. What¡¯s the asion?¡± People working in the field greeted Li Mutian with a smile as they saw him walking past the field.
Looking down, Li Mutian recognized his nephew, Ye Chengfu. The boy¡¯s innocent, honest appearance matched his pleasant manner of speaking.
¡°Just happy to see the green shoots thriving in the field!¡± Li Mutian responded with augh.
Lijing Vige was dominated by four major families¡ªYe, Tian, Li, and Liu. The Ye Family, making up over thirty percent of the vige¡¯s poption, was thergest. United, they were a force to be reckoned with.
¡°Oh, they were blessed by Brother Changhu¡¯s good fortune!¡± Ye Chengfu respectfully replied, leaning on his hoe.
¡°You really have a way with words, young man!¡±
Li Mutian knew thement referred to Li Changhu¡¯s recent wedding. The bride from the Ren Family was both charming and well-mannered, a perfect match for Li Changhu.
Li Mutian was thinking of letting his daughter-inw in on the secret after she gave birth to an heir. After all, keeping too much under wraps might raise suspicions since they were living under the same roof. Besides, he knew his daughter-inw could keep secrets.
¡°Tongya is reluctant to marry, and Xiangping is of age too,¡± Li Mutian mused, stroking his beard.
Tian Yun, the daughter of my good friend, would be a good match for Xiangping, considering their simr ages. I¡¯ll ask Xiangping about it when I get back. Perhaps it won¡¯t be too long before I¡¯m bringing a proposal with a swan goose over to them, he thought with a smile.
In the courtyard, Li Tongya and his brothers were diligently studying the Reception Method. Li Changhu, having spent the morning patrolling in the fields, hurried back to join them.
Li Mutian, feeling the weight of his years, preferred to leave the immortal spell to the younger generation and focus on worldly matters instead.
After all, someone had to oversee the fields. Besides, it was wise to keep an eye out for any unscrupulous individuals who might attempt to sneak a peek into their household.
Li Mutian was in a good mood today. He sat on the ridge, engaging in a leisurely chat with the vige elders.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, in the Li Residence...
Lu Jiangxian focused his divine sense on the three individuals¡ªLi Tongya and two others, who were sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed. Faint white halos at the tops of their heads became visible.
Li Chejing¡¯s halo was the most prominent, extending about eight cun and shining brightly. Li Tongya and Li Xiangping¡¯s halos measured six cun and five cun respectively, while Li Changhu¡¯s was only three cun[1].
The size of these halos, appearing upon first practicing the Reception Method, indicated the level ofpatibility between the individual and the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed. A halo of one chi[2] signified a match as perfect as someone born with a spiritual orifice.
Li Chejing¡¯s eight-cun halo suggested he could achieve up to eighty percent of the cultivation speed of a person with a natural spiritual orifice. In contrast, Li Changhu¡¯s three-cun halo meant his cultivation speed was limited to just thirty percent of that potential.
Essentially, Li Changhu¡¯s rate of cultivation was significantly slower. He might devote an entire day to cultivation, yet attain less progress than those who dedicated merely eight hours to their training.
1. Cun is Chinese inches, so one cun = 3.333 cm. ?
2. Chi is Chinese feet, so one chi = 33.333 cm. ?
Chapter 9: White Pill
Chapter 9: White Pill
Under the moonlit willow, Li Chejing abruptly opened his eyes, turning to Li Mutian who sat beside him.
The old man was reading the ¡°Reception Technique¡± recorded on a cloth while sipping on a cup of tea.
¡°Father, I¡¯ve spent the past two months memorizing the technique. Today is the first day of summer and one of the eight sr terms. I think I¡¯m ready to give it a try,¡± Li Chejing said.
¡°Go ahead, then,¡± Li Mutian encouraged, his voice calm and steady.
Li Chejing was ted, and his three brothers buzzed with anticipation. They assisted in burning incense and preparing for the bath, setting up a table made of eucalyptus wood in the courtyard.
Li Mutian carefully brought out the mirror, cing it upon a hornless dragon mirror frame he had recently crafted with his own hands. Before it, nine incense sticks, as well as fruits and melons were ced on the table.
Lu Jiangxian watched with a tinge of embarrassment, noting that the arrangement of incense and fruit resembled a ritual for the deceased.
Before the table, Li Chejing kneeled and pressed his forehead to the ground nine times. With his head bowed, he solemnly stated, ¡°As a disciple of the Li Family, I, Li Chejing, respectfully request the Profound Light. I dedicate myself to pursuing the Dao and my destiny rests in your hands. When the timees, I will remain true to my oath. With this talisman burned, I express my gratitude to Supreme Yin.¡±
Having dered this, he cleared his mind, activated the technique, and swallowed air repeatedly.
Simultaneously, Lu Jiangxian focused, and the mirror began to shimmer, its surface glistening like water.
¡°There¡¯s a reaction!¡± Li Mutian and the others eximed, their eyes fixed on the table.
The grayish-blue mirror vibrated, and a white pill of light emerged, radiating so brightly that the onlookers struggled to keep their eyes open.
Li Chejing¡¯s mind went nk as a profound, authoritative voice echoed, ¡°Here stands the disciple of the Li Family, who has forsaken his worldly attachments, ceased all transgression, and severed his roots of evil. To him, I bestow the Profound Light, initiating his journey in the path of Dao, transforming him from a mere mortal to a saint. He will begin with discipline and ultimately ascend to truth. I grant him a scroll of the ¡®Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra¡¯, along with the Golden Light Art.¡±
Li Chejing quickly rose and sat cross-legged. The white pill of light dove into his Niwan Pce[1]. His body quivered as he was inundated withplex information.
Activated by the technique, the white pill rotated gently within the Niwan Pce, coursing through the meridians, and finally settling at the Qihai acupoint[2] in the lower dantian.
Li Mutian and the others anxiously watched as the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed sunk into the top of Li Chejing¡¯s head. They observed with bated breath as Li Chejing, kneeling with his eyes closed and mind focused, remained in this position until dawn.
As the night faded and the golden sun rose, Li Chejing finally stirred and slowly awakened. Opening his eyes, he found himself surrounded by his brothers, all wearing expressions of anxious anticipation.
¡°Father, brothers! I have received the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed and stepped into the realm of immortal cultivation!¡± Li Chejing eximed, leaping up to embrace his father excitedly.
Li Mutian joyfully returned the embrace, spinning his son around in delight. Li Tongya and the others heaved sighs of relief, their faces alight with excitement.
¡°I¡¯ve also acquired a technique known as the ¡®Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra¡¯,¡± Li Chejing announced.
As he attempted to recite its outline, the white pill in his Qihai acupoint quivered, and he suddenly found himself speechless, unable to utter a word.
Startled, Li Chejing covered his mouth in shock.
¡°Father!¡± When he tried speaking again, he was relieved to find his voice had returned. Yet, when he attempted to read out the technique¡¯s outline, he discovered he could not articte it.
¡°This immortal technique can¡¯t be spoken or written... It¡¯s really strange,¡± Li Chejing said, his face reflecting his nervousness.
¡°No need to worry,¡± Li Changhu reassured, smiling as he patted Li Chejing¡¯s head.
He watched as his father respectfully returned the mirror to its ce and suggested, ¡°When summer solstice arrives, let¡¯s invoke the technique again together.¡±
¡°But brother,¡± Li Chezijing interjected hesitantly, ¡°It seems there are only six of these talismans.¡±
¡°Only six?¡± Li Tongya carefully reviewed the ¡°Reception Technique¡± he had in his hand, then looked up at him in confusion again.
¡°After I received the Profound Light Talisman Seed, my mind was filled with newfound knowledge, including something about the six realms of immortal cultivation and the Embryonic Breathing Meridian Nourishment Technique. It appears that this mirror can produce only six talisman seeds,¡± Li Chejing exined.
Li Xiangping nodded in understanding and eximed, ¡°Such miraculous artifacts, capable of harnessing the forces of heaven and earth, are indeed rare.¡±
Li Changhu, stifling a yawn, gestured to his brothers and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s all get some rest. After a night of vigil, I¡¯m sure we¡¯re all exhausted.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just to keep our sister-inw from worrying, right?¡± Li Xiangping jested.
¡°You cheeky boy!¡± Li Changhu retorted yfully, then whispered, ¡°By the way, I think Tian Yun would be a good match for you.¡±
¡°Big Brother, stop ying matchmaker!¡± Li Xiangping protested, then turned around and exited the courtyard.
Li Changhu¡¯sughter rang out as he entered the front yard.
¡°There might just be a match in the making,¡± Li Mutian mused to himself, twirling his beard with a knowing smile.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Under the night sky, the moonlight shimmered like flowing water.
In the courtyard, Li Chejing sat cross-legged, eyes closed, his hands guiding a stream of qi from his Qihai acupoint. It coursed through his meridians, up his throat and neck, before finally emerging at the center of his eyebrows.
In an instant, Li Chejing¡¯s eyes brightened as the moonlight converged with the spiritual qi at his brow.
After a short while, he performed a gesture with his fingers, directing the now milky-white qi back to the Qihai acupoint.
This process was repeated three times. By the time Li Chejing opened his eyes and looked at the sky, he realized that four hours had passed.
¡°The rate at which I¡¯m absorbing moonlight is too slow.¡±
Li Chejing calcted that absorbing moonlight eighty-one times was necessary to cultivate a wisp of moonlight qi.
To form the first of the six Embryonic Breathing Chakras¡ªthe Profound Scenery Chakra, eighty-one wisps of moonlight qi would be required in total.
After sessfully refining the Profound Scenery Chakra, one could then be considered to officially enter the Embryonic Breathing realm and begin unleashing techniques.
¡°Doing it three times would take four hours, eighty-one times would take a hundred and eight hours,¡± Li Chejing began counting in his mind.
¡°With twelve hours of cultivation daily, it would take nine days. Toplete eighty-one wisps, it would take two years...¡±
When he gazed upon the moonlight gathered on the mirror, an idea struck him. He settled down by the stone tform and resumed his cultivation.
Meanwhile, Lu Jiangxian passed time in the mirror, drifting in and out of his sleep. He had long absorbed enough moonlight energy and found the time in the mirror both long and boring, much like dozing off during a monotonous university lecture. Sometimes, a whole day would pass in the blink of an eye, provided that he blinked slowly enough.
Li Chejing¡¯s spiritual power emerged at the center of his eyebrows and mingled with the halo on the mirror, abruptly rousing Lu Jiangxian from his sleep. Observing the boy before him, he could not help but smile.
¡°What a smart boy he is.¡±
Li Chejing, feeling a cool sensation envelop his body, realized the moonlight energy had increased more than tenfold. At this rate, forming a wisp of moonlight qi would only take five or six iterations!
Excited by this discovery, he continued his practice. When the morning sun filled the sky and his brothers arrived in the backyard, only then did he reluctantly cease his cultivation.
As his brothers and father gathered around, Li Chejing recounted the previous night¡¯s events.
Everyone reacted with a mix of astonishment and delight. Li Mutian, deeply moved, offered another incense stick to Lu Jiangxian, then led his children out of the hidden room.
1. Niwan Pce (ÄàÍ蹬), Chinese acupuncture term located around the head. If you drew a line connecting the ears and another line from where the eyebrows met to the back of the head, the ce they connected was the Niwan. ?
2. Sea Of Qi is the English trantion of an acupuncture point ''Qihai'' located on the lower abdomen. ?
Chapter 10: Marriage Proposal
Chapter 10: Marriage Proposal
Li Mutian, with his hands sped behind his back, approached the entrance of the Tian Family¡¯s courtyard.
Tian Yun, humming softly while crouching to pick vegetables, looked up and recognized him.
¡°Uncle Li!¡± she called out, setting aside her vegetables and hurrying to her feet.
¡°Father! Uncle Mutian is here,¡± she shouted toward the house.
¡°Good girl,¡± Li Mutian replied, smiling warmly as he observed Tian Yun.
The girl had blossomed beautifully over the past three years. Her figure was well-formed and graceful. Though not strikingly beautiful, her features were pleasant, and her smile added a unique charm.
¡°Not bad at all,¡± Li Mutian murmured to himself, revealing a fat swan goose he had been carrying behind his back.
¡°Oh, Uncle Li! You shouldn¡¯t have,¡± Tian Yun eximed, momentarily stunned.
Upon identifying that the gift, she gasped in surprise. ¡°Is that a swan goose?¡±
ording to the ¡°Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial - The Rites of Marriage¡±, it was said that a marriage proposal should be made with a swan goose.
In Yue State, it was customary for a member of the groom''s family to present a swan goose at the doorstep of the intended bride as a part of the marriage proposal ritual. In Lijing Vige where borate formalities were less practical, it wasmon for marriage proposals to be made without gifts.
For Tian Yun, witnessing such a traditional betrothal custom was a novel experience.
¡°Does my son, Xiangping, catch your fancy?¡± Li Mutian teased her.
Tian Yun¡¯s cheeks were already flushed with a deep red that spread to her neck. Caught off guard and flustered, Tian Yun stammered, trying to mask her feelings.
Yet, fearing that Li Mutian might take her hesitation seriously, she finally let out a shy but earnest, ¡°Yes!¡±
Just then, Tian Shoushui emerged from the house. His relief was evident upon hearing his daughter¡¯s response.
He had long suspected his daughter¡¯s affection for Li Xiangping!
Yet, the boy was always so reserved and had never made his feelings known. Fearing his daughter might end up embarrassed, Tian Shoushui had always remained silent on the matter.
¡°Big Brother!¡± Tian Shoushui greeted Li Mutian with a broad smile.
Tian Shoushui had followed Li Mutian like a shadow ever since he was five and enlisted in the army alongside Ren Ping¡¯an at twelve. The three had formed a tight-knit bond in the military, as close as real brothers.
After returning to the vige, Li Mutian exacted justice on the influential Yuan Family and then quit his former lifestyle to embrace farming. He took special care of Tian Shoushui, allocating fields to him and even arranging his marriage.
For Tian Shoushui, the Li Family was like his own family. He had even raised Li Changhu with his own hands, treating him like his own son.
He had no qualms about marrying his daughter into the Li Family.
Unaware of the thoughts running through her father¡¯s mind, Tian Yun retreated hastily as soon as she saw her fathering out, prompting a burst ofughter from Li Mutian.
¡°Big Brother, there¡¯s something else I would like to discuss with you aside from the marriage proposal,¡± Tian Shoushui said, his expression turning serious.
¡°What is it about?¡± Li Mutian inquired with a hint of concern in his voice.
¡°A few days ago, I heard some noises while passing by the Yuan Family¡¯s ancestral tomb up in the mountains. But when I went back to check, there was nothing,¡± Tian Shoushui said.
¡°Are there still any members left in the Yuan Family?¡± Li Mutian knitted his eyebrows together, his tone grave.
¡°Maybe some rtives are secretly paying homage?¡± Tian Shoushui suggested anxiously as if trying to reassure himself.
¡°That could be possible.¡± Li Mutian nodded in agreement, looking slightly more rxed. ¡°I did ensure that the five members of the Yuan Family were dealt with back then.¡±
¡°I shouldn¡¯t have brought up such a heavy topic on such a joyful day!" Tian Shoushui pped his own mouth as he chastised himself, eliciting a soft chuckle from Li Mutian.
Leaving the Tian Family¡¯s courtyard, Li Mutian strolled along the dirt path, his face serene yet contemtive as he gazed toward Mount Dali.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After settling the marriage proposal, Li Mutian returned to the courtyard, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Passing through the front yard, he saw three of his sons engaged in a lively chat around the wooden table.
The youngest son, Li Chejing, was absorbed in his cultivation inside the house. Despite the slow progress due to the faint moonlight, he dedicated himself to practice day and night, not wasting even a moment.
In the courtyard, Li Xiangping was poring over the ¡°Reception Method¡±. The cloth was already creased and the ink was smudged from constant handling.
¡°Brother Xiangping, try to be a bit gentler with it,¡± Li Tongya chided with a smile, while his own hands were busy, silently carving symbols onto wooden slips.
Li Changhu, the eldest, was meticulously going through the field deeds and working on the ounts. He raised an eyebrow in amusement and remarked, ¡°He¡¯s been at it since this morning.¡±
Li Mutian strode across the stone steps, picked up a cup of clear tea from the table, and seated himself.
¡°I¡¯ve just been to the Tian Family to arrange a marriage,¡± he announced casually.
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangping sprang up from his chair and stared at his father anxiously.
¡°What did they say?¡±
¡°Tian Yun says she fancies you,¡± Li Mutian replied, slowly sipping his tea with a contented sigh.
¡°Good, good... That¡¯s great,¡± Li Xiangping responded, visibly ted.
The two brothers erupted into heartyughter at his reaction.
Li Mutian, however, had more somber thoughts. Setting down his teacup, his expression turned serious as he began, ¡°Listen up now. Although the path of immortality is wondrous, it¡¯s also filled with unknown dangers and crises. Our Li Family line is not robust. If anything were to happen to any of you, who would carry on the Li Family¡¯s legacy?¡±
Li Mutian gazed at the earnest expressions of the young men before him and waved his hand, speaking gravely, ¡°This mirror represents both an opportunity and a potential misfortune for our family.¡±
¡°I quickly arranged a marriage for Changhu, hoping he would soon father an heir. My hope is that if something goes awry, the legacy of our Li Family will still carry on,¡± he continued.
¡°The same goes for you.¡± He pointed at Li Xiangping and let out an exasperated sigh, then averted his gaze to Li Tongya. ¡°As for you, Tongya, I¡¯m too old to dictate your choices. You may not be interested in the women in our vige, but you must consider leaving heirs as well...¡±
Li Tongya nodded silently, reflecting for a moment before responding, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Father. I know my responsibilities.¡±
¡°d to hear that,¡± Li Mutian replied, brushing his graying hair. His mind was clouded with concern.
He was already in his fifties. Despite being physically robust and well-provided for, Li Mutian was aware of life¡¯s uncertainties. It seemed prudent to him to settle family matters sooner rather thanter!
¡°Father!¡±
The tension in the courtyard was broken by a clear, enthusiastic shout. Li Chejing emerged from the house, stopping before his elder brothers.
¡°I¡¯m close to refining eighty-one wisps of moonlight qi and condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra!¡± he dered, his face beaming.
¡°I¡¯m very proud of you, my son,¡± Li Mutian said with pride, having often heard his youngest son speak of this Profound Scenery Chakra of the Embryonic Breathing. He enveloped him in a joyful embrace,ughing as he looked at his son.
The brothers, too, were swept up in this cheerful mood, their faces lighting up with smiles. Li Changhu even yfully pinched Li Chejing¡¯s cheeks, only releasing the boy when he protested in pain.
¡°We¡¯ll have to wait for the summer solstice to receive the next Talisman Seed.¡± Li Tongya observed, his gaze sweeping over the happy scene in the courtyard.
He then mused to himself, ¡°We weren¡¯t able to finish the preparations during thest day ofst month and the first day of this month, so summer solstice will be our next chance. It¡¯s not that far off anyway.¡±
Li Tongya was silently etching the Reception Method onto wooden slips, but internally, he felt a surge of excitement as he thought, The path of immortal cultivation beckons me.
Chapter 11: Summer Solstice
Chapter 11: Summer Solstice
Summer solstice rain drizzled over the barren fields, filling the air with an earthly scent.
In the south, where wheat ripened early, the new harvest had been gathered, bundled, and stacked above the fields.
Farmers exchanged greetings along the ridges, preparing to sow oilseeds, turnips, and mustard cabbages for thete fall harvest.
At the Li Residence, Li Tongya, Li Changhu, and several others eagerly anticipated the summer solstice.
As soon as the sky began to dim, they carried out the table made of eucalyptus wood and kneeled together with Li Xiangping in front of it.
A stalk of wheat¡ªan offering from the first harvest of the summer solstice, assorted fruits, and three cups of tea brewed from summer rain were served before the mirror that was supported by the hornless dragon frame.
The three of them exchanged nces before dering in unison, ¡°As disciples of the Li Family, I, Li Changhu, Li Tongya, and Li Xiangping, respectfully request the Profound Light. I dedicate myself to pursuing the Dao and my destiny rests in your hands. When the timees, I will remain true to my oath. With this talisman burned, I express my gratitude to Supreme Yin.¡±
The mirror glowed with colors, shing white light. Three white pills emerged from the mirror, flying toward them.
The three men swiftly sat cross-legged, guiding the Talisman Seeds as instructed in the ¡°Reception Technique¡±.
Observing the white pills entering their Niwan Pces, Li Chejing withdrew his gaze, sat down, and immersed himself in meditation.
He focused on the luminescent moonlight within his Qihai acupoint, contemting deeply, Thanks to the help of the mirror, I have refined eighty-one wisps of moonlight qi. With the summer solstice heralding the awakening of nature and dispersing the yin by yang, this is the perfect moment for a breakthrough!
Emboldened by his youthful courage, Li Chejing began the process by performing hand seals and concentrating. The eighty-one wisps of moonlight spiritual qi swirled in his Qihai point intensely.
¡°Gather in the Niwan Pce and descend the twelve stories... Take form, like birds in flight. Ascend the twelve stories and the orifice beneath the tongue...¡± Li Chejing quietly recited the technique for condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra from the ¡°Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra¡±.
As he did so, the moonlight traversed the twelve stories in his throat, eventually in the Niwan Pce at the top of his head where it condensed into a liquid and flowed into a clear pool in his Qihai acupoint.
¡°Rise!¡± he murmured. In the clear pool in his Qihai acupoint, a bright silver arc of light emerged, resembling a beautiful crescent moon.
¡°Through the twelve stories and into the Qihai. The Profound Scenery Chakra has emerged in the clear pool,¡± Li Chejing eximed in awe, as he beheld the mesmerizing scene. Without hesitation, he focused on the Profound Scenery Chakra, exerting his utmost effort to stabilize its form.
Time passed slowly, and the Profound Scenery Chakra¡¯s form remained unstable. The crystal-bright crescent moon floated gently in the pool, its sparkling form wavering as if it could dissipate at any moment.
Li Chejing was already exhausted at this point, struggling to maintain the form of the Profound Scenery Chakra. Large drops of sweat slid down from his handsome face, staining his green-colored robe.
At a critical moment, the clear pool within his Qihai acupoint suddenly receded with a ssh, and a white talisman pill suddenly soared upward.
The glowing, round talisman pill settled upon the Profound Scenery Chakra, stabilizing the translucent crescent moon and calming the mana in the clear pool.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Li Chejing gathered his strength toplete the process.
The Profound Scenery Chakra was sessfully condensed, transforming the moonlight spiritual qi in his body into moonlight mana.
Li Chejing had now be an immortal cultivator in the Embryonic Breathing realm!
Opening his eyes, he looked toward the mirror, still enshrouded in the moonlight halo, and bowed in gratitude.
¡°The Li Family would like to express their gratitude for bestowing upon us the immortal technique and aiding in the condensation of moonlight andpletion of the Profound Scenery Chakra. We will honor this favor perpetually, ensuring that incense burns year after year and the rituals continue unbroken.¡±
Li Chejing¡¯s youthful yet solemn voice marked his transition from a protected child to a self-reliant teenager.
¡°Jing¡¯er,¡± Li Mutian called out softly, standing under the moonlight and gazing gently at his youngest son.
¡°Father, I have sessfully condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra,¡± Li Chejing announced, standing up with a smile.
He opened his left hand to reveal a swirl of milky-white mana.
¡°The first realm of cultivation is known as Embryonic Breathing. To reach the peak of the Embryonic Breathing realm, one must condense six chakras¡ªProfound Scenery, Radiant Lure, Celestial Whirl, Azure Essence, Jade Capital, and Nascent Spirit. The Profound Scenery Chakra is the gateway to the Dao,¡± he exined.
¡°Good, very good,¡± Li Mutian responded, a wave of relief washing over him.
Li Chejing waved his hand to disperse the mana, then resumed his seated position, focusing on solidifying his newfound cultivation.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°Such potent technique!¡± Li Xiangping, the first to open his eyes, eximed with a smile.
He stood up, stretched his body before grabbing the teapot from the table, and took a hearty gulp.
¡°I¡¯ve received the ¡®Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra¡¯ and the Water Avoidance Technique.¡±
Li Tongya soon followed, awakening from his meditation. ¡°I¡¯ve received the Exorcism Art,¡± he announced, his eyebrows raised in delight.
The two brothers exchanged their experiences for a while before Li Changhu opened his eyes, looking somewhat bemused at his younger siblings¡¯ expectant gazes.
¡°I got the Purifying Arts,¡± he shared.
As the three brothers chatted, Li Chejing, unable to contain his excitement any longer, interjected, ¡°I¡¯ve condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra!¡±
¡°So quick?¡± Li Xiangping asked, tilting his head to the side doubtfully.
Li Chejing nodded toward the mirror resting on the table and exined, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the power of the mirror. Using it to harness the moonlight¡¯s energy truly halves the effort needed.¡±
Realization dawned on the others. Li Changhu affectionately ruffled Li Chejing¡¯s hair.
With a smile, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve read that the human body has a spiritual orifice. Once mana permeates our bodies, we¡¯ll be able to locate it. Jing¡¯er, perhaps you could help us find it.¡±
Unlike his younger brothers, Li Changhu found the process during the reception extremely ufortable and began to doubt his own aptitude in cultivation.
Observing his three older brothers, Li Chejing ced his left hand on the shoulder of Li Xiangping, who was standing closest to him, and closed his eyes to search for his spiritual orifice.
¡°The qi rises and breathes, much like an eager fish...¡± he silently recited from the Breathing Scripture, guiding his mana through Li Xiangping¡¯s meridians.
After a while, he opened his eyes, visibly shocked, and muttered, ¡°None...¡±
Disturbed, he quickly checked his other two brothers, only to find the same result.
¡°No... How can there be none?¡± Li Chejing¡¯s face turned pale. He sat down, closed his eyes, and focused inward. His mana coursed through his body, but he, too, found no trace of the so-called spiritual orifice in himself.
¡°The Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra states that the spiritual orifice is foundational to the Great Dao. Without it, no matter the skill or method, it¡¯s futile... T-This...¡±
¡°Father!¡± Li Chejing¡¯s voice trembled as he looked at Li Mutian, who was idly ying with tea leaves.
¡°You were right. This mirror might indeed spell disaster for our family. If a true cultivator discovers this item, not only our lives but our souls could be at risk. And it won¡¯t just be us¡ªthe entire Lijing Vige, even all the viges in Guli Road, could be destroyed.
¡°I¡¯ve condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra, and mana flows through me. Unless I forsake my cultivation, no qi cultivators will be able to detect my spiritual orifices through their mana.¡±
Li Chejing stood up, his expression grave. ¡°For the disciples of the Li Family, after receiving the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed, we must not unt it before condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra!¡±
¡°Indeed.¡± Li Mutian sipped his tea, then looked at his children with a serious expression.
¡°When Jing¡¯er began to cultivate, I thought he was simply gifted. Han Wenxu once said that spiritual orifices are one in a thousand. Perhaps Jing¡¯er was that one.¡±
He smiled wryly. ¡°It appears now that this mirror is indeed an extraordinary immortal artifact capable of transforming the ordinary into the miraculous. With this talisman seed, even us mortals get a peek into the immortal Dao."
The group was both ted and apprehensive, looking at their father in silence.
¡°Go and cultivate. I¡¯ll check on the fields,¡± Li Mutian finally said after a long pause.
¡°Yes, Father,¡± they replied, each heading back to their rooms to practice.
Li Mutian respectfully put the mirror away, cleared the table, and walked toward the fields with his hands sped behind his back.
Chapter 12: Golden Light spell
Chapter 12: Golden Light spell
Li Changhu awoke from his meditation for the sixth time. He gritted his teeth and resumed his seated position, striving to calm his mind.
¡°This is too difficult.¡±
After over three months of cultivation, he had managed to condense only a few strands of moonlight. Meanwhile, Li Xiangping was already attempting to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra, and Li Tongya had condensed more than seventy strands of moonlight. Li Changhu, however, was still struggling with single digits.
Inparison to the ease of cultivation disyed by his younger brothers, Li Changhu found it arduous to guide his spiritual qi through the twelve stories, which was his throat. Even the talisman seed in his Qihai acupoint wasckluster and dim.
During the day, the challenge was understandable, but on a slightly cloudy night, he could barely perceive the moonlight. He was only able to condense the few strands of moonlight by relying solely on the mirror.
Li Changhu sighed. He hade to realize that hecked the innate talent for immortal cultivation. Whenever it was his turn to use the mirror for cultivation, he was consumed with guilt, feeling as if he were hindering his younger brothers¡¯ progress.
Awaking from his meditation for the seventh time, Li Changhu¡¯s expression grew somber. ncing at Li Tongya and Li Xiangping beside him, he quietly stood and moved toward the door.
Outside, Li Mutian was in the backyard, diligently polishing his long saber.
Holding the back of the de in his right hand and pinching the edge with his left thumb and forefinger, he stabilized the sword with both hands, methodically polishing it against the sharpening stone.
Strengthening his resolve, Li Changhu called out to him, ¡°Father.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Li Mutian responded without looking up, his tone calm.
¡°I fear I am unsuited for immortal cultivation,¡± Li Changhu admitted with a hint of shame in his voice.
¡°So, you''re giving up?¡± Li Mutian raised his head, his gaze cold.
¡°It¡¯s not about giving up,¡± Li Changhu, having prepared his response, exined to his father, ¡°My aptitude pales inparison to Tongya and Xiangping, let alone Jing¡¯er. Even with the mirror, I can barely manage. During the day, I could better serve by managing our family¡¯s affairs and overseeing the fields to avoid raising suspicions.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Li Mutian said. He pondered for a moment, his expression softening.
He shook his head and continued, ¡°You can stop tomorrow. Prepare for Xiangping¡¯s wedding. Keep it simple; invite only close rtives and maintain a low profile.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± Li Changhu nodded dutifully and hurried toward the main courtyard.
Upon entering, he was surprised to see his wife sitting there, sewing and chatting with Tian Yun. The ancestral hall in the backyard was off-limits to women, so she waited here instead.
Tian Yun, noticing Li Changhu¡¯s arrival and sensing that the couple had matters to discuss, smiled politely and excused herself to return home.
¡°What''s the matter, Ping¡¯er?¡± Li Changhu¡¯s expression softened visibly as he approached his wife and asked tenderly.
¡°Changhu...¡± The face of the woman who exuded grace lit up with a subtle joy as she spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡±
¡°What?¡± Li Changhu was taken aback and immediately felt his earlier frustration vanish.
His face flushed with excitement as he eagerly asked, ¡°For real?¡±
¡°Why would I lie to you? Grandma has confirmed it, it¡¯s true.¡± Ren Ping¡¯er nodded, looking shy as she pouted.
¡°Father, father! Ping¡¯er is pregnant!¡±
Overwhelmed with joy, Li Changhu called out loudly toward the backyard.
CLANG...!
Li Mutian quickly dropped his saber and hurried to the main courtyard, his face beaming with excitement.
¡°What did you just say, my boy?¡±
¡°Ping¡¯er is pregnant!¡± Li Changhu, unable to contain his happiness, chuckled gleefully.
¡°Marvelous! Simply marvelous!¡±
Li Mutianughed heartily, affectionately patting the blushing Ren Ping¡¯er on the shoulder, and turned to Li Changhu.
¡°I¡¯ll get the physician here. Keep a close watch on her.¡±
Li Changhu nodded eagerly, gently guiding Ren Ping¡¯er to sit down, ensuring she wasfortable.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, in the backyard...
Li Xiangping slowly awoke from his meditation after performing a series of hand seals.
He reached for the wooden slip in front of him, untied the cloth binding it, and unfurled it with a rustle.
Illuminated by the bright moonlight, the top of the scroll revealed its title in bold characters: ¡°Golden Light spell¡±.
The ¡°Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra¡± could not be uttered or written, but its apanying spells could be orally transmitted. Therefore, the brothers transcribed the spells they received and shared them with others.
The ¡°Golden Light spell¡± was the technique Li Chejing had acquired. Li Xiangping had condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra a few nights ago and borrowed this technique to practice.
The ¡°Golden Light spell¡± was not overlyplex. After reading it for two nights, Li Xiangping had quickly memorized it in his heart.
With a flick of his left hand, a shimmering golden light appeared in his palm.
¡°Golden Light spell!¡±
This was an offensive and defensive spell. When executed correctly, a sharp golden light would be condensed.
This golden light could be imbued in a weapon for striking down enemies or be projected as a ranged attack. Its power was notably formidable.
After dispersing the technique with a wave of his hand, Li Xiangping stepped outside. His older brothers were still diligently cultivating in their seated position.
He found a piece of huge bluestone near the doorway, wrapped his arms around it, and whisperedmandingly, ¡°Rise!¡±
To his surprise, he was able to lift the bluestone with ease. He even exerted too much force and ended up losing his bnce, stumbling backward.
¡°Entering the Embryonic Breathing realm extends one¡¯s lifespan to 120 years. It enables mana to circte through the orifices and meridians, lightens the body, strengthens muscles, sharpens hearing, clears vision, and grants extraordinary ability to perform techniques with hand seals.¡±
Recalling the content from the ¡°Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra¡±, Li Xiangping could not suppress a smile as he carried the bluestone to the backyard.
He positioned the stone upright, stepped back ten meters, then performed a hand seal and unleashed a technique. A golden light burst forth from his palm, striking the bluestone.
Brilliant sparks flew, leaving a shallow yet distinct sh mark on its rocky surface. The bluestone was pushed ten meters back, its movement leaving white friction marks on the ground.
¡°Nice one!¡±
Li Tongya, who had earlier awakened from his meditation, watched Li Xiangping and chuckled. ¡°The technique Jing¡¯er received is the most useful. Just a few days ago, he damaged one of the rocks in the backyard garden. I didn¡¯t even dare tell Father.¡±
¡°In terms of cultivation progress, we¡¯re reallygging behind Jing¡¯er.¡± Li Xiangping pouted, then straightened the bluestone and assessed the remaining mana in his body. He estimated he could unleash the same technique four or five more times.
¡°Jing¡¯er has condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra in less than a month. Even with the mirror¡¯s help, it¡¯s a remarkable achievement,¡± Li Tongya remarked, shaking his head in disbelief.
The six chakras of Embryonic Breathing were the Profound Scenery, Radiant Lure, Celestial Whirl, Azure Essence, Jade Capital, and Nascent Spirit Chakras.
The Profound Scenery, Celestial Whirl, and Jade Capital Chakras, collectively known as the Three Challenges of Embryonic Breathing Realm, were particrly challenging.
The brothers had used the mirror to easily breach the Embryonic Breathing barrier. Beyond that, the Radiant Lure Chakra offered no shortcuts. One had to diligently cultivate spiritual qi and condense the Embryonic Breath.
¡°Draw in qi and refine the moonlight. Condense the Profound Scenery Chakra in nine months and condense the Radiant Lure Chakra in three months¡ªthese are signs of a strong root bone,¡± Li Xiangping, sitting beside his second brother, recited from the Meridian Nourishment Sutra, then turned to Li Tongya.
¡°We¡¯ve made swift progress in the Profound Scenery stage thanks to external aid, let¡¯s see how we¡¯ll do in the Radiant Lure stage.¡±
¡°Indeed.¡± Li Tongya nodded in agreement and softly added, ¡°About Changhu...¡±
¡°I fear he¡¯s struggling even more than us,¡± Li Xiangpingmented somberly, his gaze drifting toward Mount Dali under the night sky.
¡°I¡¯ll continue to temper myself for a few days. Then, I¡¯ll attempt to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra. If I seed, the mirror will be entirely avable for Changhu,¡± Li Tongya remarked contemtively.
Li Xiangping, still watching Mount Dali, suddenly narrowed his eyes and stood up abruptly.
Staring at the mountain, he shouted, ¡°The audacity of that thief!¡±
Chapter 13: Murder
Chapter 13: Murder
Li Yecheng¡¯s father passed awayst year. As the eldest son, he inherited the family¡¯s fields and fortune. ted with his newfound wealth, he quickly sold a plot of field for cash and squandered it in a small restaurant in the vige.
Since then, Li Yecheng spent his days aimlessly roaming the vige and mountains, frequently engaging in delinquent behavior like harassment and theft. Apart from his eldest uncle, Li Mutian, there was no one he feared or respected in Lijing Vige.
His youngest brother, Li Yesheng, shared the same age as Li Xiangping. While Li Xiangping received education under the vige head, Li Yesheng endured a life of solitude, hunger, and coldness.
As a teenager who had just lost his father, he was forced to herd ducks and take care of cattle for others. Without the asional assistance from Li Mutian¡¯s family, he might have starved in his own home.
Li Yecheng never cared about his little brother¡¯s well-being. His thought was consumed by envy toward Li Changhu¡¯s family. Observing them entering and exiting their beautiful residence, he was driven mad with jealousy.
¡°We all belong to the Li Family, so why are our lives so different? Why do they have such fertile fields and a high-walled courtyard, while I have none? They''re only slightly wealthier than others in the vige. Is there really a need for such an extravagant courtyard? It¡¯s as if they¡¯re guarding numerous treasures within it!¡±
He then vividly recalled a night years ago, the anxious expressions of several people, and the saber in Li Mutian¡¯s hand.
¡°Li Mutian must have a treasure...¡±
Chewing on a foxtail, Li Yecheng watched Li Changhu having a pleasant chat with his tenants in the field, thinking bitterly, Some are just born lucky.
After dozing under a tree and realizing night had fallen, Li Yecheng spat out the foxtail, rolled up his pant legs, and stealthily approached the Li Family¡¯s courtyard.
Circling the courtyard, he found no cracks in the wall to exploit. The wall, smooth and well-constructed, seemed impossible to scale.
¡°Damn it!¡± he grumbled, spitting on the wall. He kicked it in frustration, then turned and ran toward the back of the mountain.
¡°I bet they can¡¯t shield against prying eyes from above,¡± he mumbled.
Mount Dali was winding and extensive. One of its peaks was situated right behind Lijing Vige. The vigers never gave it a name and simply referred to it as ¡°the back mountain¡±.
To the south, beyond the back mountain, was Meiche Peak, and further south, was Jingyang Vige. The two viges were connected via a mountain path.
Li Yecheng pushed through the bushes, climbing the mountain path for about fifteen minutes. Reaching a vantage point, he crouched down, surveying the small courtyard below.
Straining his eyes, he saw figures moving around, some sitting cross-legged, others walking around with a huge bluestone. He wondered what they were doing.
¡°I heard there were stone locks in the courtyard. Maybe Li Mutian acquired someborer¡¯s martial arts or battle techniques and is teaching them secretly,¡± Li Yecheng spected.
As he gazed at the sky, the mountains grew dim. The moon was obscured by dark clouds, and soon, Li Yecheng could not even see the figures in the courtyard clearly.
The night deepened with the howls of apes, jackals, and wolves echoing through the chilly breeze that caused Li Yecheng to sit on a boulder and squeeze his legs together.
How eerie, he thought.
After shivering for another fifteen minutes, his body cold and his nose running, Li Yecheng concocted rumors he nned to spread in the vige.
If it was an ancestral treasure, then he deserved to have it too since he was part of the Li Family. If it was indeed a martial art technique, he could always sell it for a decent sum even if he did not intend to practice it.
Peering down at the courtyard, which was now deserted, Li Yecheng shrugged. He wrapped his arms around himself to fend off the cold and stood up to leave.
¡°Damn!¡±
Turning his head, he was startled by a figure standing quietly on the mountain path. In panic, he tumbled back behind therge boulder.
Peeking out, he recognized that it was his cousin, Li Xiangping, looking at him disapprovingly.
Li Yecheng red at him. He was ready to confront him but suddenly noticed Li Xiangping making some sort of a gesture with his hands.
¡°What?¡±
A bright golden light shed before his eyes, followed by a sharp pain in his throat. His vision swirled, alternating between the bright moon in the sky and the moonlit courtyard below.
Li Yecheng''s head was severed, tumbling through the air before crashing down onto the mountain path. Thest thing he saw was the extremely cold smile on Li Xiangping¡¯s face. It was so out of character that it rendered his cousin strangely unrecognizable.
Li Yecheng¡¯s headless body was still hidden behind a rock. Blood gushed out from the stump of his neck, staining the rock, dirt path, and dead leaves, running in a rivulet toward Li Xiangping¡¯s feet.
Stepping back in revulsion, Li Xiangping watched the fallen corpse. After thinking for a moment, he performed the hand seals to summon the golden light once more.
He squatted down and expertly dismembered the body intorge chunks. This would make it easier for the wild animals, attracted by the scent, to carry the pieces away and scatter them across the mountainous terrain.
Afterpleting this, Li Xiangping stood and surveyed his surroundings. The shadows between the forests were now filled with glowing green eyes.
He pped his hands and murmured, ¡°Feast to your heart¡¯s content.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, in the Li Residence...
Li Changhu emerged from his meditation to find his two younger brothers absent and therge backyard eerily silent, with only the soft hums of insects in the air.
Puzzled, he quickly made his way to the main courtyard, where he encountered Li Tongya.
Seeing Li Tongya engrossed in his reading at the wooden table, Li Changhu asked, somewhat perplexed, ¡°Where¡¯s Xiangping?¡±
Li Tongya slowly rolled up the wooden slips and looked at his elder brother.
¡°Washing his hands,¡± he replied.
Li Changhu, pressing his hands on the table, inquired with a hint of envy, ¡°Are you preparing to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra already, Tongya?¡±
¡°In a few days, I should be able to condense all eighty-one wisps of moonlight qi. We¡¯re not as talented as Chejing, though. I have a feeling I may need a few more days to prepare.¡±
Li Tongya smiled as he retrieved a small piece of white cloth and tightly wrapped it around the wooden slips, securing it with a knot.
¡°Changhu, who do you think among us four resembles father the most?¡± Li Tongya suddenly asked, fixing a serious gaze on his elder brother.
¡°You, of course,¡± Li Changhu responded without hesitation, then paused, finding a seat and continuing with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m too carefree, Xiangping is too active, Chejing is too timid. You, Tongya, have the mostposure and resolve. You take after our father the most.¡±
¡°Hahaha.¡± Li Tongyaughed dryly, waving dismissively as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t tter me, big bro. In my opinion, Xiangping takes after him the most.¡±
¡°Why do you say that?¡± Li Changhu looked at his younger brother curiously.
¡°Back when we were kids ying in the courtyard, father once told us that the first time a person takes a life, they might experience ringing in their ears or a burning sensation in their head. They could end up paralyzed, tremble uncontrobly, shout incessantly, or feel disconnected from reality.
¡°Yet, when he first killed, he simply sheathed his saber, poured himself a drink, engaged in conversation, andughed. He was actually proud of his aplishment. That¡¯s why, Xiangping takes after our father the most.¡±
Li Tongya lowered his voice and leaned in to whisper to Li Changhu, ¡°Because he¡¯s ruthless enough.¡±
Chapter 14: Changhu and Xiangping
Chapter 14: Changhu and Xiangping
¡°Because he¡¯s ruthless enough.¡±
As Li Tongya finished speaking, a shiver ran down Li Changhu¡¯s spine. His body tensed and goosebumps prickled his skin. He gazed at his younger brother¡¯s smirking face, a sense of unease gripping his heart.
¡°Hahahahahahahahaha...¡±
Giving Li Changhu¡¯s shoulder a push, Li Tongya tossed the wooden slips aside and looked at him with a smile.
¡°Sheesh.¡± Li Changhu exhaled deeply, assuming Li Tongya was jesting. He waved his hand lightly and said, ¡°I should be preparing for Xiangping¡¯s wedding.¡±
Straightening his clothes, Li Changhu left for the Tian Residence.
The smile on Li Tongya¡¯s face faded as he sat down at the wooden table and began to speak, ¡°Father.¡±
Li Tongya then saw his father standing on the stone steps, lost in his own thoughts with a distant expression. It was only when Li Tongya called out to him that he seemed to snap back to reality.
The previous night, Li Mutian had sat by the door, watching the moon. Seeing Li Xiangping rushing to the back mountain, he followed his son quietly out of concern.
Unbeknownst to him, Li Tongya was equally worried for his younger brother and had also followed him up the mountain. The two, meeting unexpectedly, gazed at each other awkwardly.
They silently watched Li Xiangping murdering someone, then watched as wild beasts cleared the scene. Only then did they return from the mountain.
¡°Xiangping only did that to protect the family. There¡¯s no need for anger, Father,¡± Li Tongya urged.
¡°Who the hell said I¡¯m angry?¡± Li Mutian with a turmoil of emotions in his heart, spoke bluntly.
He narrowed his eyes and added, ¡°That fool deserved his fate. If Xiangping had just scared him off, I would have stepped in to deal with him myself! He did the right thing, so why should I be angry? And don¡¯t bother making excuses for Changhu!¡±
Li Tongya exhaled a deep sigh and said, ¡°Changhu is generous and kind-hearted. The vigers and tenants all respect him. He¡¯s definitely the one who can safeguard the family business.¡±
¡°Nonsense!¡± Li Mutian mmed his hand on the table, visibly irritated.
¡°It¡¯s me, Li Mutian, whom they respect! Their regard for your older brother is merely due to the lower rents he offers! These people respect power and never virtue! Think about it¡ªif I were gone today, wouldn¡¯t Li Yecheng dare to cause trouble tomorrow? Do you think Changhu would have the guts to kill him?¡±
Observing Li Tongya¡¯s silence, Li Mutian¡¯s tone softened.
¡°In the past, I wasn¡¯t concerned. With both of you supporting Changhu, his generosity was a strength, showing grace and mercy. But times have changed. Our family is walking on thin ice, with secrets of our own. A leader who isn¡¯t ruthless enough can easily bring disaster to our family!¡±
He paused, then continued with a troubled look on his face, ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling uneasytely. It¡¯s almost as if a cmity is on the horizon.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After finalizing the wedding arrangements at the Tian Residence, Li Changhu sat on the ridge in the fields with a conflicted look on his face. He had roamed the vige but saw no sign of Li Yecheng.
Reflecting on what sounded like a hint from Li Tongyast night, Li Changhu suspected that Li Yecheng had likely been killed by Li Xiangping.
Pain surged in his heart. As children, Yecheng and Tongya, the two younger ones, had always followed him obediently, fishing in the river.
He faintly remembered Cheng¡¯er holding arge blue fish, beaming with joy and calling, ¡°Look, Big Brother!¡±
Tongya, though envious, always feigned indifference and ignored him. When the three of them were exhausted from ying, they would stand by the river,peting to see who could pee higher and further.
Then, their aunt passed away, and their second uncle fell ill. In just a few months, Yecheng changed drastically. He was no longer the boy he once was.
¡°He didn¡¯t deserve to end up this way!¡± Tears welled in Li Changhu¡¯s eyes.
He had always believed he could guide Yecheng back on track, help him learn, and live a good life.
¡°Changhu!¡±
A voice roused Li Changhu from his thoughts. He quickly lowered his head, wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes, and looked toward the source of the sound.
There stood an elderly farmer with white hair and an honest demeanor, his skin weathered and tanned, dressed in simple garb made of homespun cloth and wide pants.
¡°Uncle Xu.¡± Li Changhu stood up and dusted his pants.
¡°How are things at home? Do you have enough to eat?¡± he asked with genuine concern.
¡°Yes, there¡¯s plenty!¡± The old man¡¯s tears rolled down his face as soon as he heard Li Changhu¡¯s question.
Despite his age, he remained robust. His only son, however, was bedridden and unable to tend to the fields.
Li Changhu had granted them a rent reduction and provided food, helping them in getting through the tough times.
Old Xu, who had watched Li Changhu grow from a boy to a man, perceived him as if he were his own child. Having experienced such kindness, he felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Li Changhu.
The conversation had quickly distracted Li Changhu from his sorrow.
¡°Please don¡¯t hesitate to tell me if you need anything! My father reminded me just a few days ago to look after Uncle Xu¡¯s fields, so I came to check on you,¡± he said.
Old Xu, wise with age, chuckled, knowing full well that Li Changhu¡¯s acts were favors from Li Mutian. He cupped his fist and said with augh, ¡°Please thank your father for me! Our family is truly grateful.¡±
¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing really. We¡¯re just doing what¡¯s right,¡± Li Changhu replied, dismissing the gratitude with a wave of his hand.
As they conversed in the field, Li Xiangping approached the reeds with a cloth bag and observed Li Yesheng sitting on the riverbank.
Li Yesheng was counting on his fingers, murmuring to himself, ¡°I visited our third uncle the day before yesterday, our eldest uncle before that, and was turned away by our fourth uncle yesterday. Today, I¡¯ll have to settle for wild greens and catch a few shrimps home for soup.¡±
He gazed at the swaying reeds, reflecting on the ces that had fed him. If not for these reeds, he believed he would have long perished in some forgotten corner.
I¡¯m indebted to Big Uncle and his family too, he reminded himself, only to be startled by a figure emerging from the reeds.
¡°Brother Xiangping!¡±
Li Yesheng stood up in surprise. Ever since the main family built the high-walled courtyard, Li Xiangping rarely ventured out, rumored to be absorbed in reading. Li Yesheng only saw him asionally during meals at the main house.
¡°Here, take this.¡±
Li Xiangping smiled and pulled a white bun from his cloth bag, handing it over.
Li Yesheng eagerly grabbed it, biting into it hungrily and eximing with gratitude, ¡°You¡¯re the best, big bro!¡±
¡°Hahahahahaha.¡±
Li Xiangping had a history of sneaking treats for Li Yesheng during their childhood. Li Mutian had always known about it but pretended not to notice.
Li Xiangping had indeed given him many things.
¡°Take this too,¡± Li Xiangping said with a rather conflicted look.
He pushed the cloth bag into Li Yesheng¡¯s hands, adding, ¡°These are some books I read during my early learning. You can read them while watching the ducks.¡±
¡°Thank you, Brother!¡±
Li Yesheng, visibly moved, scooped up some river water to wash his hands before carefully epting the cloth bag.
¡°I¡¯ll talk to Father in a few days. Let¡¯s see if he can convince the schr to let you study at his ce when you have the time. If you have questions, you can always ask us.¡±
¡°Huh, I really shouldn¡¯t trouble Big Uncle like that!¡± Li Yesheng was ted yet hesitant, and his heart was filled with a mix of anxiety and anticipation as he kept waving his hand, trying to decline the generous offer.
¡°Besides, I heard studying costs money. My big brother will never pay for me.¡±
Li Xiangping looked at him for a moment, then said teasingly, ¡°You don''t need to worry about that, I¡¯ll ask Father to cover it.¡±
¡°But...¡± Li Yesheng hesitated, overwhelmed by Li Xiangping¡¯s offer.
A sense of respect welled up in him, and he thought to himself, Brother Xiangping really takes after Big Uncle!
Unaware of Li Yesheng¡¯s thoughts, Li Xiangping patted his shoulder, encouraging him to focus on his studies, before heading home.
Chapter 15: Refugee
Chapter 15: Refugee
Lu Jiangxian had spent several months familiarizing himself with the jade and had fully assimted its power.
He was already well-versed in the Minor Illusion Technique described in the ¡°Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra¡±, which could allow him tomunicate with the Li Family.
Yet, he considered the timing not quite right and chose not to reveal his extraordinary abilities. Instead, he remained motionless in the ancestral hall, seemingly inert.
After all, the Li Family was shrewd. The mirror might be of great value, but Lu Jiangxian, in his own estimation, was still a novice in the realm of immortal cultivation.
Revealing himself now would not only raise a myriad of questions from the Li Family but could potentially expose his limited abilities.
Fortunately, his divine sense had expanded to envelop the entire Li Residence. Observing their daily lives was like watching a television series, offering him afortable diversion.
However, the asional powerful or subtle aura passing over the Guli Road would jolt Lu Jiangxian, prompting him to retract his divine sense and remain inconspicuous.
Despite the Li Family¡¯s belief in him as some kind of Immortal Artifact, Lu Jiangxian was acutely aware of his own strength.
He considered himself modest in power¡ªbarely reaching the Profound Scenery, the secondyer of the Embryonic Breathing realm, while Azure Essence, the fourthyer of the Embryonic Breathing realm was his aspirational peak.
When hepared himself to those overwhelming auras, he felt it prudent to remain cautious for another eighty or a hundred years.
Yet, he could not help but wonder, ¡°Why are there refugeesing from the Guli Road?¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Changhu, apanied by a group of vigers armed with torches, pitchforks, and hoes, stood at the vige entrance, confronting a band of disheveled refugees.
This incident arose just days after the marriage ceremony of Xiangping and Tian Yun. Li Changhu, amidst his cultivation routine, was interrupted by a tenant from the Li Family, who urgently reported the arrival of refugees at the vige entrance.
¡°Refugees?¡±
Thest refugees Li Changhu had encountered were over three years ago, from the Chen Family, who had fled over Mount Meiche. Recent years had been bountiful, and the Meiche River had fed the surrounding areas well, leaving no families in dire straits along its banks.
¡°They im to be from Guli Road,¡± informed the tenant, his voice conveying relief upon seeing Li Changhu.
¡°That can''t be...¡± After a moment¡¯s consideration, Li Changhu gave an order as he walked toward the exit of his residence, ¡°Father is already asleep, let¡¯s not wake him. Get Uncle Tian and Uncle Ren. We¡¯ll go check it out."
Upon reaching the vige entrance, the head of the Liu Family, another prominent family in Lijing Vige, was already waiting with a lit cigarette in his mouth.
Upon seeing Li Changhu, Liu Linfeng greeted warmly, ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here, Changhu.¡±
¡°Big Uncle.¡± Li Changhu nodded to him.
Liu Linfeng was the elder brother of his mother, Liu Linyun. When Li Mutian had killed the influential Yuan Family and redistributed theirnds, Liu Linfeng¡¯s father was greatly impressed by the young man¡¯s actions. He had subsequently arranged for Liu Linyun to marry into the Li Family, thus forging a strong bond between the two families.
Li Changhu and Liu Linfeng, leading the vigers, called out to the refugees. After calling three times, a middle-aged man emerged from the crowd. Despite his dirty and disheveled appearance, he carried himself with a certain dignity.
Cupping his fist respectfully, the man addressed them with a bitter smile, ¡°I¡¯m the leader of the caravan traveling on Xiali Road. We came from Jingxia City in the southern part of Wu State. We were attacked on Xiali Road, and I, along with these people, fled amidst the chaos. I¡¯ve been elected by the group to speak on our behalf, hoping for your shelter.¡±[1]
¡°The Guli Road has been long neglected, with wild beasts roaming freely. How did you alle through?¡± Liu Linfeng asked with a hint of skepticism.
¡°Many have perished along the way, including the elderly and children,¡± the middle-aged man replied with a sad smile.
As the representatives from the two prominent families in the vige spoke with the leader of the caravan, Old Xu stood among the crowd. He was holding a string of grass-woven crickets in one hand and a hoe in the other as he scrutinized the refugees.
Since he lived near the vige entrance, Old Xu was woken up early in the morning by themotion caused by the arriving refugees.
Learning that Li Changhu wasing, he quickly grabbed the grass crickets he had crafted a few days earlier, intending to gift them to his unborn child.
His attention, however, was soon captured by a young man among the refugees. Dressed in tattered clothes with animal leather wrapped around his waist, the young man¡¯s eyes zed like fire as he fixed his gaze on Li Changhu and Liu Linfeng.
¡°Those eyes seem familiar,¡± Old Xu mused, stroking his white beard, yet unable to remember where he had seen such a look before.
¡°Everyone, listen up!¡± Liu Linfeng called for the refugees¡¯ attention, then stepped forward to address them, "I am Liu Linfeng, the head of the Liu Family in this vige. Lijing Vige hasnds that need tilling. If you are willing, my family will provide food and tools for this year. The reimednd will be rented out by my family, and we will only charge 30% of the harvest as rent.¡±
Li Changhu, standing a respectful half-step behind Liu Linfeng, added, ¡°The Li Family offers the same terms.¡±
At this, the young man among the refugees sharply turned his head. His fiery gaze locked onto Li Changhu¡¯s face for a few seconds before he lowered it again, seemingly satisfied.
Old Xu pushed through the crowd with great effort. He scanned the refugees intently, but could not locate the young man again.
He turned around, only to see that the young man had already moved to the front, standing just a few steps away from Li Changhu and Liu Linfeng.
The middle-aged man, previously speaking on behalf of the refugees, nced at the youth and thought to himself, What intense eyes. Has he been with the refugees all along? We¡¯ve been together for three months, yet I don¡¯t recall ever seeing this person before.
¡°In Lijing vige, you can eat, drink, marry, and raise children, but you must not steal ormit violence...¡± Liu Linfeng was exining the rules to the refugees when suddenly, the young man rushed out, falling to his knees before him, sobbing.
¡°My family was in, and I alone escaped. I traveled far to seek refuge under your benevolence. I am eternally grateful and would never daremit any disgraceful acts here!¡±
His tears seemed genuine, stirring emotions among the other refugees who also began to cry, creating a chorus of sorrow.
Overwhelmed by the scene, Liu Linfeng found himself deeply moved by their plight.
Old Xu, however, was fixated on the young man kneeling on the ground. His gaze focused on the scarred left leg, visible through the tattered pants, particrly noting a few distinct ck moles at the ankle.
A sense of recognition washed over Old Xu. He continued to stare intently at the youth, his face flushed as though he was drunk.
Meanwhile, behind him, Li Changhu could no longer hold back his emotions. He gazed at the kneeling youth with a sense ofpassion, stepping forward and bending down to help the young man to his feet.
All of a sudden, memories began flooding back to Old Xu. His vision blurred as if he had been transported back to an afternoon more than twenty years ago.
Back then, Old Xu worked as a tenant for the Yuan Family. The golden rice paddies in the fields swayed in the autumn breeze when a woman approached the fields, carrying her child.
He had bowed to them and said, ¡°Look at those moles on his leg! This child is destined for greatness!¡±
¡°WAIT!¡± With a sudden burst of energy, Old Xu straightened his back, a posture he had not assumed in over two decades, and bellowed with a mix of surprise and anger.
¡°WAIT!¡± Simultaneously, a voice echoed his call from nearby.
It was the middle-aged man who had been chosen as the spokesperson for the refugees. He, too, was staring at the young man¡¯s face, his expression one of sheer astonishment, as he also called for a halt.
Before either of them could borate, the youth abruptly lifted his head, catching Li Changhu off guard with a gaze that was fiercely sharp and almost bestial.
1. The refugees refer Guli Road as Xiali Road as Guli Road can also be interpreted as "Ancient Li Road", which the Li actually derives from "Xiali". ?
Chapter 16: Tragic Fate (I)
Chapter 16: Tragic Fate (I)
Li Changhu barely had time to react as the youth lifted the leather around his waist, revealing a knife that glinted ominously with a cold light.
The youth¡¯s eyes, fierce and sharp like a wild beast¡¯s, were fixed unblinkingly on Li Changhu with rming intensity.
His knife moved with lightning speed, aiming straight for Li Changhu¡¯s throat. Li Changhu barely had time to recoil in shock, his hands moving in a desperate attempt to block the attack.
He was moving at the speed of lightning!
He had honed this particr stabbing motion for over twenty-two years and practiced on countless haystacks; it was fueled by years of repressed hatred.
The knife, gleaming like a bolt of silver lightning, nimbly evaded Li Changhu¡¯s defensive arms and impaled his throat.
Li Changhu could only utter a few agonized groans before copsing to the ground. His vision blurred, and the sounds of the surrounding screams and shouts of anger filled the air.
¡°BASTARD!¡± Tian Shoushui, standing behind Li Changhu, bellowed in rage and disbelief.
Tian Shoushui, obscured by the crowd due to his shorter stature, had not fully grasped the unfolding situation until he saw Li Changhu copse.
Tian Shoushui lunged to grab the youth, his eyes burning with rage and the veins at his temples throbbing.
However, the youth, though sessful in his attack, abandoned the knife and used the ensuing chaos to roll away from Tian Shoushui¡¯s grasp. He moved with the agility of a deer, swiftly disappearing into the mass of refugees.
Tian Shoushui pursued, but the refugees scattered in panic, giving the youth just enough time to slip into the nearby reeds and vanish.
¡°DAMN IT!¡±
Determined, Tian Shoushui plunged into the reeds without a second nce, leaving behind the refugees huddled together in fear.
¡°Goddamn it! He brought disaster upon us!¡±
The middle-aged man who was previously speaking for the refugees was now cornered by the vigers.
¡°I have nothing to do with this! I don¡¯t know that young man! He just came with us!¡± he wailed, but his protests were drowned out by themotion.
¡°SHUT UP!¡± Liu Linfeng screamed, his face a mixture of rage and shock.
He gritted his teeth and kneeled down to support Li Changhu, whoy motionless and bleeding on the ground. Liu Linfeng struggled to contain his anger, ring fiercely at the middle-aged man.
Seeing his nephew in such a state, Liu Linfeng¡¯s mind raced. How would he exin this to his younger sister? To Li Mutian? His nephew had died right before his eyes!
Ren Ping¡¯an sat on the ground, overwhelmed by grief. His daughter had married Li Changhu and was expecting their child. Now, he had to witness Li Changhu¡ªthe child he had watched grow up, dying right before his very eyes.
Panic enveloped the crowd. On the ground, Li Changhuy with his eyes open, staring at the sky and feeling the warmth of his blood as it flowed from his chest. His consciousness started to fade.
I feel bad for Xiangping... My funeral will have toe before his wedding, Li Changhu thought despairingly as the pain and suffocation enveloped him, pulling him into an abyss of darkness.
In the midst of the turmoil, a faint silver light unseen by all rose from his dantian. It spiraled upward like a swallow soaring into the sky, circling for a moment before flying toward the Li Family¡¯s backyard.
Not far from the scene, Old Xu stood trembling, witnessing the youth plunging the knife into Li Changhu¡¯s throat, the de protruding slightly from the back of his neck. A rush of blood surged to his head, ckness clouding his vision as he nearly copsed.
¡°How terribly unfortunate!¡± Tears streamed down his aged face as he held the string of grass crickets he had intended to give to Li Changhu and clutched his chest in anguish.
¡°That bastard...¡± Gasping for breath, Old Xu wiped his tears and started running toward the back mountain, muttering to himself, ¡°I¡¯ve lived through too much¡ªthe death of my wife, the downfall of the main family. I¡¯ve dealt with scoundrels far worse than you. Just you wait! This old man will make sure you pay for this!¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At the ancestral hall in the Li Residence, Lu Jiangxian sighed quietly.
He had awoken the instant Li Changhu was assassinated, but he was too far away to do anything about it. All he could do was watch as the tragedy unfolded.
As he observed the silver light fluttering around the mirror like a butterfly, he knew that with just a thought, this talisman seed could transform into pure essence, nourishing his divine soul.
However, since Li Changhu had not reached the Profound Scenery stage yet, the talisman seed would not do him much good.
With a sigh, Lu Jiangxian reversed his immortal technique. Using the ¡°Profound Pearl Sacrificial Spirit Art¡±, he catalyzed the spiritual sense within the talisman seed. A stream of mana, extracted from the seed, manifested in the courtyard and extended toward the Li Family members.
Li Mutian had been restless, taking over two hours to drift into a fitful sleep. But then, he saw moonlight pouring through the windows and doorways, illuminating the room as if it were daylight. There, standing quietly by his bedside, was his eldest son, Li Changhu.
¡°What happened?¡± Li Mutian asked hoarsely.
Li Changhu remained silent, his gaze intently fixed on Li Mutian¡¯s face, as ifmitting every detail to memory.
Li Mutian coughed harshly and asked with a furrowed brow, ¡°What is it, Changhu?¡±
Li Changhu then leaned down, bowing deeply to his father.
¡°Take care, Father...¡± he said, his voice choked with emotion.
As he spoke, his figure began to disperse, fading like grains of sand in the wind. The luminous moonlight slowly dimmed, and the room, once bright as day, returned to darkness.
Li Mutian, in a state of shock, reached out desperately and shouted uncontrobly, ¡°Speak to me, son! Changhu! Li Changhu!¡±
He bolted out of bed, gazing out the window in disbelief.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°Does cultivation also bring dreams?¡± Li Chejing, with tears still on his face, awoke in the side house.
He rose and walked outside, where he found Li Tongya seated at the wooden table.
Upon seeing his younger brother, Li Tongya quickly wiped away his tears and forced a smile. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked.
Li Chejing, however, just stared nkly at him and then looked up to ask, ¡°Where¡¯s Big Brother?¡±
¡°He was called out this morning by a tenant. Maybe something happened in the fields,¡± Li Tongya replied, trying to maintain his smile.
Just then, the door opened with a creak. Li Mutian appeared, looking visibly unsettled.
¡°Tongya! Go get your big brother... No. Never mind, I¡¯ll go myself.¡±
Quickly slipping on his shoes, Li Mutian hastened to the front yard. As he opened the gate, he was met with a surprising sight.
Arge group of vigers had gathered outside, all holding torches and with tears streaming down their faces. At the foot of the stone steps, three people knelt beside something covered by a piece of white fabric.
The sight of Tian Shoushui and Ren Ping¡¯an¡¯s grief-stricken expressions sent a wave of dread through Li Mutian. With shaking hands, he descended the steps, gently pushing past the tearful Liu Linfeng to lift the white fabric.
At the sight underneath, Li Mutian¡¯s vision immediately darkened and he nearly fainted. His brothers, who had followed him out, also looked on with apprehension.
Li Chejing stepped forward, and upon seeing whaty beneath the cloth, he copsed to his knees, crying out in anguish, ¡°BIG BROTHER!¡±
He leaned over Li Changhu¡¯s body, checking to see if he was still breathing.
Suddenly, Li Chejing jerked his head up, tears streaming down his face as he looked around at the vigers and demanded in a stern, roaring voice, ¡°WHO DID THIS? WHO?¡±
His outcry, like the roar of a tiger, startled everyone, causing them to step back in fear.
Chapter 17: Tragic Fate (II)
Chapter 17: Tragic Fate (II)
Ye Chengfu, who was holding a torch amidst the crowd, paused as he witnessed Li Chejing¡¯s youthful face contorted with anger.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully and mused, The fourth son seems like a tough character. With the forgiving leader of the pack gone and the remaining three being cunning and vicious, it won¡¯t take long before the Li Family hasplete dominance over Lijing Vige!
The crowd fell silent for a moment before someone murmured in response, ¡°Changhu was killed by the refugees!¡±
Li Xiangping knelt beside Li Changhu, fighting back his tears.
He turned his head to look at Tian Shoushui and asked with a trembling voice, ¡°Uncle Tian, what happened?¡±
¡°It¡¯s likely the descendant of the Yuan Family,¡± Li Mutian answered instead, squeezing the words through his gritted teeth.
He cast a nce at Tian Shoushui who hung his head in silence, as well as the gathered vigers, and shouted, ¡°Tongya!¡±
At his call, Li Tongya stepped forward, wiping his tears. He cupped his fist to the vigers and announced, ¡°Thank you for your concern tonight. Please disperse for now. There¡¯s no need to linger around any longer.¡±
After his announcement, he helped Liu Linfeng up and whispered in his ear, ¡°Please, Uncle, have your people keep an eye on those refugees. We don¡¯t want anyone causing trouble amidst the confusion. We¡¯ll join you shortly.¡±
¡°Right, of course...¡± Liu Linfeng, who was kneeling before Li Mutian, seemed overwhelmed with the weight of the moment. Gratefully epting the instruction, he quickly led the vigers away.
Tian Shoushui and Ren Ping¡¯an carried Li Changhu¡¯s body to the Li Family¡¯s backyard.
Meanwhile, cries erupted from the main courtyard. Ren Ping¡¯er had fainted upon hearing the tragic news. Tian Yun and Liu Linfeng, holding back their tears, attended to her, with one rushing to fetch a physician.
Tian Shoushui set Li Changhu down, his eyes brimming with tears.
¡°Brother Tianmu...¡± He was about to speak when Li Mutian, visibly exhausted, waved him off.
¡°Ping¡¯an, go look after Ping¡¯er. Shoushui, apany Liu Linfeng and keep an eye on the refugees. I fear he might be in a difficult position without direction from the Li Family.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Tian Shoushui replied, wiping away his tears before leaving. Ren Ping¡¯an nodded in a daze, then departed to care for Ren Ping¡¯er.
With no outsiders remaining in the backyard, the remaining Li brothers sobbed quietly.
Unable to contain his anguish any longer, Li Mutian sat beside his eldest son like a wounded lone wolf, his wails low and heart-wrenching.
¡°Oh, Changhu...¡±
The brothers joined in the mourning. Li Tongya and Li Xiangping wept silently, trying to maintainposure, while the younger Li Chejing gave in to his emotions, crying without restraint.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the dead of night, Lijing Vige was in disarray. Old Xu, armed only with a hoe, ventured alone to the back mountain. He navigated the winding path, his gaze fixed on the overgrown weeds and the continuous stretch of tombs ahead.
Pausing, he focused his gaze and spotted a ragged youth with leather wrapped around his waist. He was leisurely seated beside a small gravestone, speaking to himself.
As Old Xu approached, the youth looked up sharply. Recognizing the visitor as an elderly farmer, he pped his hands, tilted his head to the side, and smiled.
¡°Where are you from, old man?¡± he asked.
Ignoring the question, Old Xu moved deliberately slow, trembling as he approached. He pretended to be cautious, then knelt beside a tombstone, holding it while sobbing quietly.
The youth listened, his interest piqued by words of revenge and peace for the head of the family.
His life had been scarred by tragedy. From a young age, he lived as a tenant ever since his family was destroyed. Night after night, he had practiced with a dagger, driven by the hope of avenging his parents by taking Li Mutian''s life.
Having exacted partial revenge, he was eager to share his triumph, yet had no one to turn to. Perhaps, he mused, ending this old man¡¯s life would be a fitting conclusion to his visit.
¡°You¡¯re here mourning at the Yuan Family¡¯s tomb. Aren¡¯t you afraid of offending the Li Family?¡± he chuckled.
¡°My days are numbered...¡± Old Xu replied, wiping away his tears.
He looked at the youth closely and then pretended to recognize him. He gasped and fell to his knees as he eximed, ¡°Young Master!¡±
The youth was taken aback, wondering internally, ¡°Has this old man seen me in the vige? Maybe it¡¯s safer to just kill him before I leave.¡±
With tears still welling in his eyes, Old Xu continued, ¡°Your mother often brought you to the fields. I remember you¡ªyou have three ck moles on your ankle.¡±
Having lived for over seventy years, Xu¡¯s experience made him a good actor. His revtion momentarily diffused the youth''s hostility.
¡°Do you remember what my mother looked like?¡± the youth asked, his voice tinged with urgency.
¡°Yes, I remember her.¡±
Old Xu fetched a branch from a nearby bush. He then used his hoe to loosen the soil and started to draw with care and attention.
Meanwhile, the youth, engulfed in a storm of emotions, observed Old Xu closely. His thoughts flickered between killing the old man and considering holding him captive to learn more about his mother.
It did not take long for Old Xu to finish his drawing. Although just a farmer, Old Xu often painted door gods and auspicious symbols for the vigers.
Over the years, he had developed a certain skill in artistry, and the figure he sketched now was surprisingly life-like.
¡°Mother!¡±
The youth rolled over and knelt to examine the drawing. Seeing the familiar yet vague features of his mother, he broke down, sobbing. Twenty-two years of pent-up anger and repression burst forth, and he wept uncontrobly.
Old Xu, standing nearby, spoke fondly of the youth¡¯s mother, fueling the young man¡¯s overwhelming emotions.
¡°I remember your father well, too. Let me draw him for you,¡± Old Xu offered, his words convincing the youth further.
As the youth wiped away his tears, Old Xu picked up his hoe again, appearing to loosen the soil for more drawing.
Yet, there was a sh of ruthlessness in his eyes. He raised the hoe high, its silver de glinting in the moonlight, and brought it down violently toward the youth¡¯s neck.
The young man, exhausted from a day of evading capture, his assassination of Li Changhu, and his subsequent escape from Tian Shoushui in the reeds, was caughtpletely off guard.
His emotions had dulled his agility, leaving him unable to react or escape, resulting in the hoe striking him squarely.
Old Xu, still robust from years of farming, delivered a powerful blow that left the youth crumpled on the ground, convulsing, and foaming at the mouth.
Without hesitation, Old Xu struck again and again, ensuring that the youth was dead for good.
Blood and gore mingled in a macabre scene. Once Old Xu was certain that the youth was dead, he finally ceased his assault. The youthy motionless on the ground, with an expression of sorrow in hisst moments.
Exhausted and overwhelmed, Old Xu copsed to the ground, his hands covering his face as he cried out in anguish.
¡°Oh, what a tragic fate! What a tragic fate...¡±
Chapter 18: Three Years
Chapter 18: Three Years
In Lijing Vige, themotion from yesterday persisted into thete night. As the rooster crowed, signaling the start of a new day, the vigers were already astir.
The early autumn morning air was sweet with dew, yet a somber mood pervaded the vige.
The Liu and Li Families provided some dry food for the refugees huddled at the vige entrance.
The middle-aged man who led them looked worriedly at the group of over twenty people and thought to himself, Now we¡¯re really in trouble. Someone among us has killed a distinguished member of the ruling family. We can¡¯t stay, and we can¡¯t even escape.
The refugees were uneasy. As they looked up at the mountain road, someone shouted, ¡°Look, there¡¯s someone on the road! It¡¯s an old man!¡±
An elderly farmer with gray hair appeared on the winding path. His clothes and arms were bloodstained, and he was dragging a bloody corpse in his left hand. In his right, he carried a hoe from which hung a severed head with disheveled hair.
¡°It¡¯s the assassin!¡±
Some of the vigers recognized the clothing of the headless corpse, sending a shiver down their spines. The assassin had just escaped during the night before, only to be beheaded the next morning.
This raised questions about who the old man was and the extent of the Li Family¡¯s power.
As Old Xu approached, the crowd hastily retreated to make way for him.
Old Xu, however, walked with a pale face and vacant eyes, paying no heed to the onlookers.
He headed straight for the Li Residence on the outskirts of the vige. A tenant had already reported the news to the family. They opened the courtyard gate, and Li Mutian wearily led his family members to greet him.
¡°Uncle Xu, this is...?¡±
¡°A descendant of the Yuan Family... I killed him. This is his corpse. Have Liu Linfeng and Tian Shoushuie to identify it.¡±
Old Xu ced the body down and sat down to catch his breath, sensing a chill in his limbs.
Li Tongya quickly brought some tea to Old Xu, but the old man¡¯s trembling hands could not even hold the cup. Li Tongya had to bring it to his lips for him to sip.
Shortly after, Liu Linfeng and Tian Shoushui arrived at the Li Residence with Old Xu¡¯s eldest son. Old Xu recounted the events, confirming the identity of the deceased as a descendant of the Yuan Family.
¡°Uncle Xu, you have avenged our big brother. The Li Family is eternally grateful...¡± Li Tongya began to speak tearfully.
Old Xu, however, waved him off with tears in his eyes.
¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me. I owed a debt to Hu¡¯er, so I killed this man for him. I don¡¯t expect any reward from the Li Family. My days are numbered anyway. If you wish to thank me, bring the newborn to see me some time.¡±
With these words, heboriously rose to his feet. Ignoring the Li Family¡¯s pleas for him to stay, he departed with his eldest son.
The Li Residence was draped in white fabrics. Li Changhu¡¯s funeralsted for several days. His life of generosity and righteousness had touched many, so the vige was filled with mourning.
Caught up in the funeral arrangements, Li Tongya had to postpone his cultivation breakthrough. It was only two months after Li Changhu¡¯s burial that Li Tongya was able to stabilize his state of mind, allowing him to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra and step onto the path of immortal cultivation.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Two yearster...
The morning sun illuminated the courtyard with its bright rays, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow on a few small trees. Underneath these trees, a handsome young boy was seated cross-legged, deeply engrossed in his breathing exercise.
After some time, he exhaled a deep breath, concluding his training for the day, and looked around the courtyard with a smile.
A two-year-old boy ran into the backyard, with wildflowers in his clutch as he babbled joyfully, ¡°Awncle... Cawwy meee...!¡±
Li Chejing smiled as he reached out to lift the child into the air. Gently patting the boy¡¯s head, he affectionately asked, ¡°Has Xuan¡¯er been good today?¡±
¡°Cawwy mee...¡± Instead of answering him, the child giggled and wriggled in Li Chejing¡¯s grasp.
Ren Ping¡¯er, hesitant to enter the backyard, called out softly from the entrance, ¡°Xuan¡¯er! Get out of there right away!¡±
Li Chejing ced the child on the ground, watching him jump into his mother¡¯s arms.
He then murmured to himself, ¡°This Celestial Whirl Chakra is really tough to condense. It¡¯s taken a year and a half, but it¡¯s finallying together!¡±
Li Xiangping stood up and chided him with augh, ¡°Be patient, Jing¡¯er! We¡¯ve only managed to condense the Radiant Lure Chakra of the Embryonic Breathing. We haven¡¯t even begun the third stage, the Celestial Whirl Chakra, yet here you areining. You¡¯re in too much of a hurry!¡±
Li Chejing merelyughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll begin condensing the Celestial Whirl Chakra tonight. Then I¡¯ll show you what true mana flow is like."
¡°You little brat!¡± Li Xiangpingughed.
Upon noticing Li Mutian entering the backyard, he quickly lowered his voice and greeted, ¡°Father.¡±
Over the past two years, Li Mutian had aged considerably. His hair had turned white, and deep wrinkles marked his face. He carried a stern, unsmiling demeanor, appearing more than a decade older.
¡°Xuanxuan is quite the handful!¡±
Seeing his grandson, Li Xuanxuan, Li Mutian¡¯s face finally softened with a smile.
Since Li Changhu¡¯s death, the old man had been dispirited, but the birth of this child had rejuvenated him.
When Li Xuanxuan was born, Li Mutian had gathered the Li Family to set a sequence generation names based on three verses from the ¡°Reception Technique¡±, as suggested by Li Xiangping.
Li Xiangping spent several days pondering before selecting three verses from a text about the Embryonic Breathing realm:
¡°In the Profound Scenery where rity prevails, the sun and moon weave a Radiant Lure.
In the Celestial Whirl, one seeks to grasp the Azure Essence.
In the Jade Capital, only the Nascent Spirit is reflected.¡±
In ordance with these verses, the naming tradition for the children of Li Tongya, Li Xiangping, and others was established. Boys would receive names incorporating ¡°Xuan¡±, while girls would have ¡°Jing¡± in their names, and so on[1].
Li Mutian had also sought the opinion of his daughter-inw. Ren Ping¡¯er, after reflecting on it for a night, decided on the name ¡°Li Xuanxuan¡± for Li Changhu¡¯s son.
¡°That¡¯s because you spoil him too much, Father!¡± Li Tongyamented with a smile, cing a wooden slip back on the shelf.
¡°Nonsense!¡± Li Mutian feigned annoyance, puffing his beard in mock anger, then said seriously, ¡°I would like Yesheng to learn more by my side.¡±
Li Yesheng? Li Tongya pondered for a moment before responding, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Li Yesheng is alone and quite attached to our family. We¡¯re often busy with cultivation, so we can¡¯t attend to family matters as much. Since he is also of the Li Family¡¯s bloodline, he¡¯s an ideal choice.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just concerned that he might develop selfish intentions over time for his personal gain...¡± Li Chejing expressed, furrowing his brows.
¡°I can still keep him in check for at least another ten years!¡± Li Mutian dered confidently. ¡°By the time a decade rolls by, your kids will be all grown up. He won¡¯t have a chance to get up to mischief by then!¡±
¡°To govern effectively, one must bnce kindness with authority. Once Li Yesheng settles down with a family, things will naturally fall into ce,¡± Li Xiangping added nonchntly.
¡°Exactly.¡± Li Chejing retrieved another wooden slip from the shelf, dusted it off, and chuckled softly.
¡°Ten years of immortal cultivation does indeed offer much to look forward to.¡±
1. Trantor''s Note: This naming tradition is known as "Generation Name". The sequence of generation names typically follows a generation poem. For the Li Family, they will follow the three verses about the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
The first part of the verse "Ðþ¾°Ô¨Çå" (Xuan Jing Yuan Qing) means "In the Profound Scenery where rity prevails". Hence, the children of the four brothers will take on "Xuan" and "Jing". The children of those from the generation of Xuan and Jing will then take on the characters "Yuan" and "Qing", and so on.
In case you''re interested, this is the pinyin of the entire poem:
Xuan Jing Yuan Qing, Xi Yue Cheng Ming.
Zhou Xing Jiang Que, Sui Yu Qing Yuan.
Yu Jing Ying Xiang, Wei Jian Ling Chu.
?
Chapter 19: Cultivator
Chapter 19: Cultivator
The night had fallen, and the moon shone brightly above.
Li Chejing sat cross-legged in the courtyard, deeply immersed in his qi cultivation. He was focused on condensing the Celestial Whirl Chakra of the third stage.
As described in the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra, the human body held endless marvels, including twelve meridians and three dantians.
¡°The lower dantian houses the essence, the middle dantian houses the qi, and the upper dantian houses the consciousness.¡±
Among the six chakras, the Profound Scenery, Celestial Whirl, and Jade Capital, known as the Three Challenges of the Embryonic Breathing realm, were particrly challenging.
The key was to manifest these chakras from nothingness within the different dantians, forming a spiritual chakra.
The remaining three chakras were lessplex. For instance, after condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra which was located at the Qihai point in the lower dantian, one only had to focus on their breathing pattern, and the Radiant Lure Chakra would naturally emerge in the Qihai point.
Once the Celestial Whirl Chakra, situated in the Juque Court[1] which was the body¡¯s reservoir of hidden qi, was condensed, it would allow mana to flow freely throughout the body.
When mana was channeled to the eyes, it would grant far-reaching vision. To the feet, it would bestow extraordinary agility, enabling remarkable feats such as walking on walls as easily as if they were t ground.
After cultivating for a quarter of an hour, Li Chejing felt his Qihai acupoint at full capacity. His two spiritual chakras orbited each other, entwining as he performed a hand seal.
Channeling qi through vital points like the Shimen, Guanyuan, Shenque, and Mingmen acupoints, he focused on converging this energy in the Juque Court to form the spirit chakra.
Lu Jiangxian, using his divine sense, observed Li Chejing from afar, casting a protective Meditation Spell and joining forces with Li Tongya and Li Xiangping, who were safeguarding their youngest brother.
As Li Chejing prepared for his breakthrough, Lu Jiangxian suddenly sensed a presence behind him. A powerful aura, far off in the distance, was rapidly approaching Mount Dali.
Weighing the strength of both sides, Lu Jiangxian made a swift decision. He retracted his divine sense back into the mirror, ceasing even to absorb the moonlight shining through the roof window.
The mirrory dormant in the ancestral hall¡¯s darkness, indistinguishable from a real bronze artifact.
In mere moments, a stream of blue light soared over the Li Residence. Lu Jiangxian, feeling the aura fading into the distance, was about to sigh in relief when he noticed the blue light turning around beforeing to a halt in the sky above the Li Residence.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Si Yuanbai, having advanced in his cultivation since leaving Qingsui Peak, set his sights on confronting the notorious pig demon on Mount Dali. He boarded his flying shuttle and traced the Guli Road southward.
¡°The spiritual energy at the northern foot of Mount Dali was disrupted by the great war, plunging the earth vein into chaos. Now, after three hundred years, the energy has begun to recover, drawing the attention of numerous demons.¡±
Approaching Mount Dali, Si Yuanbai noticed several viges peppering the foot of the mountain, particrly along the banks of an unnamed river. The area seemed lively.
¡°The war purged the region of demons, disrupting the spiritual energy. It has since be a haven for mortals.¡±
Surveying from above, Si Yuanbai¡¯s attention was suddenly drawn to a small vige below. He sensed a flicker of mana there.
Expecting a minor demon, he activated his dharma eyes for a clearer view. Under the moonlight, he saw a handsome young man sitting in meditation, apanied by two other youths, all radiating mana.
¡°How remarkable. A young man is breaking through a bottleneck without any elders to oversee.¡±
After a quick scan revealing no other significant mana fluctuations, Si Yuanbai mused, ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s the offspring of a fellow Daoist after a fun one-nighter.¡±
Meanwhile, Li Chejing, unaware of the observer above, felt blessed. His continuous efforts were paying off; he had finally figured out the riddles in the scripture. Mana quickly converged in the Juque Court, and a crystalline spirit chakra began forming with practiced ease.
¡°What a promising youth!¡± Si Yuanbai murmured in approval as he stroked his beard.
The path of immortal cultivation is fraught with challenges. Spiritual orifice was merely one of the foundational factors; other things like fortune,prehension, willpower, family background, sect, and techniques mattered too.
¡°This young man¡¯s got exceptional understanding and talent, and his techniques are profound. But in this secluded mortal vige, how much can he really ess in terms of immortal resources and secret techniques? His potential might be limited to mere qi cultivation, amounting to little more than dust and ashes. In this arduous journey of immortal cultivation, I wonder how many young talents have sumbed along the way,¡± he mused.
Si Yuanbai descended his shuttle. Performing a hand seal and casting an invisibility spell, he sat on a rock in the courtyard, observing the scene leisurely.
Just then, an elderly mortal approached the courtyard. The youth, acting as the guardian, greeted, ¡°Father.¡±
As Si Yuanbai heard the youth, his expression shifted to one of curiosity. It was rare to find someone with a spiritual orifice, but he had found three in a single family. He could not help but wonder if those three children were truly the offspring of that seemingly ordinary old man.
Observing their pure mana, Si Yuanbai spected that they must have been training with a profound technique.
He was convinced that these children were likely the unintended offspring of a fellow Daoist cultivator. He spected that they had been left in this vige to train from a young age because their father was reluctant to bring them into his home.
¡°With all three children possessing spiritual orifices, their father must have at least attained the Foundation Establishment realm.¡±
While it was true that higher realms of cultivation made childbearing more challenging, the likelihood of those children possessing spiritual orifices was significantly greater. Among those who had attained the Qi Cultivation realm, perhaps one or two in ten of their offspring might have a spiritual orifice. This probability soared to around five in ten once a cultivator attained the Foundation Establishment realm.
Considering that all three children possessed a spiritual orifice, it was highly probable that their father was a cultivator who had attained the Foundation Establishment realm.
Si Yuanbai dismissed the possibility that their father could be a cultivator who had attained the Purple Mansion realm. Aside from the ancestors of various immortal sects, the entire Yue State could scarcely muster a handful of such esteemed cultivators.
Besides, a cultivator of the Purple Mansion¡¯s caliber would not bother settling in a small vige like this. Even if they were to father an illegitimate child, they could easily bring the child into their own home without fear of judgment. Such a child would likely be revered as a prized descendant.
The young man concluded his cultivation and joyfully announced, ¡°Father, I¡¯ve made a breakthrough!¡±
The Li Family erupted in celebration, but Si Yuanbai, observing from afar, contemted the situation.
The Guli Road leading to Mount Dali has been popted by mortals, yet for three hundred years, no cultivator has stood guard due to the war. Now, as the earth¡¯s veins realign and the spiritual energy gradually returns, thisnd should rightfully fall back under the governance of a sect.
Maybe I should recruit this family into our n, utilizing them to secure this area. We could also leverage the power of that senior who has attained the Foundation Establishment realm to help suppress the demons here.
The Azure Pond Sect, ruling over the five southern counties of Yue State, has a well-established system of governance. The sect usually dispatched disciples to manage the cities, while the rural areas were controlled through the intricate web of bloodline marriages within the immortal cultivation ns.
This system involved using pills and magic artifacts topel the ns to cultivate raw materials and provide manpower from those with lower levels of cultivation. The sect would then annually recruit the most talented disciples from these ns to strengthen its ranks. This approach, widely recognized as effective in the cultivation world, had been employed by the Azure Pond Sect for over five hundred years.
Additionally, this could be an opportunity to build a favorable rtionship with that cultivator who has attained the Foundation Establishment realm.
With that thought in mind, Si Yuanbai performed a hand seal to undo his invisibility spell and descended gracefully into the courtyard.
Li Chejing, still feeling the rush of his breakthrough and the flow of mana through his body, suddenly noticed a figure in a green robe materializing before him.
The figure who appeared was d in azure garments, seemingly in his thirties or forties, with a handsome appearance. He wore a friendly smile, and at his waist hung a shiny sword, adding to his elegant and ethereal demeanor.
Immediately sensing potential danger, the Li brothers instinctively shielded Li Mutian, with Li Tongya cautiously inquiring, ¡°May I ask who you are, sir?¡±
1. One of the points along the Ren Meridian, close the point under your lungs. ?
Chapter 20: New Master
Chapter 20: New Master
Upon witnessing the celestial-like figure in a green robe gracefully descending into the courtyard, Li Xiangping felt a knot in his stomach.
Damn, could he be the owner of the mirror? he thought to himself.
In that instant, he was immediately on high alert, sensing the man¡¯s otherworldly presence. He nced at Li Chejing and Li Tongya; despite their calm exterior, their eyes betrayed a flicker of fear, seemingly mirroring his own thoughts.
¡°I am the Master of Qingsui Peak from the Azure Pond Sect,¡± the man introduced himself with a faint smile.
Noticing the Li Family¡¯s guarded demeanor, he realized they were not the typical vigers who revered figures like him.
This strengthened his belief as he reassured them, ¡°There¡¯s no need for rm. The Guli Road falls under the jurisdiction of the Azure Pond Sect. Since you¡¯ve embarked on the path of immortal cultivation, you naturallye under our sect¡¯s purview.¡±
Relieved that the visitor was not after the mirror, Li Tongya and the others visibly rxed.
Li Tongya stepped forward, bowing respectfully. ¡°We are simple vigers unaware of therger world of cultivation. We unintentionallypleted the Profound Scenery stage and are unfamiliar with esteemed sects like yours. Please forgive our ignorance.¡±
Si Yuanbai paused, realizing that these vigers were unaware of the Azure Pond Sect due to its long absence from this area. He performed a hand seal and cast a spell, creating a lifelike map of the Yue State in mid-air.
The Li Family was astounded by this disy of power. While they had learned basic spells, creating such a map was beyond their capabilities, let alone a detailed one like this.
¡°This is Yue State,¡± Si Yuanbai exined, pointing to a blue spot that upied about a quarter of Yue State. ¡°And this is where the Azure Pond Sect is.¡±
¡°Ah, so that is the Azure Pond Immortal Sect." Li Mutian recognized, bowing in respect. ¡°I recall seeing talismans from during my younger days with General Yang in the Mount Yue campaign. They were probably from the Azure Pond Immortal Sect.¡±
¡°We are but a humble part of the Immortal Sect,¡± Si Yuanbai responded modestly.
He then addressed Li Xiangping and his brothers, ¡°Now that you have entered the Profound Scenery¡¯s gate, you will oversee the nearby viges along this Guli Road. Just ensure that the annual contributions required by the sect are met.¡±
He continued, ¡°There are several families along this Guli Road. Given your nascent roots, I advise you to be amodating and avoid unnecessary disputes. Every five years, the sect will send representatives to recruit potential talents from the mountain. If your family can produce exceptional individuals, it will be greatly beneficial for you all.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s expression shifted subtly as he asked in a low voice, ¡°About the contributions...¡±
¡°Every five years, we expect ten White Essence Fruits and two hundred jin[1] of Spirit Paddies,¡± Si Yuanbai replied matter-of-factly. ¡°This quota is non-negotiable unless your family has disciples willing to join the Azure Pond Sect. Otherwise, the contribution requirements stand firm.¡±
As Si Yuanbai concluded, Li Tongya and the others exchanged knowing nces.
This timing isn¡¯t coincidental. He chose to appear the moment Jing¡¯er made a breakthrough, most likely hoping to recruit Jing¡¯er into the Azure Pond Sect. Well, that might be for the best. Jing¡¯er has truly exceptional talents, and it¡¯s somewhat of a waste for him to be here in the mountains. Joining the immortal sect would be the best for his growth, and it would also be beneficial for the family to have him there, Li Mutian internally surmised.
With that in mind, Li Mutian subtly nodded at Li Chejing, who quickly understood his father¡¯s intent. He bowed deeply to Si Yuanbai and respectfully said, ¡°Although my talents are modest, I deeply admire the Peak Master¡¯s prowess. I would be honored to join the Peak Master¡¯s faction, even in the humblest capacity, to learn from his teachings.¡±
¡°Well said, you are indeed fit to join my Qingsui Peak,¡± Si Yuanbai responded happily while nodding.
He pped his hand on his waist, and two bags of different sizes materialized on the ground.
Seeing the Li Family¡¯s surprised expressions, he exined, ¡°These are storage bags. You¡¯ll be able to utilize them once you¡¯vepleted the Jade Capital Chakra stage. Therger bag contains seeds for the Spirit Paddy, while the smaller one has White Essence Fruit kernels.¡±
Si Yuanbai then produced several wooden slips and added, ¡°Since you¡¯ve joined me, it¡¯s only right you know my name. I am Si Yuanbai, a Peak Master in the Azure Pond Sect. I won¡¯t overburden you by asking you to clean my peak.¡±
He handed over the slips and continued, ¡°These three are cultivation techniquesmon in the Yue State. Your family might find them useful. The other slip details the cultivation of the Spirit Paddy and White Essence Fruit. Study them carefully.¡±
The Li Family members nodded in acknowledgment.
¡°Don¡¯t be so tense. What cultivation techniques have you been practicing?¡± Si Yuanbai asked with a smile.
Li Xiangping and the others hesitated, exchanging nces. No one spoke for a moment.
Realizing their hesitation, Si Yuanbai quickly reassured them, ¡°I understand, I understand. Your senior who instructed you must have told you to keep it a secret.¡±
Si Yuanbai had only attained the Foundation Establishment realmst year, so he naturally regarded the person who had presumably attained the same realm a decade ago as a senior.
At this, Li Mutian coughed and stepped forward, speaking softly, ¡°Over ten years ago, I helped an injured senior who then recuperated at my home for a few years. He left us with these cultivation techniques and instructed us to keep them a secret before leaving...¡±
¡°I see!¡± Si Yuanbai gave him a gentle nod, feeling quite pleased with his own sagacity.
A simple Meridian Nourishment Sutra is all they possess. It can¡¯t be some sophisticated immortal technique that involves gathering the essence of the moon or sun, can it? There¡¯s no need to press them further. It might upset my new disciple, he thought to himself.
With apassionate gaze toward the old man, Si Yuanbai conjured a light blue jade seal with a wave of his hand. As he caressed it, the seal began to glow with golden light, revealing the inscription¡ªGovernance of Azure Pond.
¡°This represents the authority of my Azure Pond Sect. I¡¯ve put a magic seal on it. With this, you can demarcate your territory from neighboring ns and call upon the sect for assistance when needed. Take good care of it,¡± Si Yuanbai exined.
He gracefully handed the jade seal to Li Tongya. Watching Li Tongya safely stow it away, Si Yuanbai smiled warmly at Li Chejing and encouraged, ¡°It¡¯s time to bid farewell to your family, my good disciple.¡±
Li Chejing embraced his two older brothers with tears in his eyes, then knelt before Li Mutian, pressing his head to the ground a few times.
¡°Forgive me for being an unfilial son who can¡¯t stay by you and Mother¡¯s side in the future. Please take care, Father, and Mother as well.¡± His voice broke with emotion.
Li Mutian, clearing his throat, helped Li Chejing to his feet and reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your older brothers will look after things here. Focus on your cultivation in the sect and make our Li Family proud.¡±
After bidding a final goodbye to his brothers, Li Chejing joined Si Yuanbai with a heavy heart. ¡°Master, I have bid my farewell to my family,¡± he informed.
Si Yuanbai nodded, ignoring Li Tongya and the others who were kneeling and paying their respects to him.
Heughed heartily and mumbled to himself, ¡°I guess I¡¯ll let that Pig Demon live another day since I have acquired such a promising disciple today.¡±
With a wave of his hand, he summoned the shuttle, then cast a spell to elongate it enough to amodate two people.
He grabbed Li Chejing¡¯s hand, then boarded the shuttle, swiftly soaring northward like a shooting star.
1. One jin = 500 grams. ?
Chapter 21: Integrating Forces
Chapter 21: Integrating Forces
Li Xiangping watched as Si Yuanbai vanished into the sky on their flying shuttle. He then picked up a wooden slip, unwrapped the cloth, and spread it out.
¡°Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique, Grade One,¡± he murmured, skimming through the text.
He was deep in his reading when he overheard Li Tongya exim softly, ¡°This breathing technique only requires daily breathing exercises but not refining moonlight?¡±
¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not as effective as the mir-... our family¡¯s technique,¡± Li Xiangping replied. He initially wanted to mention the mirror but remained cautious in case Si Yuanbai came back.
He changed the subject. ¡°Do you really think Si Yuanbai is Azure Pond Sect¡¯s peak master? Jing¡¯er leaving with him so suddenly seems like a rash choice.¡±
Li Tongya smiled wryly and responded, ¡°What choice do we have? If he were an evil cultivator, he could¡¯ve just abducted him. Why bother negotiating with us or leaving any techniques or a jade seal?¡±
Li Xiangping nodded in agreement, picking up another wooden slip. He opened it and murmured, ¡°Heavenly Essence Qi Cultivation Scripture, a Grade Two cultivation technique for the Qi Cultivation Realm.¡±
Li Tongya, picking up a different slip, quietly read, ¡°Lixia Secret Note¡±.
After reading a bit, his face lit up, and he said to Li Xiangping, ¡°This note includes general cultivation knowledge, details about Lixia Province¡¯s forces, and information on rogue cultivators¡¯ trading markets. This is exactly what we need to know right now.¡±
Li Xiangping nced at the slip andmented thoughtfully, ¡°So, cultivation techniques are graded from one to nine, one being the lowest and nine the highest. Spells, pills, and magic artifacts correspond to realms. I wonder what grade our family¡¯s technique is.¡±
While Li Xiangping was engrossed in the secret note, Li Tongya studied the light green jade seal left by Si Yuanbai. He silently activated his mana and mumbled, ¡°Governance of Azure Pond.¡±
Big golden letters immediately appeared on the jade seal, then slowly vanished and reced by a bright white ¡°Li¡± character and a small map.
Li Mutian squinted at it before reading aloud, ¡°Lijing Vige, Lichuankou Vige, Jingyang Vige, Lidaokou Vige.¡±
Those were the viges at the foot of Mount Dali which Si Yuanbai had mentioned earlier.
"With the Azure Pond Immortal Sect behind us, the Li Family can finally emerge from the shadows and openly cultivate! These viges are now under our control.¡±
Li Xiangping, who had been absorbed in his reading, looked up calmly and said, ¡°We¡¯ll start tomorrow night.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
As soon as Chen Erniu woke up, he saw the Li Family¡¯s tenants energetically going from door to door in the vige to share important news.
¡°Aunt Li! Tell your son to meet us behind the vige after the fieldwork tonight. Uncle Tian has something important to discuss!¡±
¡°Ah! All right...¡±
¡°Brother Liu! The Li Family would like to invite...¡±
The vige was in amotion, leaving everyone with a sense of curiosity. As evening finally approached, Chen Erniu, having finished his dinner, hurried to the end of the vige.
The Li Family, being one of the most influential in the vige, had gathered a sizable crowd.
Among them was Xu Wenshan, the leader of the refugees from years ago, who now stood respectfully behind Li Xiangping.
¡°Damn, I¡¯mte,¡± Chen Erniu grumbled under his breath.
He could not help but feel a twinge of resentment. Xu Wenshan had now found favor with the Li Family and had seemingly taken over his role as the head of the tenants.
He looked around, but Li Mutian was nowhere in sight. Instead, Li Xiangping stepped forward with a smile.
¡°Thanks foring, everyone. I have some exciting news to share.¡±
He waited for the crowd to quiet down before continuing, ¡°Last night, an immortal from the Azure Pond Immortal Sect passed through. He noticed my brother Li Chejing¡¯s exceptional talent and has taken him to train on the immortal mountain.¡±
The revtion sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. Everyone in the crowd exchanged looks of astonishment, then stared nkly at Li Xiangping as if they had just heard a mythical tale.
Han Wenxu, a knowledgeable figure who hailed from the city, expressed loudly, ¡°Congrattions!¡±
After hearing Li Xiangping¡¯s revtion about the Azure Pond Immortal Sect, he was convinced that Jing¡¯er must possess some spiritual gift to be taken by the immortal cultivator from that immortal sect.
¡°Everyone has their own destiny. It¡¯s a blessing for our vige that Chejing has been chosen by the immortal sect,¡± he added positively, supporting Li Xiangping¡¯s statement.
Having served as a doctor and educator in the vige for over two decades, Han Wenxu had established himself as an authority figure. When he lent his voice in support of Li Xiangping¡¯s announcement, it lent a significant degree of credibility to the ims. Despite this, murmurs and whispers continued to ripple through the gathering of vigers.
Li Xiangping calmly took out a jade seal in his hand. Upon activating his mana, four big golden characters appeared¡ªGovernance of Azure Pond.
¡°It¡¯s an immortal!¡± The crowd immediately erupted as they witnessed the disy of divine power. They fell to their knees, bowing deeply and shouting in awe.
Chen Erniu was equally stunned as he gazed upward with a mix of fear and wonder in his eyes.
Li Xiangping watched as the ¡°Li¡± character appeared and faded before putting the jade seal away. He looked at the crowd before him and dered, ¡°The immortal has also bestowed upon my family some immortal arts, as well as the duty of guarding Lijing Vige, Lichuankou Vige, Jingyang Vige, and Lidaokou Vige.¡±
As soon as he finished speaking, a brilliant golden light burst forth from his palm, shooting into the forest and scattering a flock of birds.
This spectacr disy left the vigers in even deeper awe, with many, including the head of the Liu Family, Liu Lin Feng, kneeling in a mixture of fear and disbelief.
¡°Please, get up. We are all family and neighbors here, there¡¯s no need for such formality,¡± Li Xiangping addressed the crowd, his tone stoic yet gentle.
Chen Erniu, still bowing deeply with his forehead pressed to the ground, felt a whirlwind of emotions.
Things are about to change here¡ªthat was all he could think of at the moment.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
As Li Tongya strolled out from Lichuankou Vige, Li Yesheng followed behind him, clumsily recording something on a piece of cloth with a chunk of charcoal.
¡°Lichuankou Vige still hasn¡¯t recovered from that drought twenty years ago, yet it¡¯s home to over a hundred households. It¡¯s quite disheartening,¡± Li Tongya mused, ncing over at Li Yesheng.
¡°Brother, we¡¯ve driven out the major family in Lichuankou Vige and redistributed theirnds. Now, the vigers are free from paying rent. The ten percent tax on their fields is pretty lenient too!¡± Li Yesheng responded earnestly.
He then handed the charcoal pencil to one of the vigers following them and continued in a respectful tone, ¡°But we still need someone reliable to manage things. Sadly, not many in our family are literate and capable.¡±
With a wave of his hand, Li Tongya cast a purification art on himself to clear the dust off his clothing, drawing an envious nce from Li Yesheng.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Father and Xiangping will handle the arrangements,¡± Li Tongya assured him.
Chapter 22: Immortal Sect
Chapter 22: Immortal Sect
In the main courtyard of the Li Residence, Li Tongya and the others were seated while Li Yesheng stood in the courtyard, reading from a cloth.
¡°229 households in Lijing Vige, 101 in Lichuankou Vige, 297 in Jingyang Vige, and 158 in Lidaokou Vige. That makes a total of 785 households and a total poption of 4280 people.¡±
¡°4280 people, with roughly three able-bodied men per household. Surely, we can find one or two individuals with spiritual orifices,¡± Li Xiangping murmured thoughtfully, leaning against a wooden table.
¡°About the elders from Ye Family who visited mest night... They hope to restore their ancestral surname,¡± Li Yesheng reported with a troubled smile on his face.
¡°Ancestral surname?¡± Li Tongya asked, looking up with a puzzled expression.
Li Mutian, observing their confusion, coughed and began to exin, ¡°The Ye Family was originally a side branch of our Li Family. Due to a past mistake, they were expelled and changed their surname to Ye. No one spoke of this incident ever since, but now, seeing our family¡¯s newfound destiny, the Ye Family wishes to reattach themselves and reim their original surname.¡±
Hearing this, Li Yesheng nodded in understanding. He recalled the previous night, listening to the elders from the Ye Family who had wept while revealing these ancient secrets. If it were not for the Li Family¡¯s newfound immortal destiny, he might have truly believed that the elders¡¯ intentions were solely for reuniting with the main family.
¡°If any member of the Ye Family possesses a spiritual orifice, we¡¯ll allow them to revert to the Li surname and be a branch of our family,¡± Li Xiangping quickly responded after listening to Li Mutian¡¯s exnation, instructing Li Yesheng to convey this message to the elders of the Ye Family.
He then turned to Li Mutian and asked, ¡°Father, who will be the main people in charge of these viges?¡±
¡°Chen Erniu is clever and capable. He¡¯s originally from Lichuankou Vige, so he will be a good fit there. As for Jingyang Vige, with itsrge poption and wealth, we need someone who is attentive and perceptive. Let¡¯s have Uncle Ren oversee it.¡±
Li Mutian took a sip of his tea before continuing, ¡°Lidaokou Vige, being near the Guli Road, attracts many refugees. The situation there is quiteplex. Xu Wenshan, he¡¯s a shrewd one. Let¡¯s have him and his group of refugees handle it.¡±
¡°Great decision, Father,¡± Li Xiangping agreed, ncing down at the book he held about cultivating spirit nts.
¡°Our first priority should be to use the Spirit Seeking Art from this book to survey the earth veins of the viges. We need to locate the spirit fields as soon as possible to start nting Spirit Paddies and White Essence Fruits.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Chejing, riding on the flying shuttle, gazed down at the vast expanse ofnd below. The houses seemed like mere ants, and before long, the grandeur of the city faded into the distance. Any sorrow he felt about leaving home quickly dissipated, reced by a stirring excitement in his heart.
A great man should ride the wind and go on an adventure with his sword!
After about four hours of flight, Li Chejing spotted an impressive range of mountains emerging before him. The mountains were adorned with a series of pavilions and halls, seamlessly blending into one another, creating a scene that seemed as if it was plucked right out of a fairy tale.
Amidst this picturesque scene, a flock of red-crowned cranes danced through the air. Si Yuanbai, his mentor, ceased his meditative state and tossed a token ahead, waiting in anticipation.
A white crane caught the token in its mouth and said, ¡°Ah, Martial Uncle Yuanbai has returned.¡±
It then approached Li Chejing and asked curiously, ¡°And who might this young one be?¡±
Overwhelmed by the sight of a talking immortal beast, Li Chejing found himself speechless.
Si Yuanbai introduced him with a smile, ¡°He will be a new disciple in Qingsui Peak.¡±
¡°Congrattions, Martial Uncle,¡± the immortal crane responded, its wings fluttering gently as a transparent light screen opened a passage for them.
It was then that Li Chejing realized there was a vast and almost invisible barrier around the Azure Pond Sect, creating a barrier that separated the spiritual qi within from the outside.
As they entered the mountain gate, Li Chejing felt a surge of vitality.
¡°The spiritual qi here is so dense!¡± he eximed in amazement.
Si Yuanbai chuckled lightly at his reaction. ¡°This is a spirit array in the heart of the Azure Pond Sect. It¡¯s a marvel, separating the inside from the outside and making the spirit veins of Mount Azure Pond exclusive to our sect. With the array¡¯s power, even a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment realm can prevent cultivators in the Purple Mansion realm from breaching our defenses.¡±
¡°How marvelous!¡± Li Chejing eximed.
I wonder if I could learn this array and set one up on the mountain back at home.
Noticing Li Chejing¡¯s awestruck expression, Si Yuanbai assumed he was overwhelmed by the wonders of the sect and exined, ¡°Immortal cultivation involves a hundred arts¡ªarrays, pills, magic artifacts, talismans,manding beasts, veins surveying, and more. Each has its own depth, so it¡¯s best to specialize in one.¡±
Li Chejing asked curiously, ¡°Master, which of the hundred arts of immortal cultivation do you practice?¡±
Si Yuanbai replied with a hint of pride, ¡°Qingsui Peak is renowned for its swordsmanship among the thirty-six peaks of Mount Azure Pond...¡±
Li Chejing, nodding in understanding, nced at Si Yuanbai¡¯s sword which hung at his waist. ¡°So, that means... you also practice talisman-making?¡±
Si Yuanbai was caught slightly off guard and responded awkwardly, ¡°Well, your grandmaster passed away early before I became an expert with swords. Qingsui Peak needed financial support, so I initially took up talisman-making. Surprisingly, I found myself bing more adept at it over time...¡±
¡°I see.¡± Li Chejing nodded understandingly.
¡°Let¡¯s go meet some of your martial brothers first,¡± Si Yuanbai suggested, guiding Li Chejing through the peaks. Theynded on Qingsui Peak, which was the lowest peak, and were instantly greeted by a man and a woman.
¡°You¡¯re my seventh disciple. This is your third senior brother, Xiao Yuansi, who has attained the seventhyer in the Qi Cultivation Realm, and your fourth senior sister, Yuan Tuan, who has attained the thirdyer Qi Cultivation Realm,¡± Si Yuanbai introduced.
Li Chejing respectfully greeted them. Xiao Yuan Si, with his thick brows and broad features, handed over a scroll of jade slips, saying, ¡°I found this volume of sword techniques on my travels. Take it as a gift, Junior Brother.¡±
Yuan Tuan offered a faint smile and handed over a jade pendant, saying, ¡°This pendant aids in calming the mind and is beneficial for meditation. It¡¯s particrly useful for those in the Embryonic Breathing realm. I¡¯d like you to have it, Junior Brother.¡±
Li Chejing expressed his gratitude to each of them and then asked curiously, ¡°Are the other senior brothers and sisters in seclusion?¡±
Si Yuanbai answered with a gentle smile, ¡°Your eldest senior brother was exceptionally talented. He reached the peak of Qi Cultivation Realmst year but tragically failed and perished while trying to break through the Foundation Establishment realm.¡±
Li Chejing, caught off guard by this revtion and rendered speechless, only looked at Si Yuanbai with a conflicted expression on his face.
Si Yuanbai continued, ¡°As for your other senior brothers and sisters, some fell to demons, others during treasure hunts, or sumbed to bottlenecks in their cultivation. They¡¯re all buried here on the peak. We¡¯ll pay our respects to them together.¡±
Seeing Li Chejing¡¯s solemn expression, Si Yuanbai spoke with an edge of cold realism, ¡°The path of immortal cultivation is one of great struggle and peril! It¡¯s about fighting and winning! If you can¡¯t win, you face death! There''s no shame in it!¡±
He looked firmly at Li Chejing and added, ¡°If you, Li Chejing, choose to fight and fail, it could be your end. The same goes for your family. Here at Qingsui Peak, we strive for victory despite knowing the risks. In this world, it¡¯s the survival of the fittest. There¡¯s no use in denying it.¡±
Chapter 23: Spiritual Orifice
Chapter 23: Spiritual Orifice
After performing the hand seal, Li Tongya observed the heavy spirit rain nourishing the dark soil.
His face, however, betrayed a hint of exhaustion as he reflected, This spirit nt cultivation, particrly the Spirit Rain spell, is especially taxing. I could barely manage to release it one time after condensing the Radiant Lure Chakra. On top of that, these spirit nts need daily care... We definitely need more hands on this.
Li Xiangping and Li Tongya had surveyed the spirit fields of the viges and found them disappointingly scarce. Thergest plot in Lijing Vige could hold only ten White Essence Fruits.
Therefore, Li Tongya set up a small courtyard on this once-barrennd at the foot of the mountain. He would usually cultivate and look after the field here, and supplies were regrly delivered to him, so it was a ratherfortable setup.
Li Xiangping chose a field in Jingyang Vige and sowed Spirit Paddies there. The act drew the local vigers to gather outside his courtyard every day, praying in reverence, which was an amusingly peculiar sight.
Since he had not yet mastered the Celestial Whirl Chakra, Li Tongya spent nearly an hour in meditation to replenish his mana. When he finally opened his eyes, he realized Li Yesheng had been waiting outside with his men for quite some time.
As the wooden door creaked open, Li Yesheng quickly bowed in greeting. ¡°All the young ones from the viges have arrived. Is Brother Tongya ready to leave now?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Li Tongya replied softly as he walked toward the vige head, apanied by the respectful smiles of Li Yesheng and his men.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Beneath the huge acacia tree at the vige entrance, a crowd had formed. Representatives from various viges, apanied by the respective person in charge appointed by the Li Family, guided a diverse group of children from their respective viges.
The appointed leaders appeared at ease, conversing quietly under the tree. In contrast, the vigers from outside stood in anxious silence, too tense and intimidated to speak. The children, sensing the mood, sat obediently on the ground.
Chen Erniu was recently swelling with pride over his aplishments, experiencing nights filled with joyous wakefulness. The ancestors of his family must have worked tirelessly in their graves for countless years, and now, at longst, he was witnessing a significant turn for the better in his life.
Upon learning he was to manage Lichuankou Vige, Chen Erniu expressed his gratitude by kneeling and bowing deeply nine times before the Li Residence.
He tearfully pledged to Old Master Li, ¡°I, Erniu, swear to diligently manage Lichuankou Vige and never betray Old Master Li¡¯s trust.¡±
Chen Erniu''s life had been significantly shaped by the generosity of the Li Family. From the assistance he received as a refugee to the opportunities that led to his marriage and acquisition ofnd, and even the medical care provided for his wife, all these acts of kindness have deeply ingratiated him to the Li family''s cause.
Besides, Erniu was also known to be a man motivated by prospects and rewards. He was willing to go to great lengths for gain, even if it meant eating dog shit!
However, his rtionship with Xu Wenshan, another tenant, had always been fraught with tension. This animosity had often caused friction between their viges.
Only Ren Ping¡¯an seemed unbothered by these petty squabbles, choosing instead to concentrate solely on the affairs of his own vige.
¡°Manager Chen...¡± A voice interrupted Chen Erniu¡¯s thoughts.
Turning his head around, he recognized the person as Chen Zhanghu, another viger from Lichuankou Vige.
Lichuankou Vige was predominantly inhabited by members of the Chen Family, and Chen Zhanghu, as the family¡¯s eldest, held considerable respect in the vige. It was his reputation that led the crowd to unanimously rmend him as their representative.
Gazing toward the vige entrance with an anxious expression, the usuallyposed and dignified elder asked in a hushed tone, ¡°Will this immortal cultivator from the Li Family truly consider epting children from our Chen Family?¡±
¡°All they need to have is immortal destiny! Any children between the ages of seven and thirteen from your Chen Family who possess a spiritual orifice will be epted by the Li Family!¡± Chen Erniu assured.
Observing Chen Zhanghu¡¯s repeated nods of understanding, Chen Erniu could not help but feel a twinge of envy. Inwardly, hemented that his own children were either too old to seize this chance or too young to be eligible for testing.
¡°The immortals are here!¡± Chen Erniu announced as he spotted Li Tongya at the vige entrance.
He quickly approached with a weing smile, all the while thinking, I wonder which of these vige children will be lucky enough to be chosen today.
Li Tongya cupped his fist and gave Chen Erniu a smile before turning to Li Yesheng and instructing, ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡±
A wooden tform had been set up beside the acacia tree. Li Tongya took his seat on top of it, and those working below the tform began to call out names.
¡°Lichuankou Vige, Chen Lifu!¡±
A child from the Chen Family, visibly nervous, was brought forward. Li Tongya ced his hand on the child¡¯s shoulder and channeled his mana.
After his mana quickly coursed through the child¡¯s body for a round, he waved dismissively and said, ¡°You may step down.¡±
The child and his escort quickly left the tform without saying a word, while a flicker of disappointment crossed Chen Zhanghu¡¯s face below the tform.
¡°Next!¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Not long after, everyone from Lichuankou Vige was dismissed. Chen Zhanghu¡¯s face fell, and he cast a pleading look at Chen Erniu.
Chen Erniu could only roll his eyes and raise his hands, conveying that there was nothing else he could do about the situation.
Despite the coolness of thete fall noon, the vigers, gathered inrge numbers under the tree, were visibly sweating with nervous anticipation.
Seeing that no one from Lichuankou Vige was chosen, they grew increasingly anxious.
Li Tongya, however, seemed unfazed by this oue. Being able to find a child with a spiritual orifice was rare, so finding even one child from all these viges would be considered a sess, and finding two would be an even greater achievement.
¡°Jingyang Vige, Liu Rouxuan!¡±
As soon as the name was called, a girl who was around thirteen or fourteen years of age stood up, biting her lips nervously. She had beautiful eyebrows and expressive eyes.
She was fourteen years old, a year above the oldest age they could ept. Li Tongya shook his head, but let it slide and proceeded with the test. He ced his left hand on her shoulder and channeled his mana.
As soon as his mana coursed through the girl¡¯s meridian for one round, Li Tongya uttered a surprised noise. The Liu Family of Jingyang Vige, who had been watching tensely below the tform, now held their breath in anticipation.
To Li Tongya¡¯s surprise, he discovered that qi was actively flowing in the girl¡¯s Qihai acupoint. A qi orifice there pulsated rhythmically, almost as if it was breathing on its own.
¡°Not bad.¡± Li Tongya opened his eyes.
He smiled at the girl and instructed gently, ¡°Stand behind me.¡±
Liu Rouxuan stared at Li Tongya¡¯s eyes in a daze, seemingly stunned by the unexpected good news. It took her a few moments to process it, then with a beaming face, she moved to stand behind Li Tongya.
The crowd from Jingyang Vige erupted into subdued cheers, careful not to disturb Li Tongya. Meanwhile, a somber air settled over Lichuankou Vige, and the remaining viges¡¯ apprehension deepened.
Shortly after, Jingyang Vige and Lidaokou Vigepleted their tests too. As expected, no other children with a spiritual orifice were found.
¡°Lijing Vige!¡± Li Tongya announced, his gaze sweeping over the children who were gathered below the stage.
It went without saying that Li Xuanxuan was not present. The child was only three years old, so his body was too underdeveloped to be tested for a spiritual orifice. Only children of at least seven years of age could be tested for one.
As the children of the local vige¡¯s turn came, Li Yesheng began calling out their names with his eyebrows raised.
If only Brother Tongya hadn¡¯t already assessed me previously, I¡¯d be up there trying my luck too, he thought resentfully while announcing the names loudly.
¡°Ye Qiuyang!¡± he called.
At the mention of the name, Ye Chengfu, standing below the tform, tensed up. His legs nearly gave out as he watched his eight or nine-year-old child on the tform intently.
In his heart, he kept reassuring himself, Our Ye Family has always been a branch of the Li Family. Surely, there¡¯s a chance for immortal destiny among us...
Watching Li Tongya ce his hand on Ye Qiuyang¡¯s shoulder, Ye Chengfu, overwhelmed with anticipation, closed his eyes and sat down abruptly on the sandy ground, waiting in anxious silence.
Chapter 24: Returning to the Sect
Chapter 24: Returning to the Sect
¡°Excellent! Another one with a spiritual orifice, and a descendant of the Li Family at that!¡± Li Tongya eximed on the tform.
Hearing this, Ye Chengfu leaped up as if he had been electrified. His eyes fixed on the bewildered Ye Qiuyang, brimming with such exuberance that he had to suppress his urge to roar with heartfeltughter toward the heavens.
¡°Your surname is Ye, so who is your father?¡± Li Tongya inquired with a gentle smile.
¡°Y-Ye Chengfu,¡± Ye Qiuyang murmured, ncing at his father, who was dancing with joy below the tform.
Li Tongya followed the boy¡¯s gaze and acknowledged the man with a smile. ¡°Congrattions, Brother Chengfu.¡±
¡°Thank you, Immortal Master!¡± Ye Chengfu quickly cupped his fist respectfully in gratitude, his face beaming with an uncontroble smile.
Li Tongya smiled and shook his head, then proceeded to assess the remaining children.
Once finished, he announced to the crowd, ¡°The remaining children aren¡¯t the chosen ones, you may return to your viges.¡±
Soft murmurs of disappointment swept through those gathered below the tform, but soon the crowd began to disperse, each heading in different directions and back to their viges.
Li Yesheng, standing beside Li Tongya, called out to the vige managers, ¡°Please apany me to the Li Residence to verify some deeds and ounts.¡±
Chen Erniu and the other two vige managers promptly agreed and followed Li Yesheng.
Li Tongya got off the tform, then looked at Ye Chengfu and the elder from the Liu Family of Jingyang Vige and said softly, ¡°Please,e with me.¡±
Ye Chengfu, holding his child close and with tears of joy in his eyes, nodded vigorously and said, ¡°Yes, of course.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Ye Chengfu and Ye Qiuyang offered a stick of incense in the ancestral hall, then kneeled and pressed their foreheads to the ground.
In the presence of the members of the Li Family, they officially restored their surname from Ye to Li.
As the oldest member of the Li Family, Li Mutian sat prominently at the front of the courtyard.
¡°Chief!¡± The two offered tea to Li Mutian as a gesture of respect, then knelt before him and listened attentively to what he was about to say.
¡°Qiuyang is now a disciple of our Li Family. He possesses a spiritual orifice, so it¡¯s only right that he learns our ways.¡± Li Mutian took a wooden slip and continued softly, ¡°The n entrusts you with the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique. Dedicate yourself to cultivation. Honor the sect, the Dao, and your family. And remember, never reveal the secrets of the immortal techniques to avoid unwanted attention.¡±
The boy, now known by the name Li Qiuyang, bowed deeply.
¡°I will heed the Chief¡¯s teachings,¡± he vowed with a resolute look.
¡°You will join Xiangping and cultivate at the spirit field of Jingyang Vige. You are not allowed to leave until you condense the Profound Scenery Chakra,¡± Li Mutian instructed.
¡°Understood!¡± Li Qiuyang rose, epting the wooden slip.
The voice of the child of eight or nine years of age wavered with emotion as he turned to his father, Ye Chengfu, and said, ¡°Father, I¡¯ll be leaving with the main family to cultivate then.¡±
¡°Yes, my son. Don''t worry about home. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll send your clothes and other daily necessities to the courtyard in Jinyang Vige. Just focus on your cultivation, that¡¯s all that matters...¡± Ye Chengfu responded with a nod, his eyes brimming with tears.
¡°Come, Qiuyang.¡± Li Xiangping offered a warm smile and gently took Li Qiuyang¡¯s small hand. He nodded to his father, Li Mutian, and then left the residence.
Li Mutian cleared his throat, then furrowed his brow as he said, ¡°You should start packing as well, Chengfu. You may move your family to the vige in a few days.¡±
Li Chengfu quickly agreed, ncing at the two men before excusing himself to leave.
After watching Li Chengfu hurry off, Li Mutian spoke in a serious tone, ¡°Take that girl from the Liu Family with you for the time being. Guide her training in the small courtyard at Lijing Vige. Let her condense the Profound Scenery Chakra first, but no need to teach her any spells yet.¡±
¡°A wise n, Father. A trusted member of the Li Family will oversee Jingyang Vige in the Liu Family¡¯s stead, and their immortal cultivator will be relocated to Lijing Vige to keep an eye on things. That way, it¡¯ll make it hard for them to cause any trouble,¡± Li Tongya responded with respect, impressed by his father¡¯s wisdom.
¡°It¡¯s still too early for them to do that.¡± Li Mutian narrowed his eyes while sipping his tea before he continued, ¡°Without the mirror¡¯s assistance or immortal cultivation pills, it might take them a year to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra, don¡¯t you think?¡±
¡°It¡¯ll take even longer.¡± Li Tongya shook his head and exined, ¡°I read through the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique. The mana cultivated through this method tends to be light and weak. Moreover, the process of channeling this mana is quite burdensome. Considering these factors, condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra could take over three years.¡±
¡°Indeed, if the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique is not as effective and the progress is slow, there¡¯s no need for undue vignce. But we must always remain cautious just in case,¡± Li Mutian said.
¡°You¡¯re right, Father,¡± Li Tongya agreed, setting down his tea cup. Noticing Li Mutian lost in thought, gazing into the distance, he respectfully cupped his fist and excused himself.
Li Mutian remained seated in the courtyard alone, lost in contemtion for a long while before letting out a soft sigh.
¡°Not vicious enough...¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Xu Wenshan had been overseeing Lidaokou Vige for over four months now. He had delegated some of his tasks to a few assistants, and the vigers were firmly under his control.
Having previouslymanded a caravan, Xu Wenshan found overseeing a small vige like Lidaokou rtively straightforward. Despite theplex mix of surnames and dynamics in the vige, the absence of prominent familial influence worked in his favor. Within a month, he had a solid understanding of the entire vige¡¯s workings.
Yet, Xu Wenshan was not one to remain idle. He was always contemting how to make asting impression on his superiors and overshadow Chen Erniu. Simply managing rents and ounts in the vige felt like an underuse of his abilities.
As he mindlessly fiddled with a map, Xu Wenshan pondered over his rivalry with Chen Erniu.
The rtionship between them was marked by consistent friction, especially over the allocation of fields and water resources between their viges.
Xu Wenshan found a certain satisfaction in these conflicts. He was aware of how the vigers in Lidaokou spoke resentfully about Chen Erniu of Lichuankou, almost as if they were itching to punch him in the face.
Having an enemy is an effective way to consolidate support for myself, he thought smugly.
While Xu Wenshan was managing the caravan, he had always preferred to keep a distance from his subordinates and enjoyed stirring the pot among them.
Xu Wenshan was certain the Li family had informants in the viges, so he saw his conflict with Chen Erniu as a way to impress his superiors.
¡°I¡¯ve already outsmarted Chen Erniu on many asions,¡± he mused, returning his attention to the map before him. His eyesnded on the winding Guli Road and an idea popped into his mind.
¡°Why not return to my old ways?¡± He smacked his thigh as a n began forming in his mind.
¡°The vige is isted along the Guli Road, effectively cutting off trade. As a result, the families are forced to farm and weave in order to be self-sufficient. Having worked in this industry for over twenty years, am I not capable of changing this situation?¡±
¡°The main family is focused on immortal cultivation, so these worldly goods might seem trivial to them. Why not open up the mountain road and sell the surplus grain and silk fabrics? Perhaps we could even trade them for valuable items like jade and spirit items. Those could be useful to the main family.¡±
Excited by his own n, Xu Wenshan quickly called his trusted assistants, who were the refugees that had fled alongside him in the past, to discuss the idea.
The group immediately saw the potential and enthusiastically agreed that it was a good proposal.
¡°I¡¯ll present this idea to the main family in detail!¡± Xu Wenshan dered,ughing heartily as he led his group out the door.
Chapter 25: Fruit
Chapter 25: Fruit
¡°Fruit?¡± Li Xiangping looked up with confusion as he gazed at Li Qiuyang, who was seated cross-legged before him.
¡°Yes,¡± Li Qiuyang responded, his voice tinged with nervousness as he gripped the corner of his shirt tightly.
After several nights of cultivating, he had sessfully condensed a strand of Embryonic Breathing¡¯s spiritual qi, but he was worried. The speed of his progress did not seem to align with what the cultivation scripture suggested, making him fear he was straying off the correct path. Anxious, he decided to seek Li Xiangping¡¯s guidance on the matter.
Hearing about Li Qiuyang¡¯s unusually rapid cultivation, Li Xiangping was taken aback. He took time to thoroughly read through the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique, pondering deeply over its contents.
After a while, Li Xiangping looked up and asked Li Qiuyang if he had eaten anything unusual.
Li Qiuyang thought hard and then recalled a significant incident.
¡°A few years back, my friends and I dared each other to climb the mountain behind our vige. I was the only one who actually went up. I got lost since I didn¡¯t see my friends anywhere. While wandering, I stumbled upon a small tree with a turquoise hue, bearing six or seven reddish fruits. They were so bright and tempting.¡±
¡°I picked one and ate it. The next thing I knew, I was walking down the mountain in a daze and then slept for three days straight. My father was so worried, he called many physicians to check on me.¡±
Li Xiangping listened intently to Li Qiuyang¡¯s story, momentarily lost for words. He then patted Li Qiuyang on the shoulder and said, ¡°It seems that with this unexpected help, you might be able to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra within a year.¡±
Li Qiuyang¡¯s face lit up with hope at these words. Li Xiangping, seeing his reaction, added, ¡°But there¡¯s something important we need to do first.¡±
Li Qiuyang looked up at him, his expression turning serious.
¡°We need to go up that mountain and search for that spirit root,¡± Li Xiangping dered.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya returned to the small courtyard in Lijing Vige. As he crossed the stone threshold at the entrance, he noticed Liu Rouxuan sitting quietly in the courtyard.
She was idly counting the fruit saplings in the spirit field with a nk look on her face.
Upon seeing Li Tongya enter, Liu Rouxuan quickly stood up from the stone bench and shyly greeted, ¡°Immortal Master.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need for such formality,¡± Li Tongya replied, waving his hand dismissively.
He nced at Liu Rouxuan¡¯s beautiful face and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m only six or seven years older than you. Just call me Tongya.¡±
Liu Rouxuan seemed to rx at his approachable demeanor. She thought for a moment before saying, ¡°All right, Brother Tongya.¡±
Li Tongya nodded in approval, then retrieved a wooden slip from a shelf in the room.
He handed it to Liu Rouxuan, exining, ¡°This is an Embryonic Breathing technique, the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique. Memorize it here in the courtyard, but remember, it''s crucial not to share it with others.¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Liu Rouxuan replied, her voice tinged with pleasant surprise. She took the wooden slip respectfully, holding it carefully in her arms.
¡°Meals will be brought to you every day at the dragon hour and the snake hour[1]. If you need anything else, you can speak to the person who delivers your meals,¡± Li Tongya informed her as he poured two cups of tea.
¡°I¡¯m not usually around in this courtyard on weekdays, but I¡¯ll be here during those hours to cast spirit rain on the spirit field. If you have any questions about your cultivation, don¡¯t hesitate to ask,¡± he added.
Liu Rouxuan nodded eagerly, absorbing every word. Li Tongya then inquired softly with a smile, ¡°Have you received your clothes and daily necessities?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Liu Rouxuan confirmed.
¡°Good. You can settle into the East house. Be diligent in your cultivation and don¡¯t venture out until you¡¯ve condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra. By the way, can you read?¡± Li Tongya suddenly asked.
¡°I studied when I was young, so I can read a little,¡± Liu Rouxuan replied.
¡°Good. Then, you can go through the scripture on your own, and if you have any questions,e and ask me,¡± Li Tongya instructed.
Liu Rouxuan acknowledged his instruction and then began reading each word and sentence on the wooden slip.
Watching Liu Rouxuan engrossed in the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique, Li Tongya sipped his tea, mulling over his thoughts.
This child is new to Lijing Vige and is confined to this courtyard. I probably don¡¯t have to worry about her leaking the cultivation method for the next few years.
It was at this moment that his thoughts were interrupted by a peal ofughter and the sound of the courtyard door being pushed open.
¡°What brings you here, Brother Xiangping?¡± Li Tongya asked in surprise, but then noticed Li Qiuyang timidly trailing behind Li Xiangping.
Upon hearing about the discovery of spirit root from Li Xiangping, Li Tongya was astounded but reminded himself to keep a watchful eye on Li Qiuyang.
Together, he and Li Xiangping decided to take Li Yesheng and several strong vigers up the mountain to investigate further.
Aste autumn set in, the mountain¡¯s secluded areas were nketed with fallen leaves. The wild animals here were fattening themselves up for hibernation.
The people of Lijing Vige, blessed with lush and abundant reeds, found little need to venture into the more dangerous parts of the mountains. The reeds provided ample sustenance, feeding the fish and livestock, making it unnecessary to risk confrontations with wild beasts in the mountains for food.
For their basic needs, the vigers depended on the forests at the foot of the mountain. They harvested firewood there or used readily avable wood like the branches of evergreen shrubs or snow roses for cooking. The shrubs grew fast and their branches were easy to collect, so they were the preferred choice for firewood.
The vigers would only go up to the mountain to cut down the wood if they needed to build houses.
The mountain paths, rarely trodden, were overgrown with thorns and vines. Li Qiuyang struggled to recall the way, so a few vigers led the way, clearing the path with their firewood knives, with Li Xiangping and Li Tongya trailing behind.
Li Xiangping, holding Li Qiuyang¡¯s hand, turned to Li Tongya with a question, ¡°Brother Tongya, I have some questions.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Li Tongya asked.
Li Xiangping continued, ¡°Si Yuanbai set a boundary for our family, and thend outside this boundary belonged to other families. Before the rise of our Li Family, those families could have easily sent a cultivator who has attained the Embryonic Breathing realm and we would have been powerless against them.¡±
¡°Yet, why hasn¡¯t a single immortal cultivatore forward throughout the past two centuries our family has cultivated these fields? Is it possible they genuinely hold such disdain for mortals?¡±
Li Tongya, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, replied with a serious expression, ¡°I¡¯ve pondered over this as well. From what Si Yuanbai implied, this regioncked spiritual energy for centuries, leading to a scarcity of resources for immortal cultivation. That¡¯s probably why no immortal cultivator wants to waste their time here.¡±
¡°Additionally, we¡¯re near Mount Dali, a vast range riddled with demons and spirits. It¡¯s far less hospitable than theforts of the provincial cities.¡±
Li Xiangping nodded, his expression turning somber. He then spoke to Li Tongya in a hushed tone, ¡°Brother, there¡¯s another grimmer possibility.¡±
¡°While the Azure Pond Sect is formidable and controls a significant portion of Yue State, they upy only a quarter of it. Aren¡¯t there formidable enemies nearby? I fear that our Li Family is situated right at the edge of the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s influence.¡±
¡°When two vigespete for water, naturally, no one wants to cultivate near the disputed area. ording to Xu Wenshan, to the south lies the Wu State. With continuous conflicts between Wu and Yue States, the rtionship between their respective immortal sects is likely strained!¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s heart sank, and his expression darkened. ¡°We must investigate thoroughly. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll send people to scout around the Guli Road. Understanding our family¡¯s position is crucial.¡±
¡°I only hope that our Li Family isn¡¯t merely a disposable asset, nted at the border by the Azure Pond Sect,¡± Li Xiangping added, mustering a bitter smile.
Their attention was then drawn by Li Yesheng and several vigers, drenched in sweat.
¡°Immortal Master! There¡¯s a huge long worm here!¡± Li Yesheng shouted.
1. Dragon hour = 7-9 am and Snake hour = 3-5 pm ?
Chapter 26: Long Worm
Chapter 26: Long Worm
The long worm, as thick as the waist of a child around eight or nine years old, sported dark brown patterns on its body. It was coiled around arge curtain fig tree, its bright yellow eyes with vertical slit pupils staring coldly at Li Tongya and the group.
¡°What a massive creature!¡± Li Tongya eximed in shock, but his hands were already moving swiftly toplete a hand seal. By the time he finished speaking, a golden light had already materialized in his palms.
The worm hissed menacingly, spitting out a bright red tongue. It then opened its gigantic mouth, releasing a heavy ck fog.
Li Tongya¡¯s golden light struck first, hitting the worm¡¯s chin and causing its head to jerk sideways, diverting the ck fog away from the group and onto anotherrge tree nearby.
In an instant, the tree¡¯s lush branches and leaves corroded, transforming into ck droplets that sizzled as they hit the soil. Even the thick trunk was partially eaten away.
Witnessing this, Li Yesheng and the others gasped in shock, instinctively retreating as they prepared to flee for their lives.
¡°Keep your eyes on it and back away slowly,¡± Li Tongya instructed gravely after saving Li Yesheng and the vigers from the worm¡¯s attack.
As they cautiously stepped back, the worm did not follow but remained coiled on the tree, watching them coldly.
Once the huge curtain fig tree was out of sight, Li Qiuyang timidly spoke up, ¡°That¡¯s where I found the fruit! It¡¯s behind the tree!¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need to rush,¡± Li Tongya responded calmly, then turned to Li Yesheng. ¡°Gather the men in the vige. Bring long poles, shovels, and if possible, bows and arrows. We¡¯ll all head up the mountain together.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Li Yesheng quickly agreed and hastened down the mountain with the vigers to gather the necessary items.
Li Xiangping then turned to Li Qiuyang and patted him on the shoulder, saying, ¡°You were lucky to discover the fruit while that worm was out feeding. Not only did you escape unscathed, but you also snagged a fantastic opportunity! Head back to the courtyard and focus on your cultivation. There¡¯s nothing left for you to do here.¡±
Li Qiuyang, visibly sweating from the ordeal, nodded and made his way down the mountain.
Li Xiangping found a rock to sit on then said to Li Tongya, ¡°That worm had incredibly tough scales. My golden light technique only managed to break a few on its chin.¡±
¡°It appears to be a minor demon in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. What good is its tough scales when itcks spiritual intelligence?¡± Li Tongya remarked as he surveyed the terrain.
Shortly afterward, the robust men of Lijing Vige, having heard about the n to y the demon, arrived on the mountain.
A mix of apprehension and excitement was palpable among them as they cautiously followed behind Li Yesheng.
Li Tongya, evaluating the terrain, approached Liu Linfeng and asked, ¡°Uncle, I heard the Liu Family used traps to hunt for wild boarsst year. For a creature asrge as this worm, how big should the trap be?¡±
Liu Linfeng hesitated, then cautiously suggested, ¡°I¡¯ve heard this worm is a demon. We don¡¯t know what it¡¯s capable of. What if it can fly...?¡±
Li Xiangping confidently assured, ¡°It definitely can¡¯t fly. Just make the trap double the size based on your previous experience.¡±
He thought to himself, If that thing can fly, we would¡¯ve been dead by now.
¡°That should work.¡± Upon hearing Li Xiangping''s suggestion, Liu Linfeng quickly agreed and took charge of directing the vigers to dig a pit.
Liu Linfeng had been a respected figure for many years. In the past, despite the Li Family¡¯s prominence, they had at least acknowledged the Liu Family¡¯s standing, often seeking their counsel on vige matters.
However, since the Li Family had consolidated control over the vige, Liu Linfeng¡¯s influence had waned significantly. These recent days had left him feeling stifled. Now, presented with a task of importance, he felt a renewed sense of purpose.
As he directed the vigers, a thought crossed Liu Linfeng''s mind.
We can¡¯t possibly go on like this. The Liu Family must find its ce under the Li Family¡¯s protection, or we¡¯ll risk fading into obscurity!
Unaware of the thoughts running through Liu Linfeng¡¯s mind, Li Tongya was busy assisting Li Xiangping in enchanting arrows with the Golden Light spell. The spell shouldst six to seven hours if it was left unused, which was ample time for their confrontation with the worm.
Both men, capable of enchanting a dozen arrows each, took breaks to meditate and replenish their mana.
As the vigers finished covering the freshly dug pit with soil and fallen leaves, Li Tongya and Li Xiangpingpleted their meditation, ready for the task ahead.
The vigers took their positions strategically. Those armed with long poles were at the forefront, while those with bows and arrows, each arrow enchanted with the Golden Light spell, stood ready at the back. Together, they cautiously advanced toward the long worm.
As the front line approached therge curtain fig tree where the worm was coiled, they could not help but exim in awe and fear, ¡°What a monstrous creature!¡±
The sight of the worm, with its bright yellow vertical slit pupils, sent shivers down their spines. As it opened its mouth, a thick ck mist billowed out.
Since everyone had been warned beforehand, the front row quickly dropped their poles and retreated. As a result, the mist corroded only the fallen leaves and abandoned poles on the ground.
A flurry of golden light streaked through the air, heralding the arrival of the arrows, each one imbued with the Golden Light spell. These extremely sharp arrows found their mark, embedding themselves into the brown scales of the long worm.
After being hit three times, the worm ultimately flew into a rage. It hissed aggressively and stuck its tongue out, abandoning the curtain fig tree to slither toward the crowd.
The vigers scattered in panic, but Li Tongya and Li Xiangping, seizing the opportunity, released a barrage of Golden Light spells, striking the long worm and causing it to hiss in pain.
It fixed its golden pupils on the two men, then charged at them.
Instead of panicking, the two brothers seemed rather pleased to see the long worm slithering aggressively toward them.
¡°Get ready!¡± they called out loudly.
As the worm slithered toward them, it suddenly sensed the ground beneath it giving way, nearly plunging into the enormous pit concealed beneath the fallen leaves.
However, its long body managed to avoid an immediate fall into the trap. Its head quickly rose, trying to climb out of the pit.
At that moment, a group of vigers appeared on the cliff above, pushing arge boulder. Together they shouted, ¡°Now!¡±
The stone plummeted down, striking the worm on its back with a crushing force. The impact caused a sickening crunch of bone.
The brown-striped worm writhed in agony, pinned under the stone at the bottom of the pit. Its head reared up, and its body contorted into a U-shape, but it was trapped and unable to move.
¡°HAHAHAHAHAHA!¡±
Liu Linfeng, standing behind the crowd, let out a heartyugh, his eyes gleaming with pride at the sessful execution of his n.
¡°Go!¡± Li Yeshengmanded loudly, signaling the vigers to take action. Armed with sharpened bamboo, the crowd enthusiastically plunged their makeshift weapons into the pit, targeting the incapacitated worm.
Despite its tough scale armor, the creature could not withstand the relentless assault of more than a dozen men. The intense strugglested for an hour, ending only when their bamboo spears were stained red.
After confirming the worm¡¯s demise, the crowd cheered triumphantly, each person brimming with pride. They eagerly discussed how to transport the massive creature back to the vige.
Li Tongya and Li Xiangping, leaving Liu Linfeng in charge of the scene, took Li Yesheng and a few others to quietly circle back to the huge curtain fig tree.
Amidst the dense weeds littered with white bones, Li Yesheng let out a sigh.
¡°A few years back, Li Yecheng ventured into these mountains and never returned. He must have encountered this worm while it was feeding and met a tragic end.¡±
Li Xiangping nodded solemnly in agreement. However, Li Tongya¡¯s gaze was fixed on a small tree adorned with five shimmering red fruits.
His expression turned serious as he instructed Li Yesheng, ¡°Ensure that this area is guarded. We can¡¯t have anyone getting too close.¡±
Chapter 27: Chengfu
Chapter 27: Chengfu
That very night, Lijing Vige was alight withughter from every household. Children ran joyously around the vige as if it was New Year¡¯s, theirughter mingling with the sounds of merry chatter.
Liu Linfeng had organized arge bonfire in the vige square. The vigers, encircling the fire, engaged in animated discussions about the day¡¯s events, particrly the capture of the fearsome long worm. The men, beaming with pride, recounted their bravery under the warm glow of the firelight.
In the evening, Li Yesheng and a team of ten hadboriously dragged the long worm down from the mountain. They skilfully removed its scales, and the vige women thinly sliced the meat, preparing it in threerge wooden basins with onions, ginger, and wine.
The meat was left to marinate in the pots next to the fire. The vigers also brought a few dishes from home, enjoying themunal atmosphere.
Li Mutian, not one for such lively gatherings, chose to stay indoors. Consequently, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya arranged for people to guard the spirit root before returning down the mountain ahead of the others.
¡°We¡¯re not that knowledgeable and know nothing about this spirit root and its effects. It¡¯s best that we don¡¯t do anything about it until we seek advice from knowledgeable sources,¡± Li Xiangping remarked as he sat by the fire, addressing his brother.
¡°Agreed,¡± Li Tongya replied, picking up a slice of meat from one of the wooden basins. He chuckled as he observed its thinness, which was like the wing of a cicada, and the faint luminescence within it.
¡°The ¡®Lixia Secret Note¡¯ states that consuming the flesh of demonized scaled beasts, birds, and insects while absorbing the essence of the sun and the moon can invigorate the body and replenish qi and blood. Father should eat more of this.¡±
¡°Someone already sent it home to him.¡± Li Xiangping stabbed a piece of the meat with a stick, roasted it over the fire, and continued, ¡°That worm¡¯s bile is as big as two fists. It was sent to the courtyard to be made into wine.¡±
As the two conversed, Li Yesheng approached them with Xu Wenshan by his side. Li Tongya raised his head and arched his eyebrows at them, signaling that the two could speak if they had something to say.
¡°You wish to carry outmercial activities on Guli Road and sell the surplus goods of the viges?¡±
Having listened to Xu Wenshan¡¯s resolute description, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya exchanged a thoughtful nce. They recognized that Xu Wenshan¡¯s ns closely mirrored their own.
After a moment of contemtion, Li Tongya responded, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. You and Liu Linfeng will oversee this together. Aside from your men, you can draw manpower from the Liu Family.¡±
Observing Xu Wenshan¡¯s excitement, Li Xiangping spoke with a serious tone, ¡°Remember, there are still a few immortal ns along the Guli Road. Tomence trade, we¡¯ll need to negotiate with them. Start by sending scouts to establish contacts and identify popted areas along the road. We need to create a map first.¡±
Xu Wenshan listened attentively and then confidently assured, ¡°Understood! Don¡¯t worry, I''ve traveled the Lixia Road for over a decade and know it like the back of my hand. Had I been familiar with the Guli Road, I could¡¯ve drawn that map immediately.¡±
With that, Xu Wenshan hurried off to gather his men.
Meanwhile, Li Tongya, who was munching on the meat, turned to Li Yesheng and suggested in a low voice, ¡°Uncle must be bored out of his mind at home. It might be a good idea to keep him upied with something worthwhile. Keep an eye on Xu Wenshan, he¡¯s a sneaky fellow. Although we have half of the Liu Family watching him, we need you to monitor and ensure that Xu Wenshan doesn¡¯t gain too much power.¡±
¡°Understood!¡± Li Yesheng responded promptly. His time spent closely following the two brothers allowed him to be well-acquainted with the intricacies of their work. Inwardly, he harbored a growing sense of caution toward Xu Wenshan.
¡°Gather some reliable individuals and construct a small enclosure around that curtain fig tree up the mountain to prevent prying eyes...¡± Li Xiangping instructed, then gestured for Li Yesheng to leave.
Once Li Yesheng left, Li Tongya let out a deep sigh and said glumly, ¡°If our Li family had sufficient manpower to maintain control, we wouldn¡¯t need to be this cautious with all our ns.¡±
Li Xiangping, quietly savoring the meat, tightened his clutch on the wooden stick in his hand and replied, ¡°We should visit the market to buy a map. It ought to be straightforward, but given our limited cultivation skills, navigating the unknown depths of that market could be risky.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry too much,¡± Li Tongya reassured him, smiling. ¡°Jing¡¯er joining the sect, the growth of our spirit seedling, and the discovery of disciples with spirit orifices, as well as this spirit root all signal the flourishing of our Li Family. We must be grateful for what we have to prevent misfortune.¡±
Li Xiangping paused, then nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯ll keep your advice in mind, brother!¡± he replied with a smile.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Chengfu''s relocation to the main family¡¯s vige marked a significant turning point in his life. His status had undergone aplete transformation, not only due to his return to the Li Family but also because of the newfound respect he garnered throughout Lijing Vige. People now spoke of Li Chengfu with a certain reverence, acknowledging his good fortune and elevated position.
Although he did not hold absolute power, he had at least recovered some of his influence. As he walked through the vige, all the vigers greeted him respectfully.
Even the elders from the Ye Family who had once looked down on him now regarded him with envy.
Liu Linfeng, who barely acknowledged his presence, had to put up a smile now and address him as Chengfu.
Yet, Li Chengfu remained cautious around Liu Linfeng. He was aware of thetter¡¯s longstanding ties to the Li Family. Despite Liu Linfeng¡¯s recent fall from grace, no one could predict the future. Perhaps Liu Linfeng could recover his status.
Indeed, Liu Linfeng¡¯s period of decline had onlysted a few months. With a single directive from the main family, he rapidly ascended to a position overseeing the management of dozens of men.
He was seen working in the vige, coordinating efforts to produce a map. The smile that graced Liu Linfeng¡¯s face these days was so broad and frequent that it seemed almost as if it would spill off his face!
Seatedfortably in the vige store, Li Chengfu leisurely savored his wine, watching Liu Linfeng work tirelessly.
He chuckled to himself, musing, Liu Linfeng seems to lead a hectic life. Not asfortable as my life, that''s for sure!
His musings were interrupted by the curious vigers surrounding him. ¡°Tell me, Brother Fu, what kind of special skills do these immortals have? Why are you guys always heading up the mountains?"
Li Chengfu, irritated by their prying, snorted dismissively. He flung his sleeve and barked, ¡°Shut it! Move out of my way!¡±
He was no fool. With the Li Family nowcking manpower, he was deeply involved in the project of building a courtyard in the mountains¡ªa task assigned to him and his two children. Li Yesheng had explicitly reminded him that this was meant to be kept strictly confidential, so he knew better than running his mouth for attention.
The middle-aged man was well aware of the importance of his child possessing a spiritual orifice and being a part of the Li Family¡¯s bloodline. Apart from Li Tongya, Li Xiangping, and Li Yesheng, he was confident that his own child, Li Qiuyang, was destined to secure the fourth influential position in the Li Family. As for Liu Rouxuan, she waspletely out of the picture since she was not even a part of the Li Family.
Having now adopted the Li surname along with his three children, Li Chengfu was acutely aware that the Li family''s interests were synonymous with the interests of Li Qiuyang and himself. Therefore, betraying the Li Family was out of the question for Li Chengfu.
Dismissively gesturing for the idlers to leave, Li Chengfu finished his drink and strode away from the group of idlers.
¡°I¡¯m leaving for work!¡±
He had little time to waste on idle chatter. The construction of therge courtyard on the hill was underway, and the deadline was soon.
Chapter 28: Wan Family
Chapter 28: Wan Family
Atop Qingsui Peak, nestled amidst clouds and mist, sat a beautiful pavilion. The soft morning sunlight streamed over the structure, casting a golden glow across its walls.
Li Chejing, seated on a rock in front of the building, slowly exhaled a breath of pure air and opened his eyes to the vast sea of clouds spread before him.
A look of satisfaction crossed his handsome face as he quietly murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve finally managed to condense the Azure Essence Chakra!¡±
¡°What an amazing technique my family has! This isn¡¯t your typical Azure Essence mana. I¡¯ve cultivated the Moonlight Azure Essence. Not only that, its effect surpasses those of ordinary techniques.¡±
Rising to his feet and smoothing out his blue robe, Li Chejing entered the pavilion and retrieved a cold, gleaming sword from the wall. With a flick of his wrist, he gracefully executed a series of sword movements.
¡°This Profound Water Sword Technique given by my senior brother is a good start. Though it¡¯s a Grade Three technique requiring the Qi Cultivation realm, it¡¯s not difficult to learn.¡±
¡°I wonder how Father is doing. Have my older brothers managed to condense the Celestial Whirl Chakra? The Golden Tang Sect¡¯s recent unrest in the west is quite concerning, especially with our families sharing a border.¡±
Lost in these thoughts, Li Chejing¡¯s focus on sword practice waned. He rested his chin on the table and half-heartedly flipped through a jade slip, his mind wandering back to his distant home.
¡°Junior brother!¡± His contemtion was interrupted by a cheerful shout.
It was Xiao Yuansi, a man with thick eyebrows and huge eyes. He entered the pavilion and grinned at Li Chejing. ¡°Guess what good news I¡¯ve brought!¡± he asked.
¡°Don¡¯t tease me, senior brother,¡± Li Chejing shook his head and smiled wryly. He set aside the jade slip and turned his full attention to Xiao Yuansi.
¡°I¡¯ve been asked by our Master to run an errand at Lixia Prefecture,¡± Xiao Yuansi revealed, his eyes twinkling. He then inquired, ¡°Do you have a letter for home you¡¯d like me to take?¡±
Overjoyed, Li Chejing responded enthusiastically, ¡°Yes, yes, thank you so much, senior brother! You¡¯re too kind!¡± He quickly fetched writing materials and began to write a letter.
Xiao Yuansi smiled and said, ¡°Take your time writing. Just hand it to me by tonight.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
As dawn approached, Li Xiangping emerged from his meditation.
Reflecting on his progress, he thought, My Qihai is nearly full. With another half year of cultivation, I should be ready to attempt condensing the Celestial Whirl Chakra.
He realized that he had been stuck in this stage for almost four years, a pace he considered painfully slow. Jing¡¯er was likely already working toward condensing the Azure Essence Chakra.
As he stepped outside, he found Tian Yun basking in the morning sun at the entrance of the house.
Spotting Li Xiangping, she attempted to rise to her feet, only to be stopped by him.
¡°Take it easy, especially now that you¡¯re pregnant,¡± he cautioned.
Tian Yun smiled softly. Looking at her husband¡¯s eyes, she confessed gently, ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling rather sluggish ever since I got pregnant.¡±
With a yawn, she continued with a tinge of concern, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Qiuyang is making quick progress in cultivation. I can¡¯t help but worry that if our child doesn¡¯t possess a spiritual orifice, the main family might weaken over time and the side family will grow stronger. That could be detrimental to the future of our family.¡±
Li Xiangping was taken aback by her confession. He stroked her head affectionately andughed heartily. ¡°Rest assured, our child will have a spiritual orifice too. I¡¯ll handle everything in the house, so you don¡¯t have to worry about a thing. As for Li Qiuyang, his early condensation of the Profound Scenery Chakra is no cause for concern.¡±
Reassured by her husband¡¯s words, Tian Yun nestled into his embrace and murmured, ¡°Whatever you say.¡±
Their moment was interrupted by Liu Linfeng rushing into the courtyard, stopping abruptly upon seeing them. He stood awkwardly with a red face, unsure whether to stay or leave.
Tian Yun, with a gentle smile, excused herself with the help of Ren Ping¡¯er.
Li Xiangping, a little surprised by the interruption, asked Liu Linfeng cheerfully, ¡°Uncle, what brings you here in such a hurry?¡±
¡°One of the children from the Liu Family ventured beyond Lidaokou Vige, traveling along the Guli Road for miles. He came across a wary farmer there who hastily fled at the sight of us. The child did not dare to chase after him, so he marked the location and returned to report it,¡± Liu Linfeng delivered his message to Li Xiangping while gasping for breath.
Li Xiangping, knitting his eyebrows together, was about to respond when another figure hurried into the scene. It was Li Yesheng, who appeared just as breathless and flushed.
He had raced all the way from the vige entrance and, without pausing to catch his breath, blurted out, ¡°A message from Lichuankou Vige¡ªan immortal cultivator, iming to be from the Wan Family under the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s governance, has arrived for a visit.¡±
¡°Dang! He must have found his way here by following that child!¡± Liu Linfeng cursed under his breath and rebuked himself for not foreseeing this.
Li Xiangping rubbed the bridge of his nose. He exhaled deeply and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not panic. The visitor is also under the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s governance. It¡¯s unlikely that he¡¯ll act aggressively.¡±
He looked around and then asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Second Brother?¡±
¡°The Immortal Master went up the mountain early this morning and hasn¡¯t returned.¡±
¡°Uncle, please head to the mountain and inform Second Brother of the situation. Tell him to stay there, and there¡¯s no need toe down. Yesheng,e with me to Lidaokou Vige.¡±
Liu Linfeng acknowledged his order and promptly set off toward the mountain.
Li Xiangping, apanied by Li Yesheng and a few guards from Lijing Vige, hastened along the rural path toward Lidaokou Vige.
Upon reaching Lidaokou Vige, they encountered Xu Wenshan¡¯s men.
Li Yesheng immediately inquired, ¡°What did that immortal cultivator say?¡±
The man replied calmly, ¡°That Immortal Master barely speaks and is calmly seated in the boss¡¯ courtyard. He seems to be meditating with his eyes closed.¡±
At that moment, Li Xiangping and the others reached the entrance of the courtyard. He straightened his clothes and stepped forward to observe the man seated in the courtyard.
The visitor appeared young, likely in his teens, with a decent-looking face and d in a pristine long white robe. He opened his eyes and looked at Li Xiangping.
Since Li Xiangping had not cultivated the Jade Capital Chakra yet, hecked the spiritual sense to gauge the young man¡¯s strength.
He cupped his fist respectfully and introduced himself, ¡°I am Li Xiangping, under the governance of Azure Pond Sect,¡±
To Li Xiangping¡¯s surprise, the young man reacted with evident relief, quickly standing up to respond with due respect. ¡°I am Wan Yuankai, under the governance of Azure Pond Sect. I am honored to meet the head of the Li Family.¡±
¡°Oh, please, there¡¯s no need for such formalities. I¡¯m just a humble cultivator in the Li Family. My father is the head of our family,¡± Li Xiangping replied, waving his hands in denial. Seeing the young man¡¯s deference, Li Xiangping felt a sense of relief and a smile crept onto his face.
¡°Recently, my father learned about Qingsui Peak¡¯s deployment to the West of the Guli Road and was quite pleased. He sent me to explore the area and establish connections with the local families. It was a mere chance that led me to your vige. Please forgive my unannounced visit.¡±
Wan Yuankai seemed rather excited. After politely apologizing, he then added with a smile, ¡°My father also instructed me to bring a gift for the Li Family.¡±
Chapter 29: Requesting Assistance
Chapter 29: Requesting Assistance
Li Xiangping was slightly taken aback by Wan Yuankai¡¯s gesture and could not help but feel a bit wary. Internally, he cautioned himself about the Wan Family¡¯s overenthusiasm while maintaining a cordial smile on his face.
He politely cupped his fist to Wan Yuankai, but firmly shook his head and said, ¡°We appreciate your father¡¯s kindness, but we really can¡¯t ept the gift!¡±
However, Wan Yuankai persisted, unveiling a small pine box from his sleeve. He opened the well-polished box to reveal a unique greenish-white fruit nestled on a bed of cloth and silk.
The fruit¡¯s surface, resembling snake scales in its smoothness, shone in the sunlight, giving it an appealing appearance.
Wan Yuankai, looking slightly embarrassed, said softly, ¡°My family is struggling both internally and externally. This Pine Yue Fruit can aid in condensing the Radiant Lure Chakra, though it¡¯s a humble offering. Please, Brother Li, ept this so I can fulfill my duty.¡±
As Li Xiangping examined the fruit, Wan Yuankai quickly exined, ¡°You can simply slice open the skin and drink the juice inside.¡±
Li Xiangping, gazing at the fruit, weighed the implications of epting it.
The Wan family is already struggling, so why share this with us? Wouldn¡¯t that be unnecessarily inviting others to covet what they have?
Resolving to see where this gesture would lead, Li Xiangpingughed heartily and decisively said, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll ept it!¡±
He watched as Li Yesheng stepped forward to take the box, handling it with care.
Switching to a more serious tone, Li Xiangping then said, ¡°But I do have a request, Brother Wan.¡±
Wan Yuankai waved his hands and humbly replied, ¡°You can just call me Yuankai. What do you need?¡±
Li Xiangping exined, ¡°We¡¯re new to the area, so my family doesn¡¯t know much about the neighboring families. Would you be willing to help us get acquainted?¡±
¡°Of course, I¡¯d be happy to help.¡± Wan Yuankai nodded and readily agreed.
Li Yesheng fetched a piece of paper and a brush. He rolled his sleeves up, then drew a thin line and exined, ¡°This is Guli Road.¡±
He then drew a circle in the middle of the line and marked it with the Li character.
Li Xiangping nodded, then took over the brush. After dipping it into the ink, he added two more circles above and below the Li character, marking them as Moongaze Lake and Mount Dali respectively.
¡°The Li Residence is situated between Mount Dali and Moongaze Lake, intersected by the Guli Road,¡± Li Xiangping borated.
Wan Yuankai then drew another small circle to the right of the Li Residence¡¯s location and said, ¡°The Wan Residence is to the East.¡±
He continued, drawing arger circle above the Wan Residence and solemnly exined, ¡°This is Ji Family from the Golden Tang Gate.¡±
¡°Ji Family from the Golden Tang Gate?¡± Li Xiangping repeated the name with a hint of concern.
¡°Yes... The Golden Tang Gate is a powerful immortal sect based in the Northern Great Xu. They are on par with our Azure Pond Sect. The vast Moongaze Lake separates us; to the North of theke lies their stronghold, Mount Tangdao. The Ji n falls under the governance of the Golden Tang Gate,¡± Wan Yuankai exined.
Li Xiangping nodded, encouraging Wan Yuankai to continue, while internally bracing himself for unwee news.
¡°For over a decade, there has been ongoing tension between the Golden Tang Gate and our Azure Pond Sect. While there¡¯s been no outright war, the border conflicts have already led to the destruction of numerous families and the discement of countless mortals. It¡¯s been a continuous exchange of probing maneuvers from both sides,¡± Wan Yuankai said, his expression revealing a deep sense of unease as if he had just articted concerns that had been troubling him for quite some time.
He continued, ¡°The Ji n repeatedly trespassed into our territory, causing us great distress. Years ago, Ji Dengqi, the head of the Ji Family, had already attained the Qi Cultivation realm. Meanwhile, my father was just starting to condense the Jade Capital Chakra¡ªit was clear he was outmatched.¡±
¡°Every time our Spirit Paddies were ready for harvest, someone from the Ji Family woulde disguised as a veiled rogue cultivator and plunder our vige. We were forced to hide in the mountains for years, helplessly watching them steal our Spirit Paddies.¡±
As Wan Yuankai spoke, his eyes reddened and he clenched his fists in anger.
After hearing his story, Li Xiangping could already guess the intention of his visit. With a grim expression, he said, ¡°The Li Family¡¯s strength is limited. I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t be of much assistance.¡±
Seeing the indignant look on Wan Yuankai¡¯s face, Li Xiangping quickly asked, ¡°How many immortal cultivators does your Wan Family have?¡±
Wan Yuankai hesitated for a moment, then looked at Li Xiangping. Gritting his teeth, he revealed, ¡°My father is at the peak of the Jade Capital Chakra. I¡¯ve condensed the Azure Essence Chakra, and we have two juniors who have just condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra. The Ji Family, aside from that wicked Ji Dengqi, who haspleted the Qi Cultivation Realm, has two at the Profound Scenery Chakra and one at the Radiant Lure Chakra. They also have a few others at the Profound Scenery Chakra, but they don¡¯te together to steal from us.¡±
Li Xiangping, puzzled, asked, ¡°Someone from the sect told me that in times of enemy attacks, our jade seal can be used to request for help from the sect. They¡¯ll send an immortal cultivator who has attained the Foundation Establishment Realm to resolve our immediate crisis, no?¡±
¡°There¡¯s no way we can call on an immortal cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm!¡± Wan Yuankai eximed in frustration, gnashing his teeth and clenching his fists.
¡°Activating the jade seal requires at least four hours for the qi cultivators from the city to arrive. By then, it would be toote. Not only is our Spirit Paddies gone, but repeatedly calling for help will inadvertently offend the cultivators who came to our aid!¡±
Before Li Xiangping could respond, Wan Yuankai hurriedly added, ¡°My father¡¯s decision to visit your family and propose an alliance is a bid to borrow your n¡¯s strength...¡±
Since Wan Yuankai had stated his request, Li Xiangping had to give up probing for more information. He sighed inwardly and smiled wryly.
¡°We wish we could help, but our resources are limited. My family only recently began cultivating. Of my father¡¯s four sons, the eldest passed away early. Although the youngest shows promising talent, he¡¯s currently away to cultivate at the immortal sect. My brother and I are still novices in cultivation, not nearly as advanced as you. We¡¯re not properly equipped to confront the Ji Family.¡±
Clinging to hope, Wan Yuankai suggested, ¡°What about your father then?¡±
¡°The truth is... my father is a mortal...¡±
¡°Impossible! A mere mortal fathering three children with spiritual orifices?! My father, who has condensed the Jade Capital Chakra, had seventeen children and I¡¯m the only one with a spiritual orifice!¡± Wan Yuankai eximed incredulously.
Li Xiangping, taken aback by Wan Yuankai¡¯s reaction, quickly improvised, ¡°My father¡¯s cultivation was crippled during a battle in his younger days...¡±
Realizing his presumption, Wan Yuankai shamefully apologized, ¡°I have spoken thoughtlessly. Your father must have been a great cultivator before his cultivation was crippled.¡±
As Wan Yuankai sank into his seat, filled with disappointment, Li Xiangping was drenched in cold sweat. That moment of interrogation had nearly unraveled his facade.
So, the achievement of a cultivator directly influences the chances of their offspring having a spiritual orifice. I overlooked this important detail and nearly blew it!
Observing Wan Yuankai¡¯s dispirited expression, Li Xiangpingposed himself and broached a new topic.
¡°Are you aware of what lies at the end of the Guli Road, to the West of my family¡¯s residence?¡± he asked.
¡°West of Guli Road...¡± The question caught Wan Yuankai off guard.
He looked at the map and pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°Mount Dali slopes Westward, and the Guli Road leads into the mountains in that direction. I¡¯ve not heard of any settlements there, but...¡±
¡°What have you heard?¡± Li Xiangping pressed.
¡°My father mentioned that our ancestors explored that area before and encountered inhabitants of Mount Yue.¡±
¡°Inhabitants of Mount Yue?¡±
Chapter 30: Discussion
Chapter 30: Discussion
Having gathered all the information he could from Wan Yuankai, Li Xiangping politely saw off the somewhat dejected visitor. He carefully stored the sketch they had drawn and returned to Lijing Vige with Li Yesheng.
Thanks to the steady ie from field taxes, the Li family had been able to employ more carpenters. These carpenters were primarily working on constructing the small courtyard on the back mountain and also took care of repairs and improvements in Lijing Vige when their schedule allowed.
Over the past six months, Lijing Vige had undergone a remarkable transformation. Polished stone bs wereid from the front of the Li Residence to the vige entrance, forming a main path that symbolized the Li Family¡¯s influence.
Other affluent families in the vige followed suit, upgrading their mud and thatched homes to emte the Li Family¡¯s brick house.
Instead of the bluestone bricks used by the Li Family, Liu Linfeng and others opted for lower-quality white bricks, using mortar to define the seams of the walls.
Although these white-bricked houses did not possess the distinctive allure of the bluestone bricks with white seams, they still significantly improved the vige¡¯s aesthetic.
From a distance, the vige¡¯s new white brick courtyards clustered around the Li Family¡¯s central bluestone brick and gray roof-tiled residence, lending a town-like charm, especially in the misty rain.
Upon returning to his courtyard, Li Xiangping found Li Mutian resting with Li Xuanxuan. Li Mutian appeared to be more energetic nowadays and was able to move around better.
Seatedfortably at the table with a cup of tea in his hand, his rxed demeanor suggested that he had found sce from the grief of losing his son years earlier.
Though Li Mutian no longer managed much of the family¡¯s affairs, his presence stillmanded respect from everyone. Despite being a mortal, the fear of Li Yesheng and the rest toward him was more than toward Li Tongya and Li Xiangping.
¡°Xuan¡¯er!¡± Li Xiangping greeted Li Xuanxuan warmly, picking up the child who eagerly ran toward him.
Li Xuanxuan, now of reading age, was under the tutge of Han Wenxu. The child was bright and quick to learn.
¡°Today, I went to the reed field with Xiewen. He told me Uncle Yesheng used to watch over the ducks there when he was a child!¡± Li Xuanxuan hugged Li Xiangping happily and eagerly told him about his day.
The Li family had arranged the marriage for Li Yesheng, and from that union came Li Xiewen, Li Yesheng¡¯s child, who was just a little over two years old. Li Xiewen, full of youthful energy, was often seen following his cousin Li Xuanxuan around.
¡°That¡¯s right, I did,¡± Li Yesheng confirmed the story with a smile, standing behind them.
Li Xiangping turned his head around and smilingly asked, ¡°Can you get Second Brother here?¡±
He watched as Li Yesheng acknowledged his order and left, then returned his attention to Li Xuanxuan.
¡°Back then, your Third Uncle would catch fish there. They were really fat with glistening green scales, but they were incredibly slippery,¡± he reminisced.
Setting Li Xuanxuan down and affectionately pinching his cheek, Li Xiangping stared off into the distance, as if he was taking a trip down memoryne.
¡°That was the best fish I¡¯ve ever eaten¡ªlike a celestial fish, a fairy among fishes...¡±
Li Mutian looked at Li Xiangping, then ced his teabowl down and interrupted his moment of nostalgia. ¡°What about the Wan family?¡±
Li Xiangping patted Li Xuanxuan, encouraging him to continue ying by himself, then lifted his head and answered, ¡°They are significantly stronger than us, with an established lineage. The head of their family is a Jade Capital cultivator, and they have Wan Yuankai, a young Azure Essence achiever.¡±
As he spoke, Li Tongya entered the courtyard, his demeanor somber. He found himself a seat, listening attentively to Li Xiangping¡¯s detailed ount of his conversation with Wan Yuankai.
¡°If the Wan family is indeed struggling both internally and externally, we must extend our help. The Ji Family, a looming threat nearby, could target us next if the Wan family falls. We are interdependent, like lips and teeth,¡± Li Xiangping concluded, picking up his tea cup and gulping down its contents.
Li Tongya quietly listened to Li Xiangping¡¯s every word while scrutinizing the sketch closely.
Li Mutian narrowed his eyes and stared at the tea in his cup thoughtfully for a moment before saying, ¡°We must indeed save the Wan Family, but it must be done in a way that benefits us the most. Listen, Xiangping...¡±
The Wan family ims the Ji Family has been stealing their Spirit Paddies. Let¡¯s tell them we have spare fields butck manpower. Get them to send someone here to cultivate the fields, and we¡¯ll request a thirty percent share of the harvest. If they agree to send workers, it confirms their dire situation with the Ji Family.¡±
Li Xiangping nodded in agreement and added, ¡°That¡¯s true. Considering the Ji Family¡¯s knowledge of the Wan Family¡¯s operations, there must have been spies in their midst. We must make sure that Wan Yuankai handles this discreetly. Our family isn¡¯t ready to confront the Ji family directly, but we should be able to secretly support the Wan Family from behind.¡±
¡°Right.¡± Li Mutian nodded in approval. Taking a sip of his tea, he continued, ¡°Both the Ji and Wan Families are more powerful than ours. For now, we should bide our time and build our strength. The Ji Family¡¯s aggression makes them a threat, while the Wan family, though under the governance of Azure Pond Sect like us, warrants caution due to their proximity.¡±
After scrutinizing the sketch for a while, Li Tongya inquired, ¡°Is the Ji Family¡¯s territory adjacent to ours on this map?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Li Xiangping confirmed, pointing to the Lidaokou Vige on the map.
¡°The Guli Road splits here: one path leads North into the Ji Family¡¯s territory, while the other goes East to the Wan Family¡¯s territory.¡±
He paused for a moment, observing Li Tongya¡¯s thoughtful face before continuing, ¡°ording to Wan Yuankai, over a century ago, a demon and its followers established air on the road to the Ji Family¡¯s territory, effectively cutting it off. The Ji Family has abandoned thatnd, although it¡¯s still nominally under their control.¡±
Realization dawned upon Li Tongya as he said, ¡°Oh, I see. With the demon¡¯s presence, we needn¡¯t worry about the Ji Family as long as the Wan Family remains standing.¡±
Li Xiangping agreed, ¡°That demon wisely chose a spot between the Azure Pond Sect and Golden Tang Gate. It stays secluded in its den and cultivates, never causing any trouble.¡±
He then turned to Li Mutian and said, ¡°Father, you¡¯ve once encountered the inhabitants of Mount Yue. Any thoughts on them?¡±
Li Mutian waved his hand and shared, ¡°They are quite distinct in appearance, with unique hairstyles, tattoos, andnguage. They are strong and skilled in martial arts. The n also has shamans skilled in curses and controlling beasts. They¡¯re not an easy bunch to deal with.
¡°I¡¯m not sure how effective your exorcism spell is, but your sess against them will depend on your ability to counter their curses. As long as you can manage that, and the vige guards are as strong as them, confronting them might be feasible. But for now, there''s no rush to engage.¡±
Li Tongya, tracing his finger around the Li Family¡¯s territory on the map, said, ¡°The Wan Family has repeatedly faced encroachment and pressure from the Ji Family. Fortunately, thend Si Yuanbai allocated to our family is quite expansive, making our territory nowrger than the Wan Family¡¯s.
¡°Ournd is vast, but our poption is sparse, and our strength as a family is not yet formidable. We¡¯re like an attractive target, but as long as Mount Yue doesn¡¯te looking for trouble, we should avoid provoking them. With the Wan Family acting as a buffer, we have the opportunity to develop and strengthen ourselves over the next few years. It¡¯s crucial that we fully consolidate and control these territories before considering any further actions.¡±
Chapter 31: Wan Tiancang
Chapter 31: Wan Tiancang
Wan Xiaohua sat wearily at the table, hisplexion betraying his exhaustion.
As a cultivator who had condensed the Jade Capital Chakra in his Shenyang Mansion[1], he should have been able to remain alert even after three days and nights without sleep.
However, the recent spate of troubles weighed heavily on him, and he felt himself struggling to cope.
¡°What are your thoughts on the letter from the Li Family, Yuankai?¡± Rubbing his temples, he looked wearily at his subordinates.
Before Wan Yuankai could respond, a muscr man beside him interjected confidently, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? This Li Family is weak. They are delusional to think otherwise. With their two family members alone, you could easily force them to surrender their spirit fields to us!¡±
The burly man stared at Wan Xiaohua, who was seated in the central seat.
Wan Xiaohua inwardly cursed at his stupidity, then questioned him, ¡°Someone among the Li Family is cultivating in the sect. What do we do if that immortal cultivatores after us in retaliation?¡±
¡°That...¡± Caught off-guard, the burly man fell silent.
Wan Yuankai then stepped in and said, ¡°If the Li Family requests thirty percent of the harvest, then we should agree to their terms. Our inventory has been dwindling year after year, we might struggle to pay the necessary tributes. Survival is our priority now.¡±
Wan Xiaohua nodded in agreement and added thoughtfully, ¡°The thirty percent is probably further negotiable. Given the Ji Family¡¯s formidable power and the precarious situation we¡¯re in, I¡¯m sure the Li Family won¡¯t push us too hard. After all, we need to depend on each other.¡±
His expression darkened at the mention of the Ji Family. Setting the letter down, he continued, ¡°Years ago, Mount Yubu was our boundary. But now, we''ve been driven back to Guli Road. Ji Dengqi¡¯s relentless oppression has forced us to retreat time and time again over the years, hardly giving us a moment of rest.¡±
Wan Yuankai, clenching his teeth, acknowledged the grim reality with a heavy sigh. ¡°Indeed, but there¡¯s a silver lining. The spiritual energy at Mount Dali¡¯s Northern foot is slowly recovering. It might just be our ticket out of this, although we don¡¯t have control over it yet.¡±
Wan Xiaohua chuckled and remarked coldly, ¡°For now, I believe it¡¯s for the best. Guarding that area requires manpower we can¡¯t afford to spare. If you¡¯re there, who¡¯s going to guard our home? Besides, that might draw the Ji Family¡¯s attention. They certainly won''t stand by and let us expand without sticking their noses in.
¡°Ji Dengqi has been stirring up trouble, sending people to manipte those idiots in the branch families to turn them against us. If we want to reach out to the Li Family or send someone there, we must be discreet about it so that Ji Dengqi doesn¡¯t catch wind of our ns!¡±
Wan Yuankai responded with a firm nod. ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for our n brother to fake his death and head to Lidaokou Vige. Ji Dengqi¡¯s informants are mere mortals. I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t suspect a thing.¡±
¡°Tiancang is eloquent, cautious, and reliable. I trust him fully with this task,¡± Wan Xiaohua said.
As he softly ced his brush down on the mapid out before him, his gaze turned cold as he quietly said, ¡°We¡¯ve got to watch our step and keep an eye out for any potential traitors in our midst.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya, feeling the constant surge of mana whirling within him, chuckled softly. ¡°Finally, after nearly four years, I¡¯ve seeded in condensing the Celestial Whirl Chakra.¡±
Liu Rouxuan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. With her ck eyes fixed on Li Tongya, she congratted him with a warm smile, ¡°Congrattions on your achievement, Brother Tongya!¡±
Li Tongya turned his head to the side, attempting to hide his difort from her direct gaze.
¡°It¡¯s just a minor achievement in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. That¡¯s hardly something worth celebrating!¡± he responded, slightly flustered.
Li Tongya watched as Liu Rouxuan giggled at his reaction and shook his head in resignation.
He looked at the sky and changed the subject, ¡°I¡¯ve been in seclusion for a day and a night. I should check on Xiangping first.¡±
Liu Rouxuan nodded vigorously, trying to stifle her giggle as she replied, ¡°All right.¡±
Li Tongya left the small courtyard and headed toward the Li Residence¡¯s front yard. As he approached, he overheard a conversation in the main courtyard that made him pause.
Ren Ping¡¯er was sewing silently in the main courtyard, but Li Xuanxuan appeared to be on the verge of tears as he clung to her dress, kneeling on the floor.
¡°Mommy! Why does everyone else have a daddy, but I don¡¯t? Even Li Xiewen has a daddy! Where¡¯s mine?¡±
Ren Ping¡¯er quickly bent down to hold Li Xuanxuan in her arms. ¡°Your father has gone to a distant ce...¡± she replied to her son with a heartbroken voice.
However, Li Xuanxuan pulled away and cried out in frustration, ¡°That¡¯s a lie! You¡¯re lying! If he¡¯s somewhere far away, why hasn¡¯t he sent us any letters? Everyone told me that daddy¡¯s dead!¡±
Ren Ping¡¯er was at a loss as she looked at Li Xuanxuan, who was in tears.
The scene pained Li Tongya. He let out a long sigh before entering the main courtyard and gently lifting Li Xuanxuan into his arms.
Upon seeing Li Tongya, Li Xuanxuan wiped his tears and asked, ¡°Second Uncle, do you know where my daddy is?¡±
Li Tongya patted Li Xuanxuan¡¯s back, and with a touch of mncholy in his voice, he replied, ¡°Your daddy was a kind man, a generous brother...¡±
Li Xuanxuan¡¯s sobs intensified at these words. At that moment, Li Yesheng entered the courtyard.
Seeing him, Ren Ping¡¯er hastily took the sobbing Li Xuanxuan away, leaving Li Tongya and Li Yesheng alone in the courtyard.
Li Tongyaposed himself, then asked, ¡°What''s the matter?¡±
¡°There¡¯s a man outside, dressed like a hunter, asking to see you. He ims to be from the Wan Family and says he has an appointment,¡± Li Yesheng informed him.
Li Tongya was slightly taken aback. He rubbed his chin curiously then gestured for the visitor to be brought in. ¡°Let him in then,¡± he said.
The man Li Yesheng brought in was d in leather armor and carried a longbow on his back. Despite his in appearance, he had a pair of keen eyes.
He cupped his fist respectfully to Li Tongya and greeted, ¡°Greetings, Young Chief! I¡¯m Wan Tiancang from the Wan Family!¡±
Li Tongya, raising an eyebrow, internally noted that this man seemed more capable than Wan Yuankai and was probably not that easy to handle.
With a smile, he humbly replied, ¡°I hardly deserve the title ¡®young chief¡¯, I¡¯m just managing some vige affairs.¡±
He then gestured weingly and said, ¡°This way, please.¡±
Wan Tiancang immediately raised his eyebrows, thinking to himself, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Old Master Li rarely makes appearances. It¡¯s said that the Li Family is co-managed by these two brothers without a clear leader. Li Tongya seems to be careful with his words. I wonder what kind of person Li Xiangping is.¡±
Though these thoughts raced through his mind, he maintained a cordial demeanor, smiling and saying, ¡°Thank you.¡±
Upon entering the main courtyard, Wan Tiancang saw an elder seated at the central seat, sipping on a cup of tea. The elder nced at him, then slightly nodded his head to acknowledge his presence.
Wan Tiancang could not help but admire Li Mutian¡¯s extraordinary aura and unusual calmness and inwardly marveled, He must be Old Master Li, the head of the Li Family. As expected of someone who had attained the Foundation Establishment Realm; his elegance sets him apart from ordinary people.
With great respect, he bowed deeply. Upon rising, he was visibly moved to tears and choked up as he greeted the elder, ¡°Greetings, Senior.¡±
Li Mutian, setting down his teabowl, responded in a deep voice, ¡°What brings you to such emotion?¡±
Wiping away his tears, Wan Tiancang exined, ¡°Your presence reminds me of myte father, who suffered a lot because of Ji Dengqi¡¯s cruelty. He even lost nine hundred jin of our family¡¯s Spirit Paddies. Due to this, we¡¯re struggling to pay tributes for theing years.¡±
¡°Nine hundred jin?¡±
Hearing this, both Li Tongya and Li Mutian exchanged meaningful nces. They seemed to have a moment of realization, and Li Tongya thought to himself, This man is aiming for a portion of our family¡¯s thirty percent harvest.
1. Shenyang Mansion is the spot behind the space between your eyebrows. ?
Chapter 32: Guest
Chapter 32: Guest
Tears welled up in Wan Tiancang¡¯s eyes as he recounted the Ji Family''s brutality and the dire straits of the Wan Family, emphasizing the mutual dependency between the Wan and Li Families.
Li Yesheng, listening intently, found himself deeply moved by the tale.
In contrast, Li Mutian remained calm as he sipped his tea thoughtfully before asking, ¡°Has the Wan Family¡¯s situation truly be so dire?¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Wan Tiancang affirmed, looking earnestly at Li Mutian. He gritted his teeth as he realized that he was dealing with a shrewd individual who would notmit without certainty.
From his chest pocket, he pulled out a leather scroll and said, ¡°Before departing, my family instructed me to extend our gratitude for any assistance. In return for the Li Family¡¯s kindness, I¡¯ve brought this formation scroll.¡±
Li Mutian gestured, and Li Tongya stepped forward to receive the scroll.
Wan Tiancang exined, ¡°This is the Misty Barrier Formation, a century-old purchase from the market by my grandfather. It requires specially crafted gs for its activation. My grandfather was particrly fond of this art, he even set up all the formations on the mountains back home. Unfortunately, since his passing, no one in our family specializes in formations.¡±
With a sigh, Wan Tiancang handed over the scroll to Li Tongya with a tinge of reluctance.
Once Li Tongya nodded to his father, Li Mutian smiled and offered magnanimously, ¡°We¡¯re all under the governance of Azure Pond Sect. It¡¯s only natural that we help each other out. Since the Wan family is in distress, there¡¯s no way the Li family will exploit them. Therefore, we¡¯ll only take fifteen percent of the harvest as our due.¡±
Wan Tiancang, with a resigned smile, expressed his gratitude, ¡°Thank you, elder!¡±
With a gentle nod from Li Mutian, Li Tongya escorted Wan Tiancang and Li Yesheng out.
Once outside, Wan Tiancang turned to Li Tongya with a hopeful look. ¡°May I know where this spirit field is located? Can you please take me there so I can have a look at it?¡±
¡°Of course," Li Tongya agreed with a nod.
As they strolled down the neatlyid stone path, Li Tongya exined, ¡°Our Li Family oversees two viges along the Guli Road. One is Lidaokou Vige, from where you arrived, and the other is Lichuankou Vige, which sits by the shores of Moongaze Lake.¡±
¡°The spirit field we¡¯ve allocated for lease is in Lichuankou Vige. We¡¯ve built a small courtyard there, and the field remains untouched. Its annual yield is approximately seventy jin.¡±
Wan Tiancang nodded, signaling his understanding, and nced around at the scenery of Lijing Vige, remarking, ¡°This road is well-maintained. Despite the foot traffic, it¡¯s remarkably clean and orderly. Quite impressive.¡±
¡°You tter us, Brother Tiancang,¡± Li Tongya responded with a modest chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about nearby immortal markets. Being rtively new to this, our family isn¡¯t very familiar with them.¡±
¡°Brother Tongya, always eager for more information, aren¡¯t you?¡± Wan Tiancangughed and teased him.
¡°Though I¡¯ve only condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra and haven¡¯t been to these markets myself, my n brother and our head of the family have. They¡¯ve shared quite a bit about it,¡± he said.
¡°The market is on a small ind in Moongaze Lake, run by a rogue cultivator who has attained the Qi Cultivation Realm. During the full moon,rge boats shuttle between the shore and the ind, transporting rogue cultivators and immortal cultivators from small families like us to the market,¡± he exined.
¡°ording to the head of my family, it¡¯s advisable to attain the Jade Capital Chakra before venturing there, just to be safe,¡± he quickly cautioned, mindful of the potential risks the Li Family might face and the possible repercussions for the Wan Family if something were to happen to members of the Li Family.
¡°Understood.¡± Li Tongya nodded, absorbing the vital information Wan Tiancang provided while engaging in light conversation with him.
Shortly after, they reached Lichuankou Vige. Upon learning of Li Tongya¡¯s arrival with a cultivator from another family, Chen Erniu, anxious and eager to make a good impression, rushed with his men to greet them.
He carefully trailed behind Li Tongya and engaged in hushed discussions with Li Yesheng.
Wan Tiancang surveyed the size of the field and then assessed both the spiritual qi and the soil quality. Satisfied, he gave Li Tongya a nod of approval.
Li Tongya, with a friendly smile, excused himself, ¡°Brother Wan, you must be weary from your journey. I have family matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll have to say goodbye for now.¡±
With that, he delegated the oversight of the arrangements to Li Yesheng and Chen Erniu, then made his way back to Lijing Vige.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lijing Vige¡¯s back mountain, now dubbed ¡°Mount Lijing¡± by the locals, had recently be a lot more lively. Nestled among the lush woonds on the mountain stood a cluster of small houses crafted from bluestone bricks, their roofs adorned with gray tiles, painting a picturesque scene.
A stone path wound its way from the foot of the mountain to its summit. At the foot, vigers stationed at a watchpoint respectfully greeted Li Tongya as he approached, ¡°Wee back, Immortal Master.¡±
Li Tongya acknowledged them with a casual nod and proceeded up the stone path. After a short ascent, a quaint courtyard came into view.
Here, Han Wenxu was in the midst of teaching. The courtyard buzzed with the focused energy of fifty to sixty young students, each attentively seated under a tree, absorbing his lectures.
These students hailed not only from Lijing and Jingyang viges but also from the more distant Lidaokou and Lichuankou viges. Typically, only families with some savings could afford to send one or two of their children to study in Lijing Vige, and hence, they choose Lijing Vige.
Li Tongya gazed at Li Xuanxuan, who was deeply engrossed in reading, and a thought crossed his mind.
In a few months, once Xuan¡¯er turns six or seven years old and his physique is fully developed, we¡¯ll be able to measure his spiritual orifice. There are still three Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds in the mirror, so it¡¯s fine even if Xuan¡¯er doesn¡¯t possess a spiritual orifice.
Now that I think about it, Tian Yun will be inbor in a few months too.
For some reason, the image of Liu Rouxuan¡¯s face shed through his mind. Startled, he quickly shook his head to dispel the thought. After a momentary pause, he let out a wry smile and continued his ascent.
Past the academy, Li Tongya counted 126 steps before arriving at a tform graced with a red-painted gate. There sat an elderly man with graying hair.
¡°Uncle Tian!¡± Li Tongya called out warmly, observing Tian Shoushui happily crafting a wooden horse with a small hammer in hand.
¡°Tongya, you¡¯re back.¡± Tian Shoushui nodded to him with a warm smile, looking slightly embarrassed as he gestured toward the wooden horse.
¡°Yun¡¯er¡¯s baby will be arriving soon, and I wanted to make something for the little one.¡±
The old man had endured many hardships in his youth, aging more rapidly than his peers. Though roughly the same age as Li Mutian, he appeared over a decade older.
¡°Take your time making it, Uncle,¡± Li Tongya said with genuine respect for the fatherly figure, before entering the courtyard.
Inside, he found Li Xiangping emerging from meditation and releasing a deep breath.
Catching sight of Li Tongya, Li Xiangping asked, ¡°Second Brother, have you condensed the Celestial Whirl Chakra?¡±
¡°Yes, I did,¡± Li Tongya replied with a smile.
¡°So, I¡¯m still a step behind.¡± Li Xiangping pouted and pretended to be frustrated, yet his face soon broke into a genuine smile as he stood up and stretched his body.
After discussing Wan Tiancang¡¯s visit and carefully cing the formation scroll on the table, Li Tongya leisurely picked up a teabowl on the table and took a sip.
Noticing Li Xiangping deep in thought, he curiously inquired, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±
¡°Wan Tiancang is much more difficult to deal with than Wan Yuankai,¡± Li Xiangping replied, lifting his gaze with a measured look.
Li Tongya smiled and was about to respond when Tian Shoushui¡¯s voice interrupted them. ¡°Linfeng is here!¡±
The brothers exchanged a nce of mild surprise as Liu Linfeng entered the courtyard briskly, wiping the sweat from his brow. He looked at them and informed, ¡°An immortal master from Qingsui Peak has just descended the mountain.¡±
Chapter 33: Xiao Yuansi
Chapter 33: Xiao Yuansi
¡°The Qingsui Peak of the Azure Pond Sect?¡± Li Tongya and Li Xiangping exchanged nces.
Li Tongya pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°An envoy from the immortal sect, huh? It must be rted to Jing¡¯er.¡±
Li Xiangping quickly led everyone down the mountain. To their surprise, they encountered a cultivator d in a pristine white robe, adorned with various silk pouches, just outside the courtyard.
With a handsome and refined demeanor, he stood there smiling at the group.
He cupped his fist and introduced himself, ¡°Greetings, fellow Daoists. I¡¯m Xiao Yuansi from Qingsui Peak.¡±
¡°I am Li Xiangping of the Li Family. We are honored to meet the envoy from the Azure Pond Sect.¡± Li Xiangping quickly returned the greeting and gestured to those behind him to kneel with him.
Xiao Yuansi modestly stepped aside and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formalities. I¡¯m here on behalf of someone else but not as an envoy of the immortal sect.¡±
The group responded warmly, with Li Xiangping inviting, ¡°Please, Immortal Master,e in.¡±
In the presence of a high-ranking cultivator from the Azure Pond Sect, Li Tongya and Li Xianping could not help but feel like mere mortals. Their respectful address of ¡°Immortal Master¡± toward Xiao Yuansi was genuinely heartfelt.
Xiao Yuansi entered the courtyard, found a seat for himself, and began, ¡°I was actually on a mission in Lixia Prefecture to hunt a demon. My junior brother misses his family dearly, so I told him to write a letter so I can deliver it for him to Mount Dali.
¡°The demon hunt took a little longer than I expected, setting me back quite a bit. In fact, I only managed to defeat it yesterday. I hope my unannounced visit isn¡¯t causing any trouble.¡±
¡°Not at all, Immortal Master. We¡¯re immensely grateful for your effort to deliver a letter to our family,¡± Li Xiangping responded with genuine respect, quickly epting a green bamboo tube about the thickness of a finger from Xiao Yuansi.
¡°Please, go ahead and read it!¡± Xiao Yuansi suggested while taking a sip of tea served to him with a smile.
The brothers quickly nodded in acknowledgment. Li Tongya delicately removed the wax seal from the bamboo cylinder, pouring out a rolled-up, pale white letter which he quickly unfurled.
Greetings from Jing¡¯er, it¡¯s been over a year since I¡¯ve been away from home. I hope Father and Brothers are in good health. I am doing well in the immortal sect, having condensed the Azure Essence Chakra, and am hopeful of condensing the Jade Capital Chakra next. I am also showing great progress in swordsmanship...
Senior Brother Xiao Yuansi, who is now at the seventhyer of Qi Cultivation Realm and excels in alchemy, is kind and considerate. Should you face any dilemmas at home, feel free to seek his counsel. I¡¯llpensate him upon his return...
I¡¯m also sending a jade slip containing the Profound Water Sword Technique along with this letter. I have also learned several other spells, but they are the sect¡¯s legacies and cannot be shared with outsiders. However, this particr sword technique, given by Senior Brother, can be shared. It is not hard to learn and can be used for self-defense at home.
I''ve heard about the Golden Tang Gate¡¯s frequent border provocations. For now, it¡¯s best to remain patient. I¡¯ve requested Senior Brother to speak with the cultivators guarding Lixia Prefecture. Should any issues arise at home, use the jade seal to seek help...
Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m quitefortable here in the immortal sect. Cultivating here is more effective than on Mount Dali. How are things at home? Is Xuanxuan behaving? Is there anything unusual happening at home? Looking forward to your reply.
As Li Xiangping finished reading the letter, a wave of emotion overcame him. With tears glistening in his eyes, he cupped his fist at Xiao Yuansi and said, ¡°I apologize for keeping you waiting, Immortal Master.¡±
Xiao Yuansi smiled and waved his hand dismissively. He set a jade slip on the mahogany table and reassured, ¡°No apologies needed. This is something my junior brother entrusted me to deliver.¡±
Li Tongya came forward to collect the jade slip, while Xiao Yuansi kindly added, ¡°If there are any troubles or uncertainties at home, please don¡¯t hesitate to bring them up.¡±
Li Tongya and Li Xiangping exchanged a nce, then spoke simultaneously. ¡°There is something we¡¯re uncertain about, Immortal Master. Would you kindly follow us?¡±
The brothers led the way up a stone path winding through the mountainside courtyard. Soon, they arrived at a huge curtain fig tree, lush with foliage.
They circled to the back of the tree and a smaller tree bearing five unique fruits came into view.
¡°Hm?¡± Xiao Yuansi studied the tree intently.
Conjuring a spell, his hands emitted a white glow. He reached out, gently examining a fruit and its leaves.
After a moment, he shared his insights, ¡°These are Snake Dragon Fruits. Typically, a tree bears six fruits. They mature from top to bottom, with the highest fruit ripening first. When the first fruit is ripe, it will have to be plucked before the one below it will continue to ripe.
Each fruit ripens every five years. Judging by the color of the highest fruit, it appears that thest one was harvested over four years ago. That means this one is nearly ripe.¡±
Xiao Yuansi pulled the lowest branch apart and as expected, he discovered a small, tender green fruit. That was the newly emerged sixth fruit.
After hearing his exnation carefully, Li Tongya respectfully asked, ¡°What does this fruit do?¡±
Xiao Yuansi replied, ¡°We cultivate dozens of such nts in the Azure Pond Sect. It takes centuries for a golden fruit to appear, which seeds a new nt. The red Snake Dragon Fruits are mainly used to make Snake Essence Pills. They are rewards for meritorious disciples to speed up their cultivation progress in the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms.¡±
Li Tongya and Li Xiangping shared a look of surprise. The Li Family was resource-strapped andcked an alchemist. Despite their years of cultivation, they had never consumed a pill.
Noticing their troubled expressions, Xiao Yuansi offered a solution with a light chuckle, ¡°Eating this fruit raw could potentially shorten the time it takes for one person to condense a Meridian Nourishment.¡±
Observing Li Tongya and Li Xiangping¡¯s hesitant expressions, Xiao Yuansi swiftly grasped their unspoken request and offered, ¡°I can assist you by crafting pills from this fruit. Given my current proficiency in alchemy, I should be able to yield seven or eight Snake Essence Pills. ording to tradition, you¡¯ll get six pills while I get to keep the extras.¡±
Li Tongya and Li Xiangping quickly expressed their gratitude, visibly relieved and happy. Xiao Yuansi then patted one of the silk pouches at his waist and deftly summoned a jade box.
He channeled a surge of mana to his fingers, then delicately detached the Snake Dragon Fruit and gently dropped it into the jade box.
¡°Using jade containers for harvesting special herbs and fruits is crucial for preserving the spiritual essence, and using mana for picking prevents damage to the fruit,¡± Xiao Yuansi exined as he skillfully harvested the fruits.
¡°We¡¯ll make the pills tomorrow!¡± he announced. When he patted the silk pouch on his waist again, the jade box instantly vanished from his hand.
The brothers watched his every movement in awe and envy.
Stowing the jade box away safely, Xiao Yuansi smiled and asked, ¡°Is there anything else you need help with?¡±
¡°Thank you, Immortal Master!¡± Li Xiangping and Li Tongya expressed their gratitude first, then presented a leather scroll to Xiao Yuansi.
Xiao Yuansi epted the leather scroll, untied the white rope, and unrolled it.
¡°Misty Barrier Formation?¡± he asked after examining the content.
Chapter 34: Misty Maze Formation
Chapter 34: Misty Maze Formation
Xiao Yuansi scrutinized the formation diagram for a considerable time before shaking his head dismissively.
¡°I was expecting something novel, but this is merely a renamed Misty Maze Formation,¡± he remarked.
He handed the diagram back to Li Xiangping, adding, ¡°While I¡¯m not a formation expert, this one seems overly simplistic. It might deceive cultivators in the Embryonic Breathing Realm, but any cultivator who has condensed the Jade Capital Chakra could dismantle it easily. Cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm could effortlessly break the formation and capture the gs.¡±
Li Xiangping cupped his fist and replied with a wry smile, ¡°Our Li Family isn¡¯t very well-off, so even a basic formation would put us at ease.¡±
Xiao Yuansi chuckled while looking at Li Xiangping who was still at the Radiant Lure stage, and Li Tongya who was at the Celestial Whirl stage.
¡°It is indeed quite useful for those at your current level.¡±
Xiao Yuansi then pulled out six small gs from his pouch. These blue and white gs had profound runes drawn on them and were attached to brownish-red poles.
¡°These were the gs I used during my Jade Capital stage. They are crafted from white-striped crucian carp skin, and the poles are made of red birch wood. They¡¯re quite valuable for those in the Embryonic Breathing Realm and can be used with your formation. They¡¯re of no use to me now, so I¡¯ll use them to set up a Misty Maze Formation for you here. If you find a better formation diagram in the future, these gs will still serve you well.¡±
Before Li Xiangping and Li Tongya could express their gratitude, Xiao Yuansi waved his hand to stop them. With a smile, he said, ¡°That would be twelve Spirit Stones.¡±
Li Xiangping, taken aback, smiled awkwardly. ¡°If I may ask, what are these Spirit Stones...?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have any Spirit Stones?¡± The smile on Xiao Yuansi faded slightly as he exined, ¡°To immortal cultivators, Spirit Stones are like what gold and silver are to mortals. They¡¯remonly used for transactions in markets or stores, andrger families need them to pay tributes.¡±
Intrigued, Li Xiangping quickly asked, ¡°How many Spirit Stones are the White Essence Fruits and Spirit Paddies worth?¡±
Xiao Yuansi rubbed his chin and pondered thoughtfully before responding, ¡°You could exchange ten White Essence Fruits for one Spirit Stone. As for Spirit Paddies, that¡¯ll be a hundred jin.¡±
Li Xiangping and Li Tongya were momentarily speechless, each thinking, A hundred jin of Spirit Paddiespelled the Wan Family to rent fields from us. These twelve Spirit Stones equate to an enormous twelve hundred jin of Spirit Paddies. Even our entire Li Family¡¯s wealth can¡¯t match up to that.
Noticing their silence, Xiao Yuansi quickly understood their predicament. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Consider your Misty Barrier Formation as a partial payment, amounting to two Spirit Stones. The rest will be considered as debt for now. Once your family gathers the necessary amount, you can send it to Qingsui Peak through the officials who collect the tributes in Lixia Prefecture.¡±
Li Xiangping, managing a grateful yet strained smile, bowed in thanks. He then watched as Xiao Yuansi deftly performed a hand seal. The six formation gs in his hands levitated in the air.
With amanding gesture from Xiao Yuansi, five of the gs soared into the air, trailing pale white mes, before splitting up and diving into the bamboo forest at the foot of the mountain as if they had minds of their own.
A dense gray mist instantly enveloped Mount Lijing, obscuring itpletely.
After a while, the mist receded. From afar, the people on the mountain vanished, and the mountain appeared timeless and unchanging, as if frozen in that very moment.
¡°There you have it. I¡¯ve set up the Misty Maze Formation from our sect for you, which is far superior to your Misty Barrier Formation,¡± Xiao Yuasi announced.
He then nted the remaining g into the ground, revealing a small formation eye about the size of a palm. It glowed softly and divided into two segments.
¡°This formation eye has two sections¡ªan outeryer and an inner eye. A glowing outeryer means there¡¯s an intruder at the foot of the mountain. A glowing inner eye means that the intruder has breached the formation.¡±
Xiao Yuansi dusted his hands and gestured toward the formation eye.
¡°Once you¡¯ve condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and infused your spiritual sense into this formation eye, you¡¯ll gainplete control over the formation. Currently, with your Celestial Whirl Chakra, you can only ce a drop of your blood on the formation g here so that the formation will recognize and respond to you,¡± he exined.
¡°Thank you, Immortal Master!¡± Li Tongya and Li Xiangping expressed their gratitude as they stepped forward to drop their blood on the formation eye. The eye flickered, and they immediately sensed a subtle connection with it.
Witnessing this extraordinary event, Li Xiangping felt a lift in spirits, despite the looming debt.
He thought to himself, This Misty Maze Formation is better than I thought. It not only conceals and protects our mountain gate from prying mortal eyes but also allows for repeated use of the formation g. These ten Spirit Stones seem like a worthy investment. As our younger members mature, we can make full use of the vige¡¯s spirit fields. It¡¯s just a matter of time until we can fully establish our mountain gate, especially with the mirror...
Xiao Yuan Si concluded the spell and inquired cheerfully, ¡°Is there anything else you wish to discuss?¡±
The brothers shook their heads. Xiao Yuansiughed softly and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take a stroll on the mountain, kill some demons, gather some spirit herbs, and return at dawn tomorrow to refine the pills.¡±
¡°Take care, Immortal Master,¡± Li Xiangping and the others bid him farewell, watching as Xiao Yuansi summoned a flying shuttle and soared away.
Once Xiao Yuansi was out of sight, Li Tongya turned to Liu Linfeng.
¡°Uncle, this academy is no longer suitable for the mountains. We¡¯ll move it down the mountain tonight.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll start preparing,¡± Liu Linfeng agreed.
Li Tongya nced at Li Xiangping and said, ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll take the mirror and...¡±
¡°Brother!¡± Li Xiangping, ever vignt, suspected that Xiao Yuansi might still be nearby and hastily interrupted before Li Tongya could say more.
Li Tongya caught on immediately. They exchanged a knowing look, then sat down cross-legged and began their cultivation practice.
Mount Lijing, though not a renowned peak, was part of the lingering veins of Mount Dali. It nurtured spirit roots like the Snake Dragon Fruit.
With the formation isting the internal and external flow of spiritual qi, the earth¡¯s vein began glowing with spiritual energy. Much to the brothers¡¯ astonishment and satisfaction, the concentration of spiritual qi gradually increased until it was ten percent higher than the surrounding areas.
They cultivated until dawn when the first rays of sunlight pierced the mountain mist, condensing into dewdrops on the treetops.
That was when Xiao Yuansi returned, looking all tidied up. He gracefully descended from the sky on his flying shuttle andnded in the courtyard.
¡°Time to refine the pills!¡± he announced cheerily, producing a tall ebony-colored furnace which was as tall as a person from his storage pouch.
Sitting down cross-legged, he exined to the brothers, ¡°This Snake Essence Pill, despite its name, is actually quite mild. Although it¡¯s a pill for those in the Qi Cultivation Realm, it can also be safely consumed by those in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. They will be of great benefits to both of you.¡±
Xiao Yuansi then took a brownish-yellow wood block from his pouch. With both hands, he summoned a pure white Pill me from his dantian and lightly touched the wood block with it.
The block instantly ignited, emitting a ghostly blue me. Tossing the burning block into the furnace¡¯s base, he then took out the jade box containing the Snake Dragon Fruit. With a flick of his mana, he sent the fruit into the furnace.
Chapter 35: Departure
Chapter 35: Departure
As the Snake Dragon Fruit dissolved in the furnace, transforming into a glob of red medicinal liquid floating above the Pill me, Xiao Yuansi added several other supplementary herbs into the mix.
He then refined the concoction with the Pill me, dedicating over an hour to the process. Only when the mountain mist cleared and the dew evaporated did eight pale red spirit pills emerge from the furnace.
Xiao Yuansi performed a hand seal, and the pills flew into his palm and glowed with a soft white light.
He carefully ced them into eight white jade vials, keeping two for himself and handing the remaining six to Li Xiangping.
¡°Store these Snake Essence Pills in their jade vials to preserve them properly. Remove the wooden corks only when you are about to consume them. If exposed, their medicinal potency will gradually dissipate and they¡¯ll go to waste. No worries though, they¡¯ll remain effective for about twenty years if kept sealed.¡±
Li Xiangping and Li Tongya epted the vials with gratitude. They exchanged nces, then selected three vials of Snake Essence Pills and requested, ¡°Immortal Master, we¡¯d be grateful if you could deliver these to our younger brother to aid his cultivation.¡±
¡°Certainly. It¡¯s admirable how the Li Family values kinship. I¡¯ll ensure your brother receives these.¡± Xiao Yuansi nodded approvingly and carefully stored the three jade vials.
He cupped his fist and advised, ¡°Your family has embarked on the path of immortal cultivation recently, and while the foundation is yet nascent, it¡¯s vital to cultivate skills in alchemy, formation, and refining. Attracting individuals with spiritual orifices into your n is essential to avoid the risk of your n fading in a few generations... The Li Family must seize the opportunity, especially as Lixia Road and Guli Roadck significant immortal cultivation ns.¡±
¡°Countless families have risen and fallen over centuries. As one of the ns in the prefecture, the Xiao Family has witnessed many such cycles. The Li Family must persevere and grow stronger...¡±
His words resonated with Li Tongya, who could not help but feel the weight of their responsibility. With a long sigh, he replied, ¡°You¡¯re right, Immortal Master. My brother and I started from scratch, and now there are only less than thirty in the main Li family and about two to three hundred in the side Ye family. Jing¡¯er alone pursues cultivation within the sect, and we, unfortunately,ck the resources to provide him with the necessary support for his journey.¡±
As Li Tongya sighed, Xiao Yuansi frowned and said, ¡°My expertise in alchemy was inherited from my n, and I¡¯ve taken a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, binding me to keep the Snake Essence Pill recipe confidential. However, you might find useful information if you visit the marketce.¡±
Li Xiangping, seizing the opportunity, asked, ¡°Immortal Master, could you borate on this Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath...?¡±
Xiao Yuansi exined, ¡°In our n, the oath is crucial for passing down skills secretly. The caster pledges on their Profound Scenery Chakra, binding their very essence to the vow. Viting the oath would shatter their Profound Scenery, leading to a rapid loss of cultivation. The immortal cultivator will quickly revert to a mortal and face an inevitable death due to the exhaustion of qi.¡±
¡°This Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath sounds useful for preserving legacy. May I know the price of...¡± Li Tongya immediately asked, only to be interrupted by Xiao Yuansi with a wave of his hand before he could finish.
¡°It¡¯s only a basic trick known to many. I can write it down for you.¡±
In about ten to fifteen minutes, Xiao Yuansi finished writing the oath but cautioned, ¡°Remember, this oath doesn¡¯t call about the heavenly Dao. It¡¯s effective for keeping secrets, but it may not prevent malicious intentions. Discerning good and evil remains aplex matter, beyond the simple confines of any oath.¡±
¡°Thank you for the warning, Immortal Master! The Li Family is in your debt!¡± The brothers quickly thanked Xiao Yuansi.
Li Xiangping felt a weight lift from his shoulders, and his mood improved significantly.
The Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath will be anotheryer of assurance. Once the two kids attain the Profound Scenery Chakra and take the oath, we¡¯ll be able to trust them, he thought to himself.
As Xiao Yuansi epted the return letter from Li Xiangping, he gathered his furnace and summoned his flying shuttle.
With a light chuckle, he reassured them, ¡°My junior brother is quite a skilled cultivator. Although his root bone[1] is only average, he shows promising talent in swordsmanship. You have no cause for concern. Let us meet again when fate wills it!¡±
With a final farewell, Xiao Yuansi ascended into the sky on his shuttle, leaving amidst the brothers¡¯ expressions of gratitude.
Once he was out of sight, Li Xiangping carefully stowed away the three remaining vials of pills in his chest pocket and turned to Li Tongya with a smile.
¡°Jing¡¯er is fortunate to have such a great senior brother,¡± he said.
Li Tongya nodded. While reading the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, he passed the jade slip to Li Xiangping, inviting him to examine its contents.
Li Xiangping epted the jade slip and eagerly examined it. However, he soon found himself overwhelmed by the wall of tiny text.
Struggling through just a handful of sentences, he muttered in disbelief, ¡°This is supposed to be easy?¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanxuan was distracted during ss today. His eyes were on Han Wenxu who was speaking at the podium, yet his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Han Wenxu was nearing fifty, and the gray hair on his sideburns was slowly creeping onto his head. In his twenties, he was an apothecary in training at one of the medicine stores in the prefecture. A moment of heated anger led to a fatal incident, forcing him to flee and seek refuge on Mount Dali.
For the past twenty years, he had been living a fulfilling life, dedicated to healing vigers and educating children.
Observing the earnest faces of his young students, Han Wenxu¡¯s expression softened with affection. Though childless himself, he had nurtured the children of the Li family as if they were his own. The bond he shared with these children, who had grown under his tutge, was as profound as that between an uncle and his nieces and nephews.
Noticing a thinyer of fog curling at his feet, Han Wenxu paused, perplexed.
¡°Hmm? Fog at this hour...?¡± he pondered aloud, a hint of concern lining his features.
Li Xuanxuan, struggling to stay awake in his seat, suddenly perked up. He nudged Li Xiewen who was also dozing off beside him, whispering urgently, ¡°Brother Wen, look outside!¡±
Li Xiewen, startled, saw the gray mist swirling outside and whispered back apprehensively, ¡°What''s happening, Big Brother?¡±
Li Xuanxuan knitted his small eyebrows together and said in a serious tone, ¡°This fog seems quite unusual. The adults in my family are on the mountain, let¡¯s go up there to let them know.¡±
Despite being less than six years old, Li Xuanxuan had the maturity of an eight or nine-year-old child.
Their conversation was interrupted as Liu Linfeng entered the ssroom and whispered something to Han Wenxu. After a brief exchange, Han Wenxu nodded and announced, ¡°Everyone, pack up your clothes and nkets, there¡¯ll be no sses for the next three days.¡±
Li Xuanxuan and Li Xiewen exchanged nces, then quickly packed their belongings amidst the happy cheers of the other children who were ted at the unexpected break.
After rying the message to Han Wenxu, Liu Linfeng sat on the steps at the entrance of the academy and waited for the children. His mouth felt lonely so he reached for the pipe in his chest pocket.
When he lifted his head again, he saw a shadowy figure lurking in the fog. It seemed to be hiding in the forest and keeping watch of something.
Liu Linfeng shot up from the ground in shock. His precious pipe fell from his grasp, shattering on the ground. Ovee with fear and disregarding the broken pipe, he called out, ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡±
1. Root bone is the foundation of all martial arts, and it determines one¡¯s future. A person with good root bone will be able to achieve much more with less effort whereas a person with inferior root bone will find his future achievements limited. ?
Chapter 36: Why Complicate Matters
Chapter 36: Why Complicate Matters
Liu Miaotu had roamed the mountain for a full day and night. He had not spotted even a single hare, let alone any immortal treasure.
Frustrated, he plopped down on arge rock and vented his anger toward the idle vigers, ¡°Bah, those stupid dogs must be lying when they said there¡¯s treasure up on this mountain!¡±
As the mountains grew misty, Liu Miaotu shivered and thought, The mountain beasts might have been driven away years ago, but who can be sure they were all caught? This creeping fog bodes ill. I better descend now...
He rose and trekked down the mountain path for nearly two hours, only to be swallowed by a thick, blinding fog.
¡°Damn it! How have I not reached the foot yet?¡±
Staring at therge rock before him, a chill ran down Liu Miaotu¡¯s spine.
¡°Impossible!¡± he gasped.
It was the same rock he had sat on before. How was it possible that two hours of walking led him right back to the same spot?!
Liu Miaotu turned and fled in a panic, running until he was out of breath. Yet, there it was again¡ªthe rock, right before his very eyes.
¡°Damn it... I¡¯m trapped.¡±
As night fell, Liu Miaotu, who was clothed thinly, sumbed to the cold wind and lost consciousness.
By the time he awoke, it was already dawn and he was feeling feverish. He thought he had heard a scream and looked up to see a figure nearby.
He struggled to his feet, then heard a voice shouting, ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡±
Dazed and confused, Liu Miaotu¡¯s legs gave way, and he tumbled right in front of the stranger.
Liu Linfeng looked at the face of the person in front of him and immediately recognized him.
Anger surged through him, coloring his face red as he bellowed, ¡°What the hell are you doing here?!¡±
Liu Miaotu was immediately jolted awake by his voice.
¡°I came... to gather firewood,¡± he answered timidly.
¡°Nonsense!¡± Liu Linfeng exploded in fury, pointing usingly at Liu Miaotu. ¡°How dare you venture here without the family¡¯s permission? Do you think this ce is for the likes of you?¡±
As soon as Liu Linfeng said that, he was jarred awake by his own harsh words. A cold shiver ran from the base of his spine to the nape of his neck.
He thought grimly, Why does our Liu Family have such a failure? It''s an ill omen. My nephew is cruel and suspicious, there¡¯s no way he can be kept alive. I just hope his actions won¡¯t bring trouble to our family.
As he watched Liu Miaotu kneel and bow desperately before him, an idea formed in Liu Linfeng¡¯s mind.
His expression turned icy as he said, ¡°Come with me if you want to save yourself.¡±
Liu Miaotu hurriedly followed him into the courtyard. Liu Linfeng took out a thick hemp rope and, with a deft motion, tied Liu Miaotu¡¯s hands behind his back.
¡°Chief, what are you...¡± Liu Miaotu¡¯s voice wasced with fear and confusion.
¡°I¡¯m bringing you along so that you can seek forgiveness and show your sincerity,¡± Liu Linfeng replied curtly, tying a knife to his waist swiftly.
¡°Let''s go,¡± he said coldly.
¡°Y-Yes, thank you, Chief!¡±
Soon, they reached the front of the courtyard. Liu Linfeng pointed to the muddy ground beside the road and said, ¡°Kneel over there.¡±
After saying that, he then went to summon Li Tongya and Li Xiangping.
As soon as he entered the courtyard and saw the brothers, Liu Linfeng kneeled and said with evident remorse, ¡°The Liu Family has failed in its discipline. Please, forgive us.¡±
The sight startled the two brothers, who quickly came over to help Liu Linfeng to his feet.
Li Tongya spoke gravely. ¡°Please get up! What happened?¡±
After Liu Linfeng recounted Liu Miaotu¡¯s misdeeds with a bitter expression, Li Xiangping merely responded calmly, ¡°You can handle this matter yourself. There¡¯s no need for such formality.¡±
¡°Please, follow me.¡± Liu Linfeng shook his head and led them to where Liu Miaotu knelt.
Upon seeing the three men, Liu Miaotu cried out in terror. Without hesitation, Liu Linfeng stepped forward and swiftly ran the knife across Liu Miaotu¡¯s throat.
Liu Miaotu¡¯s screams were cut short as blood spurted from his neck like a fountain. He coughed violently, spewing blood, then copsed to the ground with a thud.
¡°Uncle is always thorough.¡± Li Xiangping pped his hands as he watched Liu Miaotu fall.
He then turned to Li Tongya and said with a smile, ¡°He even chose the mud field, so as not to sully our residence¡¯s stone path.¡±
Li Tongya sighed deeply, looking toward Liu Linfeng. ¡°Uncle, please take care of the rest.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Liu Linfeng promptly replied, then dragged the body into the forest.
As he left, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping entered the courtyard. Li Tongya wore a troubled expression, but Li Xiangping, patting his shoulder, said solemnly, ¡°He brought it upon himself.¡±
Li Tongya let out a wry smile, meeting his brother¡¯s gaze and rified,
¡°I wasn¡¯t pitying him. I was just reflecting. It was because of your strong leadership in the Li family that Father felt confident in stepping back. The rest of us are not as ruthless, after all.¡±
Li Xiangping smiled, shook his head, and replied, ¡°You, Li Tongya, would also kill, but only after summoning the vigers as witnesses, listing the eight great sins of the condemned, and ceremoniously executing the sentence. It¡¯s all to ease your conscience. But whyplicate matters when you¡¯re still going to kill him in the end?¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Standing before the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain, Li Tongya pondered Li Xiangping¡¯s words.
If I hadn¡¯t killed him, our Li Family could face the same fate as the Wan Family, riddled with betrayal.
Shaking off these thoughts, Li Tongya gently pushed open the courtyard door. Inside, he saw Liu Rouxuan seated cross-legged as she diligently cultivated, breathing spiritual qi.
This Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique focuses on breathing spiritual qi to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra. It¡¯s a slow and inefficient process. No wonder Liu Rouxuan isn¡¯t making significant progress after nearly two years. On the contrary, I heard Li Qiuyang is advancing rapidly with the effect of Snake Dragon Fruit and is expected to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra soon.
Liu Rouxuan¡¯s usually bright demeanor was now reced by serious concentration. It was a rare sight for Li Tongya so he could not help but spare a few more nces on her.
Her eyshes fluttered slightly but her breathing was steady. She looked as if she were nearing the end of her meditation, so he quickly averted his eyes.
Liu Rouxuan¡¯s eyes flickered open, and upon seeing Li Tongya, she eximed with a hint of surprise, ¡°Brother Ya!¡±
¡°Mhm.¡± Li Tongya hung his head and hummed softly, almost as if he felt guilty for staring earlier.
Liu Rouxuan gazed at the side of his face, then suddenly said glumly, ¡°I¡¯m already seventeen. Most in the vige are likely married with children by now. Yet, here I am, without even apanion.¡±
Li Tongya shook his head at her words and responded softly, ¡°Once you¡¯ve embarked on the immortal path, such worldly matters be less important. You¡¯re not like them. Focusing on your cultivation and condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra should be your primary concern.¡±
¡°But I am diligent! I cultivate for sixteen hours a day!¡± Liu Rouxuan pouted and quickly defended herself, then looked up at Li Tongya again.
¡°Brother Ya, are you single because of cultivation too?¡±
Li Tongya nodded lightly in response.
Liu Rouxuan¡¯s cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, and with a slightly trembling breath, she asked, ¡°Brother Tongya... could you... perhaps consider someone like me?¡±
Chapter 37: Spirit Paddies
Chapter 37: Spirit Paddies
Li Tongya¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.
He quickly turned his head, gazing down at the gently swaying, pale green Spirit Paddies in the field, and quietly said, ¡°You should... focus on condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra first before thinking about anything else.¡±
With a mischievous smile, Liu Rouxuan leaned in close to Li Tongya¡¯s face and whispered in his ear, ¡°Then, Brother Tong Ya, don¡¯t go running off with someone else, all right...?¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he rose abruptly and chided, ¡°You better focus on cultivation!¡±
With that, he hurriedly left the courtyard and walked into the distance.
Strolling along the stone path for quite some distance, Li Tongya sshed his face with river water and gradually regained hisposure.
Smiling wryly, he said, ¡°It seems like I¡¯ve fallen for her.¡±
Li Xiangping, sitting by the shore with a grin, teased Li Tongya, ¡°So, Second Brother has truly fallen for Liu Rouxuan! Father¡¯s n has paid off!¡±
He continued, ¡°Father¡¯s decision to have you oversee Liu Rouxuan was a clever ruse. You saw it merely as a strategy to relocate in order to keep the Liu Family¡¯s influence in check, yet you were blind to the deeper game he was ying with you, Li Tongya.¡±
¡°Stop teasing me, Third Brother!¡± Li Tongya responded with a wry smile, shaking his head in resignation before adding, ¡°The more I observe father, the more I realize there¡¯s so much to learn from the old man.¡±
¡°Indeed!¡± Li Xiangping nodded earnestly.
¡°Regarding the three Snake Essence Pills left by Xiao Yuansi, let¡¯s use them to break through to the Jade Capital Chakra. Father and Yesheng have fed their blood to the Misty Maze Formation. I¡¯ll take the mirror to the small courtyard on the mountain myself. As for mastering the Profound Water Sword Technique... I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s beyond me. You should take a closer look at it,¡± he continued with a serious tone.
Li Tongya scooped up a handful of river water, rinsing his hands as he replied, "With Chejing gone to the immortal sect for nearly three years now, and our first batch of Spirit Paddies about to mature, we can¡¯t afford to rest in theing days.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
This year, Lijing Vige was nketed in a heavier snowfall than in previous years.
The Spirit Paddies in the field have ripened, their light green panicles cradling grain clusters that resemble white jade, standing resiliently against the snow, refusing to bow their branches.
The Spirit Paddies were unlike ordinary grains, their des as sharp as knives, demanding an axe for harvest. Li Tongya and the others had imbued the harvesting scythes with a Golden Light spell so that the Spirit Fields could be harvested swiftly.
Observing the small green stacks of gathered Spirit Paddies, Li Qiuyang stepped through the snow, pping his hands with augh.
¡°Brother Xiangping, these Spirit Paddies look splendid.¡±
After Li Qiuyang seeded in condensing the Profound Scenery Chakrast month, he took the Profound Scenery Spirit Oath in the Li Family¡¯s ancestral hall and learned a few spells.
At the age of ten, the boy¡¯s appearance has matured, hinting at the good-looking teen he would be.
A year ago, he had gathered enough spiritual power but failed in condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra. Because of this, he had to meditate for another year to recover his spiritual power, allowing Liu Rouxuan to catch up to him soon.
¡°Indeed,¡± Li Xiangping responded, smiling broadly. His mana flowed freely, having already condensed the Celestial Whirl Chakra.
Tian Yun recently delivered twins of different genders, much to the delight of the Li family. The birth of these children filled Li Xiangping with joy.
Old Master Li looked at the children, then named the boy Li Xuanfeng and the girl Li Jingtian ording to the family¡¯s naming tradition.
¡°The White Essence Fruit isn¡¯t ripe yet, but we can take these harvested Spirit Paddies back first.¡±
The vigers behind them had already meticulously removed the leaves of the Spirit Paddies, each with careful precision using a reamer. The leaves of the Spirit Paddies were as sharp as knives, making the task arduous and challenging for them.
Only after securely binding the bundles with thick rope did they dare to carry them, two at a time.
As they reached the foot of Mount Lijing, a thinyer of mist began to form.
¡°Stay close! This formation might kill you if you stray off!¡± Li Yesheng warned the people behind him.
The vigers respond promptly, treading the stone path to the top of the mountain. After they deposited bundles of Spirit Paddies in the courtyard, Li Xiangping instructed, ¡°Take them down.¡±
The panicles must be picked from the stem of the Spirit Paddies with mana and then processed with a specific spell to remove the husks of the Spirit Rice. This was all necessary to preserve the spiritual qi of the Spirit Rice.
Mortals could only assist in the harvesting with the scythes imbued with Golden Light spells and transporting the Spirit Paddies.
The crucial aspects of the harvest were still reserved for the hands of immortal cultivators.
¡°Third Uncle! n brother!¡±
Li Xuanxuan emerged from the courtyard, cupping his fist to Li Qiuyang and Li Xiangping respectfully.
Now over seven years old, he was growing steadily, bearing a striking resemnce to thete Li Changhu.
As Li Xuanxuan approached Li Qiuyang, Li Xiangping¡¯s expression shifted. He quickly beckoned the boy over, ¡°Xuanxuan,e here.¡±
Once Li Xuanxuan was seated beside him, Li Xiangping chuckled warmly and said, ¡°This boy had his spiritual orifice measured a year ago, and he has made remarkable progress in cultivation. I believe it won¡¯t be long before he condenses the Profound Scenery Chakra.¡±
Hearing this, Li Xuanxuan was puzzled.
Our family has never assessed my root bone or passed down any teachings. What does Third Uncle mean by this?
Despite his thought, he smiled and nodded at Li Qiuyang, who looked on with envy.
¡°How impressive, Xuan¡¯er!¡± Li Qiuyang could not help but praise. Recalling that he had only managed to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra two years ago, he felt somewhat humbled.
After exchanging a few words, Li Xuanxuan excused himself as Li Tongya arrived at the mountain. The group then spent several hours harvesting the Spirit Paddies and removing the husks.
Li Mutian divided them up and packed them into sacks. He then weighed the yield and announced, ¡°One hundred and twenty jin of Spirit Rice, forty jin of Spirit Rice Bran. This should suffice for the next two years¡¯ tributes.¡±
After seeing Li Qiuyang off, Li Xiangping ced the two sacks of Spirit Rice and Spirit Rice Brans on the table and marveled at the grains. Seeing the Spirit Rice shining like white jade, he let out a sigh of admiration before carefully moving the sacks into the house.
He then turned to Li Tongya and said, ¡°Xuanxuan is now seven and physically well-developed enough to begin his cultivation.¡±
Li Tongya was caught off guard. He nodded pensively and then followed Li Xiangping into the house.
Inside, a charcoal fire burned warmly. With Li Mutian already retired for the night, Li Xuanxuan sat alone by the stove, gazing out at the snowy Mount Lijing.
Upon seeing Li Xiangping and Li Tongya, Li Xuanxuan rose quickly, his expression one of concern:
¡°Third Uncle, why did you tell n Brother that I¡¯m about to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra? Wouldn¡¯t it be embarrassing if I ended up having no spiritual orifice?¡±
Li Xiangping carefully shut the doors and windows, then put his finger on his lips and hushed Li Xuanxuan.
¡°Follow me,¡± he said in a low voice.
Li Xuanxuan fell silent and obediently trailed behind Li Xiangping to a secluded brick house at the back of the courtyard.
Li Xiangping took out a key and then unlocked the door. He slowly pushed it open, and whispered to Li Xuanxuan, ¡°Go in.¡±
The solemn expression on Li Xiangping¡¯s face made Li Xuanxuan feel uneasy. The room was spacious, with only a bluestone tform at its center. Atop the tform sat a bluish-gray mirror.
The smell of burning incense filled the air, instilling a sense of tranquility. Li Xuanxuan nced up at Li Xiangping.
Seeing that his third uncle was standing silently with his gaze fixed on the mirror, Li Xuanxuan remained silent.
Chapter 38: Passing on the Method
Chapter 38: Passing on the Method
¡°I secretly assessed your root bone a few months back.¡± Li Xiangping paused, he turned to face Li Xuanxuan, whose eyes were wide with anticipation, and continued, ¡°There¡¯s no spiritual orifice in your Qihai.¡±
For Li Xuanxuan, these words shocked him like lightning from a clear sky. His mind reeled and a wave of sadness flooded his heart. His eyes reddened and he pressed his lips firmly in a struggle to ept this harsh reality.
His understanding of spirit orifices was limited. All he knew was that the number of immortal cultivators in their entire vige could be counted on one hand.
Among them were the two uncles in his family and even Li Qiuyang, a lesser talented member from the side family, was blessed with a spiritual orifice. In light of this, he had always assumed that he, too, would naturally have at least a spiritual orifice even if hecked innate talent.
Upon hearing that hecked any spiritual orifice and was destined to remain a mere mortal for life, a wave of gloom enveloped Li Xuanxuan¡¯s heart and unshed tears slowly filled his eyes.
¡°This mirror here is a treasure I found as a child while fishing in the river,¡± Li Xiangping said, gesturing to the bluish-gray object on the stone tform,
He gently patted Li Xuanxuan¡¯s head with a smile and asked, ¡°Do you know its special power?¡±
Li Xuanxuan, fighting back tears, replied earnestly, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±
¡°It grants those without spiritual orifice the ability to cultivate.¡±
Upon hearing this, Li Xuanxuan¡¯s despair momentarily ceased. He fixed his gaze on Li Xiangping¡¯s face as a flicker of hope ignited within him.
He broke into a tearful smile and said, ¡°Are you teasing me, Third Uncle?¡±
Seeing Li Xiangping¡¯s smiling face, a realization dawned on him. He shivered and gasped, ¡°Could it be that...¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Li Xiangping confirmed solemnly.
"Your father, your second and third uncles, even your fourth uncle, Li Chejing, who is cultivating at the immortal sect... None of us possesses a spiritual orifice. The rise of our Li Family is entirely thanks to this mirror. Without it, we¡¯d be mere farming peasants.¡±
The gravity of this revtion left Li Xuanxuan speechless, his world spinning as he whispered in disbelief, ¡°This mirror picked up from the river transformed my family from mortals to immortals?¡±
¡°Yes! This mirror can refine moonlight into the Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds. It¡¯s miraculous but dangerous. If word gets out, our family could be destroyed!¡± Li Xiangping warned. He paused for a moment upon seeing Li Xuanxuan¡¯s astonished expression.
Meanwhile, Li Xuanxuan murmured to himself, piecing together the puzzle.
¡°So that¡¯s it! Now it all makes sense! No wonder Grandpa refuses to speak about his cultivation whenever I ask. So my three uncles have spiritual orifices not because of Grandpa¡¯s achievements but this treasure!
¡°Third Uncle kept Li Qiuyang away from me in order to conceal the fact that Ick a spiritual orifice. When the Liu Family secretly climbed the mountain and was killed by my family, it wasn¡¯t out of cruelty. Third Uncle was only acting out of fear...¡±
The realization sent a shiver down Li Xuanxuan¡¯s spine. With sweat beading on his forehead, he respectfully cupped his fist to Li Xiangping and said, ¡°Everyone seems to have misunderstood Third Uncle and thought that he is fierce and wary! With such a treasure in the Li Family, caution is necessary.¡±
Li Xiangping was struck by the boy¡¯sment. Looking at Li Xuanxuan, he could not help but think that the child before him seemed to have grown beyond his years.
He gently asked, ¡°Do you know why I told Li Qiuyang that you¡¯re close to condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra?¡±
Li Xuanxuan thought deeply for a moment, then responded, ¡°My guess is that this mirror can greatly speed up cultivation progress. Third Uncle probably said that to prevent Li Qiuyang from raising suspicions, making it seem as if I had already started cultivating months ago.¡±
¡°Good!¡± Li Xiangpingmended, patting Li Xuanxuan¡¯s shoulder approvingly. ¡°You¡¯re truly a child of the Li Family. You¡¯ve learned much from your grandfather!¡±
He then knelt before the stone tform, tapped a spot gently, and retrieved a wooden slip from its side.
Handing it to Li Xuanxuan and watching him ept the item respectfully, he exined, ¡°This contains the ¡°Reception Method¡±. It¡¯s key to acquiring the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed. Study it well here over the next month. On the winter solstice, you¡¯ll be ready to receive the talisman seed. You¡¯ll stay in the adjacent room, and I¡¯ll make sure someone brings you your meals.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Li Xuanxuan nodded with conviction, his gaze intently fixed on the wooden slip. As Li Xiangping closed the door and his footsteps receded into silence, Li Xuanxuan bowed his head, deeply engrossed in the text before him.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
...Father is in good health, and Second Brother has sessfully condensed the Celestial Whirl Chakra. Enclosed within this letter are three Snake Essence Pills. I hope Jing¡¯er will diligently cultivate and soon progress to the Qi Cultivation Realm. Everyone at home is well. There¡¯s no need for concern!
Li Chejing carefully put away the letter, wiping away tears from his eyes. He carefully ced the three bottles of Snake Essence Pills on a shelf, then turned to Xiao Yuansi.
¡°Thank you, Senior Brother. Your kindness to our family is deeply appreciated. I¡¯m truly grateful,¡± he expressed his gratitude.
¡°There¡¯s no need for such formalities,¡± Xiao Yuan Si replied, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯re more than senior brothers in the same sect; we¡¯re a family. You don¡¯t have to be so polite.¡±
Li Chejing nodded solemnly, then shared, ¡°With these Snake Essence Pills and the Bright Spirit Powder from Master, I¡¯m quite certain I¡¯ll be able to condense the Jade Capital Chakra.¡±
After a moment of reflection, he inquired softly, ¡°Master mentioned that during the transition from the Embryonic Breathing Realm to the Qi Cultivation Realm, one must first swallow the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. Could you enlighten me on the specifics?¡±
Xiao Yuansi took a sip of tea, moistening his throat before exining, ¡°In the process of refining qi, one must first inhale a breath of Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth.
¡°This spiritual qi could manifest in various forms¡ªthe Minor Pure Spiritual Qi from refining the spiritual qi among the mountains, or by converting the baleful qi from earth veins into Earth Vein Baleful Qi, or even capturing morning mist and refining it into Dawn Colored Qi...¡±
¡°The key is to ensure that this qi aligns with your cultivation method to ensure purity and potency,ying a strong foundation for building mana. Most of the rogue cultivators opt for the Minor Pure Spiritual Qi refined from spiritual qi among the mountains as it¡¯spatible with various cultivation methods, and it¡¯s neither too intense nor too mild.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Li Chejing¡¯s interest was immediately piqued by Xiao Yuansi¡¯s exnation.
Eager for more information, he quickly asked, ¡°What type of Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth would be most suitable for my family¡¯s qi cultivation technique?¡±
¡°While I¡¯m not familiar with your family¡¯s specific cultivation method, judging by the rity and brightness of your mana, there are several techniques within our sect that would suit you well.¡±
Xiao Yuansi set down his teacup, smiling as he noticed Li Chejing¡¯s eager expression, and borated, ¡°One such technique is the Clear Essence Rain Control Technique, a renowned technique in our Azure Pond Sect. It harnesses the qi found in the mist of rain, specifically refined from the rain and mist of the spirit mountain. It excels in maneuvering clouds and mist, using softness to ovee adversaries.
¡°Another is the Yin Mountain Forest Mist Technique. This method draws upon the Yin qi found in mountainous regions, but not many of our sect members chose to use this.
¡°The third, and most challenging, is the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique. Since the third peak master of Moon Lake Peak mastered it, no one else has seeded. Perhaps there are some tricks behind it, but that master passed over three hundred years ago, leaving no clues behind...¡±
Upon hearing the mention of a technique rted to the moon, Li Chejing¡¯s heart surged with excitement.
However, his enthusiasm waned when Xiao Yuansi mentioned its difficulty, prompting him to ask anxiously, ¡°Why has no one else seeded?¡±
Chapter 39: Supreme Yin Profound Light
Chapter 39: Supreme Yin Profound Light
¡°The Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique, once a revered technique passed down from the immortal mansion, is quite extraordinary. It requires two distinct types of Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. One is known as the Supreme Yin Moonlight, and the other is the Golden Autumn In Lake. Our sect possesses some reserves of thetter, but the Supreme Yin Moonlight hasn¡¯t been seen since the immortal mansion withdrew from the world centuries ago.¡±
¡°The Peak Master of Moon Lake Peak managed to sessfully attain the mastery of this technique several hundred years ago after he had fortuitously received a reward from the immortal mansion. Since his passing, no one else has managed to attain mastery of the technique.¡±
Li Chejing was familiar with the legends surrounding the immortal mansion. It was a colossal entity spanning several states, now absent from the world for centuries.
He sighed softly, then nodded in understanding and said, ¡°I see. Thank you for rifying that, Senior Brother!¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense expanded from the mirror, observing the child practicing the Reception Method.
A faint white light hovered above the boy¡¯s head, approximately seven cun[1] in length, glowing ever so slightly.
¡°This child¡¯s affinity with the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed seems promising. Yet, it remains a mystery how skillful he will be in cultivation.¡±
As Lu Jiangxian withdrew his divine sense from Li Xuanxuan, he felt his heart flutter with excitement. His vision blurred momentarily, but he thought he saw a pure white jade-like disk floating before him.
¡°Li Chejing, that boy... He has condensed the Jade Capital Chakra!¡±
A surge of profound energy traveled vast distances, connecting through the Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds. It gently alighted upon the bluish-gray mirror on the stone tform.
Lu Jiangxian felt a profound lightness in his divine soul, apanied by a pristine white stream of light.
When Li Tongya and Li Xiangping made their breakthroughs, a minuscule amount of energy was channeled back into Lu Jiangxian¡¯s mirror.
With Li Chejing¡¯s sessive breakthroughs, particrly with the Jade Capital Chakra, Lu Jiangxian was finally able to condense the Supreme Yin Profound Light.
¡°This Profound Light possesses the force of a single, concentrated strike of a Jade Capital Chakra cultivator in peak condition. Yet, its attack range is so vast it exceeds the current reach of my divine sense.¡±
Upon attaining the mastery of this Profound Light, Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense had expanded to epass the entirety of Lijing Vige.
In that moment of exhration, the mirror grew warm and he could sense a faint pull from somewhere.
¡°The expansion of my divine sense allows me to sense things from greater distances!¡±
Lu Jiangxian focused on the pull, then realized, ¡°The pull still came from Moongaze Lake, but it¡¯s significantly farther than where I sensed it before. Perhaps I should alert the Li Family to look into this?¡±
He hesitated, then thought to himself, No. Given its location, it appears toe from that market in the heart of theke. Perhaps it¡¯s wiser to wait until the two Li brothers have sessfully condensed the Jade Capital Chakra before making them explore it.
As the room¡¯s door creaked open, Li Mutian and the two Li brothers entered. Li Xiangping patted Li Xuanxuan¡¯s shoulder and asked in a serious tone, ¡°Are you ready?¡±
¡°Ready!¡± Li Xuanxuan affirmed, nodding vigorously and returning the wooden slip to Li Xiangping.
Watching Li Xiangping stow away the wooden slip, Li Mutian respectfully ced the mirror on the table and offered it a few incense sticks.
¡°As a disciple of the Li Family, I, Li Xuanxuan, respectfully request the Profound Light. I dedicate myself to pursuing the Dao and my destiny rests in your hands. When the timees, I will remain true to my oath. With this talisman burned, I express my gratitude to Supreme Yin.¡±
As soon as Li Xuanxuan finished speaking, Lu Jiangxian initiated the spell. Colorful lights converged on the mirror surface, pulsating rhythmically like it was breathing, and suddenly expelled a white pill.
Li Xuanxuan promptly sat down, focusing intently on receiving the talisman seed through the Reception Method.
Li Tongya observed Li Xuanxuan on the ground, then turned to securely shut the room¡¯s door and remarked softly, ¡°Liu Rouxuan condensed the Profound Scenery Chakrast night. In a few months, Xuanxuan will also condense the Profound Scenery Chakra. With this, our Li family will have six immortal cultivators.¡±
¡°Two Celestial Whirl Chakras and three Profound Scenery Chakras... Jing¡¯er has likely condensed the Jade Capital Chakra in the immortal sect by now,¡± Li Xiangping mused, his gaze resting on the bluish-gray mirror that was glowing on the table.
He continued, ¡°Our Li Family still needs cultivators at higher realms. Putting aside Ji Dengqi who¡¯s already in the Qi Cultivation Realm, even our neighboring Wan Family has peak Jade Capital cultivators among their ranks.¡±
¡°Jade Capital Chakra cultivators possess innate spiritual sense, enabling them to refine pills, forge weapons, set up formations, use storage bags, and navigate markets safely.¡±
Meanwhile, Lu Jiangxian who was listening to the conversation, suddenly felt a stir in his divine sense. He sensed an unfamiliar presence approaching from the west.
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s perception operated on two levels.
The first level, visual sense, was akin to mortal sight and covered a vast range, extending over the Li Family¡¯s territory from Lichuankou Vige to Lidaokou Vige. This allowed him to observe and probe without detection, making it unnoticeable even to Si Yuanbai who was a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
The second level, his divine sense, epassed Lijing Vige and was simr to mortal touch. Within this range, Lu Jiangxian could scan individuals, but the intensity of the scan could make it noticeable depending on the target¡¯s strength. Here, he could wield the Supreme Yin Profound Light for defense.
At this moment, he detected an aura with the strength of a Jade Capital Chakra suspiciously wandering near Lichuankou Vige with his visual sense.
Why is a Jade Capital Chakra cultivator wandering around here? The Li Family must be alerted at once, he thought to himself with concern.
He willed a silvery-white moonlight to gush out from the mirror, forming white silk threads in the air.
This phenomenon caught Li Tongya and the others off guard. They exchanged puzzled looks as the silver light continued to gather in the air.
Li Mutian narrowed his eyes and advised calmly, ¡°Keep calm and take a good look at it first.¡±
¡°It appears to be a map of the Li Family¡¯s territory,¡± Li Tongya remarked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
As they watched, the moonlight transformed into a luminous white map, detailing Lichuankou, Lidaokou Vige, and Jingyang Vige. Notably, the mark representing Lichuankou Vige on the map emitted a shing silver light.
¡°Lichuankou Vige?¡± Li Xiangping murmured to himself.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Over the past few years, Chen Erniu had grown into his managing role at Li Chuankou Vige. He had put on considerable weight and grown a beard on his chin. Because of this, he no longer looked like a mere farmer.
After a day spent settling field ounts and resolving a quarrel over fields between two brothers, Chen Erniuy on his bed contently and began contemting the n for the next day.
¡°The plots to the east of the vige are still fertile. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll send some folks to cultivate them and expand ourndholdings a bit more.¡±
Lichuankou Vige and Lidaokou Vige, while adjacent,cked the clear administrative division that separated Lijing Vige and Jingyang Vige. This meant Chen Erniu, as the manager, often had to negotiate and reason through every issue concerning these two viges.
Xu Wenshan¡¯s recent push to open a trade route had hit a wall. The Wan Family¡¯s near loss of the Guli Road to the Ji Family had blocked eastern ess, leaving Xu Wenshan frustrated and increasinglybative in recent months, much to Chen Erniu¡¯s annoyance.
¡°What a headache.¡±
While Chen Erniu was lost in his thoughts, amotion outside startled him.
His eldest son burst in with his face flushed with panic, blurting out, ¡°Father, this is terrible! Someone died at the vige entrance!¡±
Chen Erniu leaped from his bed and shouted, ¡°What?¡±
1. Cun is Chinese inches, so one cun = 3.333 cm. ?
Chapter 40: Demon
Chapter 40: Demon
Chen Erniu leaped from his bed in rm as he grabbed clothes from beside it and hastily dressed himself.
Pulling his son along, he rushed toward the door, asking in a frantic tone, ¡°What the hell happened?¡±
His eldest son, Chen Sanshui, anxiously reached for the saber on the wall while urging, ¡°Father, take your saber along. We¡¯ll talk on our way there!¡±
Taking the saber and securing it around his waist, Chen Erniu hurried toward the vige entrance with rapid strides.
¡°A viger on night patrol thought there was someone in the fields. Thinking it was a trespasser, he crouched down to sneak a peek, only to witness a gruesome sight¡ªa bloody corpse missing the back of its head. He was absolutely terrified,¡± Chen Sanshui exined as he hastened alongside his father.
¡°What was the cause of death?¡±
¡°The corpse was smashed on the back of the head and then had its brain ripped out. It was a gruesome death.¡±
Upon hearing that, Chen Erniu stopped in his tracks and asked, ¡°Has the main family been informed?¡±
¡°Not yet...¡± Chen Sanshui stammered in response.
¡°Fool! Did you think we could keep this a secret?!¡± Chen Erniu exploded, his voiceced with anger.
Seeing his angry father, Chen Sanshui quickly borated, ¡°I¡¯ve already spoken with the folks working in the fields... We¡¯ll keep this quiet for now. This is the first murder in years at Lichuankou Vige. I''m concerned that Xu Wenshan might use this against you!¡±
¡°You fool! This is a brutal murder, the brain was ripped out!¡±
Seeing the anger on his father¡¯s face, Chen Sanshui digested his words and finally realized something was amiss.
¡°Who wouldmit such a bizarre murder, going as far as to rip out the brain of the corpse?! Moreover, my rivalry with Xu Wenshan is well-known, but would he really stoop so low as to use this against me? Would he risk offending over a hundred households in Lichuankou Vige just to get at me?¡±
¡°You brothers are as clueless as pigs. Xu Wenshan is younger than I am. What will you do when I¡¯m dead? How will you stand your ground?!¡±
¡°Father...¡± Chen Sanshui, chastened by this barrage of questions, hung his head in shame and fell silent.
Chen Erniu¡¯s expression darkened as annoyance churned his heart, said coldly, ¡°I fear we might be dealing with a demon. Go inform the main family yourself.¡±
Chen Sanshui nodded vigorously and hurried toward Lijing Vige.
Watching his eldest son disappear into the distance, Chen Erniu¡¯s expression briefly flickered with panic and sorrow. ¡°This demon¡¯s strength is unknown. Be vignt, Sanshui. You may be thest hope for the Chen Family¡¯s lineage.¡±
Chen Erniu remembered the terrible drought that struck Lichuankou Vige. As a young boy, he had witnessed a huge sparrow cloaked in crimson mes descend upon their vige.
It swallowed several vigers like they were worms on the ground before soaring away, leaving behind a scorching heat thatsted three months.
The surviving vigers did everything they could to survive, scooping water from the Meiche River to irrigate their parched fields, but to no avail. After nine days of futile efforts, Chen Erniu¡¯s father took his own life in despair, cradling his wife who had died of starvation.
With tears in his eyes, Chen Erniu left his parents¡¯ bodies behind and fled to Lijing Vige. He was epted into the Li Family only after kneeling and knocking his forehead on the floor until it bled.
During this period, the Lijing Vige swelled with refugees. Some attempted to raid the prominent families, only to be repelled by their former fellow vigers. Without much of a choice, many could only flee to Mount Dali.
Three monthster, when people slowly returned to Lichuankou Vige, no one dared speak of that day or how the hundreds of survivors in the vige had managed. Everyone merely quietly buried the remaining human bones that had been licked clean.
What once was amunity of nearly a thousand and four hundred people across three hundred households in Lichuankou Vige was now reduced to a mere three hundred.
As the flickering firelight pierced the darkness, Chen Erniu was jolted back from his haunting memories. He brushed past his second son, Chen Qushui, who hade to greet him.
Clutching a torch, Chen Erniu gazed at the bloody, lifeless body on the ground with its headid bare. Overwhelmed with grief and tears streaming down his face, he clenched his teeth and asked, ¡°Who is this?¡±
¡°Old Ye, the vige chief,¡± Chen Qiushui responded, his voice low and uneasy as he noticed the tears on his father¡¯s face.
¡°Gather everyone in the vige. Light the torches, arm yourselves with weapons,¡± Chen Erniu¡¯smand was firm, but his thoughts were interrupted by a viger rushing in from the entrance.
¡°Manager Chen! The main family has sent word asking if anything unusual has urred at Lichuankou Vige?¡± the viger blurted out upon seeing him.
This question left Chen Erniu momentarily stunned, his heart racing with both horror and suspicion.
The news couldn¡¯t have traveled from Lichuankou Vige to Lijing Vige that quickly! Even if there are informants in this vige, they shouldn¡¯t be able to travel there so swiftly. It seems like the main family knew as soon as someone in this vige died. Hopefully, they have some ways to deal with that demon, he thought.
The furrow of his brow eased as he felt a wave of relief and replied loudly, ¡°I suspect this vige is under attack by a demon. Someone is already on his way there to alert the main family!¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xiangping gazed silently at the bluish-gray mirror on the tform. The once-broken mirror appeared slightly mendedpared to when he had found it. Yet it still seemed fragile, as if it could shatter at any moment. The faint silvery white light radiating from the mirror looked rather ethereal.
¡°How long since that man left?¡± he asked.
¡°A quarter of an hour,¡± Li Tongya replied, looking out the window with a hint of anxiety.
He set down the wooden slip he had been holding and suggested, ¡°We should head outside. I¡¯m concerned those people mighte to the backyard since they don¡¯t see us around.¡±
Li Xiangping cast a nce at Li Xuanxuan, who was sitting in meditation, then decisively said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
As soon as they stepped out of the backyard, they saw Li Yesheng in the main courtyard, pacing around anxiously.
His face lit up upon seeing Li Tongya and Li Xiangping, then quickly eximed, ¡°Someone from Lichuankou Vige has sent word¡ªa corpse had been found with its brain ripped out!¡±
¡°Brain ripped out?¡± Li Xiangping was taken aback by the news. He looked at Li Tongya and said, ¡°This must be the work of a demon.¡±
¡°Indeed.¡± Li Tongya nodded solemnly.
He thought for a moment then said, ¡°The demon took the brain and then fled. It seems to fear human presence, which suggests its low cultivation realm. I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s probably still in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. If it were in the Qi Cultivation Realm, it could have in everyone in the vige and escaped under a cover of fog.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll go investigate!¡± Li Xiangping decided after a moment.
Frowning slightly, he instructed Li Yesheng, ¡°Gather all the able-bodied men in the vige and arm them.¡±
¡°Understood!¡± Li Yesheng responded promptly before rushing off to carry out the instructions.
Watching Li Yesheng¡¯s retreating figure, Li Tongya¡¯s frown deepened as he voiced his concern, ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure yet how strong the demon is. It might be unwise for us to confront it.¡±
¡°If I don¡¯t act today, the hard-earned respect our Li Family has established in these viges will vanish. I must go!¡±
¡°Second Brother, stay and protect the mountain. I¡¯ll handle the investigation. You know I¡¯m not one to take unnecessary risks. And if by chance, things go awry, the Li Family will still have you. At worst, we abandon Lichuankou Vige and seek assistance from the sect.¡±
With that, Li Xiangping gave Li Tongya a nod of determination. He then grabbed his bow and arrows, donned his yellowish-brown rattan armor, and swiftly descended the mountain.
Chapter 41: Mountain Wolf
Chapter 41: Mountain Wolf
Wan Tiancang had resided in Lichuankou Vige for half a year and found joy in the simplicity of his life. Watching green rice shoots sprouting from the ground each day filled his heart with delight.
One night, after casting the Spirit Rain spell on the spirit field in the courtyard, he was in a meditative state when he faintly heard amotion outside.
He opened his eyes in curiosity and saw flickers of firelight piercing the night and shadows moving with torches in hand. A sense of foreboding settled in his heart, prompting him to open the courtyard door for a better look.
As soon as he did, he saw a child hurrying toward him with a torch in hand.
Wan Tiancang called out urgently, ¡°You there, child! What¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°The vige chief, Old Ye, is dead. They say a demon ising and are calling for all the vigers to gather,¡± the child said, stopping in his tracks and raising his torch. He looked apprehensively at Wan Tiancang.
The immortal cultivator, who rarely ventured beyond his courtyard since he had arrived, frowned and took a hesitant half-step outside the courtyard, and then withdrew.
A demon attack at Lichuankou Vige?! These Spirit Paddies have only been sowed half a year ago. Nothing must happen to them! he thought to himself.
Wan Tiancang considered seeking out Li Tongya but hesitated because he was worried about leaving the Spirit Paddies unguarded in case they were the target of the demon.
He felt torn, but could only rely on the child. He crouched down and instructed, ¡°Go get Chen Erniu.¡±
¡°All right.¡±
As soon as Wan Tiancang rose to his feet, both of them saw mes flickering in the forest. A group led by Chen Erniu then emerged into view.
¡°Immortal Master! What do we do?¡± Chen Erniu was sweating profusely. The main family had not arrived yet, and two vigers were already dead with their brains ripped out. The horrific nature of their deaths left Chen Erniu both horrified and enraged, pacing restlessly like an ant on a hot pan.
¡°Has anyone seen this demon?¡± Wan Tiancang asked gravely, his face stern as he looked at Chen Erniu who was already drenched in sweat.
¡°No. No one even heard a sound from the victims!¡± Chen Erniu replied.
Wan Tiancang¡¯s heart sank. As a mere peak Profound Scenery cultivator, hecked the power to confront such a stealthy and lethal creature.
Oh, Li Tongya, where are you when we need you? He sighed inwardly.
¡°Brother Wan!¡± Just as Wan Tiancang was about to speak, a loud call interrupted him.
He looked up to see a young man in rattan armor, approaching confidently with a longbow in hand. The young man smiled at him, revealing his pearly whites.
¡°Young Chief!¡± Chen Erniu bowed in respect.
Realizing that it was Li Xiangping who stood before him, Wan Tiancang quickly cupped his fist and greeted, ¡°Greetings from Wan Tiancang of the Wan Family, Young Chief.¡±
Li Xiangping gestured for Chen Erniu to rise, then turned to address Wan Tiancang, ¡°Brother Wan, please wait a moment.¡±
He then directed his attention to Chen Erniu, his voice firm and authoritative as he instructed, ¡°Gather the elderly, the weak, women, and children within the perimeter of this courtyard. Have the men in the vige form groups of ten, positioned three feet apart. Ensure each team has at least five other teams within their sight for mutual protection.¡±
Having issued these instructions, Li Xiangping entered the courtyard with Wan Tiancang, leaving the others to carry out his orders.
¡°Right away!¡± Chen Erniu responded with newfound confidence, quickly setting off to make the necessary arrangements.
Once inside the courtyard, Wan Tiancang smiled ruefully and said, ¡°Brother Li, I fear this demon¡¯s cultivation level is quite formidable. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t be of much assistance.¡±
Li Xiangpingughed and bluntly replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for pretense, Brother Wan. Your family seeks to preserve the Spirit Paddies, and my family, the safety of Lichuankou Vige. We are in this together!¡±
Wan Tiancang was taken aback, internally cursing the situation. If the demon were not in Lichuankou Vige, he would not care less about its presence!
But now, because of the Spirit Paddies, he found himselfpelled to assist.
Setting aside his reservations, Wan Tiancang took a moment to gather his thoughts. He retrieved a brush and a piece of paper from inside the house and began writing, exining as he did so.
¡°The best way to go around this is for me to write to the head of my family, requesting urgent assistance. We need to resolve this before dawn!¡±
¡°Good idea.¡± Li Xiangping nodded in agreement. ¡°Write three letters. I¡¯ll send messengers in three different directions to ensure at least one reaches the Wan Family, just in case.¡±
Wan Tiancang quickly nodded. After about fifteen minutes of writing, screams and cries for help erupted from outside the courtyard, signaling chaos.
Li Xiangping, with a grim expression, stepped outside to check the situation. The courtyard was filled with the elderly, women, and children sitting around fires, their faces etched with fear as they gazed into the distance. Some were crying softly, while others were gasping in shock.
Not far off, the men in the vige had formed a protective ring around the group, armed with long poles and wooden nks, nervously peering into the edge of the forest.
Wan Tiancang joined Li Xiangping with his brush still in hand. He gazed toward the forest, his eyes fixed on the glint of green eyes lurking there, and spoke in a grave tone. ¡°A mountain wolf.¡±
A massive wolf, asrge as an ox and covered in silver-gray fur, emerged from the forest. Its ghostly green pupils were intense and focused, with its long, sharp muzzle wide open, and its ears drooped along its tail as it advanced, forcing the vigers to stumble backward in fear.
The wolf raised its head above the crowd, its cold gaze fixating on Li Xiangping, who stood on the stone steps of the courtyard gate. The creature¡¯s long muzzle curled up slightly, as if mocking them with a smirk.
¡°This beast...¡± Wan Tiancang was drenched in sweat. He silently wiped away his cold sweat as he continued, ¡°Judging by its demeanor, it must have consumed the essence of the sun and moon, and possibly already condensed the Jade Capital Chakra.¡±
Li Xiangping, too, felt a shiver down his spine in the presence of this demon. He observed the wolf¡¯s mocking grin and the disdain in its eerie green eyes.
¡°If even the head of the Wan Family is no match for this demon...¡± Wan Tiancang suddenly raised his head, his voice trembling as he looked at Li Xiangping.
¡°A demon in the early Nascent Spirit realm, huh?¡± Li Xiangping narrowed his eyes.
With a grave tone, he said, ¡°We must prepare for the worst. If this demon is more powerful than a mere Jade Capital cultivator, we¡¯ll lead it southeast, away from Lijing Vige and up Mount Lijing. My family has a formation set up there. Your head of the family can use the terrain to their advantage.¡±
¡°All right!¡± Wan Tiancang quickly amended the letters and handed them to Chen Erniu.
Watching Chen Erniu prepare to dispatch them, Wan Tiancang could not help but shake his head and smile bitterly.
¡°That beast, having condensed the Jade Capital Chakra, is intelligent and has likely consumed many humans. It now seeks us, immortal cultivators, as a potent source of energy. We¡¯re cornered.¡±
¡°No need to be rmed,¡± Li Xiangping reassured, his gaze locked with the demons¡¯.
His mouth mirrored the wolf¡¯s sly grin as he added softly, ¡°I remember watching my father hunt wolves in my youth. These beasts are extremely cautious. Now that it has condensed the Jade Capital Chakra, it must be way more alert than before. It¡¯s simply observing us. Follow my lead.¡±
¡°Chen Erniu!¡±
¡°Here!¡± Chen Erniu stepped forward promptly, ready to ept Li Xiangping¡¯s orders.
¡°Get the men in the vige to start pulling back slowly and form a circle around us. We¡¯ll slowly head south. The elderly, the weak, women, and children should stay put; no need for them to budge. That demon will surelye after us.¡±
¡°Also, tell the vigers to surrender their wooden nks and hold torches instead. If the demones close, scream and shout at it. Do not show any sign of fear! Should it attack, use long poles with knives attached to their ends to sweep or hit on the ground. Wolves have long, slender legs; I bet this demon values its legs as well.¡±
Li Xiangping retrieved a polished arrow from his quiver. He performed a hand seal and imbued the arrowhead with a faint golden light.
Nocking the arrow on the bowstring, Li Xiangping¡¯s voice was icy as hemanded, ¡°Move out!¡±
Chapter 42: Assistance
Chapter 42: Assistance
The flesh and blood of those two-legged beast kings are the most scrumptious. I must not let them escape.
The demon squinted its eyes, observing the frantic assembly of the two-legged beasts in the distance, their torches aze, pointing toward it.
It smirked coldly.
I¡¯ll drain their strength first. Once those two-legged beasts scatter in panic, that¡¯s when I¡¯ll strike and devour their kings.
It moved cautiously yet swiftly, navigating the snowy forest. Watching the two-legged beasts descend into chaos and fear brought it immense satisfaction.
Ever since it consumed the injured white deer, its mind had grown less clouded. This rity helped it elude numerous pursuits by certain patterned two-legged beasts, eventually leading it to leave its pack and seek refuge here.
It was no stranger to the tactics of these two-legged beasts, particrly their kings who often released ck mist from their mouths and wielded dark green bone swords. Overzealous aggression would only result in harm.
The beast realized it needed a calcted approach, asionally attacking to gradually deplete the defenses of those two-legged beasts.
These two-legged beasts don¡¯t have patterns on their body. What breed could they be?
It effortlessly leaped over a sweeping pole, ducked under a flying arrow, and snapped the arm of a two-legged beast.
If not because that two-legged beast killed my children, I wouldn¡¯t have to stoop this low! It grumbled viciously in its mind as it crushed the arm with its jaws.
As the creature recalled the grueling chase of that particr patterned two-legged beast that spanned seven mountains and inflicted harm to its vital qi, resulting in a loss of mana, its green eyes glinted with increased ferocity.
These patternless two-legged beasts seemed much weaker. The golden light they unleashed was not particrly strong, but it was still annoyingly persistent.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The forest was exceptionally quiet on winter nights. The gentle rustling of snowkes could be heard continuously as they piled on the ground, broken only by the asional creak of tree branches groaning under the burden of freshly umted snow.
Whoosh!
Li Xiangping fired a shimmering golden arrow, watching the wolf dodge and sink its vicious fangs into a viger¡¯s arm.
Unfazed, he swiftly nocked and released another arrow, repelling the giant wolf that was preparing itself to lunge at another viger.
Witnessing a fellow viger copsing onto the snow with a blood-curdling scream, painting a burst of hot crimson against the white, the other guards involuntarily shivered.
Fear gripped them, causing their hands on the long poles to slightly cken as they weakly waved their weapons around.
Chen Erniu, with a grim expression, quickly bandaged the wounded guard with a strip of his cloth, then quickly hoisted him onto his shoulder, and rejoined the group.
¡°How much farther to Mount Lijing?¡± Li Xiangping called out as he trudged through the uneven snow, directing his question to Chen Erniu.
Handing the injured man to another viger, Chen Erniu scanned the horizon and promptly replied with a loud voice, ¡°A quarter of an hour!¡±
Knowing that they were already close to Mount Lijing, a wave of relief washed over the vigers. They steeled themselves against the demon, silently praying not to be its next victim.
Li Xiangping wiped the blood on his face. At this point, the mana in his dantian was already running low. He looked at the terrified vigers and yelled, ¡°We must lure this demon to the mountain for an ambush! If we don¡¯t y it today, it¡¯ll return to feed on our families!¡±
Motivated by these words, the vigers exchanged determined nces. Gathering their strength, they raised their arms, heavy as if weighed down by lead, and once again aimed their torches and long poles resolutely at the demon.
The demon nced at the torches and long poles pointed in its direction while licking the blood off its silver-gray ws.
¡°Awoooooooooooooooo!!¡± It put its foot down on the ground impatiently and then with a swift pounce, savagely bit several more vigers.
CRACK!
Suddenly, a whip cracked through the air, striking the demon with a burst of green light. Caught off guard, the beast reeled back, a bloody gash marring its side.
¡°AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!¡± The demon howled in pain and quickly took a few steps back. It fixed its eyes viciously on the man who was dressed in silk and wielding a whip.
¡°CHIEF!¡± Wan Tiancang¡¯s relief was palpable at the sight of the whip. A weight seemed to be lifted off his chest, and his face brightened with hope.
Wan Xiaohua, havingnded the strike, momentarily paled. He stood motionless, taking a moment to catch his breath as he slowly regained hisposure as the color returned to his face.
Having received an urgent letter from Wan Tiancang, Wan Xiaohua hastened from the Wan Residence to Lichuankou Vige.
With three consecutive uses of the Divine Movement spells, he arrived just in time to repel the demonic creature with his dharma weapon.
Even as a peak Jade Capital cultivator, this exertion left him slightly breathless, prompting him to take a few moments to catch his breath and regain hisposure.
¡°What a resilient demon,¡± he muttered, eyeing the shallow wound on the creature¡¯s back.
He inhaled sharply then instructed with a grim expression, ¡°Let the mortals withdraw first.¡±
His rattan whip, a dharma weapon of Qi Cultivation Realm, demanded considerable effort to wield at his current peak Jade Capital cultivation.
Despite being capable of splitting rocks, it had only managed to leave a mere scratch on the demon¡¯s tough hide.
Li Xiangping waved, and Chen Erniu promptly directed the vigers to carry the injured and retreat toward the west of Lijing Vige.
As Wan Xiaohua and the demon squared off in the snowy clearing, Li Xiangping called out, ¡°Chief Wan, if defeating this demon proves too difficult, then head southwest. There¡¯s a protective formation on Mount Lijing. It should at least provide us with an escape route.¡±
Wan Xiaohua cast a nce at Li Xiangping and replied, ¡°Got it.¡±
He raised his whip again, sending itshing toward the demon¡¯s side.
¡°Awooooo!¡± The demon nimbly twisted away, evading the whip. It closed the gap between itself and Wan Xiaohua in just two strides, then lunged at him.
Despite the oing threat, Wan Xiaohua remained calm and skillfully conjured a small white jade shield. Although shattered by a strike from the demon, it created enough distance for him to evade further harm.
The demon leaped up again, aiming for Wan Xiaohua. Sensing an opportunity, Wan Xiaohua¡¯s eyes lit up.
¡°AHA!¡± His whip glowed brightly, aimed at the wolf¡¯s side. However, the beast made no attempts to dodge it this time.
Cunningness shed across its eyes as it opened its maw and released a pitch-ck breath straight at Wan Xiaohua¡¯s face.
¡°Cursed beast! You¡¯re so sly!¡± Wan Xiaohua swore, left with no choice but to release his whip and retreat.
The demon growled viciously, enduring the sting of the whip. It wed the discarded whip on the ground, trampling it underfoot as it red at Wan Xiaohua, its green eyes cold and calcting.
¡°What a cunning demon...¡±
Wan Xiaohua observed the silver-gray giant wolf with a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His family¡¯snds did not border Mount Dali, so encounters with demons, especially ones as formidable as those at the Jade Capital, were rare for him.
The demon, using its hind paw, buried the whip deep in the snow.
It then charged toward Wan Xiaohua, who quickly performed a hand seal and unleashed a spell. Once again, a small white shield materialized in front of him.
However, the demon was one step ahead. Emitting ck qi from its paws, it leaped into the air, effortlessly shattering the delicate shield with a single strike.
The wolf¡¯s jaws then snapped viciously toward Wan Xiaohua¡¯s neck.
Chapter 43: Killed
Chapter 43: Killed
In the small courtyard atop Mount Lijing, the bluish-gray mirror glowed intensely. It radiated with a brilliant white light as if a surging cascade of moonlight was pouring forth from the mirror''s surface.
As Wan Xiaohua entered the range of Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense along with Li Xiangping and others, the Supreme Yin Profound Light within the mirror sprang to life, yearning to break free of its confines.
Lu Jiangxian, however, immediately curbed his instinct to intervene and instead chose to observe the immortal cultivator who was in the Jade Capital stage.
¡°Things seem to be taking a turn for the worse.¡±
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s initial amusement faded as he watched Wan Xiaohua¡¯s repeated narrow escapes and forced use of a light blue talisman to shield himself from the monster¡¯s attacks while frantically sprinting toward the foot of Mount Lijing.
He quietly prepared to cast his own spell, thinking to himself, Time to test the waters with this.
With a focused mind, the twelve runes encircling the mirror¡¯s frame illuminated sequentially. The bluish-gray mirror, cradling the ethereal glow of the milky white moonlight, delicately ascended from the stone tform, positioning itself at a specific angle.
¡°Father...¡±
Amidst Li Tongya and Li Mutian¡¯s astonishment, the white moonlight burst forth, breaking through the roof window and shooting straight up into the sky like a dazzling meteor, leaving behind a mess of debris and shattered gray roof tiles.
Having unleashed the Supreme Yin Profound Light, the mirror resumed its calm state. The white moonlight dispersed, settling once again on the stone tform.
Observing the shattered roof tiles and dusty ground, Li Tongya stood momentarily lost in thought, while Li Mutian choked on the flying dust.
He waved his hand while coughing and said, ¡°This must have something to do with that monster... Quickly, go and check on your younger brother!¡±
It was at this moment Li Tongya finally returned to his senses and hurried off, thinking to himself, What could have possibly happened? That burst of light looked like it could obliterate a monster in the Qi Cultivation Realm, let alone one in the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Wan Xiaohua cast a Divine Movement spell on his leg and swiftly dashed toward Mount Lijing, following the direction pointed out by Li Xiangping.
This is quite a loss¡ªa Water Shield Talisman and half a Spirit Stone gone, he grumbled inwardly.
The wind whistled past his ears as his spiritual sense remained alert. A small white shield materialized behind him, leveraging the momentum from a recent attack to widen the gap between him and the monster.
As he neared the mountain, Wan Xiaohua attempted to gauge the distance when he was abruptly startled by a brilliant white light rising from the mountaintop. It changed its trajectory mid-air and surged directly toward him, leaving a long trailing me in its wake.
¡°What the...¡± Wan Xiaohua was so shocked that he barely dodged in time, but the white light zoomed past him.
He copsed to the ground in shock, watching as the white light effortlessly sliced through the monster¡¯s neck as if it were a delicate piece of paper before soaring into the distance.
THUD!
The massive wolf¡¯s body, which had been sent flying by the impact, plummeted and hit the ground, toppling arge tree behind it.
The resulting impact caused the snow on the surrounding trees to cascade down, nearly burying Wan Xiaohua beneath a nket of white.
Coughing and spitting out mouthfuls of dusty snow, Wan Xiaohua gazed in disbelief at the enormous remains of the monster.
¡°Chief? Chief?!¡± Wan Tiancang¡¯s voice intensified as he approached, quickly lifting Wan Xiaohua from the snow.
¡°Chief! Are you all right?¡±
Wan Xiaohua stared at Wan Tiancang in a daze and mumbled, ¡°Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut...¡±
Sweat beaded on Wan Tiancang¡¯s face as he pulled out the rattan whip that was still speckled with snow.
¡°I was afraid of losing our treasure, so I stayed hidden in the snow. When that wolf chased you, I managed to retrieve your dharma artifact, Chief,¡± he said solemnly.
¡°Good, good.¡± Upon seeing his dharma artifact, Wan Xiaohua¡¯s spirits were instantly lifted. He carefully put away his treasure and quickly rose to inspect the wolf¡¯s corpse.
Observing the thickyer of frost on the wolf¡¯s severed neck and the absence of blood, Wan Xiaohua swiftly sealed its spirit within the corpse by pressing certain joints and acupoints.
With a smile, Wan Xiaohua caressed the massive back of the wolf, its sizeparable to a yellow cow, and spoke with evident satisfaction. ¡°This wolf¡¯s corpse is valuable. We must preserve its spiritual essence.¡±
¡°Chief, I fear this monster... is not yours to keep,¡± Wan Tiancang interjected cautiously, observing Wan Xiaohua¡¯s tion.
Wan Xiaohua¡¯s joy momentarily faltered. He nced at Wan Tiancang and responded glumly, ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±
¡°Master Wan!¡± Startled by a loud call, Wan Tiancang and Wan Xiaohua turned to see Li Xiangping, Li Tongya, Chen Erniu, and a group of vigers approaching.
¡°We¡¯re deeply grateful for your assistance, Master Wan!¡± Li Xiangping said, cupping his fist respectfully. He shot Chen Erniu a knowing nce, and Chen Erniu quickly signaled the vigers to relocate the monster¡¯s remains.
¡°I have embarrassed myself, though.¡± Wan Xiaohua chuckled wryly, brushing snow off his clothing, and inquired again, ¡°About that white light that saved me...¡±
Li Tongya stepped forward quickly, exining, ¡°My father still has some homemade talismans. Knowing you wereing to help, he was worried about the monster harming you, so he instructed us to use one.¡±
¡°I see!¡± Wan Xiaohua exhaled in relief. Li Tongya¡¯s exnation and his personal assumptions were not far off the mark.
¡°Then it¡¯s your father we owe our gratitude,¡± he said gratefully.
¡°It¡¯s us who should be thanking the Wan Family.¡±
After the courteous exchange, Wan Xiaohua gestured toward the wolf¡¯s corpse, and with a smile, he asked, ¡°How does your n n to handle this thing? Though it¡¯s challenging to preserve, this wolf¡¯s corpse is a treasure trove. Its bones and blood can be used in making ink and medicine, and its skin is ideal for crafting talismans and clothing. It¡¯s truly a valuable find.¡±
Li Tongya and Li Xiangping exchanged a nce, then smiled ruefully and admitted, ¡°Our family doesn¡¯t have the resources for making talismans or refining medicines and much of it would go unused. Since the Wan Family has ess to the market, perhaps you could handle the sale for us.¡±
¡°This wolf is rather massive and has some unique properties, possibly due to consuming some rare herbs. I¡¯ll be honest with you, its parts could fetch two or three Spirit Stones in the market,¡± Wan Xiaohua said.
He pondered for a moment, then looked at the two men and offered, ¡°I have one and a half Spirit Stones on me right now. I¡¯ll give these to you as a down payment, and we can bnce the rest with other goods. Have either of youe across a book titled Secrets of a Rogue Cultivator?¡±
Seeing them shake their heads, Wan Xiaohua was taken aback for a moment.
Is Li Mutian really a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm? There seems to be more to this than meets the eye...
Despite his doubts, Wan Xiaohua smiled and exined, ¡°This book details a variety of techniques and cultivation tips given by a rogue cultivator in the Nascent Spirit Realm. I bought it in the market for a Spirit Stone or two. It covers several useful spells and techniques, including the Divine Movement spell and the Spirit Sealing Technique. How about trading it for the wolf¡¯s corpse?¡±
Li Xiangping looked at the happy smile on Wan Xiaohua¡¯s face as he pondered his offer while rubbing his chin.
We don¡¯t have much use for the wolf¡¯s corpse, and it''s not easy to preserve. Trading it with Wan Xiaohua seems fair. At least we can get something useful to us, even if we incur a small loss.
With a smile, Li Xiangping replied, ¡°We¡¯ll leave the decision to you, Master Wan.¡±
¡°Excellent!¡± Wan Xiaohua beamed with delight and added, ¡°Please arrange for someone from your n to transport the corpse to our families¡¯ border. I¡¯ll have my people collect it.¡±
¡°Sounds good.¡±
After a few more exchanges, Li Xiangping nced at the sky and offered, ¡°Would you like toe over to my ce on Mount Lijing, Master Wan?¡±
¡°No need. I have many pressing matters to attend to, so I must return. In the future, if there¡¯s anything you need, just have Tiancang send a letter,¡± Wan Xiaohua declined swiftly, partly due to his wariness of the formation on Mount Lijing.
Despite the current semnce of harmony between the two families, he harbored concerns about the potential risks of venturing into the Li Family¡¯s territory. Recognizing Li Xiangping¡¯s gesture as a polite way to conclude their meeting, Wan Xiaohua exchanged final words of courtesy and then took his leave.
Chapter 44: New Year
Chapter 44: New Year
Snow had nketed thendscape for three days, and silver snowkes continued swirling in the air. Families kept the doors of their homes tightly shut, protecting themselves against the biting cold.
Li Tongya entrusted the care of Lijing Vige¡¯s small courtyard to Li Qiuyang. Together with Liu Rouxuan, they made their way up Mount Lijing.
Trudging through the deep snow, Liu Rouxuan, d in a light gray fur coat, beamed as she held Li Tongya¡¯s hand.
Her voice was light and cheerful as she said, ¡°Brother Tongya, let¡¯s get married thising spring.¡±
¡°All right,¡± Li Tongya replied, brushing snow from her shoulder with a tender smile. He slightly tilted the umbre he held, making sure it shielded Liu Rouxuan from the falling snow.
The ascent to Mount Lijing was not steep, and soon they emerged from the fog at the foot of the mountain onto the snow-covered stone path leading to a courtyard.
Upon entering their home, they were greeted by the sight of Tian Yun, sitting cozily by the firece, her cheeks flushed from the warmth.
¡°Second Brother and Second Sister-inw,¡± she greeted them with a smile.
Li Tongya acknowledged her with a smile while Liu Rouxuan eagerly joined Tian Yun, who was older than her by five or six years, by the fire for a quiet chat.
Li Xiangping, having spent the morning showering the Rice Paddies with spirit rain, was now cultivating in the backyard.
Li Tongya removed his coat and hung it up on the wall. Looking at Ren Ping¡¯er, who was silent sewing clothes at a side, he softly asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Father?¡±
¡°Still sleeping in his room. He seems to sleep a lot during the winter,¡± she replied, smiling as she noticed Tian Yun waving at her.
Setting aside the clothes she had been sewing, she moved to join the twodies by the fire and began chatting with Liu Rouxuan.
Li Mutian spent the previous night expanding the roof window so he sleptte and was still asleep in his room at this hour.
Gazing out at the snow-covered mountain, Li Tongya silently mused, ¡°How wonderful it would be... if Big Brother was still around.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
As winter gave way to spring, the previous year''s favorable conditions lingered. The spring brought adequate rain without drought, and autumn was dry without flooding. The year was free from hailstorms and locust gues, making it a bountiful season.
Consequently, the field tax was a mere ten percent, a generous ratepared to previous years. This led to families having surplus food, ensuring that no one suffered or perished from the cold during the winter.
The second batch of Spirit Paddies nted in Lijing Vige two years prior had also matured. The harvest yielded 170 jin of Spirit Rice and 50 jin of Spirit Bran.
Combined with the previous year¡¯s harvest, the vige amassed a total of 290 jin of Spirit Rice and 90 jin of Spirit Bran. That was more than enough to meet their 200 jin of Spirit Rice quota.
The arrival of Li Qiuyang and Liu Rouxuan significantly eased Li Tongya and Li Xiangping¡¯s workload, allowing them to delegate the care of numerous spirit fields to the neers.
With that, both of them could finally devote more time and attention to their own cultivation.
The White Essence Fruit nt had begun to flower, its white blossoms hinting at the approaching ripeness of the fruit.
Li Tongya estimated that in a few months, the fruits would be ready to harvest just in time before the envoy from the Azure Pond Sect woulde to collect the tributes.
Li Tongya, having just watered the spirit fields with spirit rain, spotted Wan Tiancang entering the courtyard with a distressed expression.
¡°Last night, Ji Dengqi crossed our borders andunched an attack. They burned and destroyed nearly all of our spirit fields and killed many mortals. They even came close to assaulting Mount Huaqian,¡± Wan Tiancang shared.
¡°Thankfully, our head of the family was prepared. He remained vignt during the Spirit Rice ripening period and activated the formation in time. Ji Dengqi¡¯s forces besieged us all night, only retreating at dawn,¡± he added.
Li Tongya set down his teabowl, his expression one of surprise. ¡°Your family¡¯s formation must be truly impressive to be able to withstand a siege by a cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm for an entire night.¡±
Wan Tiancang waved dismissively and smiled wryly. ¡°It¡¯s more of a coincidence. Two hundred years ago, a formation master in our family set up this grand formation with the help of a spirit spring on Mount Huaqian. As long as the spring flows, the formation can continually replenish its spiritual qi.¡±
¡°That¡¯s really impressive!¡± Li Tongya expressed his admiration, while thinking to himself, Our formation on Mount Lijing truly pales inparison. Xiao Yuanshi once mentioned the possibility of setting up a superior formation with the same formation gs if we found one! Sadly, our familycks a heritage in formation arts...
Wan Tiancang noticed Li Tongya¡¯s contemtive look and added, ¡°Unfortunately, that formation master was overly ambitious. He perished while attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm on Mount Hua Qian.¡±
¡°The Foundation Establishment Realm, huh? So he perished as a cultivator in peak Qi Cultivation Realm in the end,¡± Li Tongya remarked solemnly with a tinge of regret in his voice.
Wan Tiancang exhaled a long sigh, his tone tinged with a mix of yearning and regret as he said, ¡°That was the golden era of the Wan Family. We had five cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm. After the death of that ancestor over a decade ago, our family lost three peaks sessively in war, along with four cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm and ten in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. If not for some influential connections within the sect, our family might have been exterminated.¡±
¡°Over time, our elders passed away one after the other. The one in the immortal sect only cared about preserving the Wan Family¡¯s bloodline and nothing else. Since then, each generation has struggled to match the aplishments of its predecessors. But we¡¯ve managed to survive, at least. It wasn¡¯t until a little over ten years ago that our current head of the family achieved a breakthrough to the Jade Capital stage. This allowed him to ess the storage bags left by our ancestors. Unfortunately, we discovered they contained little more than a few spirit Stones and talismans.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Li Tongya responded with a long sigh and refilled Wan Tiancang¡¯s teabowl. Seeing how depressed the man was, he offered someforting words.
Wan Tiancang took a sip of tea, then mmed his palm on the table in frustration. ¡°I abhor the Ji Family! Back then, while we were at constant war with the Yu Family in the north, the Ji Family was just a minor n. They didn¡¯t even have a single cultivator in the Qi Cultivator Realm. Now, they¡¯ve grown so powerful that they nearly drove my family to extinction.¡±
He looked at Li Yongya, then softly inquired, ¡°What about the elder in your family?¡±
Realizing Wan Tiancang was referring to Li Mutian, Li Tongya was cautious in his response. He and his brother had prepared for such inquiries.
He took a sip of his tea and replied, ¡°My father left home in his youth and joined the military on Guli Road. He served under General Yang in the campaign against Mount Yue.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard a bit about that. Yang Tianya, a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, led a brutal campaign to the east against Mount Yue. There were significant casualties,¡± Wan Tiancang remarked as he swirled the tea in his bowl.
With a doubtful look on his face, he added, ¡°But I heard that your father was a mortal when he returned from that war...¡±
Li Tongya smiled ruefully and exined, ¡°My father received guidance from an immortal at home and sessfully attained the Qi Cultivation Realm, then attained the Foundation Establishment Realm during his military service. However, the reasons behind his loss of cultivation are not something we can freely discuss.¡±
Realizing that he had overstepped the boundary, Wan Tiancang quickly cupped his fist and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have overstepped!¡±
Is it possible that his achievement in attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm identally offended someone from a powerful n? Only the disciples of those powerful ns revel in the act of reducing someone to a mere mortal without fearing retribution.
Despite his thoughts, he expressed his regret, ¡°What a pity, indeed.¡±
Seeing Li Tongya¡¯s reluctance to continue the topic, Wan Tiancang hesitated before revealing his true intentions.
¡°I¡¯ll be frank with you, Brother Li. My visit today is with the hope of trading our n¡¯s formation legacy for a talisman of peak Qi Cultivation or Foundation Establishment Realm that could kill Ji Dengqi!¡±
It was at this moment that realization dawned upon Li Tongya.
So that¡¯s why Wan Tiancang came here out of the blue. He¡¯s after something after all!
Chapter 45: Delay
Chapter 45: Dy
Li Tongya found himself in a dilemma as he faced Wan Tiancang. He wished his family had a few talismans of Qi Cultivation or the Foundation Establishment Realm that he could trade for the Wan Family¡¯s formation.
However, the white light that saved Wan Xiaohua¡¯s life was not a talisman, but rather a defensive maneuver from the mirror against its enemy. This left Li Tongya without a viable option to offer.
¡°Brother Wan, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m unwilling to trade. It¡¯s just that I truly don¡¯t have anything to trade...¡± Li Tongya awkwardly exined. He sighed inwardly at the words that left his mouth; even he himself was not convinced by them.
Naturally, Wan Tiancang was not convinced by his response either. He pressed on, trying to persuade Li Tongya to change his mind.
At the same time, he could not help but secretly wonder, This trade is mutually beneficial, but why does Li Tongya seem so hesitant and disinterested?
Noticing Li Tongya¡¯s troubled expression, a realization suddenly struck Wan Tiancang as he quickly reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Tongya! Besides the formation on Mount Huaqian which is crucial to our family¡¯s safety and can¡¯t be revealed, I assure you that the remaining ten formations of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and three formations of the Qi Cultivation Realm will be fully handed over to your family! Not a single detail will be missing or altered.¡±
Seeing Wan Tiancang¡¯s eagerness, Li Tongya was indeed swayed. However, there was nothing he could do but to stall for time.
He nodded and replied, ¡°I must discuss this with my father and younger brother before giving you an answer, Brother Tiancang.¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Wan Tiancang quickly nodded in understanding. Feeling that the agreement could pretty much be considered secured, he exhaled and added, ¡°Such a significant matter certainly requires your father¡¯s approval. I¡¯ll await your good news, Brother Tongya!¡±
After a brief exchange, Wan Tiancang took his leave.
¡°Wan Tiancang certainly has a way with words.¡±
Atop Mount Lijing, Lu Jiangxian observed the interaction between the two men through his divine sense.
His mind swirled with thoughts.
The potency of the Supreme Yin Profound Light is truly remarkable, akin to an assault by a peak Jade Capital cultivator at full strength. Even a cultivator in the early Qi Cultivation Realm would find it hard to withstand its might, so it¡¯s no surprise that Wan Tiancang is eager to acquire it.
Lu Jiangxian was pretty satisfied with the Li Family. The entire lineage had embarked on the path of immortality, guided by the Profound Pearl Talisman Pearls he had bestowed upon them. Each member¡¯s cultivation had been umted through their respective talisman seeds.
In essence, the fate of the Li family hinged on Lu Jiangxian¡¯s decisions and intentions. This gave Lu Jiangxian a profound sense of security and control over their destinies.
Whenever powerful auras traversed the skies over Mount Dali, Lu Jiangxian would take precautions. He cleverly disguised himself as an ordinary mirror, concealing his presence in the secluded depths of the mountain forest.
His primary goal was to avoid bing a mere instrument in someone else¡¯s hands. The capabilities of those in the Purple Mansion and Golden Core Realms were unknown to him, and it was uncertain whether they could overpower an artifact spirit like him.
Lu Jiangxian was well aware that he might be able to resolve his situation more swiftly being in the hands of immortal cultivators, but he cherished thefort of his existence in the mountains far more.
Each Profound Pearl Talisman Seed that he gave out was akin to an extension of himself¡ªlike tentacles reaching out into the world. They ryed information back to him, aided in the search for treasures, and more importantly, every breakthrough in cultivation by a member of the Li Family contributed to augmenting his own divine sense and mana.
¡°Always better to be a master than a dog,¡± he concluded, content with the thriving Li Family under the auspices of his talisman seeds.
Yet, considering another perspective, if he were in the Li Family¡¯s position, having his cultivation under the control of an artifact with its own consciousness would be intolerable. He could empathize with the desire to assert control over such a situation.
The Li Family, though intelligent and capable, was naturally cautious and prone to suspicion. Therefore, Lu Jiangxian had consciously chosen to never reveal any signs of sentience or self-awareness. Instead, he always behaved as if driven purely by instinct.
The prospect of the Wan Family¡¯s formation legacy intrigued Lu Jiangxian. He could not help but wonder how effective it would be to utilize his spirit within the mirror as a medium for setting up a formation.
¡°How can I help the Li Family acquire this legacy...?¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°Formation?¡± Li Xiangping frowned, then nced at Li Tongya and shook his head. ¡°But we don¡¯t have any talismans to offer in exchange. Yet, the prospect of acquiring this formation is indeed enticing. I find myself quite drawn to it."
Moved by the opportunity, Li Xiangping pped his thighs decisively and abruptly stood up. He grabbed Li Tongya and quickly headed toward the backyard, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s ask Father about this.¡±
Li Mutian was in the backyard, sweeping the floor. The old man led a simple life, he did not even smoke or gamble. His days were usually filled with ying with his grandson and chatting with Tian Shoushui.
He also kept a watchful eye on the mirror, almost as if fearing that it would escape through the roof window if left unattended.
Li Xuanxuan was cultivating in the side room. The child had impressively condensed seventy strands of moonlight energy with the mirror¡¯s assistance.
Comparing his progress with Li Chejing¡¯s back then, he was only slightly slower, much to the delight of his mother and the other elders in the family.
After listening to Li Xiangping, Li Mutian ced the broom aside, his gaze drifting toward the mirror on the stone tform.
He spoke in a serious tone. ¡°This isn¡¯t a simple decision to make.¡±
Observing the disappointment on his sons¡¯ faces, Li Mutian narrowed his eyes, then inquired, ¡°What are your thoughts on the recent incident where the demon was eliminated by the mirror¡¯s white light?¡±
Li Tongya and Li Xiangping paused, then knitted their eyebrows together as they thought hard.
After a moment, it was Li Tongya who broke the silence first. ¡°It seems that such a spirit artifact is inherently destined to vanquish evil and y demons. Perhaps the demon got too close and caused the mirror to react defensively.¡±
¡°That makes sense.¡± Li Mutian acknowledged with a nod, then added thoughtfully, ¡°If we were to assist Wan Tiancang, we could im that the talisman can only be used exclusively by members of our family, thenunch a sneak attack on Ji Dengqi with the mirror from a distance. However, Ji Dengqi isn¡¯t inherently evil or a demon, so it¡¯s unlikely he would trigger an attack from the mirror.¡±
After a moment of contemtion, Li Xiangping said, ¡°The Profound Scenery is the starting point in immortal cultivation. Whether it¡¯s alchemy, refining pills, crafting weapons, drawing talismans, or setting up formations, even using a storage bag requires the spiritual senses of the Jade Capital Chakra. Maybe once we advance to the Jade Capital Chakra, we¡¯ll unravel some of the mirror¡¯s mysteries and potentially leverage its power to our advantage in battles.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Li Tongya responded. He estimated the timeline before continuing, ¡°The Wan Family has just harvested their first batch of Spirit Paddies. It¡¯ll be another two or three years before the next harvest, giving us ample time before Ji Dengqi crosses the border to assault them again.¡±
Li Mutian, seated on the stone bench, refilled their teabowls and spoke calmly. ¡°For now, let¡¯s dy our decision until someone from our Li Family manages to condense the Jade Capital Chakra. We¡¯ll address these issues once the power gap between us and the Wan Family significantly declines. Until then, let Ji Dengqi be a thorn in the Wan Family¡¯s side.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Li Xiangping agreed, taking a sip of tea. He then asked, ¡°How¡¯s your progress, Second Brother?¡±
¡°I¡¯m close to reaching the Azure Essence Chakra. A few more months of cultivation and choosing the right day should allow me to attempt a breakthrough,¡± Li Tongya replied with a light smile.
Gazing at the moon and the moonlight gathered on the mirror, he added, ¡°The Azure Essence Chakra feels much less challengingpared to the Radiant Lure Chakra.¡±
Li Xiangping smiled and nodded, then remarked in a serious tone, ¡°The envoy from the immortal sect will arrive to collect the tributes in a few months. This is also a good time for us to seek advice on the Wan Family¡¯s affairs.¡±
Chapter 46: Tributes
Chapter 46: Tributes
¡°Mana has condensed into Azure Essence.¡± Li Tongya dispersed the pale white moonlight which was the Azure Essence from his hand with a wave, his heart swelling with excitement.
The Azure Essence Chakra, though not a significant milestone, represented the fourth chakra of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. The smooth condensation of his mana over the past six months left him deeply satisfied.
¡°This Azure Essence mana seems rather unusual. Its growth is impressive, almost simr to the Jade Capital Chakra cultivation described in the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique. Looks like my family¡¯s Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra is really something special.¡±
Holding a sharp sword up, Li Tongya carefully wiped it with a piece of white fabric. In the Guli Road region, people mainly used sabers and poles.
He had searched four viges before he finally acquired this valuable sword from his wife¡¯s family in Jingyang Vige.
Upon learning of Li Tongya¡¯s quest to find a sword, they eagerly offered it and refused payment from him, insisting that it was part of Liu Rouxuan¡¯s dowry.
¡°After half a year of cultivation, I¡¯ve finally made progress. Now, I can wield this Profound Water Sword Aura with confidence,¡± Li Tongya murmured to himself as he gently ran his fingers along the de of the sword, causing it to emit a light gray sword aura. It was as thin as a cicada¡¯s wing, yet lent the de an air of sharpness.
He exited the courtyard and then found a secluded spot in the mountains to practice with his sword in solitude.
¡°Ha!¡± He fluidly moved through the motions, then raised the sword in his hand and flicked his wrist. With a swift motion, he sliced through arge curtain fig tree, which fell with a loud crash, raising dust off the ground.
¡°Incredibly sharp,¡± Li Tongyamented as he observed the cleanly cut stump before him. He was impressed by how effortlessly his sword had sliced through therge tree.
Pleased with his sword¡¯s performance, he continued practicing for a while before returning it to its scabbard. He took a moment to cultivate and replenish his mana before heading back to the small courtyard in Lijing Vige.
The White Essence Fruits in the small courtyard were ripe, dangling attractively from the pale yellow shoots.
Unlike the morebor-intensive Spirit Paddies, these fruits were easily harvested using mana and then stored in jade boxes. Li Tongya had borrowed two such boxes from Wan Tiancang, just enough to fit the fifteen White Essence Fruits he had picked.
¡°Brother Tiancang, about the tributes...¡±
Upon hearing Li Tongya¡¯s inquiry about the tributes, Wan Tiancang immediately borated, ¡°Just travel east along the Guli Road and all the way to the Xiao Family¡¯s Cloud Crowned Peak. Families in Lixia Prefecture gather there to pay their tributes, bringing their surplus goods for trade at the foot of the mountain.¡±
¡°The market at the foot of the mountain is overseen by the Xiao Family. While robbing and murders are rare within the market, all transactions are final and not reversible as soon as you leave the stalls. So, the sess of the trade depends on your own judgment,¡± he cautioned.
¡°I see.¡±
After a thoughtful discussion with Li Xiangping and Li Mutian over tea, Li Tongya gathered the Pine Yue Fruit provided by the Wan Family, along with a few cultivation techniques and spells.
He then meticulously packed the Spirit Rice and White Essence Fruits from his home and set out for the Wan Family¡¯s territory.
The Wan Family¡¯s carriage was parked discreetly at the side of Guli Road. To avoid alerting the Ji Family and risking a surprise attack, they had sent only Wan Yuankai, an Azure Essence cultivator, and a carriage driver to meet Li Tongya at the designated spot.
Li Tongya efficiently loaded his belongings, including the Spirit Rice and White Essence Fruits, onto the carriage.
Under the veil of night, they embarked eastward on their journey.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°The golden autumn in theke demands a journey of 1,500 kilometers to its shores, where the autumn hues turn golden under a clear sky and a luminous night. Using the breathing method, a single night yields a portion of autumn qi. Eighty-one nights will yield a wisp of Golden Autumn In Lake. It will take ten years to amass ten such wisps, so ten wisps make a portion, which is sometimes also referred to as a decade¡¯s worth of Autumn Lake Qi.¡±
Li Chejing was engrossed in his book, absorbing the details recorded in it.
This Seventh Month Qi Cultivation True Technique provided by my master is remarkablyprehensive. I wonder if it includes a method for refining the Supreme Yin Moonlight.
He carefully went through the book, mumbling to himself, ¡°Supreme Yin Moonlight... Supreme Yin Moonlight... There it is!¡±
¡°The Supreme Yin Moonlight, white as frost and fluid like water, shines bright when the moon is full and dims when it wanes,¡± he read.
Perplexed, Li Chejing flipped a few more pages and then gasped in dismay, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±
He let out a disappointed sigh.
After condensing the Nascent Spirit Chakra recently, Li Chejing was on the brink of reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm. Seizing the opportunity, he began delving into a few essential techniques of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
¡°If I can¡¯t find clues about the Supreme Yin Moonlight, I¡¯ll have to settle with the Clear Essence Rain Control Technique.¡±
By the time Li Chejing looked up, he saw that a specific task listed outside the Martial Propagation Pavilion was no longer there. He had been waiting for three days outside the pavilion before someone finally took on the task of collecting tributes from Lixia Prefecture.
Just then, the pavilion door opened, revealing a figure. Seeing the person preparing to depart on a flying shuttle, he quickly called out, ¡°Fellow Daoist!¡±
The person lowered her head and softly inquired, ¡°Yes?¡±
It was at this moment that Li Chejing realized the person in front of him was a woman with delicate features, dressed in a pale blue dress.
He offered an awkward smile and asked, ¡°Have you epted the task of traveling to Lixia Prefecture to collect the tributes?¡±
¡°Indeed, I have.¡± The woman looked at Li Chejing and her expression immediately softened upon realizing that he was just a sixteen-year-old boy.
¡°Is your family in Lixia Prefecture?¡± she asked softly.
¡°Yes! I¡¯m Li Chejing from Qingsui Peak. May I know your name?¡±
¡°I¡¯m Ning Wan, from Moon Lake Peak,¡± she introduced herself and nodded for him to continue.
Li Cheijing cupped his fist and said with due respect, ¡°As you¡¯re going to Lixia Prefecture to collect the tributes, I¡¯d be truly grateful if you could look after my family there. I hail from the Li Family of Lijing Vige, located near Moongaze Lake.¡±
¡°Of course, it¡¯s natural for fellow disciples to help each other.¡± Ning Wan nodded but then gave him a puzzled look and asked, ¡°If you¡¯re from Moongaze Lake, which is under the governance of Moon Lake Peak, why didn¡¯t you join Moon Lake Peak?¡±
Li Chejing smiled and exined, ¡°Master Si Yuanbai happened to be traveling through Mount Dali when he stumbled upon me. Fortunately, I was honored with his favor and ended up being brought back to the sect to cultivate.¡±
Ning Wan huffed in annoyance then grumbled, ¡°Si Yuanbai never stays put in his Mushroom Forest in. He¡¯s always poaching people from my Moongaze Lake. How annoying.¡±
Li Chejing could only chuckle awkwardly, choosing not to respond to herment.
Ning Wan pursed her lips and then changed the topic. ¡°All right, do you have anything you want me to take along?¡±
Li Chejing was initially contemting how to make the request, but he was relieved to hear the woman make the offer first. Li Chejing eagerly epted, ¡°Yes, I do! Thank you so much for your kindness, Fairy!¡±
He then handed her a small pouch. Ning Wan weighed it in her hand and then heard the clinking of what seemed like four or five Spirit Stones.
¡°You¡¯ve never received provisions from home while cultivating in the sect, yet you¡¯re sending items home instead? Why is that?¡± she asked, slightly puzzled.
Li Chejing quickly shook his head and replied, ¡°My family has sent me some pills before. Everything I need is avable on the peak, so I don¡¯t really need to spend these Spirit Stones anyway. Besides, using them for cultivation seems like a huge waste, so I figured it¡¯s better to send them home to support my family.¡±
¡°I see. You¡¯re very thoughtful,¡± Ning Wan remarked, her voice warm with newfound respect. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure this gets there.¡±
Chapter 47: Eastern Gate
Chapter 47: Eastern Gate
In the brisk chill of early spring, Old Wu was bundled up in his cotton coat and sitting wearily on a weathered grayish-yellow wooden chair. The banner of his tavern, which had once fluttered proudly in the cold wind, now hung limply, much like a fatigued pond loach.
¡°Business should be decent today.¡±
Yue State, situated in the south, had a hot and humid climate. Winter snow was a rare urrence, withst year¡¯s heavy snowfall being an exceptionally unusual event.
The thick snow rendered the entire Guli Road impassable for carriages and horses, leaving Old Wu with only three groups of patrons all winter. Now, with spring ushering in lingering chills, it was the perfect weather for a drink.
Leaningzily against the creaking wooden chair, Old Wu squinted out the window and spotted a cloud of yellow dust on the distant road.
He rose hastily, his limp noticeable as he shuffled to the doorway, calling out with renewed vigor, ¡°Wine! Mutton! Meat!¡±
Observing a horse carriage slowing to a stop before his establishment, he quickly added, ¡°Hello there! Our humble shop offers strong wine and a variety of refreshing, tangy side dishes...¡±
As the carriage curtain parted, two men in fur coats alighted.
The first man to alight was scarcely seventeen years of age. He had a certain glow to his handsome youthful features and carried a long saber. He smiled as he gazed toward the tavern.
Hispanion appeared to be in his mid-twenties with a valuable sword hanging at his waist. He was a rather good-looking man with intense eyes that were fixed on Old Wu with a certain cautiousness.
He must be the guardian of that young man he¡¯s escorting. He looks rather seasoned and very alert to his surroundings. Judging by the sword he carried, both of them muste from affluent ns. Seems like I¡¯ll be able to earn a lot today!
Sensing an opportunity, Old Wu greeted them with an obsequious smile as he ushered them inside. ¡°Please, gentlemen,e in. Our tavern¡¯s signature Snowke Wine is a renowned delicacy in these parts.¡±
Turning his head around, he called loudly, ¡°We have patrons!¡±
As the two men settled at a table, two others hurriedly descended the stairs, bowing and standing behind Old Wu.
¡°A bottle of Snowke Wine and a few side dishes,¡± Yuan Wankai ordered, setting his long saber aside.
Observing the old man¡¯s prompt instructions to his staff, he turned to Li Tongya with enthusiasm and happily exined, ¡°This Snowke Wine is made by boiling thinly sliced mutton in top-quality wine until it bes soft. The meat is then ground into a smooth paste. To enhance the vors, mutton bone marrow and kidney fat are melted in a pot and mixed with the meat paste, which is soaked in warm wine to make an indulgent drink.¡±
He gulped then confided, ¡°I first tried it here five years ago with another brother in my n and could never forget the taste. I¡¯ve tried countless dishes back at home since, but nothingpares to this!¡±
Li Tongya, who was feeling weary from days of travel and dry meals apanied by cold water, found his appetite piqued by the description, eagerly anticipating the feast.
As they conversed, a noisy mor from outside interrupted them. A group of men dressed in cotton staggered in, taking their seats while shouting, ¡°Old Wu, bring out some wine!¡±
¡°Ah, you¡¯re here! Wee!¡± Old Wu quickly approached them with a smile, ingratiating himself.
¡°This spring¡¯s chill is no joke! We¡¯ve been standing guard at the eastern gate all night, and our balls were nearly frozen off! We rushed here for a warm drink as soon as it was time for a shift change.¡±
The burly leader of the group chuckled heartily and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve got no idea what happened these days, but the road is under such strict watch by people sent by the ns in the prefecture. Birds up in the trees don¡¯t even dare to chirp!¡±
Another man at the table casually chimed in, ¡°Oh, get used to it, Big Tiger! This happens every few years. Just wait it out, it¡¯ll ease up soon enough. Those prominent ns in the prefecture love tightening their grip every now and then.¡±
Wan Yuankai listened to the loud conversation for a while, then leaned toward Li Tongya and whispered, ¡°We must be near the Cloud Crowned Peak. I¡¯m guessing those men serve the Xiao Family.¡±
Li Tongya nodded thoughtfully. Xiao Yuansi¡¯s face suddenly came to his mind and he somehow had a positive impression on these local men.
Just then, a waiter brought over a hot bottle of wine, some small side dishes, and a bowl of creamy white mutton paste.
Wan Kai eagerly picked up his spoon and scooped some of the paste into his bowl, then poured the hot wine over it. The rich aroma of mutton immediately filled the air.
Big Tiger, the burly man, inhaled deeply. His eyes immediately lit up as he eximed, ¡°That smells amazing! It must be the famous Snowke Wine!¡±
Ignoring Big Tiger¡¯sment, Wan Yuankai savored a mouthful of the delight, then gestured for Li Tongya to try some.
With a polite nod and smile to the local men, Li Tongya filled his own bowl and then brought his spoon into his mouth.
A blend of wine and mutton vors immediately exploded on his pte. Before he realized it, he had emptied his bowl.
¡°It¡¯s truly a delightful taste,¡± he remarked with a chuckle.
Big Tiger, feeling ignored, awkwardly curled his lips and grumbled, ¡°Must be nice to have money to burn...¡±
His envious gaze lingered on the next table¡¯s feast as he reluctantly turned back to converse with hispanions.
Wan Yuankai had barely sipped a few mouthfuls of the Snowke Wine when amotion at the entrance caught his attention.
A group of people clustered around a young man, dressed invish brocade and fur, making their way into the inn.
¡°n Brother, don¡¯t judge this tavern by its shabby appearance. It serves some of the finest Snowke Wine on this road. Given the chilly solitude of these mountainous outskirts, it¡¯s the only spot around that offers us a bit of respite.¡±
The person speaking ingratiatingly was a well-dressed man in his mid-thirties, addressing the young man in a manner that seemed ratherical, given their apparent age difference.
The young man merely gave a nomittal hum in response. Dressed in pristine white fox fur with a golden pouch tied around his waist, thevishly dressed man had sharp eyes that entuated his refined features.
On the other hand, Big Tiger suddenly grew anxious. ¡°Oh no, why is the manager of the main family here?!¡±
He quickly lowered his head along with the other men seated at his table, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. No one dared to breathe a word.
¡°Thatvishly dressed man must be someone from the sect. Even the haughty manager acts like an obedient dog in his presence,¡± Big Tiger quietly surmised.
He sneaked a nce at the neers stationed at the eastern gate, recognizing a couple of them as prominent figures among the Xiao Family¡¯s soldiers. They stood respectfully behind the manager, not daring to even speak a word.
Thevishly dressed young man frowned slightly at the tavern¡¯s modest setting, causing the middle-aged manager to lower his head in a nervous silence.
The manager was formting the right words to address the situation but was caught off guard when the young man in front of him unexpectedly let out augh.
This sudden change in demeanor left the manager momentarily stunned and visibly shaken. This man, possessing a spiritual orifice and having embarked on the path of immortality, is known for his arrogance and overbearing nature. During my tenure of over ten days guarding the eastern gate, I have never once seen him show a smile. I fear that hisughter is not one out of joy but anger!
Thevishly dressed young man cupped his fist respectfully instead and said with a friendly smile, ¡°What a pleasant surprise it is to find fellow Daoists in such a remote tavern!¡±
Chapter 48: Xiao Yongling
Chapter 48: Xiao Yongling
The middle-aged manager¡¯s mind went nk. He lifted his head in confusion, only to be greeted by the sight of two inly dressed men in fur coats, sharing drinks in the humble tavern. To his astonishment, his usually arrogant and overbearing n brother stood by respectfully.
¡°You¡¯ve got a sharp eye, fellow Daoist!¡± Wan Yuankai eximed with a warm smile, then asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you join us for a few drinks?¡±
¡°That would be delightful!¡± thevishly dressed youth responded, seating himself casually on a rickety wooden stool. The chair creaked under his weight, as if threatening to copse, causing the middle-aged manager to tense up.
¡°Greetings, fellow Daoists. I¡¯m Xiao Yongling from the Xiao Family of Xia Prefecture, under the governance of Azure Pond,¡± the youth introduced himself with a polite smile, gratefully epting a wine bowl from Li Tongya before asking, ¡°And you are?¡±
¡°Wan Yuankai from the Wan Family of Mount Huaqian, under the governance of Azure Pond.¡±
¡°Li Tongya from the Li Family of Lijing Vige, under the governance of Azure Pond.¡±
Seeing Xiao Yongling¡¯s friendliness, the two men politely returned his greeting and introduced themselves.
Xiao Yongling¡¯s expression remained unchanged when Wan Yuankai introduced himself because he had heard of the Wan Family on Mount Huqian. However, he seemed genuinely surprised when he heard about the Li Family from Lijing Vige.
¡°Is it the same Li Family from the Lijing Vige located by Moongaze Lake?¡± he asked.
¡°Yes. Although my family only recently embarked on the path of immortality, I¡¯m honored that our modest lineage has reached the ears of such a distinguished family as yours,¡± Li Tongya replied, concealing his surprise behind a calm demeanor. Reflecting on this unexpected revtion, he found himself pondering about Xiao Yuansi.
Wan Yuankai, feeling somewhat awkward, internally mused, It¡¯s understandable that the powerful Xiao family would overlook my Wan Family, but it¡¯s quite intriguing that the Li Family, who have only recently embarked on their immortal journey, have already caught the attention of the Xiao Family!
Xiao Yongling chuckled lightly and then exined politely, ¡°Xiao Yuansi of Qingsui Peak is my uncle. Since both our families are on Qingsui Peak, it¡¯s only natural we¡¯ve heard of each other.¡±
¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it is!¡± Wan Yuankai said, his heart skipping a beat as he recalled the Li Family had a member in the Azure Pond Sect. Mixed feelings arose, but then he turned to Xiao Yongling and praised, ¡°It¡¯s quite remarkable that you have reached the Jade Capital stage at such a young age, fellow Daoist.¡±
Xiao Yongling awkwardly fumbled over his words in response, ¡°I¡¯m merely at the Profound Scenery stage. My status as a direct descendant of the Xiao Family has granted me ess to treasures that can discern other¡¯s cultivation, so I identified both of yours not due to the spiritual sense of the Jade Capital Chakra.¡±
¡°My apologies for assuming!¡± Wan Yuankai cupped his fist and replied, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Xiao Yongling dismissed the apology with a wave and shifted the conversation. ¡°Both of you are on your way to submit the tributes, I presume?¡±
¡°Indeed.¡± Li Tongya and Wan Yuankai exchanged nces, both feeling a sense of amusement at Xiao Yongling¡¯s chatty demeanor as they prepared to listen to what he had to share.
¡°The entire area from Moongaze Lake to Lixia County falls under the governance of the Moon Lake Peak. Currently, only four disciples remain in Moon Lake Peak. Do you know who¡¯s been assigned as the envoy to collect the tributes?¡±
¡°We¡¯re not sure...¡±
¡°It¡¯s Ning Wan, the Fairy of Autumn Lake!¡± Xiao Yongling announced triumphantly.
Noticing the confusion on the two men¡¯s faces, he borated, ¡°Ning Wan refined Pine Forest Wind into Qi and excels in formation arts. At only twenty-four, she¡¯s already reached the eighthyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. She¡¯s rumored to be extraordinarily beautiful and usually keeps to herself. It¡¯s rare for her to take on such tasks unless the other disciples on the peak are upied.¡±
Xiao Yongling went on and on with the exnations, but suddenly paused then looked at Wan Yuankai suspiciously, asking, ¡°Speaking of formation arts, does your Wan Family have a legacy in this area? The Wan Family of Huaqian rings a bell for me.¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Wan Yuankai, who had been waiting for an opportunity to share, lit up at the chance and proudly exined, ¡°My Wan Family once had a renowned formation master, Wan Huaqian, over two hundred years ago. In fact, Mount Huaqian was named in his honor.¡±
¡°I see...¡± Xiao Yongling nodded, then added, ¡°I recall reading about Wan Huaqian in our family¡¯s cultivation history. There¡¯s spection that he inherited skills from a fallen cultivator after a great battle.¡±
Li Tongya, keen to keep the conversation on topic and not drift back to Ning Wan¡¯s allure, quickly asked, ¡°Could you tell us more about this great battle?¡±
Xiao Yongling nodded and pondered for a moment before sharing, ¡°There isn¡¯t much detailed information about that battle in our n records. It¡¯s said that someone under the banner of an upper sect known as Moonlight Origin Mansion attempted to force all three sects and ten gates into submission. This incited the ire of the three sects, leading to a fierce conflict. The upstart met his end at Moongaze Lake.¡±
¡°What audacity,¡± Wan Yuankai remarked, visibly impressed by the boldness of such an individual.
¡°That battle was catastrophic. It altered the course of rivers and disrupted the earth veins. The three sects lost fifteen cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Realm and numerous in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Two exalted cultivators in the Purple Mansion Realm also perished. By the end of it, only seven of the ten gates remained,¡± Xiao Yongling exined.
Li Tongya sighed, envisioning the dramatic scene from three centuries ago.
Wan Yuankai sighed and said, ¡°Those in the Purple Mansion Realm have a lifespan of five centuries. It must have taken immense effort and dedication to reach that realm. Why do they choose to fight in deadly battles rather than enjoy their hard-earned long lives?¡±
¡°Hahahaha, us minor cultivators will never be able to fathom the lives of such exalted beings. We can only hope to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm in our lifetime.¡± Xiao Yonglingughed and took a sip of the Snowke Wine. He picked up a pair of chopsticks and nced over the side dishes before awkwardly setting down them again.
Looks like wine is the only decent thing served in this ce, he thought to himself.
Li Tongya, aware of his family¡¯s limited knowledge, seized the opportunity to acquire more knowledge.
¡°Brother Xiao, could you enlighten us on what Pine Forest Wind is?¡± he asked, following up on Xiao Yongling¡¯s previous remarks.
¡°To advance from the Embryonic Breathing to the Qi Cultivation Realm, one must breathe in a mouthful of Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. Pine Forest Wind is an example of it, gathered on snowy days in pine forests with a unique method. One can collect a wisp over six months and five years to gather enough atop a snowy peak. If one waits for annual snowfall, the process could extend over a decade,¡± Xiao Yongling exined with a smile.
¡°I see!¡±
After a few more conversations, Xiao Yongling waved and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I shouldn¡¯t keep you two from heading to Cloud Crowned Peak any longer. Let¡¯s part ways here. If you ever find yourselves in Lixia Prefecture in the future, do make sure to visit. We¡¯ll share more stories over wine!¡±
¡°Certainly!¡± Li Tongya and Wan Kai responded warmly.
With a friendly smile, Xiao Yongling bid his farewell to the two men and led his entourage out of the tavern, heading east.
After taking a few steps, Xiao Yongling appeared lost in thought. The middle-aged manager bowed slightly and followed behind him, not daring to interrupt.
While the manager was silently observing Xiao Yongling from behind, he overheard a whisper behind him.
¡°Isn¡¯t that master known for his arrogance? Why was he so humble and courteous today to those two? That¡¯s quite a shock.¡±
Taking a step backward, the middle-aged manager pped the speaker on the back of his head hard and hissed beside his ear, ¡°You think we mortals are seen as equals by the master? No one would waste polite words on a mere dog!¡±
Chapter 49: Huge Ship
Chapter 49: Huge Ship
The spiritual energy at the northern foot of Mountain Dali was gradually returning, and with this resurgence, the presence of demons increased. Li Tongya had only been away for two months when a bear demon appeared at Lidaokou Vige.
Fortunately, the demon was only at the Profound Scenery stage. With Li Xiangping on the verge of breaking through to the Azure Essence stage, he was able to keep the situation under control. He gathered the men in the vige and wielded his bow, releasing several golden arrows that swiftly dealt with the demon.
On one hand, Li Xiangping had to arrange for the demon¡¯s remains to be hauled to the Wan Family and sold to Wan Xiaohua. On the other, he was tasked with nning the reconstruction of the road damaged by the demon¡¯s rampage. This left him so upied that he had not returned to Mount Lijing for several days.
Back at home, his mother and Tian Yun, along with Ren Ping¡¯er, were busy taking care of little Xuanfeng and Jingtian in the main courtyard.
Li Xuanxuan, having recently condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra, had eagerly apanied his third uncle down the mountain to confront the demon, leaving Li Mutian alone in the backyard.
Li Mutian, unable to sit idle, busied himself crafting a set of furniture. He ced it outside the house that amodated the stone tform, spending his days watching the spring breeze dance through the courtyard.
Now nearly seventy, the wounds from his youth asionally reminded him of their presence. The toll of a farmer¡¯s life had aged him quickly. His hair was gray, and his vigor was not what it once was.
He took a seat in the courtyard, his thoughts often drifting to his two children who were away from home as well as the affairs at home.
¡°I don¡¯t worry about Xiangping and Tongya, they have the potential to bring prosperity to our Li Family. But Jing¡¯er, he¡¯s so far away from home, in the depths of the unknown of the immortal sect without anyone to help him. I wonder how he¡¯s doing right now.¡±
Stroking his white beard, the old man gazed at the mirror on the stone tform and mused to himself, ¡°One¡¯s sess is everyone¡¯s glory, and one¡¯s loss is borne by the entire family.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The small courtyards on the Cloud Crowned Peak of the Xiao Family were shrouded in a veil of clouds and mist, so dense that it was rumored even spiritual sense could not prate it.
As Li Tongya and Wan Yuankai followed behind the Xiao Family¡¯s servants, they eventually reached the t summit of the mountain.
Judging by our steps, Cloud Crowned Peak doesn¡¯t seem much taller than Mount Lijing, Li Tongya mused silently.
Upon reaching the top, they saw arge courtyard bustling with about thirty to forty people. All of them were well dressed, conversing in hushed tones in small groups.
Amidst them all, an elderly man sat serenely at the highest point, his gaze lowered to a book in his hands.
¡°That old man there is Xiao Chuting, an elder of the Xiao family who has attained the Foundation Establishment Realm!¡± Wan Yuankai whispered, causing Li Tongya to quickly divert his gaze, cautious not to inadvertently offend such a distinguished figure.
¡°Senior Xiao is quite the legend. Over a century ago, the Xiao Family was barely notable in the prefecture. After the tragic demise of their chief who was in the Qi Cultivation Realm, Senior Xiao averted the family¡¯s downfall with his exceptional pill-refining skills. Not long after that, he attained the Foundation Establishment Realm and elevated the Xiao Family to their current status of a prestigious n,¡± Xiao Yuankai continued exining as he looked around in the courtyard.
All of a sudden, his eyes lit up as he stepped forward and respectfully greeted, ¡°Brother Lu! It¡¯s been so long, how have you been?¡±
The man had a huge forehead and a blue silk cloak draped over his shoulders, radiating an air of natural pride despite his otherwise unassuming face.
With a slight furrow of his brow, he responded somewhat coolly, ¡°Ah, Brother Yuankai, it¡¯s been a while indeed.¡±
Wan Yuankai smiled awkwardly at the cold greeting returned to him, but was immediately taken aback by the gray pouch hanging at the man¡¯s waist.
The Lu Family is wealthy now, huh? Since he¡¯s given a storage pouch, does that mean...
¡°Have you... broken through to the Qi Cultivation Stage, my friend?¡±
¡°Yes, thanks to a small reserve of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi at home,¡± the man replied with a slight nod, lifting his chin proudly as he noticed the envious nces of others around them.
Wan Yuankai¡¯s expression turned slightly pale as he congratted the man in a small voice. ¡°Congrattions, that makes two cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm in your n.¡±
Wan Yuankai tried exchanging a few more words with the cultivator from the Lu n, but the cold responses from the man made him give up and return to Li Tongya with a somber look on his face.
Li Tongya was aware of the Lu Family, whose territory was just adjacent to the Wan Family¡¯s. There was an unmistakable hint of envy in Wan Yuankai¡¯s voice when he previously mentioned to him that the Lu family had a cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm.
¡°How did the Lu Family gain another cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm? I remember Lu Pingyuan once visited our family and offered us help against the Ji Family. Back then, he was only at the Jade Capital stage. But now, he¡¯s already attained the Qi Cultivation Realm!¡±
¡°This Minor Pure Spiritual Qi... It sounds fancy, but it¡¯s really just refined usingmon spiritual qi on the mountains! With some effort, anyone could seed in it. In fact, most cultivators rely on Minor Pure Spiritual Qi,¡± Wan Yuankaimented disdainfully, as though trying to vent the frustration from being treated coldly earlier. Despite his dismissive words, it was clear from his expression that he deeply envied the Lu Family.
As they conversed quietly, a magnificent light gradually rose in the east. The cultivators around them looked up and began murmuring amongst themselves again.
¡°Quite the grand entrance.¡±
¡°So that¡¯s a Dawn Cloudliner?¡±
The ethereal light from the east gradually neared, unveiling its true identity¡ªa magnificent cloud ship enveloped in golden light. Adorned with misty wings on either side, it effortlessly sliced through the veils of clouds and mist. In just a few moments, the ship gracefully alighted upon the mountain¡¯s peak.
¡°Wee, envoy from the immortal sect!¡± The gathered cultivators, including Xiao Chuting, bowed in respect.
From the Dawn Cloudliner, several streams of green light descended gracefully. As itnded on the mountaintop, a woman wearing a pale blue dress and a cloak came into view. Her face was covered by a veil, so no one could discern her true appearance. Apanying her were several attendants from the immortal sect, all d in blue uniforms.
Xiao Chuting came forward with a warm smile and said, ¡°Greetings, envoy.¡±
¡°No formalities needed, Senior!¡± The fairy¡¯s voice was both clear and gentle, making her seem like a nobledy.
¡°Well, then I shall keep this short. These are the tributes from the Xiao Family this year.¡± Xiao Chuting chuckled and gestured to the members of the Xiao Family, who began moving their impressive tributes from the front yard. They hefted bags of Spirit Rice, easily amounting to several thousand jin in total. Additionally, there were also over a dozen boxes brimming with a variety of spirit goods, opened and ready for inspection.
¡°Five thousand jin of Purple Jade Spirit Rice, and all other spirit goods are ounted for as per the usual share. You may proceed with the inspection, Fairy.¡±
Ning Wan shook her head and softly declined, ¡°No need. I trust the Xiao Family¡¯s reputation.¡±
Xiao Chuting cupped his fist respectfully while his family members began moving the spirit goods and Spirit Rice onto the Cloudliner. Given the sheer volume¡ªa staggering five or six thousand jin of spiritmodities, a typical storage bag was inadequate for the task. Hence, the Dawn Cloudliner was required.
Following this, other families quickly stepped forward, each announcing their names and presenting the tributes from their families.
¡°Wu Family from the south of the prefecture.¡±
¡°Lu Family from Mount Tiaoyun.¡±
.........
¡°Wan Family from Mount Huaqian.¡±
¡°Li Family from Lijing Vige.¡±
Wan Yuankai and Li Tongya approached together, presenting their tributes to the attendants. The Li Family¡¯s tributes this year consisted of ten White Essence Fruits and two hundred jin of Spirit Rice.
Li Tongya¡¯s heart ached when he looked at the remaining ny jin of Spirit Rice and five White Essence Fruits. However, his attention was suddenly captured by Ning Wang¡¯s voice.
¡°So, you are from the Li Family from Lijing Vige?¡±
Chapter 50: Pill
Chapter 50: Pill
¡°So, you are from the Li Family from Lijing Vige? By the Moongaze Lake?¡± Ning Wan inquired.
Her question instantly prompted whispers among the onlookers.
¡°Li Family by the Moongaze Lake? I¡¯ve never heard of them. What did they do to catch the envoy¡¯s attention?¡±
¡°Who knows...?¡±
Xiao Chutin was also looking in their direction. He smiled and offered Li Tongya an encouraging nod.
Despite being momentarily taken aback, Li Tongya quicklyposed himself and raised his gaze. He could see the fair skin and soft jawline under Ning Wan¡¯s veil.
¡°Yes, I am Li Tongya of the Li Family. Our home, Mount Lijing, is indeed by Moongaze Lake,¡± he replied calmly.
¡°And who is this Li Chejing to you?¡± Ning Wan asked.
A spark of realization lit up Li Tongya¡¯s face. He figured that Li Chejing must have told something to thisdy in the sect.
¡°He¡¯s my younger brother,¡± he answered respectfully.
Ning Wan extended her left hand, and a small brocade pouch gracefully floated toward Li Tongya. ¡°This is from your younger brother,¡± she stated softly.
Li Tongya hurriedly epted the pouch. He could not help but feel the weight of the curious gazes around him, making him ufortably aware of his sudden prominence as he never enjoyed such attention.
¡°Thank you, Fairy!¡± he quickly expressed his gratitude.
Ning Wan gave him a nod. While she shared a light-hearted exchange with Xiao Chuting, all the families eventually submitted their tributes.
¡°All thirty-four families in Lixia Prefecture have presented their tributes!¡± one of the attendants respectfully reported to Ning Wan.
¡°Good.¡± Ning Wan nodded, then addressed Xiao Chuting, ¡°I must attend to other duties. With the tributes collected, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±
¡°Take care, envoy,¡± Xiao Chuting replied, cupping his fist as he watched Ning Wan make her way back to the flying ship.
As the Dawn Cloudliner ascended into the eastern sky, Xiao Chuting¡¯s gaze returned to the crowd. He spoke in a calm tone. ¡°The rogue cultivators have gathered at the foot of the mountain. The market there has been open for a few days now. You¡¯re all wee to head there for trading.¡±
He paused, adding a firm reminder, ¡°Just remember, we¡¯re all old friends now, you should be aware that the Cloud Crowned Market is under the management of the Xiao Family. I expect everyone to respect that. Any acts of robbery or forced transactions within the market will be seen as a direct affront to my family¡¯s authority.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± the crowd acknowledged respectfully before dispersing toward the foot of the mountain. Several approached Li Tongya with the intention of engaging with him, and Wan Yuankai could only stare at him enviously.
He was about to say something when Xiao Chuting¡¯s sudden cough drew their attention. ¡°Young Tongya, would you kindly join me for a conversation?¡± he asked with a smile.
The people who tried to approach Li Tongya quickly stopped in their tracks. Wan Yuankai quickly buttoned his lips as well.
Li Tongya eagerly responded, ¡°You¡¯re ttering me, Senior. It would be my honor to speak with a cultivator of your caliber!¡±
Xiao Chuting led Li Tongya to the main courtyard. They settled at a stone table, with attendants promptly serving tea. Taking a sip of the delicately vored brew, Xiao Chuting remarked, ¡°I rarely visit Cloud Crowned Peak, so the hospitality here is modest. I hope you don¡¯t mind, young one.¡±
Li Tongya epted the teacup and took a small sip. A sweet, refreshing vor instantly exploded on the tip of his tongue, clearing his mind. While resisting the urge to empty his cup in one go, he shook his head humbly in response to Xiao Chuting¡¯s remarks.
¡°Your younger brother and my grandson have been cultivating on Qingsui Peak for several years. My grandson had mentioned him to me before. That younger brother of yours shows great potential in swordsmanship and has caught the eye of Master Si Yuanbai, who considers his talents to be unparalleled in Qingsui Peak¡¯s recent centuries.¡±
Raised in a farming family, Li Tongya was more ustomed to the teabowls of his vige than the delicate teacups. His surprise was palpable when he heard Xiao Chuting¡¯s remarks.
Pausing momentarily, he replied with a pleasant surprise, ¡°Jing¡¯er has never mentioned that to us...¡±
¡°Your younger brother is a good kid. Have you taken a look inside that brocade pouch?"
Xiao Chuting¡¯s gaze softened as he looked at Li Tongya, revealing a look of nostalgia on his face. A smile graced his lips as he continued, ¡°There are five Spirit Stones in there. These are part of the provisions he received over five years. He has probably used the Spirit Rice and pills, but he saved these Spirit Stones.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s expression immediately shifted to one of poignant realization. ¡°My family has truly been a burden to him,¡± he murmured.
Xiao Chuting raised his hand dismissively and said, ¡°Ah, you shouldn¡¯t think that way. In a family, one¡¯s sess is everyone¡¯s glory, and one¡¯s loss is borne by the entire family.¡±
He then produced a white jade vial from seemingly nowhere and ced it on the table. ¡°I see you¡¯re still at the Azure Essence stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. This is a Bright Spirit Powder, use it to break through to the Jade Capital stage.¡±
Li Tongya was taken aback by the unexpected generosity. He stood up hastily and waved his hand. ¡°Senior, I couldn¡¯t possibly ept such a valuable gift!¡±
¡°Do not refuse it. Take it before you leave. Without a Jade Capital cultivator at home, you¡¯re letting Qingsui Peak down. Now, go.¡±
With those final words, Xiao Chuting rose and retreated to the backyard, leaving a stunned Li Tongya to be ushered out by the attendants.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At the foot of Cloud Crowned Peak, Li Tongya clutched the precious pill and smiled wryly. He looked at Wan Yuankai, who wore an expression of mixed emotions, and said, ¡°Brother Yuankai, about this market...¡±
¡°Hm?¡± Snapping back to the present, Wan Yuankai gestured ahead and said, ¡°Just follow this path. There are illusionary formations around the market to keep the mortals away. Stay close and don¡¯t wander off.¡±
As they ventured further, the once quiet mountain path transformed. They entered a bustling marketce, alive with the sounds of barter and conversation.
¡°Brother Tongya, my n has entrusted me with a task, so let¡¯s part ways here. We¡¯ll meetter at the foot of the mountain and return together by carriage.¡± Wan Yuankai cupped his fist and smiled at Li Tongya before quickly heading eastward.
Li Tongya watched him disappear into the distance, then turned his attention to a small roadside stall. The stall owner was deeply engrossed in a book with a perplexed expression. There was a collection of talismans, a few unknown spirit objects, and several small gs disyed in his stall.
¡°These are formation gs, aren¡¯t they?¡± Li Tongya inquired, his curiosity piqued as he eyed the small grayish-white gs but refrained from touching them.
¡°Yes, crafted from the leather of a beast demon in the Jade Capital Stage stage and mounted on poles made of white jade wood. They¡¯re priced at eight Spirit Stones each.¡±
Recalling the six gs Xiao Yuansi had sold to his family, Li Tongya probed further, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of gs made with white-striped crucian carp skin for the body and red birch wood for the poles... Do you know how they are usually priced?¡±
The stall owner looked surprised, his gaze on Li Tongya turned into a mix of eagerness and respect. ¡°That¡¯s quite specialized, Senior. Red birch wood is not that umon, but white-striped crucian carp skin is typically used for crafts in the Qi Cultivation Realm. You might want to check the stalls on the east side for those. Our stalls here mainly cater to the Embryonic Breathing Realm.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Li Tongya nodded as a realization dawned on him.
It appears the price Xiao Yuansi charged my family was quite reasonable. If these gs of the Embryonic Breathing Realm are eight Spirit Stones each, then twelve Spirit Stones for those of the Qi Cultivator Realm is still a fair deal.
Chapter 51: Purchase
Chapter 51: Purchase
¡°Five Spirit Stones, five White Essence Fruits, and ny jin of Spirit Rice,¡± Li Tongya counted, reassessing his possessions. The White Essence Fruits weremon ingredients in pill concoctions. His familycked the expertise to put them to good use, so he decided to sell them instead. The Spirit Rice, however, brimming with spiritual qi, was worth keeping for personal consumption.
¡°We still owe Xiao Yuansi ten Spirit Stones,¡± he mumbled, feeling an impending headache.
It seems Xiao Yuansi understands it¡¯s not a debt he can collect quickly. Even the envoy has already departed. For now, I¡¯ll have to let the debt stand... perhaps for a few more years.
As Li Tongya strolled through the bustling market, he marveled at the array of spirit objects but found nothing rted to the hundred arts of Immortal Cultivation.
He crouched before a stall, rifling through the items, when the stall¡¯s owner, wearing a ck face veil, inquired softly, ¡°What are you looking for, fellow Daoist?¡±
Li Tongya only realized that she was a woman when he heard her gentle voice. He smiled wryly at her and asked, ¡°Do you have anything rted to the hundred arts of Immortal Cultivation?¡±
¡°This must be your first time here at the market,¡± the woman remarked, her voice tinged with amusement.
¡°Yes.¡±
The woman¡¯s eyes twinkled as she began exining, ¡°The talismans, pills, and formations around Lixia Prefecture usuallye from one of three sources: the Azure Pond Sect, various prominent ns, or rogue cultivators.¡±
¡°The Azure Pond Sect, being thergest supplier, restricts the sale of Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation here. This allows them to continuously gather materials at low costs, which they then process into finished goods for sale to us.¡±
¡°As for the prominent ns, they too, have little interest in selling what sustains them. In an unspoken agreement with the Azure Pond Sect, they help restrict the cirction of anything rted to these hundred arts of Immortal Cultivation. This way, they can ensure their slice of the market remains intact.¡±
Li Tongya nodded as he listened intently to the female cultivator¡¯s exnation. He looked at her in perplexity and asked, ¡°So, there are quite a number of rogue cultivators in Lixia Prefecture?¡±
The female cultivator shook her head, leaning in slightly to elucidate, ¡°In the vastnds of Yue State, with millions of inhabitants, even a single prefecture like Lixia houses six to seven hundred thousand people. Within the five prefectures under the governance of the Azure Pond Sect, there could easily be three to four thousand individuals with spiritual orifices, and that¡¯s not even considering the long-established lineages of the prominent ns. The number of immortal cultivators could well exceed five thousand.¡±
¡°You sure know a lot, fellow Daoist.¡± Li Tongya remarked as his gaze wandered over the items in her stall. The talismans seemed not particrly useful and were hardly worth his Spirit Stones.
¡°Three talismans for one Spirit Stone,¡± the woman said.
When Li Tongya heard the price, he quickly shifted his gaze away to a light blue sword.
¡°This sword is crafted from Clear Smoke Stone and tempered in snowy cold air. It¡¯s not just sharp and swift; it also carries a frigid frost with each strike.¡± The female cultivator immediately became more friendly.
With a smile, she continued, ¡°It¡¯s a good sword. I wouldn¡¯t have sold it if I hadn¡¯t acquired a new dharma artifact. I¡¯m offering it for ten Spirit Stones.¡±
Due to budget constraints, Li Tongya could only move his gaze away reluctantly from the sword and searched for something else in the stall. Since the sky was getting dark, he picked up a dark-colored bow on her stall and inquired, ¡°How about this bow?¡±
¡°Ah, this bow is made from ebony wood and strung with the tendons of a demon of the Azure Essence stage. When infused with mana, it adds a piercing aura to the arrows. I can let it go for four Spirit Stones.¡±
Li Tongya chuckled and countered, ¡°Two Spirit Stones.¡±
¡°That¡¯s too low,¡± the female cultivator replied, shaking her head.
Li Tongya pointed out, ¡°I can tell that it¡¯s quite worn already. How about two Spirit Stones and five White Essence Fruits? That¡¯s worth two and a half Spirit Stones.¡±
After a moment of contemtion and a nce at the darkening sky, the female cultivator gritted her teeth and finally said, ¡°Deal.¡±
Li Tongya handed over the Spirit Stones and spirit fruits to the stall owner, then stood up with his newly acquired bow in hand and three remaining Spirit Stones securely in his pocket. Some vendors were starting to pack up, so he hurriedly made a round through the market.
The shops ahead peddled items for cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Since Li Tongya could not possibly afford them, he quickly skipped those stalls. He kept his head lowered, browsing through the items offered by various stalls.
Soon, he came across a young man in hemp clothing and a leather coat, standing beside arge iron cage that was holding a pack of furry canine creatures.
The young man looked quite despondent, but he quickly brightened up when he noticed Li Tongya¡¯s interest. ¡°Take a look at these forest beasts, fellow Daoist! They¡¯re mild in temperament and will reach the Radiant Lure stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm at maturity. They¡¯re swift, with razor-sharp teeth capable of overpowering dozens of mortals. You¡¯ll only have to feed them Spirit Rice...¡±
Upon hearing this, Li Tongya finally understood why the young man failed to make a sale the entire day. ¡°But what use is there in overpowering mortals?¡± he asked.
¡°W-Well, these beasts are incredibly intelligent. They can track scents, find objects, and even detect monstrous auras...¡±
¡°How much for one?¡±
¡°A Spirit Stone for one...¡±
Li Tongya turned to leave, prompting the stall owner to grab Li Tongya by the corner of his shirt and hastily offer, ¡°One Spirit Stone for two!¡±
Li Tongya paused, then shook his head and said, ¡°Your beasts seem fine, but any cultivator could easily deal with them with just a few spells. On top of that, they need to be fed with Spirit Rice. My family can barely afford such rations for ourselves, let alone for these creatures...¡±
The young man hesitated for a moment before nodding in understanding. He perked up, saying, ¡°Wait, I have something else that might interest you, fellow Daoist.¡±
He pulled out a small silver box and held it out with hope in his eyes. ¡°This contains Wuzha Worms. They produce Wuzha Spirit Silk and only require Spirit Bran or simr substances rich with spiritual qi for nourishment. They aren¡¯t fussy eaters; they¡¯ll consume the leaves or stems of Spirit Paddies. In the absence of spirit substances, they can survive on animal meat as well.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s interest was piqued as he took the silver box. Inside, he found several small blue-gray worms wriggling amongst mulberry leaves.
¡°What¡¯s the use of this Wuzha Spirit Silk?¡± he asked.
¡°It can be woven into spirit garments and fabrics that are resistant to ordinary weapons. It can also be sold for a good price,¡± the young man exined.
Li Tongya contemted the leaves and stems he had stored at home. Though tempted, he feigned concern and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can manage their care...¡±
¡°If it interests you, I can include a detailed manual on their care and breeding. This guide, along with the spirit worms, would be yours for just two Spirit Stones!¡± the young man gritted his teeth and offered with a determined expression.
¡°Deal,¡± Li Tongya agreed after a moment of consideration.
He carefully put away the silver box and wooden slip handed over by the young man. As dusk set in, he bid the stall owner farewell and made his way to the carriage, where he found the driver dozing off. He chucked and waited quietly.
Soon, Wan Yuankai returned, looking quite worn but cheerful. Seeing Li Tongya with a bow, he asked, ¡°Found any good stuff, Brother Tongya?¡±
¡°Just an Embryonic Breathing-level bow, hardly a treasure.¡± Li Tongya chuckled, passing the bow to Wan Yuankai after they got on the carriage.
While Wan Yuankai examined the bowstrings, Li Tongya asked, ¡°What do you think?¡±
¡°Ebony wood and ox tendons,¡± Wan Yuankai remarked as he tugged the bowstring.
He frowned then continued, ¡°Worth about three Spirit Stones, no more, or it¡¯s a loss.¡±
Li Tongya nodded with a smile. As they chatted, the carriage began its bumpy journey back home. Both men, who were lost in their thoughts and lulled by the motion of the carriage under the dark sky, soon drifted to sleep.
Chapter 52: Deng Qiuzhi
Chapter 52: Deng Qiuzhi
Li Xiangping had just broken through to the Azure Essence stagest night. Just like his older brother, Li Tongya, they had now sessfully condensed the fourth chakra of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
When he was done with his work at home for the day, he settled down in the courtyard and began studying the Profound Water Sword Technique manual. His concentration was absolute until the sound of approaching footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
¡°Big Brother?¡± he asked.
As expected, Li Tongya entered the courtyard wearily. His clothes were drenched by the morning dew and mud clung to his shoes. He dropped a cloth bag onto the table and then gave Li Xiangping a bear hug as soon as he saw him.
Li Xiangping sighed with relief and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re finally home. Father could hardly sleep every night when you were away from home.¡±
¡°Hahaha, I¡¯ve got quite a haul from this trip.¡± Li Tongya¡¯sughter filled the courtyard as he carefully retrieved a silver box from his chest pocket and checked its contents. Seeing how weak the Wuzha Worms inside were, he could not help but let out a soft sigh.
Nevertheless, he quickly brightened as he handed Li Xiangping the dark longbow he had been carrying on his back.
¡°Give it a try,¡± he urged.
Li Xiangping¡¯s eyes widened in amazement as he tested the bowstring and carefully ran his fingers along the bow. With the flow of mana, the bow emitted a white glow and shimmered.
¡°I-It¡¯s... a dharma artifact?¡± he asked in awe.
¡°I bought it at the market for two and a half Spirit Stones,¡± Li Tongya replied with a grin.
Li Xiangping¡¯s heart ached when he heard the price, then turned to his second brother doubtfully and asked, ¡°That¡¯s steep, where did you get those Spirit Stones?¡±
Li Tongya recounted every detail of his journey to Cloud Crowned Peak. At the end of it, Li Xiangping nodded and sighed. ¡°Jing¡¯er is really a big boy now.¡±
News about Li Tongya¡¯s return soon reached Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang, and both of them quickly made their way up the mountain to greet him.
Li Tongya handed the box of Wuzha Worms and its detailed manual to Liu Rouxuan. His voice took on a serious tone as he said, ¡°This is our first attempt at raising Wuzha Worms. Read the manual carefully, find some experienced silkworm raisers, and set up a dedicated space in the courtyard. I¡¯ll have Li Yesheng send over the necessary leaves and stems of Spirit Paddiester. These spirit worms have suffered on the rough journey and are in poor condition right now.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± Despite her eagerness to spend time with her husband who had been away for a few months, Liu Rouxuan knew the urgency of the task and carefully took the silver box and descended the mountain to make the necessary arrangements.
Li Qiuyang, seatedfortably on a wooden chair, looked at Li Tongya with sparkling eyes and said, ¡°n Uncle, the Azure Pond Immortal Sect is truly something else!¡±
Li Qiuyang, now around eleven or twelve years old, had taken on the significant responsibility of overseeing the Spirit Paddies production for the past few years. He generally kept a low profile within the vige.
Fortunately, his father, Li Chengfu, had been prudent as well. He made sure that his brothers focused on farming and constructing courtyards, steering clear of any actions that might lead to scandalous behavior or the bullying of others.
¡°Of course, their envoy arrived on her Dawn Cloudliner. The brilliant light that apanied it in the sky was quite a spectacle!¡± Li Tongya chuckled, his voice resonating with a mix of awe and respect.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°That¡¯s really impressive!¡± Li Chejingmented coldly. He rested his left hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist but suppressed the urge to draw it.
¡°I was in seclusion for years, and it seems I¡¯ve missed the arrival of a new disciple on Qingsui Peak,¡± the youth in front of Li Chejing mused as he yed with a golden pearl in his hand.
The peculiar closeness of his eyes somewhat detracted his otherwise handsome features. d in fox fur and unting an elegant storage pouch at his waist, he exuded an air of refined sophistication.
The young man and his entourage inched closer toward Li Chejing, slowly pushing him into a corner along the narrow path.
¡°Don¡¯t be so scared, Junior Brother, we¡¯re merely testing your mettle,¡± the young man said.
Li Chejing continued backing up slowly, only to find his back pressed against the cold stone wall behind him. He tightened his grip on his sword hilt as he watched the young man¡¯s every move.
¡°You¡¯re already a cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Aren¡¯t you ashamed to gang up on someone who¡¯s only at the peak Nascent Spirit stage of the Embryonic Breath Realm like this?¡± he retorted.
The young man merely responded with a faint smile. The pearl in his hand suddenly burst into a golden light and flew toward Li Chejing.
Li Chejing frowned and quickly summoned an azure-colored spirit in front of him in an attempt to counter the golden pearl that was quickly approaching him.
¡°Disciples from Qingsui Peak really know everything except swordsmanship.¡± The youth scoffed, though he could not hide his admiration when he saw Li Chejing¡¯s action. ¡°But I have tomend you for your quick reaction.¡±
Li Chejing gripped the scabbard with his left hand and the sword hilt with his right. The impact of countering the golden pearl with his spirit caused blood to spill from his lips. Yet, he lunged forward and closed the gap between him and the young man.
The young man was caught off guard and tried to recall his dharma artifact with his spiritual sense. Unfortunately, it was now entangled in the azure. Although his spirit pearl flickered to life and managed to free itself from the, the¡¯s grip had dyed its escape.
Le Chejing clenched his jaw and finally drew his sword. A brilliant crescent arc of white light trailed from his left to the right, as he swung his longsword toward his opponent¡¯s neck.
¡°Impossible!¡± the young man gasped, his skin prickling with shock. His mind raced for a counter-spell, but it was toote. The talisman hanging around his neck red to life, projecting a shield of golden light that managed to deflect the sword¡¯s lethal trajectory just in time.
Even so, the impact of the contact was so great that the young man staggered back several steps in disbelief.
¡°Oh no!¡± The young man could not be bothered by the dissonance in his Qihai at this point. He quickly performed a hand seal to swiftly retract the golden bead that was flying toward the back of Li Chejing¡¯s head, then looked at Li Chejing with a conflicted look on his face.
Cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm who possessed the ability to manipte a dharma artifact from a distance typically put sword-wielders at a disadvantage. However, Li Chejing¡¯s daring approach with his Profound Water Sword Technique managed to turn the tables.
The young man had always disdained those from Qingsui Peak. With the initial intention of intimidating the new disciple on Qingsui Peak in a yful ruse, he found himself unexpectedly outwitted.
¡°You¡¯ve won!¡± the young man admitted with a conflicted look on his face and cupped his fist as he locked his gaze on Li Chejing, who stood with a sword in hand.
Li Chejing¡¯s face was pale as he returned his sword to its scabbard. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your restraint, fellow Daoist. That was my first realbat with the sword, and I failed to keep my strength under control.¡±
The young man pped his brocade pouch and retrieved several vials of ointments, cing them before Li Chejing. ¡°I apologize that one of my men had identally hurt you, fellow Daoist. I am Deng Qiuzhi from Yuanwu Peak, and I promise I¡¯ll visit your quarters soon to extend a proper apology.¡±
Noticing Li Chejing¡¯s pale face, Deng Qiuzhi quickly instructed two of his men to escort him back to Qingsui Peak, then quickly departed with his remaining man as if they were fleeing from the scene.
After walking a small distance, Deng Qiuzhi turned around with a sour expression and then pped one of his followers.
¡°You,e with me to Qingsui Peak tomorrow to apologize!¡±
The man who got pped hung his head and then muttered under his breath, ¡°But you¡¯re the one who provoked him...¡±
Little did he expect that Deng Qiuzhi would seize him by his neck and lift him off the ground. With a conflicted look on his face, Deng Qiuzhi asked, ¡°Do you think that guy will hold a grudge against me?¡±
¡°Of course not, Young Master! You even gave him ointments, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll forget about this...¡± The man, startled by Deng Qiuzhi¡¯s sudden action, began assuring Deng Qiuzhi in order to save his own life.
Deng Qiuzhi listened to the man for a brief moment, then narrowed his eyes and gazed sternly at the man as he squeezed every word out of his mouth slowly. ¡°...And you won¡¯t hold a grudge against me, right?¡±
The man¡¯s heart pounded with dread, his legs shaking uncontrobly as he stammered, ¡°O-Of course not...¡±
¡°Good,¡± Deng Qiuzhi replied, setting the man back on his feet. He stood there for a moment, lost in thought, and mumbled to himself, ¡°Li Chejing from Qingsui Peak...¡±
Chapter 53: Formation at Mount Meiche
Chapter 53: Formation at Mount Meiche
Li Chejing stirred awake in a dim, softly lit room. He felt thefort of a plush bed beneath him, and his senior sister, Yuan Tuan, was delicately applying ointment to the wounds on his back. The sensation was soothing and the coolness of the medicine alleviated much of the pain.
Li Chejing strained to lift his head and nced around. The medicine pots, pills, and books in the room told him that he was in Senior Brother Xiao Yuansi¡¯s pavilion.
¡°Ugh... Where¡¯s Senior Brother?¡± he asked groggily in a raspy voice.
¡°He went to Yuanwu Peak,¡± Yuan Tuan replied gently, her hair cascading down like a dark waterfall, barely grazing his neck.
¡°You¡¯re still in the Embryonic Breathing Realm; too weak for the potent healing elixirs. I¡¯ve mended your injuries with a spell. With the help of this ointment, you¡¯ll feel better by tomorrow,¡± she added reassuringly.
However, Li Chejing¡¯s thoughts lingered on Xiao Yuansi. ¡°Did Senior Brother go to Yuanwu Peak alone?¡±
¡°Master is with him,¡± Yuan Tuan assured with a smile and then said, ¡°Even if Deng Qiuzhi is from a prominent n, he can¡¯t just bully people from Qingsui Peak.¡±
Li Chejing frowned slightly andmented glumly, ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with that man.¡±
¡°The Deng Family has always been known for their erratic behavior. It¡¯s best not to dwell on him too much,¡± Yuan Tuan advised as she began tidying up then continued, ¡°Their cultivation method, the Moonlit Frosty Qi, uses a type of qi that can no longer be found, and because of this, the cultivation method was modified over different generations of the Deng Family. Now, after a century, it¡¯s finally improved to an extent where it can be practiced, but it affects the minds of cultivators. Those who practice it have a certain unpredictable nature and do everything at their own pace.¡±
Li Chejing looked up at her in surprise and asked, ¡°What grade is the Deng Family¡¯s technique that they have to go to such great lengths to practice it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a Grade Five cultivation method,¡± Yuan Tuan answered nonchntly.
Seeing Li Chejing¡¯s astonished expression, she chuckled. ¡°I was very surprised when I first found out about it too. Apart from secret techniques from the upper sect, even the renowned Clear Essence Rain Control Technique of the Azure Pond Sect is only at Grade Four. It¡¯s surprising that a family under another governance could possess such a high-grade cultivation method.¡±
As Yuan Tuan returned the ointment back on the shelf, she continued her exnation, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that their family¡¯s cultivation method originates from the upper sect, Moonlight Origin Mansion. Centuries ago, Moonlight Immortal Mansion frequently distributed this Moonlit Frosty Qi technique manual. Our Azure Pond Sect possesses a simr Grade Five technique named the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique. It also uses a type of qi that can no longer be found since the Immortal Mansion has vanished from the world, so no one has been able to practice it.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard about it,¡± Li Chejing responded, nodding. ¡°Senior Brother mentioned that the missing qi of the cultivation method is known as Supreme Yin Moonlight. I¡¯ve heard rumors that someone from Moon Lake Peak once fortuitously obtained it.¡±
¡°That was at Moongaze Lake.¡± Yuan Tuan¡¯s voice softened as she spoke with an envious look on her face.
¡°In fact, all the five instances of Supreme Yin Moonlight discovered by the three sects and seven gates over centuries were all from Moongaze Lake. They were found in the remains of ancient masters, remnants of formations in caves, or inherited secret realms...¡± she said.
Li Chejing stared at the pillow in front of him in a daze. He nearly voiced out a spection but quickly swallowed back his words.
¡°Senior Sister, I wish to visit home.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°My older brothers wrote that our father¡¯s health has been declining over the past few years. I... wish to spend some time with him.¡±
After a moment of contemtion, Yuan Tuan replied, ¡°In a few months, I¡¯ll be heading to Mushroom Forest in to collect the tributes. Mount Dali is just west of there, so you cane with me.¡±
¡°Thank you, Senior Sister!¡± Li Chejing said with a grateful smile and theny on his bed, lost in his thoughts.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After a night of cultivation, Li Xuanxuan watered the spirit fields with Spirit Rain the following morning and then left the courtyard.
As he walked along the stone path, vigers carrying hoes greeted him warmly, affectionately addressing him as ¡°Little Immortal Master¡±.
Over ten years had passed since the Li Family first discovered the mysterious mirror, and during this time, a new generation had matured in the vige. People had gradually grown ustomed to the Li Family¡¯s leadership.
The vigers regarded Li Xiangping with a mix of fear and respect, admired Li Tongya, and felt a kinship with Li Xuanxuan, who had been a constant presence in their lives since childhood.
Li Mutian, secluded in the mountains, was almost a forgotten figure to the younger generation. Only a few elders who reported to the mountain asionally and the old vigers, reminiscing under the eaves of their home, remembered this old soldier.
Li Xuanxuan pushed open the door and strolled into the courtyard. As soon as he did, he noticed acquered wooden tform about half his height. It looked like arge bed, strewn with straw, dried yellow leaves, and finely ground wood shavings, forming small, intriguing nests.
He greeted Liu Rouxuan with a smile, ¡°Auntie, I don¡¯t see my uncles around. Where might they be?¡±
¡°Your second uncle had gone into seclusion to break through to the Jade Capital stage with the help of Bright Spirit Powder he received and the Snake Essence Pill from home. He should emerge from seclusion soon,¡± Liu Rouxuan replied.
She put away the leaves of Spirit Paddies in her hand, then patted Li Xuanxuan on the head and continued saying, ¡°And your third uncle went to Mountain Meiche to look for more spirit fields.¡±
¡°I see!¡± Li Xuanxuan nodded. Just when he was about to ask something else, a gentle knock on the courtyard¡¯s door interrupted them.
¡°n Brother, are you in the courtyard? The young chief has instructions for you,¡± the voice on the other side of the door said.
Li Xuanxuan quickly opened the door to find Li Qiuyang and Li Yesheng waiting outside.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.
¡°We¡¯ll talk on the way.¡± Li Qiuyang grabbed his hand. After apologizing to Liu Rouxuan for having to leave so abruptly, Li Xuanxuan followed Li Yesheng up the mountain.
¡°The young chief discovered something peculiar on Mount Meiche and told Uncle Yesheng to fetch us. I heard there¡¯s a formation on that mountain,¡± Li Qiuyang exined as they hurried up the mountain.
¡°A formation on Mount Meiche?¡± Li Xuanxuan asked in surprise. ¡°But that mountain has always been deserted. That formation must have been a few centuries old!¡±
¡°Probably.¡± Li Qiuyang nodded thenmented in a hushed tone, ¡°I hope we¡¯ve stumbled upon an immortal¡¯s cave filled with useful stuff.¡±
Li Xuanxuan was only about eight or nine years old, so it was quite a struggle to keep pace with his two olderpanions. With a frown, he performed a hand seal and cast the Divine Movement spell. As soon as he smacked the white light on his palm against his thigh, he could easily match the speed of the others.
¡°We¡¯ll have to watch out for traps. Master Han always said that there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch!¡± he warned.
After about two hours¡¯ climb, they found Li Xiangping meditating on arge stone. Upon seeing their arrival, he smiled and said, ¡°Just watch and wait.¡±
He rose to his feet and gracefully removed the dark longbow strapped to his back. With one foot firmly nted on therge boulder, he nocked an arrow on the shimmering white bowstring, then narrowed his eyes in concentration, focusing intently on a sloping hill not too far in the distance.
Swoosh!
With a swift motion, Li Xiangping released the arrow. It zipped through the air with incredible speed. However, just as it was about to strike the hillside, something unexpected urred.
The air rippled like disturbed water, and the arrow, as if colliding with an invisible barrier, fell to the ground.
¡°What a swift arrow,¡± Li Qiuyangplimented, then fixed his gaze on the hillside and began thinking.
¡°This is my dharma artifact. I call it Ebony Bow,¡± Li Xiangping said with a smile.
¡°There¡¯s probably an illusionary formation or a type of defensive spirit formation at the foot of that hill,¡± he continued thoughtfully.
Chapter 54: Jade Capital
Chapter 54: Jade Capital
Li Xiangping fired two more arrows that failed to make an impact. He sighed softly and said, ¡°The formation appears formidable and unbreakable, likely surpassing the Embryonic Breathing Realm.¡±
¡°Young Chief, our Li Familycks knowledge in formation arts. Wouldn¡¯t it be prudent to coborate with the Wan Family on this...?¡± Li Qiuyang suggested. He had walked around the hill a few times and scrutinized it, but was unable to discern anything about the formation.
¡°No.¡± Li Xiangping shook his head and then continued, ¡°With Second Brother on the brink of breaking through to the Jade Capital stage, our situation may improve. Sharing with the Wan family means dividing any potential gains, even if they failed to break the formation. The risk of conflict over valuable finds is high, so I¡¯d rather avoid that.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right, Chief!¡± Li Qiuyang concurred, stepping back respectfully.
¡°I¡¯ve told you all toe here to make a few arrangements for me,¡± Li Xiangping said.
¡°Yesheng, organize the manpower from Jingyang Vige. Discuss this with Uncle Ping¡¯an. Over the next few years, we¡¯ll build roads and courtyards here. Ensure thesends will be well-guarded.
¡°I¡¯ve assessed the earth veins around here, they¡¯re rich in spiritual energy and make thisnd a good vast spirit field. We¡¯ll cultivate two batches of Spirit Paddies every five years. That should yield at least a hundred jin of Spirit Rice. Qiuyang, you will be overseeing this.¡±
¡°Understood!¡± After Li Qiuyang epted his instruction, he descended the mountain with Li Yesheng to make the necessary arrangements with Ren Ping¡¯an.
¡°Once added to our current three hundred jin yield, we could have a surplus of two or three Spirit Stones every five years. With time, our resources will grow,¡± Li Xiangping mused as he watched the two men descend the mountain and disappear into the distance.
He turned his attention to Li Xuanxuan, only to see him grinning. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Li Xiangping asked in amusement.
¡°I was just thinking that you must really trust Brother Qiuyang,¡± Li Xuanxuanmented with a smile and looked up at Li Xiangping.
Li Xiangpingughed and then shared, ¡°Li Qiuyang¡¯s family has always been prudent and astute, especially his father, Li Chengfu. They know when to step forward or back, making them reliable people to carry out our tasks. Our family¡¯s properties have grown and we have more people to help out. We should take advantage of them and trust them with the tasks we have delegated to them.¡±
¡°Besides, Li Qiuyang may be a cultivator in the Embryonic Breathing Realm now, but advancing to the Qi Cultivation Realm is another matter. And even then, birthing an heir with a spiritual orifice isn¡¯t guaranteed. He can neverpare to members of the main family. Right now, there¡¯s no need to worry about him posing a threat. As for the Liu Family of Jingyang Vige, they¡¯re practically part of our own now, especially with their only cultivator married into the main family.¡±
Looking at the thoughtful look on Li Xuanxuan¡¯s face, Li Xiangping leaned closer and whispered, ¡°Besides, his father and older brother are at the foot of Mount Lijing. With Li Qiuyang¡¯s modest cultivation and youth, what impact could he make, especially with Ren Ping¡¯an and Li Yesheng in Jingyang Vige keeping watch?¡±
Li Xuanxuan¡¯s expression lightened as he digested these words. With a chuckle, he said, ¡°Thanks for the valuable lesson, Uncle.¡±
Li Xiangping straightened up, his eyes warm yet serious. ¡°Pay attention and learn well by my side. One day, the Li Family¡¯s mantle will be yours. I started my immortal cultivation journey at sixteen, so I won¡¯t be able to progress as far as you in life. Besides, life and death are unpredictable. With the increasing number of demons in these mountains, we can¡¯t tell what will happen in the future. Our family must act swiftly, and so must you, Li Xuanxuan.¡±
¡°Life and death are indeed unpredictable,¡± Li Xuanxuan murmured, his thoughts drifting to his father, whom he barely knew, stirring a pang of sadness within him.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°The crux of the Embryonic Breathing lies in condensing the Jade Capital Chakra in the Shenyang Mansion. That¡¯s the fifth stage of Embryonic Breathing. Following that, one must condense the Nascent Spirit Chakra and absorb a breath of Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth to transition into the Qi Cultivation Realm.¡±
Emerging from deep meditation, Li Tongya felt a profound joy. He could feel his newly awakened spiritual sense coursing through his body. The world lookedpletely different to him now, he could see wisps of spiritual qi floating about.
He concentrated on the formation gs in front of him with his spiritual sense. The Misty Maze Formation on Mount Lijing immediately quivered, and Li Tongya felt as though he had grown a new limb. The entire mountain was now fully under his control. He could now also remove the blood left by other immortal cultivators on the formation.
¡°Now that I¡¯ve reached the Jade Capital stage, ordinary mortals can no longer harm me.¡±
He carefully adjusted the Misty Maze Formation on the mountain to seal off additional pathways that had emerged over time. Picking up a rock from the ground, he crushed it effortlessly in his palm and was able to sense everything within a radius of three meters around him.
With the ability to easily evade surprise arrows and counter sharp des with bare hands, a cultivator at his stage could easily overpower dozens of mortals or even decimate a small army of hundreds or thousands with good tactics.
Upon entering the backyard, Li Tongya saw Li Xiangping immersed in cultivation. His newly acquired spiritual sense revealed the glowing four spiritual chakras within Li Xiangping¡¯s body.
¡°So, this is how cultivators discern another¡¯s cultivation... Four spiritual chakras mean that person is at the Azure Essence stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.¡±
As Li Xiangping gradually opened his eyes, Li Tongya greeted him with a chuckle, ¡°Congrattions on your advancement to the Azure Essence stage Third Brother.¡±
Li Xiangping only offered a wry smile in response. ¡°So that¡¯s how the spiritual sense of the Jade Capital stage works, huh? You were able to discern it right away.¡±
Their shared nce was full of mutual anticipation and understanding.
Together, they proceeded toward the house at the end of the backyard where their father, Li Mutian, had been expecting their arrival.
Li Tongya cupped his fist and asked, ¡°Father, now that I possess a spiritual sense, I can finally examine this artifact. May I?¡± The old man nodded slowly, granting permission.
Li Tongya carefully stepped forward and then extended his spiritual sense toward the mirror.
Lu Jiangxian had already woken up when Li Tongya broke through to the Jade Capital stage. Sensing the surge of power from the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed, Lu Jiangxian appraised the potency of his Supreme Yin Profound Light.
¡°As powerful as an all-out single attack from a cultivator at peak Nascent Spirit stage of the Embryonic Realm. I can probably kill a cultivator in the early Qi Cultivation Realm if I manage to catch them off guard,¡± he concluded.
¡°My mana will allow me three uses before I have to absorb moonlight or spiritual qi to recharge the count,¡± Lu Jiangxian estimated.
Feeling Li Tongya¡¯s probing spiritual sense, Lu Jiangxian felt as though he was being poked by a little tentacle. It reminded him of that yful, secretive poke from a female ssmate¡¯s pen during ss in his distant past.
With a small sigh, Lu Jiangxian refocused his attention on the young man before him. As if responding to Li Tongya, the mirror emitted a dazzling white light and rose from the stone tform.
The luminous white moonlight surged out from the mirror, cascading like a soft mist throughout the house. It seeped out of the windows and doorways until it dissipated into the air.
Li Xiangping and the others were captivated by the mesmerizing disy. The cool, flowing moonlight seemed to cleanse their minds, leaving them in awe and filled with eager anticipation as they gazed toward the stone tform.
Chapter 55: Breaking the Formation
Chapter 55: Breaking the Formation
Lu Jiangxian activated the Profound Pearl Sacrificial Spirit Art and then performed several hand seals to infuse Li Tongya¡¯s spiritual sense with some information before activating the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed.
Suddenly, Li Tongya and the others felt a subtle movement in their Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds within their Qihai acupoint. They inexplicably sensed a type of connection with the mirror before them, as though they were connected by bloodline.
Even Li Xuanxuan, who was meditating with closed eyes in the small courtyard, felt this connection and opened his eyes, ncing toward the mountaintop.
As Li Tongya gazed at the mirror, the incantation for invoking the Reception Method sprang to his mind.
He quickly kneeled down and respectfully recited, ¡°As a disciple of the Li Family, I, Li Tongya, respectfully request the Profound Light to grant me the Supreme Yin Profound Light to vanquish evil, cleanse impurity, and subdue demons!¡±
Following this, Lu Jiangxian slightly loosened his grip on the Supreme Yin Profound Light. Li Tongya was momentarily engulfed in a blur, losing sight of the stone tform and the white qi of the mirror.
He felt as if he were soaring high above, with Lijing Vige sprawling beneath him. The vibrant life below and the cacophony of human and animal sounds were all vivid. With a mere thought, he could direct the brilliant Supreme Yin Profound Light to strike at any point at the foot of the mountain.
¡°How magical.¡±
His spiritual sense, now immensely expanded, whisked him along the mountain roads. He flew past courtyards and stone paths, soon leaving the vige behind. The world before him blurred, snapping him back to awareness.
¡°Phew...¡±
Awakening as though from an intense dream, everything in front of him became clear in his eyes. He was greeted by the concerned faces of Li Xiangping and Li Mutian. Wiping away his sweat, he took a moment to recover before chuckling.
¡°This mirror is no ordinary artifact. It now acknowledges our family and allows us to harness the Supreme Yin Profound Light.¡±
After pondering a while, he continued, ¡°To acquire this, just follow the invocation I just used. The Supreme Yin Profound Light requires a twelve-day interval between uses. All twelve runes around the frame of the mirror must be illuminated for activation. After harnessing the profound light, offerings of Spirit Rice and animal meat are necessary as tokens of gratitude.¡±
¡°Excellent. We can now address several challenges. We¡¯ll attempt to break the formations on Mountain Meiche and acquire the Wan Family¡¯s formation legacy. With this newfound ability, our family gains a vital defensive mechanism against powerful adversaries,¡± Li Xiangping eximed with a p, unable to hide his excitement.
As the group began to discuss the offerings in detail, Lu Jiangxian reflected inwardly, The current ritual is ideal. It maintains the divine aspects of the mirror and reduces my direct intervention. Moreover, the Li Family bears the burden of both time and spirit items of using the mirror. This arrangement ensures that they won¡¯t bother me unless necessary.
Furthermore, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping are still wary of the mirror due to its mysterious origins. In time, the mirror will evolve into a revered ancestral artifact for the Li Family, ensuring both its sanctity and reverence within the family.
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense slowly ascended into the sky, feeling the strong pulling from Moongaze Lake nearby. His heart thrummed with anticipation.
¡°What will we discover this time?¡±
In the courtyard, preparations were underway. After Li Tongya and the rest arranged the Spirit Rice and fruits for the ritual, Li Xiangping began exining to him in detail about the formation on Mountain Meiche and the two quietly consolidated their ns.
Li Tongya gazed at the twelve runes on the mirror, all glowing with a soft white light.
Since I¡¯ve already invoked the Supreme Yin Profound Light but haven¡¯t yet utilized it, I could test it out on the formation on Mountain Meiche.
After thorough deliberation, the two respectfully took leave with the mirror and headed toward Mount Meiche.
Mount Meiche and Mouth Lijing were essentially two peaks of the same mountain, but they had been managed separately for centuries. Mount Meiche fell under the governance of Jingyang Vige, while Mount Lijing was under Lijing Vige¡¯s control. Consequently, the viges viewed them as distinct mountains.
Using the Divine Movement Spell on their legs, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya reached Mount Meichi in just an hour, gazing at the small hill Li Xiangping was pointing to from a distance.
Li Yesheng had been efficient. After only one night, timber and stones were already ced on the hillside. He had already marked the foundations and enclosed fertile plots.
Li Tongya channeled his spiritual sense into the mirror. The artifact levitated, emitting a brilliant white light that cut through the darkness andnded precisely on the hillside.
Lu Jiangxian could feel the Supreme Yin Profound Light striking a thin barrier in the void. Unlike the previous asion when it annihted a demon, he felt a slight resistance from the barrier against the Supreme Yin Profound Light.
¡°Although the spiritual power of this formation is strong, itcks in quality."
The pure white Supreme Yin Profound Light relentlessly pushed against the barrier on the hillside. Ripples appeared out of thin air, and after a brief moment, a pale golden formation finally revealed itself. A golden light suddenly spilled from the corners of the formation.
However, these wisps of golden light seemed to dissolve like snow under the sun when faced with the Supreme Yin Profound Light, unable to mount any substantial defense. The formation flickered momentarily before beingpletely extinguished under the overwhelming force.
Boom...
The hill shook, finally revealing a stone cave bathed in a faint, illuminating glow. Inside, shadows of various artifacts were barely noticeable. A wave of rich spiritual qi poured out from the cave, invigorating Li Tongya and Li Xiangping as their eyes alight with excitement.
The white light from the floating mirror gradually dimmed and the twelve runes around its frame faded one after another as the mirror returned to Li Tongya¡¯s hands.
Li Tongya cautiously looked around the cave entrance and then told Li Xiangping, ¡°I¡¯ll return the mirror first, then we can n further.¡±
¡°All right.¡± Li Xiangping nodded, adding quickly, ¡°And remember to bring amb along.¡±
Li Tongya gave him a nod, then activated the Divine Movement Spell and swiftly descended the mountain.
Left alone, Li Xiangping sat contemtively, his gaze fixed on the newly uncovered cave entrance.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Miles away, aboard the Dawn Cloudliner, Li Chejing felt the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed within his Qihai acupoint stir. An image of his second brother, Li Tongya, standing before a stone tform with eyes closed, shed in his mind.
¡°Second Brother has broken through to the Jade Capital stage.¡±
He raised his gaze, peering through the Dawn Cloudliner¡¯s translucent interior at the distant, cloud-veiled Mount Dali with a gentle smile on his face.
Gripping the Qi Jade Bottle he had requested from his senior brother before leaving, Li Chejing secured it with a red rope around the bottle¡¯s neck, tying it around his waist.
Such a dharmic artifact typically could not be kept in a storage pouch and had to be carried personally.
¡°Jing¡¯er, when we reach the Mushroom Forest in, I¡¯ll arrange for my n brothers to escort you to Mount Dali. The Dawn Cloudliner will dock at the Mushroom Forest in for three days to collect the tributes. Just make sure you return within that time.¡± Yuan Tuan spoke softly with a smile.
¡°I will. Thank you, Senior Sister!¡± Li Chejing expressed his gratitude, his heart filled with eager anticipation.
Chapter 56: Exploration
Chapter 56: Exploration
Li Tongya quickly returned, cradling a bleating whitemb. As darkness enveloped Mount Meiche, the two brothers exchanged nods. Li Tongya then released themb toward the cave¡¯s entrance.
¡°Baaa... baa baa.¡± Themb¡¯s bleats echoed faintly as it shakily tried toe out of the cave.
¡°Go in!¡± Li Xiangping turned it around and smacked its rear with a branch. Themb finally ventured deeper into the cave while bleating loudly.
The brothers waited, listening to themb¡¯s distant bleats, before cautiously proceeding into the cave themselves.
The tunnel was spacious enough for two to walk side by side. The air was not really stale, but it was rather dim inside. As they proceeded further into the cave, the air turned noticeably denser with spiritual qi.
Upon entering the cave, they were greeted by an expansive hall. Its walls were fashioned from finely cut blue rocks, and the hall was illuminated by the soft glow of night pearls hanging from the rocky ceiling, allowing them to make out the condition of the room.
The air was rich with spiritual qi, creating a thick,fortable atmosphere. The marvel of it stirred an eagerness for them to immediately pause and meditate.
The cave¡¯s floor was etched with faint golden formation runes, converging toward a small aperture in the center from which spiritual qi gently emanated. Adjacent to this pointy a futon, positioned next to several dusty stone shelves that stood bare.
Li Xiangping¡¯s gaze swept across the room, eventually settling on a stone table apanied by several green jade stools with nothing on them. This caused a sense of disappointment to wash over him.
¡°It seems as if this ce has been thoroughly cleared out, almost as if it¡¯s been robbed.¡±
Opposite the hall, three stone doors were set into the wall. With a gentle nudge from themb, one of the doors opened. Li Tongya sent themb through first, then cautiously entered the first room alongside Li Xiangping.
The interior was spacious, illuminated by night pearls that hung from the ceiling. Stone shelves lined the walls, but were bare except foryers of dust and piles of unrecognizable, decayed ash.
Exchanging a nce, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping wordlessly agreed to proceed to the next stone door.
¡°This cave is really empty. Maybe its owner had abandoned it,¡± Li Tongyamented.
Li Xiangping nodded, observing somberly as they approached the second door. ¡°You¡¯re right. Even if that cultivator had died outside this cave, some items ought to remain. The fact that it¡¯s been so carefully cleaned out suggests that the previous owner intentionally nned to leave, likely taking important items like jade slips and pills with them in a storage pouch.¡±
Beyond the second stone doory a room with seven or eight stone tforms, each bearing a few white jade bottles. Li Tongya and Li Xiangping meticulously inspected each bottle, finding them either filled with pills that had lost their spiritual qi or entirely empty.
On the stone tform were the remains of several ck ash piles, their original form beyond recognition. At its centery a hexagonal jade te, intricately engraved with talisman runes. However, it was already shattered with its fragments strewn across the floor. Li Xiangping picked up a piece of the fragment and realized that it was still warm.
Both Li Tongya and Li Xiangping were torn betweenughter and frustration as they realized that there was nothing useful inside.
¡°This looks like the formation te Wan Yuankai told me about before,¡± Li Tongya mused.
Upon seeing Li Xiangping¡¯s inquisitive look, he borated, ¡°Formation gs and formation tes were used to set up formations. Unlike formation gs which rely on the cultivator¡¯s knowledge of formation and diagrams, formation tes are limited to setting up a single type of formation, predetermined by the engraved formation diagram on it. They¡¯re less versatile but are easy to use and do not require much formation knowledge, as long as one knows how to channel their spiritual qi into it. However, once the formation is broken, the te disintegrates and is rendered useless. In contrast, as long as formation gs remain intact and undamaged, they can be reused to reset the formation.¡±
¡°I see. This formation te should be the defensive formation of this cave then. Our use of the Supreme Yin Profound Light destroyed the cave¡¯s defensive formation, causing this formation te to shatter into pieces,¡± Li Xiangping said with a nod.
They returned to the hall, and Li Tongya cautiously let themb enter the third stone room ahead of them.
Inside, they found a decrepit stone bed with a decayed cushion and a small jade bottle at its head. Li Xiangping carefully opened the lid, but there was nothing else inside apart from the faint scent of the pill that was once in it.
However, Li Tongya¡¯s keen eyes discovered a slender jade green bottle and a piece of white cloth filled with small writing on the bed.
This discovery brought them some relief. ¡°At least we¡¯ve found something.¡± Li Xiangping chuckled.
¡°That¡¯s not all,¡± Li Tongya corrected with a shake of his head. ¡°This cave, along with its central formation and that little aperture emitting spiritual qi, are already significant finds. We¡¯ve gotten hold of a cave with nearly forty percent more spiritual qi than the outside world without running into any traps or harm. That itself is reason for contentment.¡±
Li Xiangping nodded in agreement, then turned his attention to the white cloth and the slender jade bottle in Li Tongya¡¯s hands.
Li Tongya carefully unfolded the cloth and began reading aloud, ¡°Greetings from Chi Wei. The target has reached Moongaze Lake. The cultivators sent by our sect have surrounded the area. Please act swiftly. The requested ming Sunrise Technique manual has been dispatched to you. The Spirit Jade and Fire Crystals will be delivered to your cave after resolving this matter. Be wary of the target; they are formidable. Should you encounter them unprepared, retreat toward the Azure Pond Sect and alert us immediately.¡±
The cryptic nature of the message left them more puzzled than informed. They put away the cloth and turned their attention to the slender green jade bottle.
They shook the bottle, revealing its warmth and apparent emptiness. Li Xiangping carefully removed the lid but indeed, he found nothing inside.
Li Tongya, using his spiritual sense to probe the bottle, eximed in surprise, ¡°This is a dharma artifact!¡±
He knitted his eyebrows. After scrutinizing it for a moment, hemented with uncertainty, ¡°It seems to be a specialized storage vessel containing an intense fire-like spiritual qi.¡±
¡°That exins why I can¡¯t pour anything out.¡± Li Xiangping nodded, then looked somewhat puzzled. ¡°Could it contain the spiritual qi of heaven and earth that is used to break through the Embryonic Breathing Realm?¡±
¡°Regardless, it¡¯s of no use to us right now, so we¡¯ll keep it safe first.¡± Li Tongya stowed the jade bottle away in his chest pocket. After a thorough examination of every nook and cranny in the cave, the two led themb out.
Li Yesheng was busy leading the vigers of Jingyang Vige in preparing the hillside¡¯s foundation. They steered clear of the cave entrance, but upon seeing Li Tongya and Li Xiangping emerge, Li Yesheng¡¯s face lit up with relief.
¡°I spotted this cave at dawn and sent someone over to get you two from Mount Lijing. I wasn¡¯t expecting you guys to beat me to it,¡± he said with a smile.
Handing over themb to Li Yesheng, Li Xiangping discussed the logistics for building a courtyard on the hill. After their conversation, he and Li Tongya returned to Mount Lijing.
¡°The spiritual qi brimming in the cave is superior to Mount Lijing. We should station someone there to keep watch,¡± Li Xiangpingmented in a hushed tone as they walked.
¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Li Tongya nodded in agreement and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s bring Li Qiuyang back. Xuanxuan and I will oversee Mount Meiche. This ce will provide a conducive cultivation environment for him and help him reach greater heights in the future.¡±
Chapter 57: Return
Chapter 57: Return
The Dawn Cloudliner flew at a very fast speed above the lush Mushroom Forest in. Within two hours, it gracefully descended onto a cloud-shrouded misty peak with a beautiful pavilion.
Following Yuan Tuan, Li Chejing alighted from the Dawn Cloudliner and was immediately greeted by a group of white and blue-robed cultivators bowing and greeting in unison, ¡°Wee, immortal envoys!¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need for formalities,¡± Yuan Tuan replied with a gentle smile, descending the stone steps.
A middle-aged robed man awaited her at the base, turning respectfully to Li Chejing and saying, ¡°Greetings, disciple of the upper sect. I am Yuan Huyuan of the Yuan Family from the Mushroom Forest in.¡±
¡°I am Li Chejing of the Li Family from Moongaze Lake,¡± he replied, adhering to customary introductions that mentioned the region they were from for rity, since the Yuan and Li families were not from the same prefecture.
Yuan Tuan gave him a subtle nod and said, ¡°Yuan Huyuan is my elder n brother. I¡¯ve already told him about you.¡±
¡°Thank you, Senior Sister!¡± Li Chejing said before joining Yuan Huyuan on the Yuan Family¡¯s flying shuttle. After bidding farewell to Yuan Tuan, they headed west.
Noticing Yuan Huyuan¡¯s silence during the flight, Li Chejing attempted to initiate a conversation with a smile.
¡°Senior, my senior sister referred to you as her elder n brother, yet you appear...¡±
¡°Old enough to be her father or grandfather, is that what you wanted to say?¡± Yuan Huyuan chuckled.
¡°Qi cultivators age slowly due to their longer lifespan. My younger n sister attained the Qi Cultivation Realm at the age of eighteen and looks like she¡¯s only in her twenties. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not as gifted. I only managed to attain the Qi Cultivation Realmst year, that¡¯s why I look middle-aged.¡±
¡°Ah, I see!¡± Li Chejing¡¯s curiosity was piqued as he inquired further, ¡°So, the younger the Qi Cultivator looks, the more we shouldn¡¯t underestimate them?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not always the case,¡± Yuan Huyuan exined, ¡°While Qi Cultivators enjoy a two-hundred-year lifespan, their appearance does age, although more slowly. It¡¯smon for a forty-year-old cultivator to look twenty. However, those who appear elderly are often formidable. They¡¯re cultivators who have been cultivating for over a century, yet hesitant to advance to the Foundation Establishment realm and prefer to linger at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm.¡±
Noting Li Chejing¡¯s thoughtful expression, Yuan Huyuan added with a hint of amusement, ¡°In our world, judging solely by appearance can be misleading. I learned that the hard way in my early years and nearly paid dearly for it.¡±
The cool morning breeze tugged at the corners of Li Chejing¡¯s robes, causing it to rustle. As they traveled on Yuan Huyuan¡¯s shuttle, which was notably slower than Si Yuanbai¡¯s, they engaged in light conversation about recent happenings in the immortal cultivation world.
After approximately four hours, the shimmering expanse of Moongaze Lake finally came into view.
Li Chejing instructed Yuan Huyuan tond near Lichuankou Vige by theke, then bid him farewell with a grateful smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be here waiting for your return three dayster at the hour of the tiger, fellow Daoist.¡±
Yuan Huyuan acknowledged his instruction then promptly ascended to the sky in his shuttle.
Li Chejing activated the Wind Riding Spell, then glided toward Lichuankou Vige.
He noticed a young boy, around six or seven years old, squatting at the vige entrance in the distance. The child was meticulously sharpening an ebony arrowhead on a stone, and a bunch of arrowsid beside his feet.
Upon noticing Li Chejing, the child¡¯s expression shifted from bewilderment to respect. Standing up, he greeted, ¡°Immortal Master, you¡¯ve entered the territory of the Li Family under the governance of Azure Pond Sect. Guli Road lies a few miles to the east.¡±
Li Chejing chuckled, observing the child¡¯s features before asking, ¡°Who is Chen Erniu to you?¡±
¡°He¡¯s my father!¡± the boy replied, his face lighting up. ¡°I am Chen Donghe. Let me fetch my daddy for you.¡±
Li Chejing dismissed the offer with a wave and vanished down the stone path.
Inside the Chen Residence, Chen Erniu, d in a leather jacket, was leisurely sipping tea with his guest, Han Wenxu.
As they conversed, Han Wenxu remarked with a hint of amusement, ¡°Old Chen, you really have a strange naming convention. All your five sons are named after either a river or ake. The Chen Family is considered a prominent family now, yet you still maintain the simplicity of a fisherman.¡±
Before Chen Erniu could respond, the courtyard door creaked open. A young man, dressed in a pristine white feather robe and blue boots, entered with an air ofposure.
He greeted Han Wenxu warmly, ¡°Master Han, it¡¯s been a long time.¡±
Then, turning to Chen Erniu, he remarked softly, ¡°It¡¯s been only a few years, you look like you¡¯ve been eating well, Uncle Chen.¡±
Chen Erniu appeared to be taken aback by thement. He scrutinized the young man¡¯s face for a moment before eximing, ¡°It¡¯s you, Li Che... I mean Immortal Master!¡±
¡°Jing¡¯er!¡± Han Wenxu, who had mentored the four brothers of the Li Family, greeted Li Chejing affectionately out of habit. Upon realizing his misconduct, he quickly lowered his head and fell silent.
Li Chejing waved reassuringly and then said, ¡°Take me to my older brothers, please.¡±
¡°The young chief is likely on Mountain Lijing. As for the Immortal Master... I believe he¡¯s been frequenting Mount Meichetely,¡± Chen Erniu replied.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xiangping was cultivating in the front yard when he heard a bunch of footsteps on the stone steps. He frowned and called out, ¡°Yesheng, is that you?¡±
The response was a burst of familiar heartyughter. A striking young man came through the doorway, with a meter-long sword at his waist. The white tassel that hung from its hilt swayed gracefully with his movement.
¡°I returned to the vige only to find that our family had moved up the mountain long ago. So I asked Brother Yesheng to guide me through the formation to ascend the mountain,¡± the youth exined, shaking his head with a grin and thenmenting, ¡°Tsk, that Misty Maze Formation is really something.¡±
¡°Jing¡¯er?!¡± Li Xiangping blinked in astonishment and asked, ¡°A-Aren¡¯t you cultivating in the sect?¡±
Li Chejingughed heartily. ¡°I¡¯m on the verge of breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, so I took a leave from the sect to visit home.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll go get Father!¡± Li Xiangping eximed.
Li Mutian rushed to the front yard. The three of them sat down and before long, Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan joined them as well.
¡°Youngest Uncle!¡± Li Xuanxuan, not having seen Li Chejing for years, embraced him enthusiastically, while Li Tongya looked on with a joyful smile.
The family gathered in a whirl of excitement, while their mother shed tears of happiness. They prepared avish feast, introducing Li Chejing to new family members like Li Qiuyang and Liu Rouxuan. The evening was spent savoring Snake Gall Wine that had been preserved for many years untilte into the night.
After Li Qiuyang and the others left, the Li family gathered around a tea table in the backyard. No one was drunk. The Snake Gall Wine was rich in spiritual qi yet not intoxicating. Besides, none of them overindulged since there were other agendas on their mind.
Li Chejing was amazed as he listened to the updates on the family¡¯s progress over the years from his older brothers. Taking a sip of tea, he addressed them with a serious demeanor, ¡°I came back this time for an important reason. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have hurried back while I¡¯m on the verge of breaking through to the Qi Cultivator Realm.¡±
He squinted at the stone tform in the house, then suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s continue our talk inside.¡±
Once in the house, Li Chejing stood silently, captivated by the moonlight that was pouring through the roof window.
He gazed at the moonlight that had gathered on the mirror and performed a hand seal before carefully scrutinizing it.
He felt the sixth Nascent Spirit Chakra within his Shenyang Mansion stir, quickening the flow of his mana.
Withdrawing his hand, his expression mingled with disbelief as he had just validated his suspicion and he slowly uttered, ¡°Supreme Yin Moonlight?!¡±
Chapter 58: Supreme Yin Moonlight
Chapter 58: Supreme Yin Moonlight
¡°Supreme Yin Moonlight, white as frost and fluid as water, shining bright when full and dim when not. I knew it!¡± Li Chejing eximed in awe.
¡°For centuries, the cultivators in Yue State have coveted it... Over three hundred years, only five have been discovered. Each was carefully collected by cultivators in the Foundation Establishment and even Purple Mansion Realms...¡±
¡°One elevated the Master of Moon Lake Peak to Purple Mansion Realm centuries ago, another was refined into the Azure Pond Sect Master¡¯s Frosty Absolute Sword. Two were secured in the treasure reserves after a battle involving three gates, while thest nearly wiped out the Snow Ji Gate, one of the seven gates, due to intensepetition for its possession.¡±
Li Chejing gulped and then whispered, his voice barely above a murmur. ¡°It¡¯s such a precious Supreme Yin Moonlight, yet my family used it to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra?!¡±
He paused, pondering deeply, before bursting into a heartyugh.
Lu Jiangxian listened intently to Li Chejing, his unease growing.
The Moonlight Origin Mansion has vanished from the secr world for years. These Supreme Yin Moonlights have been extolled and coveted, while immortal cultivators iming to be disciples from that immortal mansion were ambushed and killed by cultivators from the three sects and seven gates at Moongaze Lake. This mirror I¡¯m in is linked to the Supreme Yin Moonlight. This is surely part of a greater conspiracy!
As the conviction in his heart grew stronger, Lu Jiangxian resolved to stay hidden in the mountains since an artifact spirit like himself would not sumb to old age. He was going to continue observing the situation while waiting for the cultivators in the Li Family to be stronger until he almostpleted his own repairs.
¡°Time passes swiftly. A month feels like a mere blink of an eye. I¡¯ll survive for five hundred years without fail and continue to rely on the Li family, using them as my eyes and ears to gather information about the Moonlight Origin Mansion while I simply focus on survival!¡±
Back on the ground, Li Chejing was still chuckling. He nced at his family and exined, ¡°This mirror can condense Supreme Yin Moonlight, one of the spiritual qi essential for Qi Cultivation! It¡¯s far more precious than Pine Forest Wind or Golden Autumn In Lake!¡±
After Li Chejing exined the bloody conflicts sparked by the Supreme Yin Moonlight¡¯s appearances over the centuries, his family finally grasped the true value of the Supreme Yin Moonlight.
A delighted smile spread across Li Xuanxuan¡¯s face before it turned into a frown.
¡°If the Supreme Yin Moonlight is as precious as what Youngest Uncle says, and the cultivators of the Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion Realms are after it, we must guard this secret closely. We shouldn¡¯t reveal it, let alone consider selling it,¡± he said in his youthful voice.
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Li Xiangping nodded proudly when he heard Li Xuanxuan¡¯s wise suggestion.
With a hint of concern evident in his voice, he said, ¡°We don¡¯t possess any techniques to refine qi using the Supreme Yin Moonlight, so we can¡¯t use it either. It¡¯s like sitting on a mountain of treasure but being unable to benefit from it.¡±
The group was aware of the Supreme Yin Moonlight¡¯s value, but only Li Chejing truly understood the potential turmoil their discovery could incite.
He frowned and replied, ¡°Only a handful of qi cultivation methods can harness the Supreme Yin Moonlight, and they¡¯re all closely guarded by the three sects and seven gates. I could attempt to learn the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique, but I would be required to take a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath to never reveal its secrets.¡±
Li Mutian, who had been silent, finally spoke up, his toneced with skepticism. ¡°Are you really going to learn that Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a Grade Five cultivation method...¡± Li Chejing¡¯s face betrayed a mix of desire and hesitation. He opened his mouth again but then said nothing as he grappled with the implications of such a decision.
The room fell into a thoughtful silence, broken only by Li Xuanxuan''s earnest voice. ¡°That cultivation method sounds really impressive! Of course, you¡¯re going to learn it!¡±
Li Mutian gently patted Li Xuanxuan¡¯s head and asked, ¡°Then how should Jing¡¯er exin all this to the immortal sect?¡±
Li Xuanxuan tilted his head to the side, then mumbled, ¡°Youngest Uncle can tell them that he got lucky at Moongaze Lake during his trip home this time. What can the immortal sect do? If five had appeared over the past centuries, why can¡¯t he be the one who found the sixth?¡±
Li Xiangping crouched down and ruffled Li Xuanxuan¡¯s hair, asking softly, ¡°And why would Jing¡¯er suddenly return right now when he¡¯s on the verge of breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, only to so conveniently find this opportunity at Moongaze Lake during his brief visit?¡±
¡°Xuan¡¯er, dealing with the immortal sect isn¡¯t like managing our vigers. Our vigers obey us because they don¡¯t understand theplexities of immortal cultivation. They fear us, so they never question our orders.¡±
Holding Li Xuanxuan¡¯s hand, Li Xiangping gazed intently into the boy¡¯s eyes and continued,
¡°To the immortal sect, our family is insignificant, very much like ants. The slightest hint of suspicion from them can spell disaster for us. They have the power to upend our lives to seize what they desire and maybe even wipe out our entire family. Therefore, we must be extremely careful when we deal with them. We must think through every action and scenario. There¡¯s no room for doubt or error.¡±
¡°As the head of a family, you must understand not only how to lead your people but also how to tter those above while strategically bncing rtionships for the family¡¯s advantage.¡±
Li Xuanxuan absorbed the wisdom in Li Xiangping¡¯s words, nodding thoughtfully.
Li Mutian withdrew his gaze from the two with a satisfied look on his face, then cleared his throat and said, ¡°Tongya, you discovered a mysterious jade bottle in a cave, right? What if we swap the qi inside with the Supreme Yin Moonlight and tell them that our family had discovered this qi in that cave years ago, so we summoned you home to take a look at it? Do you think the immortal sect will believe this exnation?¡±
Li Chejing pondered deeply before responding, ¡°There¡¯s a good chance they will believe it, I¡¯d say maybe seventy to eighty percent. The sect will likely send someone to investigate the cave. If it appears ancient, possibly over three hundred years old, our credibility could rise to eighty or ny percent.¡±
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangping eagerly asked, ¡°Would the Azure Pond Sect send a powerful cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm over just to investigate the cave?¡±
¡°Absolutely not! There are only a handful of cultivators in the Purple Mansion Realm within the sect. Even when the Master of Moon Lake Peak first discovered Supreme Yin Moonlight when he was only a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, the sect only sent a cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm to retrieve the remains of that immortal cultivator,¡± Li Chejing replied confidently.
After a moment of contemtion, he rxed slightly and added, ¡°No one would expect there to be a mirror capable of continuously condensing Supreme Yin Moonlight or that two Supreme Yin Moonlights could manifest simultaneously in one ce. The sect will only send someone to conduct routine searches for any leads regarding the Moonlight Origin Mansion... In retrospect, perhaps we¡¯re being too cautious.¡±
¡°It¡¯s decided then.¡± Li Tongya nodded, retrieving the slender jade bottle from the shelf and passing it to Li Chejing.
Li Chejing inspected the bottle thoughtfully,paring it against his mental catalog of spiritual qi of heaven and earth.
After a moment, he said, ¡°This probably contains Fire Baleful Qi, usually harvested from volcanoes. It¡¯s not particrly rare in Yue State and is often used to craft spiritual artifacts.¡±
Li Chejing retrieved the white jade bottle hanging at his waist, then performed a hand seal to extract the brownish-gray qi from the slender jade green bottle, transferring it to his own white jade bottle then passed it to Li Tongya for safekeeping.
Holding the empty jade green bottle, Li Chejing turned his attention to the Supreme Yin Moonlight on the mirror next.
He performed another hand seal to activate a qi absorbing technique. The Supreme Yin Moonlight flowed into the slender jade bottle like water. As thest of it filled the bottle, he sealed it with a Spirit Sealing Technique.
Observing the little sparkles of moonlight reconverging on the mirror, Li Chejing said, ¡°Come, let¡¯s visit the cave.¡±
Chapter 59: Spiritual Talisman Method
Chapter 59: Spiritual Talisman Method
Li Chejing wandered around the cave, tracing the faintly glowing golden runes of the formation at the heart of the hall with his finger. He spoke with uncertainty. ¡°My master only taught me some basic talisman techniques. Most of my training in the sect focuses on swordsmanship, so my understanding of formations is rather limited. This pattern doesn¡¯t seem to align with the typical formations found in Yue State, it appears to be designed to mainly gather and nourish qi.¡±
¡°The spirit eye releasing this qi appears to be a natural formation,ter enhanced with a formation to stabilize it. With the spirit eye¡¯s influence, the spiritual qi in this cave is about forty to fifty percent richer than the outside,¡± he added.
After meticulously recording the formation diagram, Li Chejing scrutinized the cave¡¯s interior. Finding no hidden passages or secret chambers, he finally approached the stone table and studied the white clothid upon it.
Greetings from Chi Wei. The target has reached Moongaze Lake. The cultivators sent by our sect have surrounded the area. Please act swiftly. The requested ming Sunrise Technique manual has been dispatched to you. The Spirit Jade and Fire Crystals will be delivered to your cave after resolving this matter. Be wary of the target; they are formidable. Should you encounter them unprepared, retreat toward the Azure Pond Sect and alert us immediately.
Li Chejing pondered over the message for a moment with a thoughtful expression. With a conflicted look on his face, he mused, ¡°This person was probably among those who sought to kill the disciple from the immortal mansion. He seemed to be aware of the risks involved in this and cleared out his cave dwelling... The great battle urred at the foot of Mount Dali. I did some digging after joining the sect, but the records I found were surprisingly vague and provided only a few details.¡±
Li Xiangping¡¯s interest was piqued.
¡°What did you find in the Azure Pond Sect?¡± he asked eagerly.
Li Chejing¡¯s frown deepened as he replied solemnly, ¡°In the seventh month of autumn, Li Jiangqun, a rogue cultivator, who imed possession of the Moonlight Origin Mansion¡¯s true art, dered that the immortal mansion had been destroyed. Consequently, the three sects and seven gates were ordered to besiege and kill him at Moongaze Lake.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
While Li Tongya and the others were still processing the information, Lu Jiangxian, who had been observing them from Mount Lijing, felt a chill run down his spine. He was left dazed and disoriented as if struck by lightning.
The moonlight in his mirror fluctuated, threatening to dim as his mind was rendered aplete nk.
¡°Li Jiangqun...¡± The name echoed in his ears like a shrill whistle, overwhelming his six senses. A blinding white light then flooded his vision.
¡°That name sounds so familiar!¡±
Visions of shiny swords, spells, talismans, flying arrows, and the brilliance of dharma artifacts danced before his eyes, overwhelming him until he copsed in anguish.
The mirror, floating in mid-air, quivered before gently descending onto the stone tform.
In the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche, Li Xiangping¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion.
¡°If Li Jiangqun really acquired the true art of the immortal mansion, why did he im that it had been destroyed? And considering that he¡¯s supposed to be the rightful sessor, why would theye after him at Moongaze Lake?¡±
Li Chejing shook his head and said, ¡°The situation is moreplex than it seems, possibly a conspiracy between the three sects and seven gates. I fear that delving deeper into this matter could endanger our family. Let¡¯s not discuss this any further."
He abruptly changed the subject and asked, ¡°By the way, does our family possess any legacies in the hundred arts of immortal cultivation?¡±
¡°None,¡± Li Tongya replied, shaking his head. ¡°Such legacies are rare. The Wan Family offered to trade a set of formation legacies, but it requires the use of our family¡¯s mirror.¡±
After a moment of contemtion, Li Chejing retrieved a jade slip from his storage pouch. ¡°The talisman technique I inherited from the sect is known as the Six Stems Talisman Art. I¡¯m bound by the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, so I cannot reveal it. Fortunately, my master also provided me with the legacy of a rogue cultivator for reference while he was teaching me the talisman art, which I¡¯m free to share with my family.¡±
Li Tongya and Li Xiangping happily epted the jade slip.
¡°It¡¯s called the Spiritual Talisman Method, and it includes the methods for making twelve talismans of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and three of the Qi Cultivation Realm. They¡¯re not very advanced but are usefulmon talismans,¡± Li Chejing exined.
Smiling, he took out some talisman paper from his storage pouch and continued, ¡°To draw talismans, you will need three items¡ªtalisman paper, talisman brush, and spirit ink.¡±
¡°Talisman papers are usually made from spirit nts. I rmend looking for seeds and nting your own spirit nts so that you don¡¯t need to buy nk talisman papers from the market. The talisman brush is a type of dharma artifact. I don¡¯t have a spare one with me, so you¡¯ll have to get one from the market. As for the talisman ink...¡±
Li Chejing pped the brocade pouch on his waist, then pulled out a small jade box. ¡°I have some to start you off. Once you¡¯ve run out of it, you¡¯ll have to get more from the market. If the prices are too steep, a mix of cinnabar powder and spirit blood can also be used to draw talismans.¡±
Li Xiangping epted the small jade box and smiled wryly. ¡°This talisman craft does seem costly. I fear our familycks the resources for it right now.¡±
Li Chejing waved dismissively, then pointed to a white jade bottle and said with a chuckle, ¡°The Fire Baleful Qi is considered a raremodity in Yue State. Since it¡¯s not useful for our family right now, selling it should cover your costs and leave some profit.¡±
Li Xiangping nodded in agreement and added, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a market on Moongaze Lake which could be ideal for this.¡±
¡°Given the Fire Baleful Qi¡¯s value, if you two were to handle this, you might attract unwanted attention. Since tomorrow is a full moon, I¡¯ll handle this personally as a disciple of the Azure Pond Sect.¡±
After a thorough discussion, the group finalized their n. Aware that time was of the essence for Li Chejing, they promptly departed for Moongaze Lake.
With the Divine Movement Spell, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping conjured a breeze with each step. Li Chejing, however, was even more graceful, seemingly stepping on the wind itself, his speed surpassing that of his older brothers.
Watching him, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping could not help but feel a touch of envy.
As they progressed, the shimmering expanse of Moongaze Lake came into view. For Li Xiangping, it had been over a decade since hisst visit.
¡°I remembering here with Second Brother to collect the jade from theke. We were barely fifteen or sixteen then. Now, we¡¯ve started our own families and even have children of our own,¡± Li Xiangping reminisced.
Gazing at the stars above, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. The past ten years seemed like a dream, the memories floating like clouds in his mind.
It was as though he was back on that moonlit night, waiting in the reeds by theke for Li Tongya¡¯s return.
¡°How time flies,¡± Li Tongya agreed softly.
They scoured theke¡¯s edge. With their spiritual sense, Li Chejing and Li Tongya finally detected a spot on the shore where mana subtly fluctuated, matching the description in the Lixia Secret Note.
Following the instructions in the Lixia Secret Note left by Si Yuanbai, they picked up a pebble, cast the Golden Light Spell on it, and then hurled it toward theke¡¯s center.
The stone soared before plunging sharply, triggering the hidden spell formation in the air. A brief sh of silver light revealed the formation before it vanished.
¡°The formation¡¯s activation should soon bring a boat to meet us,¡± Li Tongya said.
The three brothers waited in silence on the shore. As time ticked on, their anxiety grew.
¡°If we miss this chance, dealing with the Fire Baleful Qi will be a whole lot trickier.¡±
Chapter 60: Purchases
Chapter 60: Purchases
After the brothers waited for quite a while, they ended up chatting on the shore, sharing amusing stories of their childhood. It was then they finally saw a faint silver light emerging from the heart of theke.
¡°Could that be the boat we¡¯re waiting for?¡±
In the distance, a wooden longboat sailed toward them. The sails were adorned with white feathers, and the boat itself radiated with a spiritual light, presenting itself as a fine treasure.
Right before the boat reached the shore, a friendly voice called out, ¡°Fellow Daoists, are you heading to the Moongaze Lake Market? You¡¯re a littlete, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Li Chejing responded, adding apologetically, ¡°It¡¯s our first visit to this market, and we weren¡¯t aware of the timings.¡±
¡°Hahaha, no worries, fellow Daoists.¡± The boatmanughed heartily as he steered his boat closer to the shore.
Li Chejing stepped forward, his spiritual sense on alert as he eyed the boatman with a hint of mistrust. ¡°Are you here to take us to the market?¡± he asked cautiously.
The man chuckled when he saw Li Chejing and the other men watching him cautiously instead of boarding the boat. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a jin of Spirit Rice or an equivalent spirit item per person as fare.¡±
Relieved by the straightforward request, Li Chejing pped his brocade pouch, and a light blue token flew out of it.
The token hovered in mid-air, projecting the words: Qingsui Peak of the Azure Pond Sect.
Li Chejing introduced himself, ¡°I am Li Chejing, a disciple from Qingsui Peak of the Azure Pond Sect. I¡¯m on an important mission right now. Thank you for the ride.¡±
The boat rocked slightly as the man on board paused, seemingly recognizing the significance of the token.
An elderly man with white hair then emerged, bowing respectfully. ¡°Our apologies for any disrespect. As a disciple of the immortal sect, you are most wee aboard.¡±
Li Chejing nodded and stepped onto the boat with his two brothers. Inside the cabin, there were tea tablesplete with tea sets. The antique interior and decor exuded an air of wealth and refined taste.
The elderly man apologized again, ¡°Forgive my hesitation earlier. Without a familiar face from the market among your group, I was quite apprehensive abouting out to wee you. Seeing the token from your immortal sect finally put my mind at ease.¡±
Li Xiangping returned the smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s perfectly understandable.¡±
The old man offered a piece of advice. ¡°Next time, try to arrive around the hour of the rat. That¡¯s when most neighboring nse. It¡¯s the best time for trading Spirit Rice and other items.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
The brothers continued talking with the elderly man for some time before the boat suddenly jolted, followed by noises emanating from the cabin. Peering out the window, they saw the market of Moongaze Lake.
The market was built on a small ind within theke. It was not that big, just about the size of half a vige. The streets were lined with smallmps that were glowing white. Despite thete hour, the market bustled with activity. Shoppers lingered at stalls, haggling with vendors over various goods.
¡°No need to pay the fares, I can¡¯t possibly ept them.¡± The old boatman docked the boat but firmly refused the Spirit Rice Li Chejing offered from his storage pouch. No matter how Li Chejing insisted, he refused to ept the fare.
The brothers bid farewell to the boatman, then excitedly strolled down the market streets. Li Tongya examined the wares,paring them to those he saw in the market of Cloud Crowned Peak.
The items are simr but here, most prices are in Spirit Rice. The goods are more often sold in bulk. The spells and techniques are sold individually, rather than sold by an entire volume.
As he pondered this, Li Chejing¡¯s chuckle drew his attention. ¡°The items sold at the stalls are a mix of quality. To find what we need, we should head to a counter.¡±
Li Tongya fell silent, recalling his exhaustive day at the market of Cloud Crowned Peak. He had only walked around at the time.
The group continued, and the stalls gradually became fewer as storefronts appeared. Li Chejing looked around for a bit, then chose a dharma artifact shop and stepped inside.
¡°Ask your owner if he¡¯s interested in buying Fire Baleful Qi,¡± he said to the shopkeeper who greeted them. Upon seeing that Li Chejing had turned his attention to the various dharma artifacts disyed on the wall after saying that, the shopkeeper snapped out of his daze and hurried off.
Soon, a topless burly man rushed into the shop from the backyard. The many iron weapons he carried nked as he quickly walked up to them. ¡°Fellow Daoist, you heard news of the Fire Baleful Qi?¡± he asked.
The man¡¯s chin was covered by stubble. Despite his rugged appearance, he had a gentle voice.
¡°Yes, I am Li Chejing from the Azure Pond Sect, and I have a Fire Baleful Qi to sell,¡± Li Chejing responded.
¡°Ah, a disciple of an immortal sect.¡± The man cupped his fist and smiled. ¡°I am Chu Minglian, the owner of this small shop. How much are you selling your Fire Baleful Qi for?¡±
Li Chejing raised an eyebrow, then replied, ¡°Seventy Spirit Stones, preferably to be traded with items if possible.¡±
Li Xiangping and Li Tongya, known for their frugal nature and habit of making the most out of every Spirit Stone, stared at Li Chejing with wide eyes, then at Chu Minglian with eager anticipation.
Chu Minglian shook his head and said with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s a bit steep. Is there anything in my shop that interests you?¡±
¡°Talisman brushes.¡± Without much time to spare, Li Chejing did not bother to beat around the bush and got straight to the point. He pointed to the two talisman brushes on the wall and asked, ¡°Could you tell me more about them?¡±
¡°Absolutely.¡± Chu Minglian nodded, taking down the two brushes. He picked up the blue one and exined, ¡°This is made from Spirit Blue Jade and the tail fur of a weasel monster at peak Embryonic Breathing Realm. It¡¯s suitable for cultivators in both the Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm. The price is fifteen Spirit Stones.¡±
Chu Minglian set aside the first talisman brush and picked up another with a cream-colored brush. ¡°This brush is made from Burning Spirit Wood and the tail fur of a fox demon in the Qi Cultivation Realm. It¡¯s designed for cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm and above. The price is sixty Spirit Stones.¡±
Li Chejing waved his hand, then pointed to the brush made of Spirit Blue Jade and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take this one. And one storage pouch, themon one suited for cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm.¡±
Chu Minglian retrieved a brownish-gray pouch from a shelf and announced, ¡°This pouch has a capacity of a cubic meter and costs thirty Spirit Stones.¡±
After some negotiation, Chu Minglian agreed to trade the two dharma artifacts and twenty Spirit Stones for the Fire Baleful Qi.
Exiting the shop with a new storage pouch and a talisman brush, Li Chejing immediately entered another store without giving Li Xiangping and Li Tongya a chance to express any reservations.
He pointed at a stack of tawny talisman papers and said, ¡°Three hundred sheets of talisman paper of the Embryonic Breathing Realm for ten Spirit Stones. These are made from mugwort wood, correct?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± the shopkeeper promptly responded, recognizing Li Chejing¡¯s expertise.
After exchanging ten Spirit Stones for the papers and stowing them away in the new brocade pouch, Li Chejing passed his storage pouch to Li Xiangping, then mumbled to himself, ¡°Talisman brush, talisman papers, and pouch. We still have ten Spirit Stones left. How should we spend the rest of them?¡±
Overhearing this, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya looked at each other before Li Xiangping quickly interjected, ¡°Let¡¯s save the remaining Spirit Stones for emergencies at home.¡±
Li Chejing nodded in agreement. As the market¡¯s crowd began to dwindle, he stretched his body and smiled in satisfaction. ¡°Is there anything else we need for the family?¡±
Chapter 61: Essence Conversion Technique
Chapter 61: Essence Conversion Technique
¡°Don¡¯t stress about things back at home. Your third brother and I have got everything under control,¡± Li Tongya reassured Li Chejing with a smile.
Reaching into the storage pouch, he carefully took out ten Spirit Stones and added softly, ¡°We still owe your senior brother, Xiao Yuansi, ten Spirit Stones. Perhaps you could deliver them to Qingsui Peak yourself? It would be more direct than passing them through others.¡±
Li Chejing, struck by the reminder,ughed heartily. ¡°Ah, how could I forget about the debt to Senior Brother?¡±
The three brothers conversed leisurely as they strolled past the dwindling stalls and eventually made their way out of the market. They boarded therge boat that carried them to the edge of Moongaze Lake, then set off toward Mount Lijing.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lu Jiangxian was bombarded with a cacophony of sounds and fleeting snippets of conversations amidst his daze, all of which slipped through his grasp like sand through his fingers.
¡°Brother Jiangqun, this Supreme Yin Moonlight is priceless. That¡¯s the only spiritual qi of heaven and earth that our gate¡¯s Frosty Absolute Sword is missing. The Azure Pond Gate is deeply thankful for your gift today. If you ever need our help, just say the word and our gate will not hesitate to assist!¡± A melodious female voice expressed gratefully.
In the midst of his confusion, Lu Jiangxian thought he caught a glimpse of a face, but could not recall any details.
¡°Azure Pond Gate? I thought it¡¯s Azure Pond Sect,¡± he mumbled to himself, then abruptly snapped awake, his eyes scanning the confines of the small room he was in.
The incense beside the stone tform had been burning for some time, its white smoke curling upward. Li Mutian, who was seated across from him, had drifted off to sleep. The moonlight cast a serene glow on Lu Jiangxian¡¯s bluish-gray body, entuating its magnificence.
After a thoughtful pause, the details of his dream began to blur, leaving behind only memories of a technique manual.
Essence Conversion Technique!
This technique, like the Profound Pearl Sacrificial Spirit Art, required the mirror as a medium to activate it. It could blend incense, soul, blood essence, or spiritual power and refine them into a talisman qi.
ording to the manual, the talisman qi had an array of miraculous effects, including enhancing one¡¯s cultivation, sharpening the six senses, strengthening bones, improving innate abilities, and remedying various deficiencies.
¡°All these miraculous effects, yet none can restore a mirror! It seems like I must continue searching for items to repair it." Lu Jiangxian sighed.
His divine sense reached out to the talisman seeds that were wandering outside in the world, only to discover that Li Chejing and his other two brothers had left the market and were on the way back to Mount Lijing.
That¡¯s too bad. I guess I can only wait till next time to investigate the pull I sensed from the market.
With a flicker of his divine sense, his bluish-gray mirror floated from the stone tform again, absorbing the moonlight and basking in its tranquil glow.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Upon their return to Mount Lijing, Li Chejing took the opportunity to share some wisdom on talisman crafting with his older brothers.
¡°Since you¡¯re both beginners at talisman drawing, there¡¯s no need to waste precious talisman paper and ink for practice. Mistakes will be costly.¡±
He then demonstrated by adding a drop of talisman ink into a cup of water, which instantly tinted it a light burgundy.
Spreading a piece of cloth on a stone table and securing the edges with stones, he soaked the blue jade talisman brush in the ink-infused water.
¡°This will do for practice,¡± he said confidently.
With swift strokes, he drew on the cloth,pleting a talisman in the time it took an incense stick to burn. The pale red rune on the cloth glowed faintly.
Not long after Li Chejing set the brush aside, the cloth spontaneouslybusted with a soft pop, astonishingly burning away to nothing more than a smudge of ck ash on the table.
¡°If the talisman is drawn correctly, the cloth won¡¯t be able to endure its power and burn. If not, simply wash the ink away and start over,¡± he exined.
Li Xiangping was impressed. With a smile, he praised, ¡°That¡¯s a brilliant way to practice, Jing¡¯er. This saves both talisman papers and ink, significantly cutting down on costs.¡±
Li Chejing nodded and modestly replied, ¡°It¡¯s a tip I got from my master. The Azure Pond Sect has been around for six hundred years, it¡¯s only natural they would have some clever tricks to do things.¡±
He then raised his head to look at the sky and said, ¡°I still have one more day with you. Has anyone made any progress with the Profound Water Sword Technique?¡±
His question immediately piqued Li Tongya¡¯s interest. He untied the sword from his waist, then said, ¡°I have managed to manifest the sword aura, but the sword qi wouldn¡¯t leave my sword. Does that count as progress?¡±
Li Chejing waved and said, ¡°Sword aura is only the beginning. Every sword technique is different, but it generally progresses through a few realms¡ªSword Aura, Sword Qi, Sword Essence, and Sword Intent. Each technique¡¯s difficulty varies, and the Profound Water Sword Technique is among the simpler ones, allowing quick mastery of the Sword Aura Realm.¡±
Li Xiangping was feeling somewhat abashed by his failures to master the sword technique. Despite numerous attempts, he had not made any progress, let alone manifest a sword aura.
He could only turn his attention back to reading the Spiritual Talisman Method manual.
Li Chejing unsheathed his pure white sword and then said with a smile, ¡°Watch this.¡±
As soon as he finished speaking, a pale gray sword aura ignited along the de¡¯s edge, pulsating as if it was breathing. With a slight raise of his eyebrow, he unleashed the aura, transforming it into a sword qi, approximately three cun wide, that sliced through the air with a sharp whistle before impaling a curtain fig tree in the distance.
Li Tongya watched intently, his brow furrowed in concentration. Li Chejing then stepped forward to guide him.
After Li Tongya went off to practice on his own, a sudden realization dawned on Li Chejing.
¡°I¡¯ve developed a sword technique on Qingsui Peak. Though it¡¯s only a single move, I should leave a record of it back at home. I¡¯d hate for it to be lost if anything were to happen to me.¡±
Li Xiangping immediately reprimanded him, ¡°Don¡¯t say something like that! You have to take care of yourself out there, Jing¡¯er. Your second brother and I can¡¯t be of much assistance to you, we can only watch over the family on your behalf. The world is full of dangers, so please be extra careful...¡±
After Li Xiangping nagged his younger brother who was intently listening to his every word, he paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m not particrly gifted. I¡¯ve been struggling to advance to the Azure Essence stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm these past few years. Without spirit pills, I¡¯m afraid that the Jade or Nascent Spirit stage will be as far as I can reach.¡±
¡°Although your second brother is more talented than me, he can¡¯t possibly hold a candle to you. His potential might only lead him to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. But with both of us working together, we can uphold the Li Family¡¯s legacy and safeguard our territories, especially with the mirror in our possession.¡±
Li Xiangping plopped down on the ground and then sighed again.
¡°Your second brother learned from those at the Cloud Crowned Peak that the Azure Pond Sect is very selective with the disciples they ept from the ns under their governance. They must be able to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, with some to the Foundation Establishment stage.¡±
He looked at Li Chejing and added, ¡°Your second brother and I can afford to die, but not you.¡±
Hearing Li Xiangping¡¯s words, Li Chejing felt a surge of emotion that brought tears to his eyes.
¡°The family will be fine. Don¡¯t worry about us, Third Brother. I¡¯ll do my best to get more resources for us from the sect,¡± he said quietly.
Chapter 62: Consulting
Chapter 62: Consulting
¡°Peace and joy don¡¯tst forever. Life can change in an instant, but that¡¯s not what I¡¯m afraid of. What worries me is whether our next generation will carry on their responsibilities.¡±
Li Xiangping let out a wry smile and then changed the subject. He handed over a cloth and brush to Li Chejing so that he could document the sword technique.
¡°I only have one move for this sword technique. Its name shall be...¡± Li Chejing paused, a vision of a white sword aura in the shape of a crescent shed through his mind.
¡°I¡¯ll name it the Celestial Moon sh,¡± he dered.
With that, he set to work, detailing the technique across several pieces of cloth with meticulous attention to the flow of qi, the distribution of mana along the sword, and the execution of the move. Once done, he set his brush down with a nod of satisfaction.
¡°I¡¯ll transfer these onto a wooden slip once you return to the immortal sect,¡± Li Xiangping said happily as he carefully put away the pieces of cloth.
Li Chejing looked at the sky and realized that two hours had gone by. He spent the remainder of the evening imparting important knowledge on talisman arts to Li Xiangping, then talked with his father untilte at night and nourished the old man¡¯s body with spells and supplements.
With dawn approaching, he prepared to depart for Lichuankou Vige.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After spending a quarter of an hour aboard the Dawn Cloudliner, Li Chejing found his thoughts continually drifting back to his family.
Noticing that his mind was preupied, Yuan Tuan softly asked, ¡°How¡¯s your father?¡±
Li Chejing, who was reminded of the excuse he used to visit home, clutched the slender green jade bottle hanging at his waist and responded somberly, ¡°He¡¯s still able to eat. I''ve reconditioned his body, so he should hold on for a few more years.¡±
Yuan Tuan sighed gently, interpreting Li Chejing¡¯s worry as sadness, and offered some words of constion. ¡°In the world of cultivators, the natural cycles of life and death are an inevitable reality, even more so for mortals. Perhaps it¡¯s best to push through the pain.¡±
As they conversed, Li Chejing mulled over how to justify the acquisition of the Supreme Yin Moonlight to Si Yuanbai.
If the Golden Autumn In Lake has to be acquired from the sect, borrowing the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique manual alone will definitely require Master¡¯s approval. This means practicing the technique in secrecy isn¡¯t possible. I must first speak with Master, he concluded.
He then turned to Yuan Tuan and asked, ¡°Senior Sister, is Master currently on Qingsui Peak?¡±
¡°Yes, I received a letter yesterday mentioning that Master has returned to Qingsui Peak. Upon hearing that you got bullied, he unleashed twelve Rain Summoning Talismans on Yuanwu Peak, nearly flooding it,¡± Yuan Tuan replied with a grin.
¡°Huh?¡± Li Chejing was momentarily taken aback by this news before his heart flooded with emotions.
¡°He caused quite a big scene, even the disciples from nearby peaks came over to see what happened. It was only until the master of Yuanwu Peak personally apologized to him that he dispelled the dark clouds,¡± Yuan Tuan exined.
¡°I¡¯ve really caused trouble for Master,¡± Li Chejing remarked with a wry smile. He appreciated the gesture but did not consider himself to be bullied. Although Deng Qiuzhe was mean to him, that guy was from a prominent n so Li Chejing was afraid of offending him too.
The Dawn Cloudliner¡¯s speed never disappointed. As their conversation continued, it was not long until the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s mountain gate came into view. Yuan Tuan dropped Li Chejing off at Qingsui Peak before heading to the main peak.
Uponnding and walking a short distance, Li Chejing bumped into his senior, Xiao Yuansi, who had just finished refining pills at dawn and was collecting them into bottles.
His eyes lit up as soon as he saw Li Chejing and happily said, ¡°I, your Senior Brother, taught Deng Qiuzhi a lesson for bullying you! I beat him up real good!¡±
¡°Thank you, Senior Brother!¡± Li Chejingughed, then approached him and asked, ¡°What kind of pills are you making?¡±
¡°Just experimenting with some new forms of my own,¡± Xiao Yuansi replied with a smile, shaking his head as he touched the pill furnace that was still warm.
¡°Master is at the summit, hurry up and go see him,¡± he urged.
¡°I was just about to,¡± Li Chejing responded with a nod, then retrieved ten Spirit Stones from his pouch with a chuckle. ¡°I had almost forgotten about the debt my family owed you, Senior Brother. We can finally pay you back now.¡±
Xiao Yuansi waved nonchntly, then epted the Spirit Stones and tucked them away into his storage pouch before returning his attention to a pill manual.
Li Chejing bowed respectfully before making his way up the path. Soon, he spotted a small pavilion shrouded by pale white clouds in the distance.
As soon as he reached the summit, he spotted a handsome man in his thirties or forties, dressed in blue, and wearing a friendly smile. He stood in the pavilion, exuding an ethereal presence with a sword, shimmering with white light, at his waist.
Li Chejing quickly climbed the stairs, cupped his fist respectfully, and greeted, ¡°Master!¡±
Si Yuanbai returned his greeting with a smile and said, ¡°Deng Qiuzhi came to Qingsui Peak to offer you an apology, only to find that you had gone home to visit your father.¡±
The mention of Li Mutian brought a peculiar expression to Si Yuanbai¡¯s face as he observed Li Chejing.
To his surprise, Li Chejing quickly kneeled and said, ¡°I must apologize, Master! I¡¯ve deceived my seniors! I actually returned home to Moongaze Lake for another purpose.¡±
Si Yuanbai, visibly concerned, quickly pulled Li Chejing up to his feet. ¡°What made you go to such lengths? Get up and tell me more.¡±
Li Chejing hung his head and then nervously revealed, ¡°Years ago, I received a letter from my family that they had stumbled upon the cave dwelling of a predecessor. After much effort, they finally breached its formation only to find that the cave had been emptied, except for a jade green bottle. My family checked the jade bottle and realized that it contained a spiritual qi of heaven and earth. It was white like frost and fluid as water.¡±
Si Yuanbai¡¯s brow furrowed as he mulled over Li Chejing¡¯s words. ¡°White as frost, fluid as water? Could it be Frosty Snow Qi or Pine Forest Wind? No... It couldn¡¯t possibly be...¡±
Si Yuanbai shook his head, his eyes widening in disbelief as he gasped. ¡°Supreme Yin Moonlight?!¡±
Li Chejing confirmed with a solemn nod. ¡°I spent a long time researching in the scripture pavilion but still, I was not convinced. So, I made up an excuse to return home to verify it for myself. Indeed, it is the Supreme Yin Moonlight!¡±
¡°Show it to me!¡± Si Yuanbai urged.
Li Chejing quickly presented the slender jade green bottle. Si Yuanbai examined it and remarked, ¡°This jade green bottle indeed looks like one of those from a century ago.¡±
He closed his eyes, and after a moment of concentration, snapped open his eyes again. ¡°It truly is the Supreme Yin Moonlight! You¡¯ve handled this exceptionally well,¡± he eximed.
He then regarded Li Chejing thoughtfully, ¡°The Supreme Yin Moonlight holds immense value. You must carefully consider how it should be utilized.¡±
¡°I entrust all decisions to Master,¡± Li Chejing responded, cupping his fist respectfully.
Si Yuanbai chuckled, affectionately ruffling Li Chejing¡¯s hair, before adopting a serious tone. ¡°What a cunning boy you are.¡±
¡°Given that your cultivation has reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, if you n to attain mastery of the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique, the existence of the Supreme Yin Moonlight must not be disclosed to the sect. Your senior sister will request ess to the technique on your behalf. Meanwhile, I shall request for the Golden Autumn In Lake spiritual qi. You¡¯ll begin cultivating the technique first, and we¡¯ll only inform the sect after you¡¯ve made substantial progress.¡±
¡°If word of this discovery spreads, it could spark a vigorous pursuit among the members of the Moon Lake Peak. They¡¯ll all be eager to get their hands on the Supreme Yin Moonlight, even if the old ancestors in the sect are too proud to fight for it.¡±
He paused, concern shadowing his features as his voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°No one in the Azure Pond Sect has been able to master this technique for the past three hundred years. They¡¯ve been waiting too long for the opportunity...¡±
After hearing Si Yuanbai¡¯s words, Li Chejing felt a twinge of guilt and gritted his teeth. He acknowledged his master¡¯s concerns, his emotions a whirlwind of gratitude and determination.
Li Xiangping and himself had always been skeptical of everything. Having grown up away from home, Li Chejing had always approached the world with caution. Yet, standing before Si Yuanbai, whose face radiated kindness, Li Chejing felt a profound sense of relief and belonging. At Qingsui Peak, among his fellow seniors and juniors, he could finally lower his guard.
¡°Thank you, Master!¡±
Chapter 63: The Sacrificial Ritual Method
Chapter 63: The Sacrificial Ritual Method
After bidding farewell to Li Chejing, Li Tongya saw his fathering from the backyard, his hands sped behind his back. With a stern expression, he instructed in a raspy voice, ¡°Go and take a look at that mirror.¡±
Tian Shoushui, Li Xiangping¡¯s father-inw, had passed away two years ago. He left behind a collection of wooden toys for his grandson, Li Xuanfeng. Ranging from wooden horses to bows, the collection wasplete. Tragedy struck when Li Xuanfeng was at such a tender age that he could only pick up the smallest pine wood doll¡ªTian Shoushui slipped and fell while moving in the heavy snow, ultimately sumbing to his injuries that very night.
Li Mutian had personally buried Tian Shoushui and spent an entire night conversing in front of the grave with Ren Ping¡¯an. The chill of that night had greatly taken a toll on Li Mutian¡¯s health, leaving his voice permanently hoarse.
The three of them were former soldiers. Tian Shoushui was the brave one, Li Mutian was the cautious one, and Ren Ping¡¯an was the quiet one. Now, the brave one had sumbed to his injuries and passed away. The cautious one now had arge family, but his once sharp mind had gradually turned dull. Meanwhile, the quiet one continued to oversee Jingyang Vige on behalf of the Li Family, ensuring the annualnd taxes were dutifully paid without fail.
The death of Tian Shoushui had been quite a blow to Li Mutian, causing him to age rapidly over the past few months. Thanks to Li Chejing¡¯s spells and supplements, he seemed to be looking slightly bettertely.
His outward appearance had improved and his white hair had regained luster, yet his eyes betrayed a lingering fatigue. Although he could still stand up straight, he could not mask the slight slowness in his movements and speech.
Li Tongya walked up to his old man to assist him, only to be curtly dismissed. Li Mutian muttered irritably, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to check on the mirror in the backyard?¡±
With a wry smile, Li Tongya headed to the backyard. Meanwhile, Li Mutian made his way to the threshold of the courtyard door, using the wall as support. Leaning against the door frame, he sat down and massaged his weak leg with his frail hands.
¡°Damn it. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ll have to rely on a walking cane soon, too,¡± he muttered.
In the backyard, Li Tongya studied the mirror that was hovering under the moonlight. He noticed blurry words appearing across its surface and quickly extended his spiritual sense toward the mirror.
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense reacted within the mirror. He recalled the set of instructions he had madest night based on the Essence Conversion Technique¡¯s requirements, then coined a new name for it before sending it to Li Tongya¡¯s spiritual sense.
A wealth of information immediately surged through Li Tongya¡¯s mind, manifesting as a new technique: The Sacrificial Ritual Method.
This method requires the ritualistic ughtering of monsters as part of a sacrificial ceremony, conducted amidst the burning incense of the entire n. The offerings of incense, soul, blood essence, and spiritual power to the mirror will be returned with a talisman qi.
The talisman qi has a range of miraculous effects, including enhancing one¡¯s cultivation, sharpening the six senses, strengthening bones, improving innate abilities, and remedying various deficiencies...
Since there were more details in the Sacrificial Ritual Method, Li Tongya had to close his eyes and absorb the knowledge for about fifteen minutes before opening his eyes, feeling astounded.
He hastily fetched a carving pen and nk wooden slip, then began to document the technique he received. By the time he was done, it was already dawn and he quickly rushed out to find Li Xiangping.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xiangping was cultivating in the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche. Ever since he reached the Azure Essence stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm not long ago, his progress had significantly slowed down. At this rate, breaking through to the Jade Capital stage seemed a distant goal, requiring six or seven years at least. A failed attempt could potentially double that time.
Just yesterday, the Wan Family had sent Wan Yuankai to negotiate a n against Ji Dengqi. Wan Yuankai had sessfully condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and broken through the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
¡°It seems like the Wan Family now has two cultivators of the Jade Capital stage. And with their head, Wan Xiaohua, having reached the Jade Capital stage five years ago, it¡¯s likely he¡¯s already broken through the Nascent Spirit stage and attained the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm,¡± Li Xiangping murmured to himself.
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Our family has grown stronger, but so has the Wan Family. The urgency of their pleas for assistance continues to escte. It¡¯s likely that the Ji Family is growing stronger too.
The three families are now in a state oftent growth. The Ji Family is consolidating their new territories, the Wan Family is silently building up their power, and our family is steadily growing too. Sooner orter, confrontation will be inevitable once the Ji Family haspleted their territorial consolidation, the Wan Family bares their fangs, and our family is strong enough to fight. We better start preparing as soon as possible.
Just as Li Xiangping was analyzing the situation of the three families, he saw his second brother, Li Tongya,ing into the cave with a wooden slip in hand.
¡°Take a look at this, Third Brother,¡± he offered with a smile.
With a puzzled expression, Li Xiangping unfurled the slip and read, ¡°The Sacrificial Ritual Method?¡±
His astonishment grew as he read. ¡°This seems rather simr to the Reception Method, which uses the mirror as a medium. Did you receive it from the mirror itself?¡±
Li Tongya nodded with a smile, then retrieved the Celestial Moon sh technique manual from one of the shelves and began reading it carefully.
After reading for a while, Li Xiangping reflected, ¡°This method requires incense offerings from a thousand people and a demon of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in exchange for a gray talisman, the incense offerings of ten thousand people and a demon of the Foundation Establishment Realm for a white talisman... That¡¯s quite a challenging feat.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s smile faded slightly as he answered with a troubled look on his face, ¡°Tempting as it is, even the simplest sacrifice ritual is beyond our family¡¯s current capabilities.¡±
Li Xiangping chuckled, then carefully put away the wooden slip. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. Besides, it¡¯s not that easy to find demons of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. By the way, there¡¯s something else I wish to discuss with you.¡±
He nced at Li Tongya, who was reading a sword technique manual on a stone stool, then proposed, ¡°I¡¯m considering forming a militia with representatives from each of the four viges, one from five households, trained in martial arts to prepare for emergencies.¡±
Li Tongya, sensing the gravity of the situation, nodded and asked, ¡°Has the Wan Family sought assistance again? Are things that dire already?¡±
Li Xiangping shook his head and replied, ¡°Not only them. I¡¯m also concerned about Mount Yue in the west. The spiritual energy at the northern foot of Mount Dali is slowly recovering too. Although the people from Mount Yue haven¡¯t been seen for years, it¡¯s best to be prepared.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Li Tongya nodded in agreement, then said, ¡°Waiting until those on Mount Yue threaten our borders to organize vige guards would be toote. Not only do they have shamans, but there are also barbarians with long hair and tattoos among them. They are undoubtedly formidable opponents.¡±
Li Xiangping rose to his feet, straightening his clothes with a smile. ¡°Xuanxuan is still too young tomand respect, and despite Qiuyang¡¯s age and influence, I¡¯m hesitant to entrust this task to others. I would feel more at ease if you personally oversee this, Second Brother.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, leave it to me,¡± Li Tongya assured him with a smile.
The two brothers exited the cave dwelling and chatted with each other on their way back to Mount Lijing. Liu Rouxuan was already waiting for them at the courtyard entrance and quickly walked up to them as soon as she saw them.
¡°Young Chief,¡± Liu Rouxuan greeted and bowed slightly to Li Xiangping.
Her face then lit up with delight as she stepped closer to Li Tongya and said, ¡°My dear, I¡¯m pregnant.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s face instantly brightened up with joy as well. Heughed heartily as he lifted her in his arms. ¡°For real?¡± he asked.
¡°Of course! What cause would I have to lie to you?¡± Liu Rouxuan¡¯s cheeks flushed as she retorted softly.
Li Xiangping chuckled at both of them and said, ¡°Congrattions, Second Brother.¡±
Chapter 64: Xu San
Chapter 64: Xu San
Five yearster...
The morning sun pierced through the mountain mist, casting a golden pattern of light and shadow across the forest floor, filtering through the canopy and the gaps between the leaves.
The Li Family had been farming near Moongaze Lake for another five years. It had been sixteen or seventeen years since they picked up the mirror. The stone paths on Mount Lijing were now slightly tinted green by moss. The birds on the branches chirped a song, celebrating the start of a new day.
Old Xu sat down, leaning his hunched body against a cold, moss-covered tombstone. His frail hand grasped a handful of soil.
¡°Why... am I still not dead?¡± he wondered out loud.
A few years back, Old Xu moved up to Mount Lijing and resolved to watch over the Li Family¡¯s ancestral graves. Despite protests from Li Xiangping and others, they eventually conceded.
Li Xuanxuan built a small hut for him beside the cemetery. The family visited him regrly, bearing gifts. Old Xu was good at making grass crickets and drawing, so the children from the Li Family would run to his ce every two or three days. Li Xuanfeng had no friends around his age on the mountain and his father was a busy name, so he grew up ying with Old Xu.
While Old Xu¡¯s days were filled withughter and ying with the children, he harbored a secret desire for death. Every night before he slept, he would wonder whether it would be hisst day, only to awaken as usual the following morning when the sun rose.
Just the day before, Old Xu had managed to make it past his eightieth year.
¡°Damn, how can someone live up to eighty and not die yet?¡± he wondered.
He squinted at a distant hill. Bathed in golden sunlight, he caught a glimpse of a small figure on the hill, waving in his direction. The golden sunlight cast a shadow on the child, elongating it across the terrain.
¡°Xuanfeng is here to see you, Old Master Xuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!¡±
The child¡¯s clothes were dirty, his face was stained with dirt and his disheveled hair lent him a wild, untamed appearance. He had a small wooden bow in his clutch and a tiny quiver strapped around his waist.
As the child energetically bounced down the sunlit hill, his vibrant energy stood in sharp contrast with Old Xu, who remained curled up in a dim, secluded corner. In this moment, they embodied the opposing ends on the spectrum of life itself, where the exuberance of youth and the solemnity of impending departure converged on Mount Lijing.
Old Xu, momentarily lucid, lifted his head and said, ¡°Xuanxuan, you¡¯re here.¡±
¡°I am Li Xuanfeng, Old Master Xu. My father is Li Xiangping, not Li Changhu,¡± the boy, who was approximately seven or eight years old, corrected him with a mischievous smile and then casually walked over to a tombstone that matched his height near the old man. He loosened the sash around his pants and began to relieve himself while humming a tune.
Just as Li Xuanfeng finished relieving himself and was about to pull up his pants, Old Xu¡¯s eyes suddenly burned with intensity. With a surprising burst of energy, he picked up his cane and hit Li Xuanfeng on the buttocks with it.
¡°What are you doing, boy? That¡¯s your great-grandfather¡¯s grave,¡± Old Xu scolded.
Li Xuanfeng was caught off-guard. He quickly pulled his pants up, tied the sash around it, and retorted, ¡°The dead are already dead! I don¡¯t see a problem! How did he die anyway?¡±
¡°He was poisoned,¡± Old Xu replied, his spirit momentarily rekindled by the boy as he managed to sit up and recount a tale from the past.
¡°Many years ago, when the Li Family wasn¡¯t as influential as they are today, there was a prominent family¡ªthe Yuan Family. They poisoned your great-grandfather and your grandfather¡¯s brother in a bid to seize theirnds. But then, your grandfather returned with a saber in hand and sought vengeance on the Yuan Family. He killed everyone in that family and redistributed thends.¡±
Sitting on a moss-covered and perfectly sized tombstone, Li Xuanfeng pped his little hands and eximed cheekily, ¡°Grandpa did great!¡±
Old Xu shot him a re and said, ¡°Great? One of the Yuan Family¡¯s children managed to escape... he came back twenty-two yearster and killed your first uncle!¡±
¡°What?!¡± Li Xuanfeng suddenly narrowed his eyes. He knitted his thin eyebrows together and then replied indignantly, ¡°Grandpa did a sloppy job then! It would have been over if he killed everyone in that family, how could he let one escape?¡±
Old Xu¡¯s gaze hardened as he said, ¡°You sure are a handful! Seems like the Li Family¡¯s wild streak starts young.¡±
Li Xuanfeng shook his head indignantly and yelled, ¡°Well, it was the Yuan Family who struck first, killing the people of our family! Grandpa only returned to take revenge. And since Grandpa overlooked a child, it¡¯s no surprise that the child eventually returned to take revenge too.¡±
Old Xu shook his head and sighed. ¡°Revenge is a vicious cycle...¡±
¡°If you¡¯re weak, then it is a vicious cycle. But if you¡¯re able topletely wipe out the other family, then no one cane to seek vengeance anymore,¡± Li Xuanfeng responded with a scowl, his youthful face contorted with an expression of scorn that seemed beyond his years.
After a brief coughing fit, Old Xu managed a self-deprecating chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve witnessed enough of life and death in my time to be wary of taking lives, but it seems like that¡¯s not the case for you, boy.¡±
¡°Old Master Xu,¡± Li Xuanfeng addressed him seriously, standing beside him as he said, ¡°Sheep graze, wolves hunt sheep, humans consume meat, demons prey on humans. This is a world where you either eat or be eaten. That¡¯s what my father always tells me.¡±
Straightening his back, Li Xuanfeng mimicked his father¡¯s stern look. With a voice tinted with the wisdom of age, he said, ¡°Feng¡¯er! The world itself is a ce of great strife!¡±
With these words, he burst intoughter while rolling on the ground. His antics drew a mixture of coughs and chuckles from Old Xu.
Once theughter subsided, Old Xu began sharing a tale.
¡°In the past, there was a family living on the vige¡¯s outskirts. The father was a hard- working man and the mother took great care of their three children. One day, the father saw smoke from a neighboring vige. He sent his youngest son, Xu San, to gather firewood on the mountain. Xu San happily ascended the mountain and yed there until sunset.¡±
¡°He returned home, only to find a bloody scene. There were about a dozen men gathered in the courtyard of his home, surrounding a big pot. In the pot, he saw his parents inside. His two older brothers had been chopped and set aside in two heaps.¡±
¡°Terrified, Xu San turned around and fled. He hid in the mountains for ten days, andter learned that a drought had driven the neighboring starving vigers to desperation, leading to the tragedy that befell his isted home.¡±
Li Xuanfeng waspletely absorbed in the tale.
¡°I¡¯d murder all of them,¡± he said grimly.
¡°But Xu San was a coward. He lived in silent fear for the rest of his life. He didn¡¯t dare to speak a word to anyone and hid in the vige his whole life. Xu San loathed those men! He loathed that huge sparrow! He loathed that immortal!¡± Old Xu yelled.
He reached out and pulled Li Xuanfeng closer, then suppressed his voice as he said, ¡°Xu San overheard a conversation between two servants by the mountain stream, speaking of h-how... how they lured the huge sparrow to Mount Dali to feast on humans. Their goal was to collect the dark qi from the mes for the young master of the Golden Tang Gate. Xu San heard every word, yet fear kept him silent for decades. And Xu San... Xu San... Died... Everyone¡¯s dead.¡±
Old Xu gasped twice for air desperately. His eyes were bloodshot as he coughed up blood and fell to the side. His hand clung to Li Xuanfeng¡¯s pant leg for a moment before his grip gradually loosened.
Li Xuanfeng stared at him nkly. After a few moments, he whispered, ¡°And now... you¡¯re dead too, Xu San.¡±
Hot tears cascaded down his cheeks, falling onto Old Xu¡¯s cold, lifeless body. Li Xuanfeng whispered a few words between sobs, then draped himself over the old man¡¯s body and cried loudly. He wept with a mix of grief and anger until he was overtaken by a dizzying wave of emotions.
Chapter 65: Two Foxes
Chapter 65: Two Foxes
Li Xuanfeng cried so hard that he huped. He remained draped over Old Xu¡¯s lifeless body until his hups finally subsided before slowly rising to his feet again.
He grabbed Old Xu¡¯s left foot and dragged the old man¡¯s body toward a tombstone that stood as tall as his waist. The old man¡¯s lifeless body was surprisingly light, like a pile of firewood, easy for even a child to move.
Li Xuanfeng propped Old Xu¡¯s upper body against the tombstone and then tried his best to arrange the old man¡¯s contorted face, seeking to ease his expression of pain and give him a semnce of peace in his final moments.
A soft whimper escaped his lips as he gazed upon Old Xu¡¯s face, which seemed caught between a smile and a tear. Li Xuanfeng quickly turned his head away, then he ran up toward the mountain with tears streaming down his face.
Upon nearing the sunlit courtyard, he briskly wiped his tears and tried topose himself before stepping inside.
As he entered the courtyard, he saw a little girl in a leather jacket. She was seated at the table, mumbling to a snow-white kitten in her arms.
The sunlight shone on her beautiful eyes that were crinkled up in joy, its radiance enough to uplift anyone¡¯s spirit with just a nce.
She was Li Jingtian, Li Xuangfeng¡¯s younger twin sister and the only girl of their generation in the Li family.
Liu Rouxuan and Li Tongya had a son named Li Xuanling, but he was currently studying at the academy, so Li Jingtian was left alone in the courtyard.
¡°Brother Feng¡¯er,¡± she greeted, cing the white kitten on the table and beaming a smile at him. ¡°Who bullied you?¡±
Before Li Xuangfeng could respond, a voice interrupted them. ¡°Who would dare to bully him when he¡¯s the biggest bully around here?¡±
A teenager stepped into the courtyard. He had slightly long eyebrows, but very gentle eyes that resembled Li Changhu.
¡°Brother Xuan, any good news?¡± Li Jingtian¡¯s eyes sparkled as she skipped her way toward Li Xuanxuan, grasping his hand eagerly and asking, ¡°Did you manage to condense the Celestial Whirl Chakra of the Embryonic Breathing Realm?¡±
Li Xuanxuan smiled and nodded in response, but noticed Li Xuanfeng¡¯s silence. He bent down to him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s troubling you, Feng¡¯er?¡±
¡°Old Master Xu is dead,¡± Li Xuanfeng replied glumly.
¡°What?!¡±
The news visibly shook Li Xuanxuan, his usual gentle smile faded as grief filled his eyes. He opened his mouth, but could not find any words to say.
Li Xuanxuan had lost his father before he was even born. Although his grandfather, Li Mutian, loved him deeply, the old man was a man of few words. He would always sit in silence with a stern look on his face. At times, Li Xuanxuan found himself unsure whether he respected or loved him more.
As he grew older, he found himself constantly under the watchful guidance of Li Xiangping. However, he always felt tense in his uncle¡¯s presence and could never rx even for a moment.
Throughout his formative years, it was Old Xu who made him grass crickets, drew pictures of him, and shared tales of his father, Li Changhu...
Despite his sorrow, Li Xuanxuan quickly regained hisposure. He patted Li Xuanfeng¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Lead me to him.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Chengfu, his back slightly hunched now, crossed over the high threshold and entered the hall. Inside, a group of stern-faced elders were discussing some important matters. Their meeting was chaired by a middle-aged man exuding an air of authority. Dressed in a gray wolf-skin coat, he absentmindedly sipped on his tea as he listened intently.
Li Chengfu was also at the age where his hair had turned gray, but fortunately, he was still rtively healthy. He approached the middle-aged man and quietly announced, ¡°Manager, Old Xu has passed away.¡±
The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow, then responded in a hushed tone, ¡°What did the main family say?¡±
¡°The young family head ordered that he should be buried in the mountains.¡±
The middle-aged man acknowledged it with a nod, then took a moment to reflect before decisively setting his tea bowl aside.
He pped his hand to get the attention of the other men at the table and said, ¡°We¡¯ll call it a day here. I have something pressing to deal with on Mount Lijing, so I won¡¯t keep all of you here any longer.¡±
Li Yesheng had been filling his role as a manager for more than ten years. Now, at the age of thirty, he carried an aura of dignity.
In a world where life expectancy seldom crossed sixty, thirteen or fifteen marked the prime age on the mountains and was deemed a suitable age for marriage. Even his eldest son, Li Xiewen, was about thirteen years old this year.
Ren Ping¡¯an had sumbed to illness the previous year, leaving the management of Jingyang Vige to Liu Linfeng.
Upon hearing Li Yesheng¡¯s dismissal, the assembly dispersed and the other men returned to their homes under the vignt escort of their guards.
Once alone, Li Yesheng took another sip of his tea and said, ¡°Get Xiewen here. We¡¯re going to Mount Meiche to report this to the head of the family.¡±
Li Xiangping had been taking care of the family for over a decade. It was only natural that the people working for him referred to him as the family head.
As Li Xiewen rushed into the room, Li Chengfu looked up at Li Yesheng, his face alight with happiness, as he said, ¡°The young family head hase out from seclusion. My son, Qiuyang, has visited him on the mountain. He returned and told me that Xuanxuan is now as powerful as him.¡±
The diligent mentorship of Li Xiangping made it clear to everyone that Li Xuanxuan, the son of Li Changhu, was the next sessor. Because of this, everyone in the vige addressed Li Xuanxuan as the young family head.
¡°Congrattions, Uncle Fu.¡± Li Yesheng cupped his fist with a smile.
Li Chengfu chuckled warmly in response, then respectfully excused himself.
Once Li Chengfu had left, Li Yesheng snorted coldly and then turned to Li Xiewen. ¡°Do you know why I congratted Li Chengfu?¡± he asked.
¡°I don¡¯t, Father...¡± Li Xiewen replied, scratching his head in confusion as he looked at his father. ¡°Actually, Uncle Chengfu has been asking me about Brother Xuan¡¯s progress in cultivation for years. I often wonder whether I should tell him...¡±
Li Yesheng let out a deep sigh. With a frown, he reprimanded his son, ¡°I¡¯ve told you to study well by my side instead of going out all the time, but you never listen!¡±
¡°Li Xuanxuan is the only one in the main family that possesses a spiritual orifice. The potential of Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling remains unknown. If Li Qiuyang, despite his longer training, is progressing faster than Li Xuanxuan, do you think the main family will be concerned?¡±
It was only at this moment that realization finally dawned upon Li Xiewen. He paused and reflected for a few moments before replying, ¡°I see! You¡¯re worried that if your generation passes and only Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang remain, the main family might be overshadowed by its branch...¡±
¡°It¡¯s still too early for such worries,¡± Li Yesheng interjected sharply and waved his hand.
¡°The main family has foresight; there¡¯s no need to fear Li Qiuyang just yet. But as guardians of the main family, it¡¯s important to be cautious. If a crisis were to arise, we would all be doomed. Fortunately, Xuan¡¯er shows promising talent, and Li Qiuyang¡¯s progress allows us some relief from constant rivalry within the family,¡± he added.
After taking a sip of his tea, Li Yesheng challenged his son. ¡°Let me ask you a question. If Li Xuanxuan''s cultivation progress is slow, do you know what to do?¡±
Li Xiewen thought for a moment, then replied with uncertainty, ¡°Check if Li Qiuyang is overstating his progress?¡±
¡°Exactly, you¡¯re learning. It¡¯s impressive that you thought of this.¡± Li Yesheng nodded in satisfaction and then continued, ¡°If Li Qiuyang were deceiving us about his progress, don¡¯t you think the family head would notice? That old fox is too cunning to be fooled. He would only instruct Li Qiuyang to slow down his cultivation speed, allowing us to better gauge the shifting tides. So we have to prepare our forces and stand ready to act on the main family¡¯smand.¡±
¡°Remember, Li Xiewen, our family has devoted everything to the main family. With no immortal cultivators among us, our only choice is to depend on the main family, unless...¡±
¡°Unless what?¡± Li Xiewen, who had grown up alongside Li Xuanxuan and shared a close bond, frowned and pressed for an answer.
Li Yesheng¡¯s expression darkened with a hint of dread as he replied in a quivering voice, ¡°Unless the main family dwindles in a century without a sessor possessing a spiritual orifice.¡±
Chapter 66: Urgent Support
Chapter 66: Urgent Support
Although Li Xiangping was only a year older than Li Yesheng, he appeared slightly younger due to his immortal cultivation. He was currently reclined in a stone chair, carefully reading a wooden slip.
Li Yesheng and his son stood at the side respectfully, their gazes fixed modestly on the ground.
¡°Xuan¡¯er is free to handle it as he sees fit. Old Xu has been a kind man to our Li Family, so it is only fitting to greatly honor him.¡± Li Xiangping continued reading a few more lines before asking, ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯d like to tell me?¡±
¡°The young family head has achieved a breakthrough, and Li Qiuyang hase up the mountain to visit,¡± Li Yesheng responded, maintaining a humble posture. Li Xiewen, too, kept his gaze fixed on the ground, careful not to let his eyes wander.
¡°Indeed.¡± Li Xiangping raised an eyebrow as a small smile tugged his lips. He then casually probed, ¡°How long has Li Qiuyang been stuck at the third stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm?¡±
¡°Three years,¡± Li Yesheng promptly replied, well-prepared with the information.
¡°Good. When you¡¯re back, tell Li Qiuyang to focus on his cultivation and make sure no distractions get in the way,¡± Li Xiangping advised with a smile.
¡°Understood.¡± Li Yesheng nodded before adding, ¡°The Wan Family has sought assistance from us again this month, requesting provisions and medical supplies.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Li Xiangping¡¯s expression turned contemtive. ¡°I heard that Wan Xiaohua had broken through the Nascent Spirit stage and reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. To think that they still face such difficulties... Ji Dengqi is truly a formidable man. Well, as long as their requests are reasonable, we¡¯ll help them out.¡±
Li Xiewen was carefully listening to their conversation at the side. Li Xianging cast a nce at him and then softlymented, ¡°Xiewen is also a big boy now.¡±
Li Xiewen quickly bowed and said, ¡°Greetings, Family Head.¡±
¡°Go to Lidaokou Vige tomorrow and assist Xu Wenshan. You shouldn¡¯t waste your time in the vige doing nothing all day,¡± Li Xiangping suggested with a warm smile.
He then looked at Li Yesheng and said, ¡°Yesheng, you¡¯re spoiling him too much.¡±
Li Yesheng quickly apologized. Li Xiangping merely waved it off, then dismissed him and Li Xiewen.
The father and son quietly descended Mount Meiche. Upon leaving the mountain, Li Yesheng finally broke the silence by saying, ¡°You and Xuanxuan share a close bond, and the family head sees potential in you. Study well under Xu Wenshan and don¡¯t make him upset. Xu Wenshan is a smart man, he¡¯ll treat you fairly.¡±
With a gloomy expression on his face, Li Xiewen asked, ¡°Is the family head sending me away to eventually be a manager?¡±
Li Yesheng shook his head and answered, ¡°Five years at the least, seven at most. When I can no longer serve and Li Xuanxuan leads the family, you¡¯ll be called back. Be patient, use this time to improve your skills.¡±
¡°Thank you for the advice, Father.¡±
Meanwhile, at the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche...
Li Xiangping frowned, troubled by his stalled progress at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Despite his efforts over the past five years, he was still showing no signs of breaking through the Jade Capital stage.
Li Tongya attempted to secure a Bright Spirit Powder, yet upon consulting Wan Tiancang, he learned that each dose cost twenty Spirit Stones. Even with this price, they were always quickly sold out in the market whenever they became avable. Lacking the necessary connections to secure it, he had no choice but to give up on the idea.
¡°Family Head!¡±
A voice outside the cave interrupted Li Xiangping¡¯s thoughts. A child about the age of eleven or twelve entered the cave. It turned out to be Chen Donghe, Chen Erniu¡¯s youngest son. He was found to possess a spiritual orifice a few years back and was now cultivating in the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche, under Li Xiangping¡¯s guidance.
¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Li Xiangping asked, facing the boy who was the only child with a spiritual orifice that had been discovered in thest decade.
¡°Wan Tiancang from the Wan Family requests to see you.¡±
¡°Let him in.¡±
Li Xiangping took out a tea set and watched as Wan Tiancang stepped into the cave dwelling with a frown on his face while Chen Donghe tactfully left.
¡°What brings you here, Brother Wan?¡± He smiled.
A bitter smile crossed Wan Tiancang¡¯s face as he bowed deeply to him. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who can still manage a smile at a time like this, Brother Li. My family ns to ambush the Ji Family. Everything will proceed as agreed before.¡±
Li Xiangping, puzzled, asked, ¡°What¡¯s with the rush? My second brother has just delivered the tributes to Cloud Crowned Peak a week ago. Didn¡¯t the Wan Family send someone there too? Why an ambush at this time?¡±
With a mix of anger and despair, Wan Tiancang exined, ¡°Ji Dengqi somehow found out that these days were the time for Azure Pond Sect¡¯s Moon Lake Peak to collect the tributes. He attacked my Mount Huaqian Mountain for three nights straight, retreating within two hours each time before the cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realms in the prefecture could arrive to assist us. The assaults have devastated us, costing us hundreds of mortal lives and even two immortal cultivators.¡±
¡°Now, our Wan Family is unable to even submit the tributes we¡¯ve prepared, pushing us to the brink of our final stand. Over a decade of being in this situation has drained our reserves. Without a decisive battle now, we may never have another chance to assert ourselves.¡±
¡°Fine.¡± Li Xiangping clenched his jaw at the grim news and said, ¡°We¡¯ll stick to the n. Once Mount Huaqian¡¯s grand formation has been set up, I¡¯llunch the talisman and attack Ji Dengqi from afar. Whether it¡¯s a sess or failure, the legacy formation must be given to the Li Family.¡±
Li Xiangping frowned upon saying that, sensing that something was amiss. He voiced his suspicion, ¡°There has never been a set day for the Moon Lake Peak to collect their tributes every five years. We always wait for people to inform us of the date. How could Ji Dengqi possibly be aware of the exact timing? Could Senior Xiaohua be leaking the news? Brother Tiancang, there¡¯s something off about this!¡±
Wan Tiancang, initially preupied with the urgency of the letter from his family, calmed himself down andpsed into thoughtful silence.
Li Xiangping, who had always been vignt, sensed the deeper implications. While Wan Tiancang was lost in his thoughts, Li Xiangping quietly mulled over the details himself.
The Ji family must have a powerful ally or advantage at their disposal to target the Wan family so confidently. It¡¯s likely Wan Xiaohua is rmed and is hastily drawing my Li family into their conflict. Yet, given the deep ties between our families, we cannot simply stand by and witness the Wan family''s downfall...
¡°Brother Li,¡± Wan Tiancang interjected, his face pale due to a sudden realization. With a trembling voice, he continued, ¡°I suspect Ji Dengqi knows the Wan Family has support and is deliberately tightening the screws to draw out our allies in a bold scheme!¡±
Li Xiangping¡¯s expression darkened, his gaze icy as he cursed, ¡°Damn it. This isn¡¯t just Ji Dengqi¡¯s bold scheme, but also Wan Xiaohua, your family head¡¯s bold scheme!¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After sending Wan Tiancang away, Li Xiangping let out a weary sigh, troubled by the conversation. As Li Xuanxuan entered the cave, Li Xiangping ryed the conversation he had with Wan Tiancang to him.
¡°If Ji Dengqi attacked Mount Huaqian because he knew about the tribute collection schedule and attempted to obstruct the Wan Family from fulfilling their obligations, then that means they¡¯re really trying to get rid of the Wan Family once and for all. The fact that they¡¯ve prompted the Wan Family to seek help indicates that they have a n to ensnare all the Wan Family¡¯s supporters too.¡±
Li Xuanxuan thought for a moment, but could not help but shake his head in worry. ¡°Even so, we have no choice but to still intervene to support the Wan Family. There¡¯s only one path to the prefecture. Should the Wan Family fall, the Li Family would stand isted in the mountains. We¡¯d be cut off from the outside world and find ourselves vulnerable to the harassment and oppression from the Ji family.¡±
¡°Yes, we must intervene,¡± Li Xiangping dered firmly, ¡°Not to end Ji Dengqi, but to break the siege on the Wan Family. It¡¯s time to gauge the true strength of Ji Dengqi¡¯s forces and see what drives his boldness.¡±
Chapter 67: Ji Dengqi
Chapter 67: Ji Dengqi
In the brisk autumn breeze, Ji Dengqi kneeled behind his father, trembling as he witnessed the head of the Wan Family contemptuously lift his father¡¯s bloodied face and then spit on it.
¡°I guess this is all there is to the Ji Family,¡± he mocked disdainfully.
Ji Dengqi kept his head lowered. Tears streamed down his face, dampening his thin autumn clothes and the grout between the floor tiles under him.
When he lifted his head, he saw avishly dressed youth standing behind the head of the Wan Family, watching him with a cold, mocking smile.
Heter found out that the youth was Wan Xiaohua, the future head of the Wan Family.
While Wan Xiaohua stood in arrogance, Ji Dengqi kneeled in despair.
Such humiliation was unbearable. The Wan Family¡¯s sudden assault on Mount Huazhong shattered the protective formation that had only beenpleted three years ago in mere moments, ughtering the head of the Ji Family at the time and rudely dragging every Ji family member out of their bed.
There were twenty-nine of them, all caught off guard in their slumber and forced to kneel outside in the front yard, dressed thinly with only nkets wrapped around them as they witnessed the humiliation of Ji Dengqi and his father.
A crowd of mortals, once governed by the Ji Family, kneeled beyond the ruins of the courtyard wall, bearing witness to the humiliation of a family that had been revered as immortals. They saw the women in the family being stripped of their nkets and huddled in fear, while the men were mercilessly trampled upon.
Haunted by these visions night after night, Ji Dengqi¡¯s fury knew no bounds. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he would sit up straight and immerse himself in cultivation with renewed vigor.
The head of the Wan Family¡¯s brutal kick had his father coughing blood and copsing in a heap on the ground. In desperation, Ji Dengqi clung to the man¡¯s leg, tearfully pleading, ¡°The Ji Family will be your loyal dog, we¡¯ll watch the Yu Family for you in Golden Tang Gate and offer tributes every year...¡±
The man¡¯sughter was cruel as he kicked Ji Dengqi away with so much force that it knocked two teeth out of his mouth and left him reeling.
¡°Our families have been sworn enemies from the start, countless have fallen at our border conflicts. If it weren¡¯t for the shared border between your family and the Yu Family, the Wan Family would have destroyed you long ago. You offer to serve as our loyal dog, but the Wan Family dare not keep a pet like you,¡± he scoffed.
Wan Xiaohua stood behind the man, watching him with scornful eyes and a smirk on his face.
The man stripped the Ji Family of their wealth and departed with the rest of the arrogant members of the Wan Family, leaving behind nothing but the deste Mount Huazhong, the disgraced Ji Family, the mortals whose perception of them had changed, and the mountain of corpses in the courtyard.
Three dayster, his father sumbed to his injuries. His Profound Scenery Chakra had been shattered, causing his spiritual qi to dissipate. He murmured weakly as hey on his deathbed,pelling the crying Ji Dengqi to lean closer to catch his words.
¡°Don¡¯t forget to... avenge me.¡± These were his father¡¯s final words.
Ji Dengqi bit his lip so hard that it bled and took on the position of the head of the family.
He began killing indiscriminately¡ªexecuting even mortals who dared meet his gaze. He killed until his hands were stained with blood, and until no one dared to speak of the night the Wan Family had ascended Mount Huazhong again.
At the age of thirteen, Ji Dengqi was fascinated with smashing mortal¡¯s heads. He loved seeing blood.
Two more years passed, and Ji Dengqi received both thrilling and disheartening news¡ªthat man had attained the Qi Cultivation Realm and was extremely skilled in formation arts, but had met his demise on Mount Dali at the hands of his enemy.
This marked the end of the Wan Family¡¯s golden era, with Wan Xiaohua, the newly appointed family head, strategically withdrawing to consolidate power. With this, thend in the east was returned to the Lu Family.
¡°This isn¡¯t enough... Wan Xiaohua is more talented than me and the Wan Family¡¯s roots run deep. This alone isn¡¯t enough.¡±
A golden opportunity came when the young master of Golden Tang Gate visited Moongaze Lake, seeking a specific type of spiritual qi of heaven and earth.
Ji Dengqi followed the young master around like a faithful dog. Under the gaze of a group of stoic guards, he tried to entertain the bored young master who was lounging beneath a tree while dressed in gold. Finally, the young masterughed and asked him what he wanted.
Ji Dengqi knew very well that the question was not about what he wanted, but rather what he could offer. So, Ji Dengqi told him that a dog like him wanted nothing; instead, he could offer him a girl.
With a deferential whisper, Ji Dengqi proposed, ¡°Your Highness needs a considerate woman blessed with remarkable talent and a spiritual orifice.¡±
Thus, he presented his own younger sister, a girl both innocent and gifted with a spiritual orifice. She was barely twelve and had always been joyful around him and affectionately addressed him as ¡°big brother¡±.
The girl covered her face as her tears flowed. With a breaking yet resolute voice, she said, ¡°I want to avenge Father too, Big Brother.¡±
So, his younger sister left with the young master and became his servant. Following that, the Ji Family began receiving useful pills and resources every year.
Ji Dengqi immersed himself in cultivation and finally broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. The Ji Family celebrated his achievement not with joy but with tears of relief.
He immediately avenged his family by eliminating Wan Xiaohua¡¯s uncle, an old but formidable cultivator at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm, on thend that the Ji Family once lost. It was at this point that he discovered that Wan Xiaohua, who was on Mount Huaqian, was only a cultivator of the Jade Capital stage.
The sudden demise of a Wan Family cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm and Ji Dengqi¡¯s unexpected ascent to the same realm within merely a decade took everyone by surprise.
However, the Wan Family¡¯s ancestor, Wan Huaqian, left behind a formidable formation that proved as resilient as a tortoise shell. Despite Ji Dengqi¡¯s relentless efforts to breach it over more than a decade, it had been futile. Observing the Wan Family¡¯s rallying support from neighboring ns during this period of time filled him with anger that kept him awake through countless nights.
A few nights ago, Ji Dengqi received a letter from his younger sister saying that the young master of Golden Tang Gate was going to visit Moongaze Lake. As he read the letter over and over again, a n began to formte in his head.
It had been so many years since then. That man was returning to Moongaze Lake in search of that elusive spiritual qi of heaven and earth. Ji Dengqi could not fathom what sort of spiritual qi it was to draw this man back time and time again, yet he recognized the opportunity it presented.
He instructed his younger sister to reveal the blood feud between the Wan and Ji Families and exaggerate the invincibility of the Wan Family¡¯s formidable formation to ignite the young master¡¯spetitive spirits.
With a heartyugh, the man dered, ¡°Wan Huaqian was a formation genius recognized by the three sects centuries ago. For Yu¡¯er¡¯s sake, I shall test the strength of this formation.¡±
And so, Ji Dengqi came to a halt at the foot of Mount Huaqian with a long saber in hand, along with the other Ji Family members behind him, dressed in leather armor, fixing their gazes upon the mountain that was aglow with a white radiance in silence.
¡°Where¡¯s your support now, Wan Xiaohua?¡± he whispered to himself, ¡°No number of cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm can save the Wan Family now. The day of your downfall is here. Neither your reinforcements nor support will alter your fate.¡±
Ji Dengqi was ovee by a profound sense of destiny. He could feel the watchful eyes of his father and grandfather on his back, as he was moments away from crushing Mount Huaqian.
¡°This time, the Ji Family is backed by the formidable might of the Golden Tang Gate, a support beyond your wildest imaginations.¡±
As tears streamed down his face, the humility that once shadowed his demeanor vanished, and was now reced by a fierce determination and a deep, pervasive sorrow. These emotions lent Ji Dengqi an imposing presence despite his smaller physical stature.
Chapter 68: Preparation Before the Ambush
Chapter 68: Preparation Before the Ambush
Li Xiangping made his way into the courtyard and then carefully picked up the mirror resting on the stone tform with both hands.
Lu Jiangxian stirred awake in the mirror. He expanded his divine sense through Mount Lijing, absorbing the transformations over the past five years in an instant.
¡°The younger generation of the Li Family has certainly grown up.¡±
Li Changhu¡¯s son, Li Xuanxuan, was studying in the courtyard, flipping through a wooden slip, but appeared to be distracted.
Meanwhile, Li Xiangping¡¯s eldest son, Li Xuanfeng, sat beside a tombstone on the mountainside in a daze, with his hair loosely hanging down.
In another part of the courtyard, Tian Yun was reading a book with Li Jingtian. Li Tongya was absent, presumably away to Cloud Crowned Peak to submit the Li Family''s tributes. Liu Rouxuan stayed behind at home, cradling and speaking to their son, Li Xuanling.
Lu Jiangxian retracted his divine sense, returning his focus to Li Xiangping who was standing before him.
Li Xiangping seemed to have many thoughts racing through his head. He retracted his hands, then went off to the side courtyard and silently watched Li Xuanxuan, who was meticulously arranging the wooden slips.
Startled by Li Xiangping¡¯s presence in the courtyard, Li Xuanxuan was stunned for a moment before greeting, ¡°Family Head...¡±
Li Xiangping cut him off with a solemn question instead. ¡°Let me ask you a question, what will you do if I don¡¯t return?¡±
The question took Li Xuanxuan by surprise. He did not even dare to imagine the scenario. ¡°Uncle... Why would you ask such a question?¡±
Observing the frown on Li Xiangping¡¯s face, Li Xuanxuan quickly rposed himself and replied as calmly as possible, ¡°I¡¯ll retrieve the mirror.¡±
Li Xiangping nodded and then pressed further, ¡°And what if you can¡¯t find it?¡±
¡°Keep the details secret, tell everyone that uncle is in seclusion to achieve a breakthrough, then promptly send someone to oversee the n¡¯s forces. Secure control over the eastern region of Lidaokou, which borders the Wan Family¡¯s territory, and ensure we¡¯re ready to seek assistance from the prefecture at a moment¡¯s notice...¡±
Li Xuanxuan¡¯s face was grim as he gradually spoke faster and faster until Li Xiangping lifted his hand to interrupt him, then grimly said, ¡°That¡¯s good enough.¡±
He patted Li Xuanxuan on the shoulder and said, ¡°Before your youngest uncle departed, he left me with three talismans. With these and the mirror, I can stand a chance against even a cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm. There¡¯s no need to worry too much about me.
¡°Besides, with him in the immortal sect, regardless of how dire circumstances may be, the sect will invariably intervene to safeguard the Li lineage. As long as we have the mirror, our family has hope for resurgence.
¡°Get Feng¡¯er here.¡±
Li Xiangping had always shielded the children of the main family from outsiders or cultivators from the side families to hide the truth about their spiritual orifices. Now, faced with the perilous task of confronting Ji Dengqi, he deemed it necessary to bestow a talisman seed upon Li Xuanfeng as a precaution.
Li Xuanxuan promptly returned with Li Xuanfeng, who seemed rather unhappy. Without any exnation, Li Xiangping channeled his mana through Li Xuanfeng, probing his Qihai acupoint only to find it empty.
Li Xiangping sighed inwardly. Yet, as the mana coursed through Li Xuanfeng¡¯s body, Li Xiangping discovered a breathing qi cyclone at the Shaofu acupoint on Li Xuanfeng¡¯s right hand. This discovery left him momentarily stunned.
H-How could this be?! Why is Feng¡¯er¡¯s spiritual orifice in the Shaofu acupoint on his right hand? Could it be possible that spiritual orifices can exist outside the Qihai acupoint? Can they also be found in the Shenyang Mansion and Niwan Pce?!
Before Li Xiangping could answer his own question, another question came into his mind.
Can children with a spiritual orifice in our family ept the talisman seed? They can only begin cultivating the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra after epting the talisman seed.
If those with a spiritual orifice can¡¯t ept a talisman seed, does that mean they can only cultivate the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique like normal rogue cultivators like those in the side families?
As Li Xiangping recalled the Reception Method, the curiosity on his face deepened.
In the initial phase of the first cycle, the Profound Pearl True Elixir gracefully descends into the heart¡¯swork. This marks the positioning of the Elixir Cavity within the central pce. Following the elixir¡¯s descent, one must hold their breath nine times,pleting one cycle. Repeat across nine cycles, nine times each, a total of eighty-one times. This is referred to as the nine heavenly cycles...
It seems like perhaps those with spiritual orifices were also eligible for talisman seeds...
Lu Jiangxian observed from above, sensing Li Xiangping¡¯s inner turmoil, and mumbled to himself, ¡°My Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds can be nted in anyone. If it¡¯s nted in a mortal, it¡¯ll elevate them into an immortal. If it¡¯s nted in someone with an immortal orifice, then they¡¯ll be able to progress a lot faster. It¡¯s up to you, Li Xiangping, to decide if you want two mediocre cultivators in the family or a genius.¡±
It¡¯s quite interesting that Li Xuanfeng has a spiritual orifice on his left hand. There must be a secret behind this spiritual orifice.
As time pressed on and the hour of appointment with the Wan Family drew near, Li Xiangping focused back on the immediate task. ¡°Feng¡¯er, do you still remember the method that I told you to memorize years ago?¡±
Looking at the solemn faces of Li Xuanxuan and Li Xiangping made Li Xuanfeng kind of nervous. ¡°Yes, I have memorized it long ago,¡± he replied quietly.
¡°Come.¡± Li Xiangping grabbed Li Xuanfeng¡¯s hand and led him into the ancestral hall in the backyard. Li Xuanfeng widened his eyes, curiously scanning the hall that he had never been allowed to enter before.
His gaze swept past the rows of ancestral tablets, and spotted his grandfather, Li Mutian, standing in the hall with the help of a walking cane. He was gazing at the stone tform in the heart of the hall.
Li Xuanfeng followed his gaze and noticed that the stone tform was bathed in ethereal mist that was as white as the moonlight and a bluish-gray artifact hovered above the tform.
Li Xiangping whispered something in Li Xuanfeng¡¯s ear, who then solemnly nodded.
He kneeled down and, in his youthful voice, said, ¡°As a disciple of the Li Family, I, Li Xuanfeng, respectfully request the Profound Light. I dedicate myself to pursuing the Dao and my destiny rests in your hands. When the timees, I will remain true to my oath. With this talisman burned, I express my gratitude to Supreme Yin.¡±
A white pill, glowing with a radiant light, leaped from the mirror, enveloping the room in a brilliant luminescence as it sunk into the top of Li Xuanfeng¡¯s head.
Li Xiangping observed his son assume a meditative pose and began guiding the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in his body, then turned to Li Xuanxuan.
¡°Watch Feng¡¯er closely and exin everything to him,¡± he said.
He then bowed before retrieving the mirror from the tform. After carefully putting it into his chest pocket, he sighed deeply with aplex look on his face.
¡°The arrow has already been nocked on the bowstring, we have no choice but to fire it,¡± he mumbled to himself.
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Lu Jiangxian watched as Li Xiangping descended Mount Lijing alone and cast a Divine Movement Spell on his leg, quickly leaving Lijing Vige and walking along the Guli Road.
When he was finally approaching the Wan Family¡¯s territory, he stopped and took out the mirror, solemnly reciting, ¡°As a disciple of the Li Family, I, Li Xiangping, respectfully request the Profound Light to grant me the Supreme Yin Profound Light to vanquish evil, cleanse impurity, and subdue demons!¡±
Lu Jiangxian, sharing Li Xiangping¡¯s perspective through his divine sense, realized that the distance to Mount Huaqian was too great for the Supreme Yin Profound Light¡¯s reach.
Li Xiangping seemed to have also realized this problem. He proceeded with caution, keeping a tight clutch on his talismans and frequently consulting the mirror for guidance on his location.
Finally, as Mount Huaqian came within the divine sense¡¯s scope, a few unfamiliar presences were detected. Lu Jiangxian¡¯s apprehension grew.
¡°One, two, three, five... nine, ten... Ten cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm?!¡±
Chapter 69: Old Daoist
Chapter 69: Old Daoist
Li Xiangping shut his eyes and concentrated for a moment. His face suddenly paled as a wave of realization washed over him, prompting a harsh whisper through his clenched teeth.
¡°Ten cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm?! How are we supposed to intervene now? Where did the Ji Family find so many skilled cultivators?!¡±
Inside the mirror, Lu Jiangxian was urgently trying to gather more information as he observed the seven auras surrounding a central one, his mind racing with concern.
¡°What¡¯s going on here? If Li Xiangping hadn¡¯t been careful, anyone else rushing in recklessly would have surely met a quick and brutal end.¡±
His relief was short-lived as he detected the aura of another cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm emanating from Moongaze Lake.
Li Xiangping closed his eyes and sensed the auras in the vicinity. He, too, detected a powerful aura emanating from Moongaze Lake in the distance, seemingly moving westward.
An rm went off in Lu Jiangxian¡¯s head as he recognized the aura¡¯s distinct pull. ¡°That aura... It¡¯s identical to the one from Moongaze Lake that I sensed years ago, the one capable of repairing the mirror!¡±
The distinct aura of greed and malice exuded by the cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm zed like a ring red beacon in Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense, sparking a flurry of thoughts in his mind.
¡°There¡¯s no doubt about it. This cultivator ising for me. He¡¯s been bidding his time at Moongaze Lake for over ten years!¡±
At the same time, Li Xiangping felt a surge of shock as the menacing aura approached him like a shooting star. Breaking into a cold sweat, he instinctively cast a Divine Movement Spell to his legs and swiftly sprinted northward.
¡°Who is that person?! How does he track me so urately from a distance? Damn it, the Wan Family really got me into big trouble!¡±
As Li Xiangping dashed desperately, thoughts raced through his mind incessantly.
¡°This person is heading my way, so he must be a cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm! I can¡¯t risk leading him toward our home in the west. My own demise is one thing, but putting my family in harm¡¯s way is a risk I can¡¯t take. With the mirror in my possession, I must proceed with caution.¡±
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Wan Xiaohua watched Ji Dengqi standing outside the formation, hatred oozing out of his eyes. Beside him stood a haughty-looking man with arge forehead, dressed in a dark green silk cloak, who impatiently voiced his frustration.
¡°Brother Wan, why hasn¡¯t the Li Family taken action yet? Aren¡¯t they supposed to make a move once the Earth Locking Huaqian Formation is activated?¡±
¡°Patience, Brother Pingyuan. The moment wille!¡±
The man was none other than the Lu Family¡¯s newest cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm whom Li Tongya had met on Cloud Crowned Peak. The Wan Family enlisted him at great expense to ensure Ji Dengqi¡¯s downfall.
Wan Xiaohua forced a wry smile, though doubt was swirling in his mind.
Li Xiangping is a smart man. How could he fail to see the gravity of our demise? The downfall of the Wan Family would leave the Li and Lu Families vulnerable to the Ji Family¡¯s advances. Even a fool like Lu Pingyuan can see the need to support us. Why doesn¡¯t Li Xiangping?
Wan Xiaohua¡¯s unease deepened, prompting him to let out a heavy sigh.
After waiting for another half an hour, Lu Pingyuan rose to his feet, unable to contain his frustration. Ignoring Wan Xiaohua¡¯s attempts to calm him, he activated his flying shuttle and flew out of the formation to confront Ji Dengqi.
¡°Hey, Ji Family Head! You won¡¯t be able to break this tortoise shell anyway, so why waste your time surrounding this mountain? The Wan Family is now under the Lu Family¡¯s protection. Leave this instance and I¡¯ll spare you from a fight!¡±
The deration left both Wan Xiaohua and Ji Dengqi momentarily stunned. Wan Xiaohua was rendered speechless in the face of Lu Pingyuan¡¯s stupidity. How did an idiot like him attain the Qi Cultivation Realm?! Life can be so unfair!
Ji Dengqi merely narrowed his eyes as he muttered under his breath, ¡°My underwear probably has more brain cells than this idiot.¡±
Just as Ji Dengqi raised his saber and prepared to advance,ughter pierced the air. A man dressed in gold emerged with his entourage, clutching his stomach in amusement as he pointed at Lu Pingyuan.
¡°Hahahaha! This is truly amusing, I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s someone more arrogant than myself!¡±
Wan Xiaohua lifted his gaze to the sky from within the formation. The sudden arrival of those cultivators drained color from his face, causing his heart to plummet and his mind to reel in shock.
¡°One, two, three... Eight... All of them are cultivators of... the Qi Cultivation Realm... How can this be?!¡±
Overwhelmed by the situation, he nearly coughed up blood in agitation as he barely managed to call out, ¡°Yuankai! Wan Yuankai!¡±
Wan Yuankai rushed over to support the head of his family, his face etched with concern and his eyes tinged with redness. ¡°Yuankai is here, Family Head.¡±
Wan Xiaohua gasped for air, then spoke grimly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid today marks the end for the Wan Family. Li Xiangping¡¯s absence suggests that he¡¯s in trouble too.¡±
¡°Summon our kin. Should the formation falter, we must scatter to evade capture and flee toward the Li and Lu Families.¡±
Wan Xiaohua¡¯s face was pale, yet his thoughts remained sharp and focused. He gave himself a firm p on the face, then said, ¡°No, Ji Dengqi won¡¯t spare the Wan Family that easily. Go and ry mymand: only the direct descendants aged between seven and fifteen with spiritual orifices should head west. The rest, including those from our main family, must defend the mountain. If the formation breaks, we scatter and flee. Ji Dengqi intends to wipe us out entirely. As for the children of the side families...¡±
Before he could finish, the formation suddenly shook violently, and a macabre rain of blood poured down. Lu Pingyuan¡¯s cries for mercy were in vain as the man in gold gruesomely ripped him apart.
The man dressed in gold picked up his storage pouch, then proceeded to examine it with his spiritual sense, only to frown in disgust and curse, ¡°Ugh, what a broke guy.¡±
ncing at the shimmering Earth Lock Huaqian Formation, he took out a long saber ignited with crimson mes. With a grin, he dered, ¡°Let me try my hand at Wan Huaqian¡¯s work.¡±
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Li Xiangping¡¯s attempt to escape was cut short by a sudden, chilling breeze. A Daoist-robed elder on a flying shuttle blocked his path. With a gentle wave of his horsetail whisk, he asked with a smile, ¡°Where are you rushing off to, fellow Daoist?¡±
Lu Jiangxian jolted in the mirror. He could feel a pull from the elderly man, as if an invisible thread bound them together. A realization then dawned upon him. This man is in the mid-Qi Cultivation Realm. Judging by his aura, he must have already attained the fifth or sixth heavenlyyer. This is bad.
Li Xiangping gritted his teeth and asked, ¡°Who are you? Why do you stand in my way?¡±
The elderly man chuckled, then calmly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve guarded Moongaze Lake for almost thirty years. You¡¯re finally here, fellow Daoist.¡±
With that, he took out a glowing snow-white jade pendant. The tassel at the bottom of it seemed to have an invisible string tied to it and was pointing straight at Li Xiangping.
¡°If you surrender the item, I¡¯ll make sure you at least die in one piece, fellow Daoist.¡±
Chapter 70: Danger
Chapter 70: Danger
With victory already in his grasp, the old Daoist performed a hand seal and conjured a spell with leisurely ease, extending his left hand to reveal a dazzling white light, all while wearing a smug smile.
Li Xiangping drew a yellowish talisman from his possession in response and pped it onto himself. A shield of pure white light materialized around him and without a word, he turned around and sprinted toward theke.
The old Daoist calmly pped the storage pouch at his waist and stowed away the jade pendant before trailing Li Xiangping with a smile on his face. His small eyes, however, remained sharply vignt, tracking every movement.
Internally, he mused, ¡°The talisman he used looks like those from the Azure Pond Sect. Haven¡¯t the two sects made an agreement long ago? The disciples from the Azure Pond Sect along Moongaze Lake to the Mushroom Forest in should have vacated by now.¡±
"No, he wouldn¡¯t be fleeing if he¡¯s from the Azure Pond Sect. This man must have connections to that sect. I should be careful. Let him run and exhaust his mana first. That way, he won¡¯t be able to use any of his talismans or dharma artifacts.¡±
The old Daoist followed behind Li Xiangping like a haunting presence. He was enjoying the chase and felt almost giddy with anticipation.
¡°It¡¯s like the heavens itself is guiding this. The people from the Azure Pond Sect have retreated and the Golden Tang Gate¡¯s forces are preupied in the south. Meanwhile, this young man flees in panic toward the north, straight into the Golden Tang Gate¡¯s realm. Looks like the stars are aligning for me.¡±
The old Daoist¡¯s excitement grew as he recalled the tales of the immortal mansion¡¯s sessor who had vanquished foes in all directions centuries ago and his master¡¯s dying words to him.
He was once a mere rogue cultivator under Golden Tang Gate, barely twenty when his master, nearing the end of his life, entrusted him with a jade pendant.
¡°Centuries ago, my lineage was also entangled in the chaos surrounding the immortal mansion¡¯s sessor, and this jade pendant was obtained from that person. That fierce man had mastered the divine technique so profoundly that his blood, flesh, tendons, and bones were all considered heavenly treasures. Thus, he was torn to pieces by the three sects and seven gates. Rogue cultivators like us had no chance to im a share of even a piece of his flesh and had to resort to collecting the blood spattered during the conflict with containers. Your grandmaster stumbled upon this jade pendant amidst the rain of blood, and it was this that caused him serious injuries, leading to his return and eventual passing.¡±
Back then, he was only a naive young Daoist, listening intently as his master spoke in a frail voice. ¡°Your martial uncle and I have investigated this pendant over a century and found that it is possibly linked to the immortal mansion¡¯s legacy, yet itcks apanion artifact... It falls upon you to find this missing piece...¡±
While he was reminiscing, he was startled by Li Xiangping¡¯s abrupt halt and defiant stare.
This unexpected defiance caught the old Daoist off guard, momentarily embarrassing him.
Attempting to recover hisposure, he jeered, ¡°Had a change of heart?¡±
Li Xiangping responded with a coldugh as he took out a bluish-gray mirror that projected a menacing white light directly at the old Daoist¡¯s face.
¡°Damn it, I knew he had something!¡± the old Daoist eximed in frustration, activating a series of talismans that conjured a formidable golden shield in defense. In a fluid motion, he performed a hand seal with both hands and channeled his mana into the shield.
The old Daoist usually immersed himself in cultivation and rarely engaged in battles with others, so he had painstakingly practiced this technique for over thirty years, relying on it along with abination of spells and talismans to save his life multiple times.
However, the sense of danger disappeared in an instant. The old Daoist was momentarily stunned, and by the time he regained his senses, Li Xiangping had already darted away like a rabbit.
Realization struck the old Daoist as he let loose a string of curses, deactivating his spell with a flick of his wrist. With a scornful chuckle, he remarked, ¡°That man is quite a trickster.¡±
He moved swiftly, closing the gap like a specter, yet the old Daoist saw Li Xiangping had taken out the mirror once again, casting a brilliant white light toward him.
Feeling the impending danger, the old Daoist reflexively activated twelve talismans, conjuring a formidable golden shield without hesitation.
¡°Idiot!¡± He heard a mocking sneer from ahead.
Despite his generally calm demeanor, a wave of uncontroble fury surged within him. He conjured several golden lights in his hands, dissipating the shield with a wave of his hand and intending to cast a deadly spell on Li Xiangping.
As soon as the shield dissipated, a blinding, immacte white light engulfed the old Daoist¡¯s vision.
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Li Xuanxuan paced the courtyard restlessly. Their family head, Li Xiangping, had not returned since the night before, and their contacts in Lidaokou Vige reported no sightings of the expected white light phenomenon.
¡°The n was to cast the Supreme Yin Profound Light and then quickly return. The whole operation shouldn¡¯t have taken more than a few hours!¡±
With dawn breaking, Li Xuanxuan¡¯s anxiety deepened. The urge to dash to the Wan Family for answers nearly overwhelmed him.
A fleeting golden light in the eastst night had faded within minutes, leaving Li Xuanxuan to face the long night alone on Mount Lijing, clenching his fist hard in silence.
¡°Should we prepare for the worst?¡±
His eyes were red as names flickered through his mind.
¡°Li Yesheng, Li Qiuyang, Chen Erniu...¡±
With Li Tongya away at Cloud Crowned Peak and Li Xiangping¡¯s fate uncertain, the mantle of leadership unexpectedly fell to thirteen-year-old Li Xuanxuan. His youngest kin, Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling, were only seven and five, respectively.
¡°Young Family Head!¡±
The sudden call snapped Li Xuanxuan back to reality, his youthful face quickly regaining its warmth.
¡°Uncle Yesheng? Is something wrong?¡± he asked.
¡°I¡¯ve scoured both Mount Meiche and Mount Lijing multiple times but found no sign of our Family Head...¡± Li Yesheng stroked his beard with a troubled look on his face.
He also witnessed the golden light streaking across the skyst night and intended to report this to Li Xiangping. However, after visiting the mountain twice, he found no sign of Li Xiangping.
¡°I believe Uncle said he had a hunch that he could achieve a breakthroughst night and has since entered seclusion.¡± Li Xuanxuan offered aforting smile, locking eyes with Li Yesheng.
¡°Ah, I see!¡± Realization dawned on Li Yesheng, his spirits lifting. ¡°So, the Family Head has chosen to seclude himself in Mount Lijing¡¯s backyard this time?¡±
A moment of panic flickered through Li Xuanxuan¡¯s heart, but he maintained hisposure and answered, ¡°Yes.¡±
Li Yesheng nodded, then deftly shifted the conversation to the recent happenings in the vige before departing.
Once Li Yesheng had descended the mountain, Li Xuanxuan settled into a seat in the empty courtyard and gazed at the sky contemtively.
In the vige below, Li Yesheng briskly entered his courtyard. He removed his coat and put it into the waiting hands of a servant. With a furrowed brow, he called out, ¡°Li Xiewen!¡±
The silence that followed reminded him that Li Xiewen had been dispatched to Lidaokou Vige by Li Xiangping.
Surveying the people that had gathered in the courtyard, Li Yesheng epted the teabowl served to him and settled into his seat.
¡°Any word on Li Qiuyang?¡± he asked.
¡°None.¡±
Li Yesheng sipped his tea thoughtfully. His expression darkened with concern as he said, ¡°Has the Wan Family requested assistance today?¡±
¡°No, Manager.¡±
Li Yesheng''s expression grew pensive. He looked at his men, then hesitantly asked, ¡°Has there been any move... to mobilize the n¡¯s forces?¡±
His men shook their heads. Li Yesheng heaved a long sigh of relief before a faint smile broke through his worry.
¡°I must be overthinking things.¡±
Chapter 71: Azure Chi Devil Gate
Chapter 71: Azure Chi Devil Gate
The old Daoist¡¯s spiritual sense and quick reflexes barely saved his life from the devastating force of the Supreme Yin Profound Light. With an instinctive sidestep, he narrowly dodged the fatal blow, though the attack vaporized his left arm, leaving his upper torso frozen and his face tinged with a ghastly shade of purple from the cold.
Despite the pain, the old Daoist managed a wry smile as he coughed up a mouthful of dark blood that froze before hitting the soft ground.
¡°I-Impressive.¡±
With his remaining strength, he conjured a white shield with his right hand to fend off Li Xiangping¡¯s relentless assault.
Even a slight movement like that caused him to cough up more dark blood, now tinged with frost. Feeling a chilling qi coursing through his body, the old Daoist quickly performed a hand seal to protect his heart and preserve his life.
Upon realizing his attacks were futile against the old Daoist¡¯s shield and knowing the talisman given by Li Chejing was intended more for escape thanbat, Li Xiangping reluctantly ceased his assault.
With no viable options to the west, where the Li Residence was, or to the east, where ten cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm were besieging the Wan Family, and hindered by the disadvantageous terrain of the Mount Dali to the south, Li Xiangping opted for the only remaining path; he pressed onward to the north, propelled by a wind talisman.
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Ji Dengqi stared coldly at Wan Xiaohua¡¯s upper body, where a deep cut marred his waist, before mercilessly stabbing his long saber into his lower body.
¡°You should have prepared for this day when your Wan Family set foot on Mount Huazhong,¡± he remarked frostily.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Wan Xiaohua was still alive thanks to his strong vitality as a peak cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. His eyes further widened in agony as he emitted a series of pained gasps through his bloody mouth.
¡°W-Why...?¡± he asked.
Ji Dengqi could see the oncevishly dressed proud youth who smirked at him years ago now before his very eyes. He bent down slightly and replied in a low voice, ¡°Who do you think we are? We¡¯re merely pawns to those two families. They¡¯ll never care about what happens to you. While you pay your tributes every year, they¡¯re all just waiting for us to fatten up so they can ughter us like livestock.¡±
As Wan Xiaohua fought for each breath, a tear trickled from his eye.
Ji Dengqi shut his eyes, then lifted his head and said, ¡°Now, I will drive every descendant of your Wan Family, along with the eight thousand mortals under your governance, to their doom under the lord¡¯smand. The lord will then proceed to the Mushroom Forest in which remains unguarded by the Azure Pond Sect. There, he ns to sacrifice between fifty to seventy percent of its inhabitants, be they mortals or immortal cultivators, to collect resentment qi and blood qi.¡±
A cynical smile spread across Ji Dengqi¡¯s face as he watched Wan Xiaohua¡¯s life fade away.
¡°The very Azure Pond Sect you hoped would save you is now mobilizing its forces to the border of the Golden Tang Gate tomit the same vile act. When the livestocks learn too much, they¡¯re exchanged to be ughtered.¡±
Ji Dengqi gently closed Wan Xiaohua¡¯s eyes, hisughter raspy and cold, echoing with contempt. He then looked up defiantly at the figure cloaked in gold above.
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¡°Senior Xiao!¡± Li Tongya greeted and cupped his fist respectfully to Xiao Chuting, the ancestor of the Xiao Family and a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Xiao Chuting sipped his tea leisurely and offered, ¡°How about staying a few more days at the Xiao Residence, Tongya?¡±
Li Tongya was surprised by the suggestion. Doubt clouded his thoughts as he respectfully probed, ¡°May I ask...¡±
Xiao Chuting interrupted Li Tongya¡¯s question with a dismissive wave of his hand and said, ¡°The Wan Family hasn¡¯t approached us this year. They¡¯re likely heading south to meet with the forces from the Golden Tang Gate. Given the timing, they¡¯re probably at the Mushroom Forest in. Your Li Family stands isted in the mountains, while the Mushroom Forest in is on the brink of bing a battlefield. It would be wise to wait a few days until the forces from the Golden Tang Gate have retreated before returning.¡±
Li Tongya, taken aback by the wealth of information Xiao Chuting divulged, quickly cupped his fist and expressed his gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Senior Xiao.¡±
After Xiao Chuting acknowledged him with a slight nod, Li Tongya excused himself and departed, allowing Xiao Chuting to return to his contemtion.
As soon as Li Tongya walked out of the courtyard, avishly dressed youth walked out from behind a veiled screen. He was Xiao Yongling, the young man whom Wan Yuankai and Li Tongya had met at the tavern years ago.
He gracefully took a seat and asked, ¡°Grandfather, is the Li Family truly worthy of our friendship?¡±
Xiao Chuting sipped his tea silently, then looked at his favorite grandson and said, ¡°Li Chejing has mastered the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique, causing quite the stir within the sect.¡±
Xiao Yongling¡¯s eyes went wide with shock. ¡°The Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique? Where did he find the Supreme Yin Moonlight?!¡±
Xiao Chuting dismissed the question with a gesture and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is fostering a closer bond with the Li Family. We mustn¡¯t seem too eager though, it may put them off.¡±
As Xiao Yongling mulled over these words, Xiao Chuting changed the subject. ¡°Do you know why the three sects and seven gates do not intervene in the feud between the families under their governance and even encourage those sharing the same border to kill and annex each other?¡±
Xiao Yongling thought for a few moments before responding, ¡°The Azure Pond Sect never needed the few Spirit Stones worth of tributes. Instead, they rely on powerful ns like ours to marshal vast numbers of mortals and immortal cultivators. Thisbor force is essential for producing spirit items to be contributed to cultivators of the Foundation Establishment and even Purple Mansion Realms.¡±
Xiao Chuting continued sipping his tea and questioned back, ¡°You think the Azure Pond Sect can¡¯t raise their own cultivators of the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Realms? Why do you think they need to involve our family, even if it means sharing the gains with us? Given the wealth of spirit items and dharma artifacts umted by our Xiao Family in Lixia Prefecture over centuries, the Azure Pond Sect is surely aware of this.¡±
Xiao Yongling paused, seeming to have grasped the idea yet hesitant to voice his thoughts.
Xiao Chuting smiled coldly and said, ¡°Let me answer that for you¡ªour ns are merely crops cultivated by the Azure Pond Sect. They spend centuries nurturing major ns like us, only to harvest us entirely, then subtly encourage smaller families to engage in conflict, annexation, and finally grow into another n.¡±
Xiao Yongling shivered. With a slightly trembling voice, he asked, ¡°Is this... the fate of an immortal family...?¡±
Xiao Chutingughed and said, ¡°The war between the immortals and devils has long ended. Today, which of the three sects and seven gates doesn¡¯t gloss over their actions while standing atop a mountain of corpses?¡±
¡°Have you ever wondered about the origin of the Moon ze Tree on Azure Pond Peak? It flourished from the flesh and bones of Li Jiangqun, watered with his blood. There isn¡¯t a corner of the Azure Pond Sect that is untainted by blood.¡±
¡°Hmph, the Azure Pond Immortal Sect... They really gave themselves a nice name!¡±
Xiao Chutingughed coldly and stood up.
¡°Do you know the name the Azure Pond Sect went by several centuries ago before it ascended to its current status among the three sects?¡± he asked Xiao Yongling.
¡°No.¡± Xiao Yongling shook his head.
Xiao Chuting leaned in and revealed, ¡°Azure Chi Devil Gate.¡±
¡°Azure Chi Devil Gate?!¡±
Chapter 72: Ancient and Secret Techniques
Chapter 72: Ancient and Secret Techniques
Li Tongya descended the mountain, pondering over Xiao Chuting¡¯s words.
What did he mean? If the Xiao Family is aware that the Golden Tang Gate is advancing south, why does the Azure Pond Sect remain passive and allow the Golden Tang Gate to wreak havoc at the Mushroom Forest ins?
Realization then dawned upon him, causing his heart to skip a beat.
¡°Oh no, if the Wan Family falls, the Ji Family will corner us at Mount Dali. The fate of our families are intertwined. I¡¯m sure Xiangping will use the mirror to assist them. I wonder how things are now. I better hurry home. The Mushroom Forest in must be a battlefield by now, and a detour would take too long. It¡¯s best to wait two or three days for a direct route back,¡± he told himself.
While Li Tongya slowly knitted his brows in deep thought, a familiar voice called out to him. ¡°Brother Tongya!¡±
Startled, he turned around and saw Xiao Yongling hurrying toward him, grabbing his hand. ¡°It¡¯s been ages since west saw each other! Why didn¡¯t you look for me while you¡¯re here at Xiao Residence? I¡¯ve been hanging around near that tavern for days, but I didn¡¯t see you or Brother Wan. Where is he anyway?¡±
Li Tongya sighed softly and replied, ¡°When I left home toe here and passed by the Wan Residence, I noticed that Wan Yuankai wasn¡¯t home. Then I heard about the Golden Tang Gate¡¯s push southward. They might have already breached Mount Huaqian. I¡¯m worried about Brother Wan¡¯s safety...¡±
Xiao Yongling wore a sad expression on his face and sighed deeply. ¡°Ah, fate is as unpredictable as the weather. There¡¯s nothing we can do about it.¡±
As they chatted and strolled through the market at the foot of the mountain, Xiao Yongling broached the subject of cultivation. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Brother Tongya has reached the Jade Capital stage for years and is on the verge of breaking through to the Nascent Spirit stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. What technique are you nning to use for your Qi cultivation, and which spiritual qi of heaven and earth do you intend to absorb?¡±
Li Tongya let out a wry smile and replied, ¡°To be honest, our family only possesses a Grade Two technique manual¡ªthe Heavenly Essence Qi Cultivation Technique, which uses Minor Pure Spiritual Qi. Weck the means to harvest this type of spiritual qi and will likely need to purchase it from the market. It¡¯s quite a headache.¡±
Xiao Yongling was taken aback by his reply. Having grown ustomed to making schedules to consume pills, custom-made dharma artifacts, and freely chosen cultivation techniques ever since he was young, Xiao Yongling found Li Tongya¡¯s situation beyond hisprehension, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Li Tongya did not seem to notice his reaction as he was mulling over the year¡¯s yield. Taking out two hundred jin for tributes, he had a surplus of more than two hundred and sixty jin of Spirit Rice and seven White Essence Fruits, which totaled up to about four Spirit Stones in value.
Additionally, the three Wuzha Worm Worms at home had produced silk twelve times over five years, spun into three silk cottons worth half a Spirit Stone.
Despite studying the Spiritual Talisman Method manual left by Li Chejing for five years, Li Tongya had only begun to grasp some techniques and achieved sess once or twice. Given the high failure rate, he still hesitated to waste the expensive talisman papers.
Li Tongya and Li Xiangping had always managed their household funds meticulously. They had learned that one Spirit Stone could purchase thirty talisman papers. Given that three talismans of the Embryonic Breathing Realm typically cost one Spirit Stone, they calcted that they needed at least one sessful talisman out of every ten attempts just to break even on their investment in talisman paper alone, without even considering the cost of talisman ink. This led them to be extremely cautious about how they utilized their resources.
While Li Tongya was searching for a ce to sell the spirit items he had in his possession, Xiao Yongling interjected with a look of concern on his face, ¡°This Minor Pure Spiritual Qi is usually sold at about thirty Spirit Stones. Do you have enough, Brother Tongya?¡±
Li Tongya shook his head and answered, ¡°Well, I¡¯m not in a rush to get it. The cost of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi could deplete a few decades of my family¡¯s savings. I¡¯ll just slowly umte Spirit Stones. Since the lifespan of a cultivator in the Embryonic Breathing Realm is typically a hundred and twenty years, I have ample time.¡±
Xiao Yongling gazed at him in shock, then remarked softly, ¡°Your talent ismendable, considering that you have condensed the Jade Capital Chakra at the age of thirty and are on the verge of attaining the Qi Cultivation Realm. It¡¯s a shame that your potential is hindered by your family background... If you were born in an affluent n, you¡¯d surely excel far beyond me!¡±
Li Tongya raised his eyebrow, chuckling at Xiao Yongling¡¯s sentiment, and replied, ¡°Hahaha, what are you talking about? Life¡¯s challenges are what binds a family together. Despite our family¡¯s current hardship, it is our ancestors¡¯ savings over centuries that offered us this slim chance at immortality. I¡¯m not burdened by my family, instead, it¡¯s more like my family¡¯s legacy is what enables me to be here today.¡±
Xiao Yongling smiled and nodded. ¡°That makes sense. I¡¯ve learned something today.¡±
Li Tongya shook his head and smiled. He scanned the market stalls, then asked, ¡°Brother Yongling, I¡¯m curious about the price of these qi cultivation techniques...¡±
¡°For basic ormon cultivation methods, you can find them at stalls for less than a few Spirit Stones,¡± Xiao Yongling replied, then pointed toward a nearby building and continued, ¡°However, for techniques of second grade or above, you¡¯ll have to go to shops. They are sold for a price between dozens or even hundreds of Spirit Stones. Some shops bundle the manual along with their required spiritual qi of heaven and earth, thus saving you the time to collect the qi, but it¡¯ll be a lot more expensive. Of course, there are also ancient or secret techniques thate in fluctuating prices, depending on the seller.¡±
Li Tongya furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Ancient or secret techniques?¡±
Xiao Yongling smiled and exined, ¡°All techniques stem from a single qi. Some cultivation methods be obsolete if the specific qi they require is lost or the environment producing such qi is destroyed, making the qi unobtainable. Such techniques,cking the necessary qi, are deemed ancient techniques.¡±
Seeing that Li Tongya was listening intently, Xiao Yongling smiled and continued, ¡°There¡¯s also another type known as secret techniques, where families modify ancient techniques to work with avable qi.¡±
Li Tongya nodded, feeling enlightened, and said, ¡°That sounds like a great idea.¡±
Xiao Yongling shook his head and expressed his concerns with a smile, ¡°But rushed modifications can lead to weaker techniques with potential ws, they can neverpare to those that are refined over centuries. Our Xiao Family has some such secret techniques. They¡¯re either slow to cultivate or require continuous medicinal support.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Li Tongya nodded in understanding. ¡°Regardless, I can¡¯t afford any of them with my current resources.¡±
Xiao Yongling shook his head and replied earnestly, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate yourself, Brother Tongya. Your discipline and your younger brother¡¯s exceptional talent will surely elevate the Li Family''s status in time.¡±
Li Tongya politely thanked him, yet his mind was burdened with heavy thoughts.
The Azure Pond Sect¡¯s actions are concerning. There must be many secrets behind the ambush and murder of the immortal mansion¡¯s disciple. I hope Jing¡¯er remains safe in the sect and doesn¡¯t get involved in anything bad.
Chapter 73: Retaliate
Chapter 73: Retaliate
After running for a while, Li Xiangping stumbled upon a small orchard enclosed by brown wooden fences. The oranges bearing on the trees suggested that the orchard was well taken care of by the local farmers.
¡°Judging by the distance I¡¯ve run, I¡¯m probably deep in the Ji Family¡¯s territory now. This family must be under their governance.¡±
The night¡¯s escape had drained Li Xiangping. His face was pale and the talisman in his hand had dimmed, likely exhausted.
He took out the bluish-gray mirror from his chest pocket and closed his eyes to concentrate. Upon sensing the aura of the pursuing old Daoist behind him in the distance, he cursed under his breath.
From within the mirror, Lu Jiangxian observed the scene with rity. The old Daoist took several pills to stabilize his condition before chasing after Li Xiangping on his flying shuttle, his eyes burning with a fierce determination.
If this old Daoist tries to use some sort of spell on me or assault the mirror directly, I¡¯ll feign a counterattack and seize the moment to eliminate him.
Lu Jiangxian frowned, noting the loss of the old Daoist¡¯s left arm and the disruption in his mana flow. The effects of the Supreme Yin Profound Light lingered within him, asionally forcing him to close his eyes and regte his breathing. His advance was slowed but he remained undeterred in his pursuit of Li Xiangping.
¡°Once I catch up to him... I¡¯ll kill him with a single blow to end his resistance and secure the mirror!¡± A mixture of anger, greed, and a strategic rationale oscited in the old Daoist¡¯s mind.
¡°If the mirror holds such power in the arms of a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, I can¡¯t imagine the immense potential it will hold in my hands! The fact that he¡¯s reluctant to keep using it suggests that it must have drained him considerably, leaving him vulnerable for some time.¡±
The old Daoist slowly increased the speed of his flying shuttle. Soon, a vige appeared before him. Among the orange trees in the orchard ahead, he spotted a person running through it. His movements were no longer aided by the buoyancy of wind beneath his feet¡ªthis was a clear indication that he had exhausted his talismans.
Clutching thest of his talismans, Li Xiangping prepared for a final confrontation. The Vajra Talisman in his grasp would turn his flesh and bones as hard as steel, potentially enough to withstand the old Daoist¡¯s onught and fight for his life.
As the old Daoist descended with his flying shuttle, Li Xiangping suddenly turned around, holding the mirror high in the air.
¡°Again?¡±
The old Daoist nearly coughed up blood as his frustration peaked. He abruptly changed the direction of where he was flying andnded awkwardly on the branch of a tree.
Li Xiangping stood next to the tree, staring at him with a cold smile on his face.
¡°Hmph, you got me.¡± Instead of anger, the old Daoist¡¯s face lit up with delight. He stowed his flying shuttle away into his storage pouch, then gently descended on the ground. As soon as he did, Li Xiangping charged straight toward him.
Without uttering a word, the old Daoist conjured a dazzling golden light from his hand and directed it straight toward Li Xiangping.
The force of the spell shed against Li Xiangping. A shield of white, soft light appeared, attempting to neutralize the golden light. Despite its efforts, the golden spell prated his defenses, striking him with such force that it sent him reeling backward.
¡°Ugh.¡± Li Xiangping felt the impact on his internal organs, prompting him to cough up blood. He struggled to maintain his grip on the mirror, which was just moments away from dropping to the ground.
The old Daoist¡¯s focus was immediately drawn to it. The white hair of his horsetail whisk extended like a spectral hand, reaching out to grasp the mirror.
A murderous glint shed across Li Xiangping¡¯s eyes. While the Old Daoist¡¯s attention was diverted by the mirror, he readied a Golden Light spell on his left hand and prepared tounch a retaliatory strike aimed directly at the old man¡¯s head.
Watching the hair of the horsetail whisk reaching toward him in the mirror, Lu Jiangxian felt strongly repulsed. He felt as though he was watching an insolent child pointing a pair of chopsticks straight at his eyes.
Seizing what he perceived as an opening, he thought, This is my chance!
As the hairs of the whisk grabbed onto the mirror, they recoiled as if they had been scorched by charcoal. The bluish-gray mirror seemed to be offended, rising a foot into the air and emitting sporadic bursts of white light.
The twelve runes around the mirror¡¯s frame began glowing, and the intense white light created a rippling effect on the mirror¡¯s surface. The light from it was so dazzling that it seemed almost as though a small sun was suspended in mid-air above the two men.
An overwhelming sense of danger coursed through the both of them, freezing them in ce.
¡°Oh no!¡± The old Daoist''s heart raced with regret as he thought, I shouldn¡¯t have used that horsetail whisk to capture the mirror!
With his years of experience, the old Daoist had heard tales of dharma artifacts possessing great sentience and requiring respectful handling. There were also many taboos surrounding them. The Frosty Absolute Sword of the Azure Pond Sect, for example, would not respond to anyone other than the wielder that it acknowledged.
This is bad, very bad. I didn¡¯t expect the mirror to react this way. I must have triggered some taboo!
Li Xiangping attempted to unleash a Golden Light spell on the old Daoist but found himself immobilized by the oppressive force. As he witnessed the mirror ascend into the air while being bathed in white light, he realized it was much like the night his father and second brother had described during their encounter with the wolf demon years ago. Li Xiangping instantly realized that the old Daoist¡¯s actions had likely triggered a retaliatory response from the artifact and let out a sigh of relief.
Li Xiangping could notprehend how, but he heard the faint voice of the old Daoist echoing in his ear. ¡°Young friend, I was as foolish as a pig and have identally vited some taboo, triggering this dharma artifact to retaliate against us. If you have any spells to stop it, please save us... I promise to reward you generously...¡±
Li Xiangping rolled his eyes, choosing to ignore the old Daoist¡¯s rambling.
Lu Jiangxian observed the old Daoist¡¯s immobilized state and gained a deeper understanding of his own abilities.
So, the Supreme Yin Profound Light can immobilize even a cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm as long as they are close enough.
With his divine sense, Lu Jiangxian detected movement in the nearby farmhouse. A young man, dressed in tattered linen clothing, cautiously approached and hid behind a tree, watching the two men.
I better end this quickly.
With a mentalmand, the pure white Supreme Yin Profound Light descended, disintegrating the Old Daoist along with his horsetail whisk before he could even utter half a word.
A small brocade pouch fell to the ground. The whisk¡¯s handle, made of some spirit material, transformed into a piece of pale green metal and dropped on the ground as well.
Lu Jiangxian then gradually extinguished the white light and remained suspended in the air.
Li Xiangping, finally freed from the oppressive force, coughed up more blood and copsed weakly onto the ground.
Just as Li Xiangping was attempting to regte his breathing, he was struck so hard on his head that he could see stars. He managed to roll over and caught sight of his attacker.
Before him, a raggedly dressed peasant boy brimming with greed and delight straddled atop Li Xiangping. He grabbed a rock and began mercilessly hitting Li Xiangping with it.
¡°Damn it! How dare you? How dare youy hands on an immortal cultivator?!¡± Li Xiangping summoned thest remnants of his mana and deflected the rock that wasing down on him with his left hand.
He fumbled around with his right hand until he grabbed a hold of a sturdy tree branch. He quickly imbued it with a Golden Light spell and thrust it toward the young man.
The branch, sharpened by the Golden Light spell, pierced through the young man¡¯s neck. The young man¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he promptly coughed up several mouthfuls of blood while clutching his throat and writhing on the ground.
Li Xiangping copsed to the ground, watching the young man¡¯s desperate struggles. Fearful that themotion might draw more attention, he struggled to his feet. He quickly stashed the pouch and the metal block into his chest pocket, then retrieved the mirror and made a staggering escape toward the outskirts of the vige.
Chapter 74: Leader Who Hesitates
Chapter 74: Leader Who Hesitates
Li Tongya remained in the prefecture for a few more days. Upon receiving word of the Golden Tang Gate¡¯s withdrawal, he quickly bid farewell to the Xiao Family and got onto his carriage to make his way home through Guli Road and the Mushroom Forest in.
Since he had no coachman andcked horse-riding skills, he relied on an oxcart for the journey. After two hours on the Guli Road, he could not help but cover his nose.
¡°The stench of corpses is overpowering.¡±
The previous day¡¯s rain had soaked and bloated the corpses by the roadside, causing bubbles to swell up on their skin, filled with festering dark flesh and blood, emitting a nauseating and vile stench. After a morning of exposure to the sun, the smell had only intensified even more.
¡°What a tragedy.¡±
As Li Tongya drove the oxcart, he had to stop frequently to clear the corpses from the road. The journey grew increasingly arduous due to the severed limbs and lifeless torsos obstructing his path. Before long, the oxen, overwhelmed by the pervasive stench of decay, refused to proceed any further. Left with no choice, Li Tongya abandoned the oxcart and continued on foot.
Covering his mouth and nose, Li Tongya had to pause frequently to wipe away tears triggered by the pungent fumes. He was overwhelmed by inexplicable and intense emotions after walking alone among countless corpses without eating for a day and a night.
He could not help but wonder, What will the Azure Pond Sect document about this?
In a mocking tone, he replied to his own question, ¡°Summer, in the fourth month, the Golden Tang Gate invaded the Mushroom Forest in and withdrew within a few days.¡±
He moved a stack of corpses, then sat down on a blood-stained boulder, sneering bitterly.
During his journey, Li Tongya encountered living people, but the vigers who had wed their way out from the mountain of corpses seemed to have lost their ability to speak. When they encountered one another, they would just hug each other and weep. After their tears had run dry, they would begin a desperate search through the ruins, scavenging for any morsel of food they could find.
Li Tongya, with his clothes rtively clean and unstained with blood, as well as a long saber at his side, looked like a mere merchant passing through the Mushroom Forest in.
Before long, a group of children, most around five or six years old, began trailing behind him, casting pitiful nces in his direction.
Li Tongya continued along the mountain trails in silence, asionally hunting wild boar or wolves which he would then cook to feed the hungry children following him. His journey eventually led him to the outskirts of the Wan Family¡¯s territory.
The vige that was once inhabited by the members of the Wan Family now stood abandoned, devoid of life, leaving behind only andscape marred by decaying corpses and blood.
¡°Xuanfeng?!¡±
While walking, Li Tongya noticed a small figure walking around a mountain of corpses. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Li Xiangping¡¯s eldest son, Li Xuanfeng. The boy looked disheveled, his body smeared with dried blood as he picked his way through the corpses.
¡°What''s going on? Where¡¯s your father? Why are you rummaging through these dead bodies? What if you catch a disease?¡±
Li Tongya furrowed his brows, his heart pounding as he grabbed the boy. Looking at the boy¡¯s dry and cracked lips, he grew increasingly concerned.
Li Xuanfeng pouted and kicked a severed hand on the ground before saying dejectedly, ¡°I¡¯m looking for my father!¡±
An ominous feeling gripped Li Tongya as he asked softly, ¡°Xiangping...? Has your father not returned home yet?¡±
¡°Brother Xuan won¡¯t tell me. My father was supposed to go help the Wan Family, but I don¡¯t know where he is right now.¡±
Li Tongya pondered for a few moments after hearing Li Xuanfeng¡¯s response. His face turned serious as he said, ¡°Come home with me first.¡±
¡°All right...¡± Li Xuanfeng responded in a subdued tone.
¡°The Ji Family is really fierce. They¡¯ve killed everyone in all the five viges of the Wan Family. Why would they do such a thing?¡± he asked.
¡°They¡¯re killed by the Golden Tang Gate and the Azure Pond Sect,¡± Li Tongya replied without much thought.
Upon hearing this, Li Xuanfeng froze for a moment and then mumbled to himself, ¡°Golden Tang Gate and their young master are truly heartless. When I grow up, I¡¯ll make sure to kill all of them and kick that young master¡¯s head around like a ball!¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanxuan sat alone in the courtyard, his heart heavy with worry. He had scoured the entire Lidaokou Vige for the past few days but found no signs of any conflict, let alone any trace of his uncle, Li Xiangping.
¡°I don¡¯t know where Feng¡¯er has gone, either... I¡¯ve sent people to search all day, but there''s no sign of him.¡±
Li Xuanxuan had a horrible headache. After Li Xuanfeng received the talisman seed, he dashed off into the mountains andter returned, pressing Li Xuanxuan to search for Li Xiangping. Left with no choice, Li Xuanxuan had to find a way to pacify him.
However, Li Xuanfeng was a clever child. He often eavesdropped on the adults and had likely pieced together the situation with the Wan Family, deducing that something dire had happened so he ran away from home.
As the eldest in his generation, Li Xuanxuan could not act impulsively and venture into the Ji Family¡¯s territory like Li Xuanfeng. He needed to maintain a calm facade, reassure the vigers, and try to control the situation before Li Tongya returned, even if it pained him to do so.
¡°Young Family Head!¡±
While Li Xuanxuan was lost in his thoughts, he heard footsteps approaching from outside the courtyard. Li Yesheng entered with a smile and announced, ¡°The Immortal Master is back!¡±
Li Xuanxuan was taken aback, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders. He smiled with joy and rushed down the mountain to greet Li Tongya.
Li Tongya had made some arrangements for the children who had followed him all the way home before making his way up the mountain. When he met Li Yesheng and Li Xuanxuan, his face remained stoic.
He patted Li Xuanfeng on the shoulder and said, ¡°Go take a bath and get some rest.¡±
Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod and leave, Li Tongya entered the courtyard with Li Xuanxuan. He dismissed Li Yesheng and then whispered, ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s going on?¡±
Li Xuanxuan recounted the events of the past few days in a solemn manner. After Li Tongya heard everything, he asked, ¡°Have you investigated the situation at the Wan Family¡¯s territory?¡±
Li Xuanxuan shook his head and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve only ordered the people of Lidaokou Vige not to reveal their whereabouts to the east, but I haven¡¯t sent anyone to cross the border.¡±
Li Tongya sneered and said, ¡°The Wan Family has been wiped out for over a month, and you¡¯ve yet to realize that Mount Huaqian stands empty. Your uncle has vanished for more than a month, and yet here you are, aimlessly walking around with those managers without a clue! To make matters worse, you let Feng¡¯er sneak into the Ji Family¡¯s territory alone! What the hell have you been doing, Li Xuanxuan?!¡±
As if struck by lightning, Li Xuanxuan found himself kneeling in the courtyard, tears brimming in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but words eluded him.
¡°What is there to be afraid of?¡± Li Tongya shook his head and continued in a deep voice, ¡°Even if you were to send vige soldiers to patrol the forest after your third uncle hadn¡¯t returned overnight and dispatched Li Qiuyang to guard Lidaokou Vige, no one would dare to go against you as long as you hold the power of the Li Family in your hand! Even if there are whispers or suspicions about Li Xiangping¡¯s fate, who would dare to voice them?¡±
With a sigh, Li Tongya continued, ¡°There¡¯s no need to fear the managers. They are merepdogs of our Li Family. If you¡¯re feeling generous, you can throw them a few bones as a reward. If they dare to go against you, you can just deal with them swiftly!¡±
¡°The power of our Li Family is rooted in our de and cultivation. We must be decisive, ruthless, and unafraid to take lives! The Li Family doesn¡¯t need a leader who hesitates or fails to act. We need someone whomands with the ferocity of a wolf and the courage of a tiger!¡±
Chapter 75: Xiangping Returns
Chapter 75: Xiangping Returns
Seeing Li Xuanxuan hanging his head, Li Tongya¡¯s tone softened as he continued, ¡°Well, it¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t make any mistakes since this is your first time overseeing the family affairs.¡±
After a moment of reflection, Li Tongya cast a look at him and gently advised, ¡°Go clear your head in the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche. Come back when you¡¯ve broken through to the Azure Essence stage.¡±
¡°Thank you, Second Uncle.¡± Li Xuanxuan cupped his fist respectfully, appearing to be relieved as he withdrew.
Li Tongya then retreated to the backyard to change his attire. Seated in the main courtyard, he reviewed the records maintained by Li Xuanxuan.
With a furrowed brow and in a serious tone, he instructed, ¡°Go get Yesheng.¡±
A soldier standing by the door promptly went off to ry the message. Soon after, Li Yesheng entered the main courtyard with great haste, only to find Li Tongya engrossed in a wooden slip, not bothering to even lift his gaze to acknowledge him.
Feeling apprehensive, Li Yesheng mumbled to himself, ¡°Oh no, he must have realized it.¡±
Li Xuanxuan had been groomed by Li Xiangping and Li Tongya since young to be the next family head. Although it was a decision made before the birth of Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling, no one knew what was going through the minds of the two boys.
Li Yesheng had noticed Li Xuanxuan¡¯s mistakes but chose to remain silent so that he could test the two boys.
Realizing that his scheme had been uncovered as Li Tongya remained silent, Li Yesheng hastily kneeled in apology.
Li Tongya merely frowned and gestured for him to stop. ¡°You¡¯ll exin yourself to the family head when he returns,¡± he said.
With that, Li Tongya put away the wooden slip he had been reading and ordered, ¡°Sound the drums to gather the troops.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xiangping found refuge under arge tree where he sat to meditate, regaining a small fraction of his mana. Once slightly recovered, he cast the Divine Movement Spell on his legs and continued his journey southward, despite the fatigue.
After three hours of walking, Li Xiangping finally allowed himself a moment of rest. He climbed a towering curtain fig tree, drifting between sleep and wakefulness for hours on one of its branches to regain his stamina.
To sustain himself in the deste area, Li Xiangping caught a rabbit for his meal and devoted several days to breathing spiritual qi and tending to his meridians before resuming his journey south.
Although his external wounds had nearly healed, his internal injuries were difficult to treat. He could still feel the pain in his internal organs, and he had only partially regained his strength.
To avoid any encounters with demons, Li Xiangping traveled cautiously, only reaching the Li Family¡¯s territory after more than a month.
Upon entering his family¡¯s territory, Li Xiangping noticed patrols of n soldiers in the forest.
Looks like home is still safe, the Ji Family hasn¡¯t invaded us from the west, he thought to himself.
Despite recognizing the uniforms that the soldiers wore as the ones from his family, Li Xiangping chose a discreet path to Lijing Vige.
Only when he observed the normalcy and calm of the vige did he allow himself a sigh of relief before proceeding up the mountain.
There, he found Li Tongya cleaning his sword. At the sound of footsteps, Li Tongya looked up, his expression shifting from surprise to amusement upon seeing Li Xiangping¡¯s disheveled appearance and smile.
¡°I knew you were too cunning to die out there,¡± he remarked with a chuckle.
With a light scoff, Li Xiangping seated himself at the table and quenched his thirst with a bowl of tea.
¡°I got chased after by a Qi Cultivator for a day and two nights, and was nearly beaten to death by his palm.¡±
He then proceeded to recount his harrowing adventure of evasion and pursuit over the past twenty days.
Concluding his tale, Li Xiangping removed his robe and ced the mirror on the table. He watched as the bluish-gray mirror slowly floated in the air, then took out a brocade pouch alongside a block of pale green metal.
¡°Take a look at these.¡±
Li Tongya nodded, then extended his spiritual sense into the storage pouch, spilling an assortment of items in it with a tter.
Aside from a collection of clothes, trinkets, and money, there were twenty-five Spirit Stones in the Old Daoist¡¯s storage pouch, along with multiple healing pills of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and a jade vialbeled ¡°Jade Sprout Pill¡±. They also found a dozen old talismans and a jade pendant emitting a soft white glow.
The final item to fall out of the pouch with a clink was a long, light-gray sword.
As soon as Li Xiangping reached for the jade pendant, Lu Jiangxian, who was nodding off in the mirror, immediately felt a surge of energy. He looked at the jade pendant that was only an inch away from him, then tried to establish a connection with it.
Like an energetic bird, the pendant suddenly flew toward the mirror.
¡°Huh?¡±
Everything happened so unexpectedly that Li Xiangping could only watch in astonishment as the pendant stuck itself to the mirror. A stream of white qi burst forth, weaving into the mirror like a weary bird finally finding its way back to the haven of its forest.
The twelve runes on the mirror¡¯s frame lit up one by one. A refreshing sense washed over Lu Jiangxian as he felt his divine sense expanding. Information began pouring in, prompting him to delve deeper into it to unravel the message.
Li Xiangping and Li Tongya saw the pendant¡¯s white glow dimming before it fell back onto the table with a ck. They exchanged nces with one another, then returned the mirror to its stone tform.
After a period of waiting without observing any noticeable changes, they decided to resume their inventory in the main courtyard.
The old Daoist seemed to lead a modest life as all his healing pills and medicine were only of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Li Xiangping carefully put away all of them along with the twenty-five Spirit Stones, then proceeded to cautiously open the Jade Sprout Pill.
As soon as he did, they were greeted by the refreshing fragrance of the pill that seemed to invigorate their mana.
¡°The potency of this pill seems to surpass the Snake Essence Pills we have at home. Since the Snake Essence Pills were known to be beneficial for those in the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realm, this Jade Sprout Pill must specifically be for cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm.¡±
He quickly resealed the bottle of the Jade Sprout Pill, then turned his attention to Li Tongya, who was already admiring the longsword with great care.
Li Xiangping smiled and asked, ¡°How¡¯s the sword?¡±
Li Tongya shook his head and smiled wryly in response. ¡°It¡¯s probably the weapon that person used while he was still in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. It seems to be worth only three to five Spirit Stones. Even so, it surpasses ordinary iron in quality.¡±
That reminded Li Xiangping of his Ebony Bow, a dharma artifact with considerable weight even though Li Tongya had bought it with only two and a half Spirit Stones.
He had initially nned to immediately withdraw afterunching the Supreme Yin Profound Light, so he left the bow behind for fear that it would slow him down¡ªonly to find himself weaponless when facing the old Daoist.
¡°Well, you can¡¯t say that. The bow could have slowed me down and the old Daoist could have caught up to me if I had carried it with me.¡±
While Li Xiangping was lost in his thoughts, Li Tongya proceeded to examine the set of talismans, trying to identify them with the help of the Spiritual Talisman Method manual.
¡°They seem like talismans of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, designed to create dharma shields,¡± he concluded after a while.
He counted them; there were a total of twenty-four talismans, valued at approximately eight Spirit Stones.
¡°I guess they could serve as protective measures for the kids, especially Xuanfeng who likes to wander outside.¡±
Li Xiangping chuckled as he recalled how angry the old Daoist was when he had to spend twelve of those talismans to create a huge shield.
¡°That old man was kind of poor but I tricked him twice into using his precious spells. No wonder he was so upset.¡±
Li Tongya examined the mysterious pale greenish-colored metal block but failed to identify its purpose and origin.
He gazed at Li Xiangping and then frowned. ¡°Are you hurt? You should take some medicine and rest up.¡±
Chapter 76: Requesting For Cultivation Method
Chapter 76: Requesting For Cultivation Method
Li Chejing sheathed his sword. The bluish-white swirled around him like living water, casting a glow that danced like moonlit ripples on water.
Behind him, Xiao Yuansi dispelled the battered remnants of his dharma shield with a wave of his hand.
He chuckled softly and said, ¡°Junior Brother¡¯s sword qi is truly sharp. The condensed through the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique is indeed remarkable.¡±
Li Chejing frowned as he broached a more somber subject. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Golden Tang Gate has invaded the Mushroom Forest in.¡±
Xiao Yuansi sighed. Despite the concern on his face, he tried to offer reassurance, ¡°My family told me that the Li Family remains unscathed. Junior Brother, you needn¡¯t worry too much.¡±
Li Chejing hung his head, tightening his grip on his sword as he voiced his concern, ¡°Senior Sister told me that too, but... why have I heard that the Mushroom Forest in is undefended?¡±
Caught off guard, Xiao Yuansi hesitated, his voice dropping as he spoke. ¡°The Golden Tang Gate seized the moment during Azure Pond Sect¡¯s guard rotation tounch their attack... The defenders were outmaneuvered...¡±
As Li Chejing pondered over Xiao Yuansi¡¯s fragmented exnation, Xiao Yuansi swiftly shifted the conversation.
¡°The demons haven¡¯t been at their best behavior in the south in recent years. The sect has decided to bolster the southern defenses by deploying cultivators there. ording to the roster, aside from our master, Qingsui Peak is expected to send two more members over.¡±
Li Chejing tilted his head to the side and asked, ¡°So what¡¯s Master¡¯s n?¡±
Xiao Yuansi leaned in closer and smiled. ¡°To send both you and me there too, of course. Yuan Tuan isn¡¯t good at battling, so she will remain here on the peak.¡±
He yfully patted Li Chejing on the shoulder as he continued, ¡°Your dedication to swordsmanship requires real battle experience. How else to refine your skills if not amidst the harsh trials of battle? And as for myself, with my modest talents in alchemy, it seems the n envisions me providing logistical support for you.¡±
Realization dawned on Li Chejing. Caught by the spontaneity of the moment, he responded with augh, ¡°That¡¯s going to be quite an adventure ahead of us. I wonder how long we¡¯ll be gone.¡±
Xiao Yuansi nodded and advised, ¡°Indeed, it would be wise to send a letter and inform your family. Remember, the sect¡¯s requestes with the opportunity to negotiate for benefits, ensuring our efforts are wellpensated.¡±
Li Chejing¡¯s spirits lifted at the suggestion, eagerly asking, ¡°Could we request a cultivation technique from the sect?¡±
¡°Technique?¡± Xiao Yuansi gave him a puzzled look. ¡°You¡¯ve already mastered the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique, why request for another...¡±
After a brief pause, realization dawned on him. ¡°Ah, you want to request one for your family?¡±
Li Chejing nodded in affirmation, prompting Xiao Yuansi to reflect further before cautiously responding, ¡°Cultivation techniques are deeply guarded secrets among families. Requesting one outright could prove challenging.¡±
¡°It¡¯s been quite some time, and my brothers back home have reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Yet, theyck Qi Cultivation techniques. I was hoping to acquire one for them.¡±
Li Chejingid his sword on the table, then continued dejectedly, ¡°Cultivation techniques are treasures not easily parted with. Rarely do families bring their prized technique manuals to market, and even at the brink of disaster, they would rather see them destroyed. Finding an appropriate cultivation method for my family has indeed been a great challenge.¡±
Xiao Yuansi nodded and then offered a solution. ¡°Why don¡¯t we do this? The Xiao Family is willing to provide a cultivation technique. In return, I¡¯d ask you to request an Essence Gathering Pill from the sect for my family.¡±
¡°Essence Gathering Pill?!¡± Li Chejing was taken aback by the request and hurriedly asked, ¡°Senior Brother, are you about to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?¡±
Xiao Yuansi shook his head and rified, ¡°It¡¯s actually for an uncle within my n. The Essence Gathering Pill could marginally increase the sess rate of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Its ingredients might bemon, but the recipe is closely guarded by the sect, making the pill a raremodity that can only be obtained as a reward. I¡¯m willing to offer you a Grade Three cultivation method in return...¡±
Li Chejing smirked and said, ¡°Senior Brother, you really are a sly one. Although the Essence Gathering Pill is of the Qi Cultivation Realm, it is still a very valuable item. It cannot be traded for a mere Grade Three technique!¡±
Seeing the dismay on Xiao Yuansi¡¯s face, Li Chejingughed heartily and countered, ¡°I propose an exchange for any two Grade Three cultivation methods from the Xiao Family and a qi gathering method.¡±
Xiao Yuansi gave him a look and then proposed, ¡°How about one Grade Three and one Grade Two cultivation method, along with a qi gathering method?¡±
Li Chejing agreed with a smile. ¡°Fine, but don¡¯t try to fool me with thosemon stuff sold at the market. I want true arts, not ancient or secret techniques.¡±
Xiao Yuansiughed at hisment and then described the few cultivation techniques avable.
After Li Chejing listened to all of them carefully, he frowned and asked, ¡°Do you have any Qi Cultivation technique that uses Golden Autumn In Lake? My home is near Moongaze Lake, so such techniques would be ideal.¡±
Xiao Yuansi shook his head and replied, ¡°That¡¯s wishful thinking. The only technique I¡¯ve known to harness the Golden Autumn In Lake is the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique that you¡¯ve already mastered.¡±
Li Chejing nodded. After a moment¡¯s thought, he made his decision. ¡°Then let¡¯s settle for the River One Qi Technique and Pure Spiritual Essence Technique. The geography of our home, with its abundance of reeds and rivers, wouldplement these techniques perfectly.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, in the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche...
Li Xiangping emerged from days of seclusion. He had finally returned to his best condition and the mana coursing through his body was so much more refined. He let out a long sigh.
His cultivation, stagnant for years, had now advanced and edged him a step closer to a breakthrough in the Jade Capital Stage, the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, which was a pleasant realization for him.
Stepping out of the stone chamber, Li Xiangping was greeted by the sight of Li Tongya who was quietly drawing talismans in the cave¡¯s hall.
Meeting Li Xiangping¡¯s gaze, Li Tongya smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re out.¡±
The three stone chambers of the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche had been thoughtfully organized¡ªone served as a store for Spirit Rice and other spirit items, while the other two were dedicated to cultivation in seclusion, with Li Xuanxuan currently in one of these chambers.
As Li Xiangping settled at the stone table, he listened intently as Li Tongya recounted his travels and the recent happenings within their family. Li Xiangping¡¯s brow furrowed in concern.
¡°The Azure Pond Sect and Golden Tang Gate are beyond our control. However, we need to stay vignt against the pressing threat posed by the Ji Family as they have already trapped our family in the mountains. Although the Golden Tang Gate has withdrawn, the Ji Family¡¯s strength still overshadows ours...¡±
Li Tongya, with a solemn nod, shared further unsettling news, "Mount Huaqian and the Wan Family¡¯s territory is now aplete ruin. When I passed through the Lu Family¡¯s eastern territories, I heard about their loss of Qi Cultivators to the Ji Family, igniting a bitter feud that¡¯s unlikely to dissipate.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a good thing,¡± Li Xiangpingmented, taking a sip of tea before continuing, ¡°With the Lu Family preupying Ji Dengqi to the east and the ruins of Mount Huaqian below, the Ji Family will be tied up for the next ten or twenty years. This dy could give you plenty of time to attain the Qi Cultivation Realm, Second Brother.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Li Tongya agreed, setting his brush down. ¡°I n to sell off the possessions we have acquired from the old Daoist the next time I visit Cloud Crowned Peak. It should allow us to afford a portion of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi.¡±
Li Xiangping narrowed his eyes as he spoke in a serious tone. ¡°As for Xuan¡¯er, his resolve is stillcking. It could be because he has yet to witness bloodshed. By the time he breaks through to the Azure Essence Stage, we should let him lead our forces and confront the demons.¡±
He shook his head and said, ¡°Well, I can¡¯t me him. He¡¯s only fourteen or fifteen.¡±
Li Tongya chuckled and yfully teased him, ¡°What does age have to do with anything? Back when he was only fourteen or fifteen, someone killed and dismembered a body to feed them to the wolves. Yet, after all that, he could stille home to eat a big bowl of noodles like it was just any other day.¡±
Chapter 77: Plea For Help
Chapter 77: Plea For Help
Li Xiangping smiled and was about to respond as Li Yesheng entered the cave dwelling respectfully. Turning toward him, Li Xiangping asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±
¡°Family Head, a group of about a dozen children from the Wan Family has descended from the mountain. They mentioned that their families were once allies and friends of ours. Now, in their time of despair, they seek our protection and support,¡± Li Yesheng replied.
The brothers were taken aback by the news. Li Xiangping set aside his tea bowl and with a conflicted look on his face, he asked softly, ¡°Does anyone among them possess a spiritual orifice?¡±
¡°Qiuyang has assessed them. The leader of the group is a cultivator of the Profound Scenery stage. The rest, however, are mortals,¡± Li Yesheng reported.
After a moment of contemtion, Li Xiangping instructed, ¡°Let¡¯s integrate these Wan Family members into our viges. Those aged ten and above will receive parcels ofnd to establish their own homes. As for the children under ten, we¡¯ll enroll them in the academy for now, with the younger ones ced under the care of foster families.¡±
¡°And bring the leader to meet with me directly,¡± he added.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Wan Tianjing led a group of children and sought refuge in the mountains for a night. Witnessing the copse of the grand formation on Mount Huaqian filled him with despair. Recalling his n uncle¡¯s parting words, he led the children westward with tears in his eyes.
Throughout their silent journey, the heartache was palpable. The children who followed him were instructed to remain silent by their families, their quiet sobs punctuating the somber march.
Wan Tianjing, steering clear of the familiar vige paths, scoured the wilderness for fruits and rabbits to sustain the children trailing behind him. Their journey inadvertently led them into the Li Family¡¯s territory, prompting Wan Tianjing to seek out someone who could provide guidance and answers. It was not long before a cultivator from the Li Family appeared.
Li Qiuyang was a young cultivator in his early twenties and from the side family of the Li Family. Nevertheless, his demeanor was courteous and empathetic upon learning of their plight. He escorted Wan Tianjing to Mount Meiche, engaging in quiet conversation as they walked.
¡°Are all of you cultivators?¡± Li Qiuyang asked. He had been stuck in the Celestial Whirl stage, the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, for two or three years now but still saw no signs of an imminent breakthrough. There were not many cultivators in the Li Family for him topare his progress, so he was curious about Wan Tianjing¡¯s cultivation progress.
¡°I am currently at the Profound Scenery stage,¡± Wan Tianjing replied.
Li Qiuyang was instantly reassured by Wan Tianjing¡¯s response, given that he seemed to be only fourteen or fifteen.
I guess not everyone can match Li Xuanxuan¡¯s pace of cultivation. With just seven years of cultivation, he has reached the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm at the mere age of fourteen or fifteen, he thought to himself.
The Li Family was known for their swift actions. Within moments of their brief conversation, a middle-aged man of refined presence approached to guide Wan Tianjing further.
Wan Tianjing followed him along a stone path leading up the mountain, eventually entering a cave dwelling.
Wan Tianjing lifted his gaze and saw a middle-aged man reading in his seat in the main hall.
¡°Family Head, I¡¯ve brought him here.¡±
The middle-aged man lifted his gaze and raised his slender eyebrow. His sharp, falcon-like eyes met Wan Tianjing¡¯s with an intensity that unsettled him. For a brief moment, Wan Tianjing felt a rush of fear, prompting him to quickly kneel in deference as he recognized the significance of the figure before him as the head of the Li Family.
Li Xiangping nodded to Li Qiuyang, then stood up. He gently set his wooden slip down and observed Wan Tianjing in silence.
Wan Tianjing broke out in a sweat, only to hear a warm voice above him saying, ¡°Raise your head.¡±
Encouraged by the kindness in Li Xiangping¡¯s voice, Wan Tianjing looked up. He saw not only the head of the Li Family but also another friendly figure beside him.
The figure had a sword on his waist and a green talisman brush in his hand. He offered a reassuring smile to Wan Tianjing.
¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The family head finally broke the silence.
Wan Tianjing fell into a contemtive silence for a few moments before responding with a mix of sorrow and defiance, ¡°Wan Tianchou[1] ! My name is Wan Tianchou!¡±
Li Xiangping nodded, then briefly spoke with Wan Tianchou about the event that had transpired on Mount Huaqian that night before dismissing both Wan Tianchou and Li Yesheng.
Turning to Li Tongya, he remarked quietly, ¡°Hecks courage and strategy, yet possesses some redeemable qualities. We can use him, though he¡¯s not nearly asmendable as Wan Tiancang.¡±
Li Tongya shook his head, then softly added with a smile, ¡°The Wan Family¡¯s true threats were Wan Xiaohua and Wan Tiancang. Had either of them survived, the Wan Family might have had a chance to rise again. s, they perished on Mount Huaqian.¡±
Li Xiangping waved his hand dismissively andmented, ¡°Unless Wan Huaqian could rise from his grave, the Wan Family¡¯s fall is sealed. We should focus on what lies ahead.¡±
¡°Are you ready to break through to the sixth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, Second Brother?¡± he asked.
Li Tongya nodded and confirmed, ¡°Just a few more days and I¡¯ll be ready for seclusion.¡±
Li Xiangping prepared a pot of tea, then cleared the wooden slips from the table, making space to mark down some thoughts on a piece of cloth.
¡°Second Brother is on the verge of a breakthrough to the Nascent Spirit stage, the sixth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. I, too, am about to break through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Our remaining family members, including Second Sister-in-Law, Li Qiuyang, and Xuanxuan, have all reached the third stage. Wan Tianchou has reached the first stage, while Xuanfeng and Chen Donghe are newly initiated into the immortal path,¡± he said.
¡°Excluding Jing¡¯er, our current strength mirrors that of the Wan Family back then,¡± he concluded.
¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Li Tongya nodded in agreement but suddenly recalled something else.
¡°People have reported the recent unusual movements of beasts in the western forests, including the sighting of a demonic beast. Thankfully, its cultivation was modest, and Qiuyang was able to subdue it with the vigers. I only worry this is an ominous sign.¡±
Li Xiangping thought for a few moments and then responded, ¡°I¡¯ve had scouts investigate Mount Yue, yet heard nothing. Given the historical presence of the Mount Yue tribe in that area, they might be stirring this unrest. We have to remain cautious.¡±
¡°I¡¯vemanded our men to delve deeper into this mystery. Hopefully, we¡¯ll uncover something soon,¡± he added.
Li Tongya put the talisman ink away. Together with Li Xiangping, they exited the cave dwelling and made their way toward Mount Lijing while conversing.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lu Jiangxianbed through the information flooding his mind. His divine sense wandered out to see the familiar sight of the stone tform and roof window.
The cracks on its reflective surface remained mostly unchanged, but there were now glittering white threads on its mirror frame. The white qi from the jade pendant did not strengthen the Supreme Yin Profound Light but bestowed upon the mirror a new ability.
This newfound ability allowed the mirror tobine the talisman qi gathered through the ¡°Essence Conversion Technique¡± with the Supreme Yin moonlight to condense a talisman pill.
An immortal cultivator could only consume one pill per major cultivation realm to achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation. The extent of its effectiveness hinges on the talisman qi in the pill; it could work wonders on even cultivators of the Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion Realms.
However, simr to the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed, consuming the pill would leave a talisman mark within the consumer¡¯s Shenyang Mansion, enhancing their ability to channel spiritual qi.
Upon the consumer¡¯s demise, their vital qi would be transformed back into talisman qi and be reimed by the mirror.
¡°The mirror remains as resourceful as ever, capitalizing on whatever is at hand...¡± Reflecting on this, Lu Jiangxian sighed in defeat.
He recalled acquiring the Essence Conversion Technique years earlier. However, the stringent prerequisites proved too challenging, leaving him no choice but to wait until Li Tongya¡¯s breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm before they could attempt this.
1. A small trivia: Wan Tianjing changed his name to Wan Tianchou, the chou used here is ³ð, which means revenge. ?
Chapter 78: Attack
Chapter 78: Attack
Ahuici, having journeyed across mountains and forests over the past few days, arrived with his tribe at Big Fish Creek, where he summoned their shaman to drive out the wild beasts in the mountains so that they could establish their base. This decision, however, drew concern from an elder of their tribe.
¡°Great King, venturing further east into the Great Fish Creek brings us into the Devil Gate¡¯s territory. It would be wiser to retreat!¡±
Ahuici turned around and red at him. The beast''s fangs and the jade he wore on him jangled noisily as he retorted, ¡°You want to turn back and fight Jianixi, that malevolent wolf, old fart? Offer ourselves as sacrifices on Mount Li? Or perhaps, you possess some sort of magic to whisk all nine hundred of us across Moongaze Lake to safety?¡±
Silenced and disheartened, the elder could only withdraw with a sigh.
With a dismissive snort, Ahuici turned his attention back to his fruit wine. Just then, several of his men barged into the tent, dragging a bound figure who was dressed neatly even to his hair.
They tossed the captive before Ahuici, dering with a mix of pride and amusement, ¡°Your Majesty, we found this man lurking about our camp and apprehended him on the spot!¡±
The captive was one of the Li Family¡¯s scouts, unustomed to the stealth required in the wilds, thus easily apprehended by Ahuici¡¯s men.
Ahuici rubbed his face which was marked with four tattoos that indicated his status as a cultivator of the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He grabbed the captive and said in an icy voice, ¡°A living person? It¡¯s been some time since we¡¯ve seen one of those!¡±
The captive¡¯s eyes widened in fear as he began to struggle. Ahuici merely sneered at his reaction. He threw the captive on the ground and then summoned his men.
A shaman immediately came forward and took the captive away. Venomous bugs and bee needles were prepared and soon, the air was pierced with agonized screams.
By the time Ahuici savored a ss of fruit wine, the scout divulged all he knew.
¡°A tribe bearing the name Li?¡± Ahuici knitted his brows together in contemtion. He listened to the shaman¡¯s detailed ount for a while but heard no mention of any Qi Cultivator.
¡°Who cares?! We¡¯ll rob them first, then think about the restter! Everyone, to your tasks!¡± he yelled.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
With more gray hair in his sideburns than before, Chen Erniu lived his days in contentment for the past few years.
Chen Donghe, his youngest son, had embarked on the path of immortality. He would often boast about his youngest son¡¯s achievements to anyone willing to listen.
When Donghe was born, he cried very loudly. Chen Erniu was so enamored with him that he discarded the name he had initially thought of, instead seeking a better name from Han Wenxu, the schr.
Han Wenxu, amused by Chen Erniu¡¯s visit on a cold winter day with gifts of wine and meat jerky, named the child Chen Donghe, honoring the Chen family¡¯s tradition of naming their offspring after bodies of water.
Chen Donghe had always been a sharp kid since young, bringing Chen Erniu immense relief since his older sons were lost causes. The discovery of Chen Donghe¡¯s spiritual orifice a few years back was the icing on the cake, prompting him to send the boy to cultivate under Li Xiangping¡¯s guidance.
Lying in bed one evening, Chen Erniu¡¯s thoughts wandered to recent events.
Wan Tiancang had died on Mount Huaqian, and Wan Tianchou was the newly appointed guardian of Lichuankou. The kid had quite a good attitude and got along fine with Chen Erniu, yet the appearance of wild beasts from the forest in the west kept him on edge and awake at night.
Just as sleep was about to im him, he was jolted awake by a scream.
¡°Father! Father!¡± Chen Sanshui burst into his room, his loud entrance sending Chen Erniu tumbling to the floor from his bed.
¡°Wretched boy! What the...¡± Before Erniu could scold him, Chen Sanshui dragged him to the door, urging him to look eastward.
¡°What the hell is that...?¡± Gripping the doorframe, Chen Erniu stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the ominous glow of torches dotting the eastern mountain slopes.
Emerging from the shadows were the warriors of Mount Yue, their torso bare and adorned with tattoos, theirughter chilling as they brandished their long swords. Like a serpentine dragon, they surged down the hills. The vige below was already under siege, its plight marked by distant cries and screams of despair.
Behind him, Chen Sanshui was frantically gathering the valuables. With a trembling voice, he urged, ¡°Father, we must flee before it¡¯s toote...!¡±
Chen Erniu nearly copsed and died of frustration. He delivered a stern p on Chen Sanshui¡¯s head and snapped, ¡°Go, inform the main family, now!¡±
Seeing Chen Sanshui standing there in a daze, he kicked his son on his rear and propelled him into action. While Chen Sanshui ran out of their home, Chen Erniu grappled with a surge of despair.
¡°What a useless boy.¡± Collecting himself, Chen Erniu went back inside to rouse his second son, Chen Qiushui, who was sleeping like a log.
¡°The Family Head has already noticed the disturbances to the east for some days now. Our n¡¯s soldiers are already positioned behind the vige. Get moving and check on the situation immediately,¡± he hissed at him.
Chen Qiushui¡¯s dazed response only fueled Chen Erniu¡¯s frustration further. With a resigned sigh, Chen Erniu closed his eyes and mumbled to himself, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. We still have Donghe.¡±
Arming himself with a saber and donning his rattan armor, Chen Erniu stormed out of the courtyard with his jaw clenched. He navigated the maze of alleys, his figure merging with the shadows as he moved toward the looming threat.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°Family Head!¡±
Li Xiangping slowly opened his eyes, only to see Li Yesheng burst into the courtyard, his appearance disheveled and coated in dust.
¡°Mount Yue hasunched an attack on Lichuankou Vige from the west!¡± he reported.
rmed, Li Xiangping sprang into action. He swiftly donned his armor and took his Ebony Bow, while Chen Donghe secured the quiver to his side with practiced efficiency.
¡°What¡¯s the situation? How many are there? Are there any cultivators among them?¡±
¡°From what I could see, there are hundreds of them. I haven¡¯t spotted anyone flying.¡±
Li Yesheng, though not an immortal cultivator himself, was not entirely ignorant of its hierarchy. His daily observations of cultivators engaging in battles against demons had imparted to him a basic understanding that demons that roamed onnd typically posed a lesser threat.
Li Xiangping and Li Tongya had emphasized the importance of retreating and reporting back to the mountain if anyone ever encountered adversaries in the air, whether they were humans or demons. This directive made it abundantly clear that those capable of flight were to be regarded as formidable opponents.
Li Xiangping cast a Divine Movement Spell on his legs andmanded, ¡°Get someone to call Li Qiuyang and Li Xuanxuan here!¡±
He momentarily considered alerting Li Tongya but chose against disturbing his seclusion.
With a determined stride, Li Xiangping descended the mountain. ¡°Ye Sheng, lead the vige men to our aid!¡±
As Li Xiangping vanished into the mountain, Li Yesheng hastened to fulfill his task.
Navigating the winding path toward Lichuankou Vige, Li Xiangping was greeted by the sound of urgent drumming where the eight hundred n soldiers were gathered. The centurions, tasked with leading them, disyed visible concern.
Amidst this chaos, Li Xiangping¡¯s attention was drawn to a solitary figure seated on the ground, burying his face in his hands and crying.
The figure bore a striking resemnce to Chen Erniu. Without a word, Li Xiangping tossed his jade token toward the group and continued running westward.
The centurions had already recognized Li Xiangping before he did that. The presentation of the jade token was merely a procedural act.
The n soldiers quickly followed Li Xiangping¡¯s lead, plunging into the forest thaty between them and Lichuankou Vige.
Chen Qiushui was left behind in a daze. Bewildered by the sudden turn of events, he rose, dusting himself off and looking around in confusion, uncertain of his next move amidst the unfolding chaos.
Chapter 79: Repelling The Invaders
Chapter 79: Repelling The Invaders
Lichuankou Vige was ame, and the vige men were busy fending off the invaders from Mount Yue to protect their families.
Most of the vigers were running away in different directions, leaving their possessions behind for those from Mount Yue to plunder.
As Li Xiangping and his n soldiers arrived, the invaders were dispersed throughout the vige, looting indiscriminately. With a frown, he directed his men toward the courtyard with spirit fields amidst the turmoil.
About a dozen soldiers from Mount Yue gathered beside the courtyard. They were discussing something amongst themselves in their nativenguage and attempting to breach the courtyard with arge rock.
Fortunately, a formation te had been set up within the courtyard, causing therge rock to wobble in mid-air before tumbling back outside the courtyard.
¡°Good thing that the spirit fields are safe. It seems Wan Tianchou has some knowledge in formations. I¡¯ll find the opportunity to have him document his knowledge for us to study,¡± Li Xiangping remarked with a nod of approval when he arrived with his men.
With a decisive gesture, he directed his soldiers to capture the invaders. Startled, the invaders from Mount Yue attempted to flee but were swiftly ovee and apprehended by Li Xiangping¡¯s n soldiers.
Upon spotting Li Xiangping¡¯s arrival from within the courtyard, Wan Tianchou hurriedly deactivated the formation and called out, ¡°Family Head!¡±
Amidst the Wan Family¡¯s abrupt downfall, Wan Xiaohua had destroyed all of the family¡¯s legacy on Mount Huaqian that fateful night. The Li Family never received the promised legacy formation.
Wan Tianchou escaped with only a few formation tes and a limited understanding of his family¡¯s legacy in formations. Of the ten formations of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, he only learned three. His limited expertise, however, proved sufficient to protect the spirit fields from devastation.
Just as Li Xiangping was about to order his men to split up and pursue the invaders, a deep horn sounded in the distance. The soldiers from Mount Yue began to retreat like a receding tide.
Li Xiangping raised an eyebrow at the sight. He readied his Ebony Bow, swiftly drawing an arrow and nocking it. After listening intently for a few moments, he released his grip.
With a swift motion, the arrow soared into the mountains.
¡°Let¡¯s give chase.¡±
With a wave of his hand, his n soldiers surged forward, hastening in the direction the Mount Yue tribesmen had fled.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°How did they arrive so quickly?!¡±
Ahuici sat amidst the dense forest, watching as a group of n soldiers advanced the vige. Springing to his feet, he urgentlymanded, ¡°Gather the troops! We mustn¡¯t engage with these soldiers. Plunder what we can and make our escape!¡±
With only a few hundred remnants of his army left, Ahuici knew that their priority was preserving their numbers rather than fighting with those soldiers.
As long as he could preserve his remaining forces, he knew he could still find refuge among other tribes, bargaining for sustenance if needed. But if all of them perished here, his power and influence would diminish significantly, relegating him to the status of a mere mercenary.
The n shaman beside him swiftly produced a horn and sounded it. Watching as his tribesmen began to retreat into the mountains, Ahuici let out a sigh of relief and settled back against a tree.
Just as he began to rx, he suddenly saw a streak of white flying toward them. Before he could react, the n shaman¡¯s head exploded like a watermelon, sttering Ahuici¡¯s pale face with a gruesome red.
¡°What the hell?!¡± Ahuici recoiled in horror, his eyes fixed on the long arrow that had embedded itself in a tree, the end of its shaft quivering from the impact. Taking a few steps backward, he gulped.
¡°R-Retreat deeper into the forest!¡± he ordered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Another n shaman shakily sounded the horn twice before quickly ducking for cover.
Ahuici felt a surge of irritation at the shaman¡¯s cowardice, yet he found himself hesitating to take up the horn and blow it himself.
Peering out from behind a massive tree, he surveyed the scene in the distance with his keen eyesight granted by the Embryonic Breathing Realm and heaved a sigh of relief.
Down the hill, the n soldiers found themselves in disarray, with nearly a hundred of theirrades upied with the tribesmen. Amidst a wave of curses and pleas for mercy, the rest of Mount Yue¡¯s group managed to slip into the forest.
As the n soldiers contemted pursuing into the dense woods, the drums and gongs in the vige sounded. The soldiers abandoned their chase and returned to the vige with their captives.
¡°Bah, fucking wimps!¡± Ahuici spat out in disgust. Turning around, he led his men deeper into the mountain forest.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After sessfully repelling the invaders into the forest, Li Xiangping quickly ordered a retreat. Observing the dozens of captured men from Mount Yue, he felt some of the anger in his heart dissipate.
Upon seeing Chen Erniu, who had returned from the front lines drenched in blood, Li Xiangping cupped his fist and said, ¡°You¡¯ve done great, Manager Chen.¡±
¡°You tter me...¡± Chen Erniu humbly responded, amidst coughs.
Li Xuanxuan, d in armor, stepped forward, followed by a line of captured men from Mount Yue behind him with their hands bound.
Li Xiangping nodded approvingly and instructed, ¡°Xuan¡¯er, have the men rest here. We cannot let this incident slide. The audacity of Mount Yue to plunder the goods and children of Lichuankou Vige will not be overlooked.¡±
He waved at Li Yesheng, who had just arrived at Lichuankou Vige apanied by a few vige men.
Li Yesheng promptly made his way over and Li Xiangping announced, ¡°I¡¯m heading back to Mount Lijing. Make sure the men and horses are ready. We must resolve this matter by tonight.¡±
With everyone acknowledging his instructions, Li Xiangping turned and began his journey back. As soon as he arrived at Mount Lijing, he encountered Li Tongya who had just emerged from seclusion as a cultivator at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
¡°Now that you have emerged from seclusion, our chances have significantly improved,¡± Li Xiangping remarked through gritted teeth, with anger shing in his eyes.
After changing into fresh clothes, Li Xiangping entered the ancestral hall to pay his respects. Passing by the altar adorned with offerings of fruits and candles, he respectfully bowed before the mirror resting on the stone tform and carefully took it down.
¡°Proceed with caution.¡± An aged voice suddenly appeared. It turned out to be his father, Li Mutian.
Li Mutian, aged and frail, sat quietly in the courtyard. His voice was hoarse as he strained to speak.
The old man dozed off in the courtyard most of the time and was barely seen awake. He relied on Li Xuanfeng to remind him to eat, yet remained remarkably alert to the sound of footsteps. It was Li Xiangping¡¯s presence in the courtyard that woke him up.
¡°Yes, Father,¡± Li Xiangping replied, a pang of worry tugging at his heart as he looked at his frail father. The thought of his father leaving them at any moment brought a pained look to his face.
Gritting his teeth, he exited the backyard and turned to Li Tongya. ¡°There¡¯s no need to use the Supreme Yin Profound Light. We¡¯ll just use the mirror to locate the enemies and catch them off guard. Even if they have Qi Cultivators among them, they won¡¯t escape unscathed with the mirror¡¯s aid.¡±
¡°Sounds good.¡± Li Tongya agreed, following Li Xiangping down the mountain. He nodded as he listened intently to his younger brother recounting the events of the past few days, then fell into a contemtive silence.
The two brothers did not rest until they reached the garrisonte at night. The vigers and n soldiers were sleeping fitfully with their faces covered.
At the two sounds made by arge gong, everyone sprang into action. They quickly donned their armor and then grabbed their sabers and shields. In moments, they were assembled and ready.
While waiting for Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang to rally their respective forces, Li Xiangping shut his eyes and took a moment to connect with the mirror, his focus extending across the entire mountain.
Then, with the grace of a seasoned archer, heunched several arrows from his Ebony Bow into the mountainside, each finding its mark among the sentries of Mount Yue lurking in the forest.
With the path now clear, Li Xiangping slung his bow over his shoulder and dered with authority, ¡°Move out!¡±
Chapter 80: Capturing Ahuici
Chapter 80: Capturing Ahuici
As Ahuici gathered the plundered goods and captives. He divided grains, food, and other goods first, then moved his gaze to the captives.
Picking out a woman who stood out for her beauty, he held her in his arms. Observing the way she trembled, heughed heartily and said, ¡°Nothing beats the charm of a captive woman!¡±
Hisment sparkedughter among his men, but Ahuici¡¯s tone turned bitter as he reflected on their plight. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Jianixi, that starving wolf, we wouldn¡¯t be in this mess. My Ahui Tribe, once strong with three thousand warriors, was decimated by his hand.¡±
The mention of Jianixi silenced the crowd, their faces painted with a mix of fear and resentment.
One of them quietly said, ¡°The folks in the south say that Jianixi is destined to be the wolf king of the northern foot of Mount Yue...¡±
Another added, ¡°I heard he¡¯s the offspring of a human and a wolf! Ruthless like a wolf and cunning like a fox, he¡¯s pushing eastward by ancestral decree...¡±
Ahuici shivered and cut his men off sharply. ¡°Enough of that nonsense! He¡¯s bad luck!¡±
He raised his cup and yelled, ¡°Come on, drink up! We¡¯ve just raided the Li Family¡¯s tribe! Let¡¯s celebrate with a feast! Each of you gets to pick a captive for yourself!¡±
His call reignited the crowd¡¯s spirits, though internally, Ahuici harbored concerns.
That archer¡¯s skill was formidable. We should steer clear of the Li Family¡¯s tribe to avoid retribution.
Wait a minute.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden realization.
¡°Has anyone seen our scouts return recently?!¡± he roared.
A burst ofughter erupted from the group as someone replied loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Great King! Those people will never be able to detect our scouts!¡±
All of a sudden, Ahuici felt a sharp sting on his face. He looked up abruptly, only to be met with a blinding white light before his eyes. Ahuici¡¯s legs gave way beneath him in shock, and he copsed to the ground. Crawling backward, he watched in disbelief as an arrow struck the ground right before his eyes, sending a shower of sandy soil into the air.
The mountains and forests were soon aze as battle cries echoed in the air. The soldiers from the Li Family stormed into Mount Yue, armed with sabers.
The drunken Mount Yue tribesmen were mowed down like wheat in a field, their bodies riddled with arrows. Ahuici rose slowly to his feet, his mouth agape in disbelief.
¡°How could this be?¡± Gripping his sledgehammer tightly, Ahuici roared angrily, ¡°Get up! All of you, stand!¡±
The scattered Mount Yue tribesmen gathered around him with newfound resolve. Ahuici quickly did a headcount, realizing there were only two to three hundred men by his side. The rest of the tribesmen were scattered into four or five groups, struggling against the onught of armed soldiers.
It¡¯s over.
Yet, just as despair seemed to take hold, Ahuici¡¯s gaze fell upon a middle-aged man approaching who was d in light armor, wielding a light gray longsword that gleamed with a soft light. The gray light pulsated menacingly, causing Ahuici¡¯s eyelid to twitch at the sight of it.
¡°Shit!¡± he cursed.
The man advanced swiftly, closing the distance between them, and aimed his sword directly at Ahuici.
Ahuici attempted to block with his sledgehammer, but the force of the impact nearly knocked it out of his hand. Pain shot through his body as he realized the vast difference in their strength.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanxuan¡¯s cultivation at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm granted him formidable prowess amidst the chaos of battle. Although the adult tribesmen were armed to the teeth, he cut through them effortlessly. He could easily take on three or four opponents at the same time, possibly beating any single one of them to death with just a punch.
Surrounded by twelve elite n soldiers who dutifully protected him, Li Xuanxuan¡¯s presence on the battlefield wasmanding and lethal.
As he fought fiercely, the thrill of battle awakened a certain ruthlessness within him. His eyes were aze with intensity as he seized an elderly Mount Yue tribesman, intending to hurl him aside.
However, their eyes identally met.
The old man¡¯s terrified gaze, his gray hair, and the deep wrinkles on his face struck Li Xuanxuan unexpectedly, like a hard p across his face. It halted Li Xuanxuan in his tracks, and he stared at the old man who was old enough to be his grandfather.
The old tribesman, with tears streaming down his face, bit down on Li Xuanxuan¡¯s arm in a desperate act, only to lose his already bad teeth in the process. The impact of his retaliation once again struck Li Xuanxuan like a hard p across his face, leaving him shaken and reflexively pushed the old man way,
The old man copsed to the ground in agony and broke a few bones in his body. Blood and fecal matter exploded from the lower half of his body. He let out a wail of agony that sounded nothing like a human and red at Li Xuanxuan with hatred in his eyes, causing tears to well up in Li Xuanxuan¡¯s eyes.
Li Xuanxuan was shaken to his core. He stood rooted to the spot for a few moments, feeling a shiver traveling from the top of his head down to his spine.
For a moment, the chaos of the battle and screams on the battlefield faded into silence. The veil of his sheltered existence was lifted, revealing the harsh realities of the world.
¡°I... see...¡±
He drew the saber at his waist slowly. Surging emotions in his heart quelled as he began to calmly dispatch his foes without uttering another word.
Meanwhile, not far away...
¡°Hurry up and retreat now, Great King!¡±
Despite the terrified pleas of his tribesmen, Ahuici shook his head. His sledgehammer had slipped from his grasp after attempting to block Li Tongya¡¯s attack.
¡°How can I retreat? We¡¯re surrounded! There¡¯s no escape!¡± Ahuici yelled back, watching his tribesmen falling one by one in despair.
¡°Stop! Stop! I surrender!¡± he pleaded loudly.
Li Tongya, his sword''s light fading, regarded Ahuici in silence. Around them, the remaining Mount Yue warriors, recognizing their defeat, surrendered and echoed the call, "Those who surrender will be spared!" The battlefield, once filled with the mor ofbat, silenced as the words spread, marking the end of the conflict.
The gray light on Li Tongya¡¯s de slowly faded. He watched Ahuici in silence. Realizing the futility of their resistance, the remaining tribesmen swiftly clutched their heads and crouched in submission.
The n soldiers were shocked by their disy, but soon heard amanding voice saying, ¡°Those who surrender will be spared!¡±
More and more tribesmen dropped their weapons and kneeled down. Ahuici, with a heavy sigh, followed suit, tossing away the other sledgehammer he had on him as he, too, kneeled with his head bowed.
The mor of battle gradually subsided.
The n soldiers from the Li Family bound the arms of the captives quietly without saying a word. In this moment of stillness, Ahuici wrestled with his thoughts.
Is surrendering no different from a death sentence for us? Would it have been better to fight to ourst breath..?
How did he manage to evade my scouts in the mountains anyway?! Forget it, we¡¯ve lost this time.
Caught in his contemtion, Ahuici was startled when a pair of gray wolfskin boots came into his view. Looking up hastily, he saw a chiseled face with narrow eyebrows framing a pair of intense eyes.
¡°JIANIXI?!¡±
For a moment, Ahuici¡¯s heart leaped in his chest and his lips quivered. Shock gripped him as he nearly sprang up from the ground.
Upon closer look, Ahuici¡¯s fear momentarily subsided as he realized the eyes that bore into his were not the nightmare-inducing brownish-yellow, but a serene grayish-ck.
Chapter 81: Information
Chapter 81: Information
Li Xiangping peered down at Ahuici before him, his gaze lingering on the man¡¯s neck.
Though this man is cunning and unreliable, he might have some worth. The forces under hismand from Mount Yue are wild and unruly. If we don¡¯t keep a tight grip on them, they could pose a risk to our family.
Ahuici felt a chill run down his spine as he noticed the intense scrutiny in Li Xiangping¡¯s gaze fixed upon his neck.
In a desperate attempt to break free from his plight, he pleaded, ¡°Great King! We were driven eastward by Jianixi¡¯s massacre, seeking only survival. Spare our lives, and we will pledge our allegiance to you. Jianixi will undoubtedly advance eastward within the next ten years, and we¡¯ll certainly prove our worth to you, Great King...!¡±
Li Xiangping, with a dismissiveugh, gestured for Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang to restrain Ahuici. Turning away, Li Xiangping decisively ordered, ¡°Return the belongings to each family, and escort these captives away from Mount Yue. As for you... you¡¯ll be detained at Mount Lijing for now.¡±
As Li Xiangping strode forward alongside Li Tongya, Chen Erniu watched from behind, shaking his head in disapproval.
ncing at Chen Sanshui, who was following behind him with his head bowed, he muttered under his breath, ¡°Never mind about being under the thumb of Li Mutian... Look at the difference between our sons! This fool can¡¯t even hold a candle to Li Yesheng¡¯s son. At least Li Xiewen has been working diligently at Lidaokou Vige all these years!¡±
Recalling Li Mutian, Chen Erniu¡¯s mood soured. Gazing toward Mount Lijing in the distance, he mused with a conflicted look on his face, ¡°How is that old wolf still alive? Has he stumbled upon some elixir of immortality? He has remained secluded on the mountain for over a decade, keeping us all on edge.¡±
¡°Speak,¡± Li Xiangpingmanded from his seat, while Li Tongya stood beside him, his gaze fixed on Ahuici.
Sipping on his hot tea, Li Xiangping stared at Ahuici who was kneeling before him, and asked with a smile, ¡°So, what kind of person is Jianixi?¡±
Ahuici, sweating profusely and momentarily stunned by the question, received a sharp reminder from Li Xuanxuan¡¯s sword hilt to his head, prompting him to stutter, ¡°Jianixi... He¡¯s like a great king.¡±
Internally, Ahuici marveled at the simrity in demeanor between Li Xiangping and Jianixi.
¡°Although they look different, they have the same demeanor and look in their eyes. Theirmanding presence is like that of tigers,¡± he mumbled under his breath.
Interrupted by another knock on the head from Li Xuanxuan, he looked up angrily, only to see Li Xuanxuan flushed with indignation as he corrected him, ¡°A mere leader of Mount Yue cannot possiblypare to my uncle!¡±
Li Xiangping frowned and waved his hand to cut off the chatter. ¡°Enough of that. How many men does hemand? How strong is he? Does he have any shaman serving under him?¡±
Ahuici smiled in an obsequious manner and quickly answered, ¡°When we were driven out of ournds, Jianixi had already unified a dozen tribes, boasting three to four thousand soldiers. He is a Qi Cultivator himself, supported by two shamans who had absorbed the spiritual qi of heaven and earth. Among his forces, there are more than ten tribesmen and shamans who have attained the Embryonic Breathing Realm.¡±
¡°So, a force of four thousand men, three of whom are Qi Cultivators and over ten are cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.¡±
Li Xiangping and Li Tongya exchanged looks with one another, their eyes reflecting a mutual understanding of the gravity of the situation.
The Li Family, despite years of diligent cultivation and ruling over their four viges, had a modest poption of merely ten thousand people. Their military capabilities were limited,prising only a thousand trained soldiers along with an additional force of a thousand to two thousand vigers who could be mobilized in times of conflict, though with minimalbat proficiency.
Confronting Jianixi will be more daunting than confronting Ji Dengqi, Li Xiangping sighed inwardly.
Turning his attention back to Ahuici with an expressionless face, Li Xiangping gently set down his tea bowl and asked, ¡°You and your tribesmen are ustomed to hunting and foraging. Do you all know how to farm?¡±
Caught off guard by the question, Ahuici responded hesitantly, ¡°W-Well... to some extent... We cultivate a few crops, like medicinal herbs and cotton.¡±
¡°Good.¡± Li Xiangping rubbed his chin contemtively and then said, ¡°Your remaining five or six hundred men can be dispersed among the viges. Let them work as hunters or take up trades like leatherworking or carpentry. There¡¯s a chance for them to lead honest lives. Given the limited casualties from the recent raids, the vigers might not bear too much resentment against all of you, as long as there¡¯s no further trouble caused.¡±
Ahuici, who was still kneeling, nodded eagerly in agreement. With hope in his voice, he assured, ¡°We used to live peacefully and only resorted to raiding when our homes were destroyed. I¡¯ll make sure my people behave...¡±
¡°You¡¯ll start by nting Spirit Paddies at the foot of Mount Lijing,¡± Li Xiangping instructed while standing up.
¡°I¡¯ll arrange for someone to teach you and your men how to read and take care of the Spirit Paddies. It would be a waste killing a cultivator who has reached the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm,¡± he added with a smile.
Meanwhile, on the Azure Pond Peak...
Si Yuanbai kneeled quietly before a stone door adorned with intricate spiritual patterns. He pursed his lips tightly as he gazed at the formation before him with aplex mix of emotions.
¡°Old Ancestor, please rescind your order!¡± His clear voice echoed in the cave, eventually fading into the wind.
From within, a sigh resonated, followed by a voice, aged yet profound. ¡°Yuanbai, why persist in this manner...?¡±
Closing his eyes, Si Yuanbai looked rather weary as he continued repeating, ¡°Please, Old Ancestor... rescind your order!¡±
As the person behind the stone door fell silent once again, Si Yuanbai¡¯s resolve hardened as he dered softly, ¡°Qingsui Peak will not journey to the southern border.¡±
¡°ENOUGH WITH THAT NONSENSE!¡± An enraged response thundered in Si Yuanbai¡¯s ears, causing them to bleed.
Unfazed, Si Yuanbai snorted coldly and retorted, ¡°You think I don¡¯t know about your intentions? You want to eat Jing¡¯er! I bet the demon kings at the southern border have already heated up their pots. The mortal lives that will be sacrificed, the treasures and spirit items to be collected from the southern border¡ªit¡¯s all been discussed, hasn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Si Yuanbai! How dare you?!¡± The pressure from an expert of the Purple Mansion Realm bore down on Si Yuanbai, causing him to cough up blood.
Wiping the blood away from the corners of his mouth resentfully, Si Yuanbai hissed through gritted teeth, ¡°You all sent Yuxie there back then, iming to collect all twelve strands of the Supreme Yin Moonlight. I pleaded for a hundred and fifty-six days, you said that he would be thest one. To think that I actually believed all of you...¡±
¡°SILENCE!¡±
Another invisible force struck Si Yuanbai, mming him against the stone wall. Si Yuanbai coughed up a mouthful of blood butughed maniacally.
¡°Azure Pond Immortal Sect, huh? What an immortal sect!¡±
Si Yuanbai¡¯s hair was disheveled and his eyes were aze. He rose defiantly, with mana swirling around him.
¡°Si Yuanbai, your heart is clouded, but I will overlook this,¡± the aged voice dered, subduing Si Yuanbai with his aura.
¡°Seal his cultivation and imprison him in the tower.¡±
Chapter 82: The Collapse of a Pillar
Chapter 82: The Copse of a Pir
When Lu Jiangxian was brought back to the stone tform, he quietly surveyed the courtyard with his divine sense.
Watching Li Mutian slowly make his way in, leaning against the door frame to catch his breath with his eyes closed, evoked a wave of emotions within him.
¡°I didn¡¯t realize that so much time had passed.¡±
The day Li Xiangping picked up the mirror from the river, Li Mutian was still the solemn head of the Li Family, his eyes reflecting the wisdom of years gone by.
Now, he appeared as an elderly man, weakened by the passage of time, spanning over seventy years.
Ever since Lu Jiangxian transmigrated to this world, he had always been drifting in and out of sleep within the mirror and thus, experienced time differently. Nearly twenty years had passed, yet to him, it felt like merely a month.
The Li Family had risen to prominence, establishing itself as an emerging force in the world of immortal cultivation.
Li Mutian¡¯s health had been deteriorating with each passing day. It almost seemed as if he had expended his remaining strength to push the Li Family¡¯s rapid growth, leaving him like a candle flickering in its final moments.
Through his divine sense, Lu Jiangxian could tell that Li Mutian¡¯s life force was ebbing away and his final days were drawing near, with only a few days remaining at best.
Sitting peacefully by the door, Li Mutian¡¯s solemn expression softened into a faint smile as he watched Li Xuanfeng speaking with a bow in hand.
Clearing his throat gently, Li Mutian voiced his first request in over a decade.
¡°I¡¯d like to have some mutton noodles,¡± he said.
Li Xuanfeng was baffled for a moment, listening as Li Mutian repeated his request again, ¡°Your grandfather wants some mutton noodles.¡±
Li Xuanfeng responded promptly and dashed off without ncing back. His grandfather¡¯s peculiar manner of speaking stirred a profound sense of concern within him. His request sounded more like a plea than amand.
Li Xuanfeng, who had always been astute, felt a chill run down his spine.
¡°Grandpa wants some mutton noodles!¡± Li Xuanfeng¡¯s announcement left Ren Ping''er stunned.
Seeing tears welling up in the child¡¯s eyes, she quickly gathered a few women in the household and then patted Li Xuanfeng on his shoulder.
¡°Go get your father home at once,¡± she urged.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The steaming mutton noodles, garnished with a bit of scallion and glistened with oil, released a rich fragrance. It was served on the table in a porcin bowl with a small chip on its edge, along with a pair of wooden chopsticks.
Li Mutian had used the same bowl for thirty-one years. The small chip was identally made by Li Xiangping during his youth, resulting in the child receiving a beating for it that left him in tears and wary of Li Mutian for several days afterward.
Li Mutian slowly took his seat at the table, then shakily picked up some noodles with his chopsticks. The tangy and spicy soft noodles,bined with the inviting aroma of mutton soup, caused his limbs to tremble. Its vor evoked a flood of memories, causing him to break down into tears as it reminded him of the mutton noodles that his father, Li Genshui, had personally cooked for him.
Although it was less vorful, with less vinegar, more spices, and not enough broth, both his mother and Li Mutian knew it was a form of apology from his father.
However, Li Mutian threw the bowl on the ground and left home, never returning until twenty-eight years had passed.
Li Mutian had scolded his father for his indecisiveness, as it would only bring ruin upon the entire family.
His father, Li Genshui, scolded him in return, using him of being heartless and ruthless as a wolf, and condemning him for being the vile spawn of his wife and a wolf.
In his anger, Li Mutian pointed a knife at his father, who was so livid that his lips turned purple and his face was stained with tears.
Twenty-eight yearster, when Li Mutian returned home, he discovered that his father had died at the hands of the Yuan Family, as he had expected.
Heter presented the heads of the members of the Yuan Family to his father¡¯s grave with a cold smile, then divided up the fields at home. Yet, he often woke up at night to find his pillow soaked through.
These memories shed through Li Mutian¡¯s mind in a mere dozen breaths, as he copsed after just one bite of the noodles.
A searing pain erupted within him, as if charcoal had lodged in his chest, scorching his flesh and searing his skin. Intense pain seized his body, and he felt as if a steel de was slicing through his belly.
The charcoal seemed to bounce from his chest and rush into his mouth, drying out his tongue and throat. His limbs stiffened and became rigid, making it impossible for the women around him to lift him.
¡°Grandpa! Grandpa!¡±
Li Mutian could hear the faint cries of Li Xuanling. He recognized him as Li Tongya¡¯s eldest son. Though only five years old, he was known for hisposure, just like Tongya when he was little.
Feeling a surge of panic, Li Mutian attempted to make some noise, hoping to reassure everyone that he was all right. However, all that escaped his lips were a few weak, wailing sounds, reminiscent of a distressed dog''s cries.
¡°Move him to the bed! To the bed!¡± Ren Ping¡¯er called out through her tears, urging those present to transfer the old man to his bed.
She had only bid farewell to her own father, Ren Ping¡¯an, a few years ago. Now, seeing Li Mutian on the verge of death, she could not bear to let him pass away on the cold, unforgiving floor.
¡°Where¡¯s Mother?¡± Tian Yun asked urgently, only to learn that Li Mutian¡¯s wife, her mother-inw, had descended the mountain to visit her own family a few days ago.
It took several people to carefully move the rigid body of Li Mutian onto the bed together.
In the backyard, Lu Jiangxian observed the scene with a mixture of emotions. He quickly cast a Tranquil Mind Spell, harnessing the energy of the moonlight to sustain the old man¡¯s fading life force.
Only when he noticed Li Xiangping and the others hurrying up the mountain did he cease his efforts.
¡°He¡¯s reaching the end of his lifespan,¡± Lu Jiangxianmented as he sensed Li Mutian''s life force gradually fading.
Li Xiangping and Li Tongya finally entered the courtyard, with the tearful Li Xuanfeng following behind them.
With a worried expression, Li Tongya held Li Mutian¡¯s hand. The mana of the peak Embryonic Breathing Realm slowly flowed into Li Mutian¡¯s body. Li Mutian jerked slightly, and with a deep exhale, finally opened his eyes.
¡°Xiangping... Tongya...¡± he whispered the names of his sons, his gaze drifting over the faces of those gathered around him. He moved his mouth, but his voice was barely audible.
Tears streamed down Li Tongya¡¯s face as he bent down to listen to Li Mutian¡¯s words.
¡°Chen, Tian, Liu... families have deep roots in the vige. Gather them with their ns back to Lijing Vige. Transform the vige into a town... Don¡¯t worry about their ambitions...¡±
Li Xiangping, trying to hold back his emotions, urged, ¡°Father, you need to rest first. We can talk about this once you¡¯re feeling better.¡±
However, Li Mutian shook his head and persisted, ¡°The disciples of the Li Family have be more bossy. We must establish a hierarchy and exercise more control. The direct four descendants should form the major sect, while the rest of those bearing the Li surname should form the minor sect. The rest should be the branches. Make sure all of them work together...¡±
¡°Xuanxuan can handle the family affairs, but you and the others must watch over him. Xuanfeng is highly intelligent, but we must prevent him from indulging in violence. Xuanling is steady and calm, capable of achieving great things... Jingtian... has beauty... but she must be protected... You must... beware of Mount Yue too...!¡±
As Li Mutian¡¯s voice grew weaker and weaker, Li Xiangping leaned in closer with tears welling up in his eyes.
Suddenly, the old man violently grabbed his wrist with a force that did not belong to a dying man. His eyes shed with intensity as he writhed on the bed. Speaking through gritted teeth, his voice suddenly turned loud as he said, ¡°Abandon all four viges... if needed... Do not be like the Wan Family... As long as a descendant of the Li Family survives... anything is possible...¡±
Tears were streaming down Li Xiangping¡¯s face as he replied through gritted teeth, ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind... Father!¡±
Upon hearing Li Xiangping¡¯s response, Li Mutian released his grip. His breathing stopped, leaving the room in mournful silence and tears.
Yet, the old man¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the bowl of mutton noodles nearby.
The spicy and tangy broth was still piping hot.
Chapter 83: River One Qi Technique
Chapter 83: River One Qi Technique
Li Mutian¡¯s funeral procession was a sight to behold, transforming the somber asion into one that resembled the passing of a high-ranking official rather than amon elder.
The viges were decorated with long, white cloths, and the direct descendants of the Li Family, d in white, solemnly pulled the hearse along the stone path.
News had spread rapidly through all the viges. Chen Erniu had just begun his day when Chen Sanshui ryed the news to him, leaving him shocked and speechless.
Chen Erniu set down the willow branch in his hands. He washed his face and sat by the table, engulfed by a wave of sadness that was difficult to put into words.
¡°Regardless of one¡¯s status or power, it is impossible to escape death. Without attaining immortality, we¡¯re all destined to return to mere yellow soil.¡±
Chen Sanshui, however, disagreed with him. He curled his lips andmented, ¡°Only the three brothers of the Li Family are immortal cultivators. Do they have to cause such a scene over an old mortal¡¯s death? It¡¯s not like Li Mutian is someone important.¡±
Chen Erniu narrowed his eyes and proceeded to beat Chen Sanshui with a willow branch while scolding, ¡°Fool! Your ignorance will be the death of you!¡±
¡°Fiiiiiine. Fourth Brother is the best for possessing a spiritual orifice,¡± Chen Sanshui muttered under his breath in response, dismissing Chen Erniu¡¯s anger as he left the table and walked out of the courtyard.
Meanwhile, on Mount Lijing.
Lu Jiangxian gazed upon the courtyard, now draped in white, and the absence of Li Mutian from his usual spot on the wooden chair in the backyard, feeling a pang of mncholy.
As he watched Li Mutian¡¯s burial, he was suddenly alerted by his divine sense to a stream of light darting across the sky,ing to a stop just outside Mount Lijing¡¯s protective formation.
¡°It¡¯s me, Xiao Yuansi from the Xiao Family! Kindly grant me entry to the mountain.¡±
Although the protective formation of the mountain was useless against him, a cultivator at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, the man waited respectfully at the foot of Mount Lijing.
Shortly after, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya deactivated the formation. Xiao Yuansi slowly walked into the courtyard on the mountain.
Upon noticing the courtyard draped in white and the two brothers dressed in white mourning attire, Xiao Yuansi¡¯s smile faded as he solemnly asked, ¡°Is your father...?¡±
Seeing the two brothers nodding in response, Xiao Yuansi sighed and offered his condolences.
¡°Jing¡¯er and I will soon embark on a journey to the southern border, and it may be decades before we¡¯re able tomunicate again. Junior Brother managed to secure a qi cultivation method and qi gathering method for both of you, and he has requested me to pass the manuals to you since I¡¯m making a trip home.¡±
¡°This is the River One Qi Technique, a Grade Three manual that requires harnessing the River Pure Qi. Seek out areas where the riverwork is dense and wend nts thrive. Harvest the qi at dawn or dusk, that¡¯s when pure qi rises and murky qi settles. Using the qi gathering method, you can gather a wisp in six months. Ten wisps make a portion.¡±
Xiao Yuansi then took out a brocade pouch and retrieved a few jade slips from it.
¡°This is the Pure Spiritual Essence Technique manual. It¡¯s a Grade Two technique that uses Minor Pure Spiritual Qi, a type of spiritual qi that can be easily gathered. Although it pales inparison to the River One Qi Technique, it still surpasses themon techniques avable in the market.¡±
Li Tongya quickly epted the jade slips from Xiao Yuansi and expressed his gratitude.
Xiao Yuansi sighed softly before a conflicted look appeared on his face. ¡°Qingsui Peak can only offer so much protection. In a time of changes, please take great care of yourselves!¡±
His mentor, Si Yuanbai, had suddenly gone into seclusion without leaving a word for his disciples on Qingsui Peak. On top of that, the escting pressures from the sect to deploy them to the southern border made Xiao Yuansi extremely suspicious.
Recalling the Mushroom Forest in, one of Qingsui Peak¡¯s assets, being silently forfeited to the raiders from the Golden Tang Gate sent shivers down Xiao Yuansi¡¯s spine.
He felt as vulnerable as a mere pawn in the grand schemes of those cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm.
The Immortal Sect has been increasingly activetely, taking control and governance over mortals time and time again. Could it be that one of the cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm within the sect is nearing the end of their lifespan?
This thought alone was enough to send a shudder through him.
Roused from his contemtion by the repeated calls of Li Tongya and Li Xiangping, Xiao Yuansi managed a forced smile and responded to them, ¡°What did you say?¡±
Li Tongya cupped his fist and repeated, ¡°I was asking if you have any River Pure Qi with you right now, Immortal Master. We have some savings and would like to purchase a portion.¡±
Xiao Yuansi was lost in his own thoughts after saying something so cryptic, stirring unease in the two brothers.
Spending up to five years to collect the River Pure Qi, and another four or five years to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm was too long. Li Tongya would like to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm as soon as possible, given the looming threats from Mount Yue and the Ji Family.
The items they obtained from the old Daoist that Li Xiangping previously killed probably worthed about thirty to forty Spirit Stones. In addition to the old Daoist¡¯s storage pouch, that should be a total of eighty to ny Spirit Stones. This amount was definitely sufficient to buy a portion of River Pure Qi.
¡°I do,¡± Xiao Yuansi affirmed with a nod. With a smile, he untied a little jade bottle at his waist and said, ¡°I have a portion of it. This is usually priced at about fifty Spirit Stones. Are you able to afford it?¡±
Li Tongya nodded, then took out a block of pale green metal from the storage pouch that they acquired from the old Daoist.
¡°Can you appraise this item?¡± he requested respectfully.
Xiao Yuansi took a look at it and frowned, then weighed it in his hand. After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°This is probably Green Patterned Steel, a material of the Qi Cultivation Realm. This should be worth about twenty Spirit Stones.¡±
After exchanging a nce, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping nodded to each other. They took out the twenty-five Spirit Stones from the old Daoist¡¯s storage pouch and an additional five that were saved over the years by their family.
They handed this sum to Xiao Yuansi in exchange for the River Pure Qi.
The old Daoist¡¯s storage pouch had a capacity of one cubic zhang[1], about the size of a courtyard. This made it extremely useful for both travel and storage, so the two brothers were reluctant to sell it.
They presented the jade bottle, which used to contain the Fire Baleful Qi, to hold the River Pure Qi, then showed Xiao Yuansi the old Daoist¡¯s Jade Sprout Pill.
Xiao Yuansi took a whiff of it and thenmented with a smile, ¡°This is quite a decent item of the Qi Cultivation Realm. It¡¯s worth about seven or eight Spirit Stones.¡±
The brothers expressed their gratitude and then conversed a little more with Xiao Yuansi before the man took his leave.
Once he had departed, Li Tongya carefully examined the jade bottle¡¯s contents. Looking at the River Pure Qi which shimmered as though it was under the sunlight, Li Tongya felt the six chakras of the Embryonic Breathing Realm stirring within him, as well as the urge to consume this spiritual qi of heaven and earth right away.
Li Xiangping chuckled and said, ¡°Once Second Brother attains the Qi Cultivation Realm and we find a demonic creature of the Qi Cultivation Realm, we¡¯ll be able to perform that sacrificial ritual for the mirror and explore the potential of the talisman qi.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s face lit up with irrepressible joy as he carefully picked up the jade slip of the River One Qi Technique, allowing his spiritual sense to gently sift through its contents.
Theplexity and length of spells and techniques of the Qi Cultivation Realm were extremely long. If transcribed onto wood, they would probably amass into a small mountain.
Hence, such spells and techniques were recorded in warm jade, a material that allowed one to ess vast amounts of information through a mere touch of spiritual sense.
However, the fragility of jade meant that it was typically reserved for documenting techniques alone, while more robust materials like spirit silk fabrics were used for important information meant to be preserved.
After carefully reading the technique detailed in the jade slip, Li Tongya stood up in excitement and announced, ¡°I¡¯ll be ready to seclude myself and make a breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm after a few days of meditation!¡±
1. 1 zhang = 3.3 meters ?
Chapter 84: Fighting a Beast
Chapter 84: Fighting a Beast
Five years passed as swiftly as an arrow flying through the woods. Lijing Vige had turned into Lijing Town. The prominent Liu, Chen, and Xu families, enticed by the proximity to the immortal mountain, had relocated their ns, deeming it a blessed reward.
Li Xuanxuan, now sporting a mustache over his upper lip, had attained the Azure Essence Stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Appointed by Li Xiangping as the chief of their n, his youthful demeanor had shed its gentleness, reced instead by a matureposure thatmanded respect and fear from the children of the Li Family.
Yet, the talk of Lijing Town revolved around twelve-year-old Li Xuanfeng. The boy had effortlessly broken six bows in the academy whileughing maniacally. Each time, he would cast aside the broken bow and yell, ¡°Another one!¡±
He held his head high,ughing heartily and paying little heed to the terrified gazes of the n soldiers guarding him. With a bow in hand, he could strike down any bird or beast with ease.
Li Tongya could only smile wryly as he returned from Cloud Crowned Peak, bearing a sturdy, dark longbow for Li Xuanfeng. Whilecking any special features beyond its resilience and endurance, it was enough to grant Li Xuanfeng the satisfaction he craved.
In his early teens, Li Xuanling had been assessed and determined to possess no spiritual orifice. As Li Tongya¡¯s eldest and only son, he naturally received the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed.
Trailing behind Li Xuanfeng along River Meiche with a worried look on his face and seeing the older boy sneakily peering from behind a rock, he asked in a hushed tone, ¡°What are you up to, Brother Feng¡¯er?¡±
¡°Look!¡±
With a wicked grin, Li Xuanfeng nudged Li Xuanling forward. The younger boy stumbled forward and identally caught sight of the supple shoulders and bubbly butt of a woman bathing in the river.
Startled, Li Xuanling covered his mouth in shock and retreated. He red at Li Xuanfeng and hissed, ¡°You¡¯re horrible, Li Xuanfeng!¡±
Li Xuanfeng watched Li Xuanling¡¯s flushed face in amusement and quietly asked, ¡°Did you enjoy the view?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Li Xuanling replied, greatly disappointing the older boy who was expecting to hear something positive out of Li Xuanling¡¯s mouth.
He indignantly swatted the younger boy¡¯s rear and muttered under his breath, ¡°What does a kid like you know?¡±
¡°Li Xuanfeng, you have too much time on your hands.¡± Li Xuanling shook his head, his small face turning serious as he asked, ¡°Have you broken through to the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm?¡±
Li Xuanfeng grinned and enthusiastically replied, ¡°I¡¯m already in the fourth stage.¡±
A look of surprise appeared on Li Xuanling¡¯s face as he asked incredulously, ¡°You¡¯ve already caught up with Brother Xuan¡¯er?¡±
Li Xuanfeng nodded casually, his smile unwavering as he affirmed, ¡°Of course. Look at this.¡±
Pulling out therge dark bow from behind his back, he ced his left foot on a rock and then expertly drew his bow. As soon as he did, his demeanor changed significantly. Shedding his previous debauchery, he exuded an aura of sharpness that seemed to cut through bone. Li Xuanling could not help but tense up.
Li Xuanfeng aimed his bow at Li Xuanling. Even without an arrow nocked, the younger boy still felt a chill run down his spine. The cold wind felt like a de against his face, and his ears buzzed from the tension.
¡°Amazing.¡± Li Xuanling gulped, stepping away cautiously as he watched Li Xuanfeng remain focused on aiming with his bow. The sharp aura emanating from him intensified, causing the nearby shrubs to shake in response.
Li Xuanling¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment but noticed the quiver at Li Xuanfeng¡¯s waist gently vibrating. He blinked and hastily rubbed his eyes, but upon looking again, he realized that every arrow in the quiver was trembling, as if in anticipation of something remarkable.
¡°Catch!¡±
Li Xuanfeng suddenly released the bowstring, causing a nearby tree to explode with a deafening bang. Wood chips scattered, and a big hole appeared in the trunk before it copsed to the ground, startling a flock of birds into flight.
¡°Brother, are you currently cultivating qi?¡± Li Xuanling whispered in awe.
¡°What nonsense are you talking about?!¡± Li Xuanfeng took a few deep breaths, his face slightly flushed as he replied, ¡°This is just a bow technique I developed using the spirit orifice on the palm and coordinating it with arrow intent when drawing the bow and shooting. It¡¯s not thatplex.¡±
Li Xuanling shook his head silently, but before he could respond, an awkward look appeared on Li Xuanfeng¡¯s face. He grabbed the younger boy¡¯s hand and took off running at lightning speed.
¡°Those scoundrels were peeping while I was bathing!¡±
Upon hearing the shouting from behind them, Li Xuanling¡¯s face went pale. He moved his legs faster and eximed in terror, ¡°That was Aunt Xu who lives near the vige entrance? Li Xuanfeng! Y-Y-Y-You...¡±
Li Xuanfengughed awkwardly and whispered, ¡°I was just curious...¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
On Moongaze Lake...
Li Tongya gently stepped on the water, hovering in the air. The clear and transparent River True Essence gushed out along the light gray longsword in his hand, forming pulsating sword auras.
Standing quietly in midair and performing a series of hand seals, he lowered his head and watched therge, scaly beast circling in the water.
Crimson blood slowly spread in the river as the beast struggled, causing the water¡¯s surface to shimmer with its movement. Dozens of transparent air des sliced through the air, all aimed at Li Tongya.
Li Tongya stepped forward, skillfully dodging most of the river beast¡¯s attacks. The shimmering water around his body flickered, blocking two of the air des that came at him.
"The Pure Qi Shield of this River One Qi Technique is quite reliable. This river beast doesn¡¯t seem to know any technique. It just expends its mana thoughtlessly. Although it has spent a huge amount of it, it still couldn¡¯t break my shield.¡±
This River Crocodile had received no legacy. It simply cultivated brainlessly until it reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. After who knew how many years of cultivation, it had managed to condense a small amount of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi and advanced to the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Seeing that its attack was ineffective, the River Crocodile hastily dived and rushed upstream against the current, with Li Tongya naturally following closely behind.
Two years ago, Li Tongya had broken through to the first heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He had intended to kill a demon of the same realm to perform the sacrificial ritual for his mirror.
After searching the mountains for over a year, he realized that demons were either cunning or resilient, and it was not easy to find an opportunity. Therefore, when he stumbled upon this dumb River Crocodile, he was determined to not let it escape so easily.
Although the Qi Cultivation Realm allowed him to walk on air, his speed still paled inparison to that of a flying shuttle. Nevertheless, he was about thirty or forty percent faster than a creature of the peak Embryonic Breathing Realm running at full speed.
Hence, the River Crocodile, already wounded from his ambush earlier, could not get far before Li Tongya caught up to it.
The Profound Water Sword Technique proved to be quitepatible with the River One Qi Technique, as the sword light he conjured out of thin air gained a noticeable increase in power, much to Li Tongya¡¯s delight.
The two light-colored sword qi struck the back of the River Crocodile, causing it to writhe in pain.
Concerned about a potential counterattack in its death throes, Li Tongya cautiously followed behind, asionally swinging his sword to further drain the River Crocodile¡¯s strength.
Finally, the River Crocodile could endure no longer. With an angry hiss, it burst from the water, aiming to bite at Li Tongya in midair.
Reacting swiftly, Li Tongya brought his sword down on the demonic creature¡¯s back before retreating to maintain a safe distance while he continued inflicting wounds on it.
After an hour of intense struggle, the River Crocodile finally copsed on the shore. Instead of killing the creature, Li Tongya channeled River True Essence into it to lock its vitality and cultivation.
Satisfied that the River Crocodile was still alive, Li Tongya grasped the tip of its tail and began the journey back to the vige, dragging the creature behind him like it was a small mountain.
Chapter 85: Evade Death, Prolong Life
Chapter 85: Evade Death, Prolong Life
As soon as Li Tongya returned to Lijing Vige with the River Crocodile in tow, a few vigers came over to help. The Li Family had been preparing for the sacrificial ritual ceremony for months. Most arrangements were already in ce and the ceremony could begin at the order of the Li Family¡¯s direct lineage.
All of the Li Family members had arrived. The ones from the major sect stood on the round tform, while those from the minor sect stood below the tform, and those from the branches kneeled on the ground around the tform.
Li Xiangping, the current head of the Li Family, stood before the altar with Li Tongya right behind him. Along with Li Chejing, who was currently away at the southern border, these three were the second generation of the main family.
Standing on the step of the tform were Li Xuanxuan the n chief, along with Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling behind him.
The ceremony unfolded through its initial, lengthy processes until Li Xiangping offered a stick of incense on the altar. He then invoked the Sacrificial Ritual Method tomunicate with the mirror, and Lu Jiangxian slowly stirred awake.
"The Li Family of Lijing offers respect along with fine delicacies and wine with unwavering devotion year upon year. Living at the northern vein of Mount Li, we sow in the spring, nurture the wheat through summer, harvest in autumn, and exterminate demons in winter to safeguard the fields. Observing the three yuan festivals and six regr festivals, we maintain reverence, ensuring to pay timely respects... Through the smoke of our offerings and the blood of our sacrifice, we call upon the gods, seeking their blessings.¡±
Uponpleting the recitation, Li Xiangping advanced to the center of the round tform. With deliberate precision, he plunged the ritual knife into the River Crocodile¡¯s brain.
The demonic creature, already weakened with its limbs and meridians restrained by the River True Essence, met its end instantly.
Guided by Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense, the essence qi of the River Crocodile, along with its dispersing soul, flowed out from the wound made by the ritual knife like a stream of smoke.
Unseen by human eyes, a faint golden mist rose from each person, converging into the smoke like swallows returning to their nests, tinting it a soft golden hue.
The smoke rose briefly before dissipating into countless specks of gray light, invisible to the naked eye, drifting toward Mount Lijing.
Lu Jiangxian amassed all the qi and condensed it into a gray talisman. As he prepared to bestow it, an overpowering pull sought to connect with him across vast distances.
The memory of the old Daoist¡¯s jade pendant momentarily shed through his mind, instilling a swift surge of fear in Lu Jiangxian. He promptly retracted his aura, cutting off the burgeoning connection, and withdrew his divine sense back into the mirror.
The lingering aura gradually descended. After lingering for a moment, it finally and reluctantly receded.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The Golden Feather Sect was one of the three sects in the Yue State, alongside the Azure Pond and Yue Cultivating Sect.
Its disciples were renowned for their weapon mastery, and the main peak of the sect was named the Golden Feather Peak. Here, a talisman, believed to contain the essence of six Supreme Yang Sun Essence, shone brightly, warding off evil spirits.
There was a cave dwelling at the summit of the Golden Feather Peak, where cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm were often seen secluding themselves in. Since wisps of vivid purple smoke were frequently seen wafting out from it, the disciples of the sect called that ce the Purple Smoke Cave.
At this moment, the Purple Smoke Cave was chaotic. Three cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realms were struggling to hold a crystal clear fragment, the size of a quail egg, with dark chains. The ground was littered with glowing fragments of shattered furnaces and dharma artifacts.
¡°Why is the mirror shard suddenly going berserk?!¡±
The crystal clear fragment collided against the dharma formation a few times, causing the expression of the cultivator to darken as he grumbled, ¡°It seems we might not be able to gather the Profound Light Qi this time.¡±
Another cultivator mumbled to himself, ¡°Could it be that the immortal mirror has appeared?! No, that¡¯s highly unlikely. The three sects and seven gates have scoured the Yue State without finding any sign of it. Could it have moved beyond our borders?¡±
¡°What did the Azure Pond Sect say?¡±
As soon as the cultivator asked the question, the first cultivator to speak erupted in anger.
¡°The entire sect is too upied with seeking a spirit remedy to extend the lifespan of Chi Wei. They hardly have time for this!¡±
¡°Never mind, then.¡± The cultivator who previously asked the question shook his head, looking rather disappointed.
¡°Although Chi Wei is a nasty person, no one can deny that he¡¯s a great genius...¡± hemented.
The bad-tempered cultivator spat on the ground and yelled, ¡°I¡¯d rather he die soon! That nasty man deserves it!¡±
The third cultivator chuckled and teasinglymented, ¡°Junior Brother, our Golden Feather Sect is no better. There¡¯s no need for such harsh judgment.¡±
The bad-tempered cultivator fell silent, pondering for a moment before finally letting out a deep sigh.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°The ability to enhance one¡¯s cultivation, sharpen the six senses, strengthen bones, improve innate abilities, and remedy various deficiencies... A good talisman qi indeed.¡±
Lu Jiangxian mused as a gray talisman emerged from the mirror. Guided by Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense, it approached Li Xiangping, making a round around him before flying toward his Shenyang Mansion.
All of a sudden, Lu Jiangxian¡¯s vision was filled with several rows of big characters.
The first row of words appeared in dark crimson, exuding an overwhelming aura¡ªStrength to Move Mountains.
Beneath it was a paler gray script that coiled like a serpent¡ªProlong Life and Increase Longevity.
The final row of writing appeared neatly in vivid green¡ªEvade Death, Prolong Life.
Lu Jiangxian instantly understood that he was being given a choice to select the ability of the gray talisman.
After a moment of contemtion, considering Li Xiangping¡¯s role as the head of the Li Family, he chose Evade Death, Prolong Life.
This ability of the talisman qi could only be selected for people who had received a Profound Pearl Talisman Seed. For ordinary individuals, it only served to enhance their cultivation and root bone.
Li Xiangping was taken aback, feeling his energy fluctuating wildly. Just a year prior, he had been at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Yet now, he found himself at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Suddenly, a row of pale green words that read¡ªEvade Death and Prolong Life¡ªappeared in his mind.
Before he could fully process this, Li Tongya, observing with concern, signaled for the ceremony to conclude. Li Xiangping then closed his eyes and began to contemte deeply.
As the assembly dispersed, he turned to Li Tongya and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk once we¡¯re back on the mountain.¡±
The two quickly ascended the mountain. As Li Tongya extended his spiritual sense, he immediately noticed that Li Xiangping¡¯s cultivation had reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
¡°Is it due to the talisman qi?¡± he asked.
Li Xiangping confirmed with a nod and shared his recent experience with Li Tongya, which left both of them pleasantly surprised.
However, their joy was short-lived as they were soon informed by n soldiers of Mount Yue¡¯s movements to the east.
In recent years, with Jianixi¡¯s relentless push eastward, resulting in the disbandment of many tribes, the influx of Mount Yue refugees to the east had increased. Sometimes they numbered in the dozens, other times in the hundreds.
To safeguard the vige from these incursions, Li Xiangping had strategically positioned n soldiers in the west of Lichuankou.
¡°What¡¯s the current situation?¡± Li Xiangping asked.
¡°Rumors suggest that hundreds are assailing the military formation,¡± the n soldier reported.
With the poption under the Li Family¡¯s protection swelling to over fifteen thousand, including two thousand Mount Yue refugees, the family¡¯s military force had grown to a formidable thousand soldiers.
¡°Let¡¯s head to Lichuankou,¡± Li Xiangping decided, sharing a knowing look with Li Tongya before they both swiftly made their way down the mountain.
Chapter 86: Prelude to the Great Battle
Chapter 86: Prelude to the Great Battle
The battle at Lichuankou was already nearing its end by the time Li Xiangping arrived, with Ahuici standing out prominently among the battle formation, waving his sledgehammer in the air, while pursuing the retreating enemy forces.
As Mount Yue¡¯s incursions continued unabated over the past few years, Ahuici had been summoned to Lichuankou by Li Xiangping to rally the tribes he was familiar with.
His bravery in battle had earned him the respect of the n soldiers, bringing a sense of relief to Li Xiangping.
¡°How many times have those from Mount Yue made their appearance here this year?¡±
Li Xiangping furrowed his brow as he gazed at the distant mountains, his unease evident in his voice.
¡°This is the sixth time, Family Head,¡± Li Qiuyang, standing nearby, replied in a serious tone. His weary appearance suggested that he had just recently arrived here.
Now at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, Li Qiuyang appeared much more mature than before. He had married the daughter of the Chen Family and had a son and a daughter of his own.
With a nod, Li Xiangping turned to enter the courtyard, leaving Li Qiuyang with a parting instruction. ¡°Go freshen up and send for Ahuici to see me.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xiangping set the talisman brush in his hand down and gazed quietly at the cloth spread across the table. Having broken through the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and condensed the Jade Capital Chakra several years ago, he now found himself at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. With his current cultivation, he had long been able to wield the draw talismans with ease.
Meanwhile, Li Jingtian was in the room attending to the oilmps. The girl was twelve years old this year and had blossomed into elegance with her swift growth and nimble movements.
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s six talisman seeds had been distributed among the three surviving brothers of the Li Family, two of which were allocated to Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng, while the remaining one was reserved for Li Tongya¡¯s family.
Chen Donghe strode into the courtyard, d in leather armor with a sword strapped to his waist. His gaze briefly lingered on Li Jingtian¡¯s profile by the window.
¡°Family Head, Ahuici requests an audience!¡± he announced with his brow furrowed.
The young man, aged seventeen or eighteen, had already attained the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. With his clean appearance, he bore a slight resemnce to Chen Erniu.
¡°Come in.¡±
The beast fangs that Ahuici used to wear on him were nowhere in sight, and his attire was now reced by a fur coat simr to those worn by the folks of Lijing Town.
¡°Great King, Great King! Bad news!¡± he eximed in a loud voice as soon as he entered the courtyard.
Behind him, Chen Donghe suppressed the urge to smack Ahuici¡¯s head and instead kept his head bowed and discreetly positioned himself behind Ahuici to avoid Li Xiangping¡¯s gaze while stealing a nce at Li Jingtian.
Meanwhile, Li Jingtian was busy trimming the wicks of the oilmps by the window. The faint yellow light cast a soft glow on her profile. She was not an exquisite beauty, but she radiated poise and elegance.
Her facial features were full of vigor, with round eyes that took after her mother, Tian Yun, adding a touch of sweetness to her demeanor.
¡°What is it?¡± Li Xiangping asked, his lips curving slightly at the sight of Li Jingtian who was focused on lighting up themps.
Having condensed the Jade Capital Chakra, his spiritual sense was now heightened, allowing him to perceive the courtyard¡¯s events without relying on sight.
¡°My brothers crossed the Big Fish Creekst night to deliver me a message. He said... he said Jianixi has dealt a heavy blow to the enemy army and will soon advance eastward!¡± Ahuici exined breathlessly.
The news sent ripples of concern through the courtyard, jolting Li Xiangping and Chen Donghe. Even Li Jingtian turned her attention in their direction, listening attentively.
¡°And what of Jianixi¡¯s current strength?¡± Li Xiangping asked with a frown.
Ahuici lowered his head somberly before replying, ¡°Jianixi should be at the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He has unified all the hundred thousand people of Mount Yue in the northern foot of Mount Li, and likelymands five or six thousand troops, along with four shamans of the Qi Cultivation Realm who have absorbed the spiritual qi of heaven and earth. Additionally, he also has dozens of generals of the Embryonic Breathing Realm under hismand. Fortunately, they¡¯re all stationed throughout the northern foothills and do not apany the main army.¡±
At these words, Li Xiangping hesitated, his brows furrowing deeply as he said, ¡°Year after year, the Li Family has faithfully made offerings to the Azure Pond Sect. We have lived under their rule. Yet now, Jianixi, a mere representative of Mount Yue, dares to brazenly advance toward the east? Does he truly believe that Azure Pond Sect is powerless?¡±
Ahuici hurriedly kneeled down, pressing his forehead firmly against the ground. With a trembling voice, he reported, ¡°ording to the ounts of those who fled west, the Devil Gate... I mean, the Azure Pond Sect won¡¯t intervene in this...¡±
Li Xiangping lowered his head, feeling a mixture of anger and powerlessness welling up inside him. Even Mount Yue¡¯s pawns knew that the Azure Pond Sect would not intervene.
As the head of a n under the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s governance, he was left ignorant of whatever deal the two factions had struck.
¡°All of you are dismissed for now...¡±
Ahuici and Chen Donghe quickly took their leave. Once they were gone, Li Xiangping sank back into his seat, closing his eyes in silence.
¡°Father,¡± Li Jingtian called out softly.
She approached Li Xiangping, bowing gently before saying, ¡°Our family faces the risk of bing pawns for others. We must n ahead.¡±
Li Xiangping raised his gaze wearily and prompted Li Jingtian to continue.
Li Jingtian lowered her gaze and said, ¡°Jianixi¡¯s bold advance suggests that the Azure Pond Sect and Mount Yue¡¯s leaders have reached an agreement to cede territories and the mortals. However, they¡¯ve failed to inform our Li Family, suggesting they wish to catch us unprepared...¡±
¡°Do you mean to say that our family has also be wheat ready to be harvested?¡± Li Xiangping raised his eyebrow and looked at his eldest daughter.
¡°I believe the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s deal with Mount Yue only permits looting and piging, rather than total annihtion. With Fourth Uncle still in the sect and our alignment with the Xiao Family, the Azure Pond Sect should not abandon us without warning. That¡¯s why I believe they have permitted Mount Yue¡¯s incursion primarily for looting and piging, rather than killing the entire Li Family,¡± she exined.
Li Jingtian met her father¡¯s gaze firmly and then continued, ¡°The Azure Pond Sect interacts with various territories of Mount Yue, involving numerous tribes and ns. Therefore, given that Azure Pond Sect has struck a deal, it must feign ignorance regarding Mount Yue¡¯s incursions. Each family is expected to rely on their own abilities to fend for themselves.¡±
As Li Xiangping listened, he stowed away the wooden slip he held and raised his head. ¡°What course of action do you propose for the Li Family?¡±
Li Jingtian¡¯s eyes held her father¡¯s gaze earnestly as she spoke tentatively. ¡°We must abandon our subjects and retreat to safety. Mount Yue¡¯s raiding parties will not linger here. We can return to Mount Lijing within a day.¡±
¡°No!¡± Li Xiangping¡¯s firm rejection brought a smile to Li Jingtian¡¯s face, causing her round eyes to look even cuter.
¡°If we do that, we¡¯ll be no different from the Azure Pond Sect!¡± Li Xiangping said while shaking his head.
When he saw Li Jingtian about to speak again, he raised his hand and cut her off with a weary expression on his face.
¡°I know what to do already. You can head back to Mount Lijing first.¡±
Li Jingtian nodded obediently and took her leave.
Li Xiangping slowly walked out of the courtyard with his hands sped behind his back, gazing at the mountain forest under the moonlight.
A sense of foreboding gripped him. Jianixi was the most formidable opponent he had seen in years. He was a young leader with keen senses in wars, a cunning brain, and absolute strength.
¡°What kind of agreement has the Azure Pond Sect made with Mount Yue, and how much time do we have left...?¡±
Chapter 87: Yi Mountain City
Chapter 87: Yi Mountain City
Li Chejing stood on the towering light gray walls, gazing down at the frenzied beasts below in silence.
His appearance was untouched by the passage of time. He still retained his youthful appearance, though his demeanor now carried the weight of maturity.
Fighting at the southern border for the past five years had honed his swordsmanship to a remarkable degree.
Mastering various sword techniques of the sect, Li Chejing had carved a name for himself. Everyone knew about the existence of a formidable little sword immortal with unparalleled swordsmanship.
Wiping the blood from his longsword, Li Chejing exhaled deeply. A wisp of pure white spiritual qi escaped his lips as he faced the rising sun.
¡°Yi Mountain City truly stands strong,¡± another disciple from the Azure Pond Sect remarked with a smile. He was none other than Deng Qiuzhi, with dharma beads hovering on his hand.
Li Chejing nodded, then consumed the spirit elixir in his hand and concentrated on recovering his mana as swiftly as possible so that he could handle the uing wave of enemies more easily.
¡°Great, this is just our luck. The moment we¡¯re assigned to Yi Mountain City, we¡¯re greeted by not one, but multiple beast tides!¡± Deng Qiuzhi remarked with a cold sneer. The sarcasm in his tone drew the attention of those around him.
Observing Li Chejing¡¯s unwavering concentration on his cultivation, Deng Qiuzhi sat down and murmured ominously, ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that the others have to die here simply because these beasts want to devour you and me.¡±
¡°He''s losing it again...¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that typical of the Deng Family?¡±
Murmurs began to spread among the crowd as curious and wary eyes fixed on Deng Qiuzhi.
Li Chejing frowned upon noticing the murmurs and said, ¡°Enough chatter. Focus on replenishing your mana unless you fancy needing to be rescued once more.¡±
Deng Qiuzhi appeared to be caught off guard by thement and beganughing while shaking his head.
However, a sudden cheer from below interrupted them. ¡°They¡¯re retreating! The beasts are finally retreating!¡±
The siege of the beasts had finally ended, offering the defenders a much-needed respite. Joy erupted as they descended from the city walls.
Li Chejing, too, allowed a rare smile to grace his lips, pondering over writing a letter home as he made his way down.
Deng Qiuzhi followed behind him persistently. Facing the dazzling morning sun, he smiled and asked, ¡°Doesn¡¯t something feel off to you?¡±
¡°In what way?¡± Li Chejing raised an eyebrow at him as he returned his sword to its sheath.
He looked at Deng Qiuzhi and teased, ¡°You¡¯ve been acting rather peculiartely. Could it be that delving deeply into that cultivation method has caused a qi deviation?¡±
The two had weathered countless battles together on the southern border for over five years. The initial misunderstanding between them had long been forgotten and transformed into a deep bond of camaraderie.
¡°Every time we¡¯re at our limit, the beast tide just conveniently withdraws as if on cue. Curious, isn¡¯t it?¡± Deng Qiuzhi asked smilingly, yet his eyes shone with seriousness.
¡°The battle has left every disciple here exhausted, not just us,¡± Li Chejing dismissed him, smiling as he greeted one of the men at his side.
Deng Qiuzhi patted him on the shoulder and then said, ¡°Think about it; If you were the demon king, would you squander your forces in vain? Why not consume their hearts yourself to bolster your power? Do you really think these demonic beasts are enough to breach Yi Mountain City? It¡¯s foolish to send these beasts to the enemies from the three sects and seven gates.¡±
He continued, ¡°And if the demon king truly wants to kill the disciples of the sect, it could just send these beast tides relentlessly to wear us down. These intermittent, half-hearted assaults seemed more like feeding us than fighting us...¡±
Li Chejing greeted another passerby with a smile, interrupting Deng Qiuzhi. Feeling annoyed, Deng Qiuzhi red at him and leaned in toward his ear, whispering, ¡°Do you know when was thest time Yi Mountain City was breached?¡±
With a smile on his face, Li Chejing replied, ¡°Twenty-five years back, a catastrophe urred that imed the lives of many from the three sects and seven gates. Among them was Yu Yuxie, a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm, who had practiced the Coiling Qi Jade True Technique and absorbed the Supreme Yin Moonlight.¡±
Shock filled Deng Qiuzhi¡¯s eyes as he stuttered in realization, ¡°So... you knew...¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Li Chejing affirmed with a smile. Both of them ascended the mountain silently and entered the cave dwelling where Li Chejing stayed.
Once inside, Li Chejing cast a spell to iste themselves from the outside world to protect their privacy. He then turned to Deng Qiuzhi with a solemn look.
¡°It¡¯s been five years since I came to this hell hole. I¡¯ve read every document avable in the city. With what happened in the Mushroom Forest in, of course, I can tell that something''s amiss. But one question remains¡ªwhen will they act? How long are they going to continue feeding me...? But you... why are you here too?¡±
Deng Qiuzhi clenched his fists and replied through gritted teeth, ¡°The Azure Pond Sect has long stopped the legacy of the Supreme Yin Moonlight. Due to the unique constitution of the Deng Family members, every generation of the family is coerced into practicing that secret technique to refine a panacea to trade with the demon king of the southern border for spirit resources.¡±
¡°The secret technique wasn¡¯t perfected in earlier years, so everyone in my family who practiced it eventually lost their minds. With modifications made to the secret technique progressively over the centuries, practicing it no longer affects us mentally. However, we have to continue feigning madness...¡±
Li Chejing listened in silence, taking off his robe and settling at the stone table where he began to prepare tea.
Deng Qiuzhi sighed deeply, then said, ¡°I took a look at the spirit elixirs and pills provided by the sect... All of them havesting effects... They¡¯re meant for... refining Human Pills.¡±
¡°Human Pills?¡± Li Chejing filled their tea cups to the brim, his tone remaining light despite the dark topic. ¡°I wonder which demon king in the southern border is aiming for a breakthrough. That¡¯s really a huge deal.¡±
Although Deng Qiuzhi felt slightly better after seeing the smile on Li Chejing¡¯s face, he could not help but remark in exasperation, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you can stillugh about this.¡±
¡°What choice do we have?¡± Li Chejing shook his head and continued, ¡°The Azure Pond Sect is extremely powerful. Both of our fates are already sealed. If I were to perish here, it would be seen as a sacrifice for the sect on the surface. At least my family would receivepensation and gain something from it. We can¡¯t simply flee and bring destruction upon our family.¡±
Deng Qiuzhi sipped on his tea, then hung his head indignantly. ¡°You have a point... But to think that our lives are mere fodder for demons...!¡±
The smile on Li Chejing¡¯s face faded, reced by a somber expression as he said, ¡°We¡¯re nothing but fish on the chopping block, subject to the whims of those more powerful. Your family has endured through generations, haven¡¯t they? The Azure Pond Sect¡¯s reign may have spanned five centuries, but nothingsts forever. There wille a day of decline. As long as our families endure and continue to quietly amass strength, there wille a time for vengeance.¡±
¡°Immortal cultivators live long lives. Rarely does the retribution of today get resolved tomorrow. Each generation has its own mission to carry out.¡±
He slowly rose from his seat, his gaze resting on the sword in his hand. ¡°Our duty lies in sustaining the Azure Pond Sect, providing our families a moment of respite amidst the turmoil. But beyond that, what can we do? It¡¯s not as though we can attain the Purple Mansion Realm overnight and force the Azure Pond Sect to retract theirmands. We must y the long game.¡±
Settling into a meditative posture, Deng Qiuzhi echoed the sentiment with a heavy heart, ¡°Escape is not an option. Fleeing Yi Mountain City would only spell doom for our families back home.¡±
Chapter 88: He Has Arrived
Chapter 88: He Has Arrived
As Li Xiangping lifted his gaze to the distant peaks, the sound of a horse¡¯s neigh echoed from the mountaintop.
A magnificent horse, its coat a seamless ebony without a hint of another hue, reared and galloped freely across the terrain. Its hooves barely seemed to touch the ground as it navigated the rugged path with ease. It turned out that it was a demonic creature of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
The horse, with hooves barely disturbing the mud on the ground below, soared through the air. Its rider, d in leather armor, was devoid of any adornment made of bones or jade and seemed rather human.
Jianixi gently patted the horse on its head and squeezed its body between his legs, then nced over the vige below.
Legends in the northern foothills spoke of Jianixi possessing four eyes and eight arms, yet in truth, he had an ordinary appearance with somewhat small eyes and sparse eyebrows.
One might pass him by without a second nce if he stood silently in the fields.
However, once those yellowish-brown eyes opened and locked onto someone, they instilled a deep sense of unease.
¡°Great King, we are now entering the territory of the demon gate,¡± announced the attendant with a long braid trailing behind him.
Jianixi, with a subtle lift of his eyebrow, surveyed the military formation below the mountain.
¡°They¡¯ll break in a quarter of an hour,¡± he stated with a light, almost nonchnt tone as if discussing something mundane.
The attendant bowed slightly as he silently listened to Jianixi. Behind them, not a single soldier or horse was in sight. As the king who unified the northern foot of Mount Yue, Jianixi ventured into Azure Pond Sect¡¯s territory apanied only by his attendant. At this point in time, he was only about a kilometer away from Li Xiangping¡¯s encampment.
After a cursory inspection, Jianixi¡¯s interest waned. With a gentle nudge, his horse turned, making its way back effortlessly on the rugged terrain as if it were a smooth road.
The long-braided follower immediately followed closely behind, voicing his caution, ¡°We don¡¯t have much time, there¡¯s no need to dy any further. The living can be cunning, My King. We don¡¯t know how many shamans there are within this demon gate army. It¡¯s best not to underestimate the enemy.¡±
A low chuckle escaped Jianixi¡¯s mouth. The sword at his side glinted under the moonlight peeking through the clouds. ¡°Who said anything about fighting them?¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
When Chen Sanshui had awakened, he found a tribesman from Mount Yue standing before him, d in leather armor. His grip on the cor of Chen Sanshui¡¯s shirt was so firm that it nearly choked him.
Thrown out of the courtyard unceremoniously, Chen Sanshui hit the ground hard, resulting in the loss of two teeth and leaving him with a dizzying vision. Under the gaze of the two Mount Yue soldiers standing rigidly on either side of the entrance, Chen Sanshui wiped the blood away from his face and began scouring the ground for his lost teeth.
However, a heavy boot pinned his hand to the ground. Lifting his eyes, he met the gaze of a pair of yellowish-brown eyes.
He was forced to face the grim reality¡ªLichuankou Vige had fallen in his briefpse of consciousness.
Chen Sanshui¡¯s mind raced with questions.
How had the n soldiers, under Li Xiangping¡¯smand and stationed across the river, been overtaken so silently?
Where were Li Tongya and the other immortals of the Li Family during this silent capture of Lichuankou Vige?
His confusion deepened, the pain from his mouth now secondary to the flood of inquiries in his mind.
¡°Where is the stronghold of the Li Family?¡± the man who was stepping on his hand asked calmly.
Chen Sanshui, under the weight of those piercing eyes, had only one question left in his mind¡ªwhat his father, Chen Erniu, would have done in such a dire situation.
His thoughts were abruptly cut short as Jianixi ripped his left arm off with a swift motion. Flesh and tendons were torn apart as a gush of blood painted the ground red. Chen Sanshui¡¯s eyes rolled back in agony.
The excruciating pain obliterated his ability to think, reducing his existence to sheer agony.
¡°T-That hurts...¡±
Jianixi lightly tapped Chen Sanshui¡¯s head, casting a spell to retain his lucidity so that he could feel the excruciating pain head-on, while not sumbing to his injuries too quickly.
¡°M-Mount... Li-Lijing...¡± Chen Sanshui uttered.
His fleeting aspiration to heroism was quickly overshadowed by his incontinence¡ªa humbling reminder of his averagenesspared to figures like his father and Li Xiangping. Besides, Li Xiangping might not be any better than him if he found himself in the same situation.
¡°Bring us there.¡±
Chen Sanshui was hoisted and found himself dangling upside down, his gazending on the moving feet of the Shan Yue soldiers.
The keen instincts that his father, Chen Erniu, had painstakingly instilled in him over the past two decades were now fully awakened. Recognizing his inevitable fate, memories of his life¡¯s follies flooded his mind, leaving him with a profound sense of destion.
The Mount Yue warriors advanced with stealth. The runes on their ankles silenced their steps, as two contingents escorted Jianixi from Lichuankou Vige toward Mount Lijing.
Observing the captives in the hands of the Mount Yue man behind Jianixi, the stalwart from the vige, Chen Sanshui realized that lying about their destination would only prolong his suffering.
What a cunning man, he thought bitterly.
Chen Sanshui grew up overshadowed by the four brothers of the Li Family, much like his father, Chen Erniu, who was overshadowed by Li Mutian.
He would often hear his father say, ¡°Among the four brothers of the Li Family, Li Changhu is gentle and unassuming like a deer; Li Tongya is cautious and calcting as a serpent; Li Xiangping is cunning and fierce like a starving wolf; and Li Chejing is clever and graceful as a white fox.¡±
¡°What about me?! What am I?!¡± Chen Sanshui would ask, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and yearning for his father¡¯s approval.
¡°Trash.¡± The blunt dismissal crushed Chen Sanshui, leading him down a path of aimlessness, marrying and fathering children without purpose, and living off his father¡¯s name and influence while indulging in frivolity.
However, that changed the day Jianixi tore his left arm off. The pain jolted him awake from his aimless drift. He regretted not meeting Jianixi and having this awakening sooner, sparing his father years of worry.
¡°When was thest time you had contact with those troops?¡± Jianixi asked softly. He could tell that Chen Sanshui was terrified and unlikely to deceive him, yet unaware that Chen Sanshui had undergone a profound transformation deep down.
The spirit of the man he was hoisted over was no longer that of the carefree thirty-year-old Chen Shansui, but that of his sixty-year-old father, Chen Erniu.
¡°Six hours ago,¡± Chen Sanshui replied, making sure that his voice was quivering even though his heart was calm. He was finally at peace with having not entirely wasted the privileges of his upbringing for the past two decades.
As Mount Lijing loomed ahead, Jianixi halted his horse, swiftly decapitating Chen Sanshui in a single, fluid motion.
Observing the headless body as it copsed and the ground stained with fresh blood, Jianixi scoffed, ¡°What a piece of useless trash!¡±
Chen Sanshui¡¯s headnded softly on the ground by the roadside, his gaze fixed on the cloudy night sky above.
Thest thought that crossed his mind before his consciousness faded was¡ªLi Xiangping, this is as much as I can help. You¡¯ve been impressive, but you¡¯ll truly meet your match this time!
Chapter 89: Progressing Westward
Chapter 89: Progressing Westward
After sending his daughter, Li Jingtian, away, Li Xiangping found himself besieged by an unease that disrupted his meditation attempts. Unable to find peace, he finally rose and summoned his men.
Chen Donghe, who had been standing guard outside the tent in his armor, responded promptly to Li Xiangping¡¯s call, ¡°Yes, Family Head?¡±
¡°Any news from the scouts yet?¡±
Chen Donghe shook his head and replied, ¡°None.¡±
¡°It has been two hours since we¡¯vest heard from Lichuankou Vige. Send someone to check on it.¡± Li Xiangping shook his head and watched Chen Donghe leave to execute the order.
Jianixi¡¯s victory two days ago should have left his forces depleted. He can¡¯t beunching an eastward assault so soon, right? And with our scouts scattered throughout the western mountains, how could silence prevail?
Li Xiangping rose to his feet and donned his armor. Watching the burning fire in the brazier that cast a red glow over his eyes, his heart skipped a beast as he considered the worst possibilities looming on the horizon.
¡°That man has battled through the northern foothills for over a decade and imed countless victories. Judging him bymon sense is folly. I better withdraw the troops across the river first.¡±
Picking up his long saber and carrying his Ebony Bow on his back, Li Xiangping yelled, ¡°Beat the drums!¡±
The call to arms was sounded. Drums echoed, rallying the troops. As Li Xiangping emerged from his tent, he was met with Chen Donghe¡¯s urgent approach.
¡°Family Master!¡±
Chen Donghe stepped forward, his voice filled with shock as he leaned in to whisper, ¡°Lichuankou Vige has fallen under the control of Mount Yue, and the scouts we¡¯ve sent there have been killed. There are two to three thousand enemy soldiers stationed on the other side of the river, and they¡¯ve destroyed several bridges. Our escape route has been cut off!¡±
The news hit Li Xiangping like a thunderbolt. For a moment, he stood frozen, unable to speak. He gripped the hilt of his long saber so hard that his knuckles turned white.
¡°Has this news spread among our ranks?¡±
Chen Donghe shook his head vigorously and whispered back, ¡°No. I¡¯ve kept it under wraps, fearing it would demoralize the troops.¡±
With a deep exhale, Li Xiangpingmanded, ¡°Reorganize our troops.¡±
As Chen Donghe withdrew with a grim look on his face, Li Xiangping closed his eyes and began strategizing.
¡°Crossing the river to retake Lichuankou Vige with our limited forces is out of the question. It¡¯s unlikely that Jianixi came with only two thousand soldiers, especially when he¡¯s a cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm...
¡°His rear defenses are likely weakened after his recent victory. We should attempt a westward attack. Every moment we dy here brings greater peril!¡±
Li Xiangping slowly made his way to the back of the tent where he surveyed the towering stacks of grains. After a brief calction, he began storing them in the storage pouch tied around his waist. The storage space of the old Daoist¡¯s pouch was as vast as a courtyard, enough to amodate the rice and beans with ease.
Stepping forward to address his n soldiers, Li Xiangping inhaled deeply. He gritted his teeth before barking out, ¡°Head west!¡±
Instantly, the eight hundred n soldiers and two hundred Mount Yue soldiers mobilized, embarking westward into the forest without looking back.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, Jianixi¡¯s forces had just entered the territories of Lijing Town. His aura as a cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm immediately alerted Lu Jiangxian. With his divine sense, he quickly assessed the situation.
Looks like Jianixi has secured Lichuankou Vige and is advancing eastward toward Lijing Town,
he mused silently.
Expanding his divine sense as far as he could, Lu Jiangxian immediately located the key members of the Li Family.
Li Tongya and his wife, Liu Rouxuan, were busy gathering River Pure Qi for his third brother, Li Xiangping, for his breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm. They were currently waiting for dawn when pure qi would ascend and murky qi would descend.
Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng had just finished exterminating demons in the western part of Lidaokou Vige and were now aiding the wounded in the vige. The streets that the demonic creature destroyed would require repairing.
On Mount Lijing, Tian Yun and Ren Ping¡¯er shared a conversation by the firece. The women had aged considerably, especially Ren Ping¡¯er who was now in her forties and had trouble sleeping well at night.
Meanwhile, Li Jingtian leaned against the window, her round eyes filled with concern as she gazed into the distance. The gentle night breeze ruffled her ck hair. Beside her, Li Xuanling was asleep soundly on the bed.
Despite his ability to observe all the cultivators of the Li Family, Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense was confined to the boundaries of Lijing Town. After a moment of consideration, he cast an illusion spell, directing it into Li Xuanling¡¯s sleeping mind.
With his divine sense far superior to that of an average cultivator, Lu Jiangxian easily gained ess to Li Xuanling¡¯s dream, considering that the boy was only a cultivator of the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanling, who was jolted awake by the jarring sound of shattered porcin, found himself in a cold sweat. He sat up on the bed, staring nkly at the now-empty windowsill.
His older sister, Li Jingtian, was on her knees, carefully picking up the broken pieces of the teapot she had identally dropped.
¡°Sorry, I woke you up, Ling¡¯er,¡± she murmured an apology.
With sweat beading on his forehead and body, Li Xuanling felt slightly more awake as a gust of cold wind blew in through the window.
¡°Sister, I saw so many corpses in my dream... Jianixi has defeated uncle and led his soldiers up the mountain, killing many of us.¡±
Li Jingtian¡¯s concern intensified upon hearing his words, reflecting the fears that had kept her awake at night. She mustered a gentle smile and tried to soothe Li Xuanling.
Li Xuanling merely nodded half-heartedly. After a few moments of contemtive silence, he mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a leak.¡±
With that, he slipped out of bed and made his way to the backyard, avoiding Li Jingtian¡¯s gaze.
In the solitude of the night, he came upon a worn wooden chair. Li Xuanling pursed his lips; it reminded him of Li Mutian¡¯s absence.
Entering the room where the mirror was kept, the familiar scent of sandalwood and dim candlelight greeted him. His eyes fell upon the cold stone tform, atop which sat a small bluish-gray mirror, with white moonlight gathered around it.
He stood on his tiptoes, sticking his hands through the moonlight that felt rather cold, and carefully reached for the mirror. To his surprise, the dharma artifact felt warm in his hands.
Recalling his father¡¯s words, Li Xuanling raised the mirror in his hands and solemnly recited,
¡°As a disciple of the Li Family, I, Li Xuanling, respectfully request the Profound Light to grant me the Supreme Yin Profound Light to vanquish evil, cleanse impurity, and subdue demons!¡±
In response, Lu Jiangxian nodded silently, granting his request. Li Xuanling felt himself lifted, soaring high above Lijing Town.
The tranquil moonlight bathed Lijing Town in a peaceful slumber, but Li Xuanling¡¯s gaze was drawn to the distant Lichuankou Vige, now overrun by Mount Yue¡¯s forces. He observed two teams of soldiers d in leather armor marching from the south. Their destination was unmistakably clear¡ªLijing Town.
Li Xuanling immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he hastily withdrew from his heightened perspective and stowed the mirror in his arms before he hurriedly left the backyard.
Chapter 90: Escape
Chapter 90: Escape
¡°Let¡¯s go, Sister!¡±
Li Xuanling rushed into the side courtyard and crossed the threshold. Grabbing Li Jingtian¡¯s arm, he began to pull her toward the front yard, his sudden action sending her into a state of confusion.
¡°What''s happening?¡±
¡°There''s no time to exin! Jianixi¡¯s troops will be at Mount Lijing in less than fifteen minutes. Trust me!¡±
Li Jingtian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She quickly gathered her long ck hair into a bun, then retrieved a dagger hidden under her pillow.
She concealed the weapon in the pocket of her sleeve as she followed behind her younger brother, her voice tense with worry. ¡°Have you alerted Mother and the others?¡±
Li Xuanling nodded affirmatively, securing a long saber behind his back.
¡°I¡¯ve sent n soldiers to notify them earlier. I¡¯ve also instructed the few remaining soldiers at the front to escort them down the mountain immediately before I came back to the side courtyard to get you.¡±
They quickly exited the side courtyard, but Li Jingtian, who was not an immortal cultivator, struggled to keep pace with her younger brother.
Li Xuanling cast the Divine Movement spell on his legs, then lifted her in his arms and hurriedly descended the mountain.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, Li Jingtian tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. As she watched the swiftly passing scenery, her mind was heavy with concern for their father, Li Xiangping.
She looked up at Li Xuanling enviously andmented, ¡°If only I had a spiritual orifice too...¡±
After covering a distance, Li Xuanling used the mirror to check on Jianixi¡¯s movements. He discovered that one of the troops from Mount Yue had already invaded Lijing Town, seizing control of several exits.
Another group was cleverly ascending the mountain from another side, aiming to cut off their escape to Jingyang Vige.
Without the mirror, Li Xuanling would have walked straight into them. He wiped the sweat on his forehead and muttered under his breath, ¡°This Jianixi is really cunning!¡±
He quickly moved in another direction, descending the mountain before they were surrounded and sought refuge in an old, seemingly abandoned courtyard in Lijing Town at the foot of the mountain.
Covered in a thinyer of dust, the courtyard appeared abandoned, as if its owner had been absent for a long time. Li Xuanling kicked open the door and quickly entered with Li Jingtian.
Li Jingtian searched around the house and found two sets of in clothes in a cab. Changing into them, she noted that they fit her perfectly. It appeared that the family who used to live here had a daughter of her age, about twelve or thirteen years old.
Li Xuanling was not yet fully grown, so Li Jingtian had to quickly modify the clothes to fit him.
By the time she finished cutting up their clothes made of silk and shoving the fabric under the bed, footsteps approached the door.
They listened intently for a moment, but the footsteps soon faded into the distance. Li Xuanling looked up at his sister¡¯s strikingly valiant face, then innocentlymented, ¡°Sister, you stand out too much.¡±
Li Jingtian nodded at her younger brother¡¯s reminder, then drew a bucket of water from the well and proceeded to mess up her makeup. She furrowed her eyebrows and lowered her gaze, adopting the appearance of a girl from a humble, ordinary family.
Li Xuanling could not help but sigh. Despite Li Jingtian¡¯s efforts, her inherent elegance made it difficult to dull her natural beauty. The transformation softened her features, recing her usual heroic aura with a vulnerable charm that momentarily took Li Xuanling aback.
After their efforts to disguise themselves, they finally looked like the typical inhabitants of the town. Peering cautiously outside, Li Jingtian whispered, ¡°The Misty Maze Formation is merely a minor obstacle for someone like Jianixi. It¡¯s fortunate we¡¯ve escaped from the mountain. As long as we remain hidden here for a day and a night, Jianixi¡¯s forces should retreat.¡±
Li Xuanling nodded, reassured by the familiar warmth of the mirror in his grasp.
Meanwhile on Mount Lijing...
Jianixi narrowed his eyes as he listened to his men¡¯s report. At the end of it, a smile tugged at his lips.
¡°They led the troops over the mountain?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
He raised an eyebrow, then cast a cold nce at the stone tform, as well as the incense and candles flickering at his side, before kicking over the altar in front of him.
CRASH...!
The altar copsed, and the fruits and offerings ced on it were scattered across the floor.
Jianixi¡¯s yellowish-brown eyes drifted to the now overturned table, his mouth curving into a sardonic grin.
¡°Mu Jiaoman, what kind of dharma artifact requires such borate offerings?¡±
The attendant with the long braid behind him shook his head, scanning the area cautiously. After a moment of reflection, he ventured, ¡°I¡¯ve heard tales of arge tribe in the Mushroom Forest in that worships a wooden statue, believed to wield great powers.¡±
¡°Seems like the Li Family holds a valuable treasure...¡± Jianixi remarked with a chuckle as he strode out of the courtyard.
¡°This dharma artifact must be in their military camp right now. Lucky we didn¡¯t attack blindly, otherwise we¡¯d have yed right into the demon gate¡¯s trap!¡± Mu Jiaomanmented in relief.
Jianixi walked around the main and side courtyards, inspecting the clothes and warm bedding his men presented to him. He nodded thoughtfully and thenmented, ¡°That child is pretty smart.¡±
Stepping forward, Jianixi gazed down upon Lijing Town at the foot of the mountain below. He spread his arms wide apart as if to embrace the vista, then after a moment of contemtion, he dered, ¡°Gather all individuals between the ages of seven to fifteen from this town. Leave none behind.¡±
Mu Jiaoman acknowledged the order, then the two men left the Li Residence. Jianixi paused, and with a yful smile on his face, he added, ¡°Keep an eye out for the ones in fine clothes and pretty faces. If anyone shows signs of cultivation, capture them immediately and bring them to me.¡±
After saying that, Jianixi climbed onto his horse and descended Mount Lijing, with Mu Jiaoman trailing closely behind.
In a hushed tone, Mu Jiaoman reminded, ¡°There isn¡¯t much time left, Great King.¡±
Jianixi acknowledged with a nod, then suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s make a swift retreat after we¡¯ve taken the vigers and their possessions before the demon gate draws more reinforcements, which would only lead to unnecessary losses.¡±
As the pair descended the mountain, the town echoed with cries, as well as the sounds of vigers fighting with the forces of Mount Yue.
Jianixi¡¯s forces had efficiently rounded up the youth, and the air was filled with cries and screams.
Observing the scene, Mu Jiaoman mused quietly, ¡°I guess we can take them back and make them work as ves and servants.¡±
Jianixi¡¯s expression darkened at those words. A violent murderous intent shed across his eyes, but no one realized it since his back was facing them.
Jianixi¡¯s neck was once marred by a ve brand. After he exacted revenge on those who had enved him and bought his tribe, he coerced a shaman to remove the brand.
From that point on, Jianixi refused to mark his body in any way despite his many achievements.
Mu Jiaoman continued saying, ¡°These girls certainly have a certain charm.¡±
Jianixi responded with a nonchnt nod and picked up his long saber, but Mu Jiaoman¡¯s nextment caught his attention.
¡°With the northern foothills now unified and under yourmand, perhaps it''s time to consider having an heir. The mountains are full of ambitious rivals, so having an heir could ensure your legacy.¡±
Jianixi merely hummed in response, adjusting his stance in the saddle before propelling his horse westward.
¡°Move west, we¡¯ll go have fun with that guy,¡± he said.
Chapter 91: Entering the Stronghold
Chapter 91: Entering the Stronghold
¡°Amazing!¡± Li Xuanxuan praised, stepping on the massive carcass of a brown-haired pig demon and scrutinizing the bowl-sized wound with admiration.
Beside him, Li Xuanfeng slung his longbow on his back and wore a grin of pride. ¡°How is it? My shooting skills aren¡¯t something you get to see every day.¡±
¡°It¡¯s indeed impressive.¡± Li Xuanxuan nodded with a smile on his face as he continued saying, ¡°It¡¯s a shame that you ruined such fine leather, though.¡±
Li Xuanfeng¡¯s smile faltered and was about to retort, but he was interrupted by a n soldier rushing toward them. The n soldier¡¯s armor was drenched in blood. He dropped to his knees and reported with despair, ¡°Young Family Head, Mount Yue has taken control of Lijing Town and has ascended Mount Lijing as we speak!¡±
Li Xuanfeng looked at him in disbelief, then single-handedly lifted the n soldier off the ground.
¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re saying?!¡± he yelled.
¡°Feng¡¯er!¡± Li Xuanxuan, visibly shaken, hastened to the n soldier¡¯s rescue, disregarding the blood staining him.
¡°Why are they in Lijing Town? Where are the n soldiers led by the Family Head? What happened to Lichuankou Vige?¡±
The soldier quickly reported, ¡°The Family Head and a thousand n soldiers are gone! We went to look for help from Lichuankou Vige but got assaulted. Lichuankou Vige has also been taken control by Mount Yue!¡±
A chill ran down Li Xuanxuan¡¯s spine, and he took a step back as countless terrifying images appeared in his mind.
¡°Scout Lijing Town and Lichuankou Vige again to gather more information,¡± he ordered.
After pondering for a few moments, he added, ¡°Send someone to the reeds to look for Second Uncle.¡±
¡°No need.¡± Li Tongya descended from the sky and approached Li Xuanxuan with a grim expression. ¡°I¡¯ve already scouted Lichuankou. There are currently three thousand soldiers stationed there, with one cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm among them. Lijing Town is overrun by over three thousand tribesmen from Mount Yue, including at least three cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm.¡±
Li Tongya was collecting River Pure Qi on the riverbank. Upon reaching the shore of Lichuankou, he spotted torches peppering all over the vige. The sight of numerous figures moving about filled his heart with unease.
As he drew closer to the vige in mid-air, the presence of people with distinct hairstyles and tattoos everywhere sent a shiver down his spine.
Suddenly, a Mount Yue cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm soared into the air and unleashed a dense, ck mist toward Li Tongya.
Li Tongya exchanged a few blows with the cultivator. His Profound Water Sword Technique, empowered by the River True Essence, soon proved too overwhelming for the rogue cultivator from Mount Yue, forcing his opponent into a reluctant retreat.
¡°Family Head is...¡± Li Xuanxuan spoke anxiously, only for Li Tongya to cut him off with a shake of his head.
¡°When I arrived at Lichuankou Vige, it was already blocked off. There were no signs of a military formation on the riverbank, nor any evidence of fighting. Xiangping must have withdrawn or headed in another direction.¡±
Li Xuanxuan exhaled deeply in relief, and Li Xuanfeng¡¯s tense expression also eased slightly. Li Tongya then pped his brocade pouch and produced a jade seal. It was a symbol of the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s authority, and it bore a short message¡ªEndure.
With a grim expression, Li Tongya put the seal away. He had sought aid through it earlier, only to receive a dismissive message after an hour of waiting.
¡°We can no longer count on the Azure Pond Sect. Our next steps depend on Jianixi¡¯s actions...¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanling and Li Jingtian had barely rested when the door was violently kicked open. A group of Mount Yue men barged in.
Among them was a figure who appeared to be the leader, brandishing a saber. His eyes lit up upon seeing Li Jingtian as hemented happily, ¡°What a fine catch this littledy is.¡±
The abrupt intrusion startled both Li Xuanling and Li Jingtian. While Li Jingtian wondered how Jianixi could have located their hiding ce, a few mortals stepped forward. Her suspicions deepened, sensing that something was amiss.
Li Xuanling clenched his fists, silently weighing their odds.
Though I have no doubt that I can easily defeat these people, I¡¯m worried we¡¯ll draw unnecessary attention. Engaging them might attract their other allies on the streets, who could potentially be cultivators. If that happens, it¡¯ll be difficult for us to escape.
The leader of the group scrutinized them before waving andmanding loudly, ¡°Take them away!¡±
Two of his men approached with ropes to tie the twins up. Li Xuanling cast a nce at Li Jingtian, only to see the subtle shake of her head, so he allowed these people to tie them up.
Li Xuanling tested the ropes¡¯ hold and found them to be ridiculously weak. The fact that he could easily break them just by applying a little force showed that these men underestimated a ten-year-old boy like him and failed to recognize that he had attained the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
As they were led out of the courtyard, they caught sight of other youths being herded like livestock toward the forest, under the watchful eye of a figure marked with distinctive tattoos and wearing long-braided hair.
¡°Qi Cultivation Realm...¡± Li Xuanling mumbled under his breath before he was led into the forest along with Li Jingtian. He feigned clumsiness, deliberately stumbling into the mud to smear his face with it.
I¡¯ve spent a lot of time at the foot of the mountain over the past few years, so everyone knows me. I¡¯d better disguise myself in case some idiot identally blows my cover.
Cocking his head to the side while smoothing down his clothes, Li Xuanling kept his head bowed in an attempt to look as inconspicuous as possible. He nced ahead at Li Jingtian and secretly sighed in relief.
Luckily, Big Sister has remained secluded in the mountains for the past few years. Otherwise, given her outstanding beauty, everyone would be able to recognize her even through her disguise.
Before themy Big River Creek, beyond which stretched Mount Yue¡¯s territory. Li Xuanling quietly touched the mirror hidden beneath his clothes, then retracted his hand with a bitter smile.
The group ahead was overseen by three cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm hovering in the air, with vignt Mount Yue soldiers behind them, making an escape seem impossible.
Fortunately, the spiritual senses of the three cultivators were limited, preventing them from noticing Li Xuanling below. The two had no choice but to continue forward, traversing through the day and night until a simple stronghold came into view.
The stronghold was bustling with activity as numerous individuals had their feet bound in shackles and were strained under the weight of equipment and provisions.
Escape seems extremely difficult for these mortals, but for cultivators like me, I¡¯ll just break these shackles and escape with Big Sister when night falls.
Li Xuanling felt a surge of relief at the thought.
He then saw a group of captives shackled and kneeling ahead of them on the ground, waiting for horizontal lines to be painted on their neck by the shamans of Mount Yue as a symbol of their status as ves.
Meanwhile, some men came over to undo their ropes and led the girls away. Li Jingtian was singled out from the crowd, drawing gasps from both Mount Yue men and fellow captives.
¡°W-Whose daughter is that? What a beauty she is.¡±
¡°What a beautiful littledy.¡±
Despite the mud smearing her face, it was impossible to conceal Li Jingtian¡¯s sharp nose and the elegant outline of her face contours. Her clear, grayish-ck eyes, inherited from Li Xiangping, were captivating in their own right.
Li Xuanling, now shackled in wood due to Mount Yue''s scarcity of metals, watched helplessly as a Mount Yue shaman marked him with the symbols of servitude. Despite the dire circumstances, his concern remained fixed on Li Jingtian, especially when a Mount Yue leader with a distinctive long braid took a keen interest in her, stepping forward to examine her more closely.
Meanwhile, Li Xuanling was ushered into the stronghold, where the Mount Yue men promptly secured him with wooden shackles.
Those from Mount Yue were not adept in smelting, so all the metals they made were reserved for making weapons rather than restraints, which were made of sturdy wood.
As a Mount Yue shaman painted horizontal stripes on his neck, Li Xuanling discreetly monitored the movements near Li Jingtian.
A Mount Yue man with a long braid slowly descended from the sky and inspected her closely.
Chapter 92: Ye Tian
Chapter 92: Ye Tian
Mu Jiaoman descended gracefully from the air, prompting the n shamans and tribesmen below to immediately drop to their knees and respectfully greet, ¡°General.¡±
Ignoring the greetings of those around him, Mu Jiaoman nced sidelong for a while. He felt his left eyelid twitching as he observed Li Jingtian who kept her head bowed.
Having been a Qi Cultivator for over a decade, Mu Jiaoman had never experienced such involuntary movements before, let alone the feeling of breathlessness and the inability to avert his gaze.
¡°She...¡± Mu Jiaoman began to utter a word, but the surrounding n shamans and tribesmen nodded eagerly.
¡°We know, General. We know!¡± they said with an understanding smile.
Mu Jiaoman, having spent so many years in the tribe, knew what the others were implying. Observing Li Jingtian¡¯s resentful gaze, he tried to rify himself but eventually chose silence instead of exnation.
The tribesmen quickly led Li Jingtian away. Mu Jiaoman turned around coldly, then soared into the air once again under everyone¡¯s gaze.
As he moved through the air, Mu Jiaoman suddenly felt an tion tempting him to abandon his usual restraint. Yet, he maintained hisposure as he made his way to the tent.
Meanwhile, Li Jingtian was escorted into the stronghold. She was released, and her face was washed clean of the mud before it got painted on with the colorful pigmentsmonly used by the Mount Yue tribe, the colors extending to her neck.
She was then dressed in Mount Yue clothing, adorned with feathers, beast fangs, and shiny jades. The wild outfit and essories actually added a regal air to her natural beauty, leaving the elders attending to her in awe as the movements of their hands slowed.
By the time the lengthy preparations wereplete, the sky was already dark. Li Jingtian was being led into a dimly lit military tent, where she overheard a gruff voice as soon as she approached the entrance.
"The Great King gave hismand for us to head west in order to guard against any disturbances at the sandbank. The general was to organize the rear troops and escort the ves to the Great Jueting first. Meanwhile, I was ordered to lead a troop of a thousand strong to pursue the foreign forces...¡±
¡°How did it go?¡±
Li Jingtian recognized the deep and hoarse voice. It belonged to the long-braided Mount Yue general she saw during the day.
¡°...I gave chase, but the man led his troops into the depths of Mount Lijing without even looking back. I was afraid of startling the great demons in the mountain, so I withdrew the troops...¡±
Mu Jiaoman frowned, slightly tightening his grasp around the cup in his hand as he asked skeptically, ¡°You led the charge yourself, yet that man still managed to escape? I thought he was only a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.¡±
The Mount Yue tribesman who was kneeling on the ground quickly lifted his head and was about to exin just as Li Jingtian entered the tent. The beast fangs she wore clinked against the jade stones.
The man quickly nced behind him, appearing equally stunned as Mu Jiaoman.
ustomed to the rugged appearance of Mount Yue women with entangled and muddy hair, neither of them had seen such a woman with bright eyes, white teeth, and a clear, piercing gaze.
Both men were momentarily lost in their thoughts.
Damn, no wonder why the ancestors had always spoken of the beauty of mortal women!
Li Jingtian, however, observed them quietly. Seeing their diverted gaze, she recalled the dagger hidden in her clothes, which had been confiscated.
She heard faint discussions about her father outside and was anxious to hear more, yet she was pushed into the tent instead. Now, in the presence of these two men, she maintained herposure.
The tribesman kneeling on the ground gulped audibly, snapping Mu Jiaoman back to his senses. He shot a re at the man, then cleared his throat. He was going to chase Li Jingtian out of the tent, but the words that came out of his mouth were¡ª¡°Please wait outside.¡±
As Li Jingtian turned around and exited the tent, the tribesman stumbled over his words while attempting to respond to the earlier question, ¡°I-I... H-He...¡±
Upon calming himself down, the tribesman mustered the courage to speak under Mu Jiaoman¡¯s angry gaze.
¡°The man seemed to be blessed by the gods. He effortlessly evaded every trap weid out and even summoned a demonic creature to his aid. The creature disregarded hundreds of them and focused its relentless attacks only on us...¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard enough! Get out of here!¡± Mu Jiaoman, no longer interested in hearing the man¡¯s excuses, dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Noticing the man¡¯s reluctance to leave the area after exiting the tent, Mu Jiaoman let out an annoyed snort. The fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm¡¯s aura radiated from him, frightening the man into a hasty retreat.
As Li Jingtian was pushed back into the tent by a n shaman outside, Mu Jiaoman abruptly rose from his seat but quickly sat back down again. His demeanor was fraught with the same nervous anticipation he had felt during childhood when he was assessed for a shamanic orifice.
He met Li Jingtian¡¯s gaze, then slowly began, ¡°You...¡±
Li Jingtian remained unfazed as she stared right back at Mu Jiaoman, who was physically stronger than her.
¡°Lay a finger on me and I¡¯ll end my life right here in this tent,¡± she hissed through gritted teeth.
Her bold statement surprisingly eased her tension.
If I die here, Xuanling won¡¯t have to worry about me. He¡¯ll be able to escape easily alone...
Mu Jiaoman quickly waved his hands, then gently asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
Li Jingtian immediately grew wary, furrowing her brow as she quietly responded, ¡°Ye Tian.¡±
Knowing she could not reveal her true identity, she quickly fabricated a name. Observing Mu Jiaoman¡¯s stoic face, Li Jingtian could not help but wonder why the leader of Mount Yue was panting so badly.
Mu Jiaoman, who was captivated by Li Jingtian¡¯s frown, felt a turmoil of emotions he had not experienced in his decades of loyal service to Jianixi. It terrified him and he could hardly remain calm.
No, I must keep this woman out of Jianixi¡¯s sight.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°Young Family Head, Mount Yue haspletely withdrawn!¡±
Li Xuanxuan¡¯s gaze was fixed on Mount Lijing, his expression fraught with worry, when suddenly the voices of the n soldiers below broke through his thoughts.
Their promation filled him with relief and he nced around at the expectant faces surrounding him, feeling a surge of responsibility.
Second Uncle has set out westward in search of Third Uncle. The burden of the family falls on me now. In times of crisis like these, I, Li Xuanxuan, must remain vignt!
He reminded himself sternly, clenching his fists in determination.
The situation was dire. With Li Qiuyang and Chen Donghe apanying Li Xiangping to the territories of Mount Yue, there was only a handful of inexperienced young cultivators left at home, aside from his aunt, Liu Rouxuan and Li Xuanfeng, who had attained the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
¡°We must first assess the damage and casualties at Lichuankou Vige and Lijing Town,¡± he dered.
Liu Rouxuan, who looked like she was still in her twenties rather than thirties due to her immortal cultivation, nodded in agreement as she gazed toward the west in concern.
¡°Leave Lichuankou Vige to me,¡± she said.
¡°Tianchou,¡± Li Xuanxuan called out. Wan Tianchou quickly stepped forward, listening attentively to Li Xuanxuan¡¯s instructions.
¡°You¡¯ve been stationed in Lichuankou Vige for many years. Since you know the area well, please apany my aunt on her journey.¡±
After receiving a nod of understanding from Wan Tianchou, Li Xuanxuan exhaled deeply and said, ¡°I¡¯ll personally oversee the matters in Lijing Town.¡±
Chapter 93: Returning to the Mountain
Chapter 93: Returning to the Mountain
On Mount Lijing, Li Xuanxuan stood amidst the messy courtyard, apanied by Li Yesheng¡¯s eldest son, Li Xiewen.
Li Xiewen, who had been reassigned back to this ce by Li Xiangping in recent years, now assisted Li Xuanxuan in managing the n affairs.
With Li Yesheng following Li Xiangping westward, it fell to Li Xiewen to assume his father¡¯s responsibilities.
Shaking his head with concern, Li Xuanxuan furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Still no sign of Jingtian and Xuanling?¡±
¡°We¡¯ve scoured the surrounding mountains and forests, but haven¡¯t located them, Young Family Head.¡±
A pang of worry gripped Li Xuanxuan¡¯s heart as he surveyed the messy courtyard. He grabbed a fallen wooden stool and sank onto it.
¡°Brother Xuan... Mount Yue has taken away the youths in the vige. The casualties in Lijing Town were minimal, but there were many deaths at Lichuankou Vige, including the eldest son of the Chen Family.¡±
Li Xuanxuan nodded somberly, mumbling, ¡°It could have been worse. Our losses are manageable.¡±
The youths from Lijing Town had already been tested for spiritual orifices. The children found to possess one recently were disciples who did not bear the surname Li. They were all safe as they had been following Li Xuanxuan around.
¡°As long as Chen Donghe survives, the other deaths in the Chen Family don¡¯t matter. Go tell the men who are willing to retaliate against Mount Yue to rescue their children and gather at the foot of the mountain. We¡¯ll assemble a troop out of them.¡±
¡°But Young Family Head, this is...¡±
Li Xuanxuan shook his head and reassured, ¡°The Family Head has taken away our n soldiers, so we¡¯ll need to assemble a new force to maintain order in the viges. This is just a symbolic gesture. Mount Yue holds considerable power now, and I won¡¯t act recklessly.¡±
As Li Xiewen departed to carry out the orders, Li Xuanxuan retreated to the backyard. He pushed open the door of a small house but was immediately greeted by the sight of an altar table that had been knocked over and an empty stone tform.
¡°Damn it,¡± Li Xuanxuan muttered, feeling a surge of frustration and anger in his heart. After a few moments, the emotions subsided into a long sigh of helplessness. He nced at the broken wooden chair where Li Mutian used to sit, then took a seat in it and stared nkly at the empty stone tform.
All of a sudden, the door creaked open, and Li Tongya entered the room, covered in dust from his travels. He looked around at the scattered objects on the floor in silence.
Quickly rising to his feet, Li Xuanxuan respectfully asked, ¡°Second Uncle, have you found any news of Family Head?¡±
Shaking his head, Li Tongya used the Purifying Spell to brush off the dust from his clothes. ¡°I explored the territory of Mount Yue for four hours but found no traces of them. However, I did notice that those from Mount Yue have established a stronghold in the west, guarded by four Qi Cultivators.¡±
Seeing Li Xuanxuan¡¯s crestfallen expression and his gaze drifting to the empty stone tform, Li Tongya remainedposed and offered reassurance with a smile.
¡°There¡¯s no need to panic. If I couldn¡¯t find them, those from Mount Yue won¡¯t either. Xiangping¡¯s safety shouldn¡¯t be a concern for the time being. Besides, Ling¡¯er is smart. He has taken the mirror away in advance.¡±
As Li Tongya lifted the altar table, he continued, ¡°Jianixi¡¯s surprise attack on Mount Lijing was clearly aimed at capturing Xuanling and Jingtian to extort a ransom from us. But since nothing has happened, it¡¯s likely that Xuanling has escaped when they ascended the mountains, foiling Jianixi¡¯s n.¡±
Li Xuanxuan nodded thoughtfully in response. ¡°I see. Xuanling must have sensed the danger and fled with the mirror, but was intercepted and taken westward.¡±
Li Tongya rearranged the offerings on the altar table as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll look for another opportunity to act. You focus on calming down the people at home and assessing the damage to the spirit fields. Chen Donghe and Li Qiuyang are with the army in the west, so the spirit fields should be managed ordingly.¡±
¡°All right. Be careful out there, Second Uncle!¡± Li Xuanxuan expressed his concern, but Li Tongya waved it off with a smile.
¡°These people from Mount Yue are mere savages, relying on sheer numbers and primitive qi. With my Profound Water Sword Qi, a few of them won¡¯t be able to pose a threat to me. There¡¯s no need to worry! If your fourth uncle, Chejing, were here, even five of them wouldn¡¯t be enough to handle him.¡±
With those reassuring words, Li Tongya stepped out and headed west.
Li Xuanxuan exhaled a deep breath and sat back on the worn wooden chair. The glimmer of hope caused his lips to curl up into a small smile, but it was at this moment that he noticed some wonky words carved onto the chair legs.
Harmony at home leads to prosperity in the family.
The words reminded him of the old man who had spent half his life secluded in the mountains due to a rumored sighting of a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Wiping away the tears that gathered in his eyes, Li Xuanxuan stepped out with resolve.
As soon as he exited the house, he bumped into Li Xuanfeng, who was carrying a pitch-ck longbow on his back.
Observing his urgency, Li Xuanxuan called out to him, ¡°Feng¡¯er!¡±
Li Xuanfeng lifted his head. After Li Xuanxuan shared with him the conversation he had with Li Tongya, Li Xuanfeng breathed a sigh of relief.
However, concern still lingered on his face as he said, ¡°Father is alone with his troops in the territory of Mount Yue. I¡¯m still worried about him.¡±
¡°You mustn¡¯t act recklessly!¡± Li Xuanxuan immediately cautioned.
Li Tongya had just left to rescue Li Xuanling and Li Jingtian. He could not afford to have Li Xuanfeng fall into the same trap, so he quickly consoled him, ¡°Family Head knows what he¡¯s doing. You mustn¡¯t venture into the territory of Mount Yue to search for him! It¡¯ll only cause more trouble for everyone...¡±
¡°I know, it¡¯s because I¡¯m still too weak.¡± Li Xuanfeng waved him off dismissively, thenmented, ¡°If only I had attained the Qi Cultivation Realm, dealing with those from Mount Yue or Jianixi would be as easy as shooting an arrow.¡±
¡°Whatever!¡± Li Xuanfeng gritted his teeth and waved his hand in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m going into seclusion to condense the Jade Capital Chakra so that I can attain the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm!¡±
Hearing his determined tone, Li Xuanxuan felt a pang of concern.
Is breaking through really just about secluding oneself...? Doesn¡¯t it involve waiting for an opportunity...?
Having been stuck at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm for over two years, Li Xuanxuan let out a sigh and took out a jade bottle from his chest pocket.
¡°This is the Snake Essence Pill leftover from the time when Senior Xiao helped our family refine them. We had three in total. The elders used one each to break through the Jade Capital stage. Thisst one is reserved for my breakthrough, but you can have it first,¡± he offered warmly.
With another sigh, hemented softly, ¡°It¡¯s a pity our familycks a legacy in alchemy. We¡¯ve been holding onto three Snake Dragon Fruits for years, yet we haven¡¯t been able to put them to good use...¡±
Li Xuanfeng expressed his gratitude and epted the jade bottle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Xuan. Our family has only been on the immortal cultivation path for a little over thirty years. We can¡¯t possiblypare ourselves to those well-established ns. When we have more Qi Cultivators in our family, I¡¯ll find a rogue cultivator who has legacies in pill refinement and take what we need by force.¡±
Li Xuanxuan shook his head at the idea and chuckled. ¡°Your inclination toward violence is concerning. These legacies aren¡¯t acquired by just quickly killing a few people. We need to save up Spirit Stones to purchase them.¡±
Li Xuanfeng shrugged indifferently. ¡°As long as we¡¯re stronger than them, whether we mug or buy is irrelevant, isn¡¯t it?¡±
With that, he chuckled lightly and headed toward the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche to begin his seclusion.
Chapter 94: Planning an Escape
Chapter 94: nning an Escape
Li Xuanling had tobor within the stronghold for over ten days. While the other ves were whining in exhaustion, he was doing well thanks to his cultivation at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He only had to feign weariness to blend in.
The living conditions for ves were dire, confined within an enclosure reminiscent of a sheep pen, where human waste umted in heaps and the air was thick with foul odors. The area was closely guarded by over a dozen Mount Yue soldiers, making any thought of escape daunting.
Li Xuanling desperately wanted to escape by the end of the first day, yet he stayed for over ten days, hoping to hear from Li Jingtian.
Mount Yue appeared to be in the process of building a huge stronghold for the purpose of surveince and countering the Li Family.
Surveying theyout, Li Xuanling considered his escape options. He concluded that the best time to escape was when moving the woods outside the stronghold. As long as he was far away from the experts in the stronghold, a swift elimination of a few soldiers would secure his escape.
Although it¡¯s easy for me to just leave, it¡¯d be very difficult for Big Sister to escape.
Li Jingtian¡¯s frequent movements in and out of themand tent made Li Xuanling extremely nervous. He always tried to linger around the area, hoping to find a chance to take Li Jingtian away.
As Li Xuanling carried wood around the stronghold, he quietly observed his surroundings and eavesdropped on a conversation between two Mount Yue shamans.
¡°We¡¯re setting off for the Great Jueting tomorrow, aren¡¯t we?¡±
¡°Indeed... Rumor has it that the Great King has ns to erect a huge stone tform there to perform a shamanic ceremony in order tomemorate the unification of the northern foothills.¡±
¡°After centuries of turmoil, it seems we¡¯re on the brink of a new era of stability.¡±
Li Xuanling was taken aback by what he had heard.
I must take action, regardless. Once we¡¯re taken into the great city of Mount Yue tomorrow, there will be no escape!
After carefully cing down the wood he was carrying, Li Xuanling reached into his clothing to consult the mirror concealed within. He quickly located Li Jingtian and promptly headed toward her direction.
Lu Jiangxian was perplexed as he observed the situation through the mirror. As Li Xuanling advanced westward, a mysterious energy seemed to connect with him from afar.
Lu Jiangxian sensed the powerful presence that stood out like a beacon in the night in surprise.
How could this be? Talisman qi?!
The source of this familiar aura from the distant mountain was none other than a talisman qi. Lu Jiangxian was certain that it was one that was bestowed by the mirror.
It was not the gray talisman in Li Xiangping, but a shimmering, yellow one.
The mirror¡¯s talisman qi included various colors¡ªgray, white, blue, yellow... Each of them corresponded to different cultivation realms¡ªQi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, and Golden Core respectively...
This yellow talisman was condensed by the mirror through offerings and incense of the Golden Core stage.
As Li Xuanling pressed on, Lu Jiangxian managed to connect with the talisman qi but remained cautious in his approach.
This is...
Lu Jiangxian fell into a brief contemtive silence before a name slowly appeared in his mind...
The Disciple of the Immortal Mansion, Li Jiangqun!
He quickly dismissed the thought amidst growing confusion.
Li Jiangqun was merely a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm when he was pursued by the cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm from the three sects and seven gates. How could he possibly possess a yellow talisman within him? The process requires not just a corpse of the Golden Core Realm, but the sacrifice of a living demonic creature and an immense amount of incense.
Lu Jiangxian could not figure out the puzzle, but he could sense danger in the air.
We must avoid the Great Jueting at all costs. It could be a den for demons awaiting their next victim. This incident involving Li Jiangqun is a prime example! The forces behind the mirror''s pursuit aren¡¯t limited to mere sects and gates. There¡¯s arger power at y.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanling had been anxiously pacing outside the tent for quite some time before finally catching sight of Li Jingtian.
He had swapped duties with a ve who was responsible for delivering water and deliberately took his sweet time delivering the water toward the vat, all so that he could bump into Li Jingtian.
Li Jingtian, wearing beast leather, jade, and jewels, cast a discreet nce at Li Xuanling who was clumsily transporting water, and she suddenly said, ¡°Hold on.¡±
The Mount Yue tribesmen following her around instantly smiled fawningly as they awaited further instruction from Li Jingtian.
¡°Include him as well,¡± she said.
Two of the tribesmen approached and led Li Xuanling away. Walking with his head bowed, Li Xuanling heard the two men chuckling.
¡°You¡¯re fortunate, child. The general has agreed to let the youngdy pick ten of her own ves, and you¡¯re the first one she picked.¡±
Realizing that Li Jingtian had found a means tomunicate, Li Xuanling willingly followed them.
After a simple rinse of his body, Li Xuanling was unceremoniously shoved into Li Jingtian¡¯s tent.
Those from Mount Yue paid little attention to etiquette, so Li Xuanling, still damp, stepped onto the mat and nced around. To his relief, he saw only Li Jingtian inside and let out a soft sigh of relief.
Li Jingtian set aside what she was holding and hurried over, whispering urgently in his ear, ¡°I¡¯ve gathered information about Family Head!¡±
It turned out that over the past ten days, Li Xiangping had been pursued relentlessly to the west, deep into the territory of Mount Yue. He had been raiding Mount Yue viges and rallying desperate vagrants in Jianixi¡¯s territories, causing significant unrest in the area.
Upon hearing of these disturbances, Jianixi, who was raiding the ns under the governance of the Golden Tang Gate in the north, ordered Mu Jiaoman to return there to suppress the troops. This was why they were departing tomorrow.
Li Xuanling was taken aback as he murmured in disbelief, ¡°What is Family Head thinking...?¡±
As he snapped back to his senses, he whispered back, ¡°Let¡¯s not care about all of that first. Tonight, when the crescent moon is high, I¡¯ll be gathering wood far from the stronghold. That¡¯s when we¡¯ll make our escape. I¡¯ll create a distraction, and you¡¯ll pretend to leave the tent to use the restroom. I¡¯ll take care of the Mount Yue guards and then get you out of here.¡±
Li Jingtian, concerned, whispered back, ¡°Will it really work? We must be wary of Mount Yue patrols.¡±
¡°Don''t worry,¡± Li Xuanling reassured her confidently, ¡°I¡¯ve been monitoring the tents where those Mount Yue soldiers of the Embryonic Breathing Realm stay for days. They won¡¯t be able to notice us.¡±
After a moment of consideration, Li Jingtian nodded firmly and said, ¡°And if we draw the attention of arge number of soldiers...¡±
Li Xuanling paused for a moment before answering, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you behind and head east to draw them away.¡±
Li Jingtian shook her head, her voice gentle but firm as she said, ¡°Mu Jiaoman wouldn¡¯t do anything to me even if I were to be captured again. But you, with a spiritual orifice, are too valuable to take any chances with.¡±
Seeing Li Xuanling bowing his head in silence, Li Jingtian continued asking with a hint of concern in her voice, ¡°And what if Mu Jiaoman personallyes after us...?¡±
¡°Being pursued by a general of the Qi Cultivation Realm?¡±
Li Xuanling¡¯s hand brushed against the mirror hidden within his clothing. He was not that confident about Mu Jiaoman¡¯s strength after getting struck by the Supreme Yin Profound Light.
¡°Given Mount Yue¡¯s notorious reputation, the both of us will surely face dire consequences if captured! We¡¯ll either be exploited and used to coerce our family.¡±
He locked eyes with Li Jingtian and gritted his teeth. With a tone as cold as steel, he dered, ¡°If it everes to that... I¡¯ll kill you first before killing myself!¡±
Chapter 95: Escape
Chapter 95: Escape
Li Jingtian froze, her expression reflecting a mix of emotions. She gently rubbed Li Xuanling¡¯s head and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll have to rely on you to do it.¡±
As soon as Li Jingtian said that, amotion erupted outside the tent. Mu Jiaoman¡¯s deep angry voice reverberated through the air, ¡°You again?! Who the hell are you? You¡¯ve provoked us repeatedly, do you really think we¡¯re easy targets?¡±
Li Xuanling and Li Jingtian exchanged nces, then swiftly lifted the tent curtain to peek outside. A middle-aged man wielding a sword stood in midair, above the stronghold, with translucent light blue River True Essence flowing around him.
The man was calmly looking at the Mount Yue soldiers that were quickly gathering below him. He was none other than Li Tongya.
His voice, amplified through mana enchantment, echoed throughout the stronghold, ¡°The Li Family and Mount Yue have always coexisted peacefully. Yet, you have attacked our Mount Lijing without cause, stolen our Spirit Rice, and taken our people hostage. And now, you ask me who I am?¡±
Li Xuanling breathed a sigh of relief and whispered joyfully, ¡°Father is here!¡±
Meanwhile, Mu Jiaoman soared into the air, apanied by two Mount Yue shamans behind him.
¡°The four ridges were originally promised as payment by your demon gate! Why are you all going back on your words now? The Spirit Rice, spirit fruits, as well as the people, are now in our possession. They belong to Mount Yue.¡±
Scowling at the pulsating sword aura in Li Tongya¡¯s grasp, Mu Jiaoman clenched his teeth and dered, ¡°Withdraw now and we¡¯ll spare your life.¡±
With a sneer, Li Tongya lifted his light gray sword, sending out several sharp sword qi that caught Mu Jiaoman and the other two shamans off guard.
More than ten days ago, Li Tongya encountered Mu Jiaoman and his group while crossing the border in search of Li Xiangping. Knowing that Li Tongya was a formidable foe, they hurriedly performed hand seals to cast their spells.
Mu Jiaoman and the other two shamans cultivated their qi through secret techniques of the Mount Yue Tribe. They had never used any legitimate qi gathering method and merely consumed various forms of unrefined qi. Therefore, the strength of their spells was way inferior to Li Tongya, cing them at a significant disadvantage once more.
Having meticulously honed his Profound Water Sword Technique for nearly thirty years, Li Tongya¡¯s sword auras were swift and precise. Despite their attempts to evade, the three of them found themselves struggling to keep up, and chaos erupted in the barracks like a boiling cauldron.
¡°Perfect chance!¡± Li Xuanling eximed as he swiftly kicked off the shackles on his legs and grabbed Li Jingtian. With one hand, he snapped the necks of the Mount Yue guards at the entrance and hastily dashed a few steps before vaulting over the wooden fence.
Outside the fence, two Mount Yue soldiers stood bewildered, mouths agape, staring into space. Li Xuanling swiftly incapacitated them with two Golden Light Spells, showing no remorse for their demise.
Ignoring their fate, he cast a Divine Movement Spell on his leg, then carried Li Jingtian and disappeared into the mountain forest.
His movements were fluid and swift, akin to a panther. While everyone was preupied with the scene in the air, it took just a short moment for Li Xuanling to reach the stronghold¡¯s outskirts with Li Jingtian.
By the time a few soldiers near the army tent reacted, Li Xuanling had already vanished without a trace.
There were no seasoned experts present in the surroundings. Those of the Embryonic Breathing Realm had already departed to suppress the ongoing chaos. Furthermore, their spiritual sense could only be extended a short distance, barely reaching beyond thirty meters.
¡°Damn it!¡± Mu Jiaoman bellowed from above, his teeth clenched in anger.
He shouted indignantly, ¡°If the Great King were here, he would never allow you to get away with acting so brazenly!¡±
Jianixi, a cultivator who had attained the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, had undergone a peculiar experience in his early years.
His cultivation method was authentically passed down in sects, augmented by the absorption of spiritual qi of heaven and earth. With his weapon mastery, he held sway over numerous factions in the northern foothills.
Li Tongya paid no heed to his words as he silently assessed Jianixi¡¯s strength against that of Li Chejing in his mind. Gripping his sword, he thought to himself...
I¡¯m only at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. One of these three people is at the fourth heavenlyyer while the other two are at the second heavenlyyer. I¡¯ll eventually run out of mana if I rely solely on the Profound Water Sword Qi. I must tread carefully.
With a sweep of his sword qi, Li Tongya managed to momentarily push back the three assants who came forward to him.
ncing down, he observed the stronghold gradually regaining stability.
I wonder if the two kids have escaped. If not, I must withdraw after a few more exchanges and wait for another opportunity.
After intercepting a dozen moves from the three enemies, Li Tongya once again repelled them with his sword. Then without a word, he turned around and fled east.
Mu Jiaoman¡¯s angry shout echoed after him, ¡°Such audacity! You think you cane and go as you please?¡±
He gritted his teeth and conjured a dense ck qi, but this caused his essence qi to diminish slightly¡ªhe was using a formidable Mount Yue shaman¡¯s secret spell.
The thick ck qi swirled and expanded, forming arge skull that hurtled toward Li Tongya.
Watching from below, Lu Jiangxian was momentarily taken aback, sensing a familiarity with the ck qi. It felt like a product of the mirror, evoking an impulse to draw it closer with a finger and devour it.
After a brief contemtion and a nce at Mu Jiaoman, Lu Jiangxian decided to prioritize self-preservation over fleeting indulgences. He continued to feign death in the mirror while discreetly activating his divine sense to closely monitor Li Tongya¡¯s situation.
Although Li Tongya could not identify the spell being cast by Mu Jiaoman, he sensed its malevolent nature. Dodging and weaving in the air, Li Tongya attempted to evade the surging ck qi, but it suddenly sped up and collided with his back.
With a boomingugh, Mu Jiaoman taunted, ¡°This shaman spell is extremely phenomenal. Your tricks won¡¯t save you, even if you flee to the ends of the earth!¡±
Feeling his limbs going cold, Li Tongya forced his mana to circte in his body. His flight speed even decreased slightly. However, upon closer inspection, he detected no further anomalies.
Is that it?
Perplexed, Li Tongya nced back and noticed that despite his slowed speed, he was gradually distancing himself from the three enemies.
This unexpected turn left Mu Jiaoman infuriated and bewildered. Feeling his subordinates¡¯ stares boring holes into his back, he muttered under his breath, ¡°What the hell is going on?¡±
Meanwhile, beneath them, Lu Jiangxian chuckled inwardly as he studied the structure of the ck qi that had attached itself to the back of Li Tongya¡¯s clothes. Most of it was currently under the control of his divine sense.
It resembles talisman qi, although considerably weaker. The medium of the Sacrificial Ritual Method is the mirror, but that seems to have been changed to the spell caster... There must be a strong connection between shamans and the mirror!
Recalling the yellow talisman of the Golden Core Realm found in the direction of the Great Jueting, Lu Jiangxian quietly noted down this newfound insight from the ck qi in his heart before quickly dissipating it.
I suppose I can study this matter when I have spare time; at least it beats spending all my time sleeping in the mirror.
Chapter 96: Losses
Chapter 96: Losses
Mu Jiaoman and the two shamans chased after Li Tongya for some time, cursing loudly before they eventually ceased their chase and retreated with awkward looks on their faces.
Li Tongya managed to nce back and watch Mu Jiaoman and the others leave, a subtle smile ying on his lips.
After channeling his mana throughout his body for just one cycle, the slight difort brought on by the curse swiftly vanished. Perplexed and pausing to reflect, he deduced that the leader of Mount Yue had yet to perfect his skills, thereby bringing shame upon himself through his inadequate mastery.
After regting his breathing to restore his mana, Li Tongya nced around and then glided close to the ground. The River Pure Qi he had consumed previously rolled in his Qihai acupoint, rendering him weightless and enabling him to move without his feet touching the ground.
¡°I should return first and see if those two kids are back. If not, I¡¯ll have to infiltrate the stronghold once more.¡±
Staying close to the ground and moving with deliberate care, Li Tongya flew for an hour. Upon finally sensing the presence of the two disheveled children, Li Xuanling and Li Jingtian, within the range of his spiritual sense, relief washed over him.
Li Xuanling had cast a spell on his leg, causing them to glow in white, as he easily navigated through the forest with Li Jingtian in his arms. He was running so quickly that mud water sttered on his body.
The kid avoided the eastern route toward Mount Lijing, for fear of running into Mu Jiaoman and the others who had failed to pursue Li Tongya. He deliberately picked the further route, which exined why Li Tongya had to spend a long time to locate them.
Li Tongya gentlynded before Li Xuanling, his smile broadening upon seeing their astonished expressions. Li Xuanling¡¯s eyes immediately reddened with tears.
Having endured days of being a hostage and forced to face life-and-death situations, Li Xuanling was pent up with frustration. He released Li Jingtian who already had tears streaming down her face and cried out, ¡°Father!¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s heart clenched at the sight. He embraced his son, soothing him, ¡°There, there, everything¡¯s fine now... It¡¯s our fault as elders for making both of you suffer so much.¡±
With a sigh, Li Tongya lifted each of his children with one hand and ascended into the sky.
¡°Jianixi has indeed proven to be a formidable enemy, driving our family to this state. Your third uncle¡¯s escape route had been cut off and he was forced westward. I¡¯ve received no news of him since,¡± he exined softly.
Recalling the cold message he received on the jade seal from the Azure Pond Sect that read ¡°Endure¡±, Li Tongya gazed into the fading twilight and murmured, ¡°We can only rely on ourselves and be stronger.¡±
¡°Father, I¡¯ve heard that our Family Head has ventured deep into Mount Yue¡¯s territory. Have you already heard about this?¡± Li Xuanling asked, wiping away his tears as he recalled the information he heard.
Li Tongya hesitated, then reassured him, ¡°Don''t worry, your uncle will surely get out of there safely.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Upon Li Tongya¡¯s return to Mount Lijing, he found that Li Xuanfeng was in seclusion. Li Xuanxuan had already managed the vige affairs and organized a militia of two to three hundred people to maintain order.
Once Li Tongya put down the two kids, Li Xuanling went to the backyard to return the mirror.
Li Jingtian was extremely exhausted from the entire ordeal. She went to the side courtyard to inform her mother, Tian Yun, that she was back safely, then washed up and retired to bed.
Li Xuanxuan was also relieved to see them back and inquired about news of Li Xiangping. Li Xuanling shared the information he had gathered in the stronghold, but Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan fell into contemtive silence after listening to him.
It was at this moment that Li Tongya suddenly recalled that Li Xiangping had chosen the Evade Death, Prolong Life option when he received the talisman qi. Feeling slightly at peace, he asked, ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about Xiangping for now. The Misty Maze Formation has been broken, did you manage to retrieve the formation gs?¡±
Li Xuanxuan quickly produced three formation gs and exined, ¡°When the grand formation was broken, all the six formation gs were scattered about the mountain. I have only managed to recover three of them. The remaining ones were probably taken away by those from Mount Yue.¡±
¡°Apart from that, five spirit fields have been plundered. We¡¯ve lost over three hundred jin of Spirit Paddies and more than ten spirit fruits. I¡¯ve arranged for people to rent the fields that were plundered. The overall estimated total loss is around twenty Spirit Stones,¡± he reported.
Li Tongya nodded in acknowledgment, but Li Xuanxuan continuedmenting, ¡°With the Misty Maze Formation destroyed, Mount Lijing is now left vulnerable without any protection. We don¡¯t have any other formations at home, though.¡±
¡°What about Wan Tianchou?¡± Li Tongya asked as he carefully put away the three formation gs into his storage pouch.
Li Xuanxuan shook his head and answered in disappointment, ¡°The kid¡¯s not a master in that field. He has only learned two formations out of the many formations in the Wan Family¡¯s legacies. Both are small formations of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, suitable for individual protection but not enough to safeguard the mountain.¡±
Li Tongya, after a moment of reflection, suggested, ¡°Mount Lijing was plunderedrgely due to ourck of protective formations. Go set up a few small formations that could deter the mortals froming up here. I n to spend the next few years gathering River Pure Qi. If Xiangping doesn¡¯t return by then, I¡¯ll sell it and see if it¡¯s possible to bring someone from the Xiao Family here to set up a formation of the Qi Cultivation Realm.¡±
Li Xuanxuan looked troubled and said, ¡°This would mean wasting Second Uncle¡¯s valuable cultivation time to gather the pure qi...¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Li Tongya replied, shaking his head.
¡°None of you have yet to break through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and awaken your spiritual sense. Without it, you cannot gather this pure qi. Moreover, even with a spiritual sense, gathering qi as a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm is exceedingly slow. We can¡¯t afford to wait eight to ten years.¡±
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that this type of spiritual qi of heaven and earth is very sparse. A vast expanse of reeds can only produce a portion of it over five years,¡± he added.
Li Xuanxuan nodded in understanding, and Li Tongya continued, ¡°Besides, should another person from our Li Family attain the Qi Cultivation Realm, the Azure Pond Sect will likely issue higher-level spirit seeds and change their demands on the tributes.¡±
Li Xuanxuan paused briefly before asking, ¡°That means our Li Family needs to increase our tributes, right? I wonder if we can hide this from the sect...¡±
Li Tongya shook his head and replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need to do that. Dying two or three decades won¡¯t change the inevitable. It¡¯s not worth it to risk offending the Azure Pond Sect. Although they¡¯ve seemed indifferent about us over the past few years, it¡¯s wise to remain cautious. The Azure Pond Sect¡¯s motives are unclear, and we must be wary of their actions.¡±
¡°The Azure Pond Sect sees us as nothing more than livestock!¡± It was at this moment, they were interrupted by another voice.
Li Xuanfeng strode into the room with a smile on his face. Li Tongya expanded his spiritual sense, then chuckled and asked, ¡°You achieved a breakthrough, huh?¡±
Li Xuanfeng nodded and answered, ¡°I¡¯ve reached the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and condensed the Jade Capital Chakra! Having a spiritual sense is a truly amazing feeling.¡±
Li Xuanxuan offered him a congrattory smile, tinged with envy, and apliment.
Li Xuanfeng shook his head humbly. He was worried about his father, Li Xiangping, and could hardly feel the joy over his achievement. Carrying his longbow on his back, he dered, ¡°I¡¯ll hunt some demonic creatures nearby to help support our family.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t stray too far,¡± Li Tongya warned.
Although he knew Li Xuanfeng was capable of handling a few demonic creatures around Mount Dali, he was still concerned for his safety.
Li Xuanfeng nodded, then left. Li Tongya returned his attention to Li Xuanxuan and encouraged him, ¡°You must also diligently pursue your cultivation. If you reach the Qi Cultivation Realm stage, it will give me peace of mind.¡±
¡°Understood!¡± Li Xuanxuan nodded vigorously. Just then, they heard a messenger report from outside, ¡°Young Family Head! A visitor from the town has arrived, representing the Lu Family of Mount Tiaoyun from the east!¡±
Chapter 97: Wishes (I)
Chapter 97: Wishes (I)
¡°Bring him here,¡± Li Tongya instructed grimly after hearing the n soldier¡¯s report.
It must be about the Ji Family. After all, the Ji Family is situated between the Lu Family of Mount Tiaoyun to the east and the Li Family of Mount Lijing to the west. Come to think of it, it is likely that the Lu family is thinking ofunching a pincer attack against the Ji Family.
Just as Li Tongya was lost in his flurry of thoughts, an old man in a white flowing robe was escorted into the courtyard.
His hair was as white as a crane¡¯s feathers, contrasting with his face¡ªwhich was rosy-colored. He held a jade scepter in hand, immediately cupping his fist at the people in the courtyard.
¡°Lu Sisi from the Lu Family of Mount Tiaoyun, which is under the governance of Azure Pond Sect... it¡¯s a pleasure to meet both of you,¡± he greeted with a genuine smile.
¡°Li Tongya from the Li Family of Mount Lijing,¡± Li Tongya replied in the same cordial manner, returning the gesture. With his spiritual sense, he learned that Lu Sisi had attained the fifth or sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
The jade scepter in the old man¡¯s hand glowed subtly which indicated its quality, one that far surpassed the sword that hung at Li Tongya¡¯s waist¡ªa weapon of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
¡°Please, have a seat,¡± Li Tongya said, gesturing for Lu Sisi to sit. As the old man settled into his seat, Li Xuanling and the others quietly left.
epting the tea served by a servant, Li Tongya fell silent before asking the question that lingered in his mind.
¡°What brings you here, senior?¡±
Lu Sisi raised his gray eyebrows and his smile widened as he replied, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m here to congratte you... Junior Tongya.¡±
Li Tongya frowned, unsure and confused by the old man¡¯s words.
¡°What is there to congratte me for?¡±
¡°Those from Mount Yue invaded our borders and plundered over ten families, destroying six of them in the process. When I ascended Mount Lijing, the mortals seemed mostly fine, save for a few that looked depressed, and understandably so. I¡¯m guessing that your family did not suffer significant loss... now isn¡¯t that something worth congratting?¡± Lu Sisi pointed out quietly with a smile.
Despite the softness in the old man¡¯s voice, Li Tongya was visibly tense.
¡°What are you implying, elder?¡± he asked cautiously with a frown.
Lu Sisi took a sip of tea before continuing.
¡°The Ji Family has taken Mount Huaqian, and the Lu Family wishes to reim it. The mountain is ours to keep, but we¡¯llpensate your family with precious items and Spirit Stones. If we work together, we can remove ourmon enemy and avenge my family.¡±
¡°Oh? What is the bad blood between your family and the Ji Family?¡± Li Tongya asked, appearing unfazed or swayed by the man¡¯s words.
¡°The Lu Family actually sent a Qi Cultivator to support Mount Huaqian back then, but unfortunately, that person perished there...¡± Lu Sisi revealed, his expression and voice solemn.
Li Tongya decided to delve deeper.
¡°What¡¯s the background of the Ji Family? How many Qi Cultivators do they have in their family? Would you happen to know anything about that, senior?¡±
Lu Sisi nodded with the same solemn expression.
¡°The Ji Family currently has two Qi Cultivators. The head of their family, Ji Dengqi, is in the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm... around the fifth or sixth heavenly level. One of their disciples just broke through the Qi Cultivation Realm in recent years too... and as for their background, there¡¯s a rumor that one of the girls from the Ji Family is serving someone important in the Golden Tang Gate.¡±
Li Tongya smiled wryly, before finally shaking his head in resignation.
¡°If Senior Lu is already aware of this connection... surely, you must realize that we can¡¯t afford to offend the Ji Family?¡±
Lu Sisi chuckled at the hesitation in Li Tongya¡¯s voice, before setting his tea bowl aside.
¡°Considering I decided to pay you a visit with such a demand, naturally it would have been because I¡¯ve received good news.¡±
The old man lowered his voice and continued, ¡°A contact within the Golden Tang Gate informed me that they¡¯ve reassigned many guards from Moongaze Lake over the past three years. If my guess is right, there must be some internal strife happening in the Golden Tang Gate...¡±
¡°Oh?¡±
This piqued Li Tongya¡¯s interest immediately, and his ears perked up in response.
¡°What did the Azure Pond Sect say about this?¡± he asked carefully.
¡°They issued an order,¡± Lu Sisi replied, producing a handwritten document branded with the word Azure Pond. It dered a significant territorial realignment, moving the boundary between the Azure Pond Sect and the Golden Tang Gate thousands of miles northward, granting the Azure Pond Sect ownership of the entire eastern shore of Moongaze Lake.
¡°This decree was issued by the prefecture just a few days ago. After seeing it and considering the timing of it all... I believe that the cultivator in the middle stage of the Purple Mansion Realm from Golden Tang Gate must have reached the end of his life; thus leaving only a cultivator in the early stage of the Purple Mansion Realm!¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s eyes immediately widened, momentarily taken aback by the news.
¡°The passing of a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm is a significant incident that the Golden Tang Gate would surely conceal. How is the Azure Pond Sect so well-informed?¡± he asked, his voice stillced with concern.
The three sects and seven gates were esteemed organizations as they had at least one or several legacies within the Purple Mansion Realm.
It was rumored that each of the three sects had more than three of them, while the seven gates had only one or two. On top of that, the sects were guarded by cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm.
With the passing of the Golden Tang Gate¡¯s cultivator in the middle stage of the Purple Mansion Realm, their influence was bound to wane¡ªthough not to the extent of endangering their survival.
Lu Sisi shook his head and replied, ¡°People like us will never know what happened between the cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm... but that¡¯s enough talking. Will the Li Family participate in this or not?¡±
Li Tongya shut his eyes and took a moment to consider, a furrow in his brow. Given the Li Family¡¯s current need for legacies and resources, this was definitely an extremely tempting proposal. On top of that, it was an opportunity to address a longstanding issue.
Still, Li Tongya remained cautious and sought further rification.
¡°The Ji Family¡¯s connection to the ¡®important figure¡¯ in the Golden Tang Gate is rumored to be their young master. Does he have anything to do with that fallen cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm?¡±
¡°He¡¯s the grandson of that very cultivator! That lineage... now uncertain of its standing, might be looking to assert its power within the gate. They won¡¯t have time to take care of the Ji Family,¡± Lu Sisi replied with emotion in his voice.
¡°Very well.¡± Li Tongya nodded before gritting his teeth, appearing to be deep in his thoughts.
¡°I have a few conditions though.¡±
¡°Please, go ahead.¡±
¡°First, should any of the Ji Family¡¯s cultivation methods or secret technique manualse into our possession, I intend to make a copy for the Li Family. This is not to be considered part of our agreedpensation,¡± Li Tongya stipted, his voice full of resolve.
Lu Sisi nodded without any hesitation.
¡°Fine by me.¡±
¡°Secondly, I will act independently as a rogue cultivator from Moongaze Lake, instead of someone from the Li Family of Mount Lijing. Should I encounter overwhelming opposition, I¡¯ll retreat immediately. Any loot from those I defeat will be mine to im,¡± Li Tongya continued.
Lu Sisi was momentarily taken aback by this demand of Li Tongya¡¯s. Heughed wryly and could not help but express a mix of admiration and envy, ¡°Your prudence ismendable. If only my own kin possessed a fraction of your foresight, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry so much...¡±
Li Tongya smiled softly, remaining quiet. Lu Sisi thought for a while before finally responding.
¡°Fine. The assets from Mount Huaqian shall be equally shared... thirty percent of the spirit springs and fields will bepensated to your family in the form of Spirit Stones or treasures of equal value.¡±
Li Tongya sipped his tea thoughtfully, his eyes having a gleam in them.
¡°Alright then, I would have to have you take a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath!¡±
Without any hesitation, Lu Sisi nodded and agreed with a small smile.
¡°Of course, that is only proper.¡±
Together, they performed the oath, feeling a faint mark etched into their Profound Scenery Chakras.
Li Tongya then asked, "When shall we depart?"
¡°I¡¯lle again in three days and we¡¯ll journey toward Mount Huaqian together, fellow Daoist.¡±
And to this, Li Tongya nodded in acknowledgment.
After seeing Lu Sisi off, he returned to the courtyard and saw Li Xuanxuan who was lost in thought.
¡°I still have a Jade Sprout Pill in my storage, a trophy from Xiangping¡¯s previous conquests. I intend to enter seclusion to break through to the third heavenly level of the Qi Cultivation Realm to enhance my chances of sess,¡± he spoke softly, informing the boy of his intentions.
Upon hearing this, Li Xuanxuan immediately rose to his feet and cupped his fist respectfully.
¡°Rest assured during your seclusion, Second Uncle! I¡¯ll take good care of our home!¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Chapter 98: Wishes (II)
Chapter 98: Wishes (II)
Li Chejing stood before the teeming beasts at the foot of the mountain, his cultivation radiating in great power. His white robe fluttered in the evening breeze, drawing admiring nces from those around him.
¡°Is that Li Chejing, the Qingsui Sword Immortal?" they whispered in hushed voices.
¡°Indeed, just look at his aura! He¡¯s surely a mere step away from attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm!¡±
Despite the gossip around him, Li Chejing was acutely aware of his own situation. In reality, he was closer than a mere step away from attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm. As a matter of fact, he had to constantly suppress his true essence in order to prevent it from liquifying.
With just a thought, he could trigger the liquefaction of the six chakras of the Embryonic Breathing Realm within his body. His cultivation would then converge at his Qihai acupoint to form the foundation of the Great Dao, thereby breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
I can¡¯t keep dying this... The sect has sent people to pressure me thrice already!
As Li Chejing mulled over his situation, the handsome man in white beside him patted his shoulder.
¡°Junior... you¡¯re at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm already, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Li Chejing sighed internally, before turning around to face the man dressed in white.
¡°Yes. Has Senior Chie to urge me toward attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm?¡± he asked.
Senior Chi was slightly taken aback by Li Chejing¡¯s response but nodded.
¡°Yes, the sect is looking forward to it. They have also prepared the pills to help you with your breakthrough... you can enter seclusion and focus on your breakthrough any time now, Junior Brother.¡±
Li Chejing nodded in response with an appreciative smile.
¡°How kind of the sect. Chejing can only express his gratitude!¡±
Senior Chi nodded, though his expression changed briefly.
¡°Naturally. However... how confident are you in breaking through, Junior Brother?¡± Senior Chi asked quietly, a hint of hesitance in his voice as he cleared his throat awkwardly.
Li Chejing feigned a troubled expression and answered, ¡°Less than eighty percent...¡±
¡°Eighty percent?!¡±
Senior Chi frowned at Li Chejing¡¯s answer. An eighty percent sess rate was extraordinarily high by any standard, yet considering the plethora of heavenly treasures Li Chejing had consumed, his mere ¡®eighty percent confidence¡¯ left Senior Chi perplexed.
Looks like I have no choice but to part with this Essence Gathering Pill...
With a soft sigh, Senior Chi reached into his brocade pouch and retrieved a jade bottle, offering it to Li Chejing with a smile.
"I have another Essence Gathering Pill, you may use it.¡±
Li Chejing nodded and epted the jade bottle with an expression of great gratitude.
¡°Thank you, Senior Brother!¡±
Senior Chi, concealing his dismay over the loss of his valuable resource, maintained a smile on his face as he gave Li Chejing words of encouragement.
¡°Prepare yourself well before entering seclusion to achieve your breakthrough!¡±
Li Chejing nodded vigorously, then descended from the mountain. As he walked past Senior Chi, a chilling remark from Senior Chi stopped him dead in his tracks.
¡°Li Chejing! You must seed in attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm, failure is not an option, and... you do not wish to face the consequences.¡±
This warning caused Li Chejing to pause momentarily, his gaze lifting to meet Senior Chi¡¯s seemingly kind smile.
Li Chejing chuckled in response, shaking his head while he continued his descent down the mountain.
Senior Chi watched Li Chejing¡¯s retreating figure coldly as he mumbled to himself.
¡°It¡¯s just a few pills for someone on the brink of death. The Old Ancestor¡¯s Nascent Essence Pill... that''s a treasure we cannot afford to squander.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Chejing descended the mountain and took a moment to collect his thoughts before entering a small pavilion at the foot of the mountain. He climbed the slightly worn pearwood stairs, his attention drawn to a youth that was sprawled drunkenly across a square, brownish-red table.
¡°Deng Qiuzhi!¡± Li Chejing called out as soon as he recognized the man, lifting the young man up from his drunken sprawl. With a quick flick of his wrist, the Moon and Autumn Essences swiftly gathered in his hand, forming a handful of clearke water which he then sshed directly onto Deng Qiuzhi¡¯s face.
It worked, and the cold water immediately startled Deng Qiuzhi awake. Water was trickling down his hair and face, evaporating into spiritual qi right away upon falling to the ground. The spell was cast with such finesse that it showcased the caster¡¯s profound cultivation.
Blinking away his disorientation, Deng Qiuzhi recognized Li Chejing in his drunken stupor and greeted him with a sloppy grin.
¡°Brother Jing! You¡¯re here early today!¡±
Li Chejing took a seat and managed to fill an entire cup from the remaining contents of the leftover wine bottles on the table. He brought it close to his lips and took a sip before speaking.
¡°I¡¯ll be attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm tomorrow.¡±
Deng Qiuzhi, even in his drunken state, was taken aback by his statement. Tears welled up in his eyes, blinking once more as he tried to focus on the man in front of him. ¡°Brother Jing, are you really sure?¡± he asked with concern and unsureness.
Li Chejing nodded with a carefree chuckle.
¡°We are going to get devoured!¡± he grinned.
Deng Qiuzhi quietly lifted his cup in response to Li Chejing¡¯s cheerful demeanor, only to find it empty. ¡°You¡¯re really optimistic,¡± he mumbled, a frown on his face.
Li Chejing smiled and said, ¡°We¡¯ve already had it all figured out over the past few years anyway, and I¡¯m the primaryponent, while you are the secondaryponent. I wonder what kind of divine elixir we¡¯ll be...¡±
After finishing the wine in his cup, Li Chejing stood up but stilled. After a moment of deliberation, he spoke.
¡°Hm, this wine isn¡¯t strong enough.¡±
After muttering these words, Li Chejing then turned and made his way out of the pavilion.
His next stop was a cave dwelling on the mountain. He knocked on the stone door and waited.
Not long after, it swung open.
¡°Jing¡¯er...¡±
The person who greeted him was none other than his senior brother, Xiao Yuansi, with herbs in his hands. Upon seeing Li Chejing, a look of guilt washed over Xiao Yuansi¡¯s face.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in, Senior Brother?¡± Li Chejing asked with a cheeky smile on his face.
Xiao Yuansi, realizing his oversight, quickly stepped aside to wee him in with a sheepish expression. He hurried to serve tea as they sat at a stone table, his gaze lingering on Li Chejing.
¡°You¡¯ve also reached the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm, Senior Brother. How confident are you in attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm?¡± Li Chejing inquired.
¡°My chances are not as favorable as yours, with only about thirty to forty percent. I believe I¡¯ll need a few more years of preparation,¡± Xiao Yuansi replied grimly with a shake of his head.
Li Chejing nodded in response.
After exchanging a few more words, he finally got into the purpose of his visit.
¡°I¡¯vee with some... matters that I hope you can help me with, Senior Brother.¡±
¡°What is it, Jing¡¯er...?¡±
Li Chejing took out a jade bottle from his pocket and showed it to Xiao Yuansi. ¡°Zhiyun gave me this Essence Gathering Pill... please send this to my family,¡± he requested.
Xiao Yuansi nodded in understanding before hesitation filled his expression.
¡°Then you...¡± his voice trailed off as his eyes nced at Li Chejing questioningly.
¡°I won¡¯t be using it.¡± Li Chejing announced, shaking his head with a confident smile.
He proceeded toy out several items from his storage pouch and exined, "Over the years, I¡¯ve earned some merit and traded it for an alchemy legacy. I heard that Xuanfeng¡¯er is skillful with bow and arrows, just like his father, so I¡¯ve obtained this secret technique for them. The rest I¡¯ve exchanged for Spirit Stones¡ªabout a hundred in total. I¡¯ve also drawn some talismans throughout these years. So please... help me take these back to them, Senior Brother.¡±
Xiao Yuansi naturally understood Li Chejing¡¯s intention, listening intently to his instructions with tears glistening in his eyes.
With sorrow in his voice, he proimed loudly, ¡°Jing¡¯er, Qingsui Peak owes you an apology!¡±
Li Chejing paused before shaking his head and chuckled lightly, dismissing his apology.
¡°Senior Brother, there¡¯s no need for such sentiments. Everything I¡¯ve learned and gained came from Qingsui Peak, and now... I¡¯m merely giving back to the sect. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that, so let¡¯s not dwell on such thoughts.¡±
Despite this, Xiao Yuansi continued, ¡°No matter the circumstances, both the Xiao Family and Qingsui Peak have supported the Li Family and myself extensively. We will always hold this kindness in high regard!¡±
With those words, Li Chejing rose from his seat and performed a deep and solemn bow¡ªfirst toward Si Yuanbai in the north, honoring him despite his imprisonment¡ªbefore turning to Xiao Yuansi.
Tears welled in his eyes as he made a fervent plea, ¡°Senior Brother, I entrust the future care of my family to you.¡±
¡°Jing¡¯er, as long as I, Xiao Yuansi, live, the Li Family¡¯s legacy will be preserved!¡± Xiao Yuansi expressed in great earnest, remaining in his solemn stance.
As Li Chejing wiped away his tears and embraced Xiao Yuansi with a smile, he heard his senior brother whisper in his ear.
¡°Li Chejing, do you have any other wishes?¡±
Li Chejingughed.
¡°Oh, my wishes have been fulfilled. If I were to wish for anything more, it would be to convey my word to that old ancestor of the Purple Mansion Realm who sought to use us as ingredients for his elixir. May his endeavor to break through to the Golden Core Realm fail and his life force deplete, reducing him to mere dust!¡±
His voice was cold and his words sharp.
Chapter 99: Siege (I)
Chapter 99: Siege (I)
Almost instantly after consuming the Jade Sprout Pill, Li Tongya felt a surge of mana throughout his body, his Qihai acupoint brimming with unbridled energy. This enabled him to ascend to the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm with great ease and barely any effort.
The Qi Cultivation Realm was much more straightforwardpared to the Embryonic Breathing Realm, which was so filled with hurdles that some sects even split the Qi Cultivation Realm into three parts¡ªearly, middle, andte stages.
Qi Cultivation was akin to a buildup of cultivation, turning all hurdles into a strong barrier¡ªwhich in itself was the foundation.
After spending a night to break through the realm and an additional two more days to stabilize his cultivation, Li Tongya took a moment to reflect on his progress.
I¡¯ve now attained the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, while Jing¡¯er is likely already at its peak. I wonder how close he is to attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm given how the southern border is fraught with danger... I hope he¡¯s unharmed.
A wave of concern washed over him as realization suddenly dawned upon him.
It¡¯s been years since Jing¡¯er has gone there; and yet... he hasn¡¯t sent a single letter home.
Forcing himself to push aside his worries, Li Tongya exited the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche and summoned Li Xuanxuan.
¡°Have the Wuzha Worms produced silk this year?¡±
¡°Yes, Second Uncle! We¡¯ve collected six cocoons from them,¡± Li Xuanxuan reported.
His clothes were dirty and he looked like he had a terribly sleepless night, having been upied with taking care of the demonic creature Li Xuanfeng had hunted.
Li Tongya rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
¡°Have someone weave the silk into a piece of spirit cloth.¡±
Li Xuanxuan nodded obediently, immediately heading off to carry out his order.
¡°Only a spirit cloth could conceal one¡¯s identity as it can block the user¡¯s spiritual sense. It¡¯s a pity we don¡¯t have more silk... making a cloak out of it would have been ideal,¡± Li Tongya mused as he retrieved the wooden slips Li Chejing had left behind on a shelf.
The cowhide rope holding the wooden strips together was extremely worn out at this point. Though Li Tongya had read these wooden slips countless times, each reading still never failed to provide him with fresh insights.
Likewise, Li Tongya has been reading the Celestial Moon sh technique manual for over a decade now. He could recite the contents of the manual word for word, yet he rarely used the technique during battles as its execution was far too exhausting.
¡°None of our swordsmanship canpare to his...¡± Li Tongya remarked with a resigned smile.
By now, all the younger generations of the Li Family had studied the Profound Water Sword Technique manual and the Celestial Moon sh technique manual written by Li Chejing.
It was only Li Tongya¡¯s son, Li Xuanling, who showed true promise in swordsmanship. Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanxuan, however, could not make heads or tails of those techniques.
After reading for some time, Li Xuanxuan returned with a piece of spirit cloth.
Li Tongya epted the gray veil before testing it with his spiritual sense. Upon finding it imprable as he had expected, he nodded in satisfaction and carefully put the cloth away before exiting the cave dwelling.
He reached into his storage pouch, retrieving several jade bottles that were filled with healing pills before putting them away once again.
Li Tongya then took off his storage pouch and handed it to Li Xuanxuan for safekeeping.
It was right at this moment that he noticed Lu Sisi, who was riding grandly on the wind before alighting at the foot of the mountain.
Li Tongya soared into the air andnded silently beside the old man. He cupped his fist respectfully.
¡°Senior Lu!¡± he greeted with a loud voice.
Lu Sisi gave a mere nod in acknowledgment, and without wasting a moment, they both took flight and rode on the wind to journey eastward.
Following closely behind, Li Tongya noticed the thick pure qi emanating from Lu Sisi, whose true essence also seemed superior to that of the Qi Cultivators from Mount Yue.
I guess the Lu Family really practices authentic techniques... probably consuming Minor Pure Spiritual Qi.
Li Tongya recalled a conversation with Wan Yuankai years earlier when they were submitting tributes to the sect together.
Wan Yuankai had mentioned that the Lu Family¡¯s cultivation techniques involved harnessing the Minor Pure Spiritual Qi, and Li Tongya has finally verified the uracy of Wan Yuankai¡¯s im today.
As they approached Mount Huaqian, Lu Sisi abruptly increased their altitude without any warning. With a swift motion, he pped his storage pouch and a talisman appeared in his left palm.
Swoosh!
The talisman wasunched into the sky, where it burst into a brilliant red bloom. Almost immediately, Li Tongya could see a few figures sprinting through the forest below them.
The response from Mount Huaqian was swift. A protective barrier sprang up instantly as two figures soared into the sky. One of them wielded a long saber with a solemn expression.
It was Ji Dengqi.
¡°You¡¯re actually on Mount Huaqian, huh?¡± Lu Sisi remarked with a strange expression, his jade scepter shooting out from his hand.
With a smirk, he added, ¡°Well... that¡¯s fine by me. I guess we won¡¯t have to ambush you now! Come out, Brother An...¡±
At Lu Sisi¡¯s cue, another figure emerged from the forest. Li Tongya cast a quick nce at the figure¡¯s direction.
It was a bald man with stubble all over his chin. Detecting the flowing true essence within the man, he knew the figure was clearly in the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
¡°Lu Sisi!¡± Ji Dengqi¡¯s gaze hardened at the sight of them.
¡°What¡¯s going on in the Golden Tang Gate?¡± he asked, parrying Lu Sisi¡¯s jade scepter.
Noticing the distressed look on Ji Dengqi¡¯s face, Li Tongya was reminded of his own turmoil during Mount Yue¡¯s unexpected assault on his family, remembering how he had received the same cold and indifferent response from the sect.
It dawned on him that the current situation mirrored the pact between Mount Yue and the Azure Pond Sect. The families abandoned in their sieges likely fell under the agreements made between the Azure Pond Sect and the Golden Tang Gate... which would exin why Ji Dengqi had been left in the dark.
Asbat ensued between Ji Dengqi and the two men, Li Tongya faced a Qi Cultivator from the Ji Family.
The young man, wielding a long pole, appeared to be only twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old. He seemed extremely nervous, a stark contrast to Li Tongya, who unleashed a sword that easily repelled him with a mere flick of his wrist.
This kid shows great potential. However, his spellcasting reveals his inexperience despite his dedicated cultivation over the years.
With another swing of his sword, Li Tongya nearly disarmed the young man, sending his long pole flying.
Amidst the fray, Ji Dengqi, struggling against the two opponents, attempted to dissuade Li Tongya with a desperate plea.
¡°That friend with the sword! The Ji Family is favored by the young master of the Golden Tang Gate... do not be deceived by those two! Withdraw now, and the Ji Family shall forget what happened today!¡±
Li Tongya merely let out a cold chuckle as he knocked the young man¡¯s weapon out of his grasp with barely any effort.
¡°I am from the Wan Family!¡± he bellowed with an air of defiance.
Ji Dengqi was taken aback by the revtion, and still parrying Lu Sisi¡¯s jade scepter, he made a swift break to the north.
¡°Don¡¯t let him escape!¡±
Lu Sisi and the man with the surname An attempted to block Ji Dengqi¡¯s path, while Li Tongya swiftly caught the long pole the young cultivator from the Ji Family had hastily abandoned as he fled southward.
Li Tongya took note of the fleeing young man¡¯s true essence and came to the conclusion that he too, had most likely consumed Minor Pure Spiritual Qi as well.
Li Tongya rode on the wind and gave chase, his own River True Essence granting him a slight speed advantage.
As his targetunched a few talismans of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in a desperate attempt to repel his advances, Li Tongya felt a twinge of heartache.
¡°Those were supposed to be my spoils,¡± Li Tongya muttered to himself as he dispelled the iing talismans with a simple swipe of his sword.
The true essence of those who had consumed River Pure Qi was markedly more potent than those who consumed the Minor Pure Spiritual Qi.
This enhancement in vitality not only increased his flying speed but also granted him an edge in agility. Although there was a slight dy in his ability to execute quick directional changes and leaps, this minor disadvantage had no significant impact on his overall performance.
After a chase that spanned a few miles, Li Tongya breached the true essence that was protecting the young man¡¯s body with his sword. With a turn of his sword, he thrust the tip of the de into the young cultivator¡¯s back, eliciting a pained cry as he fell.
Li Tongya followed at a measured pace, watching coldly as the young man struggled in agony, unable to muster the concentration needed to cast a spell as he was blinded by the pain. As the youth reached out in a desperate attempt to retrieve his storage pouch, Li Tongya, with terrifyingly swift precision, severed his arm with a single sh.
He watched dispassionately as the young man writhed in agony before mercifully delivering the final blow, bringing a quick¡ªbut bloody¡ªend to his suffering.
Chapter 100: Siege (II)
Chapter 100: Siege (II)
Securing the young man¡¯s storage pouch and stowing the long pole in it, Li Tongya tied it to his waist. Now, he had a storage pouch to use once more.
He did not waste time examining his loot, but instead headed straight for Mount Huaqian. While the three men were exchanging blows in the distant sky, Li Tongya focused on destroying the formation of Mount Huaqian.
Of course, the formation on Mount Huaqian was no longer the same Earth Locking Huaqian Formation that was used long ago. The Ji Family had reformed the grand formation with defensive prowess, one that reflected the peak Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Although Li Tongya managed to make a big hole in it with his sword, the gap quickly healed itself, resealing the formation.
With a series of decisive strikes with his sword, aided by the Lu Family¡¯s simultaneous assault at the foot of the mountain, the formation eventually faltered before shattering.
¡°CHARGE!¡±
As chaos quickly ensued at the foot of the mountain, Li Tongya shrouded himself and descended swiftly into the courtyard.
The cey in disarray, abandoned in haste. A quick scan with his spiritual sense revealed that the inhabitants of the mountain had fled toward its base.
Li Tongya curled his lips and frowned in frustration, discovering that the storerooms had already been cleared out. He surveyed the area from his vantage point in the sky, then quickly located the entrance to a cave dwelling.
Unfortunately, it was guarded by a resilient formation that would only falter if Li Tongya were to use a dozen sword qi.
All of a sudden, he was interrupted by a thunderous noise.
Rumble!
Lu Sisi¡¯s true essence was dispersed and his body was almost coal-ck, scorched and burned. He plummeted into the forest, coughing up blood. His condition was extremely critical.
The bald man quickly retreated, bewildered and fearful of such unleashed power.
¡°What kind of talisman was that?!¡±
Ji Dengqi did not answer his question, but hisplexion was ashen. He swung his saber at the bald man, who quickly evaded his assault.
¡°That man from the Wan Family...I¡¯m outmatched! I need backup!¡± Ji Dengqi yelled, panic peeking through his voice.
Li Tongya cursed under his breath as he was forced to give up his exploration of the cave dwelling. He soared into the sky above Mount Huaqian beforeunching a sword qi directly at Ji Dengqi¡¯s back.
¡°Wan Family¡¯s remnants!¡± Ji Dengqi bellowed, his gaze fierce as he turned around and deflected the sword qi with a swift side sh.
Ji Dengqi¡¯s true essence was sharp and powerful, just like his swordy. Li Tongya parried the blows with his own sword aura but was still forced to move backward despite his strength.
Meanwhile, the bald man¡¯s persistent spellcasting forced Ji Dengqi into a defensive stance, only for Li Tongya tounch another sword qi attack aimed precisely at his enemy.
Caught in a difficult position, Ji Dengqi struggled to fend off attacks from multiple fronts. As the battle wore on for about a quarter of an hour, the cries of the Ji Family¡¯s members gradually dwindled.
In a desperate attempt, Ji Dengqi unleashed a talisman, hoping to turn the tide of the battle in his favor.
¡°Oh no!¡±
Li Tongya and the man quickly withdrew.
Thankfully, the talisman¡¯s effect was minimal ¡ª producing a few pathetic sparks before finally fizzling out.
Nevertheless, the momentary distraction allowed Ji Dengqi to flee.
¡°That was a trap!¡± While the bald man chastised himself for his carelessness, Li Tongya had already given chase to Ji Dengqi.
¡°Come on, we mustn¡¯t let him escape!¡± he called out, urging him to follow suit.
Ji Dengqi, after such a prolonged struggle against the bald man and Lu Sisi, found his stamina waning. In his desperation and panic, he had utilized his precious talisman, only for Li Tongya to join the fight.
With his reserves of true essence nearly depleted, Ji Dengqi had no choice but to escape northward.
Ji Dengqi¡¯s escape was abruptly cut short by the jade scepter,pelling him to halt and defend himself.
Lu Sisi, despite his injuries, managed to propel himself through the air again. His bloody legs appeared to have been fractured and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and yet he still gathered the strength to issue a fiercemand.
¡°Don¡¯t let him escape!¡±
The intervention by the jade scepter allowed Li Tongya¡¯s sword to close in on Ji Dengqi. Faced with his inevitable fate, his eyes darkened as he came to understand the utter bleakness of his situation.
As Li Tongya observed Ji Dengqi¡¯s defiant stance, he deliberately slowed his attack, allowing the bald man to catch up. He held his sword at the ready, fixing his gaze on Ji Dengqi.
With a defiantugh, Ji Dengqi discarded his storage bag, hurling it far away before turning to face the bald man. The saber in his hands shone with a golden light, its force indicating that Ji Dengqi was channeling all of what was left of his remaining strength into this final stand.
Li Tongya and Lu Sisi exchanged nces, then seized the opportunity to secure the discarded storage pouch with their true essence. The bald man, overwhelmed by Ji Dengqi¡¯s relentless attack, retreated in rm.
Undeterred, Ji Dengqi pressed on. He raised his long saber, then brought it down on the bald man¡¯s chest with lethal intent.
The bald man sidestepped swiftly to evade the attack just in time, only to see a cold glint of the tip of a sword protruding from Ji Dengqi¡¯s chest.
Ji Dengqi coughed up blood, slowly turning his head around, only to see Li Tongya shaking the blood off his sword before returning it to its sheath.
Ji Dengqi copsed onto the ground with a loud thud, the ground beneath him turning a crimson red.
The two men cast another two spells on Ji Dengqi, to ensure his deathpletely.
Lu Sisi, having secured the storage pouch, flew toward the two men in the sky. He had already bandaged his legs and had renewed vigor.
¡°Who¡¯sing with me to raid the Ji Family¡¯s stronghold on Mount Huazhong?¡± he asked cheerily.
¡°You two may proceed without me. I¡¯ll search Mount Huaqian,¡± Li Tongya replied with a sigh, looking as though his enthusiasm had waned.
The valuable items like Spirit Stones and spirit items were mostly in Ji Dengqi¡¯s storage pouch, which Lu Sisi now possessed. Although Lu Sisi was physically further away from Ji Dengqi at that moment, he still managed to snatch away the storage pouch.
Mount Huazhong was the Ji Family¡¯s ancestral ground. Since Lu Sisi had taken a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath to equally divide any treasures that he finds, Li Tongya was naturally not interested in going there. He would much rather explore the cave dwelling on Mount Huaqian.
The man by the surname An nodded, then departed with Lu Sisi. Li Tongya then made his way back to Mount Huaqian.
The situation on Mount Huaqian was a mess, with cries and pleas for help echoing around him. Approaching the cave, he found the entrance to be guarded by members of the Lu Family who acknowledged him as a senior as a show of respect, having witnessed his earlierbat alongside Lu Sisi.
Li Tongya gave them a brief nod before spending about a quarter of an hour breaching the protective formation of the cave dwelling. He ventured inside, which made the members of the Lu Family exchange uncertain nces with each other, ultimately choosing to remain outside the cave dwelling.
Upon entering the cave dwelling, Li Tongya was greeted by the sight of a bubbling spring, its waters clear and inviting. His spiritual sense quickly discovered several jade stones within its depths, which he promptly retrieved and secured.
Putting away the jade stones, Li Tongya pushed open a stone door, which led to a room with a tea table and several stone stools arranged around it.
On the table rested two jade bottles of different sizes.
The smaller one contained a Jade Sprout Pill, which Li Tongya pocketed with ease, but the big jade bottle was far too big for his storage.
Li Tongya assessed its contents with his spiritual sense and found it to contain a type of spiritual qi of heaven and earth. It was of such rarity and preciousness that Li Tongya decided to secure the bottle to his waist directly.
The room held little else of value. There were also several heartfelt letters from Ji Dengqi¡¯s sister, which Ji Dengqi had carefully ced under a few wooden slips. The most recent letter was dated five years ago.
¡°Hmm... so the young master of Golden Tang Gate goes by the name Situ Yi...¡±
As Li Tongya finished reading the letters, the frown on his face gradually gave way to surprise.
¡°The Azure Pond Sect has been increasingly active in recent times. We must remain vignt. Should Mount Yue venture eastward to encroach upon our territory, we must not engage them in direct conflict. The great shaman has been biding his time for a century, waiting for someone capable of unifying the northern foothills... this individual is intended to be offered as a sacrifice! We must never be the ones to end his life. The wrath of a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm is beyond our means to withstand...¡±
A chill ran down Li Tongya¡¯s spine as he quietly put the letters into his storage pouch.
"It all makes sense now... Jianixi¡¯s eastward assaults against Mount Lijing, the unexined silence following the northern incursion into Golden Tang Gate¡¯s territories, and us being told to endure... It seems the great shaman is willing to pay any price to facilitate the invasions by Mount Yue¡¯s factions, all to shield Jianixi! Such a cold, calcted n!¡±
¡°Sweeping through the tribes to forge the first unified power in the northern foothills of Mount Yue in a century, only to offer their leader as a sacrifice... How malevolent! I wonder what chaos would ensue in the northern foothills following Jianixi¡¯s death?¡±
Feeling as though a shadow had been cast over him, Li Tongya lifted his gaze to stare at the ceiling of the stone room. It was as if he could visualize an immense hand manipting events from afar, moving chess pieces across a grand boardid out across the ruggedndscape and under the expansive sky.
Chapter 101: Curse (I)
Chapter 101: Curse (I)
By the time Li Tongya emerged from the cave dwelling, Mount Huaqian was eerily silent. The members of the Lu Family had sealed off many courtyards and had captured all members of the Ji Family on the mountain.
The stone path beneath Li Tongya¡¯s feet was stained with droplets of blood.
Circling the mountain, Li Tongya spotted Lu Sisi descending from the sky with the bald man, carrying Ji Dengqi¡¯s severed head. Both had expressions of satisfaction as if they had made significant gains.
Lu Sisi grinned at Li Tongya.
¡°Fortune seems to favor us... amidst the chaos on Mount Huazhong, there was only one cultivator of the peak Embryonic Breathing Realm. Despite being a mere youth in his twenties, the young master of the Ji Family tried to destroy the jade slips of their family¡¯s legacies. We then bashed his head in and managed to save half of the total six jade slips!¡± he exined triumphantly.
Li Tongya nodded as he heard this, his thoughts drifting to the bottle of spiritual qi of heaven and earth in the cave dwelling. Ji Dengqi must have saved that for the young family head.
¡°We¡¯ll talk about the jade slipster,¡± he spoke in a grave tone, before gesturing toward the small mountain courtyard and the cave dwelling that was behind him.
¡°The Wan Family¡¯s opulence is evident. Scouring this mountain, I¡¯ve found numerous spirit fields on Mount Huaqian, probably yielding around a hundred jin of Spirit Paddies annually. Not only that, there¡¯s also an exceptional spirit spring. Together, they amount to more than two hundred Spirit Stones. Will you be able to pay, Brother Lu?¡±
Lu Sisi chuckled, then produced twelve small ck gs adorned with white patterns from his storage pouch.
¡°Do you recognize these, Brother Li?¡±
Li Tongya retreated a few steps before soaring into the air.
¡°Formation gs?¡± he asked, eyeing the gs warily.
¡°Correct!¡±
Catching sight of Li Tongya¡¯s guarded stance, Lu Sisi realized his gesture might have been misconstrued.
He hastened to exin, ¡°These are the Wan Family¡¯s prized possession¡ªthe White Feather Purple gs. They used to be Wan Huaqian¡¯s dharma artifacts before they were left on Mount Huaqian as part of the Earth Locking Huaqian Formation. The Ji Family acquired it years ago. They¡¯re definitely worth about two hundred Spirit Stones!¡±
Having visited Mount Lijing, Lu Sisi was well aware of the Li Family¡¯s inadequate defensive mountain formation, leaving them vulnerable to surprise attacks like the one that was orchestrated by Jianixi.
His offer definitely struck Li Tongya where it hurt, as he indeed needed a reliable defensive formation on Mount Lijing to safeguard against future threats.
¡°Senior, you¡¯re exaggerating! The White Feather Purple gs are merely formation gs of the Qi Cultivation Realm, it¡¯s worth no more than a hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Li Tongya shook his head, declining the offer.
Though tempting, spending two hundred Spirit Stones on a set of formation gs was simply impractical and unreasonable.
¡°In that case, I¡¯ll add another fifty Spirit Stones!¡± Lu Sisi added defiantly, taking out fifty more Spirit Stones from his storage pouch before handing them along with the gs to Li Tongya.
¡°I¡¯ve been generous, my friend. Combined with the valuables you found in the cave dwelling... these should make your journey here worthwhile,¡± Lu Sisi said with a serious expression.
Li Tongya paused for a moment before finally obliging and epting the items, carefully stowing them away.
¡°Indeed... with our families set to be neighbors, there¡¯s no need to be overly calctive with each other,¡± he replied thoughtfully after a short pause.
¡°I agree,¡± Lu Sisi remarked, his smile widening as he handed over the three jade slips to Li Tongya.
¡°We¡¯ve transcribed these already, these are the original slips. You can have them.¡±
Li Tongya understood that Lu Sisi was assuring him, letting him know that they were not giving him copies with tampered contents in order to deceive him. He epted the jade slips, checking its contents with his spiritual sense before nodding appreciatively.
¡°Thank you for your generosity, Senior Lu. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±
With that, he gave a curt but respectful nod to the bald man before departing swiftly.
The bald man cupped his fist in response as he watched Li Tongya depart.
¡°Although this matter has been settled and Mount Huazhong has been returned to my family, the Yu Family in the north is still very influential. Let¡¯s continue to keep an eye out for each other, Brother Lu.¡±
¡°Yes... take care, Brother An.¡± Lu Sisi nodded and watched the man leave before entering the cave dwelling.
Watching the running spirit spring, a sigh of relief escaped him before a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
¡°Atst, the spirit spring is in our possession and the Cave Spring Clear Qi is as good as secured. My descendants won¡¯t need to practice thosemon Grade One techniques!¡±
As soon as Li Tongyanded on Mount Lijing, he immediately spotted Li Xuanxuan pacing around anxiously.
Upon seeing Li Tongya, Li Xuanxuan breathed a sigh of relief.
¡°Second Uncle!¡± he greeted cheerfully.
Li Tongya smiled and nodded in acknowledgment before taking out a long pole and handing it to Li Xuanxuan.
¡°Try swinging it!¡± he suggested with a small smile.
Li Xuanxuan did not possess a dharma artifact, so his eyes sparkled in eagerness as he examined the weapon.
Although it was only a dharma artifact of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, it was a significant upgrade for the Li Family ¡ª especially considering the fact that Li Tongya still wielded a longsword of the Embryonic Breathing Realm himself.
Examining the Ji Family¡¯s storage pouch of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Tongya found it to be rather modest, containing only misceneous items ¡ª two Spirit Stones, talismans, and pills ¡ª all of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
¡°I guess I¡¯ll leave these for Xuanfeng,¡± Li Tongya decided.
Li Xuanfeng had attained the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and, therefore was able to use a storage pouch. Since Li Tongya had taken his pouch back, he figured he would give this one to Li Xuanfeng.
¡°Formation gs of superior quality among those of the Qi Cultivation Realm, huh?¡±
Inspecting the twelve White Feather Purple gs, Li Tongya admired them briefly before stowing them back into his pouch and taking out three jade slips.
He picked up the first jade slip and assessed it with his spiritual sense ¡ª the Golden Light Edge Technique manual.
Li Tongya reckoned that it was one of the Ji family¡¯s legacy techniques, likely brought back home by their daughter. It was a Grade Three authentic technique, akin to the Li Family¡¯s River One Qi Technique, drawing upon the Golden Stone Sharp Qi found in golden jade mines.
¡°There¡¯s only one golden jade mine in the Yue State... and it¡¯s located near the mountain gate of the Golden Tang Gate.¡±
Li Tongya retrieved the jade bottle he had taken from the cave dwelling, confirming its contents with his spiritual sense.
¡°Shimmering like gold and sharp like a de... there¡¯s no doubt about it ¡ª this is the Golden Stone Sharp Qi!¡±
He stowed away the two items before shifting his attention to the other two jade slips.
One contained the Pure Spiritual Qi Transformation Technique, a Grade One cultivation method that harnessed the Minor Pure Spiritual Qi.
Li Tongya shook his head and stored it away without much interest.
The other jade slip was titled Records of Talisman Crafting This Autumn, detailing various basic talisman crafting techniques.
It was a collection of notes written by a cultivator at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm named Si Boxiu. At this discovery, Li Tongya could not help but wonder how it came into the possession of the Ji Family.
¡°Si Boxiu... I wonder if he is rted to Si Yuanbai in any way...?¡± Li Tongya muttered to himself as he skimmed through the contents.
His eyes fell on a passage at the end¡ªTalisman crafting is a wondrous art first disseminated by the Moonlight Origin Mansion. Numerous talismans can be arranged into formations, and the process of converting talismans into qi is particrly exquisite. If one could master this art...
¡°Moonlight Origin Mansion... Talisman qi...¡± Li Tongya let out a long sigh, his thoughts wandering once more to the possible connection between the mirror and the Moonlight Origin Mansion.
Though increasingly convinced of their association, he found little sce in this realization.
¡°I wonder if getting involved in this is a blessing... or a curse.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Chapter 102: Curse (II)
Chapter 102: Curse (II)
¡°Bastard!¡±
Mu Jiaoman¡¯s palm struck fiercely, shattering the skull of the man before him. He grabbed the tribesman from Mount Yue, his rage mounting.
¡°Trash! Where¡¯s Li Xiangping?! This head that you presented belongs to a tribesman from Mount Yue!¡± he roared, his voice almost shaking with fury.
His eyes zed with anger as he continued to pummel his subordinate, the tribesman now coughing up spurts of blood.
That day, their attempt to capture Li Tongya had failed. Upon his return, he discovered that the woman he captured had also escaped.
Mu Jiaoman cursed his oversight, now learning that she was likely associated with the Li Family.
¡°I should have used a spell to incapacitate her instead of letting her flee!¡±
As he sank back into his seat, Mu Jiaoman knew he had no time to waste dwelling on her. His mind churned with an even more troublesome task before him ¡ª dealing with the elusive and formidable Li Xiangping.
¡°This bastard seems to have eyes on the top of his head and on his buttocks. He¡¯s like a starving wolf ¡ª or rather, a pest...¡±
Li Xiangping has roamed the heart of Mount Yue¡¯s territories for quite some time now. Initially, when word of his actions first spread, he had rallied over a thousand followers, only to be effortlessly defeated. However, by the time further news surfaced, he had already moved south. There, hemanded his forces in a ruthless assault, ying tribal elders and seizing their provisions.
Despite the presence of Qi Cultivators, Li Xiangping outwitted them time and again, slipping away before they could ever confront him directly.
Mu Jiaoman had lost several nights of sleep before Li Xiangping¡¯s severed head was finally brought into his tent. He breathed a sigh of relief and dered Li Xiangping dead, only to be confounded when reports surfaced of Li Xiangping gathering the vagrants in the west and continuing his rampage southward.
Mu Jiaoman wasted no time in mobilizing his forces to crush him once more. Yet, despite their efforts, they found no trace of Li Xiangping or his forces. Instead, reports of his activities continued to spread, leaving Mu Jiaoman to question the extent of Li Xiangping¡¯s true cultivation.
In the ensuing days, the situation deteriorated extremely rapidly. Each day, Mu Jiaoman¡¯s tent received a head purported to be Li Xiangping¡¯s, yet upon inspection, they were merely the heads of random people of Mount Yue.
The western defense line suffered twelve consecutive attacks, nearly allowing Li Xiangping to slip back to the east. Because of his many evasions, rumors of his omnipresence began circting throughout the northern foothills of Mount Yue.
Thetest news revealed that Li Xiangping had advanced to the Great Jueting,manding nearly ten thousand vagrants. This forced Mu Jiaoman to return from his campaign to return to the aid of the Great Jueting.
¡°Only the Great King can truly vanquish this relentless scourge! General, he¡¯s not just a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He¡¯s a cunning predator... a devil who could make the vagrants follow him around like they are under a spell!¡±
The n shaman under hismand trembled as he spoke, plunging Mu Jiaoman into the depths of despair. Even Jianixi, fighting in the front lines at the Golden Tang Gate, had remained silent throughout the entirety of the conversation.
¡°I don¡¯t care who or what he is! Either he dies or I do!¡± Mu Jiaoman hissed fiercely.
Desperate for assistance, Mu Jiaoman sought out the talisman shamans of Mount Wu, offering women and spirit items in exchange for their aid. To his relief, one finally agreed toe to his aid.
Mu Jiaoman¡¯s letter was sent to the frontlines by an eagle and when it returned, Jianixi¡¯s response to his plea was¡ªYes, either he dies or you die.
With trembling hands and feet, Mu Jiaoman hurriedly gathered the n shamans, bringing them women and spirit items, including the children they captured from the Li Family as requested by the talisman shaman before setting out for Mount Wu.
Along the journey, his men continued trying to falsely im credit by presenting severed heads of Mount Yue¡¯s tribesmen, iming they belonged to Li Xiangping.
Their actions infuriated Mu Jiaoman so much that he nearly beat them to death.
¡°Shit, what kind of a demon is he?¡± Mu Jiaoman sat in the carriage in a daze, before shouts from the outside broke him from his thoughts.
¡°General! We¡¯ve arrived at Mount Wu!¡±
Mu Jiaoman stepped out of the carriage and was greeted by stairs made of fine white jade before him. He shakily removed his shoes before ascending the mountain barefoot.
The wind howled as he climbed through the darkness, with each owl¡¯s cry echoing through the night. Mu Jiaoman dared not lift his gaze, instead silently counting each step.
After exactly 1,622 steps, he reached arge tform which was illuminated only by a faint glow that reflected off the jade.
With a thud, Mu Jiaoman fell to his knees, his eyes drawn over to a dozen figures seated on the jade tform. All of them worevish attires and looked more like cultivators instead.
¡°You must be the general. Tell us what¡¯s happening,¡± a voice belonging to one of the figures on the tformmanded, cold and unwavering.
Mu Jiaoman hastily recited the speech he had carefully memorized, his words drowned out only by the shrill whispers emanating from the surrounding darkness.
¡°What¡¯s going on? Must we intervene in mortal affairs too?¡±
¡°What do you know? If you disrupt the master¡¯s n, you¡¯ll face dire consequences!¡±
¡°Hmph, what a useless bunch. They can¡¯t even handle a single cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm!¡±
Mu Jiaoman pressed his forehead firmly against the ground, not daring to even breathe. Finally, one of the men before him spoke up.
¡°Since none of you are willing to help, let¡¯s just use a curse to settle the matter once and for all and save ourselves an extra trip.¡±
A voice from below immediately cut in.
¡°Master said we¡¯re not allowed to interfere with matters of the mortal world with spells! Senior... please reconsider your n!¡±
¡°It is no matter,¡± replied the figure reassuringly, shaking his head. ¡°This individual is not from Mount Yue... and among all the spells, curses are the safest. Besides, the target is unlikely to possess knowledge of such techniques nor pose a threat to us.¡±
The questioner nodded in agreement andmanded, ¡°Bring forth the sacrifices!¡±
Several sacrifices that were as big as boars were carried forward by demonic creatures, exuding an aura that indicated their strength to be at peak Qi Cultivation Realm.
Mu Jiaoman, peering and observing their reflections on the ground, noticed the calloused hands of the demonic creatures and their bodies that were marked with... ve marks?
Why are the demonic creatures marked...?
Before Mu Jiaoman could figure it out, the ground beneath him suddenly trembled. The jade on the tform shifted, revealing arge, round pit that was filled with boiling blood and scattered human bones.
¡°To make him senile, crippled, or kill him with the curse?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s kill him with the curse to be safe.¡± replied the figure in the middle coldly, before anyone else had time to answer.
The man nodded before chanting a spell in a hoarse voice.
¡°Profound Light True Talisman, there are foreign troops and rebels, evil ghosts and demons, threatening the lives of my subjects... I respectfully request the True Talisman to destroy the flesh and blood of evildoers, let them be reduced to bones...¡±
Mu Jiaoman listened in silence, his emotions roiling with a mix of conflict and amazement. The use of curses had always been frowned upon in battles between Mount Yue¡¯s armies, and he struggled to reconcile his actions with his conscience.
He¡¯s not one of us from Mount Yue, he consoled himself in his heart quietly.
When the boy from the Li Family¡¯s side family was decapitated, his blood flowed like a river, his headless body convulsing cruelly like a demonic pig in his own pool of blood.
Mu Jiaoman was ovee by the scent of blood ¡ª memories of the day he and Jianixi had in their king to spark their rebellion flooding back to his mind.
The Great King they killed was also a paunchy man, and the Mount Yue people were cheering as they divided the spoils. Though Jianixi wasughing heartily, he was terrified to death. He couldn''t help but question the reasoning behind Jianixi¡¯s rebellion.
Jianixi merely sat on his horse and pointed his long whip at the people of Mount Yue who were celebrating.
¡°It¡¯s for the people...¡±¡ª that was his answer, at least that¡¯s what he told himself.
Even now, with the northern foothills conquered, Jianixi continued fighting. There were ten thousand vagrants outside of Great Jueting, and Mu Jiaoman struggled toprehend how Li Xiangping had managed to amass such a big army within enemy territory.
¡°Great King, does any of this still hold meaning...?¡± Mu Jiaoman pondered silently, closing his eyes to stop his tears from flowing down his face.
For the first time, he foresaw the truth of everything before his great king did.
Chapter 103: No Room For Escape (I)
Chapter 103: No Room For Escape (I)
Li Xiangping sat quietly by the fire which illuminated his face with a golden-red sheen. His clothes were worn and torn, and he seemed utterly exhausted.
The ends of his leg hair were curling up from the heat of the me, but yet, his gaze remainedser-focused on the yams roasting in the fire pit.
He had been fleeing from danger to danger these days and had narrowly escaped death at the hands of Qi Cultivators multiple times now. He has already grown ustomed to deaths having killed countless Mount Yue¡¯s generals, and having experienced rallying people to assault Great Jueting.
Li Xiangping¡¯s demeanor had changed from that of a privileged courtyard dweller to that of a rugged man. The blood and mes of the multitude of battles have toughened him up, gradually turning him into another Jianixi.
¡°Great King! Mu Jiaoman has gone to Mount Wu... and no one knows what his intentions are!¡±
Instead of correcting his way of addressing Li Xiangping, Ahuici, and his men even managed to influence Li Qiuyang and Chen Donghe to refer to Li Xiangping as the Great King as well.
Chen Donghe¡¯s leather armor bore a cut, revealing a crimson wound beneath the dirt and dried blood stains. With a map in hand, he traced the routes and patterns with his fingers thoughtfully.
¡°You must tread carefully, Great King!¡± he advised with a grave expression.
¡°Indeed.¡± Li Xiangping chuckled as he silently grasped the crystal-clear pearl in his pocket.
He¡¯s most likely seeking help from a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm. I can¡¯t continue wasting any more time and I ought to think of a way to send this... thing home as soon as possible!
Li Xiangping had been fighting westward and had acquired the transparent pearl from the altar of a major tribe.
Sensing the Profound Pearl Talisman Pearl in his Qihai acupoint reacting to it, he decided to take it along with him as he figured it probably bore a connection to the mirror at home.
ncing mischievously at Chen Donghe, who had an extremely serious look on his face, Li Xiangping decided to tease him.
He looked up at the boy with a mischievous smile.
¡°Hey, He¡¯er, are you smitten with my daughter, Tian¡¯er? Shall I arrange a marriage for you?¡± he teased with a cheeky tone.
Chen Donghe¡¯s handsome face immediately flushed and his eyes darted down to stare at his toes silently, embarrassed. Li Qiuyang burst intoughter immediately which earned him a kick from Chen Donghe in response, though the boy did not dare to meet Li Xiangping¡¯s gaze.
Li Xiangping shook his head and chuckled. ¡°If Tian¡¯er epts it, I have no objections! My only condition is that you must take her as your first wife!¡±
Hearing the approval of his potential father-inw, Chen Donghe blushed even more, struggling to speak.
¡°I-I¡¯ll... never... disappoint Tian¡¯er...¡± he mumbled, stumbling over his words in deep embarrassment.
The crowd erupted intoughter, and Chen Donghe immediately wished the ground would just swallow him then and there.
Ahuiciughed so hard that he coughed.
¡°Sheesh, the men on Mount Yue snatch any woman they fancy as their wives, no one does things like you people.¡±
¡°You want to try doing that?¡± Li Xiangping asked with an eyebrow raised and a teasing smile.
Ahuici quickly begged for mercy, his quick reaction amusing Chen Donghe so much that he even forgot about his own embarrassment earlier.
The aroma of roasted yams filled the air as Li Xiangping savored his meal. It reminded him of his younger days when he and his elder brother, Li Changhu, would secretly roast yams by the fire pit. Li Changhu always found ways to make him snacks back when he was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy.
Beside him, Li Qiuyang scanned their surroundings with caution, ever watchful for the piercing gaze of the eagle eyes in the sky. His gaze then fell upon Li Xiangping, his eyes brimming with profound reverence.
Li Xiangping has led them through countless perilous situations and has achieved remarkable victories. Just as the people of Mount Yue revered Jianixi as their king, Li Xiangping¡¯s soldiers believed their leader to be invincible.
While everyone¡¯s attention was on Li Xiangping, he suddenly dropped the yam he was eating which fell onto the ground with a thud. His expression was frozen in disbelief.
The Evade Death Prolong Life talisman qi, which had crossed his mind countless times in moments of crisis and peril, suddenly illuminated brightly. A profound sense of danger gripped Li Xiangping as he glimpsed a vision of himself kneeling on the ground, blood spewing from his mouth, surrounded by desperate cries for help.
¡°I¡¯m going to die... There¡¯s no escaping it...,¡± he gasped quietly, ¡°There¡¯s no dying it!¡±
He felt a chill run down his spine and immediately felt lightheaded.
Hands trembling, he snatched the map from Chen Donghe and grabbed a piece of burning charcoal from the fire pit with his bare hands. Closing his eyes for a moment, he began scribbling on the map.
¡°Great King!¡± Chen Donghe was bbergasted and did not know what to do, falling onto his knees helplessly as he watched Li Xiangping worryingly.
After Li Xiangping had finished scribbling on the map, he shoved a transparent pearl into his hand.
¡°Mu Jiaoman will definitely be back after I¡¯m gone. Follow this path eastward to return home!¡± he instructed hastily, his voice filled with curt urgency.
But before Chen Donghe could respond, Li Xiangping cut him off.
¡°No matter what happens, you must deliver this pearl to Li Tongya!¡± he hissed through tightly gritted teeth.
¡°Everyone!¡± Li Xiangping rose to his feet, ignoring Chen Donghe¡¯s stunned silence.
¡°After I¡¯m gone, all of you must head east with Donghe. Do not linger here!¡± hemanded loudly, his voice full of conviction.
Li Qiuyang and the others were at a loss for words, watching as Li Xiangping¡¯s voice grew softer as he sank to the ground weakly.
¡°Great King!¡±
¡°Family Head!¡±
Li Xiangping lifted his gaze and watched the zing sun in the sky as an array of illusions danced before him. It was as though a piece of the sun itself had broken off, hurtling toward him like a shooting star.
The broken piece burned brightly beforending on his chest, scalding his senses. He once roasted a chief from Mount Yue alive and now... the same pain and agony consumed him.
¡°Great King!¡±
The world darkened around Li Xiangping. Although he could not see anything, he felt someone¡¯s weight on his body and wet tears falling onto his cheeks.
Despite the agony, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
¡°What a low blow...¡± he murmured weakly.
Li Xiangping¡¯s long hair fell in disarray, revealing sparse white strands. He has lived to an age where ordinary farmers would have had grandchildren of their own and would have suffered very few grievances in life.
Yet... the only thing on his mind was the Li Family, surviving amidst myriad forces.
From the void emerged thick ck qi, enveloping his gray-ck eyes and withering his body. Li Xiangping coughed up ck blood.
¡°I¡¯ve... lived a great life!¡± he proimed with all his might, his voice hoarse and strained.
Memories shed before him before finally settling on a meandering river where a teenager had just caught a green-tailed fish, then picked up a broken bluish-gray mirror with a curious look on his face. The sunlight illuminated his face and a dazzling smile graced his lips.
The ck qi dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, snaking its way back into the void as Li Xiangping¡¯s body witheredpletely.
However, a gray light suddenly burst forth from Li Xiangping¡¯s Shenyang Mansion.
Everyst trace of the ck qi was absorbed by the talisman qi in his Shenyang Mansion like a hungry ghost devouring a feast.
Only Li Xiangping¡¯s withered corpse remained kneeling on the ground, a final white light exuding from his Qihai acupoint before gently fading into the void too.
Almost instantly, the crowd let out a loud cry in unison.
¡°It¡¯s a curse! He was killed by a curse! Jianixi, you coward!¡± Ahuici cried out in anguish.
¡°Family Head!¡±
Chen Donghe wept before Li Xiangping¡¯s body, clenching his fists with such might that they bled.
Sobs filled the air as Li Qiuyang made his way forward, eyes red and glistening.
The sound of pping wings suddenly filled the air, silencing Chen Donghe¡¯s cries. He was stunned for a moment before immediately pressing his ears to Li Xiangping¡¯s chest.
¡°Everyone, quiet!¡± he yelled at the crowd with a deep frown as he tried to focus. The cries andmotion immediately ceased at hismand, and after listening for a few moments, he carefullyid Li Xiangping¡¯s body on the ground.
With trembling hands, Chen Donghe ced his fingers gently on Li Xiangping¡¯s pale lips. He applied a little force to part them and immediately heard the pping noises growing louder.
Ahuici and Li Qiuyang, standing on opposite sides of his body, were visibly stunned. They, too, kneeled down to check.
Buzzzz...
With a sudden force, Chen Donghe watched as a grayish-ck locust burst out violently from Li Xiangping¡¯s mouth. Its body was adorned with barbs, the patterns on its wings resembling leaves.
It bounced in Chen Donghe¡¯s hand for a moment before taking flight, its wings pping rapidly as it whizzed away.
¡°This is...¡±
¡°Locusts! So many locusts!¡±
The people shouted in rm as thousands of grayish-ck locusts emerged from Li Xiangping¡¯s body, soaring into the sky like a dark storm. People stumbled backward in pain as the swarm of locusts flew past them, their barbs hurting their skin.
¡°Donghe... This is...¡± Ahuici¡¯s voice slowly trailed off.
Chen Donghe, with tears still streaming down his face, grabbed Li Xiangping¡¯s Ebony Bow and cast a nce at the disappearing corpse.
As the locusts slowly escaped into the night sky, Chen Donghe gritted his teeth in anger.
¡°Move out! Don¡¯t let them catch you!¡± hemanded fiercely.
Chapter 104: No Room For Escape (II)
Chapter 104: No Room For Escape (II)
Meanwhile on Mount Lijing...
A bright, gleaming white pearl emerged abruptly from the void, before returning back into the mirror on the stone tform which stirred up a flurry of pale moonlight.
Just then, a sigh echoed through the courtyard.
¡°Li Xiangping, it has been twenty-five or six years since youst picked me up...¡±
The memory of the boy who was catching fish in the river remained vivid in Lu Jiangxian¡¯s mind, but the boy had fallen to the west.
Lu Jiangxian felt a whirlwind of emotions in him, threatening to spill out at any moment. Before the words could form on his lips, he found himself at a loss... his words drowned out by emotions.
He felt a surge in his divine sense and mana as the information recorded in the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed flowed into the mirror.
Li Xiangping had perished because of a curse. His cultivation had stopped at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, but the amount of mana that came from the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed greatly exceeded Lu Jiangxian¡¯s expectations.
¡°The feedback from the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed seems to not only be rted to cultivation but surprisingly also involves intangible aspects such as luck and fortune. He absorbed Jianixi¡¯s fortune and siphoned Mount Yue¡¯s blessings.¡±
Light gathered in Lu Jiangxian¡¯s mirror, and the Supreme Yin Profound Light was also dancing around it... its power was now strong enough to vanquish cultivators at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm.
The increased mana capacity allowed him to release five beams of Supreme Yin Profound Light consecutively, which was enough to confront a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm¡ªthough he would need three days to recover afterward.
¡°The ck qi of that curse was converted from talisman qi... I wonder if it changed after the talisman qi within Li Xiangping¡¯s body devoured it.¡±
Lu Jiangxian has spent the past few days in the courtyard, studying the structure of the curse, but progress was slow. Fortunately, he did not require sustenance nor did he require sleep, hence he was able to devote over a decade to his studies without the need for haste.
¡°That pearl though...¡±
Lu Jiangxian gulped. His desires had diminished greatly since bing an artifact spirit, and he made every effort to focus on the activities at the foot of the mountain to keep his emotions and priorities in check.
Yet... the precious pearl Li Xiangping had acquired stirred an unexpected longing deep within him.
Outside the courtyard...
Li Tongya was teaching Li Xuanling swordsmanship when a shiver suddenly overcame him, causing him to stop abruptly.
¡°What¡¯s wrong, Father?¡±
Li Tongya furrowed his brow as unease crept into his body.
¡°Nothing,¡± he replied after a brief pause, waving his hand dismissively.
I better have a grand formation set up on Mount Lijing as soon as possible... I feel vulnerable without a reliable formation for protection.
ng!
The sudden impact on the door and windows drew the attention of Li Tongya and Li Xuanling instantly.
Li Xuanling approached cautiously and opened the window, revealing a scrawny grayish-ck locust that had crashed into it. Its upper half had been smashed against the window, prompting him to peel it off from the ss suspiciously before turning back to face his father.
Li Tongya already knew that it was a locust with the help of his spiritual sense, but he felt an inexplicable sadness as he examined the locust more closely.
¡°Huh?¡±
Under Li Tongya¡¯s analysis, the locust revealed no trace of demonic energy, yet a strangely familiar sensation lingered.
¡°Let¡¯s venture into the mountains again tomorrow and see if we can gather any information about Xiangping.¡±
Shaking off the unsettling feeling, Li Tongya stretched out and tossed the locust out of the window.
¡°Don¡¯t lose focus now... read the Profound Water Sword Technique manual carefully,¡± he urged his son gently, an unreadable expression on his face.
However, as soon as those words left his mouth, the noise of amotion reached his ears. Li Xuanxuan entered happily, cradling a bundle in his arms.
¡°Second Uncle!¡± he eximed.
Li Tongya¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
¡°Is it a boy or a girl?¡± he immediately asked, hardly able to hide the joy in his face.
Li Xuanxuan had married a woman from a different n with a spiritual orifice two years ago. However, she was not really gifted in cultivation and had only condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra, thus attaining only the first stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Li Xiangping had also picked a few beautiful mortal women for Li Xuanxuan to take as his concubines, and now... this child marked the first direct descendant of the Li Family¡¯s third generation.
¡°It¡¯s a boy!¡±
Li Xuanxuan could not contain the smile on his face as he cradled the baby closer.
Seeing this, Li Tongya chuckled fondly.
¡°This is our Li Family¡¯s first third-generation heir. Have you thought of a name yet?¡± he asked.
¡°ording to the generation name, it should include Yuan!¡± Li Xuanxuan said as heughed softly, ying with his child for a moment before getting lost in his thoughts.
¡°I¡¯ll name him Li Yuanxiu,¡± he said finally.
¡°Li Yuanxiu...¡± Li Tongya repeated thoughtfully, before nodding approvingly.
¡°That¡¯s a good name,¡± he remarked fondly as he nced at the child once more.
¡°How many children did your concubine bear?¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s sudden question prompted Li Xuanxuan to look up. ¡°A boy and a girl, they¡¯re three and five this year,¡± he replied.
Li Tongya fell deep into thought before speaking.
¡°In the future, the direct descendants of our Li Family will be part of the major sect... the children of the concubines without spiritual orifices will be assigned to the minor sect, and the ones with spiritual orifices will be part of the major sect, along with the direct descendants. For the children of those in the minor sect, the ones without spiritual orifices will form the branches, while those with spiritual orifices will be reinstated into the major sect,¡± he spoke with a degree of solemnness in his voice.
Li Xuanxuan took a moment to digest the information before finally nodding in understanding.
¡°There are more than two thousand members in Ye n now. What do we do with the children with spiritual orifices from those in the branches?¡± he asked.
¡°They¡¯ll be part of the minor sects... that¡¯s as far as they can go,¡± Li Tongya answered after a moment of contemtion.
Considering Li Qiuyang¡¯s current status as a branch member of the Li n, if he were to father a son with spiritual orifices, he could be reinstated into a minor sect. However... if his first grandson possessed spiritual orifices, he would not be able to be reinstated into the major sect.
¡°This ensures that all members of the major sect are direct descendants of grandfather...¡± Li Xuanxuan said slowly, finally realizing the reasoning behind the system.
Li Tongya¡¯s uneasy expression caught his attention.
¡°Is something wrong, Second Uncle?¡± he asked, slightly hesitant.
With a weary look on his face, Li Tongya sighed deeply before speaking once more.
¡°I¡¯m still worried about Xiangping... I¡¯ll take advantage of the night and make a trip to the west. You stay here and watch over the family.¡±
Chapter 105: The Great Drought (I)
Chapter 105: The Great Drought (I)
Mu Jiaoman sat in the huge empty carriage, enduring the countless jolts and shakes caused by the rough terrain in Mount Yue¡¯s territory. The scene from the white jade tform was reying endlessly in his mind.
Drawing back the curtain, Mu Jiaoman scanned the parched and crackednd with the scorching sun hanging in the sky.
¡°When was thest time it rained?¡± he asked loudly at the top of his voice.
¡°In four months, General!¡±
Mu Jiaoman pondered for a moment before he motioned for his subordinates.
"Withdraw the eastern defenses and drive the vagrants eastward, let them torment the strange people there,¡± hemanded.
One of his subordinates hesitated for a moment.
¡°But if we withdraw the eastern defense line and Li Xiangping escapes...¡± the subordinate¡¯s voice trailed off, his tone filled with concern.
¡°That bastard is dead!¡± Mu Jiaoman roared, fury coursing through him.
With a violent motion, he grabbed the man by the neck fiercely with a scowl.
"How many times do I have to tell you?! That bastard is dead! Dead! Dead! Dead!¡± he screamed in anguish.
His eyes turned red from the anger and was just about to strike down on the man when he was stopped by his subordinates around him dropping to their knees.
¡°Greetings, Great King!¡± their voices crying out in unison.
Confused, Mu Jiaoman then slowly lifted his head to see Jianixi, who was looking down at him coldly.
Mu Jiaoman hurriedly flung the man aside and fell to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground as color drained from his lips.
¡°Great King!¡± he stuttered.
Jianixi approached him, his gaze piercing and ferocious. Without a warning, heshed out, delivering a strong kick to Mu Jiaoman¡¯s body.
¡°Worthless!¡± he yelled angrily.
Mu Jiaoman was sent flying like a ball, crashing into several carriages. Rice and grain spilled onto the ground as hey there, his men watching in fearful silence.
After tumbling a few times, Mu Jiaoman hurriedly scrambled back to his feet and pped himself across the face.
Jianixi watched him for a moment before erupting into a scornfulugh.
¡°He was merely a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, yet you and your men couldn¡¯t even deal with him, and had to end up hiring a talisman shaman to kill him through a curse. You truly are a disappointment, Mu Jiaoman...¡± he sneered.
Mu Jiaoman numbly pped himself as Jianixi¡¯s voice echoed from above.
¡°You won¡¯t be participating in the Great Sacrifice Ritual that¡¯s happening in a few days. Use this time to stay in the camp and reflect on your actions.¡±
Mu Jiaoman snapped his head up suddenly,ing to a sudden realization.
But before he could speak, Jianixi struck him with a hard blow to his abdomen which immediately sent him into unconsciousness.
¡°Drag him away,¡± Jianixi ordered in a low voice as he watched Mu Jiaoman be hauled off to the camp.
Turning toward the towering Mount Wu,
¡°Live,¡± he murmured, his voice so soft it was barely audible.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After making a round in the mountain forest, Li Tongya rose from the deste stronghold and pondered as the morning sun illuminated the sky.
¡°The absence of rising smoke in the east suggests that the Mount Yue Army has withdrawn... how could Mu Jiaoman allow Xiangping to return east so easily...?¡±
Swiftly traversing east, he noted the barrennd beneath his feet, realizing it had been nearly half a year since thest rainfall.
¡°It¡¯s no wonder there are so many Mount Yue vagrants.¡±
Li Tongya frowned, assessing the situation in Mount Yue¡¯s territory and considering the likelihood of the stragglers crossing the border.
¡°The granaries of the Li Family have been abundant in recent years, capable of supporting a few thousand vagrants... however, a prolonged drought may deplete the Meiche River and threaten the food production...¡±
¡°The Ji Family¡¯s letter also mentioned the sacrifice. I suspect Jianixi doesn¡¯t have much time to spare...¡±
As Li Tongya ventured deeper into Mount Yue¡¯s territory, he encountered increasingly parchednd and trees that had no barks. In the distance, the imposing silhouette of the Great Jueting slowly emerged.
The lone city within Mount Yue bore the scars of time, its weather-beaten walls now showing signs of decay both inside and out.
At the edge of the city stood a towering altar made of soil, wood, and stone ¡ª its construction almostplete. It was rumored that Jianixi would be offering sacrifices to the heavens there, aiming to unite the world under a single cause.
Despite their weary appearance, the craftsmenboring on the altar exuded hope and reverence, eagerly anticipating Jianixi to end the war and bring them stability.
¡°This is as far as I can go,¡± Li Tongya murmured to himself,ing to a halt. His search this time was as fruitless as hisst. Deciding to turn back, he reluctantly retraced his steps toward Moongaze Lake.
Moongaze Lake had receded dramatically ¡ª its dry, cracked riverbed littered with the carcasses of dead fish and shrimp. The stench was so putrid and pungent that one could hardly keep their eyes open.
With jackals and vultures scavenging for food, the area looked no different than a deste wastnd. Li Tongya only made one quick round around theke before immediately making his way back to Mount Lijing.
Upon his return, Li Tongya was greeted by the sight of a massive ck pig¡¯s carcass sprawled in the courtyard. Its glossy fur still glistened in the sunlight and its tusks ¡ª long as an adult¡¯s arm and as white as jade ¡ª protruded prominently.
Meanwhile, as Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan diligently performed the Spirit Sealing Technique on the pig¡¯s joints and acupoints, Li Xuanfeng leaned against a huge rock and cleaned his bow.
¡°Second Uncle!¡± Li Xuanfeng eximed as he spotted Li Tongya¡¯s descent.
With a bow in one hand and a hemp bag in the other, he pushed himself from the rock and straightened, his face beaming with excitement.
¡°This mountain pig demon is really huge, with strength at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm! It should provide a hearty addition to our meal!¡±
Li Tongya chuckled softly before inspecting the demon pig with his spiritual sense. He noticed a long, ck, gleaming arrow embedded in its brain. It was the only mark of injury present in its otherwise pristine flesh.
¡°Just one shot?¡± he asked in surprise.
¡°Yep!¡± Li Xuanfeng confirmed proudly, his head held high. With one swift motion, he slung his long bow behind him and bent down, pulling out the long arrow from the pig demon¡¯s empty eye socket.
He flung away the red and white matter that clung to it before continuing.
¡°I chased this pig demon the entire night! Finally at dawn, while it was gnawing on wood and bamboo, I shot an arrow that pierced its eye and its brain which killed it instantly!¡±
¡°Good job,¡± Li Tongya nodded approvingly as he heard this. However, he added a word of caution.
¡°Although this mountain pig demon may seem easy prey for your arrows, remember to stay cautious. Despite its swift demise by your hand, such creatures can still pose a threat. Be wary and hunt demons of the lower cultivation realm to hone your skills.¡±
Li Xuanfeng heeded Li Tongya¡¯s caution, but a hint of defiance lingered in his expression.
¡°But this demon couldn¡¯t even touch the hem of my shirt!¡± he said defensively.
Li Tongya chuckled and patted Li Xuanfeng¡¯s shoulder affectionately, amused by his defiance.
¡°I know you¡¯re skilled with your bow... in our family, only your youngest uncle¡¯s swordsmanship could rival your talent. But you have to remember, the human body is vulnerable,¡± he emphasized once more, and his tone had a hint of gentleness.
As Li Tongya observed Li Xuanfeng¡¯s serious demeanor, he decided to speak once more.
¡°Though cultivators at the Embryonic Breathing Realm possess strength akin to an ox, capable of feats like moving heavy objects and scaling walls, they remain far weaker than demonic creatures. I¡¯ve faced many adversaries of the Qi Cultivator Realm, and do you know why those who lose often sustain serious injuries?¡± he added, an eyebrow raised.
¡°Is it due to the enemy¡¯s spells?¡± Li Xuanfeng guessed, intrigued.
¡°Not entirely,¡± Li Tongya said as he shook his head.
¡°It¡¯s because they fall.¡±
Chapter 106: The Great Drought (II)
Chapter 106: The Great Drought (II)
Li Tongya then went on to exin further.
¡°When cultivators engage in aerialbat, thosecking in mental fortitude are susceptible to the pain and fear inflicted by their enemies. As a result, they may lose control and plummet to the ground, sustaining severe injuries such as broken tendons and bones... in such a state, theyck the strength to continue battling their foes."
His words sparked contemtion among Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling who were gathered around Li Xuanfeng, nodding in understanding. He grinned and remarked, ¡°I¡¯m d we still have you around to guide us, Second Uncle.¡±
¡°Sheesh.¡±
Li Tongya smiled wryly at the boy¡¯s cheekiness, observing Li Xuanfeng as he picked up the sack with his right arm.
¡°Look, Second Uncle!¡± he said with a chuckle.
He untied the rope with a swift motion, releasing three small mountain pigs from the sack. Li Xuanfeng grabbed two of the pigs by the neck in each hand, holding them securely.
¡°I found three mountain pigs in that beast¡¯s den. Can we raise them at home?¡± he asked.
Li Tongya nodded in response.
¡°We do have quite a number of Spirit Rice Bran and leaves, and also stuffed parts from the demonic beasts we¡¯ve killed before... but then again, mountain pigs have a big appetite, and it might be challenging to raise even one of them.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not a problem!¡± Li Xuanfengughed.
With a hard squeeze of his palms, Li Xuanfeng killed the two small mountain pigs in his hands instantly, leaving only the one in the sack still struggling to escape.
¡°These little demonic creatures are formidable opponents, we¡¯ll need a cultivator outside of the main family to keep an eye on them.¡±
Li Tongya turned his attention to Li Xuanxuan who was busy performing Spirit Sealing Technique on the carcass.
¡°Xuan¡¯er, how are all the cultivators in the side family faring?¡± he asked.
¡°Excluding Chen Donghe and Li Qiuyang, there are three cultivators that don¡¯t bear the surname Li. One of them is from the Ye n, but they have been returned to the side family, the rest have also been married into the Li Family,¡± he replied promptly.
¡°Good.¡±
Li Tongya nodded approvingly. ¡°How are their cultivations?¡±
¡°Not satisfactory,¡± Li Xuanxuan continued with a sigh, shaking his head. ¡°The cultivation method they use is the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique, which we obtained from Senior Si Yuanbai. Compared to our Supre-...¡±
Li Xuanxuan intended to mention the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra, but before he could utter these words, the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in his Qihai acupoint suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
It startled him so much that it also caught the attention of Lu Jiangxian, who was engrossed in his research. With his divine sense, Lu Jiangxian swiftly discerned the cause of the disturbance.
Realizing his mistake, Li Xuanxuan quickly corrected himself. ¡°Compared to our cultivation speed and technique, the technique they use pales inparison. Currently, the strongest among them has only condensed the Radiant Lure Chakra, the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. They mainly spend their days taking care of the Spirit Paddies and Wuzha Worms,¡± he exined.
Li Tongya nodded at his rification, acknowledging the significant difference in cultivation levels between the main family and the branch cultivators as he nodded in understanding.
Maybe we should consider letting them use a better cultivation method for the Embryonic Breathing Realm... with only six Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds avable, it¡¯s inevitable that there won¡¯t be enough for future generations of the major sect. We must avoid relying solely onmon cultivation methods like the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique.
While Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling dealt with the mountain pig demon and summoned someone to carry it away, Li Xiewen approached to deliver news that the Liu family had visited to report a death.
Li Tongya¡¯s uncle, Liu Linfeng, had passed away during the night.
While the younger members of the Li Family were seemingly unfazed by the news, Li Tongya felt a squeeze in his heart.
Now that he thought about it, he was already forty. Liu Linfeng was twenty-five years his senior and had lived to the ripe age of sixty-five. In their vige, such longevity was considered remarkable.
¡°Don¡¯t inform Mother about this,¡± he instructed.
His mother¡¯s health had declined in recent years and it worsened after his father¡¯s death, looking as though she had lost her soul. She found it difficult to focus, and would sometimes even wander off and get lost.
Li Tongya feared that this news would only add to the poor woman¡¯s distress.
¡°I¡¯ll descend the mountain to take a look.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Chen Donghe followed the trail Li Xiangping had drawn on the map, noticing the absence of anyrge groups of Mount Yue soldiers or stationed troops.
Instead, there were only corpses scattered on the ground that were being scavenged by vultures and jackals. The cracked earth offered no water source except for a few small puddles remaining in the dry riverbed.
The group of people walked in silence, their onlypany being the sound of sobs and wails.
Out of the one thousand who had set out, only around two hundred had returned. Despite inflicting significant casualties and chaos on the enemy, those who had returned were wounded and filled with sorrow.
ncing at Li Yesheng lying curled up on a stretcher nearby, Chen Donghe saw him stir finally after three days of unconsciousness due to his broken hip.
¡°Where¡¯s the Family Head?¡± Li Yesheng asked weakly, his voice barely a whisper.
¡°Up ahead,¡± Chen Donghe replied, forcing a smile.
Seeing Li Yesheng smiling before shutting his eyes, Chen Donghe felt a pang of sadness. He noticed a tear leaking from the corner of Li Yesheng¡¯s eye and could no longer hold back his emotions.
¡°I knew I couldn¡¯t hide it from you, Uncle Yesheng,¡± he whispered as he choked back tears.
¡°How did he die?¡± Li Yesheng asked finally, his voice full of emotion.
¡°Killed by a curse,¡± Chen Donghe replied curtly, trying to hold his tears back.
Li Yesheng let out a deep sigh as tears began welling up in his eyes once more.
Li Yesheng mourned not only the loss of someone as powerful as Li Xiangping but also the end of his own power and influence. Theplicated rtionship between them only added to the grief.
Brother Xiangping, you and I are more alike than you think.
Li Yesheng reflected, knowing Li Xiangping better than anyone else.
When he was fifteen, he knew that the blood spilled on the rock was Li Yesheng¡¯s, his elder brother. He saw the guilt in Li Xiangping¡¯s eyes but pretended that he did not see it.
When he was twelve, Li Yesheng endured his elder brother¡¯s abuse. He knew that there were three knives on Mount Lijing¡ªtwo were big and one was small. If he needed to rid himself of his brother¡¯s tyranny, he would have to cause a conflict between them.
Li Yesheng¡¯s ears were constantly filled with rumors about Li Mutian¡¯s family. He treaded cautiously for three years as though walking on thin ice before he finally got his older brother killed.
He had expected Li Mutian to take action, but it was Li Xiangping who ultimately became the instrument of his liberation.
In his gratitude, Li Yesheng spent a lifetime being Li Xiangping¡¯s loyal dog. Knowing that he had outlived him caused him immense suffering.
¡°I wish to be your blood brother in our next life, Brother Xiangping, just like Brother Tongya and Brother Changhu...¡± Li Yesheng murmured, straining to reach for a bottle of poison at his waist.
He had prepared the poison in case he fell into Mount Yue¡¯s hands and faced torture... and had yet to taste it.
¡°Surviving is merely existing in a state of lingering. Xiewen has grown up and has found apanion in Xuanxuan... I¡¯ve done enough for him as his parent,¡± Li Yesheng muttered as he struggled to raise his hand, allowing the cold liquid to flow slowly through his lips.
As the numbness spread in his mouth, he began writhing on the stretcher, his head rolling side to side which disheveled his gray hair.
God damn, it¡¯s bitter, he thought indignantly as he approached the end of his life.
Chapter 107: Returning to the Market (I)
Chapter 107: Returning to the Market (I)
Li Tongya had finished attending the funeral and had changed out of his white robe when he realized that it was about time for the market at Moongaze Lake to open. He packed up the leather of demonic creatures and materials he had gathered in recent days and headed north.
Patrolling the reeds a few times, he had hoped to seize the moment and gather a wisp of River Pure Qi in the river. To his dismay, he was greeted by a dry, witheredndscape, forcing him to leave... empty-handed and disheartened.
¡°After months of drought, the rivers have dried up, and the once vibrant reeds have turned yellow. There¡¯s no chance of finding any River Pure Qi in the river,¡± he muttered to himself in disappointment.
Leaving the reeds behind, Li Tongya rode the wind toward Moongaze Lake. The waterline had receded about thirty miles, revealing fish carcasses covered in maggots and many small inds that had revealed themselves now that the water had gone.
With a wave of his sleeve, Li Tongya activated the hidden formation in the air which emitted a bright burst of silver light.
This time it was different. With just a sweep of his spiritual sense, he had managed to locate therge boat on theke. He quickly descended and headed in its direction.
A young man with cultivation at the third stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm rushed out from the cabin of the boat almost instantly.
¡°My lord, are you heading to Moongaze Lake¡¯s market?¡± he asked inquisitively.
¡°Yes,¡± Li Tongya replied as he found a seat for himself. Seeing only the young man who promptly served him a bowl of tea and no signs of the white-haired old man who used to pilot the boat years ago, Li Tongya asked, ¡°I remember the old man who used to drive this boat more than ten years ago. Has there been a change of ownership?¡±
The young man seemed surprised by the question. He set down the tea bowl before replying.
¡°That old man failed to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm and died of old age ten years ago... none of his children possessed any spiritual orifice, so his eldest son exchanged all his spirit items for fields. They¡¯re now a wealthy family in their hometown.¡±
Li Tongya sighed inwardly. He picked up the tea bowl but refrained from drinking, setting it down cautiously.
¡°What a shame,¡± he murmured.
¡°Indeed.¡± The young man lowered his gaze before quickly adding, ¡°But the old man did live to be a hundred and eight years old¡ªhis longevity was the envy of all of us here on the boat!¡±
¡°Oh?¡±
The young man observed Li Tongya quietly, who appeared to be only in his thirties but had already reached the Qi Cultivation Realm. He noticed the storage pouch and qi bottles tied to his waist, and the youth came to the conclusion that he was likely a descendant of arge family.
With a bitter smile, he said, ¡°Senior... you may not be aware of this, but rogue cultivators like us mostly rely on a Grade One breathing technique of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. We can barely even condense a chakra in over ten years, hence it¡¯s not umon for us to be stuck in the Embryonic Breathing Realm for a lifetime.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
The youth had worked on theke for over a decade, encountering many Qi Cultivators who rarely bothered to engage in conversation. Li Tongya, however, with his focused demeanor and frequent nods, encouraged the youth to speak.
Taking this as his cue, the youth continued.
¡°Your talent is exceptional, Senior. Attaining the Qi Cultivation Realm at such a young age is remarkable! Rogue cultivators like us often live our entire lifetime with just a single technique of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in possession, unable to ess techniques needed to draw talismans or refine pills... it¡¯s a bitter reality.¡±
Upon hearing these words, Li Tongya¡¯s mind immediately drifted to the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra at home.
I guess that cultivation method is worth more than the wealth of all the families in the entire Moongaze Lakebined! The cultivation speed seems to be at least ten times faster than ordinary techniques, not to mention the purity of the refined mana that far surpassed others.
Feigning ignorance, Li Tongya merely smiled.
¡°I wonder what grade of Embryonic Breathing Realm techniques the disciples from the sect are practicing...¡± he responded, leading the youth on.
The youth nodded enthusiastically in response as soon as the words left Li Tongya¡¯s mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on thiske for over a decade now and I¡¯ve seen disciples of major sects who were as young as twenty and even the elderly at the first stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in their nies! Yet, all I¡¯ve heard is that the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s Embryonic Breathing Realm technique is the best among all the sects... it¡¯s a Grade Five technique, four times more effective than ordinary ones!¡±
¡°That¡¯s truly remarkable!¡± Li Tongya eximed in amazement, then steered the conversation toward Mount Yue.
¡°I¡¯ve heard that Mount Yue in the west is quite formidable!¡±
The youth nodded vigorously. ¡°Indeed! I heard that the Great King from Mount Yue has reached the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm! They¡¯ve been targeting families under the governance of the Golden Tang Gate Sect on the west coast; three family heads of the Qi Cultivation Realm have already been killed. One can only imagine the significant losses those families have suffered...¡± he replied with a sad shake of his head as he spoke.
As Li Tongya listened, he noticed a few more people arriving on the boat, prompting the youth to reluctantly excuse himself to entertain the new patrons.
Li Tongya could not help but think to himself, That Jianixi is really powerful... I hope he dies soon so we can all sleep well at night.
Li Tongya listened to the conversation between the neers for a moment before feeling the boat jolting, realizing that they had arrived at the market.
Disembarking, he rented a stall using a Spirit Stone as the deposit and disyed an array of materials ¡ª which included the talismans Li Xiangping had acquired after killing the Old Daoist for sale.
Once the stall had been set up, he took out a wooden slip to fill up his time while waiting for customers to arrive.
Li Tongya had dedicated more than ten years to studying talismans by now, having honed his skills to the point where his sess rate in drawing a talisman was one in ten.
While this could barely offset the cost of the talisman papers, it was still considered a loss if he were to factor in the expense of talisman ink. Determined to improve, he continued to practice in the hope that one day he could make a profit from his talismans.
Li Tongya nced down and noticed the storage pouch and two qi bottles at his waist. After a few moments of consideration, he spected that the boatman had probably identified him as a member of a prestigious family because of them.
To appear more inconspicuous, he wrapped the qi bottles in a piece of spirit cloth and tucked them into his chest pocket. Now without them, he looked like a convincing rogue cultivator.
Li Tongya came early this time, so there were still a lot of people shopping. Within two hours, he had nearly sold out of his goods and felt no inclination to wait around to sell off hisst few items.
He closed his stall, retrieved the Spirit Stone he had deposited earlier, and paid ten jin of Spirit Rice as a rental fee.
¡°A profit of eleven Spirit Stones... That¡¯s not bad.¡±
Li Tongya spent five of them on a Jade Sprout Pill. With the additional one that he had retrieved from the cave dwelling before, he decided to wait a few more months before attempting to break through to the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Although the Jade Sprout Pills are effective, their toxic after-effects shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. I must wait for a few more months until every trace of its after-effect has been detoxified before considering taking it again.
As he took a few steps, Li Tongya noticed a middle-aged female cultivator approaching. She seemed to have condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and attained the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Her appearance suggested that she was around the same age as Li Tongya, but she cupped her fist respectfully almost instantly as she spotted him.
¡°Senior! Do you still remember me?¡±
Li Tongya thought she looked quite familiar, but her name eluded him. He could only reciprocate the gesture as he racked his mind. ¡°If I may I ask...¡± he began, awkwardly.
¡°Market at the Cloud Crowned Peak... the Ebony Bow?¡± the middle-aged female cultivator reminded him with a smile.
It was then that Li Tongya recalled the Ebony Bow he had purchased for Li Xiangping at the market located at the foot of Cloud Crowned Peak, where he had submitted the tributes to the sect. The middle-ageddy was only a young girl when he had purchased that bow.
Chapter 108: Returning to the Market (II)
Chapter 108: Returning to the Market (II)
¡°It¡¯s been more than ten years since I¡¯ve seen you! How have you been, fellow Daoist?¡± Li Tongya inquired, though secretly puzzled as to why she had approached him.
The female cultivator wore a conflicted look on her face as she remarked, ¡°It¡¯s only been a little over ten years, yet you¡¯re already a Qi Cultivator...¡±
¡°It¡¯s just luck,¡± Li Tongya responded with a chuckle.
¡°I¡¯m Lin Jingyu, my husband is a Qi Cultivator named Xu Yangping,¡± said the female cultivator as she introduced herself.
¡°Li Tongya,¡± he replied politely, nodding his head.
¡°We actually have found a cave dwelling... are you interested in exploring it with us, Senior?¡± Lin Jingyi asked in a soft voice.
¡°A cave dwelling...?¡± Li Tongya narrowed his eyes, suspicious of the offer.
How can there be such a good thing? We¡¯re pretty much strangers to each other... can I really trust her? This person could not possibly be here to swindle me or kill me...
¡°Oh? That sounds like incredible luck,¡± Li Tongyamented with a chuckle.
Lin Jingyi quickly sensed his skepticism and whispered, ¡°We¡¯ve already checked the cave dwelling. It belonged to a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm from at least two hundred years ago... we have the means to enter, but weck one cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm...¡±
Li Tongyaughed.
¡°You¡¯re seeking my help... because a group of cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm like you can¡¯t break the formation of the cave dwelling?¡± he asked, amused.
He merely stared at her in silence and was ready to walk away.
¡°Not exactly...¡± Lin Jingyi replied with an awkward smile before continuing. ¡°We already have two cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm... we¡¯re just one short of entering this cave dwelling,¡± she exined.
After hearing that statement, Li Tongya was slightly more convinced and agreed to sit down with Lin Jingyi to further discuss the matter.
They found a bamboo building and ordered a cup of tea before continuing their discussion. Lin Jingyi then exined, ¡°My husband and I have been active in the Mushroom Forest in and some years ago, it was invaded by the Golden Tang Gate. Since then, that area has been deserted, and the market there is no longer operating. Since my husband has attained the Qi Cultivation Realm, we decided to venture westward to explore Moongaze Lake... ¡±
¡°We didn¡¯t expect that the drought would hit Moongaze Lake when we arrived. The water had receded a few miles, which exposed a cave dwelling in theke. After being submerged for hundreds of years, the cave dwelling showed some defects that allowed my husband and I to notice it. We¡¯ve cast a concealment spell there beforeing here to seek help from others,¡± she borated.
¡°I see.¡± Li Tongya nodded slowly in understanding.
¡°Why me?¡± he asked doubt in his eyes.
Lin Jingyi hesitated before responding. ¡°Because of your rtively low cultivation level... my husband is only at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and the person we found a few days ago was only at the third heavenlyyer. We¡¯ve witnessed enough ugly sides of cultivators, so we hope to find someone with a simr cultivation background...¡±
¡°I see,¡± Li Tongya replied, taking a sip of his tea. ¡°Is that your husband waiting outside?¡±
Li Tongya had already noticed someone waiting outside and decided to point it out. Lin Jingyi nodded, then called out to the man.
The person then entered as he was summoned, cupping his fist as soon as he approached.
¡°I¡¯m Xu Yangping. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Brother Tongya!¡± he greeted respectfully.
The man was quite good-looking and seemed to be in his fifties. Li Tongya returned the gesture.
¡°No need for such formalities.¡±
Xu Yangping nodded and straightened up before speaking.
¡°We¡¯ve been waiting here for over ten days... if Brother Tongya hadn¡¯t shown up, we would have had no choice but to seek help from nearby ns.¡±
¡°The mountain gate formations of those ns are tightly guarded, who knows how many Qi Cultivators there are... we¡¯re reluctant to approach them unless absolutely necessary,¡± Lin Jingyi added.
Li Tongya decided to waste no time.
¡°Take a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath,¡± he demanded.
Xu Yangping nodded before performing a series of hand seals and repeated what Lin Jingyi had said earlier.
As he performed the final hand seal, he muttered solemnly, ¡°In the name of the Profound Scenery, I swear that all that was said is true.¡±
Li Tongya listened to every word carefully. Upon detecting no omissions in the details and seeing that Xu Yangping¡¯s powerful aura remained unchanged, some of his doubt had dissipated.
¡°When are we departing?¡± he asked.
¡°Right now!¡± the couple replied eagerly.
However, before they set off, Lin Jingyi turned to face Li Tongya.
¡°I¡¯ll have to ask you to take an oath that you won¡¯t harm us. Though the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath is primarily for safeguarding secrets and confirming truths and might not be entirely foolproof, it would still offer us some peace of mind.¡±
¡°Fine.¡±
Li Tongya then took the oath as well, wasting no time.
Once that was done, they then rode the wind along with Xu Yangping. Observing the man¡¯s slightly mottled true essence, Li Tongya could tell that Xu Yangping had absorbed various unrefined qi and felt slightly relieved.
Conversely, the couple also noticed Li Tongya¡¯s clear and bright true essence. This prompted them to look at each other, exchanging a bitter smile.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile in Lijing Town...
Chen Erniu was seventy this year, with a head full of gray hair. Having lived twice the age of most farmers, his eyes had turned cloudy from old age and everyone in Lijing Town called him Grandpa.
He sat restlessly in his chair, haunted by nightmares brought on by the dry weather that reminded him of the huge sparrow that descended upon his hometown on that fateful day.
When Lichuankou Vige was sessfully recovered, Chen Erniu went off to search for his son, Chen Sanshui.
He never found any sign of him, apart from a tooth and a puddle of blood. The locals all imed that Chen Sanshui had been captured by those from Mount Yue and taken to the west.
Chen Erniu merely snorted coldly, but still... he followed the horse¡¯s tracks and searched in the tall weeds by the road until he came across a puddle of dried blood.
Upon parting the tall weeds at the roadside, he discovered a heartbreaking scene before him and cried out in anguish.
His eldest son, Chen Sanshui... had met a tragic end.
The arid conditions proved challenging for Chen Sanshui¡¯s children, leaving the old man to oversee the vigil beside his son¡¯s body most of the time during the funeral.
¡°I wonder if Donghe will make it home safely...¡± Chen Erniu¡¯s frown deepened as he worried about his other son.
As he pondered, amotion outside the courtyard caught his attention. A morous crowd was making a racket, their loud cries and shouts causing him to shudder.
Moving to the entrance of the vige with the support of his cane, Chen Erniu found a crowd gathered. In their midst, a group of wretched, mud-covered men kneeled on the ground, surrounded by mournful wails.
¡°He¡¯s back...¡±
Chen Erniu tried his best to straighten up and finally caught a glimpse of Li Xuanxuan and Chen Donghe.
Li Xuanxuan, who had already grown a light beard, stared incredulously at the Mount Yue men in front of him.
¡°Say... that again?!¡±
¡°He¡¯s been killed by a curse... we couldn¡¯t even bring his body back...¡±
Li Xuanxuan froze for a few moments before tears flowed like streams from his eyes, leaving streaks all the way to his neck.
¡°Donghe... ascend the mountain with me. The rest of you go home first.¡±
Li Xuanxuan had covered his face for a long time in silence before he could finally squeeze the words out of his mouth.
Chen Donghe¡¯s face was also stained with tears and had a pained expression. The crowd silently parted a way for them and watched them leave in silence.
¡°Family Head...¡± Chen Donghe addressed Li Xuanxuan softly, snapping him back to his senses.
Li Xuanxuan looked at the Ebony Bow in his hand and could not stop his tears.
¡°Call me Young Family Head...¡± Li Xuanxuan replied, choking back tears as he wiped them away, stepping onto the stone path and clutching the bow tightly.
The two of them walked in silence with their heads bowed for a while before they ran into Li Xuanfeng, who hurriedly descended down the mountain. Li Xuanfeng froze when he spotted the Ebony Bow in Li Xuanxuan¡¯s hand.
¡°No! How can this be?!¡± he cried out as realization struck him. Tears quickly welled up in Li Xuanfeng¡¯s eyes as he viciously snatched the bow and yelled, ¡°WHO DID IT?¡±
Chen Donghe felt even worse at the sight of more members of the Li Family.
¡°He was killed by Mount Yue¡¯s curse,¡± he whispered hoarsely.
Li Xuanfeng opened his mouth but could not utter a single word. He looked at Li Xuanxuan whose face was full of tears, and slumped on a rock, the strength seemingly gone from his legs.
¡°How despicable.¡±
Li Xuanfeng gritted his teeth as tears finally streamed down his face.
Chapter 109: Exploration (I)
Chapter 109: Exploration (I)
Li Tongya soared into the air with the couple and flew out of the market, heading southward for several hours.
He was not afraid of a sneak attack or siege from these rogue cultivators. After all, the cultivation technique practiced by the rogue cultivators was only of Grade One quality, having consumed various unrefined qi.
Even if three or five rogue cultivators surrounded him, they would not be able to hold him back, especially with his superior River True Essence. Li Tongya decided to assess the situation when they arrived.
As they traveled, Li Tongya carefully discussed details with the couple. He discovered that the cave dwelling they sought was located on the south shore of Moongaze Lake, more than two hundred miles away from Lichuankou Vige.
The twists of fate in this world are truly unpredictable. Our family has been farming the south shore for decades, yet we never stumbled upon this cave... Xu Yangping and his wife simplynded on this small continent in theke for a rest, and by chance, they encountered this valuable discovery during the great drought.
While silently caught in his thoughts, Li Tongya spotted an ordinary-looking man seated on the jagged rocks ahead, with a long saber resting on his knees. He seemed to be meditating.
¡°Brother Zhang!¡± Xu Yangpingnded and called out with a smile, cupping his fists.
The man turned to face Xu Yangping.
¡°This is Brother Zhang Yun, a Qi Cultivator who has attained the third heavenlyyer and is quite knowledgeable about formations... he just arrived at Moongaze Lake a few days ago to visit the market and has kindly agreed to assist us,¡± Xu Yangping quickly exined.
Zhang Yun quickly got up and cupped his fist respectfully, silently observing Li Tongya¡¯s River True Essence. Xu Yangping proceeded to introduce Li Tongya to him.
In return, Li Tongya cupped his fist in respect.
As he observed Zhang Yun¡¯s bright and thorough true essence and listened to his ims of expertise in formations, Li Tongya secretly evaluated him.
I suspect this person isn¡¯t just a rogue cultivator. There¡¯s no Zhang Family in this region, and if he isn¡¯t using a false name, he likely has connections to the three sects and seven gates.
While Li Tongya remained vignt, Zhang Yun continued to exin patiently¡ªthough his excitement was evident.
He pointed toward the water beside the small continent.
¡°During your absence, I studied this cave dwelling... it appears to belong to a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm, dating back at least two to three hundred years,¡± he exined.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yangping¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement as he eximed, ¡°That¡¯s rare indeed!¡±
Zhang Yun nodded.
¡°I¡¯ve heard that in ancient times, Moongaze Lake was known as the Great Moon Pool, spanning an area of three thousand miles and was abundant with Mountain Pool Spiritual Qi... in fact, this was where the Moonlight Origin Mansion used to be located. There were numerous cave dwellings, but as thendscape changed, theke gradually dried up¡ªleaving only the present Moongaze Lake,¡± he spoke, his eyes unreadable.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Lin Jingyi eagerly asked, ¡°Do you know how to get us inside, Brother Zhang?¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
Zhang Yun nodded confidently. The group performed a series of hand seals and cast Water Avoidance Spell on themselves before stepping into the water, stopping at a break in the riverbed.
With a swift motion of his long saber, Zhang Yun revealed numerous patterns on the stone wall, followed by the emergence of a dazzling white formation.
Zhang Yun reacted quickly and performed another hand seal, shooting out three long and thin jade wedges, each nailing into the formation. With a strong tug, three long and thin glowing white chains materialized in his hands, each connected to the jade wedges.
¡°Take these, fellow Daoists,¡± he instructed as he tossed out two chains to the other two men with him. Together, they poured their mana into the jade wedges.
This guy really sure knows a thing or two...
Li Tongya felt as though he had broadened his horizon as he channeled his mana through his hand. He grew more convinced that Zhang Yun had an extraordinary background, and his presence here could possibly be calcted.
Li Tongya began meticulously scanning the surroundings around him, searching for potential escape routes.
With heightened caution, he made a conscious effort to conserve his mana. After a full day of channeling mana, they finally saw the silver formation begin to flicker as night fell. After a slow night, the formation finally shattered¡ªrevealing the dark abyss that was the entrance to the cave dwelling.
As a huge amount ofke water rushed in, they swiftly cast a few Water Avoidance Spells at the entrance to block it.
Standing before the dark entrance, the four hesitated. A silent exchange ensued, their eyes meeting in a moment of mutual hesitation. In each other''s gazes, they discerned the same shade of uncertainty.
¡°Shall I go first?¡± Zhang Yun offered, brandishing a light yellow wooden shield from his storage bag.
Xu Yangping looked at the dharma weapon in his hand from behind him, then followed silently behind Li Tongya with a serious look on his face.
After only a few steps into the cave, a foul stench invaded their senses, immediately causing the couple to gag. Li Tongya, who had been holding his breath since entering the cave remained unaffected and unfazed.
He silently nced at Xu Yangping, and the two immediately recognized the vignt look in each other¡¯s eyes. Their true essences surged, poised for action at a moment''s notice.
Xu Yangping seems to have doubts about Zhang Yun¡¯s true intentions... if he was indeed working with Zhang Yun to deceive me, he wouldn¡¯t get Lin Jingyi involved in the first ce. Looks like he has sensed that something must be off, hence bing on guard.
As if in response to his thoughts, Xu Yangping¡¯s voice echoed in Li Tongya¡¯s mind. It was transmitted through his spiritual sense and his voice was tinged with apprehension.
¡°Brother Li, I fear this man may not be an ordinary rogue cultivator. Jingyi and I must have misjudged him... I fear this won¡¯t end well for us.¡±
Zhang Yun surveyed the cave dwelling ahead of them, the glow of the spell in his hand illuminating every corner of the cave.
Within the cavern, a wide space unfolded. At its center stood a towering crystal column, adorned with the coiled skeleton of a massive snake. Among the eerie white bones and fangs, a lone blood-red orb was suspended inside its jaws.
The orb hovered gently, emitting a faint crimson light that contrasted starkly against the pristine whitence embedded in the ground¡ªits silver gleam casting an ethereal glow throughout the cave.
The spiritual qi within the cave dwelling was as rich as in the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche. This cavern, spanning several acres, seemed to stretch endlessly into the depths, its atmosphere tinged with an overwhelming yin qi.
¡°Oh, it seems we¡¯ve stumbled upon a demon general¡¯sir!¡± Zhang Yun eximed, kicking aside decayed bones before turning back to address Li Tongya and the couple with disappointment.
¡°I thought this would be a cave dwelling that belonged to a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm... but it seems like it belongs to a serpent demon instead!¡±
Xu Yangping and the others shared in Zhang Yun¡¯s disappointment. Demons of Foundation Establishment Realm have taken form, and often possess knowledge in formations and alchemy. However, demons were notorious for theirck of inheritance, preferring to consume spirit items rather than passing them down to others... This meant that there would not be much left for them to discover.
¡°There were countless little snakes in this cave, but all of them have been preyed upon by the demon and turned into sustenance for its cultivation,¡± Zhang Yun remarked as they navigated through thebyrinth of snake remains.
The group explored the entirety of the cave. All of the remains, bones, and ashes in there belonged to either humans or animals¡ªtheir belongings, including their storage pouches, had vanished.
¡°Hmm?¡± Zhang Yun muttered as he scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense. From the ashes, two jade slips emerged. After a brief inspection of them, he tossed them aside in disappointment.
¡°What a poor demon... it must have exchanged all its treasures into spirit items and spirit elixirs to aid in breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm... the jade slips have been sealed. Since the demon couldn¡¯t sell them, they were left here buried in the ashes,¡± Zhang Yun exined as he turned around to face hispanions.
He chuckled and continued, ¡°The Purple Mansion Realm is no easy feat to achieve!¡±
¡°What are the contents of those two jade slips, Brother Zhang?¡± Xu Yangping asked inquisitively as he cupped his fist in respect.
Zhang Yun shot him a nce before replying.
¡°One of them is the Blood Dharma Manual from my sect¡ªthe Golden Feather Sect¡ªwhile the other is the long-lost River Mountain Sutra of the Lingyu Gate after it was destroyed. You¡¯ll need the secret seal of the Golden Feather Sect to unlock the first one, and a secret technique to unlock the other one... both of you should just give up on them.¡±
Chapter 110: Exploration (II)
Chapter 110: Exploration (II)
Xu Yangping exchanged dismayed nces with his wife as Li Tongya withdrew to a safer area, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. Faint glimmers of white light were prancing around it, hinting at thetent power of the Celestial Moon sh technique that was ready to be unleashed at any given moment.
¡°Do not be so rmed, Brother Xiao.¡±
Zhang Yun said as he smiled at Li Tongya, carefully eyeing his sword that was already humming with power in its sheath.
¡°I¡¯m familiar with the River One Qi Technique of the Xiao Family... it was my father who personally bestowed it upon them.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s face betrayed a look of surprise before he quickly masked it with a quick regain of hisposure.
¡°Is your purpose here solely to retrieve the Blood Dharma Manual, Brother Zhang?¡± he asked, an eyebrow arched.
¡°Not really...¡±
Zhang Yun''s expression faltered slightly. ¡°Actually, I was sent by my master to search for a cave dwelling... I had no idea Brother Xiao was seeking the River Mountain Sutra. My intrusion was unintentional!¡± he exined.
Li Tongya was taken aback by this revtion, his mind racing. His expression betrayed his feelings of unease.
¡°I spent over a decade searching for the whereabouts of this cave dwelling, I never anticipated being preempted by this couple... when I saw Brother Zhang, I assumed it was because your sect also had an interest in this item,¡± he interjected.
Zhang Yun waved his hands dismissively.
¡°Nonsense! With the bond between our families, how could the Golden Feather Sect harbor any desire for the River Mountain Sutra?¡±
Xu Yangping and his wife were left bewildered by the conversation. Caught between the conflicting agendas of two powerful factions, they felt trapped, perspiration beading on their brows as they realized they had unwittingly stumbled into a dangerous situation.
Damn it, Li Tongya is also a disciple of a sect. Now, we¡¯ve be pawns in their game!
The couple silently edged backward, ready to make a hasty escape. However, their small movements caught Zhang Yun¡¯s attention, prompting him to turn and fix them with a sly smile.
¡°I¡¯ll deal with Brother Xiao¡¯s problem first!¡± Zhang Yun eximed with augh as he swung his de toward Xu Yangping. Xu Yangping¡¯s hair stood on end as he quickly grabbed Lin Jingyi and made an attempt to retreat.
Unfortunately for him, Zhang Yun had practiced at least the Grade Three cultivation method and had consumed pure Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth.
Although Xu Yangping had attained the Qi Cultivation Realm, he practicedmon cultivation methods. Since he possessed no decent qi gathering method, he had consumed various unrefined qi. It was no surprise that he was no match for Zhang Yun¡¯s prowess.
In a swift and ruthless disy like Li Tongya when he murdered the Qi Cultivator of the Ji Family back then, Zhang Yun decapitated Xu Yangping with a series of shes, ignoring Lin Jingyi¡¯s pleas for mercy. He soon turned his attention to her and with another sh, she fell to the ground, lifeless.
¡°These rogue cultivators are truly worthless,¡± Zhang Yun sneered as he turned around.
Although Li Tongya¡¯s face remainedposed, Zhang Yun¡¯s actions chilled Li Tongya to the bone. As Zhang Yun silently picked up the couple¡¯s storage pouches, Li Tongya could not help but reflect on the power held by the three sects and seven gates in the world of immortal cultivation.
Without the authentic technique Jing¡¯er brought home from the sect, I could have been killed by someone else, like these two rogue cultivators.
Zhang Yun suddenly turned toward Li Tongya with a proposition. ¡°I guess the cultivation method is settled. As for these inner core and dharma artifacts... who¡¯s going to pick first...?¡±
Without waiting for a response from Li Tongya, a cruel sparkle lit up his eyes.
¡°Why don¡¯t we settle this with a duel?! Saber against sword, winner takes the pick of the loot!¡± he eximed.
Li Tongya had seen Zhang Yun¡¯s skill when he decapitated Xu Yangping earlier and was aware that Zhang Yun¡¯s techniques were not any superior to his Profound Water Sword Technique and River One Qi Technique. Besides, he also had the Celestial Moon sh technique which was packed with explosive power.
I mustn¡¯t back down at this moment!
With a confident smirk, he drew his sword, unleashing a burst of white light that had been contained in his sheath.
¡°Sounds good!¡± he replied with a dangerous smile.
As soon as he drew his sword, a white sword qi flew toward Zhang Yun, causing him to cry out in rm and surprise.
¡°Hey, that¡¯s cheating!¡± he eximed.
However, he was able to react fast enough, releasing the saber qi he had been storing for quite some time. It shed against the sword qi, creating a thunderous noise that caused their clothing to flutter and rustle loudly.
Li Tongya staggered slightly under the force of the impact but managed to dissipate it quickly. Zhang Yun, however, remained steadfast despite taking a direct hit. He stifled a grunt, indicating that he had sustained minor internal injuries.
Nevertheless, he chuckled.
¡°You¡¯ve backed off! Take your cultivation method... and I¡¯ll take the peak Foundation Establishment Realm demon¡¯s inner core. You can have this dharma weapon of Foundation Establishment Ream.¡±
Reluctant to argue further, Li Tongya simply nodded.
¡°Fine, my mission is alreadyplete as long as I can retrieve this cultivation method for my elder anyway,¡± he replied with a shrug of his shoulders.
Both of them then collected their items before exiting the cave.
¡°That sword technique of yours is quite impressive!¡±
Li Tongya was about to offer a modest response, but Zhang Yun quickly spoke again before he could respond.
¡°The Golden Feather Sect¡¯s promise to the Daoist Master Chuting still stands... once that old fart, Chi Wei, dies, the Xiao Family will be backed up by the Golden Feather Sect... so please, give more consideration to the matter.¡±
Li Tongya was instantly stricken with horror as his mind reeled with the revtion.
Daoist Master Chuting?! Xiao Chuting has already attained the Purple Mansion Realm? No wonder the Golden Feather Sect treats the Xiao Family with such deference...
What¡¯s that promise about? If Chi Wei, the old ancestor of the Azure Pond Sect, dies, the sect¡¯s influence will likely diminish greatly. What schemes are the Xiao Family and the Golden Feather Sect plotting...?
Zhang Yun blinked and continued in a low voice, ¡°Even if you¡¯re not truly loyal to the Xiao Family... it doesn¡¯t matter. With a few Foundation Establishment cultivators ready to unite, turmoil will inevitably ensue sooner orter.¡±
Li Tongya shook his head and chuckled.
¡°Brother Zhang, you jest.¡±
With augh, Zhang Yun patted his brocade pouch and departed on his flying shuttle, leaving Li Tongya to contemte his words.
Wary that Zhang Yun was still around the vicinity, Li Tongya decided to sit and cultivate until nightfall. As darkness enveloped thend, he utilized the Qi Restraining Technique and flew toward Lixia Prefecture before circling back to the Li Residence.
However, as he flew over Mount Lijing, he noticed a sea of white below him. A sense of foreboding gripped him as he descended toward the mountain. The courtyard was decorated in white and he saw Li Xuanxuan d in mourning attire.
¡°What happened?¡± he asked carefully.
Li Xuanxuan shivered. He could not even speak at the sight of Li Tongya and merely fell to his knees onto the ground. With trembling hands, Li Xuanxuan handed over the Ebony Bow and spoke.
¡°A few days ago, Chen Donghe and the others returned... saying that... that uncle... had been killed by a curse...¡± he choked out between sobs.
Li Tongya froze, and the joy from acquiring a new cultivation method and dharma artifact instantly dissipated. His fears and premonitions had finally been proven true.
¡°I understand,¡± he murmured softly before turning away to hide his emotions.
The two stood on the mountain for the longest time, each not saying a word. It took a while before Li Tongya broke the silence again.
¡°Go get the clothes he usually wore and bury them in the family mausoleum, alongside your grandfather and father.¡±
Li Xuanxuan nodded solemnly, and Li Tongya wiped away a tear before issuing another instruction.
¡°Make sure everything is done in proper order. Leave a space in the center for me.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
Chapter 111: Recovered Mirror Shard (I)
Chapter 111: Recovered Mirror Shard (I)
In the year 216 of the Great Calendar, the barbarian lord of Mount Yue¡ªJianixi¡ªadvanced eastward, plundered the towns of Lichuan and Lijing, and broke through the mountain gate.
Li Jingtian delicately held the brush with fair and slender fingers, meticulously jotting down notes on the silk fabric page of a book; save for the asional pause to move her fingers and calcte the dates.
Father was trapped by Mount Yue, invaded westward into Great Jueting, and ravaged fifteen viges. The barbarian lord, fearing his might, resorted to foul curses to assassinate him... father had sumbed to a gruesome fate, coughing blood and spewing forth locusts.
He breathed hisst at the tender age of thirty-nine.
The mantle of household responsibilities then fell upon the shoulders of the eldest son of the first uncle, Xuanxuan.
Li Jingtian sighed mournfully after writing this paragraph, her white clothes billowing gently in the breeze. Sitting beside her, Li Tongya raised his head to observe her continued writing in the book.
In the year 217 of the Great Calendar, the fourth month of the summer, there was a great drought. The fifteen Mount Yue viges were affected by locusts that came from the south and covered the sky.
¡°Well done,¡± Li Tongya murmured as he nodded approvingly. He had intended to start documenting the family history several years ago, but various family matters had kept everyone in the major sect upied. Fortunately, Li Jingtian, being a direct descendant of the family, had the time and so the task was handed over to her.
Li Jingtian dipped her brush into the ink and set aside thepleted writing. As she prepared another silk page to continue on, the sound of a report outside the courtyard caught their attention.
¡°Chen Donghe seeks an audience!¡±
¡°Come in.¡±
Chen Donghe entered the courtyard with a determined stride, d in the same white clothes.
He nced at Li Jingtian who was behind the curtain before cupping his fist.
¡°I have something important to report.¡±
He hesitated. It had been several months since his return to the vige, and Li Tongya had been difficult to meet. He gritted his teeth in contemtion before finally speaking.
¡°The Family Head instructed that... this matter should be reported to Senior Tongya alone.¡±
Li Jingtian raised her head, then gently set aside her brush and bowed respectfully before retreating from the room. Noticing the seriousness in Chen Donghe¡¯s demeanor, Li Tongya dismissed the attendants as well.
It was only then that Chen Donghe finally produced a crystal clear bead from his pocket, kneeling before Li Tongya.
¡°The Family Head has instructed that this bead must be personally delivered to your hands. I have not spoken of this to anyone else.¡±
epting the pearl, Li Tongya examined it closely. Encased within the crystal was a thumb-sized, pure white diamond-shaped shard that sparkled in the sunlight.
As Li Tongya was about to speak, the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed within his body trembled violently, causing his heart to skip a beat. He bit down on his tongue and swallowed his words.
¡°I understand. I¡¯ll remember all that you¡¯ve done for us,¡± he replied, feigning calmness.
After dismissing Chen Donghe, Li Tongya pped his storage pouch, only to realize the treasure would not be able to fit inside. Without any other choice, he concealed it in his chest pocket. Nodding to Li Jingtian who had just reentered the courtyard, he swiftly made his exit.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense had long been fixated on that treasure pearl and as he observed Li Tongya hurrying to the backyard, he felt a profound connection with the shard.
His heart raced with excitement.
¡°It seems like the mirror is only left with a bluish-gray frame... what seems like its reflective surface is merely the shiny sheen of the smooth frame. The mirror itself has long been shattered and lost!¡±
The shard in the bead Li Tongya was holding was actually one of the lost fragments of the mirror!
The mirror itself was palm-sized, while the shard was the size of two fingernails, upying one-tenth of its entire reflective surface. Lu Jiangxian resisted the urge to seize it and decided to wait silently in the backyard instead.
As Li Tongya ced the precious pearl atop the altar reverently, Lu Jiangxian activated his mana. A zing white light erupted from the mirror, and the bluish-gray mirror floated into the air.
The twelve runes on the mirror¡¯s frame shed one by one, and white light rippled across the mirror¡¯s surface like undting water waves. A heavy pressure filled the courtyard, shocking Li Tongya and leaving him gasping for breath.
Lu Jiangxian ingested the pearl, and the Supreme Yin Profound Light burst forth. The crystal-clear shell melted like ice meeting fire, transforming into a white mist¡ªwhich turned out to be the talisman qi of Foundation Establishment Realm.
As the mirror shard slowly fused into the frame, a profound sense of satisfaction and drowsiness washed over Lu Jiangxian. He focused on merging with the mirror shard, grabbing the talisman qi, and tossing it into Li Tongya¡¯s Shenyang Mansion.
All of a sudden, Lu Jiangxian saw stars appear before his eyes as several rows ofrge characters appeared.
The top row was written in purposeful handwriting, with pale golden brush strokes¡ªDeep Ocean Long Whale.
The words in the row below it were written in dark gray brush strokes that conveyed the bitter coldness of iron and stone¡ªExhausting Life To Achieve Sess.
Back then, Li Xiangping had three types of talisman qi to choose from... while Li Tongya only had two. It seemed the type of talisman qi was rted to the recipient¡¯s talent, while the realm of the talisman qi determined the power of the ability after sealing it.
As Lu Jiangxian¡¯s divine sense delved into the words, he was able to feel the differences between the two talisman qi.
The Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman could enhance the recipient¡¯s mana, deepening their true essence like the ocean and allowing for rapid recovery of mana.
On the other hand, the other talisman enabled the user to exchange lifespan for mana, granting explosive strength but at the cost of longevity.
Without hesitation, Lu Jiangxian chose the Deep Sea Long Whale Talisman, hoping it would help Li Tongya live longer and also allow the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in his body to mature several more decades before its retrieval. Besides, knowing Li Tongya, there was no way that man would sacrifice his lifespan to win. So naturally, the first talisman was the most practical choice.
¡°You should be able to reach greater heights now. Guard your home well, and I shall rest for a while...¡± Lu Jiangxian murmured as he slowly drifted into a deep slumber.
Li Tongya felt a white qi enter his brow and a pale talisman qi materialized in his Shenyang Mansion before four huge golden characters appeared¡ªDeep Ocean Long Whale.
¡°White talisman?!¡±
Before Li Tongya could react, the chakra in his Qihai acupoint stirred, and his cultivation realm surged with the intensity of a volcanic eruption.
Third heavenlyyer... Fourth heavenlyyer... Fifth heavenlyyer...
The deep pool in Li Tongya¡¯s Qihai acupoint expanded violently, growing five or six timesrger than its original size. Once brimming with true essence, Li Tongya was now left with a sensation that felt like only twenty or thirty percent of his cultivation remained.
Li Tongya was so astonished that he could barely contain himself.
¡°What an unbelievable talisman qi... to think that there¡¯s such a talisman qi within this treasure pearl! The Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman is really powerful..!¡± he mumbled in utter shock and disbelief.
As he watched the bluish-gray mirror before him gradually lower onto the tform again, Li Tongya respectfully kneeled and bowed deeply three times. He then exited the courtyard and sat down cross-legged, then began to condense his true essence.
Just as he settled down, he was nearly jolted awake from his meditative state.
Although my Qihai is now five or six timesrger, the recovery speed of my true essence is more than ten times faster! I thought it would take eight or ten hours to recover, but now it seems it won¡¯t even take two hours..!
Li Tongya tried to settle down again andpleted his meditation for an hour, feeling the profound true essence coursing through his body.
¡°I bet that the three past versions of myselfbined can hardly take down the version I am now... they may even end up being exhausted to death by myself!¡± he murmured quietly to himself, barely able to contain his own excitement.
He soared into the air, feeling his mood had lifted greatly.
Chapter 112: Recovered Mirror Shard (II)
Chapter 112: Recovered Mirror Shard (II)
The big cave dwelling in theke is full of spiritual qi... maybe I should send some people to patch it up when we have enough manpower to spare. It seems about an acre or two in size, like several cave dwellings on Mount Meichebined. It seems like we don¡¯t have to worry about cultivation space from now on.
Li Tongya reached into his storage pouch. There were fifty Spirit Stones from the time he helped destroy the Ji Family, along with the proceeds from selling items and umted surplus. This totaled to around seventy Spirit Stones.
ng...
Drawing out a long spear that emitted a chilling gleam from his storage pouch, Li Tongya inspected the dharma artifact of the Foundation Establishment Realm he had obtained in the snake¡¯s cave.
Faint electricity danced along its snow-white surface, causing Li Tongya¡¯s palms to tingle.
Li Tongya smiled wryly. He was not skilled with spears, and on top of that, the dharma artifact was of the Foundation Establishment Realm¡ªwhich was too powerful for a Qi Cultivator to wield. Hence, it could only be left to collect dust in his storage pouch.
¡°Since the formation at home hasn¡¯t been set up yet, I will just carry it around for now.¡±
Putting the spear away, Li Tongya retrieved another jade slip.
This jade slip looked different from ordinary ones.
It was entirely purple, chilling to the touch, and remarkably durable. Li Tongya was convinced that he would not even be able to scratch it if he were to use all his strength.
¡°ording to what Zhang Yun said, this is the long lost River Mountain Sutra from the destroyed Lingyu Gate... I wonder what kind of cultivation method this is.¡±
The jade slip had been sealed. Li Tongya attempted to ess its contents with his spiritual sense, only to feel like he was going against an iron wall. He had no choice but to give up and wait until he could gather more information about it in the future.
When he entered the front yard, Li Xuanxuan was engrossed in reading wooden slips. Li Tongya sat beside him quietly.
¡°How are things at home?¡±
¡°Good.¡±
Li Xuanxuan nodded and replied without looking up. ¡°There are now around twelve hundred vagrants from Mount Yue, andbined with the Mount Yue people that were already in the vige, it gives a total of five thousand. The poption under our rule has reached thirty thousand, with ten thousand in Lijing Town alone. The Li Family has more than eight hundred members, and the Ye Family has over three thousand.¡±
Li Tongya nced at the wooden slip in his hand and thought to himself.
¡°With such numbers, there''ll likely be many individuals with spiritual orifices in theing years... keep an eye on them and ensure the Mount Yue people don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Li Xuanxuan replied with affirmation. ¡°I¡¯ve prohibited intermarriage between Mount Yue and our people. Women are only allowed to marry vigers, and men join the farming households. Those from Mount Yue don¡¯t have surnames, so there¡¯s a little aversion to changing them... in just two or three generations, there won¡¯t be any distinction between those from Mount Yue and our vigers.¡±
¡°Excellent,¡± Li Tongya said approvingly. He then let out a slight chuckle.
¡°I heard you have six concubines..?¡± he asked teasingly.
Li Xuanxuan stammered and awkwardly nodded, his cheeks flushing instantly.
¡°That was from two years ago when Third Uncle picked them for me...¡± he stuttered shyly.
¡°It¡¯s good to expand the family... the major sect¡¯s numbers are still too small,¡± Li Tongya continued with a reassuring nod.
¡°Just don¡¯t overindulge yourself and let that affect the progress of your cultivation.¡±
Li Xuanxuan nodded hastily.
¡°I can feel that I¡¯m very close to condensing the Jade Capital Chakra! I can probably enter seclusion to break through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm soon.¡±
Li Tongya stood up and nced at the setting sun outside the window.
¡°What did the messengers that were sent to the Lu and An Families report?¡±
¡°They both brought back news. Both the Lu and An Families now rule over more than twenty thousand people¡ª one upies Mount Huazhong, and the other upies Mount Huaqian.¡±
Li Tongya carefully listened to this before replying.
¡°With the poption under our rule about to exhaust avablend for cultivation along with our poption growth reaching its limit, let¡¯s keep an eye on these two families and wait for the right moment.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Li Xuanxuan replied with a nod in agreement. After a brief moment of contemtion, he added, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing though...¡±
Li Tongya frowned and asked, ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°I think Donghe... probably fancies Jingtian.¡±
¡°...Donghe?¡±
At this, Li Tongya¡¯s expression clouded momentarily with sorrow before responding. ¡°He¡¯s talented and of good character... however, with Xiangping just gone, this is not the time to discuss marriage. You should ask Jingtian if she fancies anyone right now, then we can discuss further.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The night had grown deep, with the gentle moonlight casting a soothing glow over the stone path; the mountain breeze feeling particrly refreshing.
Li Jingtian lit a candle and settled down to read the records she had meticulously written over the past few days. However, her concentration was interrupted by a series of soft knocks on the door.
It was a n soldier who was stationed outside.
¡°Youngdy, the Family Head requests your presence in the main courtyard.¡±
Li Jingtian was taken aback before quickly realizing that Li Xuanxuan was the Family Head the n soldier was referring to. She extinguished the candle on the desk and softly replied, ¡°I understand.¡±
After gathering her belongings, she gently opened the door of her room. However, she was surprised to find a teenager standing outside. Her brow arched.
¡°Donghe..?¡±
Chen Donghe nodded nervously, his eyes darting around before speaking.
¡°Jingtian, the family head sent me to fetch you,¡± he croaked out.
Li Jingtian furrowed her eyebrows slightly, puzzled.
¡°Why did the family head send you? Did he mention anything specific..?¡± she asked, curious.
Chen Donghe gritted his teeth, clenching his hands nervously as he exined, ¡°I... You... Uh... The Family Head asked me... if I wanted to be... together... with you...¡±
Li Jingtian¡¯s almond eyes slowly widened as she stared at him in shock. Only a single word escaped her slightly parted lips.
¡°Huh...?¡±
The two stared at each other for a few seconds. Li Jingtian could already discern the answer in Chen Donghe¡¯s fiery gaze. She walked silently along the stone path¡ªher heart heavy and hands cold, as if she already understood what awaited her.
Chen Donghe also understood the situation from Li Jingtian¡¯s silence. His eyes which were filled with longing and desire were now like extinguished fire pits, turning cold like churned ash.
With pursed lips, he sent Li Jingtian into the main courtyard and sat at the entrance. He stared nkly at the moon in the sky.
Li Jingtian cautiously entered the main courtyard where only Li Xuanxuan was present, engrossed in reading a wooden slip.
Unlike Li Xiangping who preferred to sit in his seat at that spot, Li Xuanxuan often stood by the table as if there was someone else upying therge chair, making him conscious of his actions.
¡°Jingtian...¡±
Li Xuanxuan nced up and saw the answer in Li Jingtian¡¯s eyes. Despite this, he remainedposed and warm as he asked, ¡°What do you think of Donghe?¡±
Li Jingtian noticed the hopeful anticipation in Li Xuanxuan¡¯s eyes. She understood that he wished to see such a capable aide as Chen Donghe married into the Li family, ensuring the continuation of such a valuable bloodline.
¡°Courageous, reliable, and talented. At fifteen, he¡¯s already at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and shows promise in reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm,¡± Li Jingtian calmly responded.
Li Xuanxuan nodded approvingly.
¡°Who among the men in the towns canpare to him? You should spend more time with him regrly...¡± he continued in a low, reassuring voice.
Li Jingtian listened to Li Xuanxuan¡¯s personal advice and then left the courtyard in a daze.
Chen Donghe had already vanished from the entrance. Walking along the stone path, Li Jingtian suddenly felt a deep sense of insignificance and unease.
She looked up at the bright moon.
How I wish I had a spiritual orifice as well.
Chapter 113: Jianixi’s Death
Chapter 113: Jianixi¡¯s Death
Jianixi, d in leather and adorned with bird feathers, wielded an animal bone spear as he ascended the high tform. His aura was that of the Foundation Establishment Realm, heightened only by the brilliant sunrise that enveloped his figure, illuminating him in a divine glow.
A vast crowd of Mount Yue tribesmen kneeled devoutly beneath the tform, their eyes brimming with hope and anticipation. They believed that Jianixi, their king, would usher in a new era, putting an end to Mount Yue¡¯s century of chaos.
However, contrasting with the fervent excitement of his subjects, Jianixi¡¯s eyes projected only ridicule and disdain. Standing rigidly atop the tform, he coldly surveyed the kneeling people of Mount Yue below him.
¡°Jianixi... it¡¯s time,¡± rasped the old shaman beside him, draped in a ck robe. He wielded a scepter fashioned from a beast¡¯s head, exuding the aura of peak Foundation Establishment Realm.
His hoarse voice echoed in Jianixi''s ears.
¡°Don¡¯t dy this any longer... as long as you die peacefully, we will spare your people,¡± the old shaman continued, his expression tinged with helplessness as he inwardly cursed those who had coerced him into this situation.
It seems Jianixi has long sensed that something is amiss... no wonder they¡¯ve been passing the buck to each other. I¡¯ve been in seclusion for too long and thought that this would be an easy task, but it seems that I have been mistaken!
To coerce him into being a sacrificialmb is no easy feat. With no heir nor wife, his only concern is for the hundreds of thousands of Mount Yue. We can only use this to ckmail him... if he hadn¡¯t ascended this altar himself, we would have had to resort to force.
Jianixi cast a contemptuous nce at him, tightening his grip on his spear. Slowly, he stepped forward tentatively, and the patterns on the high tform almost immediately began glowing red.
¡°Old man, let me ask you: have you ever ruled over subjects and led an army before?¡± Jianixi asked without warning.
The old shaman noticed the disdain on Jianixi¡¯s face. Gone was the helplessness he had exhibited a few days ago when he had to hold hundreds of thousands of Mount Yue people hostage. His heart raced with unease and his hairs stood on their end as he warned, ¡°Jianixi, think about the hundreds of thousands from Mount Yue and reconsider your action!¡±
Jianixiughed, failing to conceal the anger and malice in his voice.
¡°The army is mynce, the people are my chariot... no one should die for their weapon!¡± he snarled.
The old shaman suddenly felt that something must be wrong the moment he heard this statement. He sensed the surging mana emanating from Jianixi¡¯s body ¡ª so powerful that it seemed capable of crushing even the Profound Scenery Chakra itself.
In a panic, he cried out.
¡°Master!¡±
Suddenly, the sky darkened as winds howled ominously.
A massive skeletal hand descended from the heavens, aiming to suppress Jianixi¡¯s burgeoning power. But before it could evene close to touching a hair on Jianixi¡¯s body, a profound light from the east intercepted it, halting its advance.
With a resounding crack, the six Chakras in Jianixi¡¯s body shattered ¡ª along with the foundation of the Great Dao.
Crimson blood erupted from his form, and the old shaman¡¯s face paled in shock.
¡°What do you want, woman?¡± Jianixi asked calmly as he discarded his armor.
¡°I want you to live, Great King.¡±
The scene shifted abruptly ¡ª and Jianixi exploded into a shower of blood before the Mount Yue tribesmen, staining the altar a deep, bright red.
One of his eyeballs flew several feet away,ing to rest before a kneeling Mount Yue woman.
The Mount Yue woman, with her child strapped to her back, reacted as though she had been bitten by a snake. She leaped up immediately with a shriek before picking it up and holding it in her hands shakily. Her face shed between shades of green and white, and a secondter, she coughed and spurted out fresh blood.
A heavy silence nketed the earth which stifled the army and the people below, rendering them speechless. Dark clouds gathered swiftly in the sky and were apanied by lightning, while gusts of winds swept every corner of the earth.
¡°Who...¡± A murmur echoed in the old shaman¡¯s ears. He immediately kneeled down, trembling uncontrobly.
Despite his formidable cultivation, he felt no sense of security. In that moment, only despair filled the old shaman¡¯s heart.
¡°It¡¯s not an old friend... It¡¯s a newly promoted cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm... who is it?!¡±
The thunderous angry shouts reverberated in the ears of the old shaman. Suddenly without any warning, the Mount Yue Qi Cultivators on the altarbusted into a rain of red flesh.
The high tform which was constructed of mud and bricks, crumbled immediately. This had a chain effect, sending rolling mud, sand, and gravel cascading down from the tform. The muddy and earthy atmosphere filled the entire Great Jueting in mere seconds.
¡°Who taught him how to shatter his cultivation and disintegrate his body!? WHO!¡±
A ck-robed middle-aged man stood in the void and the old shaman remained on his knees, covered in dirt. He raised his hand, his expression filled with tyranny.
¡°How many years has it been since one has been able to inflict such a significant loss upon myself!?¡±
His majestic aura reverberated in all directions, causing all the Mount Yue tribesmen gathered in the Great Jueting to tremble.
¡°Master! That was a Profound Light Spell... I-It¡¯s most likely the work of the devil gate!¡± The old shaman¡¯s back ran cold as he stammered out a reply.
Then, he heard the middle-aged cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm coldly dere, ¡°Azure Chi Devil Gate huh? When I was at the peak of my power back then, it was just a small sect guarding a broken mountain gate... and now... they dare to challenge me?!¡±
The man immediately departed on his shuttle as soon as he was done speaking, leaving the old shaman kneeling in silence for a long time before he finally found the courage to lift his head up again.
Tens of thousands of Mount Yue inhabitants remained crouched on the ground, weeping softly. Tens of thousands of incense transformed into light gray resentment qi that floated over the Great Jueting.
¡°Great King...¡±
The Mount Yue inhabitants cried and kneeled around the brown eyeball, the only thing left of their leader. However, their attention was drawn to the sound of rustling wings slowly approaching from the distance.
¡°Locusts..! Locusts..!¡±
The guards on the city wall shouted these words loudly as a huge swarm of gray and ck locusts appeared in the distance, darkening the sky as they flew freely above the Great Jueting... consuming all the resentment qi that had condensed during the drought.
Buzz...
The locusts flew into people, causing raw pain as the Mount Yue¡¯s inhabitants cried out in agony, trampling and pushing each other, attempting to avoid the passage of the locusts.
Hell was let loose in the entire Great Jueting.
¡°Great King!¡±
Seeing the masses of people rapidly surging, the woman carrying her child hastily lifted the boy high and pushed him onto a low boulder with all her might. She was just in time, and almost immediately she was engulfed by the surging crowd, reduced into a pile of blood, flesh, and broken bones on the ground.
Amidst the overwhelming sound of buzzing locust wings, the golden morning sun was obscured by dark clouds, plunging the northern foothills into darkness once again.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Moisture filled the air, and the towns echoed with joyfulughter as vigers carried various containers around, eagerly awaiting the torrential downpour.
¡°It¡¯s finally raining!¡±
The sorrow on Li Xuanxuan¡¯s face dissipated as he smiled, observing the townspeople bustling about. The prolonged drought, which hadsted eight months, had finally ended with rain.
Beside him, Li Xuanling remained silent, his expression also filled with joy. The de in his hand glowed gray, indicating his sess with the Profound Water Sword Aura.
Li Jingtian sat by the window with a smile, watching the raindrops patter onto the stone road.
Chen Donghe stood beside her, gazing at her quietly.
¡°Donghe.¡±
Li Jingtian spoke suddenly, surprising Chen Donghe, who blushed almost instantly as he was caught off guard.
¡°Huh..?¡± he stammered hastily.
¡°Tell me about what my father did in the west,¡± she requested.
Chen Donghe''s expression brightened, and he began recounting events from the west. Li Jingtian listened quietly, asionally nodding.
Meanwhile, the majestic rain poured into every corner with the vigers rejoicing in the heavy downpour, each wearing joyful smiles. Li Tongya soared through the clouds, his brow visibly rxed.
¡°Excellent rain... truly excellent!¡± he remarked, casting a nce to the west where the suffocating aura had vanished.
I suppose Jianixi is dead... we¡¯ll have to wait for the news before we can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Having an enemy like Jianixi always kept one on edge. If Jianixi were to perish, the fifteen viges of Mount Yue would be no match for Li Tongya. Even with one hand tied behind his back, he could beat all the Qi Cultivators.
What¡¯s more, with the blood sacrifice made... I wonder how many Qi Cultivators remain among Mount Yue...
Regrettably, the territorial boundaries set by the cultivator of Purple Mansion Realm on Mount Yue and Azure Pond Sect prevented Li Tongya from expanding his domain, as it had annexed nearby viges.
As he descended into the courtyard, Li Tongya was greeted by Liu Rouxuan¡¯s weing smile.
¡°You¡¯re back, my dear.¡±
Liu Rouxuan had been cultivating for many years, yet she had only been able to reach the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Her natural talent was not particrly remarkable, and she had been practicing a Grade One technique of the Embryonic Breathing Realm which hindered her progress. Looking at her now, there were already strands of white hair from her temples.
¡°Mhm,¡± Li Tongya responded gently. He and Liu Rouxuan had spent nearly twenty years together and knew each other very well. Holding her hand, he noticed a hint of concern in Liu Rouxuan¡¯s expression.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, offering a reassuring smile.
Liu Rouxuan lowered her gaze, her eyes tinged with sadness.
¡°I¡¯ve selected a few concubines for you... they¡¯re waiting outside.¡±
Confused, Li Tongya waved off the women and chuckled.
¡°What were you thinking?¡± he asked with tenderness.
Liu Rouxuan exined softly, ¡°I know my talents are limited, and I fear I may never advance to the Qi Cultivation Realm. I won¡¯t be able to stay by your side forever, and Xuanling is our only son...¡±
Li Tongya hesitated, grappling with the unspoken truth that the distribution of the n¡¯s resources had always favored individuals with better talents... leaving Liu Rouxuan neglected due to her modest abilities. It seemed unlikely that she would achieve a breakthrough in her cultivation without a significant change.
¡°I...¡± Li Tongya began, struggling to find the right words. His principles made it difficult for him to prioritize his wife¡¯s needs over those of the n.
However, before he could voice his thoughts, he noticed Liu Rouxuan gently shaking her head.
¡°That¡¯s not what I mean... I¡¯m not good with fighting andck innate talent. Even if I were to attain the Qi Cultivation Realm, it would likely be futile. I would never dare to squander the n¡¯s resources... all I desire is for you to have more heirs.¡±
Moved by her words, Li Tongya shook his head in response.
¡°There¡¯s no need to say anymore. Ie from a humble farming background... taking multiple wives and concubines isn¡¯t my style.¡±
¡°Xuanling is an obedient and level-headed child, thanks to your guidance. I have yet to even properly express my gratitude.¡±
Before Liu Rouxuan could say anything else, Li Tongya gently silenced her by leaning in and whispering in her ear.
¡°If you wish for another child, then let¡¯s get to work.¡±
Chapter 114: Big Fox
Chapter 114: Big Fox
Li Qiuyang returned to the town several months before his father, Li Chengfu, passed away. The funeral was rtively grand, with representatives from the main familying to offer condolences.
Li Qiuyang personally thanked each guest before spending time alone in the funeral hall, quietly reflecting in front of his father''s coffin. His rtionship with his older brothers was overly formal and respectful, and it was a little ufortable for him.
Li Chengfu''s death had seemed to be peaceful, holding on just long enough to see Li Qiuyang return before passing away quietly in his bed. It was almost like a relief to him to say his final goodbye before hisst breath, grasping Li Quiyang¡¯s hand tenderly.
Looking at the funeral hall draped in white cloth, Li Qiuyang faintly remembered when he was seven when Li Chengfu, upon hearing that the main family was testing the children for spiritual orifices, took him and left the house without a word.
The two walked along the stone path for a while, and he asked his father, ¡°Dad, where are we going?¡±
"To seek immortals!" Li Chengfu chuckled.
After returning to the family and reverting to the Li surname, the vigers and the members of the Ye Family came one after another to curry favor. Li Chengfu ¡ª keen and capable, not only kept his brothers in line and ensured that they never caused trouble for Li Qiuyang, but also made himself useful in the n; his contributions, making this branch prosper day by day.
One day, Li Chengfu had simply drunk too much.
"When I was little and catching fat mice in the fields, I could tell there were three smart people in the vige: one was Li Mutian, the other was Chen Erniu! One was fiercely calm, the other was clever and capable..." he chuckled softly in a drunken stupor.
"...And the third?" Li Qiuyang asked with a smile.
"It''s Ye Chengfu."
Li Chengfuughed heartily with his eyes blurred with drunkenness, the wine bowl shaking violently with every hearty chuckle.
Li Qiuyang was suddenly jolted awake from his memory shbacks and nced once more at Li Chengfu who was lying in the coffin.
Just then, a little child ran in, bouncing around with a white cloth tied around his forehead. He looked up at Li Qiuyang with eyes that were brimming with tears.
"Daddy!"
Holding his young son in his arms, Li Qiuyang¡¯s thoughts wandered.
"All eight of youck a spiritual orifice... where then does the hope for our lineage lie..? As your father, I can only ensure a life of wealth for you. Without a spiritual orifice... you might even pass before I do."
He murmured these words to himself, and his eyes were clouded with an unreadable expression.
Just as he spoke these words to the child, a n soldier came entered, bowing deeply.
"n Uncle, the Family Head summons you."
Li Qiuyang quickly stood up, tidied his clothes, and hurriedly made his way to Mount Lijing. Walking along the stone path, he encountered a massive snake corpse sprawled on the ground that had intricate patterns.
"What a long creature!" Li Qiuyang eximed in admiration.
Without waiting for Li Xuanxuan to speak, he immediately bent down and began sealing the demonic creature with a Spirit Sealing Technique.
"How is your cultivation progressing, n uncle?!¡± Li Xuanxuan asked with a beaming smile.
¡°I¡¯ve condensed the Azure Essence Chakra and attained the fourth stage of the Embryonic Cultivation Realm,¡± Li Qiuyang chuckled fondly in response while Li Xuanfeng, who was polishing his bow, remained silent in his white clothes ¡ª clearly in a somber mood.
A n soldier, panting heavily and drenched in sweat, rushed up and whispered urgently to Li Xuanxuan, "Family Head! News has arrived from the mountains beyond¡ªJianixi is dead! Assassinated during the grand ceremony on Mount Yue!"
Li Xuanxuan was momentarily stunned as he processed the news, and momentster joy sprang into his eyes. He quickly stood up and said to the two, "Jianixi is dead! To think he was assassinated at the grand ceremony... Now, we can finally sleep in peace. A great relief indeed!"
Both men were taken aback, but Li Xuanfeng was exceptionally stoic, not even blinking at the news.
"That was an easy way out for him."
His voice was cold, almost disbelieving.
Li Qiuyang''s expression turnedplex as he quietly said, "During my time in the Mount Yue territories, I saw how much the people revered him... how could someone so beloved be assassinated...?"
Li Xuanxuan nodded, taking over the conversation with a question, "Moreover, he was at least at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm. Who else but a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm could kill him? There are many doubts... the waters run deep."
"What about Second Uncle? He might be the only one who would know the crux of it,¡± Li Xuanxuan asked, looking up.
"He went to y demons," Lu Xuanfeng replied with a shake of his head.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya followed the mountain''s veins towards a location he remembered, and under a cliff, he found arge banyan tree with whitening leaves. It stood proudly on the slope with its white leaves scattering all over the ground, creating a patchwork of white.
Having found the spot from his memory, he indeed saw arge, red fox sound asleep beside the tree. He stopped dead in his tracks and the fox''s ears perked up sharply, squinting to focus its beady eyes on him.
Li Tongya watched quietly for a while. This demon was around the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He had seen it before when he was seeking a talisman qi offering. Back then, he was intimidated by its aura from a distance... but now, with his increased cultivation, he thought it a good opportunity to test his sword skills.
The fox''s eyes were quite lively, looking at the sword in his hand and then licking its paws. It opened its mouth and spoke slowly, much to his surprise.
"I¡¯ve... never eaten... humans."
Li Tongya was momentarily stunned, scanning the fox with his spiritual sense, confirming that it was indeed at the fifth heavenly level of the Qi Cultivation Realm and not at the Foundation Establishment Realm. It was his first time encountering a demon with such spiritual intelligence, as well as the ability to refine bones.
"Fellow Daoist... I merely wish to spar with you, that¡¯s all."
Noticing that the fox was tongue-tied, Li Tongya could not help butugh, raising his hand to strike at the fox. The fox leaped up immediately on the spot, extending its paws to block his attack, and for a moment ¡ª the sound of metal shing rang out in the silence.
After dozens of moves between the man and the fox, Li Tongya slowly gained confidence, steadily creating distance to unleash sword qi for slicing.
The demon fox was clearly caught off-guard by this attack but still managed to block several blows of his sword qi before opening its mouth to spit out a series of fox fires.
The fox fire was zing red and headed directly toward Li Tongya, who stumbled several steps backward in shock. Thankfully, Li Tongya was protected by his true essence. The fox fire, following him like a determined shadow, sizzled against Li Tongya''s protective true essence.
Li Tongya used several true essence attacks to extinguish the fox fire, but this had given the opportunity for the fox to pounce, ready to engage Li Tongya in closebat.
However, Li Tongya was well-prepared and had already sheathed his sword to gather strength. His hand glowed brightly, and he unleashed the Celestial Moon sh technique, causing the fox''s fur to stand on end as it retreated, spitting out several fox fires in a desperate attempt to neutralize the sword qi.
Only then did it manage to fend off the Celestial Moon sh, and as several sword Qis approached, the fox yelped.
"Stop! No more... My superior is a demon general, you... cannot kill me!" the fox screeched, its speech appearing to have gotten smoother.
Li Tongya paused and his sword hung in the air, deciding to seize the opportunity to gather some information. He sheathed his sword and smiled.
"Your fox fire is quite formidable!" hemented, an eyebrow raised as he nced at the fox.
"Not as formidable as your sword...¡± the fox muttered in response.
The fox sighed softly, showing a hint of humanized defeat, before settling down under therge banyan tree.
"Are you... the immortal from the n at the foot of the mountain? There''s one who uses a bow and has killed many demons... do you know him?"
Immediately after hearing the fox mention a bow user, he knew right away who it was the fox must be referring to. He cupped his fist before responding.
"Thank you for your leniency, fellow Daoist... indeed, he is a younger member of my family."
The fox smacked its lips and started grooming its fur, not responding immediately.
"How many dies doesn''t concern me... just don''t disturb that giant boar. The demons on the outskirts are yours to hunt," he drawledzily.
"...May I ask about this demon general?" Li Tongya inquired as he cupped his fist.
The fox stood up and stretched, grinding its teeth.
"It''s a pig demon at the Foundation Establishment Realm, managing all the demons in this area. Very... domineering, I must say ¡ª eating this and that, demanding I offer spirit bamboo shoots to him every year..."
Li Tongya nodded slowly, taking in the fox¡¯s words.
There indeed are demons of Foundation Establishment Realm in these mountains... luckily for me, I did not prate deeper into the terrain and just circled the outskirts.
Chapter 115: Fox Demon’s Secret News
Chapter 115: Fox Demon¡¯s Secret News
Looking at the fox¡¯s forlorn expression, Li Tongya felt a tug at his heart. He reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a bag of Spirit Rice, presenting it with a smile.
¡°Great Fox, take a look at this.¡±
The fox¡¯s reddish fur rustled as it lowered its head to sniff the offering. Its eyes blinked with interest before it took a tentative bite.
¡°Mmm... it¡¯s rather fragrant... this is Spirit Rice, yes? What a rare treat... I¡¯ve heard that the immortal cultivators are fond of it!¡±
He paused thoughtfully.
¡°If you want me to do some work for you, I won¡¯t settle unless there¡¯s a hundred or eighty jin on the table!¡±
Li Tongya chuckled softly, mentally calcting that a hundred and eighty jin was merely equivalent to a Spirit Stone. If it could be exchanged for assistance from a creature of the Qi Cultivation Realm, it would be a lucrative deal indeed. Suppressing his initial hesitation, Li Tongya countered with a proposition.
¡°If you can answer some questions of mine... this bag of Spirit Rice will be yours.¡±
The fox¡¯s ears perked up, and it eagerly epted the offer. Li Tongya tossed the Spirit Rice to it and asked, ¡°Do you know anything about the demon general?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± the fox replied confidently before beginning his exnation, ¡°that pig demon is a creature of the Foundation Establishment Realm, with eight lesser demons at the Qi Cultivation Realm under itsmand. They collect spirit items for it and they dwell in a demon cave two hundred li south of here... those of us who have attained the Qi Cultivation Realm within this region are captured, marked with a seal between the eyebrows, and sent back to stand guard.¡±
After saying that, the fox smelled the bag of rice, then nced at Li Tongya warily.
¡°You¡¯re really going to give me this..? You didn¡¯t poison it, did you?¡±
However, unfortunately for the fox, Li Tongya was too intrigued by its story of the pig demon and was not paying attention, and instead pressed for more information.
¡°What does the seal do? Did the pig demon do the same to you?¡±
The fox raised its head defiantly and snorted.
¡°Hmph, among the six caves in Mount Dali, one of the cave masters is the grandmother of the fox demons. If that pig demon dared to take our spirituality away... it would be courting death.¡±
However, the fox¡¯s defiant expression soon turned somber.
¡°About this spirituality... demonic creatures like us absorb the essence of the sun and moon. After condensing the six chakras, a trace of spirituality will form between our eyebrows. If it¡¯s destroyed, so will our cultivation and our essence qi. They too will disintegrate. It is nothing but a vulnerability in the hands of that pig demon...¡±
¡°I see.¡±
Li Tongya nodded inprehension after gaining insight into the demon pig¡¯s methods.
Observing the fox circling the Spirit Rice, he inquired softly, ¡°Are there any uncaptured demons of the Qi Cultivation Realm in this area that you know of, fellow Daoist?¡±
¡°There are six more in this area, but knowledge of their locations will cost you!¡± the fox replied with a mischievous grin.
Li Tongya merelyughed and asked, ¡°How long have you lived?¡±
¡°Three hundred years or so,¡± the fox replied matter-of-factly.
Leaning against the root of arge tree, it continued, ¡°Spent my first sixty years in ignorance. It wasn¡¯t until my sixties that I condensed the fifth chakra and gained memory. At the age of two hundred and seventy-seven, I condensed a mouthful of spiritual qi in my stomach and broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. This marked the beginning of my sanity... akin to that of a human. I then spent another one hundred years cultivating alone, reaching the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.¡±
¡°Nearly four hundred years?!¡± Li Tongya eximed enviously. ¡°Demonic creatures like you truly have longevity... those of us who¡¯ve reached the Qi Cultivation Realm only have a lifespan of two hundred years.¡±
The fox, however, responded despondently with a bittersweet smile.
¡°What¡¯s there to envy? Foxes who have attained Qi Cultivation Realm have a lifespan of five hundred years, and I¡¯m nearing the end of mine... I¡¯ve only had spiritual wisdom for the past hundred years or so; the first few hundred years were all spent in cluelessness. So... it¡¯s not as advantageous as being an immortal like you!¡±
Li Tongya nodded in understanding before being struck by a sudden realization.
¡°Three hundred years ago, there was a great battle in the northern foothills... can you recall anything about it?¡± he inquired, hopeful.
¡°Great battle?¡±
The fox thought for a moment, then mumbled, ¡°I recall there was indeed a great battle... I was huddled in the cave that night, and the earth shook more than once! The voices of those immortals were like thunder, saying that they wanted something to be handed over...¡±
Looking at Li Tongya¡¯s anxious expression, the fox stuttered slightly as it continued, ¡°Something... like a ... secret decree..? I was only a lesser demon of the Embryonic Breathing Realm at that time and so I can¡¯t remember much...¡±
Li Tongya probed carefully for a while but was not able to get any further information, and so had decided to give up¡ªthough reluctantly. Disappointed, he shook his head, only to notice the fox still looking rather guilty with its head bowed.
¡°I did hear a rumor about the northern foothills,¡± the fox finally admitted.
Li Tongya raised his head with interest immediately as the fox continued, ¡°I once heard an elderly fox passing by who was the one who told me about our grandmother in the cave... she used to beg for food here in the northern foothills when she was around three hundred years old. She was dozing in the cave when a white-haired immortal suddenly pulled her out of the tree hole.¡±
He paused, as though gathering his thoughts before continuing.
¡°The white-haired immortal¡¯s cultivation was unfathomable. I remember that he asked my grandmother, ¡®Have you ever eaten any human, little fox?¡¯ At that time, the Northern Foothills had just gone through a great war and were not yet inhabited, so Grandma replied that she had never.¡±
Li Tongya listened intently as the fox continued with the story. The fox had mimicked the immortal¡¯s ethereal voice perfectly while it stammered with its own. The performance it put on nearly got Li Tongya apuding, and he was rather amused.
¡°The white-haired immortal then said, ¡®There¡¯s a group of vigers at the foot of this mountain... watch over and protect them for two hundred years, and I will grant you a boon.¡¯ Grandma nodded and the immortal tapped between her brows and left a mark there before departing.¡±
Li Tongya eagerly asked, ¡°What boon did she receive?¡±
¡°How should I know?¡± The fox rolled its eyes and then continued, ¡°Therefore, the foxes on Mount Dali never eat people. Although two hundred years have passed, Grandma still keeps the demons on Mount Dali in check. Some years ago, arge bird ate a person at the foot of the mountain... Grandma was enraged! She drove the bird away and forbade it from evering near Mount Dali again... or else she would eat it.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Li Tongya nodded.
Our Li Family has also been farming in these northern foothills for three hundred years, yet I¡¯ve never heard of any family having an immortal in their ancestry. I have doubts about the truth of this story... but for now, I should just listen.
He looked at the fox and asked, ¡°Do you have a name, fellow Daoist?¡±
The fox squeaked, ¡°I¡¯ve always stayed under this big banyan tree... they all call me the White Banyan Fox. As for surnames, we demons don¡¯t concern ourselves with such things.¡±
Li Tongya nodded, then cupped his fist respectfully and said, ¡°My name is Li Tongya. I¡¯ve gained plenty of knowledge from today¡¯s conversation. I¡¯lle back to visit you in a few months, fellow Daoist.¡±
As Li Tongya rode away on the wind, the fox let out a long sigh and flopped onto the ground with a thud. Picking up a mouthful of Spirit Rice, the fox carefully savored it with a satisfying smack of its jaws.
¡°Hmm, this is really fragrant...¡± the fox mumbled quietly to itself in enjoyment.
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Li Xuanxuan seeded the position of Family Head, and a year had passed in the blink of an eye. Although members of the major sect still wore white attire, everyone was gradually getting used to Li Xuanxuan¡¯s leadership.
Li Tongya secluded himself in the mountains most of the time, while Li Xuanfeng spent most of his time ying demons and cultivating. Li Xuanxuan had be the nominal and actual Li Family¡¯s figure of authority. In his early twenties, he handled family matters cautiously, ensuring that everything was arranged properly and in order.
Sitting in his seat in the main courtyard with Li Xiewen standing beside him, Li Xuanxuan smiled and looked at Chen Donghe.
¡°Have you made a decision yet?¡± he asked.
Chen Donghe cupped his fist and frowned, saying, ¡°The matter of joining the main family is of great importance... I can¡¯t make a final decision rashly. I need to return home to consult my father first.¡±
Li Xuanxuan set his tea bowl down and gently replied, ¡°Indeed, but you shouldn¡¯t be so concerned. After all, the family rule states that only those in the major sect can practice the River One Qi Technique. This is an opportunity I have found for you after pleading to Second Uncle...¡±
Chen Donghe nodded with gratitude, cupped his fist, then left.
Li Xiewen then called for someone to remove the tea cup that had been used by Chen Donghe.
¡°Family Head, Xuanfeng is also fourteen years old now... it¡¯s time to consider his marriage too.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Li Xuanxuan agreed with a curt nod. He unfurled the wooden slips in his hand and calcted for a moment before speaking.
¡°How many talismans did Second Uncle send to the foot of the mountain this month?¡±
¡°Five, Family Head.¡±
¡°The talisman ink and talisman paper at home are running out. Xuanfeng will need to make a trip to the market this month,¡± Li Xuanxuan pointed out.
As the n¡¯s manpower gradually increased, the spirit fields on thend had now fully developed. After deducting the tributes to Azure Pond Sect and provisions for family cultivators, there was still a surplus.
¡°Excluding the tributes, we still have three hundred jin of Spirit Rice annually as surplus. The annual n sry for major sect cultivators is ten jin, five jin for minor sects, and one jin for branches, totaling eighty-six jin. There is still a bnce of two Spirit Stones worth.¡±
Originally, the Li Family did not have many cultivators. However, those with spiritual orifices from the four towns had merged into the Li Family through marriage, mostly bing part of the minor sect cultivators, and hence were entitled to a reward of Spirit Rice.
¡°Second Uncle can draw about sixty talismans annually, selling for twenty Spirit Stones each. After deducting costs, he can earn about two or three Spirit Stones. With Xuanfeng and Donghe hunting demonic beasts in the mountains, the annual ie can reach seven Spirit Stones. That¡¯s roughly the price of a dharma artifact from the Embryonic Breathing Realm.¡±
There were over seventy Spirit Stones in the family¡¯s inventory. The Li Family had been saving up toy arge formation for Mount Lijing, so every Spirit Stone earned brought great happiness to Li Xuanxuan.
Chapter 116: Seeking Alliance
Chapter 116: Seeking Alliance
¡°In a few more years, it will be time to head to the prefecture to pay the tributes and report the emergence of Qi Cultivators in our Li Family. By that time, it would be best to have a good hundred Spirit Stones saved up... that way I would be able to hire a Formation Master to set up a formation here.¡±
Li Xuanfeng had entered seclusion a few days ago. For a cultivator of the peak Embryonic Breathing Realm, the Qi Cultivation Realm was not far from his reach now. Li Tongya had handed over the Golden Front sh Technique and the Golden Stone Sharp Qi to Li Xuanfeng to aid him in breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm.
The Ji Family¡¯s Golden Light Edge Technique was also a Grade Three technique ¡ª not at all inferior to the River One Qi Technique. On the contrary, it was more suitable for bow users like Li Xuanfeng. Hence, Li Tongya had handed it over to him in the hopes that Li Xuanfeng would go to the Cloud Crowned Peak as the representative of the Li Family to submit the tributes the next time around.
Although Li Tongya had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, his cultivation speed was astonishing. After receiving the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, he experienced a series of breakthroughs and had already attained the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Thest time he went to pay the tributes, he was only at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Such progress would inevitably attract unwanted attention.
Li Tongya was cautious and naturally unwilling to take such a risk.
Although Li Xuanfeng was considered an amazing talent for breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm at the age of fifteen, for Li Tongya who had spent his first thirty years slowly advancing to suddenly attain the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm within five years would definitely raise suspicions.
¡°Is Second Uncle in seclusion?¡± Li Xuanxuan asked.
¡°n Uncle has been in seclusion for a few days, and was said to be working on stabilizing his cultivation,¡± Li Xiewen replied with a nod.
After making the necessary arrangements for the family, Li Xuanxuan was about to get up but was interrupted when a n soldier hurried to the door.
¡°Reporting to the Family Head: Lichuankou Vige has sent someone here. A group from Mount Yue came from the west, bringing with them a swath of wagons and ves, saying that it was Eastern Mount Yueing to beg for subjugation.¡±
¡°Subjugation?!¡± Li Xuanxuan froze and almostughed out loud as heard the announcement from the soldier.
¡°We and Mount Yue belong to two major powers... no matter how many viges he has been begging for subjugation, we wouldn¡¯t dare to ept them. What does that even mean? It seems that this Mu Jiaoman is so afraid that he can no longer sit still...¡± He sneered coldly.
Jianixi had died, and within a year, the whole of Mount Yue was torn apart, blown up into several small forces.
Vagrants and swordsmen were everywhere.
Li Xuanxuan¡¯s informants in the west had heard the news that Mu Jiaoman had consolidated six or seven viges near the Li Family¡¯s territory and called it Ten Thousand Mount Yue ¡ª also known as Eastern Mount Yue.
Mu Jiaoman was the only Qi Cultivator among the Ten Thousand Mount Yue, and Li Tongya was now far stronger than him.
This had emboldened Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan, who had considered crossing the border to ckmail Mu Jiaoman several times on multiple asions.
After all, Mount Wu never kept Mount Yue in their best interests. As long as the Li Family did not openly annex territory, they could be bothered most of the time.
Although Mount Yue¡¯s territory was in chaos now, Li Tongya remained cautious, dying heading to the west to meet Mu Jiaoman. He did not want to risk their lives to test the patience of those from Mount Wu, yet what he did not expect was for Mu Jiaoman to send people to knock on their door himself.
¡°That group of Mount Yue said that they are willing to form alliances through political marriage, trade, or offer tributes, and only ask for one thing in return.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Li Xuanxuan asked curiously, ncing up at the soldier. However, he already had a solid guess in his heart as to what it could possibly be.
¡°They ask that the Qi Cultivators from the Li Family do not cross the border.¡±
Li Xuanxuan burst outughing immediately, feeling all his previous pent-up frustration in his chest being relieved right away.
"They really change their attitude quickly! We have been living in fear under the threat of Jianixi for so many years... and now it is Mount Yue¡¯s turn to fear my family,¡± he mocked in forced amusement.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°So, this is what life is like in an easterner tribe?¡±
Mu Yalu, with arge cart of leather skin and grain trailing behind her, took a few cautious steps forward while the n soldiers eyed them warily, their spears and long sabers at the ready.
¡°We¡¯vee to surrender!¡± a Mount Yue tribesman beside Mu Yalu announced loudly. Unfortunately for him, the Li Family¡¯s n soldiers paid him little attention, their eyes brimming with caution.
Mu Yalu let out a soft sigh. Instead of feeling sorrow for leaving her home, she was filled with deep envy.
The people living here are well-dressed and well-fed. They all have a contented look on their faces, and the clothes they wear are finer than those worn by nobles in Mount Yue. The weapons they carry and the armor they wear are sturdy andplete... it¡¯s astonishing.
Nowadays, locusts have swarmed into the fifteen viges, and there are people in Great Jueting who died of starvation... the difference between our lives is almost like night and day.
The n soldiers quickly parted and a shrewd-looking teenager d in leather armor came through.
Mu Yalu quickly cupped her fist like the easterners usually did and addressed him in a soft voice, ¡°Are you the head of the Li Family?¡±
Mu Yalu had made an effort to wash away the body paint she had been marked with at home and had quickly adapted, learning the etiquette of easterners. After enduring numerous scoldings, she finally learned how to walk and speak gracefully.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to say that... I am Li Xiewen, the Li Family¡¯s n manager. Please,e forward.¡±
Li Xiewen guided Mu Yalu forward, and a n soldier immediately stepped forward to disarm her, making sure that she was not a cultivator before allowing her to approach Li Xuanxuan.
Li Xuanxuan stroked his chin as he regarded Mu Yalu, noting her wild beauty. He spoke softly, ¡°Why has Eastern Mount Yue sent someone here?¡±
Mu Yalu quickly lowered her head and exined, ¡°Greetings, head of Li Family... I am Mu Yalu, the younger sister of Mu Jiaoman. We are willing to form an alliance with your family through trade, political marriage, or even through paying tributes. We only ask that the Li Family refrain from crossing the border to kill.¡±
Mu Yalu¡¯s words caused a stir among the surrounding soldiers. Mount Yue had only raided theirnds the year before, but now they were sending their wealth to curry favor with them. The stark contrast was startling indeed.
¡°We have spent a long time searching for the easterners that Jianixi has abducted before. They are in the carriages at the back, and we are returning them home. We sincerely came to seek peace! If the Family Head agrees... I, Mu Yalu, am willing to be the first to enter a political union through marriage with the Li Family.¡±
Mu Yalu respectfully referred to the subjects of the Li Family as easterners without any demeaning intent, before presenting a wooden box containing a white fruit.
¡°Our Great King offers this spirit fruit as a symbol of apology for our past aggression... We hope to let the bygones be bygones. This spirit fruit holds great benefits for Qi Cultivators... We hope that you will ept it,¡± she said respectfully in a quiet voice.
Li Xuanxuan cast a nce at her, and someone immediately came forward to receive the fruit. Then, with a solemn tone, he replied, ¡°Please give us some time, we need to further discuss this matter first.¡±
Mu Yalu nodded in understanding and stepped backward. Li Xuanxuan then whispered in Li Xiewen¡¯s ear, ¡°Get someone to release the captives first.¡±
With those words, he turned and led his men toward Mount Lijing.
The n soldiers moved to release the bound captives, which immediately prompted some shouts from the Mount Yue tribesmen.
¡°Your family¡¯s great king hasn¡¯t agreed to our terms yet!¡±
Mu Yalu frowned and was about to intervene, but before she could do anything, one of the Mount Yue men was struck down ¡ª bloodied and missing three teeth.
¡°YOU!¡±
Mu Yalu quickly halted the crowd and shook her head sadly, realizing that whether or not the negotiations seeded, these possessions and ves would be taken away.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya had only been in seclusion for a few days when a knock sounded at the cave dwelling. He frowned slightly.
¡°Come in.¡±
Li Xuanxuan entered at hismand and respectfully reported, ¡°Second Uncle, Mount Yue has sent an envoy seeking peace.¡±
He then detailed the terms. Li Tongya listened attentively and responded in a deep voice, ¡°Mu Jiaoman is an easy man to read... he¡¯s rash and loves women. We can expect him to work but not expect great things out of him. He¡¯s nothingpared to Jianixi, but it¡¯s good to have him keep an eye on the western front for us.¡±
¡°If we were to eliminate him, the Ten Thousand Mount Yue would copse overnight. Though it would throw them into chaos for a few years, who knows what dangerous figures may rise in their ce... it¡¯s better to keep him alive,¡± he concluded with a deep frown of contemtion.
Li Xuanxuan nodded in agreement and added, ¡°Mount Yuecks skill in craftsmanship and casting... if they open up tomerce, it''s akin to gaining an extra hundred thousand sharecroppers! Moreover, Second Uncle¡¯s talismans can be sold at a high price without the need topete in the market. By the time our family is able to do alchemy, we can turn East Mount Yue into our dumping ground, just as how the Azure Pond Sect works.¡±
Li Tongya rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, ¡°Very well, Mu Yalu is yours to take as a concubine. Just arrange for a woman in the minor sect to marry over... ensure that the selection is meticulous.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Li Xuanxuan replied with a nod.
But just as he was about to leave, Li Tongya paused and turned his head.
¡°How many sons does Mu Jiaoman have?¡± he asked after a moment.
Li Xuanxuan paused thoughtfully.
¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ll have someone find out and report back to you, Second Uncle.¡±
Li Tongya nodded and then dismissed him. After a brief moment of contemtion, he picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began to draw a talisman.
Chapter 117: Attachment
Chapter 117: Attachment
Li Xuanxuan descended the mountain and stepped into the huge courtyard at the foot of the mountain. He waved his hand and Li Xiewen quickly came forward.
¡°Inform Mu Yalu that we agree to her terms... find her a ce to stay in the mansion, teach her our customs, and send someone to ascertain how many children Mu Jiaoman has,¡± Li Xuanxuan said, his instructions a mere whisper.
¡°Understood.¡±
With that, Li Xuanxuan dismissed Li Xiewen and began reading the Spiritual Talisman Method manual.
Meanwhile, Li Xiewen left the courtyard and dispatched his men, then headed toward the town himself.
Mu Yalu had been waiting in the town for a while now. Her nsmen sat on the ground empty-handed, stripped of their armor and weapons, looking indignant and rather defeated.
Finally, they saw the shrewd-looking teenager approach them. He cupped his fist respectfully before them and spoke.
¡°Mydy... the Family Head has agreed to your terms. Please dismiss your tribesmen ande with me to the mansion... and as for the arrangement of marriage with Mount Yue, the candidate that we pick will be sent there with the merchants.¡±
Mu Yalu¡¯s face lit up with joy instantly, and the tension among her nsmen visibly eased. She quickly expressed her gratitude and quickly turned to her tribesmen to give her next order.
¡°Disperse and return to report to the lord that Lu¡¯er haspleted her mission.¡±
The Mount Yue members nodded in acknowledgment and left the town right away. Concerned about arousing suspicion from the Li Family, Mu Jiaoman did not provide Mu Yalu with any servants. With her tribesmen gone, she found herself alone in the courtyard, surrounded by cold silence.
¡°Seventh Madam... pleasee with me,¡± Li Xiewen respectfully addressed Mu Yalu, who was taken aback by the title.
It was at this moment that she realized that her future would not be easy.
Apanied by Li Xiewen, Mu Yalu arrived at arge courtyard. The blue bricks, the ck roof tiles, the upturned flying eaves, and the clean rock decorations by the entrance presented a grand sight, and she was in awe of it.
As they entered, Mu Yalu noticed several children about the age of three to five ying in the courtyard.
¡°These are the children of the Yuan generation. If you bear a child in the future, they will also belong to this generation,¡± Li Xiewen exined softly, noticing her gaze.
Mu Yalu nodded at the exnation. Recalling the things she had learned before leaving home, she asked eagerly, ¡°Which of them are the legitimate children?¡±
Li Xiewen regarded her solemnly and replied, ¡°They are all on the mountain... even these illegitimate sons must also ascend the mountain once they are found to possess spiritual orifices after the age of seven. Madam, please do not try anything funny. The might of an immortal cultivator is something beyond yourprehension.¡±
Mu Yalu was stunned, realizing that Li Xiewen had misunderstood her intentions. She struggled to defend herself in a futile attempt, feeling aggrieved.
My family has been shamans for generations, and my bloodline is pure and noble. As long as Li Xuanxuan is willing to approach me, there¡¯s no reason I can¡¯t give birth to an heir with a spiritual orifice... Since I¡¯m already married to the east, why in the world would I try anything funny...?
Li Xiewen, unaware of Mu Yalu¡¯s inner turmoil, led her to an empty room.
¡°The servants have all been arranged for you. Please make yourself at home, madam!¡± he said politely.
With that, he left Mu Yalu alone in the courtyard where she stood silently, gazing nkly at the sky. Feeling a mix of emotions, she pushed open the door to the room and flopped onto the bed.
¡°I guess I will have to live in the Li Residence from now on. I wonder what kind of life awaits me...¡±
Meanwhile, Li Xiewen had received a report and hurried to the courtyard at the foot of the mountain. Upon entering, he found Li Xuanxuan engrossed in a book.
¡°Family Head, I have made all the necessary arrangements for Mu Yalu. There¡¯s news regarding Mu Jiaoman as well,¡± he announced respectfully.
Li Xuanxuan raised an eyebrow, surprised by the swift update.
¡°That was fast,¡± he said with slight surprise.
¡°Yes... after all, Mu Jiaoman is known for his extravagance. He has thousands of servants at his disposal, many of whom were Mount Yue tribesmen who fled their home years ago. It didn¡¯t take long to gather information once we inquired,¡± Li Xiewen replied matter-of-factly.
Li Xuanxuan set down the wooden slips in his hand and chuckled softly.
¡°I thought Lu Sisi¡¯s hundred concubines were impressive enough, but Mu Jiaoman¡¯s thousands of servants truly surpassed all expectations... it¡¯s no wonder people are still fleeing from Mount Yue every year despite the abundant rainfall.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Li Xiewen agreed with a small smile. ¡°Further inquiries revealed that Mu Jiaoman has three sons and four daughters... one of the sons and one of the daughters possess spiritual orifices.¡±
Li Xuanxuan nodded thoughtfully.
¡°I see,¡± he mumbled, one hand stroking his chin.
¡°Recently, representatives from the Lu and An Families came to discuss trade. With the negotiations with Mount Yue concluded, we need to ensure their safe passage... make sure nothing happens to them.¡±
¡°Yes, the necessary manpower has been arranged from the two towns.¡±
Li Xuanxuan shut his eyes for a moment in contemtion before speaking once more.
¡°I¡¯ll attempt to break through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in the next few days... once I enter seclusion, all the home affairs will be overseen by Xuanling. Keep a close watch on him,¡± he instructed with an air of finality.
¡°Understood,¡± Li Xiewen replied with a curt nod, leaving Li Xuanxuan to return his focus to his reading.
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The Li Family ruled over four towns ¡ª Lichuankou Vige in the west, which bordered Mount Yue. In the center were the towns of Jingyang and Lijing, surrounding Mount Lijing and Mount Meiche.
Lichuankou Vige, situated in the easternmost part of the Li Family¡¯s territory, shared its border with Mount Huaqian of the Lu Family.
As the Li Family¡¯s poption gradually increased, many vigers moved on to reim wastnd up to the edge which created a lively town atmosphere.
Mount Huaqian had been a site of repeated ughter, with the Golden Tang Gate wiping out all the mortals in the area. Despite migrations by the Ji and Lu Families, the region remained sparsely popted, prompting many Li Family hunters to venture into Lu Family territory for woodcutting and hunting.
The lively vige weed two unexpected guests from the An and Lu Families. One was a bald man dressed in a long robe, while the other had gray hair and held a jade scepter.
The two men were the ones who had coborated with Li Tongya to eliminate the Ji Family back then.
The two moved through the forest, asionally leaping and scanning the mountain range, deep in discussion as they went. Using the Aura Restraint Technique, they lingered for an hour, seemingly searching for something in the area.
¡°Brother An, are you sure the ore vein is here?¡± Lu Sisi inquired doubtfully.
The bald man looked below him before quickly performing a hand seal. Making a gentlending and scooping up a handful of yellow soil, he studied it for a moment before letting out a cheery chuckle.
¡°No mistake about it! We¡¯ve been searching for days... this Ebony Ore vein spans several miles, twisting and turning. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s right here... beneath us.¡±
Lu Sisi¡¯s face lit up instantly at these words. He surveyed the area by jumping over the heads of the trembling vigers, but soon after his brows furrowed in concern.
¡°A significant portion of it is within the Li Family territory... Now thisplicates matters. It won¡¯t be easy to hide it from them.¡±
The bald man wore a troubled expression as they pondered on his words.
¡°Indeed... although Brother Lu has agreed to share thirty percent with me for locating it with An Family¡¯s Vein Searching Technique, the mining operation will be too conspicuous. We may need to share some of the profits with the Li Family...¡±
Lu Sisi sighed in frustration.
¡°Despite being a small vein, the Ebony Ore mine yields over a dozen Spirit Stones annually when developed. It¡¯s hard to stomach sharing the profits like this!¡±
¡°Well, what else can we do? Do you think you can eliminate the Li Family and assume control over these four towns?¡±
The bald man shook his head in disappointment. He smiled wryly and said, ¡°Li Tongya is cautious and extremely skilled in swordsmanship... killing him won¡¯t be easy, especially considering Li Family¡¯s ties with the powerful Xiao Family of Lixia Prefecture. Not only that, but one of their members is also a disciple on Qingsui Peak in the immortal sect. They¡¯re very influential!¡±
With a resigned chuckle, Lu Sisi abandoned his fantasies and said, ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to pay Li Family a visit in a few days to discuss developing the ore vein then! For now, all we can do is properly explore its potential.¡±
The bald man from An Family nodded. He performed another hand seal, attempting to figure out the exact direction of the vein.
Chapter 118: Ore Vein
Chapter 118: Ore Vein
Li Tongya had been in seclusion for over a year when he heard a faint rattle outside the stone door. He exhaled a wisp of white spiritual qi before responding in a deep voice.
¡°Enter.¡±
The stone door creaked open slowly, and a teenager bearing a striking resemnce to Li Tongya stepped in ¡ª he was none other than Li Xuanling.
¡°Father, the representatives from the Lu Family are here again,¡± he informed respectfully.
Li Tongya shook his head wearily. ¡°It seems hiding like this won¡¯t solve anything...e, apany me to meet them,¡± he said with a soft sigh.
The representatives from the Lu Family had now visited them three times in that year alone, always requesting to meet with Li Tongya. He had been reluctant to meet them due to his rapid advancement in cultivation.
However, Lu Sisi was extremely persistent. He made periodic visits every few months, and Li Tongya feared that if he continued to evade them, the Lu Family might begin to suspect that he was dead and would harbor ill intentions toward the Li Family.
After all, cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm did not harness qi for longevity like those of the Foundation Establishment Realm. They still had to drink water and stretch their bodies every ten days or so.
Prolonged seclusion for several years was unheard of. While Li Tongya could use the same excuse once or twice, his frequent disappearances would undoubtedly arouse doubt among others.
It¡¯s been over three years since Ist saw anyone from the Lu Family... I was at the third heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivator Realm then. Now, I am at the fifth heavenlyyer. Although progressing through the Qi Cultivation Realm is hard work, taking three or five years to break through each heavenlyyer is possible and can be considered to be swift progress...
¡°Ling¡¯er, did Lu Sisi state his business?¡± Li Tongya asked as they made their way to meet their guest.
¡°That Lu Sisi is a haughty man. He refuses to speak with those of us who are only at the Embryonic Breathing Realm,¡± Li Xuanling replied glumly with a huff.
Li Tongya chuckled and remarked, ¡°All that and he¡¯s only a Qi Cultivator... I bet his arrogance will be inted once he establishes his foundation. I still remember Senior Xiao Chuting befriending a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm despite being at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm... both of them are really different.¡±
As Li Tongya contemted his words, his heart stirred with curiosity about Xiao Chuting. ording to Zhang Yun of the Golden Feather Sect, Xiao Chuting had attained the Purple Mansion Realm.
Li Tongya wondered for how many years Xiao Chuting had concealed himself... seemingly awaiting the opportune moment for some undisclosed purpose. The thought of the potential upheavals Xiao Chuting might catalyze left him intrigued.
Xiao Chuting has lived for over two hundred years. In the first half of his life, he steered the Xiao Family from the brink of copse to dominating Lixia Prefecture, all while quietly advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm. He¡¯s no ordinary individual; whatever ns he harbors are bound to be monumental! Given the close rtionship between the Li Family and Xiao Family, I wonder what will happen by then...
Lost in his musings, Li Tongya realized that he had reached the main courtyard. There, he spotted Lu Sisi savoring a bowl of tea. Beside him sat a youth exuding a confident aura, d in luxurious fox fur.
¡°Senior Lu,¡± Li Tongya said as he cupped his fist and greeted him with a smile.
Lu Sisi rose to reciprocate the greeting but halted abruptly, his eyes widening in disbelief.
¡°Fifth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivator Realm?!¡±
The old man himself was only at the sixth heavenlyyer, so he was shocked that Li Tongya was already catching up to him during his three years of absence.
Li Tongya chuckled and exined, ¡°Well... thest time we met, I was already on the verge of breaking through to the fourth heavenlyyer. I stumbled upon a spirit fruit in the mountains and used three years to break through to the fifth heavenlyyer. In fact, I just emerged from seclusion!¡±
Of course, these were all fabrication. Thest time Li Tongya crossed paths with Lu Sisi, he had just attained the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivator Realm. Now, nearly three yearster, he had purportedly surged ahead by twoyers.
Realization dawned upon Lu Sisi. After listening to Li Tongya¡¯s exnation, the time frame did seem somewhat usible, albeit begrudgingly so.
¡°How lucky...¡± he muttered enviously.
Li Tongya offered a faint smile in response as Lu Sisi motioned toward the young man beside him. ¡°This is Lu Yuanlu, thetest Qi Cultivator to join our ranks in the Lu Family,¡± he introduced.
Li Tongya nodded and cupped his fist respectfully.
¡°A pleasure to meet you.¡±
Though still in his early twenties, Lu Yuanlu exuded an air of arrogance.
¡°Likewise,¡± he replied, waving his hand dismissively.
Li Tongya was slightly taken aback by his attitude, while Lu Sisi smiled wryly beside him.
Lu Yuanlu held his head high and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of your exceptional swordsmanship, Brother Tongya. We must spar someday!¡±
After these words left his mouth, Lu Yuanlu infused his sword with a ghostly blue true essence almost immediately. It was at this moment that Li Tongya understood his gesture.
This guy¡¯s showing off his authentic cultivation technique... wanting me to know that he has consumed Minor Pure Spiritual Qi!
A cultivator like Lu Yuanlu, who had practiced authentic cultivation techniques and consumed proper Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, would have no trouble overpowering two or three cultivators who consumed unrefined qi.
Now it made sense for his arrogance and pride.
Li Tongya smiled a tight smile with a brief nod, before cupping his fist. ¡°Brother Lu, your true essence is truly enviable!¡± he praised graciously.
Lu Yuanlu grinned smugly and nodded without shame. Meanwhile, Lu Sisi felt embarrassed and was at a loss for words.
Looking at Lu Yuanlu, Li Tongya was reminded of another idiot from the Lu Family that he had encountered on Cloud Crowned Peak. That person seemed to have met an unfortunate fate at the hands of the Ji Family.
¡°I¡¯ve met a fellow cultivator on Cloud Crowned Peak who also harnesses the Minor Pure Spiritual Qi to cultivate qi. I remember his name was Lu Pingyuan...¡±
Before Li Tongya could finish, he was immediately interrupted by an exmation from Lu Yuanlu.
¡°That¡¯s my elder brother!¡±
¡°Oh? Brother Yuanlu certainly surpasses Brother Pingyuan by far.¡±
Lu Yuanlu raised an eyebrow and was just about to blurt out something else when Lu Sisi stopped him.
¡°Yuanlu!¡± he called out, concerned that the boy would divulge all their family secrets if he continued speaking.
Lu Yuanlu shot Lu Sisi a puzzled nce, only to see the old man gritting his teeth.
¡°We¡¯re about to discuss something private. Just wait on the road until I¡¯m done.¡±
Lu Yuanlu red at him but heeded the instruction nheless. Suppressing his retort, he stormed off without even bidding a farewell.
Li Tongya chuckled softly while Lu Sisi let out a heavy sigh.
¡°Please forgive him, my friend. He¡¯s gotten used to acting like that at home.¡±
The intended disy of Lu Yuanlu¡¯s prowess had devolved into a humiliating debacle, leaving Lu Sisi feeling even more mortified.
He nced at Li Xuanling who stood next to Li Tongya, and let out yet another long sigh with a shake of his head.
¡°Observing how the Li Family maintains strict discipline within your household... I realize there¡¯s still much for us to learn,¡± he confessed ruefully.
¡°What brings you here this time, senior?¡± Li Tongya asked, changing the topic right away. After all, he was a straightforward man and he decided not to beat around the bush.
Lu Sisi was immediately reminded of his purpose. With his white beard fluttering in the wind, he began, ¡°A few years back, there were cultivators of Purple Mansion Realmunching an assault on Mount Azure Pond... In fact, the force was so formidable that rumor has it ¡ª one of the spirit arrays was invoked.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s expression froze as he eximed in disbelief.
¡°Mount Azure Pond?! Are they crazy for attacking the Azure Pond Sect? Who could have the audacity to do such a thing?!¡±
¡°Who knows?¡± Lu Sisi observed Li Tongya¡¯s reaction and felt a hint of satisfaction creeping into his demeanor.
¡°Regardless, it was quite the skirmish... the Azure Pond Sect suffered its first humiliation in over a century. Do you know how the immortal sect resolved it?¡±
¡°How?¡± Li Tongya asked, his curiosity piqued.
¡°Well, they showed up, simply exined the situation, and forgot all about it! Can you believe it?! Azure Pond Sect... conceding defeat like that! But do you know why?¡±
Li Tongya ventured a guess inwardly but maintained a stoic external expression as he continued pressing further, curious to know more.
¡°Why?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that... a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm from Azure Pond Sect is on the brink of death!¡± Lu Sisi revealed in a dramatic manner, his grip tightening on his jade scepter.
¡°Things will definitely change in the next few years... make sure you¡¯re well prepared by then,¡± he advised with a concerned tone of voice.
Li Tongya nodded, fully aware that this old man from the Lu Family was sharing this information just to get on his good side.
¡°Thank you for the heads-up, senior!¡± he responded earnestly.
Satisfied with Li Tongya¡¯s response, Lu Sisi moved on to a more pressing matter. ¡°There¡¯s also another matter I would like to bring to your attention. It concerns the Li, Lu, and An families... ¡± he began.
¡°An Family has discovered an Ebony Ore Mine at the boundary between ournds through their Vein Searching Technique,¡± Lu Sisi exined cautiously.
Li Tongya¡¯s face immediately lit up with excitement upon hearing the news and asked, ¡°How¡¯s the yield? Which direction does the vein run?¡±
Ebony Ores were highly prized among cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivator Realms for crafting dharma artifacts. With proper excavation and mining, it could easily supplement one¡¯s ie by a dozen or more Spirit Stones annually.
Naturally, Li Tongya could not contain his tion at the prospect.
Lu Sisi¡¯s expression turned rueful as he revealed, ¡°It¡¯s a modest vein, stretching several miles from east to west... and it veers deep into your family¡¯s territory. Nevertheless, if we work together, we can still reap significant benefits.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s joy remained undimmed as he said, ¡°This is an important discovery, I must inspect it myself! Would you be so kind as to lead the way, Senior Lu?¡±
Lu Sisi nodded in response.
¡°Of course. Let¡¯s begin our exploration first, and then we can go on to discuss mining and profit-sharing arrangements.¡±
Chapter 119: Fighting Over Profits
Chapter 119: Fighting Over Profits
Lu Sisi and Li Tongya rode the wind andnded east of Lidaokou.
In the Lu Family territory, a group of tired-looking vigers were gathered together, having cleared swathes of woods and erected dozens of huts. Piles of neatly trimmed woody stacked, ready for themencement of the building of a mining site.
¡°This Ebony Ore is found atop ordinary iron deposits and as the mining progresses, we¡¯ll need to use the Vein Searching Technique to ascertain its precise direction...¡± Lu Sisi exined but paused, ¡°...we cannot do this without the An Family,¡± he finished.
Li Tongya nodded in agreement, recognizing the significance of legacy in such endeavors. It was no wonder every family guarded and preserved their legacy so tightly, opting to even destroy them in times of peril. It was a clear advantage in this world of cultivation.
The two paused, observing as mortals kneeled before them in respect. Lu Sisi pointed to the base of the hill and said, ¡°An Family estimates this mine to be narrow, capable of amodating one or two thousand miners and yielding around a hundred pieces of Ebony Ores monthly. With a market price of approximately fifteen Spirit Stones per piece, the operation definitely promises profitable returns.¡±
Li Tongya nodded thoughtfully, then considered its proximity to Moongaze Lake.
¡°This location is only three hundred li from Moongaze Lake, where there¡¯s a market frequented by rogue cultivators... We should set up formations to conceal the operation and present it as an ordinary town,¡± he suggested.
Lu Sisi quickly agreed in eagerness. Although they could not hide the operation from the Li Family, deceiving rogue cultivators was not an issue.
¡°You¡¯re right, my friend. The Lu Family has two formation tes... you can leave that to us, I¡¯ll make sure that the entrance to the mine is well-hidden,¡± he assured with a satisfied smile.
After a brief exchange, the bald man from An Family descended from the sky and cupped his fist to Li Tongya.
¡°A few years back, we parted ways in haste without even exchanging names. It¡¯s a pleasure to finally meet you again, Brother Tongya,¡± he greeted Li Tongya with a warm smile.
Gone was any hint of the ruthlessness that was present during their discussions about eliminating the Li family months earlier. His smile was genuine as if he were reuniting with an old friend after many years.
¡°I am An Zheyan, it¡¯s a pleasure to see you again,¡± he grinned.
Li Tongya quickly cupped his fist in response and could not help the smile that tugged on his lips.
¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Brother An.¡±
Lu Sisi chuckled and shot a knowing look at An Zheyan before addressing the matter with a serious expression.
¡°Now that our young friend has also seen the ore vein... it¡¯s time to discuss the matter of profit sharing,¡± Lu Sisi dered.
An Zheyan nodded eagerly. ¡°Indeed! The location and direction of this ore vein are located through the use of the An Family¡¯s Vein Searching Technique, and my family will be involved in the mining operations. The initially agreed upon forty percent share is absolutely non-negotiable!¡± he asserted fiercely.
Lu Sisiughed, noting Li Tongya¡¯s silence.
¡°Since this vein requires ourbined efforts for proper extraction, how about a forty percent share for An Family, and the same for Lu Family...?¡±
Observing the exchange between the two, Li Tongya realized the need for him to intervene in the discussion. He smiled gently before speaking.
¡°A significant portion of the vein lies within the Li Family¡¯s territory, and I have also noted that there are also branch veins extending into the Lu Family¡¯s territory... It wouldn¡¯t be fair for both of your families to split the resources equally. Let¡¯s allocate shares based on the mineral quantities within each family¡¯s territory.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s words immediately soured the expression on Lu Sisi and An Zheyan¡¯s face.
An Zheyan took a deep breath, then forced a hard smile.
¡°Brother Li, can you rify on that?¡±
Li Tongya nodded, then rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
¡°Since the discovery of the vein is credited to the An Family, it¡¯s only fair that you receive a share too. I propose that the Li Family receives fifty percent of the profit, while the An Family receives thirty percent,¡± he exined with a warm smile, eyes twinkling.
An Zheyan stood in stunned silence, unable to muster a response.
Meanwhile, Lu Sisi¡¯s eyebrow arched immediately the moment he heard those words.
¡°The Li Family seems to have quite the appetite! Surely... you must be joking?¡±
Li Tongya shook his head and chuckled softly.
¡°It¡¯s you who are joking, senior! Both of your familiesbined are asking for eighty percent of the vein altogether... did you think that I am a pushover just because I¡¯m younger and easier to talk to?¡±
After saying these words, he raised his sword with a nonchnt expression.
¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before we have to do this... we might as well just do this now and settle it once and for all.¡±
Lu Sisi and An Zheyan exchanged a nce, knowing that the negotiation had failed and violence was the only way to resolve this issue.
Lu Sisi nodded, his jade scepter already hovering in the air.
An Zheyan hesitated, but once he caught sight of Li Tongya¡¯s sword which was glowing with white light that resembled a crescent moon, his demeanor immediately changed. A frown formed on his brows and he eximed, ¡°Such arrogance!¡±
Summoning an ebony pole, he prepared to face Li Tongya''s Celestial Moon sh technique.
As the confrontation escted, Li Tongya unleashed the sword qi he had been umting all this while, breaking the Pure Spiritual True Essence on the two dharma artifacts and repelling them with a resounding ng.
With momentum on his side, Li Tongyaunched two Profound Water Sword Qi at his two opponents, catching them by surprise due to his speed and rendering them unable to mount a defense.
Li Tongya had never used the Celestial Moon sh technique when they were assaulting the Ji Family back then.
Misjudging their opponent¡¯s strength, Lu Sisi and An Zheyan found themselves disarmed and scrambling to evade Li Tongya¡¯s relentless assault.
After they finally managed to retrieve their dharma artifacts, Li Tongya gained the upper hand, leaving them with little opportunity to retaliate.
Empowered by the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, a surge of potent mana coursed strongly in his body. Wisps of white qi escaped through his parted lips with every breath.
After about a quarter hour of relentless onught, Li Tongya noticed An Zheyan¡¯s paleplexion and finally stopped.
¡°Do you two still wish to continue?¡± he asked almost amusedly, an eyebrow raised but still visibly on guard.
An Zheyan flushed with embarrassment almost immediately, waving his hand in defeat. Simrly, Lu Sisi decided to swallow his pride and also conceded.
¡°Brother Tongya¡¯s swordsmanship is indeed impressive, and it was presumptuous of us to make the earlier suggestion... The Li Family rightfully deserves their fifty percent share.¡±
Words of respect flowed freely, and they no longer addressed Li Tongya as a friend. They now viewed him as a brother¡ªan equal.
An Zheyanughed along with them, and the atmosphere was now of genuine harmony without any tension, as if the three of them had just sparred earlier as a friendly exchange.
Li Tongya nodded and gratefully said, ¡°The Li Family will take you up on that offer then... both of you can discuss how to split the remaining bnce.¡±
His true essence remained abundant, and he did not want to push these two to exhaustion just to prove his strength.
Observing their discussion, Li Tongya had already managed to estimate their strength inparison to his own.
These two are stronger than the Qi Cultivators from Mount Yue, but they¡¯re nowhere near Zhang Yun of the Golden Feather Sect. If I hadn¡¯t learned more about their backgrounds, I might have considered annexing their families directly...
After some debate, they settled on dividing the remaining fifty percent equally between them. They also suggested stationing cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm from each family to oversee operations, along with rotating Qi Cultivators to maintain security.
The arrangement concluded with the Lu Family setting up formations, the An Family conducting exploration, and the Li Family providing the majority of the miners since they had the most poption.
Li Tongya was quite content with the oue, especially considering the opportunity it had presented for the vagrants from Mount Yue, given the overcrowded viges in the area.
However, Lu Sisi could not shake off the unease that settled in his heart... particrly regarding Li Tongya''s formidable swordsmanship.
While Lu Sisi observed Li Tongya with a smile on his face, he harbored deep worries. The image of that sword¡ªzing with white light when unsheathed¡ªlingered in his mind.
That level of might... it¡¯s definitely not a sword technique lower than Grade Three! It must be at least a Grade Four technique or higher!
He plucked up his courage and finally asked, ¡°Brother Tongya, your sword technique was truly phenomenal! What¡¯s the name of the technique? Is it a legacy from a certain gate?¡±
Seeing how Lu Sisi had to swallow his pride in order to ask such a direct question, Li Tongya could only frown and reply, ¡°It¡¯s a technique passed down from my father... known as the Celestial Moon sh technique.¡±
With that, he ended his exnation without revealing to Lu Sisi that there was only one move in the sword technique.
An Zheyan observed the exchange with a serious demeanor, noting Lu Sisi¡¯s reaction.
It seems like the rumors about there being a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm in the Li Family¡¯sst generation are true... it would exin how Li Tongya¡¯s true essence is so strong and clear. It must be a legacy passed down through his family teachings! His swordsmanship is undeniably lethal as well, especially if opponents are caught off guard...
Meanwhile, Lu Sisi¡¯s concerns deepened as he contemted Li Tongya¡¯s youthful appearance which made him seem like a man in his thirties or forties.
Li Tongya is probably less than fifty years old, while I¡¯m over a hundred and seventy... and my descendants are all ill-prepared. Once my generation passes, Mount Huaqian and Huazhong will definitely fall under the Li Family¡¯s control. Their ascension seems inevitable!
This man is not like others... he¡¯s very cautious and powerful. He¡¯s less likely to die of unnatural causes. I guess our generation will need to prepare our children and grandchildren for the future!
His despair deepened, overshadowing the joy of acquiring the Ebony Ore Mine. His aged eyes clouded with worry as he observed Li Tongya preparing to leave.
He forced a smile and shook away his thoughts before speaking once more.
¡°Brother Tongya, please forgive us for any offenses today... I shall visit your residence in a few days to formally apologize again!¡±
Li Tongya was taken aback by this. A strange look clouded his expression, but he quickly nodded in response and cupped his fist.
¡°You¡¯re too courteous, Senior Lu.¡±
Chapter 120: Xuanfeng Out of Seclusion
Chapter 120: Xuanfeng Out of Seclusion
Li Xuanling descended from the mountain, having already condensed the Radiant Lure Chakra and broken through the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
His de was polished so well that one could see their own reflection in it, crisp and clear as day. d in a in, long robe, he bore a striking resemnce to Li Tongya.
The mountain folk matured early, and despite being only thirteen or fourteen years old, Li Xuanling had already grown considerably.
With aposed demeanor and steady gaze, he often reminded his older cousins¡ªLi Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng¡ªof Li Tongya.
Aste spring enveloped thend in vibrant green, the Spirit Paddies¡ªnow a year and a half old, were ready for harvest.
Vigers wieldedrge axes infused with the Golden Light Spell to cut down the paddies, while a few cultivators of Embryonic Breathing Realm outside of Li Family carefully husked the grains.
Observing the bustling activity in the fields, Li Xuanling smiled and approached for a closer look.
All of a sudden, an ear-splitting whistle pierced through the air, causing everyone to cover their ears in immediate difort.
¡°Who goes there?¡±
Li Xuanling¡¯s expression turned solemn and alert as he instinctively ced his hand on the hilt of his sword. Looking up, he spotted a golden figure soaring through the air.
¡°A Qi Cultivator?!¡± he muttered to himself as he frowned, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
He quickly took out a Signaling Talisman, ready to alert the surrounding area.
¡°Hahahahahahahahaha!¡±
The figure with a pitch-ck longbow in hand let out a heartyugh as he absorbed his golden true essence back into his body, revealing his face.
¡°Brother Xuanfeng! Y-You... you¡¯ve emerged from seclusion?!¡± Li Xuanling eximed, his voice filled with astonishment as he stowed away the talisman he had previously readied, his face brightening with joy.
¡°T-This is great news!¡±
Li Xuanfengughed, and Li Xuanling immediately noticed how his gaze was a lot more piercing now that he had attained the Qi Cultivation Realm. His true essence was so powerful that it rustled the leaves around him as he descended.
¡°Can¡¯t you have more confidence in me? It¡¯s just breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm... it¡¯s hardly worth celebrating!¡± he teased with a yful smile.
Despite his modest words, the pride on Li Xuanfeng¡¯s face was evident. ¡°What¡¯s been happening at home these past months?¡± he asked, trying to change the subject.
¡°We have nothing but good news for you! An ore vein has been discovered!¡± Li Xuanling¡¯s excitement was palpable as he shared the news. ¡°Unfortunately, Father is still in seclusion. I must inform him about you immediately!¡± he said, immediately turning around and wanting to depart on his newfound mission.
¡°Hold on!¡± Li Xuanfeng interrupted with a shake of his head, stopping Li Xuanling in his tracks.
¡°You can tell him thatter... tell me more about what happened recently. What kind of spirit mine is it?¡±
Li Xuanling was about to speak when he noticed Li Xuanfeng abruptly raising his head, his gaze fixed on the figure soaring through the air. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± he asked in a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Li Xuanling followed his gaze and saw a person riding the wind, emanating a true essence of Pure Spiritual Qi. d in a white robe with a rosy face framed by white hair, he held a jade scepter in hand.
It was Lu Sisi.
¡°Greetings, Senior!¡± Li Xuanling cupped his fist and greeted Lu Sisi respectfully.
¡°This is the senior from the Lu Family in the east,¡± he exined to Li Xuangfeng, noticing his confusion.
Realization dawned upon Li Xuanfeng as he cupped his fist and responded with a smile, ¡°Greetings, Senior!¡±
Lu Sisi arched an eyebrow at him and appeared to think for a while before speaking.
¡°You¡¯re...?¡± he asked slowly, unsure.
Although Li Xuanfeng felt slightly annoyed by the fact that this person had simply ignored Li Xuanling, he made sure to maintain a neutral expression as he introduced himself.
¡°I¡¯m Li Xuanfeng of the Li Family.¡±
Realization dawned on Lu Sisi, who looked at him, taking him in as he rubbed his chin. After a while, he turned to the woman behind him. She wore a in dress and her face was covered by a veil. Upon hearing Li Xuanfeng¡¯s introduction, she raised her head to look at him.
¡°What brings you here, Senior?¡± Li Xuanling cupped his hand and asked respectfully.
Although Lu Sisi had ignored him a few times before, he looked at Li Xuanling this time and replied, ¡°We¡¯vee to discuss a matter with your family¡¯s elders.¡±
Li Xuanling promptly weed Lu Sisi to the mountain. Having grown ustomed to the ce after several visits, Lu Sisi made himselffortable in the mountain courtyard.
Li Xuanling arranged for tea to be served and went to fetch Li Tongya right away.
With Li Xuanxuan currently in seclusion to break through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, it fell upon Li Xuanling to manage the mountain affairs, leaving him with little free time.
As Li Tongya arrived, Li Xuanling took a moment to catch his breath outside the courtyard only to find Li Xuanfeng by his side in a fit of temper.
¡°That old man brought a young maiden along... I bet he¡¯s here to arrange a marriage! What a clever and sly move!¡±
Li Xuanling paused, recalling the presence of the white-clothed girl.
¡°Father may not necessarily agree to it...¡± he remarked dryly.
Li Xuanfeng merelyughed mischievously, before he made his way toward the courtyard.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°Brother Tongya... I¡¯ve prepared several spirit items and three spells as a dowry. What do you think of this... matter?¡±
Li Tongya frowned. Lu Sisi had personallye to propose a marriage, offering gifts including spirit items and spells as a dowry to marry off a daughter of their family. He insisted on marrying the girl to one of the two unmarried sons in the Xuan generation.
Li Tongya felt a sense of skepticism stirring within him.
The Lu Family¡¯s proposal seemed unusually humble.
While he might readily agree to the girl marrying into the minor sect, Li Tongya could not help but consider carefully as this involved marrying the direct descendants of the Li Family.
The girl Lu Sisi brought along possessed a spiritual orifice. However, she was not particrly gifted as she had not even condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra and had only attained the first stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm at fourteen years old.
Even so... Li Tongya could not help but be surprised by the unusually humble gesture.
¡°Lu Sisi seems hesitant about the long-term implications..."
With the Li Family¡¯s rising strength, expansion into the east was only a matter of time. Li Tongya could not deny that he had never thought of annexing the Lu Family.
Making their daughter¡ªwho possessed a spiritual orifice¡ª a concubine was out of the question. He would have to choose between Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling for the marriage.
However, Li Tongya foresaw potential problems. If he married the Lu Family¡¯s daughter and they had a son within ten years, it could lead toplications. He would be burdened with usations of exploiting his inws, tarnishing his reputation both internally and externally.
ncing at Lu Sisi, whose smile masked his worries, Li Tongya feared that outright rejection might provoke retaliation. He stroked his chin and pretended to be deep in thought before answering tactfully.
¡°The children in our family are still young... if you seek a good marriage, it would be best to wait a few more years.¡±
Lu Sisi epted this response with a smile as if he had already anticipated this to be the answer.
¡°That sounds fine... I shall return in a year to propose again!¡±
After discussing the Ebony Ore Mine and other trivial matters, Lu Sisi took his leave.
As they left the courtyard, Li Xuanling¡¯s gaze met the sorrowful eyes behind the veil. It evoked a sense of empathy within him, and he could not help but feel sorry for the girl.
¡°What a pitiable person...¡±
When Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling entered the courtyard, Li Tongya¡¯s expression immediately lit up.
¡°Xuanfeng?"
Upon confirming Li Xuanfeng¡¯s cultivation at the first heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Tongya expressed his approval with a proud smile.
¡°Well done!¡±
Li Xuanfeng chuckled, and a glint of light golden true essence appeared in his hand as he spoke.
¡°This is the Golden Edge True Essence formed by the Golden Light Edge Technique... it¡¯s swift and sharp,parable even to the wind itself. It may disappoint slightly in terms of endurance... but overall, it¡¯s quite impressive.¡±
Li Tongya nodded approvingly, his expression filled with satisfaction and pride.
¡°Good! You¡¯ve done well. Xiangping¡¯s spirit in heaven would surely find sce in this!¡±
A brief silence followed, during which Li Tongya sensed the need to steer the conversation away.
¡°What are your thoughts on the situation of the Lu Family?¡±
¡°The old man is scared.¡±
Li Xuanfeng responded almost immediately with a shake of his head, a trace of triumph lighting up his features.
¡°The juniors of the Lu Family are useless and he¡¯s aging... naturally, as we grow stronger, they are now growing more fearful!¡±
Li Xuanling nodded and added, ¡°I recently investigated the matters that you¡¯ve tasked me with, Father. I learned that a member of the Lu Family from the previous generation once cultivated in the Azure Pond Sect... however, they passed away over eighty years ago, and there¡¯s little else known about their lineage.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Li Tongya responded.
Taking a sip of tea and gazing to the east, his mind was lost in contemtion.
Chapter 121: News On The Mine
Chapter 121: News On The Mine
A few months after Lu Sisi¡¯s visit, Li Xuanxuan emerged from seclusion. He had finally condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and attained the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
With this feat, he now ranked third in the family in terms of strength, with Li Qiuyang and Chen Donghe serving as his two right-hand men; who were both at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
The Ebony Ore Mine bustled with activity each passing day as Li Xuanxuan had gathered arge group of able-bodied Mount Yue tribesmen to work in the mine.
The reduction in the surplus ofborers led to a significant rise in wages for workers in the four towns, effectively alleviating the strain caused by overpoption and resulting in improved living conditions.
Huts lined the ore vein, and in just a mere few months, the three families had already managed to establish a thriving small town.
It was decided that the Qi Cultivator to be stationed at the Ebony Ore Mine for the first year woulde from the Li Family.
ording to their agreement, each family would also send a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm to keep watch of each other, with Li Qiuyang having been sent by the Li Xuanxuan several months prior.
As Li Xuanfeng descended upon the mine, he found the three cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm awaiting his arrival, along with the miners who were kneeling in reverence nearby.
¡°Greetings, Senior!¡± the three cultivators greeted in unison. Li Xuanfeng acknowledged them with a wave of his hand, then turned to address Li Qiuyang right away.
¡°n Uncle,¡± he greeted respectfully before nodding to the cultivators from the Lu and An families.
¡°No need for formalities.¡±
Surveying the two cultivators before him with his spiritual sense, he learned that both of them were only in the third and fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and seemed to be in their forties and fifties.
Li Xuanfeng dismissed them with a wave before turning to Li Qiuyang.
¡°n Uncle, did something happen in the mine during these few months? Why the urgent summons?¡± he questioned, a hint of concern discernible in his voice.
Li Qiuyang, the boy who ate a Snake Dragon Fruit in the mountains, was now in his thirties and had already be a grandfather. He stood with the bearing of a family elder and held a long saber in his hand.
¡°We¡¯ve only just begun digging, mining seven pieces in three months... production should increase gradually. However, we¡¯ve encountered some concerning incidents. Over the past few months, several miners have lost their ability to speak. Last month saw one or two cases, but this month... There have been dozens of cases. We have no choice but to send word to the family,¡± he exined with a worried expression.
¡°..Lost their ability to speak?¡± Li Xuanfeng pondered aloud as he adjusted the longbow on his back and furrowed his brow in confusion.
¡°Take me to see these people.¡±
Li Qiuyang nodded immediately and led Li Xuanfeng to a courtyard through an area upied by tents of varying sizes.
With the tribesmen from Mount Yue working in the mine, the architectural style of the courtyard was that of Mount Yue. Inside ¡ª a dozen or so miners, mostly relocated by the Li Family ¡ª crouched against the walls with troubled-stricken expressions.
The manager of the courtyard visibly tensed up as Li Qiuyang and Li Xuanfeng approached, instructing the miners to rise and kneel on the ground. They gazed nervously at the yellow soil beneath them.
cing his hand on the shoulder of the nearest Mount Yue miner, Li Xuanfeng channeled his true essence into him and circted it through his body a couple of rounds, but found no abnormalities within him.
However... he detected a spiritual orifice in the middle-aged man¡¯s Qihai acupoint.
¡°Ah... too bad, he has a spiritual orifice in his body.¡±
Li Xuanfeng¡¯s remark was cold.
His words seem to have struck the middle-aged man like thunder, causing him to let out a startled cry. His face betrayed a mix of emotions and sorrow. Observing the man¡¯s slightly aged appearance and conflicted expression, Li Xuanfeng turned to give an instruction.
¡°Take this man back and arrange a marriage for him with a suitable daughter from the n.¡±
Li Qiuyang nodded obediently, and a few n soldiers immediately stepped forward to escort the man away. Meanwhile, Li Xuanfeng selected a few more individuals from the group to examine but found nothing unusual.
¡°Did these people exhibit any abnormalities before losing their ability to speak?¡± he asked with a frown.
¡°Never,¡± Li Qiuyang replied, shaking his head, then continued, ¡°Four of the individuals affected had previously gathered the Ebony Ores though...¡±
Li Xuanfeng pondered this information for a moment, his gaze lingering on each of the individuals before him. After receiving a sample of greenish-ck Ebony Ore from Li Qiuyang and channeling his true essence, he detected a trace of Golden Stone Qi in it.
¡°It appears that the Ebony Ore may be the root of the issue after all... n Uncle, please summon those two over,¡± hemanded.
Li Qiuyangplied, locating the cultivators from the Lu and An families. They seemed apprehensive as they stood before Li Xuanfeng, anticipating criticism or a reprimand from the Qi Cultivator of the Li Family.
¡°Are you aware of the speech disorder affecting the miners in this mine?¡± Li Xuanfeng asked.
The two men were taken aback by the question but nodded.
Why would a Qi Cultivator concern himself with the ailments of mortals? As long as they can work, who cares if they can¡¯t speak...? They wondered.
Li Xuanfeng contemted and fell silent for a few moments. The Ebony Ore Mine was a spirit mine, and the Golden Stone Qi could be harmful to mortal bodies... losing the ability to speak could just be a minor consequence of such contact. He was concerned that this could potentially lead to exhaustion and even thousands of deaths if left unchecked.
¡°How is the work schedule of these miners?¡± he asked.
¡°There are over four thousand miners, but the mine can only amodate around a thousand at a time. We¡¯ve been using two shifts, with workers alternating every three days between mining and construction duties.¡±
Li Xuanfeng waved his hand and instructed, ¡°Split the miners into four shifts, don¡¯t let them stay in the mine for too long. I¡¯ll return to the n and arrange for additional shifts.¡±
Upon receiving their agreement to his newmand, Li Xuanfeng departed immediately to report to Li Tongya. Meanwhile, Li Qiuyang observed the cultivators from the Lu and An families as they waited respectfully for Li Xuanfeng to leave, his expression darkening in private disapproval.
While the Li Family had thrived, boasting a poption of over sixty thousand, the Lu and An familiesnguished with only twenty and thirty thousand members. It was evident to him that these families neglected the welfare of their people, likely failing to oversee farming activities, let alone support their livelihoods. This poption ¡ª he mused ¡ª existed solely to serve the interests of the ruling families.
¡°Brother Qiuyang!¡±
The two cultivators approached him with a warm smile.
¡°We¡¯ll leave the task from the elder of your family to you... we still have important matters to attend to, so we¡¯ll take our leave first.¡±
Without even waiting for Li Qiuyang¡¯s response, the two departed in a sh with a broad smile on their faces, leaving an irritated Li Qiuyang behind.
¡°Those two spend their days cking off on this mountain and indulging in women... they know nothing except for fooling around! What a waste of their cultivation... if they were part of the Li Family, they would surely have already been held ountable for their distasteful actions!¡±
Returning to his small courtyard, Li Qiuyang shook off his frustration. With a determined smile, he murmured, ¡°Go enjoy yourselves for now... let¡¯s see how both of your families will stop the Li Family in a few years.¡±
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After issuing orders for the day, Li Qiuyang returned to his residence and began his meditation.
Meanwhile, at the other end of thepound, the sounds of feasting and music filled the air as cultivators from the Lu and An families indulged in wine and conversation.
¡°This mine is truly a blessing! With Li Qiuyang from the Li Family taking care of everything, we don¡¯t have to worry about anything back home!¡±
¡°Absolutely!¡± The cultivator from An Familyughed heartily, taking a sip of spirit wine and smacking his lips in satisfaction. His eyes were closed in contentment, savoring the taste of the wine.
¡°The Li Family rose to prominence too quickly and their Qi Cultivators are still too young and naive to be worried about mortals... Tell me, who among us cultivators on the Guli Road doesn¡¯t see mortals as mere tools? Mortals exist to serve immortal cultivators! No cultivators should care for them!¡±
His words were loud and arrogant.
The cultivator from the Lu Family nodded in agreement, his expression rxed as he said, ¡°Indeed.. look at the Li Family. They may be strong, but they¡¯re stuck dealing with Mount Yue to the west, acting as our barrier. Rumor has it that there are over a dozen Qi Cultivators in Mount Yue, with a king at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm. It¡¯s not something to be taken lightly!¡±
Offering some news he had acquired, the cultivator from the Lu Family nced up, only to be targeted by the cultivator from the An Family.
¡°Doesn¡¯t your Lu Family have a powerful cultivator within the Azure Pond Sect? That should be a significant backing, no?¡±
To this, the cultivator from the Lu Family shook his head with a hint of disappointment in his expression.
¡°Our families have been connected through marriage for many years, so we know each other¡¯s strengths. That person who trained on Moon Lake Peak reached the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm in his prime, and had passed away over eighty years ago when he failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm... besides some residual connections with the master of Moon Lake Peak, they¡¯re hardly any significant backing.¡±
He then lowered his head and continued, ¡°We can¡¯t possiblypare to that genius in your An Family...¡±
The cultivator from the An Family sighed.
¡°That An Jingming is the golden child of our family! He receives all the attention and resources... It''s said that he eats Spirit Rice every day! I envy him. If my family devoted such resources to me, perhaps I too could also break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm!¡± he said indignantly.
The cultivator from the Lu Family sighed deeply, feeling disheartened. Amidst the lively ambiance of the courtyard, his words stood out starkly.
¡°You and I are already in our fifties... yet we haven¡¯t even condensed the Jade Capital Chakra. What hope is there for us to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm in this lifetime? We should just make the most of the remaining fifty years of our life and enjoy it to the fullest!¡±
Moved by his words, the cultivator from the An Family drank his wine and began to get choked up in his emotions.
¡°Life is often filled with disappointment... I¡¯ve alreadye to ept that fact.¡±
Together, amidst the melodic sounds of bamboo lutes, the two cultivators shed tears as they toasted to each other¡¯s shared misery.
Chapter 122: Market Robbery
Chapter 122: Market Robbery
Li Xuanfeng returned to the Li Residence and quickly reported the situation at the mine to Li Tongya.
Li Tongya nodded solemnly, taking in his words carefully.
¡°In a few days, I¡¯ll visit the mine myself and personally oversee it, but first... you need to make preparations. Get Xuanxuan to fetch this year¡¯s tributes, then head to the prefecture to submit the tributes on behalf of our family.¡±
Acknowledging Li Xuanfeng¡¯s nod, Li Tongya retrieved a storage pouch from the stone table in front of him and handed it over.
¡°In this pouch is our sum of money¡ªaside from the tributes for these five years along with our family¡¯s savings of one hundred and fifteen Spirit Stones, it also includes a portion of River Pure Qi. This is nearly a decade¡¯s worth of savings for our family... when you reach the Xiao Residence, look for Xiao Yongling. We¡¯ve had good rtions with them, so I trust him to arrange for a formation master to set up a defensive mountain formation for us,¡± he instructed.
¡°If there are any leftover Spirit Stones, spend them to purchase a good dharma artifact for yourself in the market. You can seek counsel from the Xiao Family regarding the Ebony Ore Mine. Gather news about your fourth uncle¡¯s whereabouts if you can too... The Xiao Family is reputable and Xiao Yongling is a smart man, I trust that he wouldn¡¯t cheat our Spirit Stones,¡± he added after a moment of brief contemtion.
¡°Understood,¡± Li Xuanfeng replied and nodded obediently.
Li Tongya paused briefly before issuing another instruction. ¡°Make sure you remain humble and avoid conflicts... don¡¯t be tempted by Spirit Stones. If any incidents ur on your journey, prioritize your safety at all times!¡±
Li Xuanfeng listened attentively to Li Tongya¡¯s advice, nodding vigorously before taking his leave to bid farewell to Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling in the courtyard.
He left Mount Lijing, then flew eastward along the Guli Road.
Just as he crossed into the Lu Family¡¯s territory, he could hear distant thunder that came from the west, though it was faint. Pausing to listen, he could not discern its source and resumed his journey to the east.
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As soon as Li Xuanfeng exited Mount Lijing, the sky suddenly rumbled with thunder. In fact, it was so loud and thunderous that it startled Li Tongya greatly and caused his ears to ring.
¡°Who goes there?!¡± Li Tongya shouted as his eyes snapped open and he rushed out of the cave dwelling.
What greeted him was a crimson sky above Moongaze Lake to the north, where several fiery clouds converged, painting the entire area above theke with the hue of mes.
Hidden amidst the sky were faint glimmers of a dharma artifact that floated above it all.
¡°The ind at the heart of theke... That¡¯s where the market at Moongaze Lake is!¡±
In an instant, a massive transparent protective barrier enveloped the small ind at the heart of theke. Li Tongya¡¯s true essence surged as he levitated into the air and noticed a dozen figures levitating in the sky.
¡°The market of Moongaze Lake has been operating here for over two hundred years under the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s approval... do you understand, fellow Daoists?¡±
As Li Tongya stood in the air, he heard an old voice reverberating across theke. It was tinged with anger¡ªand it clearly belonged to the owner of Moongaze Lake¡¯s market.
¡°I heard that the owner is a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm... it seems the assants are at least cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm as well,¡± Li Tongya pondered quietly to himself as he flew over thirty miles and observed the market from afar.
Initially, there had been arge ind at the heart of Moongaze Lake, precisely where the market stood. However, with the onset of the attack, the hidden ind emerged. It resembled a fairnd, boasting lush greenery and pristine waters, with pavilions and buildings scattered across it which only served to enhance its beauty.
¡°Quit acting, Chen Taoping! You¡¯ve been hiding in Moongaze Lake for two centuries... if it weren¡¯t by chance, we wouldn¡¯t have discovered you!¡± spoke another voice¡ªthis one firm and unwavering. It echoed across the vastness of theke.
Li Tongya listened intently, his spiritual sense tingling as he twisted his head to observe the western sky. There, he spotted an approaching figure who was adorned with tattoos, wearing animal bones and jades.
It was Mu Jiaoman.
Mu Jiaoman had also ascended up into the sky to check in on the situation after catching wind of themotion. Caught off guard by Li Tongya¡¯s gaze, he hesitated briefly before awkwardly greeting him through voice transmission.
¡°Brother Tongya...¡±
Li Tongya noted the fear in Mu Jiaoman, whose bodynguage suggested that he was ready to flee at any given moment.
Li Tongya ignored him. Instead, he focused his attention on the unfolding events over at theke.
After a brief pause, the old voice responded once more.
¡°Chen Taoping? Who is Chen Taoping? I am Zhang Cuotian... fellow Daoist, you should not bepelled by others and offend the immortal sect for nothing.¡±
However, the other voiceughed coldly in response, almost in mockery.
¡°Don¡¯t try to stall for time... the Azure Pond Sect has granted us permission. Today marks the end for you Lingyu Gate remnants! We have borrowed the Deadly Thunder Formation Destroyer, I¡¯m afraid your formation won¡¯t be able to protect you!¡±
As soon as he finished speaking, fiery rain and lightning descended from the sky, striking the grand formation with such fierce intensity that it caused its glow to flicker slightly. Theke was illuminated in bursts of white and red while rogue cultivators gathered around to watch the unfolding scene in astonishment.
Li Tongya estimated that the grand formation would copse within the time taken for an incense stick to burn. The sky erupted in a cacophony of colors and sounds as several figures shed in midair, their battles creating strong shockwaves that sent ripples across theke.
¡°What a bigmotion! These people are probably at the peak of Foundation Establishment Realm and on the cusp of breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm.¡±
As Li Tongya observed the chaos, he noticed a group of figurespletely disregarding the shockwaves of the battle and barging into the market that was no longer protected by the grand formation. It was obvious that they were driven by malicious intentions.
¡°That¡¯s very tempting indeed...¡±
Li Tongya narrowed his eyes at Mu Jiaoman whose eyes were clouded by greed, looking as though he himself wanted to join those nuisances.
However, Mu Jiaoman''s greedy expression was reced with shock as soon as he met Li Tongya¡¯s fierce re.
¡°Fifth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm?! How is that possible?!¡± Mu Jiaoman eximed. He clearly recalled that Li Tongya was only at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm when they fought... how did he attain the fifth heavenlyyer in just two years?!
Li Tongya said nothing but just returned a tight smile, causing Mu Jiaoman to shudder involuntarily. Without looking back, Mu Jiaoman swiftly retreated¡ªseveral hundred meters away through a shamanic spell.
Meanwhile, Li Tongya refocused his attention on the shes unfolding over theke. He stroked his chin and mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous for me to go there... I should just wait here until those peoplee over.¡±
He found a better spot to wait and settled in to observe the situation in the market, patiently anticipating the emergence of those who had robbed the market.
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¡°Chen Taoping! Where is the River Mountain Sutra?!¡±
As the battle in the sky intensified, an old man dressed in a flowing white robe and wielding a spear, found himself outnumbered three to one. He fought valiantly but was gradually pushed back, clearly losing. His jaw was tightly clenched in frustration.
¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about!¡± he yelled out in anguish.
¡°Hmph, still keeping up with the tough act even when you¡¯re already on the verge of dying,¡± one of the cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm sneered coldly. His dharma artifact zed with lethal intent and with a swift strike, he narrowly missed severing Chen Taoping¡¯s arm by probably only a few millimeters.
¡°Although the Lingyu Gate has been destroyed, its legacy must remain concealed. Once we capture you, you will reveal the River Mountain Sutra¡¯s location!¡±
¡°Bah!¡± Chen Taoping spat, waving his spear. ¡°I seek no revenge for my destroyed gate! I only wish to live out my days in peace on thiske... why do you deny my wish and continue to haunt me?!¡± he yelled.
His assant frowned and replied, ¡°When the Lingyu Gate was destroyed, the River Mountain Sutra was lost among the sixty-one jade slips... this is a grave matter! We have searched for it for more than a century now... but to no avail. If not for this, we would not have resorted to such measures either!¡±
¡°All of you are so... cunning.¡±
Chen Taoping¡¯s expression turned sorrowful as he found himself cornered.
However, his expression soon hardened. ¡°If I had the River Mountain Sutra in my possession, I would have attained the Purple Mansion Realm instead of lingering around at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm! I wouldn¡¯t have had to hide!¡± he spat fiercely through gritted teeth.
His assant paused for a moment upon hearing his statement but continued waving his dharma weapon which unleashed beams of golden light that exhausted Chen Taoping.
¡°Our orders are clear. We must capture you and extract the information we seek,¡± he dered with a vindictive voice.
Chapter 123: Seized
Chapter 123: Seized
After waiting by theke for a while, Li Tongya observed a white light soaring upward from the heart of theke, propelled by the wind that came from the north and was headed to the south. He swiftly retrieved a spirit cloth from his storage pouch and wrapped it around his face.
With his left hand resting firmly on the hilt of his sword, he soared into the sky to meet the iing figure head-on.
¡°Hey there, my friend!¡± Li Tongya called out as the figure drew closer.
However, he received no response. The figure seemed fully intent on just passing by uninterrupted, adjusting their flying trajectory and altitude immediately to avoid Li Tongya.
With the Celestial Moon sh technique at the ready, Li Tongya drew his sword and unleashed a white sword aura to intercept the approaching figure.
¡°How dare you!¡±
To Li Tongya¡¯s surprise, the figure seemed to be a female cultivator with a sweet voice.
She halted abruptly, shouting indignantly as she unsheathed her own sword to counter the iing strike from Li Tongya.
The woman quickly activated her mana and her strong attempt to repel the attack nearly caused her to lose her grip on her sword. As their energies shed, the force of their collision reverberated through her body.
The female cultivator''s expression shifted from determination to frustration as she struggled to counter Li Tongya''s attack. With a re, she focused her attention on Li Tongya, her growing resentment evident.
Observing the intricate patterns on the female cultivator¡¯s turquoise green sword, Li Tongya was able to determine that it was a good dharma artifact¡ªand a quality one indeed.
Noticing the distressed look on the female cultivator¡¯s face, he offered a proposition with his hoarse voice.
¡°Lady...you won¡¯t be able to defeat me. Surrender your storage pouch and dharma artifact now... and I will spare your life.¡±
The female cultivator scoffed, a coldugh escaping her lips as she unleashed yet another wave of sword aura aimed at Li Tongya.
¡°Dream on!¡± she spat through gritted teeth, her voice rebellious.
Li Tongya calmly parried her strikes, easily repelling her sword as he estimated the time it would take to defeat her.
She¡¯s only at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... although her cultivation method and true essence are extraordinary, it should only take about a hundred twenty or a hundred forty moves to defeat herpletely. However... with the constant flow of people around theke, prolonging the battle could attract unwanted attention. I better finish this off quickly!
Despite being at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Tongya possessed formidable strength due to his swordsmanship and the blessing of the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman.
Even Qi Cultivators of the eighth heavenlyyer who practiced authentic techniques would struggle against him ¡ª let alone those at the sixth heavenlyyer. They stood no chance. Even peak Qi Cultivators who consumed various unrefined qi would be no match against him.
Li Tongya¡¯s sword qi grew brighter with each strike, forcing the female cultivator to stumble backward under his relentless assault.
This man is no ordinary opponent! His skill surpasses those of any rogue cultivator! Even those five or six prominent ns in the region can¡¯t possibly raise such a strong cultivator... he must be affiliated with one of the three sects or seven gates!
Under the relentless assault from Li Tongya, the female cultivator soon found herself reaching her limit. After just a few dozen exchanges, she felt the sword aura of her de weakening and her true essence dwindling rapidly.
Despite his abundant true essence, there¡¯s ack of sharpness in his qi... Could he be from the Azure Pond Sect? Or perhaps the Changxiao Gate?
As defeat loomed, the female cultivator clenched her teeth. She was reluctant to surrender the belongings in her storage pouch.
With determination, she raised her voice, ¡°I am a member of the Wu Family from the southern prefecture. I implore you... spare me this time and I will not forget this act of kindness, fellow Daoist!¡±
Li Tongya only shook his head in response. ¡°Are you suggesting that I should go begging for favors from the Wu Family in the southern prefecture? Spare me these futile pleas... fellow Daoist. Drop your storage pouch and dharma artifact, and I¡¯ll consider sparing your life.¡±
The mention of the Wu Family did not sway Li Tongya. He had already met someone from her family during his visit to Cloud Crowned Peak but had not really interacted with them. He never did expect that he would run into one of them here today.
¡°Don¡¯t push your luck, fellow Daoist! The ancestor of the Wu Family is of the Foundation Establishment Realm... I¡¯m his granddaughter from the fifth generation! Harm me, and you¡¯ll make an enemy with a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm! You better reconsider your action!¡± the female cultivator threatened through her clenched teeth.
Li Tongya shattered her qi aura with his sword and responded coldly, ¡°Even if you were his daughter, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference. If I kill you here in the middle of nowhere, a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm would not be able to find you, let alone one at the Foundation Establishment Realm!¡±
With no further words exchanged, Li Tongya pressed forward unrelentingly, forcing the female cultivator from the Wu Family to back down.
With a swift motion, he knocked the turquoise green sword out of the female cultivator¡¯s grasp swiftly, causing it to fall on the ground with a loud ng.
Just as Li Tongya moved in for the decisive strike, the female cultivatorunched a pale yellow-colored talisman.
Li Tongya¡¯s eyebrows immediately shot up at the sight of it and quickly retreated without a second thought.
The talisman glowed a fierce red before erupting into five fiery projectiles that flew toward Li Tongya like me sparrows.
With the Celestial Moon sh technique, Li Tongya shattered two of the fiery projectiles, reducing them into mere red sparks.
However, the remaining three fire projectiles closed in on him. With no other option, Li Tongya raised his sword to block them and channeled his true essence into the de, which immediately radiated with intense brilliance.
The onught of the fire spell reached its peak, forcing Li Tongya to retreat backward by three steps. The pale gray de of his sword glowed red from the heat, prompting him to sheathe it hastily.
Just as he was distracted, the female cultivator swiftly reimed her sword and flew eastward.
Li Tongya channeled his true essence once more and took to the air as well, determined to remain in pursuit of the mysterious female cultivator. In just the space of a few breaths, he had caught up with the fleeing cultivator. His longsword crackled with sword qi as it shot toward the woman¡¯s back, delivering a numbing impact.
¡°How is this possible?! How can someone at the fifth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm move with such speed?!¡± the female cultivator eximed in shock, her legs faltering as her slender hand reached for her storage pouch.
With determination and great speed, Li Tongya struck at her hand quickly, preventing her from essing her pouch.
A small white shield appeared to protect the female cultivator¡¯s neck and back. However, Li Tongya¡¯s cautious approach had foiled some of her calctions.
Her left arm bore the brunt of the attack. With a cry of pain, beads of sweat formed on her temples and forehead as she struggled to perform a hand seal.
Despite her efforts, Li Tongya was unforgiving and seized the opportunity to deliver yet another powerful sh, nearly cleaving her body in half. With a final agonizing cry, the female cultivator copsed lifelessly to the ground.
The Wu Family from the southern prefecture was indeed a prominent n. This female cultivator disyed exceptional knowledge and skill, deflecting Li Tongya¡¯s spells with ease and twisting her body to evade the worst of the attacks.
Nheless, Li Tongya relentlessly pursued her, delivering a final decisive blow that sent her lifeless body tumbling away.
ncing at the puddle of blood on the ground, Li Tongya frowned slightly as he shook off the blood from his sword, each drip staining the ground. Letting out a soft sigh, he retrieved the storage pouch from the fallen cultivator¡¯s waist.
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that she chose such a pitiful end. There were better paths avable to her...¡±
With a wave of his hand, Li Tongya cast a spell to dispose of the body and blood before quickly soaring back into the sky.
The situation on the ind at the heart of theke had intensified. Li Tongya heard a faintugh, which was then followed by an angry voice.
¡°So... there¡¯s another hidden formation here? How clever!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve spent two hundred years cultivating on Moongaze Lake, of course, I have some tricks up my sleeve... you three will regret provoking me!¡± the old and hoarse voice snarled.
With thunder crashing and fire raining down on the formation of the small ind at the heart of theke, Li Tongya wondered how many Qi Cultivator robbers found themselves in trouble down there.
A sense of unease crept over Li Tongya as he watched as the fiery clouds in the sky gradually dissipated, which was then apanied by the fading thunder and the unmistakable diminishing glow of the formation.
Below him, the ind at the heart of theke nowy scorched. Feeling unsettled by the mass destruction, Li Tongya decided to turn around and soar over theke for a little while until he spotted the small ind.
He performed a hand seal and cast a Water Avoidance Spell on himself before diving into the riverbed and disappearing from view.
The Snake Demon Cave had already been explored and cleaned up by members of the Li Family years ago. Now, there were several hundred mortals along with three cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm that lived there.
All the remains of corpses had been cleaned out long ago. There were over a dozen courtyards constructed near the entrance of the cave with light blue crystals embedded into the rocky ceiling that provided gentle illumination throughout the cave, adding to its mystical ambiance.
Li Tongya dismissed the cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm who came over to greet him and found a room to meditate, only to discover that his true essence had almost fully recovered.
¡°Woah... the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman is indeed amazing!¡±
He picked up the female cultivator¡¯s storage pouch and out came tumbling a trove of sparkling spirit items.
With the help of a fire spell, he burned the female cultivator¡¯s clothes and other personal belongings, leaving only the valuable items untouched.
Among his discoveries were a collection of twenty or thirty talismans of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, fifteen Spirit Stones, three talismans of the Qi Cultivation Realm, three dharma artifacts of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and a dozen bottles of elixirs of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Setting aside the clutter, Li Tongya¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he retrieved a blood-stained furnace from the storage pouch that was about as tall as a person.
His eyes immediately lit up with joy as he marveled at the artifact. ¡°A furnace! No wonder that woman was so unwilling to surrender her pouch! The price of such a furnace has always far exceeded that of an ordinary dharma artifact... and this one appears to be of exceptional quality as well. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it fetched several hundred Spirit Stones!¡±
Examining the bloodstains on the furnace closer, Li Tongya could not help but wonder how many people the female cultivator had to have murdered in order to obtain such a valuable artifact.
He performed another hand seal and cleaned the blood from the surface of the furnace with a Purifying Spell. Satisfied with his work, he carefully stowed away the item before turning his attention to the three talismans.
¡°One of these talismans contains the powerful Fire Sparrow Spell, capable of inflicting serious injuries on cultivators in thete stage of Qi Cultivation if they¡¯re caught off guard. The other two talismans are moremon... one is a shield spell and the other is capable of summoning needle rain. Hmm... their power appears to be on par with abilities at the early stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm."
Li Tongya stowed the talismans away, then picked up a token crafted from Ebony Ore. He held it in his palm and observed the ¡°Wu¡± character engraved on its surface.
It appeared to be an identity token of some sort.
Setting the token aside, Li Tongya crossed his legs and began meditating.
Chapter 124: Visiting Xiao Yongling
Chapter 124: Visiting Xiao Yongling
Li Xuanfeng flew slowly along Guli Road for most of the night, eventually arriving at Cloud Crowned Peak. Veiled in clouds and mist, both the trees and people on Xiao Family¡¯s peak were well obscured from sight.
But just as Li Xuanfeng was descending, he encountered a repelling forceing from the mountain. Someone below called out to him in a loud voice, ¡°Hey, Brother! You can¡¯t fly into Cloud Crowned Peak!¡±
Li Xuanfeng quicklynded at the foot of the mountain. There, he was greeted by a smiling young man who seemed to be about seventeen or eighteen. He was dressed in a long flowing robe and looked rather striking.
The young man cupped his fist and greeted Li Xuanfeng respectfully.
¡°Which family in the east are you from, Young Master?¡±
Li Xuanfeng waved his hands and replied to the polite young man, ¡°I¡¯m no young master! It¡¯s Li Xuanfeng from the Li Family in Lijing. I¡¯vee to submit my family¡¯s tributes.¡±
¡°Li Family from Lijing?¡± the teenager repeated thoughtfully as he raised an eyebrow curiously. ¡°Are you from the Li Family by Moongaze Lake..? I am Xiao Ruyu from the Xiao Family, it¡¯s a great pleasure to meet you!¡±
¡°Indeed, I am!¡± Li Xuanfeng affirmed, recalling the instructions given to him by Li Tongya before his departure.
Xiao Ruyu quietened before finally asking curiously, ¡°Is Senior Li Tongya your...¡±
¡°He¡¯s my n uncle!¡± Li Xuanfeng chuckled, then politely borated, ¡°My n uncle has sent me here to pay Senior Xiao Yongling a visit!¡±
¡°Ah... I see,¡± the young man nodded in understanding. ¡°Uncle Yongling has instructed me to receive a guest from the Li Family! Please,e with me, Brother Xuanfeng.¡±
With a smile, Xiao Ruyu gracefully leaped up into the air. Since both of them were Qi Cultivators, they rode the wind together for a while beforending smoothly on yet another peak.
There, atop the mountain, stood a small courtyard with two pots of plum blossoms by its entrance.
Xiao Ruyu approached the door and knocked gently.
¡°n Uncle, the guest from the Li Family has arrived!¡± he announced respectfully in a loud voice.
A heartyugh was heard before the door slowly creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, wrapped in snow-white fox fur. He wore a brocade pouch at his waist, and he looked quite handsome.
Upon seeing the visitor, he paused for a moment before asking, ¡°You are...?¡±
¡°I am Li Xuanfeng from the Li Family. My second uncle is currently upied with important matters, so I havee in his stead to pay my respects,¡± he exined readily.
Xiao Yongling, the middle-aged man, nodded understandingly and said with a hint of regret, ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that Brother Tongya can¡¯t make it here. I do miss him very much.¡±
After saying that, he cast a curious nce at Li Xuanfeng and asked, ¡°How strong is Brother Tongya now?¡±
¡°My second uncle has attained the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm,¡± Li Xuanfeng replied, following Li Tongya¡¯s instructions.
¡°The third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm..? Brother Tongya has truly made remarkable progress! When I first met him, I had already sensed his extraordinary potential... and now he has truly proven it!¡± Xiao Yongling eximed, clearly impressed.
He led Li Xuanfeng into the courtyard and poured tea for both of them.
With a warm smile, he turned to Li Xuanfeng and remarked, ¡°You¡¯re quite talented yourself, it¡¯s quite impressive to attain the Qi Cultivation Realm at such a young age. Someone like you is indeed a valuable addition... even in our Xiao Family.¡±
¡°You¡¯re ttering me, Senior,¡± Li Xuanfeng replied humbly with his head bowed slightly. After exchanging pleasantries for a few moments, he broached the reason for his visit.
¡°My family¡¯s defensive formation was destroyed by Mount Yue and has remained unrepaired until now... I¡¯ve been tasked with finding a skilled formation master in the prefecture to set up another grand formation on the mountain. Do you have any leads or suggestions on someone who could possibly help us, Senior?¡±
¡°Indeed, I do.¡± Xiao Yongling nodded and continued, ¡°However, setting up a grand formation of Qi Cultivation Realm is no easy task! It requires engraving of formation patterns and also numerous drawings... it''ll take at least several days toplete.¡±
¡°For a basic formation of the Qi Cultivation Realm, you¡¯ll need at least thirty Spirit Stones. But if you¡¯re looking for something more advanced of that realm and capable of fending off peak Qi Cultivators, you¡¯d need at least a hundred Spirit Stones...¡± he added.
Li Xuanfeng listened attentively, then nodded in understanding.
¡°My family has already expected that and prepared the necessary Spirit Stones.¡±
¡°Very well,¡± Xiao Yongling said approvingly before taking another sip of tea. After deliberating for a few brief moments, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ll reach out to my contacts and see what I can find... I¡¯ll get back to you again within a few days. Thankfully, there¡¯s still some time before the tributes will be collected. I should be able to find someone in time.¡±
¡°Thank you, Senior,¡± Li Xuanfeng replied, expressing his gratitude sincerely.¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Xiao Yongling said, dismissively waving off his gratitude with a warm smile.
¡°Our families have been friends for decades. Your fourth uncle and my n uncle are brothers of the same faction, and he even helped request the Essence Gathering Pill for my family... it¡¯s only natural for us to help each other in times of need.¡±
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Xuanfeng sipped his tea and patiently listened as Xiao Yongling spoke. Then, he posed another question, ¡°May I ask, Senior, if metal ores have any effects on mortals?¡±
¡°Indeed they do!¡± Xiao Yongling replied, almost immediately.
He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing, ¡°My family oversees twenty-two ore veins... I¡¯ve worked there so I have considerable knowledge in this scope of topic.¡±
¡°Spirit ores with metal, thunder, me, and cold yin properties can endanger mortals. In fact, deaths and injuries caused by these items are rathermon. Those of the Embryonic Breathing Realm are generally safer, so you can reduce the period of exposure by rotating a few more shifts. On the other hand, those of the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Realms are far more dangerous and can result in fatalities upon contact. It¡¯s essential for immortal cultivators to personally mine these spirit ores,¡± he exined with a furrowed brow.
¡°I see! Thank you for enlightening me, Senior!¡± Li Xuanfeng nodded, expressing his sincere gratitude once more.
Xiao Yongling then handed him a jade slip and said, ¡°Brother Tongya has requested my help in finding him a book before, and I¡¯ve finally found it. Take this back to him.¡±
Li Xuanfeng hesitated briefly before epting the jade slip.
Second Uncle never mentioned searching for any books... how can he forget to inform me about it? Is Xiao Family trying to tell me something..?
¡°Thank you, Senior Yongling!¡±
When Li Xuanfeng inquired about news regarding Li Chejing, Xiao Yongling shook his head and said, ¡°There have been no updates. It¡¯s been years since my n uncle also went to the southern border... we haven¡¯t received any letters from him and are quite worried about him as well.¡±
This revtion left Li Xuanfeng feeling at great unease.
¡°The prefecture¡¯s scenery is very different from the west. There¡¯s still half a month before it¡¯s time to submit the tributes... you should go and explore around,¡± Xiao Yongling suggested finally.
Sensing that the meeting hade to an end, Li Xuanfeng cupped his fist and bid farewell to Xiao Yongling.
Upon exiting the courtyard, he inspected the jade slip with his spiritual sense and found out that its title was ¡°Two Hundred Years of Linghai Prefecture¡¯s Scenery.¡±
Perplexed by its unexpected contents, Li Xuanfeng quickly tucked away the jade slip and exchanged parting words with Xiao Ruyu before continuing on his journey eastward.
As soon as Li Xuanfeng left the courtyard, Xiao Yongling quietly tidied up the tea set and mused to himself, ¡°A fifteen-year-old Qi Cultivator... the Li Family truly has exceptional talents!¡±
¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, n uncle,¡± Xiao Ruyu concurred, offering his praise.
Xiao Yongling shook his head and spoke solemnly, ¡°Our old ancestor personally met Li Tongya and bestowed pills upon him... he also instructed me to cultivate a strong rtionship with the Li Family.¡±
¡°The foresight of our old ancestor surpasses ourprehension, but now he...¡± Xiao Yongling¡¯s voice trailed off weakly, his expression shifting as he chuckled softly and mumbled to himself, ¡°With old ancestor and Uncle Yuansi around, our family can thrive for at least eight hundred years...¡±
Exchanging a knowing nce with Xiao Ruyu, Xiao Yongling¡¯s gaze grew more contemtive.
He sighed, his expression reflecting a strong conflict of emotions.
¡°Only people like our old ancestor could break through the Azure Pond Sect¡¯s blockade and rise to prominence... He is cautious,posed, and patient, and that allowed him to protect our family¡¯s interests. Look at how talented Yu Yuxie was, but he ended up drawing the unwanted attention of an old ancestor at the Purple Mansion Realm and met a tragic end in the southern border.¡±
Pausing, Xiao Yongling turned his gaze toward Xiao Ruyu and spoke with sincerity, ¡°Ruyu, this is why our old ancestor advises you to cultivate slowly and refrain from rushing your breakthroughs within the next five years.¡±
¡°In this world, the most gifted individuals often suffer the greatest tragedies.¡±
Chapter 125: Jiang Yunu
Chapter 125: Jiang Yunu
Li Xuanfeng flew for a few more miles, stopping only when he caught sight of the entrance to Lixia Prefecture¡¯s Yuyue County emerging from the horizon.
The city gates were bustling with activity with a steady stream of oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages belonging to dignitaries and merchants crowded the roads, creating a jolly and lively atmosphere.
As Guli Road came to an end, the path widened and smoothed within Lixia Prefecture. Vendors selling pastries and rice porridge could be seen busying on both sides of the road.
Reflecting on the lessons learned at Cloud Crowned Peak, Li Xuanfeng paused in front of the city wall beforending in front of the city gate.
¡°Out of the way! An immortal master ising through!¡±
¡°Daddy, look at the sky!¡±
Chaos soon erupted in the lower part of the city as the people scrambled to clear a path with yellow smoke and dust swirling in every direction. Goods were dropped, rice bowls were shattered, and the air was filled with the cries of children, the neighing of horses, and the shouts of soldiers.
Observing themotion, Li Xuanfeng furrowed his brow slightly.
Before Li Xuanfeng could utter another word, a hush fell over the crowd as they all kneeled down in unison.
The dozen soldiers stationed at the city gates trembled as they bowed down, too frightened to speak. The distinct sound made every time they pressed their foreheads to the ground echoed softly through the air while crying childreny scattered on the ground, ignored by the fearful bystanders.
The entire scene was eerily silent, with caravans and pedestrians in the distance dispersing. The same happened to the people who had been queuing for the entire morning, who also quickly scattered themselves into groups. The merchants held onto the reins of their horses and stared at the ground as if there were imaginary flowers blooming where they gazed.
Feeling the weight of the tense atmosphere, Li Xuanfeng realized that a misunderstanding had likely urred.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the solemn silence of the kneeling crowd made him reconsider and he snapped his mouth shut. In the end, he decided to perform a hand seal instead and cast the Aura Restraint Technique on himself before continuing toward the county.
The townsfolk remained kneeling on the ground, too terrified to utter even a word. After a long while, one of the soldiers timidly raised his head. Seeing the empty space before him, tears welled up in his eyes as he eximed, ¡°The Immortal Master has shown us mercy!¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng could not help but feel confused and slightly depressed by themotion he had caused in front of the city gate.
The Li Family had only risen to prominence over the past four or five decades... the disparity between cultivators and mortals should not have reached such extreme levels. His mortal uncles treated him normally like he was their nephew, and mortals typically showed respect to cultivators by bowing without resorting to such extreme gestures as kneeling and prostrating themselves before them.
The Xiao, Wu, Ma, and Chang Families were ns with cultivators of Foundation Establishment Realm among them, and they have been cultivating thends in the prefecture for hundreds of years! It¡¯s astonishing to see mortals fearing them to such an extreme extent...
After pondering for a while, Li Xuanfeng shook his head and lifted his gaze to the spacious street ahead.
I still need to find a ce to stay for the next ten days...
Using his spiritual sense, Li Xuanfeng quickly located arge,vishly decorated pavilion with dozens of spacious and clean rooms. He nodded in approval and approached the entrance of the grand pavilion, which was decorated with red silk.
¡°Drunken Spring Pavilion...¡± he muttered, reading the words on the que. He found the name of the inn rather peculiar.
Upon entering, he was greeted by the sight of leftover food from what appeared to be an all-night banquet that had just ended, and the establishment had yet to clean up after the festivities. Not only were the wooden tables messy, but the wooden chairs were also in mass disarray.
Li Xuanfeng frowned, feeling a little doubtful about the inn. Despite his doubts, he deliberated and decided that he was far toozy to search for yet another ce to stay. It was at this moment that he noticed a teenage girl dressed in red sitting on the staircase with her head bowed and knees drawn up.
He raised an eyebrow at her and asked, ¡°Any avable rooms here?¡±
The young girl raised her head. Her lovely round face looked a bit tired, despite the traces of makeup on it. Her lips were ghastly pale, however. She stared at him with a hint of happiness in her childish eyes and nodded in response.
¡°Come with me, young master.¡±
Ascending to the second floor, they came across a woman thered with thick makeup seated near to the stairs. She cast a nce at them and sneered.
¡°So you¡¯ve finally gotten yourself a patron so early in the morning after freeloading here for a moment, eh? He seems young too... consider yourself lucky, girl!¡±
The young girl pursed her lips, casting a timid nce at the woman with an unreadable emotion in her eyes. She remained silent, not uttering a word in response.
Li Xuanfeng shot a quick nce at the woman, effectively silencing any further remarks, and then proceeded into the room with the girl.
The woman was left standing in the hallway, stunned by the intensity of Li Xuanfeng¡¯s gaze. It took her several moments to regain herposure.
¡°Hmm, he¡¯s young but he has quite the temper,¡± she muttered.
Meanwhile, Li Xuanfeng settled into the room with the girl. He removed his longbow that was almost as tall as him and hung it on the wall before finally taking a seat on the bed.
However, he noticed that the girl remained standing in the room, casting timid nces at him.
Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow at her. The girl appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old. Her eyebrows had been meticulously groomed, her skin was smooth and radiant, and her eyes were slightly elongated, giving her a feline-like appearance.
Despite her seemingly rxed demeanor, there was a palpable unease lurking beneath the surface of her gaze.
¡°What is it?¡± Li Xuanfeng asked, curious.
The girl, however, began undressing without a word and let her dress slip to the ground, revealing her fair skin that was previously hidden beneath the fabric. She stepped forward and took a seat on the bed, fixing her gaze on Li Xuanfeng. She pouted her lips slightly in a very seductive manner, their pinkish tone exuding a tempting allure.
Li Xuanfeng¡¯s mind raced, trying to process the strange and capricious situation unfolding before him. Finally, realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He met the girl¡¯s gaze in rm and asked in a trembling voice, ¡°What kind of ce is this..?¡±
¡°Drunken Spring Pavilion,¡± she replied with a seductive smile. Despite her youthful appearance, she was a serene beauty. She lifted her head, leaving her slender neck exposed.
The contours of her body possessed a delicate beauty, drawing Li Xuanfeng¡¯s unwavering gaze. In her demeanor, there lingered a subtle hint of provocation, adding to her allure.
¡°Drunken Spring Pavilion...¡± Li Xuanfeng repeated the name softly.
His primal instincts took over as he surrendered to his desires. What he had repressed at home in the presence of Li Tongya and other elders was now fully unleashed, and he did nothing to hold them back. With nothing to worry about, he embraced and kissed thepliant maiden, undoing the buttons of his shirt one by one.
As Li Xuanfeng indulged in his desires, he found himself unsure of what to do next until the girl untied the ropes around his waist and took his hand gently.
Following her lead, Li Xuanfeng allowed himself to be guided to an unfamiliar realm of pleasure, driven by instinct. He caressed her delicate face. Looking at her lovely round face and the way her eyes shone, he felt his body ignite with passion.
¡°By the gods, I¡¯ve never expected such wonderful feelings to exist in this world!¡± He chuckled.
¡°Young master...¡± The girl whimpered in pain, her body writhing beneath him on the bed. Li Xuanfeng¡¯s ck hair was disheveled at this point. He gently lifted her delicate feet that were flushed and continued thrusting.
¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked softly.
¡°Jiang Yunu,¡± came the weak response, her lovely face pressed against the sheet as she clutched the pillow.
¡°Some years ago, the immortals were killing people on the road... the fleeing victims made their way to the east, looting and plundering along the way. My family perished, leaving me alone. I had no choice but to follow a merchant caravan all the way here to eke out... a living,¡± she managed to stammer between breaths.
¡°How long have you been here?¡±
¡°Less than a month. You¡¯re my first patron.¡±
Li Xuanfeng let out a sigh of relief, then said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this anymore.¡±
Jiang Yunu did not quite understand his words, but she nodded silently, assuming that Li Xuanfeng was just offering her advice.
As Li Xuanfeng buried his head into the pillow without a sound, Jiang Yunu whimpered softly, her body tensing for a moment before timidly uttering, ¡°I... I...¡±
But before she could finish her words, her eyes fluttered shut once more.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
While Li Xuanfeng was having the best time of his life, Li Tongya found himself in trouble in the courtyard on Mount Lijing.
The turmoil at Moongaze Lake had long subsided, leaving the ind at the heart of theke scorched and dry. However, the forbidden formation continued to target anyone who dared to approach it.
After three groups of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm had plundered whatever valuable resources remained, only chaos remained. With no other choice, Li Tongya retreated to Mount Lijing.
From a distance, he spotted Lu Sisi, clutching his jade scepter in hand.
¡°Brother Tongya!¡± Lu Sisi greeted him affectionately, stirring mixed emotions in Li Tongya.
He cupped his fist in return and said, ¡°Senior Lu, theke is really lively.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right... all the gates are banding together to eliminate the survivors of Lingyu Gate. It¡¯s a surprise that Zhang Cuotian turned out to be one of them! The market on Moongaze Lake has been operating for two centuries, yet he managed to evade detection by the Azure Pond Sect for so long...¡±
As Li Tongya and Lu Sisi settled into the courtyard, a servant brought them tea. Li Tongya cupped his fist and asked, ¡°What has the Lingyu Gate done to make all the gates unite against it in such a way..?¡±
Chapter 126: Arranged Marriage
Chapter 126: Arranged Marriage
Lu Sisi could only sigh in response and replied, ¡°How could Lingyu Gate possibly be at fault? Their biggest mistake was theirck of strength... During the fierce battle at Moongaze Lake, Lingyu Gate lost a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm and six at the Foundation Establishment Realm. With only one cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm left, the gate was overpowered and destroyed.¡±
¡°The three sects argued that Lingyu Gate was too weak to fulfill their legacy of the Purple Mansion Realm, and then demanded that Lingyu Gate hand it over to them for safekeeping and cripple all techniques associated with it. Lingyu Gate had lost almost all of its territory... if they were to ept such humiliating terms, it would be no different than destroying their gate. Naturally, they refused and were ultimately wiped out,¡± he continued with a hint of sadness in his voice.
Li Tongya listened intently, silently nodding in solemn understanding.
¡°Do they have to push Lingyu Gate into the corner like that just to seize their legacy...? The Lingyu Gate was also quite stubborn. So then, what happened to the legacy?¡±
¡°It¡¯s lost.¡±
¡°Lost..?¡± Li Tongya muttered in disbelief, an eyebrow immediately arching.
¡°Following the destruction of Lingyu Gate, that legacy of the Purple Mansion Realm was missing among their sixty-one jade slips. For over two hundred years, the three sects and seven gates have searched high and low for it, but to no avail...¡± Lu Sisi exined.
¡°Those people had besieged the market on Moongaze Lake because they heard news of survivors from Lingyu Gate there, and came to hunt for the legacy.¡±
The revtion struck Li Tongya deeply, triggering a memory of Zhang Yun¡¯s words in the Snake Demon Cave.
¡°The River Mountain Sutra¡ªlost after the destruction of Lingyu Gate¡ªrequires a secret technique to unlock...¡±
Could the River Mountain Sutra be that legacy..?
Li Tongya¡¯s heart raced at this thought, but he forced himself to remainposed. The more he contemted, the more convinced he became of this theory.
As Lu Sisi continued speaking, he pondered the secret technique mentioned on the jade slip.
Without the secret technique from the Lingyu Gate, there is no way to ess this jade slip... looks like I can only hide it away at home until I am able to find a solution.
¡°Brother Tongya! What about the marriage proposal?¡± Lu Sisi¡¯s question snapped him back to reality.
¡°It¡¯s still too early for that,¡± Li Tongya replied, shaking his head with his eyes shut.
Lu Sisi¡¯s expression turned a little somber. He set his tea bowl down and asked, ¡°Brother Tongya, have you heard of the Yu Family to the north of Mount Huazhong?¡±
Li Tongya nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, I have. Even the famous Wan Huaqian dared not venture northward because of the Yu Family¡¯s presence... they¡¯ve recently allied with the Azure Pond Sect and enjoyed rtive peace.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Lu Sisi concurred, taking a sip of tea. ¡°The Yu Family boasts several cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm and over a dozen Qi Cultivators. Their strength rivals that of prominent ns in Lixia Prefecture. Despite their recent alliance with the Azure Pond Sect, they¡¯ve refrained from making any conspicuous moves...¡±
Li Tongya gave him a puzzled look and asked carefully, ¡°Senior, are you suggesting that...¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush and waste time... Brother Tongya,¡± Lu Sisi interjected gravely. ¡°As long as you agree to the marriage proposal, your Li Family will be an ally to our family... otherwise, you will remain a threat to us. If I were to die, the Lu Family would have to find ways to protect themselves, even if it means weing wolves into our home!¡±
Li Tongya¡¯s expression shifted as he asked solemnly, ¡°What exactly do you mean, Senior?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll offer Mount Huaqian to the Yu Family... and the Lu Family can always seek refuge in the Mushroom Forest in. At least... we may be able to survive there,¡± Lu Sisi stated bluntly as he set his tea bowl down with finality.
¡°You¡¯ll either agree to the marriage proposal and pledge not to encroach on our territory, or wait for the Yu Family¡¯s southward invasion, leaving you trapped between Mount Huaqian and Mount Huazhong that they¡¯ll upy!¡± he dered with an arrogant air.
Li Tongya fell silent and studied Lu Sisi¡¯s demeanor silently in contemtion. Upon realizing that Lu Sisi was clearly not joking around, he replied, ¡°Brother Lu, are you not afraid that I might retaliate and destroy your family?¡±
Lu Sisi burst intoughter. ¡°HAHAHAHA! You wouldn¡¯t dare! My younger sister cultivated at Moon Lake Peak and shared a strong bond with the peak master before her death... If you were to harm me, your younger brother would face dire consequences in the sect. I believe that you, Li Tongya, will encroach upon our territory... but not wipe out my family!¡±
Li Tongya looked at him and asked solemnly, ¡°So which will you pick?¡±
¡°Either one of your two unmarried nephews, I¡¯ll let Brother Tongya choose!¡± Lu Sisi waved his hand generously.
Li Tongya looked at him as he contemted his options.
This is merely a temporary measure. The descendants of the Lu Family are all inept. Even this agreement is just a facade... as long as we can secure this old man¡¯s loyalty, there are countless ways to dismantle the Lu Family¡¯s influence.
Xuanfeng is Xiangping¡¯s son, and his potential is remarkable... I cannot risk his future. I guess I can only sacrifice Xuanling...
After a few moments of silence, he spoke.
¡°Then it shall be Li Xuanling. He is my only son. I believe this marital union will demonstrate our family¡¯s sincerity in this matter.¡±
Lu Sisi quickly agreed, but Li Tongya gave him a steely gaze, his lips curling into a sneer.
¡°Now that we¡¯ve reached this juncture, Senior Lu should understand that while I may spare your family, the Li Family will continue to expand. You must find a way to secure the best oue for both parties, or you¡¯ll be sorry.¡±
The harshness of Li Tongya¡¯s words was enough to convince Lu Sisi that he was making a serious threat. After contemting for a moment, he gritted his teeth and relented.
¡°After my passing, Mount Huazhong of the An Family is the Li Family¡¯s to take. The Lu Family shall not intervene!¡±
Li Tongya secretly curled his lips in annoyance.
How can the Lu Family intervene in the first ce when they¡¯re so weak? Offering what has already been given away is quite the strategic move.
Despite his thoughts, he was toozy to continue arguing with Lu Sisi over such a trivial matter.
¡°It¡¯s settled then. However, I would like to meet the bride first.¡±
As the words left his lips, Lu Sisi nodded eagerly. The girl standing behind him silently lifted her veil as though on cue, revealing a dignified and beautiful face along with her sparkling,rge eyes.
Catching Li Tongya¡¯s gaze, she lowered her gaze modestly and introduced herself, ¡°Pleased to meet you, Senior. My name is Lu Wanrong.¡±
Li Tongya studied her for a moment. She was an outstanding beauty, and her possession of a spiritual orifice made her a suitable match for Li Xuanling.
Yet, despite the qualifications, Li Tongya found it difficult to reconcile the circumstances leading to this engagement. Nevertheless, he made a decision.
¡°Then let¡¯s proceed with the engagement.¡±
With that simple statement, the fates of these two individuals were intertwined for the rest of their lives.
Lu Sisi expressed his delight, and the details of the dowry and the wedding date were swiftly decided.
Li Tongya¡¯s expression held a mix of emotions as he regarded the old man before him.
¡°Senior, your dedication to your family is trulymendable. Your presence is a blessing for your entire family.¡±
Li Tongya¡¯sment caught Lu Sisi off guard. For a moment, an expression crossed his face momentarily, proving that he was also deeply moved by such a generouspliment. After a brief pause, Lu Sisi found his words.
¡°The younger generation of my family is indeed ipetent... This old man can hardly rest easily. Even in my old age, I have to worry about my family¡¯s survival. It¡¯s truly a shame!¡±
Li Tongya shook his head in response to Lu Sisi¡¯s words.
Lu Sisi wore a conflicted look on his face as he continued, ¡°I only pray that Brother Tongya will never have to experience such hardship... you will only understand the weight of it all when you are in my shoes!¡±
Chapter 127: Spar
Chapter 127: Spar
The northern wind whistled through Yi Mountain City, slightly trembling the stone door of the cave dwelling atop the mountain.
Chi Zhiyun stood outside its door, his robes billowing in the breeze. He rested a finger lightly on the hilt of his sword as he waited patiently.
After a few moments, Chi Zhiyun furrowed his brow, inspecting the tiny cracks in the dark gray stone door.
He spoke softly, addressing the upant within, "Junior brother, there''s no need for further dy. Three years have passed... and with your talent, you should have broken through by now, shouldn''t you?"
Silence lingered for a moment before the stone door creaked open slowly, revealing a young man in a white robe with long hair, carrying a green and white longsword on his waist. With two jade slips in each hand, he looked at Chi Zhiyun with a smile on his face.
"How can I help you, Senior Brother Chi?"
Chi Zhiyun studied Li Chejing for a moment before speaking once more.
"There''s a mission from the sect. The Old Ancestor has assigned it to you."
Li Chejing nodded in acknowledgment.
"Please wait a moment, Senior Brother. I''ll join you once I''ve made the necessary preparations," he replied respectfully.
Satisfied with Li Chejing''s attitude, Chi Zhiyun departed with a wave of his sleeve.
Meanwhile, Li Chejing took note of the direction he went off before flying off toward another cave dwelling in the mountains.
"Senior Brother Xiao!"
The stone door quickly opened, and Xiao Yuansi emerged with two types of herbs in his hand and a brush in his other. He greeted Li Chejing with a smile that quickly dimmed.
"Jing''er... You''ve broken through!" he eximed in excitement.
Xiao Yuansi, despite being over sixty years old, maintained the appearance of someone in their thirties. He gazed at Li Chejing, a pang of heartache in his chest. The boy was only a child of ten when he first ascended Qingsui Peak, and Xiao Yuansi had always called him "Jing''er'''' since then.
"Yes," Li Chejing smiled as he replied, then took a seat beside Xiao Yuansi.
"I have turned the six chakras in my body into the Dao foundation, known as Lake Moon Autumn, with the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique! The qi is green and white, and the true essence is crystal clear and it''s really versatile," he exined patiently.
A look of envy materialized on Xiao Yuansi''s face. He was still stuck at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm, showing no signs of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm anytime soon.
"Establishing a foundation is beyond myprehension for now... I''ve only heard that the Dao foundation of my ancestor back at home is known as ''Man On Creek''. It''s really strange and difficult to describe. I can only hope to break through this barrier someday," he said with a soft sigh.
The most critical step to transition from the Qi Cultivation Realm to Foundation Establishment Realm was to transform the six chakras into various Dao foundations, which was highly perilous. A failed condensation could result in the copse of one''s cultivation and even death within a few days. To emphasize its difficulty, the sess rate was less than ten percent. Even among the three sects and seven gates, the mortality rate was as high as seventy percent.
"I''m sure you''ll eventually get there, Senior Brother," Li Chejing reassured him, handing over the two jade slips to Xiao Yuansi.
"I actually broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm during the first year and spent the next few years documenting my experiences and talisman techniques. When the timees, please send my Qingche Sword back home too... I appreciate your assistance, Senior Brother."
With a thousand thoughts still swirling in his mind, Xiao Yuansi epted the jade slips, unsure of where he could possibly begin. He watched as Li Chejing left his cave dwelling and soared into the air, overlooking the bustling crowds of Yi Mountain City.
His sudden ascent startled the onlookers below, prompting several cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm and a dozen Qi Cultivators in the city to soar into the sky, all fixating their gazes on him.
Chi Zhiyun swiftly ascended from the peak, shouting angrily, "Li Chejing! What do you think you are doing?!"
Li Chejing was momentarily stunned. At the same time, he was amused by how his small action had startled the group as if he were amon enemy.
"Don''t worry, everyone! I won''t flee! I simply have a matter or two to discuss with Senior Brother Chi," he assured with a slightly amused smile.
Embarrassment swept over the group, causing them to exchange nces before dispersing, leaving behind Chi Zhiyun, who did not seem too pleased with him. Suppressing his temper, he asked sternly, "What else do you want?!"
Li Chejing cupped his fist respectfully and continued softly, "Firstly... if I were to perish, I would like the sect to retrieve my dharma weapon."
Chi Zhiyun eyed the sword at Li Chejing''s waist and grunted.
"Granted."
"Secondly, I wish to spar with Senior Brother Chi... I implore you to indulge me on this request!"
The crowd below that was eavesdropping on the conversation was stunned into silence by the unexpected request.
Chi Zhiyun, though surprised, burst outughing right away.
"You''re merely at the early stage of Foundation Establishment Realm, whereas I''ve been in the middle stage for over twenty years. You better not regret what you wished for!"
Internally, however, he was puzzled.
Is this child attempting suicide by provoking a confrontation to dirty my hands? How can such a stupid attempt fool the ancestor? Is he not afraid of bringing harm to his own family?
Despite this, Li Chejing cupped his fist and insisted, "Please grant my request, Senior Brother!"
Chi Zhiyun sneered inwardly.
Daoist Master Yuan Su is overseeing this city... no matter what tricks you employ, they''ll be futile against a Purple Mansion cultivator. I guess I''ll teach this child a lesson so he learns his ce!
With a cold smile, he finally nodded and agreed.
"Fine."
Drawing his sword, he ascended into the sky, releasing a crimson sword qi that surged forth like a torrent¡ªtransforming into dozens of flying birds that had scorching and razor-sharp auras.
"His sword qi leaves his body like a spell... Senior Brother Chi must have refined it into sword essence!"
The onlookers below gasped in awestruck fervor as they watched his sword qi transforming into what seemed like birds and phoenixes.
Deng Qiuzhi raised his head and shot a look of resentment at Chi Zhiyun. He sneered coldly. "It''s just sword essence," he muttered angrily through gritted teeth.
The crimson sword qi in the sky cast a crimson hue in all directions. Despite this, Li Chejing remained calm, resting his left hand on the longsword at his waist.
He made no attempt to draw it or perform any spell until the veryst moment¡ªwhen the sword qi closed in on him, he swiftly unsheathed his sword, unleashing a brilliant white crescent-shaped sword qi.
It was the Celestial Moon sh technique.
Compared to Li Tongya''s Celestial Moon sh, Li Chejing''s version was like the difference between a firefly and a full moon. It illuminated the surroundings like a huge white sail, dazzling the onlookers, effortlessly dispelling the iing sword qi and flying toward Chi Zhiyun.
Chi Zhiyun frowned, defending himself with a wave of his sword. Dozens of sword qi were unleashed, but much to his surprise, they only caused Li Chejing''s powerful sword qi to flicker rather than dissipate.
Astonished, Chi Zhiyun raised his sword and quickly channeled his power into it in a slight panic. The de turned crimson, blocking the iing sword qi.
How is this possible..?!
Chi Zhiyun was filled with shock. Before he could utter another word, he activated his mana to repel the iing sword qi. Meanwhile, Li Chejing had already advanced, unleashing a barrage of in sword qi.
Chi Zhiyun channeled his mana into his sword and swiftly repelled them, only to realize that these sword qi were thick and sharp, much to his dismay.
It then dawned on him, although begrudgingly, that Li Chejing''s swordsmanship was far superior to his own. Drawing upon the depth of his true essence, Chi Zhiyun conjured a dozen fire spells of the Foundation Establishment Realm in an attempt to disrupt Li Chejing.
However, Li Chejing''s sword sliced through the fire spells effortlessly. Explosions were heard booming through the sky, which was soon followed by fiery rain that threatened to engulf Yi Mountain City entirely. Yet, miraculously, the mes dissipated upon touching the ground.
Deng Qiuzhi observed the entire fight intently. Through gritted teeth, he muttered, "There''s indeed a Purple Mansion cultivator overseeing this city! They''re being really careful... even after holding our family hostage, they still send a Purple Mansion cultivator to watch over us! Are they truly afraid that we might rebel?"
As sword qi and spells shed in the air, Chi Zhiyun''s frustration mounted. It was evident to onlookers that his swordsmanship was no match for Li Chejing''s. Fueled by anger, Chi Zhiyun unleashed a flurry of spells in an attempt to overpower Li Chejing.
Unperturbed, Li Chejing allowed Chi Zhiyun to unleash a barrage of techniques in their exchange. With his Qingche Sword, Li Chejing effortlessly countered every move with great ease, further asserting his superiority.
Observing the stunned onlookers below, Chi Zhiyun''s anger surged. He reached for his storage pouch and summoned a pearl adorned with a pattern of hornless dragons. With both hands, he performed a series of hand seals, conjuring a crimson barrier.
Li Chejing merely cast a final nce at his opponent, then calmly sheathed his sword. He stood back and grinned.
"Senior Brother Chi!"
Chi Zhiyun hesitated, unsure whether to respond or not. But before he could react, Li Chejing stepped forward and continued with augh.
"Take this!"
ng!
As soon as he finished speaking, a resounding sh of metal echoed throughout Yi Mountain City.
The collision was so great that Deng Qiuzhi''s sword shook slightly at his waist, while the des of grass across the city swayed erratically, trembling in response.
Chapter 128: Into The Cauldron
Chapter 128: Into The Cauldron
"Take this!"
As soon as Li Chejing uttered those two words, a radiant white light emanated from the longsword at his waist.
With a swift motion of his left hand, the turbulent winds around Yi Mountain City immediately mellowed down and subsided, leaving a serene calmness.
Deng Qiuzhi pressed down on the sword at his waist, feeling his heart stir as he rested his hand on his sword. Despite his modest cultivation, he understood the elegance and power of Li Chejing''s sword technique.
"The Celestial Moon Sword Intent! Chejing has always been modest, concealing his true prowess... but now, faced with dire circumstances, he finally reveals his full strength!" Deng Qiuzhi remarked to himself, rather impressed.
The ethereal white light, reminiscent of moonlight, surged forward and collided with Chi Zhiyun''s crimson barrier, prating it like a piece of paper.
Despite Chi Zhiyun''s desperate attempts to defend himself withyers of golden talisman shields, all of it shattered easily under the force of Li Chejing''s attack. In desperation, Chi Zhiyun cried out for help.
"Help, Old Ancestor!"
Li Chejing''s Celestial Moon Sword Intent brushed past Chi Zhiyun''s face without harming his flesh. Chi Zhiyun stood frozen in disbelief, mumbling to himself in shock.
"Sword intent?"
Ignoring Chi Zhiyun''s astonishment, Li Chejing simply cupped his fist and said, "That was a good spar, Senior Brother Chi."
Chi Zhiyun''s face was still pale as he eximed, "Amazing! What kind of sword intent was that?!"
"Celestial Moon Sword Intent," Li Chejing replied matter-of-factly but did not expect Chi Zhiyun to wear a conflicted look on his face as he continued mumbling to himself.
"What a pity!"
The tter of a fallen sword broke the silence, prompting whispers among the onlookers. While they dared not openly discuss Chi Zhiyun''s plight, their shocked expressions spoke volumes.
When Li Chejing returned to the mountain, Xiao Yuansi looked at him in bewilderment.
"Did you just nearly kill Chi Zhiyun?" he asked in disbelief, his eyes wide.
"I wouldn''t dare."
Li Chejing returned his sword to its sheath, shaking his head as he met Xiao Yuansi''s dumbfounded gaze.
"If I had killed him, the Chi Family would surely retaliate against my family... even though they wouldn''t dare to do anything to me because of that Daoist Master of Purple Mansion Realm. I was merely teaching him a lesson!"
"Are you not afraid he''ll hold a grudge and plot against your family...?" Xiao Yuansi asked, his curiosity and disbelief evident in his tone.
"Chi Zhiyun is talented and arrogant; he wouldn''t stoop to such tactics. After all these years of interaction... we understand each other well," Li Chejing replied confidently, then stretched his body.
It was at this moment that someone emerged from the cave dwelling.
"Senior, someone from the sect has arrived. It''s time for you to depart."
Xiao Yuansi was taken aback for a moment before rare anger crept onto his face.
"Are they this eager?!" he spat, fuming.
The messenger hung his head in fear. Realizing that he had lost his temper, Xiao Yuansi calmed himself and apologized hastily to the man.
Li Chejing simply nodded.
"Take me there."
"Jing''er!" Xiao Yuansi called out as Li Chejing handed him his sword. "Take care of yourself, Senior Brother," he said with a stoic expression, his voice solemn.
With that, Li Chejing departed for the mountain peak, leaving Xiao Yuansi holding the jade slips alone with a conflicted expression. As he gazed at the sky, he steeled his resolve.
"Master... Forgive me for leaving the sect..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª
Upon entering the grand hall situated at the peak, Li Chejing found a man dressed in green attire seated at the center of it, with Chi Zhiyun standing by his side respectfully.
Deng Qiuzhi kneeled before them, his thoughts obscured by his bowed head.
"Greetings, Daoist Master," Li Chejing greeted.
Observing the demeanor of the man, he could already guess that he was a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm, hence he kneeled before him. He lifted his head and attempted to discern the face that was veiled behind ayer of mist.
"How dare you!" Chi Zhiyun was rmed by Li Chejing''s boldness, but the figure in green waved it off.
"It''s all right," he said with a dismissive tone.
The figure in green observed Li Chejing for a moment, the small jade pendant hanging from his waist swaying slightly.
"That Celestial Moon Sword Intent of yours... since when did you master it?" he suddenly asked quietly.
"Over five years ago," Li Chejing replied.
The figure mumbled to himself for a moment, then stepped forward to ensure that Li Chejing did not bear the mark of a crescent moon on his forehead.
"I have never supported Senior Brother Chi Wei''s practice of sacrificing the talents in the sect to further his own agenda. Unfortunately... The old ancestor from back then favored his methods. Now that he''s the sect master with powerful cultivation, I can only follow orders," he said.
Chi Zhiyun, who was standing nearby, hastily closed his eyes. He chose to pretend that he did not hear thatst remark.
Ignoring Chi Zhiyun''s difort, the Purple Mansion cultivator continued.
"Rise."
Li Chejingplied right away, and the Purple Mansion cultivator gracefully ascended, effortlessly bringing Li Chejing and Deng Qiuzhi with him into the sky above the sea of clouds in the blink of an eye.
The brilliant sunrise painted the sky a brilliant hue as the Purple Mansion cultivator led Li Chejing further south, traversing the t expanse of wilderness beyond Yi Mountain City and venturing into the vast southern border.
Li Chejing marveled at their speed, the scenery shing by in a blur as they zipped past forests and mountains. He could not help but remark, "Purple Mansion cultivators truly travel with remarkable efficiency!"
The Purple Mansion cultivator cast a surprised nce at him. He used a spell to maintain Li Chejing and Deng Qiuzhi''s speed, then nodded in agreement.
"Efficiency is key, especially considering the challenges we face. Sometimes, it''s a relief not to be mere pawns in the game."
The Purple Mansion cultivator looked at Li Chejing again, then chuckled. "You''re quite to my liking. At another time, I might have dly taken you as a disciple. But s... circumstances dictate otherwise. Even if that great flood dragon fails to refine the pill, I will stay and watch until you turn into ashes."
Li Chejing was not sure if he shouldugh or cry about that statement. His thoughts drifted to his father, Li Mutian. Counting the number of years that had passed, he surmised that his father had likely passed. He was isted in the Yi Mountain City and could only wonder what was happening at home right now.
Meanwhile, Deng Qiuzhi gazed nkly at the sunrise. Although the coldness of the bitter northern wind was biting into his cheeks, he could barely feel it as he was lost in his own thoughts.
Before long, they arrived at a forest with a turquoise pool at its center, devoid of any ripples.
A teenage boy, dressed in a long ck robe that was sleek like scales, was slumped against a tree and was clearly taking a nap.
The Purple Mansion cultivator cupped his fist respectfully.
"Senior, I''ve brought them here."
The boy''s eyes snapped open almost instantly, revealing striking turquoise-green vertical pupils, resembling those of a serpent.
He cast a nce at the figure in green and an expression of annoyance crossed his face.
"Why are you here? Where''s Chi Wei?!"
"The Sect Master has entered seclusion to preserve his life... he awaits the promised elixir," the Purple Mansion cultivator replied humbly.
The boy scoffed, then said, "I''m willing to bet that old fart is scared of me and sent you to the southern border instead of personallying here!"
Meanwhile, Li Chejing was too overwhelmed by both of their presence to speak. He looked at the teenage boy with turquoise eyes and thought, This must be the great flood dragon that the Purple Mansion cultivator spoke of!
The great flood dragon grabbed Li Chejing, who could not move due to their overwhelming presence, and then carefully scrutinized him.
"Hmm, this one has the Lake Moon Autumn as his Dao foundation... he meets the requirements! Wait here."
It grabbed Deng Qiuzhi with its other hand and scrutinized him as well before nodding in approval. "A Qi Cultivator who has mastered a secret technique and is less than thirty years old. That''s a good age as an ingredient!"
The great flood dragon then seized Li Chejing and Deng Qiuzhi, dropping them into the pool. Li Chejing''s vision darkened as he fell into a cave dwelling filled with jasper furnishings¡ªtable, chairs, tform, frames. It was truly avish abode.
At the very center stood a golden furnace that was wide enough for five men to encircle it with their arms stretched wide. It was sitting atop ck and red mes.
The great flood dragon patted Li Chejing''s head, eyeing its captives hungrily as it began performing a hand seal.
With a yful grin, it remarked, "You two are quite appetizing... if not for my promise to Chi Wei, that old fart, I''d have devoured you by now!"
Without further ado, it tossed Li Chejing into the furnace and then turned its attention to Deng Qiuzhi.
Gripping him tightly, it scratched his chest with great might, drawing blood. As Deng Qiuzhi groaned and lost consciousness, he was unceremoniously thrown into the furnace.
Unable to move or speak, Li Chejing watched helplessly as Deng Qiuzhi suffered, his blood beginning to fill the furnace.
As various spirit items rained down upon him, he reflected on his life.
I couldn''t even see Father again before he passed and now... I''m left to die on this deste southern border. I bet Big Brother will be nagging me when I meet him in hell! With my mentor being imprisoned and Senior Brother here on the southern border, Senior Sister is left alone in the sect. I wonder if she''ll be able to uphold the legacy of Qingsui Peak''s teachings...
As mes licked his skin, Li Chejing prayed silently.
I can only hope that Second Brother and Third Brother will look after the younger ones in the family and realize the truth behind the Azure Pond Sect soon!
Chapter 129: Self-Contained World
Chapter 129: Self-Contained World
The great flood dragon blinked and chuckled, gauging the right moment to add various spirit fruits one by one into the cauldron, murmuring to itself all the while.
"It has been three days and three nights... the intensity of me for cooking this Human Pill is particrly important! Fortunately, I have been cooking for so many years now... and I am already well-versed in the process!"
The great flood dragon reflected, "The human race, however... is truly ruthless and cold-blooded, willing to use their younger generation for pill concoction. It is no wonder we can never surpass them! If it were not for their internal conflicts and mutual hostility, we wouldn''t stand a chance to live."
Touching the sword scar under its scales that had been aching faintly for three hundred years, a deep and intense fear resurfaced in the great flood dragon''s eyes. It clenched its fists slightly, emitting a few faint green glows.
"For over three hundred years now, I have cultivated from the initial stage of the Purple Mansion Realm to the peak, yet this wound has never healed... Li Jiangqun..."
As the great flood dragon muttered this name, a face with a crescent moon pattern on their forehead suddenly appeared before its eyes.
The great flood dragon''s green vertical pupils suddenly contracted, and it gritted its teeth almost immediately with a fierce hiss.
"I''m d that man is dead!"
After a pause, the great flood dragon hurriedly added the spirit fruits into the cauldron, calcted the time, and a hint of hungry anticipation shed in its eyes. Alchemy was one of its few hobbies, and this pill would be one of its most outstanding creations.
Gently opening the cauldron, the expected scene of radiant light filling the room and the fragrance of pills rising did not happen, much to the great flood dragon''s disappointment.
Frowning, it waved its hand. A pill, covered in mud-yellow color, flew out from the cauldron.
The great flood dragon''s face was filled with disbelief, murmuring, "This should not be! It should be snow-white! How could it turn out like this... Could it be that the medicinal power is too strong?!"
Confused, the great flood dragon awkwardly shook its head. It took out a silver needle and gently scraped the surface of the pill, which immediately emitted a faint glow.
"Damn it!"
The great flood dragon''s expression was one that was full of annoyance and regret. It could not help but wonder out loud, "How could this happen?! The medicinal strength is too weak! If this pill is sent out, Chi Wei¡ªthat old bastard¡ª would definitelye after me!"
"After hundreds of years, how could I make such a mistake?!"
His voice was frantic, slightly crazed. The great flood dragon''s vertical pupil shifted slightly, and it quickly pulled out a box of bright white liquid from its storage bag. With a flick of its w, it began to apply it on the pill, asionally mixing in a dozen or so herbs and returning it to the cauldron for another hour.
Opening the cauldron again, radiant light burst forth, and the room was filled with a pleasant fragrance. The great flood dragon''s face was disgruntled, and it fell into deep thought.
Well, if it kills... it kills. Just make it look good on the surface! After all, if that old bastard fails his breakthrough, he''s doomed anyway, and no one will be able to trouble me! I have got what I wanted, I should just let it be!
Thus, the flood dragon hastily packaged the pill and leaped out of the pool, delivering it to the green-robed cultivator.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the backyard of Mount Lijing, a bluish-gray mirror floated quietly above a stone tform, enveloped in the misty moonlight. It was as serene and peaceful as it had been for the past three years.
The mirror''s surface lit up faintly, with its twelve runes pulsing like breaths.
Incense sticks were offered on the altar table below, with wisps of smoke drifting away. It was evident that over the years, the Li family had not been negligent of their duties at all. The daily offerings were regrly reced, and the incense burner was kept spotlessly clean.
"I have finally seeded."
Lu Jiangxian had finished integrating the mirror fragments. His divine sense swept around him, and the mirror''s body shimmered with divine light, bringing many insights to the front of his mind.
As his divine sense sank into the mirror, a deste and gray world emerged before his eyes. Layers of dark mist floated high up in the sky, while thend below was riddled with holes where countless decayed gray-white building ruinsy scattered, with crescent moon-white rubble strewn about.
"A world... within the mirror."
Lu Jiangxian murmured quietly to himself. He was awestruck, and amazed by the sight before him.
This fragment of the mirror was attached to a small world spanning a thousand miles, with a majestic mountain at its center. Numerous moon-white architectural remnants formed scattered white spots on the mountain, bing denser toward the foot of the mountain.
With a thought from Lu Jiangxian, a thickyer of Supreme Yin Moonlight emerged out of nowhere, quickly gathering at the foot of the mountain to condense into a white-haired man in a long robe that had its cuffs and cor embroidered with crescent patterns.
He moved his body about, feeling a strong sense of unfamiliarity.
A mirror of flowing water quickly condensed in front of Lu Jiangxian, reflecting a face he had not seen for decades.
A strong sense of loss and pain resurfaced in him. The face was still essentially the same, but the eye sockets were deeper and more sunken, and there was a shallow scar on the left cheek.
"Who am I..?" Lu Jiangxian questioned himself.
A feeling of weightlessness suddenly rushed into his mind, and Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense swept across thend like a storm.
He walked along the jade stone path up the mountain, not knowing how long it took before he reached the highest tform.
In the center of the tform stood a giant tree with white leaves, its roots intertwined. Beneath it, there was only a stone table and a stone chair... and a lone figure was kneeling in its center.
The person was dressed in all white, wearing silk jade boots and a jade crown, and his handsome face was marked by a crescent on his forehead. He looked up at Lu Jiangxian.
"Master."
His voice was gentle.
Lu Jiangxian''s mind went nk, his heart inexplicablyplex, but he found himself responding unconsciously.
"Jiangqun."
The young man in white smiled slightly. As Lu Jiangxian was filled with thoughts and about to speak, the young man dispersed like flying sand with the wind, leaving only a pale white halo lingering in his ce where he kneeled mere seconds ago.
Lu Jiangxian stared nkly for a moment, tears streaming down his face. He reached out with his hazy, jade-like arm. He grasped the halo¡ªand suddenly, his vision brightened, sinking into a shallow dream.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Li Jiangqun!"
Just like several times before, Lu Jiangxian sank into Li Jiangqun''s memories, standing upright in a vast, boundless hall. Beside him, pale misty white moonlight enveloped the areapletely.
Huge white jade pirs that were engraved with intricate patterns stood tall on both sides of him, supporting the overlyrge hall.
His gaze was fixed on theplicated patterns on the jade tiles on the floor as if trying to discern a flower from them.
"Do you acknowledge your guilt?"
A domineering voice came out of nowhere and reverberated through the emptiness of the hall.
"I acknowledge my guilt!"
Li Jiangqun gently kneeled, slightly lifting his head. Only then did Lu Jiangxian see the person sitting on a chair.
He looked grand sitting on a chair that was carved out of white jade with an intricate dragon and phoenix design, and he was seated at the upper end of the hall. Li Jiangqun observed his long flowy white hair, far extending beyond the seat and snaking across the floor. And that face... that face was all too familiar¡ªit was Lu Jiangxian himself!
However, the one at the seat of honor looked much more mature; he died suddenly at just over twenty years old, but that version of himself now appeared to be in his thirties or forties. He had an indifferent expression, and he was quietly taking in the sight of Li Jiangqun.
"I will punish you by sending you to the south bank, along with your nsmen! Return only after breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm!"
"I ept the punishment!" Li Jiangqun respectfully responded, only to see Lu Jiangxian frown slightly.
"Emotions do not establish facts... you are too trusting of others and toomitted to your promises. This leak incident is a small lesson... if you do not change, you might end up killed by those so-called friends of yours!" he said.
Though his tone was stern, there was a certain warmth to his words.
"I understand!" Li Jiangqun nodded, his eyes clear and bright.
He looked up at Lu Jiangxian with a smile and said, "To me, it''s all the same... if I cannot be loyal to my friends, how can I make my master feel at ease? If I can deceive friends, then deceiving the master is no different. If I were to be hypocritical, showing one face to some and another face to others, the master would not have entrusted me with such matters!"
Lu Jiangxian shook his head slightly.
"Qun''er, this world is never simply ck and white. The murderer with a pledge of loyalty, the smooth-talking merchant with unchanging affection, the high and mighty immortal cultivators with a penchant for ughter, and the lowly civilians with noble friendships... You see things too purely! Although such a viewpoint makes cultivation progress faster, it''s indeed too dangerous."
Li Jiangqun was stunned for a moment, nodding without knowing if he truly understood these words. The original Lu Jiangxian, however, observed the version of himself at the seat of honor carefully, trying to find something familiar in him.
That version of himself seemed somewhat mncholic, appearing especially aloof against the backdrop of the vast, boundless hall.
"I have established the Moonlight Origin Mansion for so many years, yet look at the people below... none show the unity expected of a single mansion, busy with their own intrigues. My nature is indolent, ill-suited to be the master of this mansion... but I had no choice," he muttered.
"Master, your prowess in both formations and cultivation is admired worldwide, and with the mirror, there are few who can stand against you! No one dares to think this way!" Li Jiangqun said in exasperation, bowing hastily.
His words were futile, however, and the world in Lu Jiangxian''s eyes became increasingly blurred, signaling the end of this memory.
Everything slowly faded... and Lu Jiangxian stood alone, surrounded by a gray and deste world.
His mind was in chaos.
Were his more than twenty years of modern life merely a fleeting dream, or was he really the master of the Moonlight Origin Mansion in a past life as seen in his dreams?
Opening his mouth, Lu Jiangxian found himself utterly alone, with no one to share his thoughts with.
Always an optimistic man, he had long avoided the loneliness that now surged in his heart.
His fingers slightly lifted, intending to pass through the mirror into the backyard of Mount Lijing. Yet, a great fear arose, with visions of lightning, fire, and frigid winds among others flitted through his mind; these were enough to halt him in his stead.
Lu Jiangxian let out a wry smile.
"At least this prison is muchrger."
Chapter 130: Return of Chejings Talisman Seed
Chapter 130: Return of Chejing''s Talisman Seed
Lu Jiangxian sat down in front of the stone table, picking up a jade pot and a few jade cups from underneath it. He condensed a pot of bright, shimmering tea with Supreme Yin Moonlight, and began to drink slowly... without any particr purpose.
After a few sips, Lu Jiangxian''s ears twitched as the void in front of him suddenly cracked open.
Out flew a round, shiny white pellet. It was round and luminous, its white light shing and illuminating the mountaintop in a vast expanse of white.
"A talisman seed... Who is it?!" Lu Jiangxian frowned, catching the talisman seed in his hand.
He examined it closely for a while and said in a deep voice, "Foundation Establishment Realm... it seems to be Li Chejing. Looks like only one out of the four sons of the Li family from back then remains..."
Bringing the bright and white talisman seed closer to his nose, Lu Jiangxian gently inhaled, and strands of misty white light seeped into his body through his nostrils. Many scenes shed before his eyes¡ªQingsui Peak, Mount Azure Pond, Yi Mountain City, the southern border...
"Looks like it''s really that child! What a pity... But this Chi Wei, his name sounds very familiar." After pondering carefully, Lu Jiangxian finally had a realization.
He recalled that he had oncee across a secret letter while exploring the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche, written by this mysterious Chi Wei to an unnamed cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm, asking him to join in attacking Li Jiangqun.
"If you are dead, it would be better; if not, with new grudges added to old, there wille a day when we must settle our scores."
Lu Jiangxian recounted these words, sighing softly.
With the power of his cultivation and divine sense rising sharply after integrating the mirror fragment and consuming the talisman seed,bined with the might of the Supreme Yin Moonlight elevated to the Foundation Establishment Realm, the number of Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds reached nine.
He raised his partly ethereal hands, and with a grasp in the void, a pale green halo condensed out of thin air.
"The lifelong experience and swordsmanship of Li Chejing..." Lu Jiangxian whispered as Supreme Yin Moonlight surged out, merging with this wisp of halo to condense into a pale green sword.
Lu Jiangxian admired it for a while, then casually nted it into a nearby boulder before continuing, "Waiting for someone destined."
As his magical power surged, an array of formations and talismanic techniques materialized. Lu Jiangxian revisited the shamanic spell he had studied years ago, using it to pass the time.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng and Jiang Yunu did it more than a dozen times, each time more at ease and enjoyable than thest.
However, Li Xuanfeng was still not satisfied and Jiang Yunu''s round face had turned deathly pale with fine beads of sweat gathering above her cupid''s bow.
"Dear... sweetheart, please spare me!" she pleaded.
Li Xuanfeng paused slightly andughed awkwardly before kissing her on the eyebrows.
"How much silver do you need to redeem yourself?"
Seeing the incredulous look on Jiang Yunu''s face, Li Xuanfeng thought to himself, I don''t have much secr money in my storage pouch, just the thousand taels I brought from home... I wonder if that''s enough.
The Li Family did not have much silver in reserve, as silver was hardly needed for immortal cultivation. They only needed a bit of silver powder at most for pill concoctions, tool crafting, and talisman drawing. Hence, there was almost no reserve for silver in his storage pouch, and he was worried that it might not be enough for her redemption.
Jiang Yunu raised her arched eyebrows, her cute round face full of tension and herplexion pale.
"I''m just a... courtesan. It takes twenty taels of silver."
Her voice was soft, quiet.
"All right," Li Xuanfeng nodded in empathetic understanding.
Jiang Yunu sat on the bed, naked and incredulous, thinking Li Xuanfeng was joking with her. "Young Master... don''t y games with me!" she muttered, slightly embarrassed.
Li Xuanfeng fastened his belt, took down the pitch-ck longbow from the wall, and shook his head in response.
"Pack your clothes and luggage. Let''s go."
Jiang Yunu was stunned, but it did not take her long before she quickly grabbed her clothes, joyfully dressed, and pulled him downstairs. She was almost a different person now, hopping andughing ahead¡ªfinally showing the innocent and cute side of a teenage girl.
Li Xuanfeng smiled to himself and followed her.
Upon reaching the counter, they saw a slightly plump woman dressed in red and green sitting in front. She was busy filing her nails and merely nced up to shoot a disdainful nce at Jiang Yunu before turning her head away.
"I want to redeem her." Li Xuanfeng dered.
It was not until then that the woman looked up in surprise before her eyes narrowed coldly at Jiang Yunu once more.
"I wondered why you looked so pleased with yourself... Turns out you''ve found a rich patron, eh? You thought you could just leave without telling ''Mother''?"
Jiang Yunu''s round face turned deathly pale, unsure of where to rest her hands. Li Xuanfeng frowned and said firmly, "I am redeeming her!"
The woman raised her head and nced at Li Xuanfeng, taking in his appearance. Seeing that he was only about fifteen or sixteen but carried a certain demeanor¡ªpossibly that of a Young Master from some family, her attitude became much more respectful.
"Young Master... Do you know that this Drunken Spring Pavilion is owned by the county magistrate? Ordinary families cannot simply redeem people here. Do you have any friends from the ns who cane to redeem her?"
The woman spoke rather politely, referring not to the four great ns of Xiao, Wu, Ma, and Chang, but to the secr branches of these prestigious ns.
Li Xuanfeng, not wanting to waste more time on her, flicked his finger in annoyance. Almost instantly, the massive wooden table in front of him disintegrated into dust under the impact of his true essence, covering and dirtying the womanpletely.
"Do not make me say it a third time!" he growled.
Both Jiang Yunu and the woman were stunned. The woman''s legs gave out and she kneeled, pping herself twice across the face with such force that she knocked out two of her teeth, leaving her face bloody and red.
"L-Lord Immortal, please take her away! Just take her away! I was blind not to recognize an immortal! I was..."
Without bothering to listen, Li Xuanfeng tossed two silver ingots at her before taking the shock-stricken Jiang Yunu by the hand and walking out.
The poor girl trembled and was too scared to even look up at him, having grown fearful after witnessing his power.
It was not until Li Xuanfeng bought a manor and entered the small courtyard and ced her on the bed that Jiang Yunu spoke again.
"... Are you an immortal?"
"An immortal cultivator," Li Xuanfeng corrected her before beginning to undo her sash.
Jiang Yunu blushed shyly but was too scared to resist his advances.
"I... c-can''t..."
Li Xuanfeng paused, looking at the girl''s cutely round face, suddenly realizing that the situation had beplicated.
How should I deal with this woman in the future? It''s not like I can return to the town in a few days and tell Second Uncle that I went out and bought a prostitute! Second Uncle has always seen me as the hope of the next generation for our family; how can I let him worry?!
Li Xuanfeng, fearless in everything else and known for his libertine ways, was only afraid of disappointing Li Tongya and neglecting his family''s affairs. He hesitated for a moment with furrowed brows.
Seeing his expression, Jiang Yunu timidly asked, "What''s wrong, Immortal Master?"
"Call me Xuanfeng."
Li Xuanfeng shook his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He kissed her on the eyebrow and said, "My family has strict rules; I fear... I cannot take you back home. You''ll have to endure some hardship..."
Jiang Yunu was stunned by his words, deeply moved by his care and consideration. Tears formed in her eyes, and her voice was hoarse when she spoke.
"I''m aware of my own lowly status... surely you are an immortal from the high heavens. I cannot hope for anything! You need not worry so; if you return to the heavens to cultivate, I will wait here in this courtyard... be it five years, ten years... I will wait until youe back to see me."
Li Xuanfeng frowned, disliking such tearful talk.
Never mind, let her stay here. Going back and forth is just a matter of a few hours; it won''t be a problem.
Thus, he undid Jiang Yunu''s sps and began to caress her gently. He held her soft and pale hand while Jiang Yunu nestled quietly in his arms.
"Damn! Even if I die tonight or tomorrow, I''ve lived enough and have no regrets!" he murmured to himself.
Chapter 131: Qingsui Sword Immortal
Chapter 131: Qingsui Sword Immortal
Li Xuanfeng made sure Jiang Yunu settled down nicely and spent a few days with her in town, living an ordinary life. However, the day to pay tributes at Cloud Crowned Peak arrived, and he had to leave. He patted her head and took out a brocade pouch.
"I''m leaving behind these hundred taels of silver for you to use... hire a couple of reliable servants to live peacefully. I have important matters to attend to, I''ll return to see you in either one or three months," he informed.
"All right..." Jiang Yunu obediently agreed, not daring to say more. Li Xuanfeng tied her sash and took a good look at her before speaking again.
"Wait for me."
He then eyed the sky for a while, his bow drawn but without an arrow. Suddenly releasing the bowstring, the courtyard was filled with the buzzing sound of the string.
After this empty shot, Li Xuanfeng waited a few moments. All of a sudden, he caught a wild goose that fell from the sky and handed it to Jiang Yunu, smiling.
"Try this wild goose! We have no formal agreement between us, so let this goose stand in for now. We''ll make it official when possible!"
After demonstrating his remarkable skills, Li Xuanfeng carried his longbow and took to the skies, leaving a dazed Jiang Yunu standing in the courtyard alone.
She clutched the corner of her dress as if lost in a dream before slowly walking inside with the unconscious goose cradled in her arms.
After flying for a while, Li Xuanfengnded at the foot of Cloud Crowned Peak and saw Xiao Ruyu sweeping the stone steps with a hat on his head and a broom in his hand. The seventeen-year-old''s handsome appearance made even his deste attire seem dignified.
"Brother Ruyu!" Li Xuanfeng greeted him with some surprise, asking, "What are you doing?"
Xiao Ruyu shook his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Ah... Brother Xuanfeng might not know, but my Xiao Family has a peculiar rule... Every time we submit our tributes, I, as the young family head, have to sweep here at the foot of Cloud Crowned Peak. If we encounter disciples from other families, I have to ask for a lesson or two... they''re usually willing to give face and spar," he exined sheepishly.
Li Xuanfeng suddenly understood, pondering to himself quietly.
The Xiao Family has its ways. Now, the strengths and weaknesses of all families are known to them, and they still have to ept it... Is it even possible for them to skip paying their tributes at Cloud Crowned Peak? Given the Xiao Family''s influence, once others have arrived, how could anyone refuse their challenge to spar..?
After ncing at Xiao Ruyu, Li Xuanfeng smiled.
"Brother Ruyu, do you wish to test my skills?"
"Not at all, it''s just a friendly sparring!" Xiao Ruyu quickly shook his head.
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "However... Brother Li''s use of archery for such closebat might be considered somewhat unfair. How about I move back one li, and then we spar?"
"No need!" Li Xuanfengughed. He had not gone all out since attaining the Qi Cultivation Realm and was itching for a real challenge. Holding his tall bow horizontally, he drew the string without needing an arrow.
Right away, a sharp golden Astral Qi burst forth from the string, aimed directly at Xiao Ruyu.
Xiao Ruyu lifted his broom slightly, his pale protective true essence surrounding him. However, he still felt a twinge of pain in his forehead, immediately sensing impending danger. Shocked, he realized he had underestimated Li Xuanfeng.
I''ve made a mistake! This man''s skill in controlling the bowstring is not something ordinary cultivators can match... I should have closed the distance before he drew his bow. I was too arrogant!
In the midst of these thoughts, Xiao Ruyu had already taken several steps forward while he was distracted. Li Xuanfeng released the bowstring, and golden qi burst forth. Taking two steps back, he then condensed another wave of qi.
Xiao Ruyu wrapped his broom with true essence, not daring to be distracted for even a moment, well aware that any hit from the Astral Qi would bore a hole right through him.
He faced the iing golden qi head-on and shattered it, quickly turning around to shatter another¡ªconfronting several waves of qi in quick session. As he drew closer to Li Xuanfeng, he felt as if a biting cold wind was hitting him in the face, making his movements increasingly slower.
"What''s happening...?" Xiao Ruyu was rmed and frantically scanned his surroundings with his spiritual sense only to discover, much to his dismay, that the shattered qi only turned into golden streams that gnawed away at his protective true essence.
Xiao Ruyu had practiced his family''s techniques which made him significantly faster than Li Xuanfeng. However, he gradually slowed down, watching as Li Xuanfeng, using the recoil force, quickly increased the distance between them.
Left with no other choice, Xiao Ruyu performed hand seals to cast several spells aimed at countering Li Xuanfeng in an attempt to disrupt him.
He did not expect Li Xuanfeng to shatter those spells almost effortlessly with a sweep of his pitch-ck longbow, then halted and simply waved his hand, saying, "Brother Xiao''s cultivation is certainly impressive... Let''s stop here!"
Xiao Ruyu gave him a deep look, pondered for a while, and then dispelled his true essence. He cupped his fist and said with a smile, "Please go ahead, Brother Xuanfeng."
Li Xuanfeng nodded in farewell, lost in his own thoughts.
In a life-and-death battle, if I am five miles away from him, he is sure to die; at a distance of one mile, the oue is uncertain. If we were to face each other head-on, I fear I might not be his match.
Although Li Xuanfeng had the upper hand earlier, continuously shooting arrows had already exhausted him physically and mentally.
Deciding to call it quits was probably for the best.
On the other side, Xiao Ruyu watched Li Xuanfeng ascend the mountain, feeling a secret sense of rm. He realized then that Li Xuanfeng was not easy to deal with.
Meanwhile, a young man approached from below, prompting Xiao Ruyu to ask, "Who might you be?"
"Lu Yuanlu from the Lu Family! Who are you blocking my way?!" the young man shouted in response.
Xiao Ruyu stared at the arrogant young man before him, momentarily dumbfounded, wearing an odd expression.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Upon reaching the mountaintop, Li Xuanfeng saw a small courtyard. Not recognizing anyone, he decided to sit in a corner and observe.
Noticing a man with a bruised face approaching, he curiously wondered to himself, What feud does this man have with Xiao Ruyu to end up in such a state?
After a while, a Dawn Cloudliner crossed the sea of clouds and slowly descended atop the mountain. A middle-aged man in Daoist robes, at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm and wearing a jade crown and exuding a dignified aura, stepped down.
The middle-aged man first paid respects to Xiao Chuting and then sat down to meditate.
As the servants of the immortal sect began calling names one by one, Li Xuanfeng waited patiently. When it was finally the Li Family of Lijing''s turn, he stepped forward to submit the tributes.
The jade-crowned middle-aged man''s ears twitched. He opened his eyes and politely nodded at Li Xuanfeng, saying, "The great name of Lijing''s Li Family is well-known; a Qi Cultivator of just fifteen is indeed rare within the sect!"
Li Xuanfeng was taken aback, unsure of when his family''s reputation had spread within the sect. He quickly regained hisposure and cupped his fist respectfully.
"You''re ttering me, Senior! I am merely fortunate... To think that tales of our small family from a remote region has somehow reached your ears is truly humbling!"
The middle-aged man shook his head andughed, interrupting the roll call to chat with him.
"The esteemed Qingsui Sword Immortal, Li Chejing of your family recently broke through to Foundation Establishment Realm in Yi Mountain City, defeating Chi Zhiyun the ming Phoenix Sword with a stroke of Celestial Moon sh technique. His swordsmanship is unparalleled, making the Li Family''s name known all throughout the sect!"
Upon hearing this, the entire assembly was astonished.
Li Xuanfeng was visibly delighted. Being young and born after Li Chejing had already returned to the sect, he had no memory of this fourth uncle''s appearance. Nheless, he was extremely surprised and proud at that very moment for the recognition, offering his thanks repeatedly.
Xiao Chuting opened his eyes slightly, knowing the significance of the sword immortal more than anyone present.
He thought to himself, The Qingsui Sword Immortal, Li Chejing, has truly grasped sword intent. Such a prodigy! I have heard from Yuansi about his exceptional talent... but I could never imagine that it was to this extent!
However, he sighed softly, falling victim to his own thoughts once more.
What a pity for him to fall into the hands of the Azure Chi Devil Gate having cultivated such a miraculous foundation... How could there be a good end for him? Sooner orter, he''s bound to be sustenance for that old demon. Such a pity indeed...
The middle-aged man grew visibly more excited as he spoke, saying, "We swordsmen also thought of visiting the immortal in the southern border to seek guidance but learned he was sent deep into the south by the sect to search for elixir and haven''t returned for decades... We had no choice but to return empty-handed!"
Regretfully sighing, he looked warmly at Li Xuanfeng.
"Before I left the sect, I checked the registry... and your family was still listed among the minor families of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. It''s clear these officials are not diligent! Since you have also attained the Qi Cultivation Realm, why not change it here?"
As soon as Li Xuanfeng agreed, the middle-aged man took out a brush and ink right away, unexpectedly doing the work himself.
He crossed out the old entry in the jade registry and upgraded it to a major family,menting, "If only the sect rules did not specify that only sect disciples who have attained the Foundation Establishment Realm could be listed as a n, this correction would have been most convenient!"
After receiving new spirit seeds and stipend requests, Li Xuanfeng chatted briefly with the middle-aged man before excusing himself politely.
The interrupted roll call ceremony then continued, and he stood proudly at the forefront, enjoying the surprised and envious nces around him. His admiration toward his fourth uncle soared, imagining him as an elegant sword immortal in his head.
"Once I reach Foundation Establishment Realm, I must spar with Fourth Uncle to see if my bow or his sword is faster!"
Chapter 132: Liu Changdie
Chapter 132: Liu Changdie
"Farewell, Immortal Master!"
As the Dawn Cloudliner ascended from Cloud Crowned Peak, piercing through the clouds and disappearing into the horizon, Li Xuanfeng and the other cultivators stood up. Xiao Chuting, as always, exchanged some pleasantries and waved everyone off before vanishing above Cloud Crowned Peak himself.
The area suddenly buzzed with activity. A crowd quickly surrounded Li Xuanfeng, eager to engage him in conversation.
"Fellow Daoist! I am from the Wu Family in the southern prefecture..."
Before the person could finish, another cupped his fist and interrupted, "I wonder, fellow Daoist, have you taken a spouse? I am from the Chang Family in the eastern prefecture..."
"You!" The two immediately locked horns, teeth gritted in rivalry.
Li Xuanfeng felt a headacheing on when Xiao Yongling quickly intervened to stop them, shouting, "Both of you! This is Cloud Crowned Peak! Please cease and settle your grievances at the foot of the mountain!"
Then, turning to the crowd and cupping his fist, he spoke loudly.
"Fellow Daoists... Brother Li and our Xiao Family have urgent matters to attend to. We must leave Cloud Crowned Peak together now. I suggest you look for another opportunity to make acquaintance. Apologies for the inconvenience."
Without any further interaction with the crowd, he waved his sleeve and rose into the air with Li Xuanfeng, leaving the onlookers to exchange bewildered looks amongst themselves.
As the twonded in the mountains, Li Xuanfeng gave a wry smile while Xiao Yongling shook his head and spoke, his voice barely a whisper.
"People flock to power. The Li family will invariably attract such crowds; best get used to it early... These people greet you with smiles but take offense if you show them disdain. Entertaining each of them would waste much precious time. Best to make a swift exit..."
After saying this, Xiao Yongling carefully observed Li Xuanfeng''s reaction, trying to discern if he was annoyed at being pulled away from a potentially ttering moment. Seeing Li Xuanfeng appearing pensive, he nodded with an approving smile and continued, "The esteemed Qingsui Sword Immortal of your family is known throughout the sect! With such a figure''s protection, your path ahead will be smooth sailing!"
Li Xuanfengughed, his eyes twinkling with joy. "No way! I can hardly measure up to Senior Chuting," he replied modestly.
Seeing his response, Xiao Yongling felt reassured, weing Li Xuanfeng inside.
Li Xuanfeng is straightforward and unpretentious; not reckless but strategic, and much morefortable to deal with than the deep and cautious Li Tongya. With his talent, he is bound to lead the Li Family within a decade... I must stay on his good side.
With such a thought briefly crossing his mind, Xiao Yongling''s demeanor became more expressive.
Knowing the preferences of someone like Li Xuanfeng well, he generously said, "I must introduce you... This young master, despite his age, is a renowned formation master in the prefecture. He is famous far and wide, perhaps only second to Wan Huaqian in thest few centuries!"
"Oh?"
Li Xuanfeng looked up expectantly, noticing a young man in a fox fur cloak sitting in the courtyard. He was holding up a cup and reading, his demeanor extraordinary.
The man quickly stood up and cupped his hands to greet them, "I am Liu Changdie, a pleasure to meet you both!"
Li Xuanfeng hurriedly returned the greeting, only to hear Xiao Yongling say with a smile, "This master, upon hearing it was the Li family of Lijing seeking someone, followed me here without a second word. This goes to show how renowned your family has be!"
Li Xuanfeng was taken aback, sensing something amiss. Even the news carried by the fast-moving Dawn Cloudliner have not spread throughout the prefecture yet... How could this person know so soon?
Liu Changdie hurriedly cupped his hands and exined, "I once had the honor of visiting Azure Pond Sect at a friend''s invitation, where I met the Qingsui Sword Immortal. We had a delightful exchange, and I was moved by his celestial demeanor. I saw the Qingche Sword... its green and white remarkable beauty is unforgettable to this day in my mind!"
After giving Li Xuanfeng a once over, noting his electric gaze and the wild air about him, he could not help but offer praise.
"Although Old Master Li lives secluded in the mountains without much fame, his descendants each possess their own grace! Truly divine beings!"
Li Xuanfengughed heartily, seeing him as a good friend of Li Chejing and appreciating the detailed description. His guard dropped a notch, yet he still remarked with a smile, "I didn''t expect this fine gentleman to know so much about my Li family."
Liu Changdie paused, nodding politely with an air of elegance and bringing the conversation to a close, though he was inwardly surprised.
Indeed, the renowned figures ofter generations are not to be underestimated! Not to mention the mature and experienced Xiao Yongling of Mount Feather... this Golden Bowstring Li Xuanfeng, though only fifteen, is already wildly sharp and extraordinary!
Back when I went to Eastern Mount Yue to repair the formation for Li Yuanjiao in my previous life after he got drunk, he mentioned that thest two generations of the Li Family both loved and remembered their ancestor. I thought I could use this to bridge a connection, but I almost gave myself away!
His thoughts raced like lightning but he maintained hisposure, continuing to chat warmly with the two. Liu Changdie shared his experiences within the Azure Pond Sect, touching on Li Chejing. Both listeners were so engrossed that they failed to scrutinize his expressions closely.
"Whenever the Qingsui Sword Immortal faces an enemy, he invariably starts with a sword draw that resembles a crescent moon or arge white sail... or flicker like a star. Its power is most astonishing, often severely injuring the opponent with a single strike!" Liu Changdie continued nervously, relieved to see the others nodding, much to his own relief.
Thankfully, this Qingsui Sword Immortal went far into the southern wilderness seventy years ago and never returned. Yuanjiao also told me about the sword technique''s power, allowing me to fabricate freely without worrying about how to reconcile the tale, otherwise... I''d truly be at a loss!
After more conversation, Xiao Yongling suddenly realized the time and let out a chuckle.
"We''ve been so caught up in our chat that we''ve lost track of time, and the sun is about to set! Let''s not dy young Xuanfeng''s matters!"
Li Xuanfeng came to his senses and pped his thigh in realization.
"Brother Changdie! How do you think this formation should be set up?"
He detailed the geography and orientation of Mount Lijing, repeating his family''s requests. After finishing, he asked tentatively, "Our requirements must withstand attacks from cultivators of thete stage Qi Cultivation Realm... Can Brother Changdie set up such a formation? Also, how many Spirit Stones would it cost to arrange it on Mount Lijing..?"
Liu Changdie nodded, having over a hundred years of experience in setting up formations in his previous and present lives. This grand formation was not exactly a piece of cake for him, but he was indeed well-practiced.
"If arranged ording to my idea... we should use twelve formation gs epassing the neighboring Mount Meichi, turning it into a single mountain with two peaks, employing the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation to envelop both within. With this grand formation, even cultivators of peak Qi Cultivation Realm could be fended off!"
Liu Changdie lifted his head proudly, his obsession with formation techniques in his previous life led him to study them painstakingly, even at the expense of his own cultivation.
Now, his mastery over formation techniques was unmatched on the Guli Road, to the extent that even a few genius formation masters from the three sects and seven schools could hardlypare to his level of expertise. Liu Changdie believed that even Wan Huaqian, if he were to rise from the grave, might not necessarily be his match.
"Incorporating both mountains?! If we could do that, it would be more than ideal!"
Li Xuanfeng was overjoyed. If Mount Meiche could be integrated, consequently securing the cave dwelling''s safety and eliminating the need for separate formations for each, it would serve dual purposes.
"It¡¯s just... I wonder how many Spirit Stones it would require..?" Li Xuanfeng did not agree hastily but first asked Liu Changdie for a specific price, his voice trailing off slightly.
"Qingsui Sword Immortal and I are good friends; he has been of great help in my cultivation, for which I am deeply grateful." Liu Changdie nodded sincerely and continued, "I felt an instant connection with Brother Xuanfeng, so I''ll speak frankly. I''ve simted the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation many times, and to cover these two peaks, the cost should be around eighty to ny Spirit Stones... with the usual fee starting at one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones."
Chapter 133: Heaven Expanding Profound Talisman
Chapter 133: Heaven Expanding Profound Talisman
"One hundred and twenty Spirit Stones..?!"
Li Xuanfeng felt around in his storage pouch at his waist, somewhat embarrassed. He knew that the amount of Spirit Stones he brought from home fell short of this number.
Hesitating to speak out due to his financial constraints, he saw Liu Changdie smiling in amusement.
"That''s just the market price. For my part, a hundred Spirit Stones will suffice."
"Seriously?!"
Li Xuanfeng''s face lit up with both surprise and skepticism, observing Liu Changdie''s confident demeanor.
Twenty Spirit Stones is no small amount, it''s the ie of my family for three to five years, along with the entire liquid capital of an ordinary cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Realm. Although formation masters are generally well-off, it''s unusual for them to be so generous! This person is courting my family''s favor...
It seems my fourth uncle is indeed highly sought after in the sect... First, the Moon Lake Peak disciple personally disembarks to befriend me, and now Liu Changdie eagerly pleases our family...
With this in mind, he weighed his options in his mind. He knew his family urgently needed this defensive formation and seeing the young formation master''s expertise, Li Xuanfeng saw the benefit of making this connection¡ªboth for himself and the other party.
Acknowledging Liu Changdie''s intentions, he spoke with a smile. "The Li family will remember this kindness! Once this ispleted, should you visit Moongaze Lake, you are wee to stay with my Li family and let us extend our hospitality."
Liu Changdie was waiting for just such a response, visibly delighted. He nodded eagerly and promised grandly, "Of course! Should your family have any future needs for formations, feel free to seek me out! There won''t be prices lower than mine in the entire Lixia Prefecture."
Both parties, each with their own thoughts, were quite satisfied; one had secured a low-cost formation master for his family with mere words, and the other sessfully invested in the Li Family while they were still rising. Pleased with each other, Xiao Yongling, having be a mere backdrop to their discussion, continued to sip his tea with a smile.
"I''ll go prepare the materials right away. Please wait a moment, Brother Xuanfeng, I''ll be back shortly!"
With that, Liu Changdie cupped his hands and flew off with the wind, leaving the two to enjoy their drinks on the peak in newfound silence.
Xiao Yongling, smiling at a contemtive Li Xuanfeng, remarked, "This man knows a great deal about your family!"
"Indeed... I''ve been wondering too." Li Xuanfeng replied with a nod. "The elders in my family are not ones to gossip; it stands to reason that my fourth uncle would not spread such matters. Although Liu Changdie''s formation skills are impressive, his mannerisms and speech suggest he''s an average person; but since I was born after my fourth uncle had returned to the sect, I''m not too familiar with the intricacies, making it hard to discern such matters."
After hearing Li Xuanfeng''s response, Xiao Yongling pondered for a moment before cing down his tea cup with augh.
"It''s clear he genuinely wants to form a bond... Your Li Family can use his skills, so it''s merely a matter of mutual benefit."
"That''s what I was thinking." Li Xuanfeng nodded in agreement.
After some more conversation and the sky gradually darkened, Liu Changdie finally returned.
"Let''s not dy any further; we should set off now!" he suggested energetically.
Li Xuanfeng stood up to leave right away and Xiao Yongling, with a parting smile, gave him warm words of reminder.
"Don''t forget the jade slips I''m sending back to Brother Tongya!"
Li Xuanfeng assured him of his promise, and after bidding farewell to Xiao Yongling, they took to the wind, heading west.
After flying for several hours through the night, chatting andughing, they finallynded in Mount Lijing.
Uponnding, Liu Changdie looked around curiously, his expression one of sheer excitement. He could not help but ponder to himself.
Li Tongya the Celestial Moon Sword has yet to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm... I wonder if he''s on the mountain? Meeting him would be ideal!
He then looked up to see a young man in his twenties emerging from a door, looking somewhat surprised. He greeted them without missing a beat.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist. I am Li Xuanxuan of the Li Family."
"No need for formalities... Liu Changdie of Lixia Prefecture, greetings!"
Liu Changdie cupped his fist and scrutinized the man before him, finding him somewhat reminiscent of Li Yuanjiao from his memories.
"This is Liu Changdie from the prefecture, a renowned formation master here to set up a formation for us," Li Xuanfeng exined.
Li Xuanxuan quickly understood the situation, politely inviting him inside and serving tea.
"I''ll go and get Second Uncle."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Hm?"
Just as Liu Changdie arrived at the back mountain, Lu Jiangxian uttered a light exmation, putting down the unformed mass of Supreme Yin Moonlight in his hands.
Dissipating his physical form, he transformed his divine sense from within the mirror into something formless and intangible, swirling around Liu Changdie.
"There''s... a scent of talisman qi." Lu Jiangxian articted. With a sweep of his divine sense, Liu Changdie''s six chakras and three orifices wereid bare as though unguarded. It transformed from the Profound Scenery Chakra to the Nascent Spirit Chakra, all minutely detailed yet without any anomalies.
"How very odd!"
Lu Jiangxian frowned slightly and pointed sharply at Liu Changdie, his divine sense immediately flooding into his Shenyang Mansion¡ªthe main soul hub in the body. A series of fleeting images shed before his eyes, and a phantom silver shadow emerged.
"The Heaven Expanding Profound Talisman..."
Lu Jiangxian felt around and, after observing the entirely bright silver characters, slowly recited, "Extending into the future, calcting the mysteries, measuring past connections and future continuations, governing things yet undecided..."
This Heaven Expanding Profound Talisman was not within Liu Changdie''s body but indicated that Liu Changdie had likelye into contact with the Profound Talisman, having been influenced by it. Lu Jiangxian mobilized the remnant talisman qi within him, and a series of images promptly appeared before his eyes.
Included were scenes of people weeping, cmities and locust gues, the annihtion of immortal ns, and the ravages of demonic disasters... Everything seemed logical, as though Liu Changdie himself had truly experienced these events only to awaken from a grand dream, returning to his twenties or thirties.
"This Profound Talisman has fabricated over seventy years of memories for him, all derived from current events by the Profound Talisman and not because Liu Changdie traveled back in time! If it involved the power of time, it''s doubtful that the talisman qi could achieve such a feat!"
Even Lu Jiangxian from centuries ago might not be able to traverse time... let alone talisman qi.
Lu Jiangxian gathered this lingering energy gently in his hand, leaving only a trace of fleeting images in Liu Changdie''s Shenyang Mansion.
"This segment of memory is your chance; this power of deduction was originally mine, so I''ll take it back."
Although Lu Jiangxian possessed a powerful divine sense, hecked the skill to modify someone else''s memories. Without the residual talisman qi in the Shenyang Mansion, he couldn''t even ess another''s memories, much less interfere with Liu Changdie.
Since the memories contained no trace of himself, he left them be.
"It''s just that this person''s memoriesck any trace of talisman qi... and it''s unclear where he came into contact with such miraculous talisman qi. Such qi, at the very least, requires the Golden Core Realm to obtain... It would be best if I could acquire it!"
As Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense withdrew, Liu Changdie felt a chill on his back as if a cold breeze had brushed against him. His hand trembled slightly with the tea bowl, but he was unable to pinpoint the anomaly.
Beside him, Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng suddenly stood up respectfully, bowing their heads. Liu Changdie looked up to see a middle-aged man approaching from outside the courtyard.
This middle-aged man was dressed in a simple and neat gray robe. He had long and rxed eyebrows, lean cheeks, broad shoulders, and an air of mature stability. He carried a dignified presence and had a sword hanging at his waist, its shape concealed within its sheath.
Liu Changdie quickly stood up, cupping his hands respectfully. "Greetings from Liu Changdie of Lixia Prefecture, Senior!"
Li Tongya nced at him, nodding slightly and smiling kindly.
"You are being too formal!"
Li Tongya took his seat while Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng followed suit, maintaining a proper posture without ckening. Liu Changdie, having encountered a renowned figure from his memories, was both excited and reserved.
Li Tongya observed Liu Changdie for a moment, noting his Qi Cultivation Realm was at the second heavenlyyer. He appeared to be in histe twenties or early thirties, with an old-school demeanor, judging by how he called him "senior" right away.
Xuanfeng surely isn''t one to fool around! This young man, despite his age, must have some talent in formations seeing how reserved he is. He ispletelycking the arrogance of the youth... probably an old soul in a young body!
With a gentle smile and a warm voice, he asked, "How do you n to set up our formation?"
Chapter 134: Formation and Engagement
Chapter 134: Formation and Engagement
"Senior, I wish to do this..."
Liu Changdie, still harboring a bit of restraint and excitement, quickly reiterated what he had discussed with Li Xuanfeng on Cloud Crowned Peak. He knew that Li Chejing was Li Tongya''s younger brother.
His words were more measured,cking arrogance, merely mentioning his encounter with Li Chejing at the Azure Pond Sect.
Li Xuanfeng also took over the conversation, recounting the events that transpired on Cloud Crowned Peak. Li Tongya, having not heard from Li Chejing for many years, was visibly moved, listening intently until they finished speaking.
Once they had finished, he lightly chuckled.
"Good! Very good indeed!"
Li Xuanxuan who was beside him, was so thrilled that he could barely contain himself, envisioning Li Chejing holding a sword and repelling enemies on a city wall. He smiled in great contentment.
"Chejing is doing well on the southern border... and we can rest easy now!"
Li Tongya listened to the younger generation''s excited chatter and expressed his contentment. He then steered the conversation back to the formation on the mountain.
After hearing Liu Changdie''s n, he nodded and instructed, "Master Liu, please proceed as you see fit... The Li Family will fully cooperate. Xuanxuan, you and Master Liu will take charge of the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation."
"Yes!"
Both men promptly responded readily. After a few more exchanges, Li Tongya waved his goodbyes.
After seeing off Li Tongya, the atmosphere immediately rxed and the three began to discuss the specific locations in more detail.
"On Lijing Peak, we''ll ce eight gs, following the mountain''s terrain at the Qian, Kan, Gen, and Zhen corners. On Meiche Peak, four gs will be ced at the Xun, Li, Kun, and Dui corners. In total, eight high tforms will be constructed, engraved with numerous formation patterns to serve as the formation''s eyes, which will greatly alleviate the burden and increase the spiritual qi in the mountains."
With Li Tongya''s approval, the Li Family sprang into action, summoning craftsmen from the four towns to Lijing Town.
Over a thousand craftsmen ascended the mountain, with vigers transporting timber and stone materials, spending several days under Liu Changdie''s direction to begin the construction of high tforms at the designated formation eyes.
The dimensions and structures were strictly controlled, with different formation eyes requiring different materials for construction, each involvingplex pathways.
A protective mountain formation was not like those smaller formations that protect cave dwellings, which were oftenpleted with just a single formation te. Constructing a protective mountain formation was no short task; it required five to six months of setup and hardbor.
Liu Changdie would need to stay with the Li Family for more than half a year, as determining the formation''s positions and inscribing the formation patterns couldn''t proceed without him.
Li Xuanxuan found a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain for Liu Changdie, which facilitated their daily interactions. Liu Changdie, living up to his expectations, walked the mountains daily, personally overseeing the work. This proved his serious dedication and that he truly took the matter to heart.
After arranging the craftsmen, Li Xuanxuan received a report that the Lu Family had arrived, and the wedding was to take ce in the next few days.
"So soon?"
Li Xuanxuan frowned slightly, thinking about Lu Sisi''s health condition. Although cultivators of the Qi Cultivation Realm have a lifespan of two hundred years, it''smon for injuries or major damages to shorten it by a decade or so.
Could it be that Lu Sisi''s health was failing..?
"Let theme up to see me."
Li Xuanxuan scheduled Li Xuanling''s wedding, instructing preparations for the ceremony in theing days.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Lijing bustled with activity, and the area below was also lively with preparations. The Li Family members, both from the minor sect and its branches¡ªnumbering thousands, lived scattered around the foot of Mount Lijing. Every household was decorated with vibrant lights and colors, the verdant mountains adorned with red.
The marriage alliance between the Li and Lu families was known by the Li Family''s higher-ups as a reluctant move by the Lu Family.
Li Qiuyang, representing the minor sect of the family, had also managed to roughly work out the situation, but others in the minor sect and branches knew little; merely hearing word that the Lu Family was a prominent family from the east, having settled there for two to three hundred years. They were overjoyed about the union between the two immortal ns and were spontaneously decorating the area, lighting up the mountainside in a festive atmosphere.
The Li Family''s younger members gathered at the vige entrance, curiously looking out for the distant procession when suddenly a voice was heard.
"I heard the bride is a cultivator with a spiritual orifice!"
"The Lu Family''s sincerity is indeed great... even marrying off a daughter with a spiritual orifice from their main family!" another voice eximed in response to thement.
Today, the Li Family''s minor sect and branches numbered around four thousand¡ªall considering themselves descendants of immortals, adopting an air of superiority. The Ye Family''s offspring were manageable, but the descendants of Li Mutian and his illegitimate brothers became notorious in the four towns, with everyone currying favor with them.
If not for Li Mutian''s establishment of a family code during his lifetime, dedicating a group of people to constantly monitor these individuals, they might have long since be tyrants in the vige; exploiting themon people.
However, the daily opportunities to take advantage of them were still never missed.
The Lu Family''s carriage approached from the Guli Road, its arrival eagerly anticipated by those lining the streets that were already adorned with red silk. A few n guards in brocade clothing stood watch, curbing the curiosity of the gathered youths who dared not act out¡ªleft only to gaze longingly from the sidewalks.
"I wonder what this person looks like!" One of the youths pondered out loud but was immediately reprimanded by his sister.
"Big Brother, the n elders are watching! Keep it together!" she hissed fiercely.
Lu Wanrong sat inside the swaying carriage, enduring the bumpy ride that would have left ordinary people sick and unconscious. Fortunately, her cultivation provided her with somefort.
"I thought having a spiritual orifice meant I could lead my own life, but I didn''t expect to be a higher-level tool for marriage alliances..."
She could not help but sulk slightly in despair. Physical difort did not bother Lu Wanrong much; it was the sorrow in her heart that pained her more. Listening to the surrounding chatter filled her with confusion.
Arriving at the grand courtyard at the foot of the mountain, Lu Wanrong was led through the ceremonies like a puppet... from dawn till dusk, reassured only by the sound of Li Xuanling''s firm and powerful voice on the opposite side.
Seizing an opportunity during another bow, she sneaked a peek and saw a young man with a resolute face and extraordinary demeanor across from her. Despite being ordered around by rtives, his gaze was resigned yet gentle.
The golden-red wedding attire made him look exceptionally ethereal, easing some of her sorrow as she drowned in her own thoughts.
At least I''ll spend my life facing a handsome man... which is a smallfort. I''ve heard people say of the Li Family''s three legitimate sons: Li Xuanxuan is solemn and just, Li Xuanfeng is unrestrained, and Li Xuanling is steady and gentle. He should be easy to get along with!
Contemting deeply, Lu Wanrong changed her thoughts. Li Xuanling, not yet twenty, had already attained the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, marking him as a potential Qi Cultivator in the future. With his stable temperament and handsome looks among the surrounding families¡ªaside from An Jingming of the An family¡ªwho couldpare to such a youth..?
Lu Sisi had bartered his entire family''s fortune to marry her off, making it seem as though she was the one reaching above her station.
However spirited a teenage girl might be, she could not help butugh at her own thoughts, the moonlight casting a crimson glow on her sleeves.
Shaking her sleeves, Lu Wanrong found herself looking forward to her future life with renewed hope.
As she bowed her head, she heard someone nearby exim loudly, snatching her from her thoughts.
"Family Head! Your child has been born!"
"What?" a slightly mature voice responded, filled with unbridled surprise at the sudden exmation. It was likely that of Li Xuanxuan, followed by hurried footsteps and then a chorus of congrattions.
"Double happiness has arrived... double happiness!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
While one side of the courtyard buzzed with lively celebrations, the other side was eerily quiet. Mu Yalu''s hair was damp, strands sticking to her cheeks, and her usually sly eyes filled with exhaustion.
She looked lovingly at the child in the cradle, then turned coldly to inquire, "Hasn''t Li Xuanxuan arrived yet?"
The servant, visibly frightened, kneeled down and stammered, "The Family Head... the Family Head has gone to attend Young Master Xuanling''s wedding and hasn''t returned! Someone has already been sent to notify him!"
"To think... at the birth of his own child, he''s still outside..."
Just as she finished speaking, rapid footsteps approached.
Li Xuanxuan entered with two attendants, his voice heavily tinged with guilt.
"Lu''er!"
Mu Yalu gave him a look, but Li Xuanxuan merely lifted the wrinkled baby and yfully toyed with it.
"What shall we name the child?"
Raising her head and gathering her damp hair, Mu Yalu smiled warmly before replying lovingly, "Family Head, I have already thought of a name."
"And what might that be?" Li Xuanxuan asked tenderly, leaning in to listen.
And Mu Yalu, with a beautiful smile, softly whispered the baby¡¯s name.
"Li Yuanjiao."
Chapter 135: Inference on Purple Mansion Realm Cultivators
Chapter 135: Inference on Purple Mansion Realm Cultivators
"Jiao, a term derived from the dragon... capable of doing the impossible, hiding in the deep and murky waters, soaring through clouds and mists. It¡¯s also a great symbolization."
Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard, nodding in approval as he examined the baby who was all wrinkled and had hair sticking to his forehead. Carefully, he ced the child back in the cradle.
He was now a father of three sons and two daughters. Li Yuanxiu, his son with his first wife, was already three years old. Among the others, the eldest was already five.
Li Xuanxuan regarded the children born to Mu Yalu¡ªwho came from a lineage of shamans from Mount Yue and thus likely to possess spiritual orifices¡ªwith particr importance.
"Today''s double happiness is indeed a good omen... Let''s send Xiewen to distribute some gifts to the town below, and let everyone join in the celebration."
After giving his instructions, Li Xuanxuan stayed by Mu Yalu''s side until she fell asleep. With responsibilities calling him the head of the family, he finally covered her with a nket and left for the mountain.
Amidst his many duties, Li Xuanxuan never cked, often studying talisman arts under Li Tongya and researching on his own.
Having learned talisman arts since he was seven and recently breaking through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, he had finally managed to craft talismans. With the insights gained from Li Tongya, his efforts in these busy days indeed felt rewarding.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The wedding festivities at the foot of the mountain were lively for several days before the Lu Family took their leave, leaving a few attendants behind. The construction on the mountain continued smoothly.
Due to the many people roaming the mountain in recent days, Li Tongya grew concerned about the safety of the mirror. Thus, he moved it from the Meiche Cave Dwelling to the backyard for cultivation.
Li Jingtian sat behind a curtain, deep in thought with a brush in hand.
Her long hair was pinned up and she was asionally scribbling on the fabric, all the while murmuring to herself.
"In the seventh month, the Li Family was allied through marriage with the Lu Family... The second daughter of the Lu Family¡¯s seventeenth son was married into the eldest son of the Li Family¡¯s second son, and Mu Yalu from the main branch bore a son named Jiao."
Pausing and thinking for a while, Li Jingtian then added a note in a smaller script.
"Some say, ''Mu Jiaoman from the Eastern Mount Yue and the former Mount Yue lord, Jianixi, were kin.'' This seems to be a misinterpretation."
In her efforts topile the family history, Li Jingtian had inquired with Ahuici, who shared rumors suggesting a distant kinship between Mu Jiaoman and Jianixi.
However, Li Jingtian herself was skeptical of these ims. She mused, Jianixi was a formidable figure... it''s hard to see any familial connection with Mu Jiaoman. Yet, as Mu Yalu and Mu Jiaoman are siblings and this concerns the direct lineage, even rumors are worth noting.
Dipping her brush in ink, Li Jingtian, yet to meet the child, nned a visit. Calcting the days mentally, her own marriage with Chen Donghe was also soon approaching.
While Li Jingtian was engrossed in writing the family history behind the curtain, Li Xuanfeng stood in the courtyard still decorated with red silks. The remnants of fireworks still mingled with the crisp morning air.
Li Tongya, holding a jade slip, stared at its faint patterns for a moment before softly speaking.
"Two Hundred Years of Linghai Prefecture¡¯s Scenery?"
"Indeed."
Li Xuanfeng nodded, respectfully responding as the arrows in his quiver clinked slightly with each other; the imposing ck longbow on his back capturing attention.
He solemnly added, "Senior Xiao Yongling insisted that I personally deliver this to you. I did not dare view it myself and have kept it sealed on its way to you."
After reading through the jade slip for a while, Li Tongya gently ced it on the table with a soft sigh.
"Linghai Prefecture is to the south of Lixia Prefecture, one of the five prefectures under Azure Pond Sect''s jurisdiction. This ''Two Hundred Years of Linghai Prefecture¡¯s Scenery'' mainly introduces several ns in Linghai Prefecture, among which the Yu Family of Linghai Prefecture is the foremost... Yu Yuxie, a rare genius from the Yu Family, practiced the Coiling Qi Jade True Technique and died in the southern border."
Li Tongya urately extracted key information from theplex contents of the jade slip. When he came across the phrase "died in the southern border," he frowned slightly, as though ufortable thoughts troubled him.
He stopped speaking and handed the jade slip to Li Xuanfeng, signaling him to read as well.
Li Xuanfeng quickly took it and shut his eyes to focus briefly, hastily reading through the contents of the jade slip. He too appeared to fall contemtive and thought of his next words carefully.
"This ''Two Hundred Years of Linghai Prefecture¡¯s Scenery'' records major events of the entire Yue State in thest two hundred years... yet I found some anomalies."
Pausing briefly, he continued, ¡°Among the seven gates and these immortal ns, several have undergone changes in their Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. For instance, it''s understandable that Lingyu Gate was exterminated shortly after their Purple Mansion Realm cultivator died... However, the situations with the other families are quite peculiar. In the territory of the Golden Feather Sect, the Chen Family''s ancestor advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm and immediately dered independence over eight towns. Not only did Golden Feather Sect not pursue the matter, but they also sent gifts! Simrly, the Daoist Master Changxiao, the master of Changxiao Gate, arrived from the sea, dering his intention to establish a new Daoist lineage. He was immediately granted several towns by another sect..."
As he processed these words, Li Xuanfeng lifted his head in surprise after a brief pause, murmuring, "It seems... too hasty!"
"Those who did not attain the Purple Mansion Realm are merely ythings in the hands of those lofty cultivators," Li Tongya concluded with a sigh.
Having witnessed several transactions and schemes among Purple Mansion Realm cultivators over decades, he had some guesses about the thoughts of these great cultivators.
"Sects and territories... disciples andmoners... have always been bargaining chips in their hands. Cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm, with their long lifespans, are ustomed to the harshness of the world. Only cultivators of the same level are taken seriously by them."
"Moreover," Li Tongya thought for a moment, then gravely said, "Apart from the battle that eradicated the descendant of the immortal mansion, Li Jiangqun, I''ve never heard of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators falling inbat. They usually die of old age. It seemsmon that Purple Mansion Realm cultivators can''t do much against each other... That''s probably why the Chen Family''s ancestor could get away with what he did. After all, if the Golden Feather Sect made a move against the Chen Family, and the Chen family''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator escaped by flying away, could the Golden Feather Sect''s disciples still leave the mountain?"
Listening carefully, Li Xuanfeng nodded eagerly. He watched as Li Tongya murmured, "Since Xiao Chuting has be a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator and Xiao Yongling has handed ''Two Hundred Years of Linghai Prefecture¡¯s Scenery'' over to us, he''s probably implying something..."
After putting away the jade slip, Li Tongya shook his head once more.
"No matter what, strengthening ourselves is of the utmost importance now... our family''s Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators are still too little. If our territory expands, we might not be able to maintain control."
Li Xuanfeng nodded respectfully and added, "Currently, the strongest cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in our family is Brother Xuanxuan, who is in the fifth stage. It will take many years of umtion to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm... and it won''t be easy."
Li Tongya, having slowed in progresstely due to rapid advancement in previous years and now cautious of using pills to enhance his cultivation, remained at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm without much improvement.
Hearing this, he shook his head with a small smile.
"Such matters cannot be rushed."
"I have another matter to report," Li Xuanfeng said, lowering his head.
"Considering our secluded location and frequent disconnection from the prefecture, we often receive newste. It might be wise to purchase some properties in the prefecture and assign some family disciples to manage them as well as broaden their horizons, also preventing them from idling around in the family, causing trouble for no reason."
"That¡¯s not a bad idea."
Li Tongya nodded and smiled. "You''ve really thought this through,¡± hemended, his pride evident in his tone.
Scratching his head andughing, Li Xuanfeng exined, "This way, if the Xiao Family has any news, they can ask the disciples in the prefecture to bring it back to us, avoiding dys or extra trips. Secondly, with the copse of the Moongaze Lake market, our family''s talismans and ores need a distribution point. While the talismans are fine, Mount Yue doesn''t deal in metal and stone, preferring to use spirit wood for crafting. The raw ore is quite cheap in Mount Yue and can only be sold at the Cloud Crowned Peak market... With family disciples in charge, we''ll be informed when the Cloud Crowned Peak market opens."
Li Tongya found his words quite sensible and called for Li Xuanxuan.
As Li Xuanfeng pondered about how he could frequently visit Jiang Yunu in the prefecture then, he could not help a slight feeling of guilt but he quickly shook it off and continued the conversation, before taking his leave to oversee the mines.
Chapter 136: Sun Rite Profound Light Formation
Chapter 136: Sun Rite Profound Light Formation
After nearly half a year of construction, the formation on Mount Lijing was finallypleted by the end of the year. Eight high tforms were erected, standing out strikingly on the two peaks.
Liu Changdie breathed a sigh of relief and went to find Li Xuanxuan for the formation gs.
The formation gs were naturally prepared by the Li Family, and their quality would determine the effectiveness of the formation.
Liu Changdie had already discussed this matter with Li Xuanxuan early on, but he kept them hidden and dyed revealing them.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Liu Changdie saw Li Xuanxuan wearing a simple leather outfit. He was drawing symbols on arge pear wood table using cloth as a base and diluted ink, giving it a very light appearance.
Liu Changdie was curious but figured that it was probably someone else''s cultivation secret and dared not pry.
Beside the table stood a child about four or five years old, silently observing Li Xuanxuan''s actions. He appeared to be quite well-behaved.
"Brother Xuanxuan!" Liu Changdie called out and saw Li Xuanxuan nod slightly and smile at him. Liu Changdie found this rather odd.
In his previous life, Liu Changdie did not meet Li Xuanxuan or anyone from the Xuan generation in the Li family. His understanding of Li Xuanxuan was limited to what Li Yuanjiao mentioned, who used to dismissively say, "My old man... He¡¯s boring! There¡¯s nothing interesting about him!"
Liu Changdie justughed, not daring to respond. After spending over a year with Li Xuanxuan, he hade to his own conclusion.
"Although serious and seldom seen smiling, he¡¯s diligent and deeply cares for his family without indulging in frivolity or luxury... it is quite admirable."
Noticing the boy beside the table, Liu Changdie smiled slightly and his curiosity got the better of him.
"This is...?"
"This is my legitimate son, named Li Yuanxiu," Li Xuanxuan replied, lifting Li Yuanxiu gently.
Liu Changdie nodded as if he had just realized something. After a few moments of contemtion, he moved on to the main topic and reported, "I''ve finished engraving the formation patterns on the eight tforms... We can start setting up the formation now."
Li Xuanxuan was visibly pleased and, with a p on his storage pouch, twelve small gs with white patterns and ck cloth flew out immediately. They circled in the air beforending in Li Xuanxuan''s outstretched palm.
Before he could speak, Liu Changdie, fixated on the gs, eximed, "White Feather Purple gs!"
Li Xuanxuan was taken aback, knowing the gs were precious but not expecting such a reaction from Liu Changdie. Seeing his intense interest, he nodded in confirmation.
"Indeed, they are."
Liu Changdie eagerly took them, examining them with great appreciation and fascination.
"Wan Huaqian was renowned throughout Lixia Prefecture for these gs... Rumor has it they were sold to a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in Azure Pond Sect. How did your family acquire them?"
Li Xuanxuan smiled awkwardly.
¡°The Lu Family conquered Mount Huaqian and obtained these gs... then sold them to us."
"So, it never left Mount Huaqian... That news was a decoy!" Liu Changdie realized, showing a trace of regret, and continued, "I¡¯ve only seen Mount Huaqian from a distance. Wan Huaqian''s ability to set up a formation that could withstand a peak Qi Cultivator¡¯s attack with such a small and wed mountain proves his superior formation talents!"
Li Xuanxuan smiled and consoled him saying, "Once the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation isplete, it can also resist the assaults of peak Qi Cultivators, no less impressive than Wan Huaqian¡¯s formation."
"It''s not the same."
Liu Changdie shook his head and sighed.
"We built eight high tforms. Did you see any high tforms or formation pools on Mount Huaqian? It shows Wan Huaqian''s innate talent for formations."
After finishing the conversation, Liu Changdie, with a smile, offered a suggestion to Li Xuanxuan.
¡°Let¡¯s not waste any more time. Let¡¯s get started.¡±
He then sat cross-legged and performed a series of hand seals, sending the twelve White Feather Purple gs soaring into the air. Dividing into two groups, they flew north and south, settling into their respective positions on the high tforms. The formation patterns on the tforms lit up at once, emitting streaks of dazzling golden light.
Almost immediately, Mount Lijing and Mount Meiche, bathed in golden brilliance¡ª began quaking slightly.
The workers and irrelevant people had already been evacuated to the foot of the mountain as streams of light and golden luminescence engulfed the mountain.
Liu Changdie sat cross-legged, adjusting his breath for a period equivalent to the time taken for an incense stick to burn.
Eventually, a grand formation¡ªgleaming with golden light¡ªmanifested atop the mountain. It was spectacr under the sunlight.
"Mission aplished!" Liu Changdie exhaled deeply and nodded slightly.
Li Tongya, who had just walked into the courtyard, was greeted promptly by the two.
"Senior!"
"Your efforts are much appreciated!"
Li Tongya responded with an affirming nod, expressing his satisfaction with the formation.
Li Xuanxuan understood immediately and tapped his storage pouch. Almost at once, a heap of pristine, jade-like Spirit Stones clinked onto the table.
"Here are one hundred Spirit Stones. Please, feel free to count them."
After quickly counting them with his spiritual sense, Lu Changdie pretended to be generous and waved dismissively.
"There''s no need to count them."
With a wave of his hand, the Spirit Stones on the table vanished, and he announced with a smile, "Now that the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation isplete, I shall return to the prefecture. Should I visit Mount Lijing in the future, I hope Brother Xuanxuan won''t turn me away!"
"Of course not!" Li Xuanxuan assured, shaking his head. "Should Brother Changdie visit, I will personally wee you!" he added with a grin.
Liu Changdieughed heartily then respectfully bid farewell to Li Tongya. He then departed from the Li Family, heading toward Lixia Prefecture. Li Xuanxuan escorted him to the edge of Li Family¡¯s territory before returning home.
Li Tongya stood in front of a pear wood desk, carefully examining the symbols on the fabric.
Li Yuanxiu, standing timidly by his side, fixated on the sword at Li Tongya''s waist. Li Tongya looked down at him with a gentle smile and asked softly, "What''s your name?"
"Li Yuanxiu."
His response was soft, prompting Li Tongya to say with a smile, "You can call me grand-uncle then."
"Grand-uncle!"
Li Yuanxiu''s jovial call seemed to bring him closer to the man before him, easing the nervousness caused by his father''s absence. He hugged Li Tongya''s leg and reached out to grasp at the sword sheath hanging by his waist.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Jingtian descended the mountain, wearing a white veiled hat. She was followed by several n guards along the stone path, and they arrived at a grand courtyard.
The entrance, with its blue bricks and ck tiles and majestic architecture, was immactely clean.
As she stepped onto the stone steps, two n guards approached her. They inquired respectfully, "Who might you be?"
At this, Li Jingtian''s guards immediately stepped forward, reproaching, "What are you doing? Don''t you recognize her?! Who are you to stop her?!"
Li Jingtian gestured for them to stop and lifted her veil slightly. The guards were immediately taken aback by shock and stepped aside.
Li Jingtian then softly said, "Take me to your Seventh Madam."
"Right away!"
The guards guided Li Jingtian through thecquered red corridors, arriving at a courtyard where ady in fine clothes was pruning nts.
Upon seeing a group escorting Li Jingtian, she appeared slightly startled and uncertain.
"Who might you be?" the Seventh Madam asked inquisitively.
Only after Li Jingtian removed her veil did Mu Yalu immediately kneel in greeting.
¡°Mydy."
"There''s no need for formalities."
Li Jingtian smiled gently and graciously, exchanging a few pleasantries with Mu Yalu before moving on to discuss recent events.
She then looked at the child in Mu Yalu''s arms and said with a smile, "Let me take a look at Jiao¡¯er."
Mu Yalu, a bit startled, smiled reluctantly and handed the child over to her. Li Jingtian took him carefully, cradling him with a radiant smile on her face.
After carefully examining the child''s eye color and seeing that it was indeed a deep ck, she sighed in relief.
Then, wanting to rify something she had heard, she gently asked Mu Yalu, "I''ve heard that your family has some blood rtion with the... former Mount Yue lord¡ª Jianixi?"
This question struck Mu Yalu like thunder, causing a flood of panic and fear.
As she saw Li Yuanjiao still in Li Jingtian''s arms, she immediately knelt down trembling, vehemently denying the usation.
"This must be nder! Jianixi was born a ve, while we are a family of shamans passed down through generations of lords! How could we be rted?! Mydy... someone must be ndering us!"
Chapter 137: Business Without Capital
Chapter 137: Business Without Capital
Seeing Mu Yalu in such a state also shook Li Jingtian, who quickly helped her up while holding Li Yuanjiao in one hand.
"Madam, you''ve misunderstood me!" she said.
After noticing Mu Yalu calming down slightly, Li Jingtian, quick-witted as she was, passed Li Yuanjiao back to her as a sign of goodwill and apologized, "I misspoke, leading to the misunderstanding. I''ve been tasked by our elders topile the family history, hence I require a clear understanding of the lineage of all the descendants. Even if Jianixi really was a distant rtive through the Mulu Family, it wouldn''t be right to me this on a child of theter generation."
Mu Yalu remained skeptical, her maternal instinct not allowing her to let this stigma fall upon Yuanjiao.
She insisted that Jianixi, being a ve, had no connection to the Mu Family. Li Jingtian, therefore, shifted the conversation to more general inquiries about whether Mu Yalu and her child were adjusting well, gradually easing the tension.
After dismissing the other attendants in the room to ensure some privacy, Li Jingtian, seeing that Mu Yalu''s mood had stabilized, looked at her attire and said, "My brother is wholly devoted to our family, which might cause him to neglect certain aspects... If you or the child face any difficulties in the future, please don''t hesitate to seek me out."
Mu Yalu was momentarily stunned. She thanked Li Jingtian sincerely, watching her leave with her attendants before taking Li Yuanjiao back into the house.
Kissing her child on the cheek, she muttered her thoughts to the otherwise emptiness of the room.
"Regardless... such usations must never be acknowledged! Xuanxuan is stubborn; any hint of suspicion might breed disdain toward the child, especially since Jianixi indirectly caused the demise of the previous Family Head, Li Xiangping. With Li Xuanfeng''s significant cultivation strength, this is a risk we simply cannot take!"
"Li Jingtian is indeed kind-hearted, she will not let such rumors spread. As long as they don''t reach the First Madam, this matter should be settled."
Mu Yalu gently ced Little Yuanjiao on the bed, watching him with a smile. As soft moonlight poured in, she prayed for the child using ancient shamanistic rites.
After leaving the courtyard, Li Jingtian whispered instructions to a nearby n guard.
"Send someone to inform Ahuici to keep his mouth shut. If these rumors reach the mountaintop, no one can save him."
The guard hurriedly obeyed, while Li Jingtian proceeded up the stone path. Noticing the lively conversations and bright lights inside the courtyard, she inquired of a guard at the door, "Who''s visiting?"
"Mydy, we''ve received news that Lord Chen has made a breakthrough to the Jade Capital Realm today. The Family Head is very pleased and has invited him for a discussion inside," the guard replied readily.
"Oh?" Li Jingtian nodded slowly as she heard these words, slightly surprised.
Chen Donghe, being two years younger than Li Xuanxuan and having achieved the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, was certainly an impressive feat¡ª though not quite on par with Li Xuanfeng yet. Still, it marked him as outstanding among the neighboring families.
Shaking her head, Li Jingtian turned to leave but stopped abruptly when she saw someone blocking her path.
It was Li Xuanfeng, with his dark bow on his back and quiver at his waist.
"Brother," she called out. Facing her older twin brother, Li Jingtian''s expression wasplex and unreadable.
Having broken through the Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Xuanfeng appeared younger than Li Jingtian now, looking more like her younger brother.
After starting his cultivation at the age of seven, Li Xuanfeng often resided in the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche for training andter spent his months hunting demons in the mountains, making their encounters even rarer.
"Why do you always avoid me?" Li Xuanfeng frowned, examining Li Jingtian closely.
Sensing that something was amiss, he chose his next words carefully.
"Are you hiding something from me...?"
Li Jingtian sighed softly, a smile dancing on her face as she replied, "I''ll be marrying Donghe in another two months."
"What?!"
Li Xuanfeng was stunned for a moment. However, he was able to quickly piece together why he had never been informed nor heard anything about this.
Anger suddenly surged in him as he eximed, "Do you really wish for this?! Is Brother Xuan using you to curry favor with Chen Donghe?"
Knowing her brother''s temper and that he might do something drastic, Li Jingtian hurriedly reassured him with a smile, "If I were unwilling, who in the family would dare to force me? You''re overthinking this, Brother!"
Li Xuanfeng calmed down but still looked at her suspiciously, biting his lip as he appeared deep in thought and unconvinced.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Li Jingtian quickly reassured.
"Regardless, this person silently took my sister away... I need to give him a good beating to vent my anger!"
After saying this, he turned and went inside the room, resulting in a ttering noise.
Li Jingtian chuckled softly, her worries considerably alleviated. She then made her way back to the side courtyard with a lighter heart.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lu Sisi flew to Mount Lijing, channeling his mana into his eyes. Upon seeing the dazzling golden light in front of him, he could not help but marvel at the sight before him.
"Such an exquisite formation!"
Feeling a wave of envy, he thought to himself, This formation must be extremely valuable, probably involving the once-famed White Feather Purple gs... But where did Li Tongya find such a capable formation master? They must be really rich...
Using his mana, he transmitted his voice, "Lu Sisi from the Lu Family of Mount Tiaoyun is here to visit Li Tongya. Please let me through the formation, fellow Daoist."
Soon, a gaprge enough for one person opened in the formation. Lu Sisi passed through the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation and saw Li Tongya already waiting for him in white attire among the mountains.
"Brother Tongya," Lu Sisi greeted, cupping his fist.
Li Tongya quickly invited him into the courtyard but was taken aback by Lu Sisi''s changed appearance. "Senior Lu! What has happened to you?" he asked in a conflicted tone.
Lu Sisi, whose snow-white hair was no longer as pristine as before but was instead now showing hints of dead gray. He had deeper wrinkles on his face, dull eyes, and a trembling left hand.
"Life is tough! I''ve embarrassed myself in front of Brother Tongya," he merely replied, the bitterness in his tone evident.
In the past two years, Lu Sisi had been running around without a moment''s rest, striving to find a way out for the Lu Family. Now nearly two hundred years old, he often had to humbly seek favor from much younger cultivators, enduring endless humiliation.
These past two years had aged him more than the previous twenty.
Li Tongya shook his head and sighed, realizing that this man probably did not have many years left. Sitting at the head of the table, he said warmly, "Senior, what can I do for you?"
Despite his sympathy, Li Tongya showed no mercy. He knew that once Lu Sisi was gone, the Lu Family could possibly forget about their share of the mines, and most likely¡ª Mount Huaqian would fall into the Li Family''s hands too.
"I dare not, I dare not," Lu Sisi waved his hand hurriedly, adding, "Brother Li, do you remember the market at Moongaze Lake?"
"Of course I remember," Li Tongya replied with a curt nod.
After that battle, Moongaze Lake was reduced to ruins. The forbidden formation still operated on the ind at the heart of theke, deterring even cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm from approaching.
These families covet thend rich in spiritual qi at theke''s heart butck the necessary treasures like the Deadly Thunder Formation Destroyer to break the formation.
With the valuable items within the market already scavenged by those Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, the ce had long lost its previous allure and was left deserted in the heart of theke.
"A few days ago, as I passed by the heart of theke, I saw arge ship filled with mortals collecting items on the ind!" Lu Sisi revealed dramatically.
"Mortals..?"
Li Tongya immediately became suspicious.
Lu Sisi did not hesitate and exined further, "These rogue cultivators went to the prefecture, deceived a group of mortals with promises of wealth and cultivation, then transported them to the ind''s shore on arge ship, letting them collect items from theke''s ind. This forbidden formation sacrificed its stability and integrity for power, resulting in many gaps. Throwing one or two thousand mortals into the formation, there''s a chance for one tond within it, allowing them to retrieve treasures from the ruins... Since the formation repels external forces but not internal ones, they could easily take the treasures out."
After hearing this, Li Tongya fell silent for a moment, choosing his next words very carefully.
"What are you trying to say, Senior?"
pping his thigh in frustration, Lu Sisi smiled ingratiatingly and eximed, "Well, how could we let them do this?!"
Chapter 138: Learning the News
Chapter 138: Learning the News
"Oh?"
At this exmation, Li Tongya nced up at Lu Sisi and noticed how his face was filled with greed.
Li Sisi continued, "The treasures of this ind in theke should rightfully belong to us, the families that surround theke! This is a venture without any initial investment, how can we allow these rogue cultivators to just take it away? I n to call upon the An Family and others nearby to unite and take down this fleet of rogue cultivators. We should take over this business! Whichever family''s mortals enter the formation would im the retrieved items. Brother Tongya... what do you think?"
Sitting in the main seat, Li Tongya recalled the scene of piled-up bodies that had once blocked the Guli Road on his journey home, causing him to pause with his tea bowl in hand.
He shot a nce at Lu Sisi and chuckled.
"Is the Yu Family interested in this business with no capital? What about the families across theke? Senior Lu, if you can''t manage all the families around theke and secure this business for ourselves, it will just end up benefiting others."
Lu Sisi suddenly paused, realizing his oversight. Caught up in the excitement upon seeing the fleet on theke, he had not considered all its implications.
He chuckled awkwardly and said, "Brother Tongya indeed speaks wisely! This old man was too impulsive and did not think things through..."
Disheartened, he set down his tea bowl. After an unsessful attempt to engage Li Tongya in further conversation, he left in a somewhat dejected state.
"Old man''s nearing his end and no longer as sharp as he used to be... The ind in theke has been scavenged by all sorts of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators countless times; doubt there are many items of the Embryonic Breathing Realm left to retrieve. Pointless effort really..."
After sending Lu Sisi off, Li Tongya was left feeling gloomy. He picked up his tea bowl and then put it down again, sighing with a bitter smile.
"You regard those cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm with fear and reverence... their whims dictating life and death. Yet, to these mortals, your families and sects also instill terror, havingplete control over their fate. The ugliness of the world is indeed top-down,pletely devoid of any intrigue."
With a shake of his head, Li Tongya paused, questioning himself, If our family didn''t possess this treasure that consolidates talisman qi through the mortals'' worship, could we have stood our ground against Jianixi''s formidable force back in the day?
Shaken by this sudden realization, Li Tongya quickly cast aside his myriad reflections. He understood that the Li Family was but an ant in the presence of the many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
Now was not the time for such thoughts.
He calcted the days ording to the Sacrificial Ritual Method, realizing it was nearly time to conduct the ritual with the mirror to consolidate talisman qi for the benefit of the younger generation of the family.
"Perhaps it''s time to visit that fox again to inquire about some demonic creatures of the Qi Cultivation Realm that we could use for the sacrifice..."
Li Tongya left the courtyard and soared on the wind following the mountain ridge. With just a recollection from memory, he found arge white-leaved banyan tree standing proudly on a slope beneath a cliff.
The White Banyan Fox, loungingzily under the tree, perked up upon seeing Li Tongya approach.
"What brings you to my neck of the woods, Brother Tongya?"
His voice was aszy as usual.
Having met numerous times over three years, they had grown a lot closer to each other.
epting the Spirit Paddies from Li Tongya, the fox snacked contentedly, squinting infort while sharing the recent mountain gossip as usual.
"Rumors say a Sword Immortal has emerged on Qingsui Peak... scaring that old pig into hiding for months. He was quite the tyrant when Si Yuanbai was in seclusion! Now he''s turned timid, fearing of bing a mere sharpening stone for Si Yuanbai''s disciple."
Li Tongya was taken aback, marveling at this revtion.
"You''re quite well-informed!"
"Haha, of course!" the fox boasted, its tail flicking cunningly.
"My neenth cousin''s twenty-second uncle serves a Three-Eared White Fox in a den at the southern foot of Mount Dali. It''s from their casual conversations that I learned of this. That Three-Eared White Fox is quite formidable! Just by lying slightly in the prefecture, he hears everything from the cultivators in the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms..."
"Is that demon fox a creature of the Foundation Establishment Realm?" Li Tongya asked.
"Purple Mansion Realm!" the fox corrected with a snort.
"Why do you think they''re called great cultivators and great demons? It''s because they''ve condensed a divine ability in their Purple Mansion, which not just any spell canpare to. Depending on one''s Dao foundation, it manifests in all sorts of miraculous ways... it is truly terrifying!"
Li Tongya took this information to heart, thinking today''s bag of Spirit Paddies was well worth it. He patted the fox''s head, causing it to curl slightly in pleasure.
"I''m just a Qi Cultivator... breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm in this lifetime might be wishful thinking, let alone these mighty feats. Then again, my younger brother has already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. If he returns from the southern border, breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm within a hundred years shouldn''t be too difficult," he said after a brief moment of contemtion.
A bittersweet smile appeared on his face.
"If I''m lucky enough to live long enough, maybe I''ll witness the day he attains the Purple Mansion Realm."
The fox grimaced, squeaking in disdain, "That would be good, just don''t end up like Yu Yuxie. He established a splendid Dao foundation with the Supreme Yin Moonlight, only to ultimately be a medicinal ingredient for the flood dragon. What a waste!"
These words struck Li Tongya like a thunderp, leaving his mind utterly nk with shock.
Springing from the ground immediately, he eximed, "What did you say?!"
The fox, having never seen him so agitated, puffed up its fur and took a few steps back, stammering, "Y-...Yu... Yuxie..."
Li Tongya, visibly panicked, took a deep breath to calm himself. He then reached into his storage pouch hurriedly, tossing out arge bag of Spirit Paddies in front of the fox and asked in as steady a voice as he could muster:
"Tell me about this Yu Yuxie."
The fox dared not touch the Spirit Paddies, merely squeaking a few times before answering.
"When I... I was serving the master, I heard about this person who once acquired a Supreme Yin Moonlight on Moongaze Lake and established a Dao foundation known as ''White Jade Disk'' and even ventured into these mountains, his dual swords defeating many demons. Later... he died in the southern border."
Taking a moment to catch its breath, the fox continued, "And then I heard that because of the extraordinary nature of the Dao foundation established from the Supreme Yin Moonlight, he was given to a great flood dragon in the southern border by the Azure Pond Sect to be refined into a medicinal pill... It seems Azure Pond Sect has done this more than once..."
Li Tongya swayed and sat down weakly, his face pale as he stared at the scattered Spirit Paddies on the ground.
After hearing this and considering it with Azure Pond Sect''s usual conduct, theck of letters from Li Chejing for over a decade, and the subtle hint from the Xiao Family, his various suspicions solidified into one truth.
He covered his lips, unable to find his voice.
Seeing him so despondent, the fox cautiously gathered the Spirit Paddies into a bag and licked its fur. It lowered its head, not daring to speak.
After regaining hisposure, Li Tongya looked at the frightened fox curled up in front of him and hoarsely thanked it.
"Thank you for the information, fellow Daoist. Consider these Spirit Paddies your reward."
Then, he rose to the sky and flew back to Mount Lijing like a shooting star in the sky, ignoring the fox''s calls and scrambles, who muttered continuously to itself in disbelief.
"This is too much!"
Upon reaching Mount Lijing, Li Tongya passed through the brilliantly shining Sun Rite Profound Light Formation to the backyard.
Pushing open the stone chamber door, he reverently picked up the mirror. His spiritual sense dived into it right away, and he saw two bright, round talisman seeds.
Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense emerged quietly, concealing the three new talisman seeds to avoid arousing Li Tongya''s suspicion.
Observing the pale-faced middle-aged man whose lips quivered and hands trembled, Lu Jiangxian remained silent.
After a long while, Li Tongya finally recovered, hisplexion suddenly flushing with emotion, tears streaming down his face. Tightening his grip on his sword, hemented, "Jing''er..."
Tears streamed down the cheeks of the middle-aged man. He let out a cry, his fingers turning white from gripping his sword too tightly. Sobs racked his body and he did not try to control his emotions from being let out freely.
"S-Such a tragedy..."
However, his cautious nature cut him off abruptly. Li Tongya cried for a moment, coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, and only then did hee back to his senses from the dizzying shock.
He wiped away the blood hastily and returned the mirror to the stone tform.
Bowing deeply, Li Tongya wiped thest of his tears away. He then stepped out of the ancestral hall and took a deep breath, murmuring, "Jing''er... Jing''er... It was our fault! We''ve misjudged Si Yuanbai and pushed you into the fire pit... I have wronged you, brother."
Clutching his sword tightly, Li Tongya remembered the letters and the cultivation methods Li Chejing sent home every year, along with the five Spirit Stones he had scrimped and saved.
His heart ached even more. He could only console himself softly, "I will remember this vengeance... Jing''er..."
Chapter 139: Family History
Chapter 139: Family History
The night was dim, with a drizzle casting a veil over the mountain road. However, Li Jingtian''s side courtyard was still brightly lit.
She was bent over her desk, meticulously recording the daily information she gleaned from the elders in town. She paused to count the days.
"ording to what the elder from the Chen Family said, Grandfather left home when Great Grandfather was thirty. Twenty-eight yearster, upon his return, the Great Grandfather had already passed away... If that''s urate, then Grandfather advanced from a mortal to a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm within twenty-eight years... That''s truly remarkable! Even the Fourth Uncle, the most talented in our n, took thirty years to attain that realm... It''s astonishing how swiftly Grandfather progressed with his cultivation."
Li Jingtian recorded this entire timeline but furrowed her brow, feeling that something was amiss.
But if that''s true, why did Father im he began cultivating only at the age of fourteen? If my calctions are correct, he would have attained Profound Scenery Realm in just a matter of months... Perhaps I misremembered, she pondered silently.
Still frowning at the silk fabric page before her, Li Jingtian could not shake the feeling that the history of the past decades was shrouded in a cloak of deception.
Despite the short passage of time, too many crucial details seemed conveniently erased. Her grandfather, Li Mutian, had secluded himself on the mountain for decades when he was alive, leaving her at a loss for material to document.
"How peculiar..."
As Li Jingtian lowered her head in contemtion, a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Hastily covering the documents with an overturned wooden box, she called out, "Who''s there?!"
"It''s me."
Li Tongya swept his sleeves grandly as he entered the courtyard, unaffected by the night drizzle. Standing before the house, he remained dry with his arms folded, his expression appearing troubled.
"Ah, Second Uncle, please,e in quickly!"
Startled by his sudden appearance, Li Jingtian hurried to wee him.
Li Tongya waved her off, then gently but firmly pushed her back into the house. He followed suit and entered the room, settling by the desk. Picking up the wooden slips on it, he read them before nodding in approval.
"You''ve done a good job."
Li Jingtian lowered her gaze respectfully, awaiting further instruction. Li Tongya lowered his voice and said, "I''vee to discuss an important matter with you."
"It''s about our n''s history. Since it concerns confidential information, I want it to be split into two volumes¡ªone will be called ''Internal History'', to be kept in the ancestral hall away from the other disciples, and the other will be called "Family History", which you can document like usual. I will read the points out, and you''ll write them down."
Li Jingtian nodded obediently and reached for her brush as Li Tongya began reciting the ount.
As they worked in tandem, time seemed to blur. Li Jingtian''splexion shifted from curiosity to shock.
While she struggled withplex concepts such as the Reception Method and talisman seeds, the allusions to the schemes of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators left her trembling.
Finally, Li Tongya concluded, "...Chejing diligently cultivated and eventually reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. With his remarkable talents, he sessfully condensed a sword intent known as the ''Celestial Moon''... With it, he defeated Chi Zhiyun, sending shockwaves through many sects. Even so, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from the Azure Pond Sect proceeded to send him to the great flood dragon of the southern border... where he was refined into a pill."
Relying on his own carefully reasoned deductions, Li Tongya pieced together a narrative that closely mirrored the actual truth.
Li Jingtian''s brush faltered as she grasped the implications. Looking up in disbelief, she murmured, "Fourth Uncle...was refined into a pill?! T-That''s...!"
Li Tongya watched her silently, waiting for her to wipe away her tears and regain herposure before continuing, "That was what happened. You must carefully craft the family history based on the internal history... Make sure you obscure any discrepancies. Do not divulge details about using the Reception Method to receive talisman seeds, and adjust the cultivation progress to appear more reasonable."
"Take great care in your writing, make sure there are no loopholes. Include the part about Jing''er''s venture into the southern border, lest anyone grow suspicious," he instructed sternly.
"Understood..." Li Jingtian responded with a heavy heart.
Li Tongya rose from his seat and issued another instruction, "Draft a copy and deliver it to me first. For the time being, refrain from venturing outside. Jing''er''s affairs need not be shared with others."
After exiting the courtyard, Li Tongya soared into the air and departed. Jingtian saw him off and bowed respectfully.
She waited in silence for a few moments, gazing up at the dark sky when only the sound of the whistling wind remained in the courtyard. She wiped the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes before slowly returning to her room, still in a daze.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lu Sisi returned to Mount Huaqian only to find the foot of the mountain covered in red.
The banquet tables were so plentiful that they stretched all the way to the entrance of the vige, andughter filled the air as the children and grandchildren of him and his siblings indulged in the feast.
With not much remaining time to seek solutions for the Lu Family''s plight, Lu Sisi''s heart swelled with anger at the sight of his family members enjoying their wine and singing happily.
Hended at the foot of the mountain and saw a Qi Cultivator of his family, Lu Yuanlu, holding a beautiful woman in each hand. He was dressed in shimmery goldvish clothes and seemed rather pleased with himself.
A many bloodied at his feet as he raised his wine cup high, singing loudly.
The music halted abruptly as soon as Lu Sisi descended into the crowd, and all eyes turned to him. They lowered their heads glumly at the interruption.
Lu Yuanlu cast a nce at him, then kicked away the servant at his feet.
"Wee back, Old Ancestor. Would you like to join us for a few drinks?" he asked loudly.
Despite Lu Yuanlu''s disrespectful demeanor, Lu Sisi suppressed his anger and remained silent. Yet, he could not help but feel a pang of sorrow.
This child has always been impulsive and arrogant. I don''t have many years left in this world, and the family will have to depend on him. If I were to humiliate him now, he would surely hold a grudge. He might seek retribution after I''m dead and long gone, and that would make an ugly sight... I guess I''ll go along with him for now.
Reluctantly, Lu Sisi forced a smile, his aging features contorting into an expression of false cheer.
"Sure, I''ll have a few cups," he replied stoically.
Lu Yuanlu burst intoughter at the old man''s response, and the music swelled with renewed vigor. Lu Sisi settled into his seat, but as the revelry continued, his heart ached with emptiness and bitterness.
He clenched his teeth in frustration as he silently med himself for such an oue.
Go on, sing, and drink to your heart''s content! How many more days of such bliss remain? It''s all my fault for neglecting to guide you properly... I was too focused on cultivating in seclusion when I was young and failed to keep all of you on a tight leash. I always thought that I had hope in attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm and couldn''t afford to waste any time. It was my neglect that raised all of you into such ipetent fools!
Waving away the well-wishers who came over with their wine cups, Lu Sisi lifted his head and stared at the sky for a while before murmuring to himself, "Who is that?"
As the music went on, three streaks of lights appeared in the sky and came to a stop above Mount Huaqian.
The assembled crowd watched in astonishment as amanding voice echoed down from above.
"Get your ass over here, Lu Sisi!"
Startled, Lu Sisi snapped to attention, rising to the air to face the three visitors immediately.
Before him stood a young man dressed in brocade, nked by a tall man and a chubby man. The young man shut his eyes and remained silent while his twopanions red at him, sizing him up.
"Ah, it''s you, Young Master Yu! Apologies for not weing you on time!"
"So... you are Lu Sisi!"
Lu Sisi''s heart sank at the question. He swiftlyposed himself, forcing a gracious smile as he bowed, extending an invitation for the three visitors tond at the foot of the mountain.
However, Young Master Yu merely shot him a disdainful nce. With an air of superiority, he dered, "My Yu Family is newly affiliated with the Azure Pond Sect. We have not had the pleasure of meeting our neighbors until now... Our disciples have established themselves at Yuanwu Peak within the sect. So, my father thought it would be a great time to meet everyone. I hope you won''t turn down his invitation, old man."
"I... I...," Lu Sisi stammered before letting out a sigh. His shock was palpable as he scrambled to ingratiate himself.
"The esteemed stature of a Foundation Establishment n is one that Sisi admires. Yu Family''s wish is Sisi''sma-..."
Before he could finish speaking, Young Master Yu raised a hand to interrupt him. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head impatiently before saying, "From now on, the Yu Family will have the final say on Moongaze Lake! I have visited all the families surrounding Moongaze Lake, and they all defer to the leadership of the Yu Family. Does the Lu Family have any objections?"
"No, of course not! I dare not! The Lu Family will also follow the leadership of the Yu Family. I dare not entertain any doubts," Lu Sisi replied hastily with a smile, his tone deferential.
A small smile finally graced Young Master Yu''s lips, betraying his satisfaction. The res from his twopanions were reced by silent sneers.
"Excellent!" Young Master Yu eximed triumphantly.
His tone turned cold as he continued, "Since the Lu Family is so smart, I guess you know that this involves paying tributes as well. I understand that your family has a connection to Moon Lake Peak, so we won''t do anything to you. Whatever tributes you submit to the Azure Pond Sect every five years, you shall submit the same to the Yu Family."
After a slight pause, Young Master Yu lowered his gaze and narrowed his eyes at the pale-faced Lu Sisi. He chuckled darkly and asked, "That won''t be a problem, right?"
Chapter 140: Yu Familys Visit
Chapter 140: Yu Family''s Visit
Lu Sisi hesitated, his forced smile frozen on his face. He struggled to find words as he nced meekly at the two figures behind the young man who were ring at him.
Finally, he nodded reluctantly, knowing he had no other choice.
"The Lu Family willply as instructed..."
Young Master Yu nodded in acknowledgment and looked at him in sly satisfaction. Lu Sisi immediately understood the silent demand and retrieved several Spirit Stones from the pouch at his waist.
One of the men behind Young Master Yu came forward to receive them as Lu Sisi forced out his words once more. "I appreciate the trouble you''ve gone through to inform us. Hopefully, these Spirit Stones suffice as a small token of gratitude..." he said as politely as he could, trying his best to stay on the Young Master Yu''s good side.
"Humph."
Young Master Yu just grunted in response, then swung his sleeve arrogantly and turned away.
"Three days from now, my Yu Family will host a banquet on the ind at the heart of theke. Do remember toe, old man," he huffed.
"Yes, of course!" Lu Sisi replied hastily.
With that, the three men soared into the sky and left, leaving Lu Sisi alone at the peak of the mountain. The old man sat down on the stairs, his lips trembling with despair as he struggled to find his voice for the longest time.
Meanwhile, as Young Master Yu''s group flew away from Mount Huaqian, his chubbypanionughed heartily. "n Brother, this is truly a lucrative deal! In just a week, we''ll each have nearly ten Spirit Stones... That''s worth years of n sry!" he eximed greedily.
However, the tall and thin man beside him wore a more somber expression.
"Brother, the Lu Family seems to be on itsst legs. Most of their descendants are old cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and the younger generation seems hopeless¡ªwith only one of them being a Qi Cultivator. Lu Sisi looked as good as dead."
Young Master Yu nodded in agreement and gave him an approving look. He then patted the chubby man''s shoulder andmended, "You should learn from him."
He then turned his head to the tall man and replied, "You''re right, their only hope is their ties to Moon Lake Peak... There''s no need for concern though. With that idiot leading the Lu Family, their fortunes have already declined. They won''t amount to anything in the next two hundred years!"
As they entered the Li Family''s territory, Young Master Yu''s demeanor turned serious.
"Stay vignt and watch your mouth when we''re in the Li Family''s presence! They''re different from the other families. They have a profound background, we can''t afford to offend them!" he warned.
"It''s just a Qingsui Sword Immortal! Do we have to be this rmed?" the chubby man spat, shrugging skeptically.
Young Master Yu shot a re at him and scolded, "What do you mean by ''just''? Do you know who the Sword Immortal is? Swords are the deadliest dharma weapon and he has even sessfully mastered sword intent! He can probably defeat my father within ten moves. Even our family''s ancestors can barely save their own lives against him!"
"Moreover, Li Chejing has already attained the Foundation Establishment in his thirties, with high hopes of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm in the future. With the backing of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator in the immortal sect, the Li Family will soon overshadow our Yu Family at Moongaze Lake!"
The tall and thin man scrutinized their surroundings and murmured, "Qingsui Sword Immortal huh...? The Li Family''s territory seems highly popted. Looks like they''ve invested considerable effort in governing mortals here..."
"It doesn''t look particrly impressive," the chubby man chimed in after scanning the area for a moment before chuckling once more.
"Looks like a poor rural setting, nothingpared to our Yu Family''s Milin Prefecture. How can such a backwater ce raise a Sword Immortal?" he asked.
"Quiet!" Young Master Yu snapped, silencing the fat man.
After flying for a while, they eventually encountered a transparent grand formation shimmering with a faint golden light. Young Master Yu channeled his mana and spoke softly, "The Yu Family from the Milin Prefecture hase to pay our respects. We request an audience with the elders of the Li Family!"
Unlike their brash and brazen approach with the Lu Family, the Yu Family demonstrated great respect when it came to interacting with the Li Family.
As they waited outside the formation, a youth carrying a pitch-ck longbow on his back rose to meet them.
It was Li Xuanfeng.
"I am Li Xuanfeng of the Li Family. May I inquire about the purpose of your visit to our family''s elders?"
Young Master Yu''s demeanor instantly shifted, adopting a more genial expression rather than the arrogance when he was speaking with the Lu Family.
Cupping his fist toward Li Xuanfeng, he introduced himself with a smile.
"Pleased to meet you, Brother Xuanfeng! I am Yu Mugao of the Yu Family, we would like to bring good news to Senior Tongya and discuss some matters with him. Please lead us to him!"
Li Xuanfeng scanned the three men before him with his spiritual sense and discerned that all of them were Qi Cultivators. One had attained the third heavenlyyer, while the other two were at the second heavenlyyer.
Since they hardly posed any threat to Li Tongya and himself, Li Xuanfeng cupped his fist and said, "You''re being too courteous, fellow Daoists. Please follow me this way!"
Li Xuanfeng led the three men through the formation and descended into the courtyard. Shortly after, Li Tongya emerged from his cave dwelling and stepped into their presence.
Upon seeing Li Tongya, Yu Mugao stood up right away, cupping his fist respectfully.
"Pleased to meet you, Senior Tongya! I am Yu Mugao."
Li Tongya appeared to be taken aback by Yu Mugao''s courteous demeanor as he responded, "You''re being too formal, Young Master Yu!"
"Of course, the Li Family of Mount Lijing is where the Sword Immortal is born. I''ve heard that Senior Tongya is also a formidable swordsman... Mugao is extremely impressed!" he eximed.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yu Mugao finally delved into the purpose of his visit.
With a smile, he exined, "When my Yu Family initially joined the Azure Pond Sect a few years ago, we were still unfamiliar with the protocols... Now, the younger generations of our family have gained entry to Yuanwu Peak of the sect. My father has grown concerned with the turmoil guing the families surrounding Wangyue Lake. It''s disheartening to see such a valuable ce like Wangyue Lake frequented by violence with disciples from various families falling victim to senseless killings..."
"That''s why he thought of proposing a gathering of all the families around theke. With a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm from the Yu Family leading the initiative, we aim to integrate resources and spearhead efforts to rebuild the marketce."
Yu Mugao spoke for a while, skillfully emphasizing the Yu Family''s intentions while subtly alluding to their status and strength.
Li Tongya listened attentively, picking up on the Yu Family''s ambition to be the leader in Moongaze Lake.
With two cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm... the Yu Family undeniably wields considerable strength, making their bid to oversee Moongaze Lake understandable. Their courteous demeanor toward my Li Family is merely in consideration of Jing''er''s presence.
We can probably still cover up Jing''er''s death for several decades. With the protection of a Sword Immortal, no ordinary family would dare to offend the Li Family...
With a knowing smile, Li Tongya nodded.
"It''s indeedmendable for the Yu Family to take the lead in this matter, and the Li Family fully supports it."
Upon hearing these words, Yu Mugao''s expression brightened with satisfaction. However, Li Tongya paused slightly indicating that he had more to say. He lowered his head to take a sip of his tea.
Yu Mugao watched him carefully and said, "Given the Yu Family''s role in this initiative, it''s only fair that they receive a portion of the profits from the newly established marketce. After all, the benefits should be shared among those who contribute!"
Li Tongya furrowed his brow at the implication of Yu Mugao''s words. cing his tea bowl down, he responded, "With all the families following the Yu Family''s leadership, I''m sure your family has already received enoughpensation through tributes and other forms of benefits!"
Caught off guard by Li Tongya''s response, Yu Mugao''s smile faltered momentarily as he chuckled awkwardly to mask his difort.
"Ah... yes, of course. But those are merely the families voluntarily expressing their gratitude and showing their appreciation to the Yu Family for their protection."
Casting a nce at Li Tongya, Yu Mugao hurriedly added, "Of course, there''s no need for the Li Family to concern themselves with this matter! As the leader of Moongaze Lake, the Yu Family naturally assumes the primary position, with the Li Family being second. My father holds Qingsui Sword Immortal in high regard, and the Yu Family harbors no ulterior motives toward the Li Family."
Li Tongya shook his head in response.
"There''s no need to consider the Li Family as the second leader. Our strength is modest, and even if we were to upy that position, it would be in name only. The Yu Family''s initiative to lead the establishment of the marketce ismendable, and the Li Family fully supports it. There''s no need for further deliberation on this matter."
Yu Mugao took note of Li Tongya''s decisive statement, interpreting it as a favorable oue.
Feeling relieved, he could not help but smile at his achievement of sessfully oveing even the most challenging obstacle¡ªthe Li Family.
As Li Tongya prepared to see him off, Yu Mugao quickly interjected, "Three days from now, the Yu Family will host a gathering on the ind in the heart of theke to meet with all the families. Please do grace us with your presence, Senior Tongya!"
After saying that, he took out an invitation card, and Li Xuanfeng came forward and epted it. They exchanged a few more words politely before Yu Mugao finally bid his farewell.
Li Tongya saw the three men off and then returned to the courtyard.
Li Xuanfeng descended into the courtyard as well, then shook his sleeves and lifted his head with a gentle smile.
"It seems the Yu Family is courteous toward us, likely because of Fourth Uncle. Otherwise... they wouldn''t have been so amodating, and might even expect tributes from us like the neighboring families," he said with a shake of his head.
However, Li Tongya remained unimpressed, offering an exnation to Li Xuanfeng.
"While the Yu Family certainly possesses strength, their family head is being too hasty and domineering. The families surrounding Moongaze Lake have cultivated deep-rooted rtionships with each other over many years... It''s unreasonable for them to establish a marketce on theke and demand tributes from all families. Their reckless actions have already provoked discontent among the rest. We''ll just have to wait and see how it all ys out!"
Chapter 141: Killing Bear
Chapter 141: Killing Bear
The three members of the Yu Family departed from Mount Lijing and soared high above Moongaze Lake.
Yu Mugao steered through the wind with a grim expression while the two individuals behind him kept their heads lowered, not daring to utter a single word.
It was not until halfway through their journey that the tall, thin man finally mustered a bitter smile and said, "Big Brother, it seems clear that the Li Family wants no part in this. Is he looking down on us?"
Yu Mugao coldly snorted in response.
"Hmph, Li Tongya is really cautious. They''ve made it evident they wish to stay neutral... We can''t force them. We can only treat the Li Family as if they don''t even exist among the Moongaze Lake families and do as we please."
"But..." The tall, thin man shook his head, appearing hesitant as he softly continued, "The Li Family seems strong and newly fortified on all fronts. Both Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya aren''t fools... It''s hard to predict their future actions. If Li Chejing gains power, submitting to them might be our only option. Moongaze Lake could be the Li Family''s territory."
"I share your concerns."
Yu Mugao''s expression darkened as he contemted for a moment.
Eventually, he eased slightly and said, "Upon further consideration, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and attaining the Purple Mansion Realm is no easy feat. The mortality rate on the southern border is rmingly high. Li Chejing might not survive to see the end."
"Secondly, Li Chejing has just attained the Foundation Establishment Realm... He''ll need at least a hundred years of preparation to attain the next realm. Whether it''s cozying up to Azure Pond Mountain or forming alliances with the other families in the prefecture, there''s still time for us to act," he added after further thought.
The tall, thin man nodded in agreement with Yu Mugao''s careful analysis.
Yu Mugao then suggested with a sinister undertone, "We may not be able to control Li Chejing, but we can certainly deal with the Li Family... Perhaps we should seize the opportunity to discreetly eliminate Li Tongya and Li Xuanfeng, or orchestrate some cmities to destabilize them. As long as we''re careful enough, they won''t be able to defend themselves. By doing so, we secure our own position."
"Indeed, we should consult with the Family Head about this n when we return."
With that, the three continued on their journey northward.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Oblivious to the plotting and scheming of the Yu Family¡ªLi Tongya, apanied by Li Xuanfeng¡ªtraversed Mount Dali, guided by the fox''s intelligence.
After journeying hundreds of li eastward from the foot of Mount Dali, they stumbled upon a dark cavern. Before the entrancey scattered white bones and a foul, fishy odor wafted outward with each gust of wind.
Li Tongya and Li Xuanfengnded before the cave. The deafening snores within abruptly ceased.
Li Tongya swept the area with his spiritual sense and chuckled.
"What a formidable bear it is."
He nodded to Li Xuanfeng, who took to the air and stationed himself on the opposite side of the mountain. Li Tongya then unsheathed his sword and sent a few sword qi slicing through the air and into the cavern.
ROAR!
Li Tongya distanced himself from the cave to give himself more space to work with. From within, a behemoth over three meters tall burst forth.
Its massive form cast a shadow over the forest, its ck fur bristling and eyes aze with fury. With thunderous footsteps, it lunged forward, swatting at Li Tongya with a colossal palm.
The bear was a creature at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and its horrifying palm was the size of two human chests.
The size of Li Tongya''s sword qi was akin to a glowing toothpickpared to its massive size. Realizing the futility of a direct confrontation, he swiftly evaded the attack.
BAM!
However, even his retreat was not enough to avoid the full force of the bear''s strike. Under the impact, his feet sunk a little into the ground.
The next moment, the bear had already swung its palm toward him at high speed with no dy. If it were to connect with Li Tongya, it could either severely injure or worse¡ªkill him.
Li Tongya sent a few more sword qi directed toward it as he retreated again.
No wonder the fox warned me to be cautious... This creature is really massive and formidable indeed! Capturing it alive won''t be easy, and engaging with it in battle could risk injury or prove deadly. It might be best to eliminate it first then capture a smaller demon of Qi Cultivation Realm to bring home instead.
While pondering these, Li Tongya had already been forced ten steps backward and unleashed a barrage of sword qi toward the bear. However, the bear easily dissipated the sword qi effortlessly with its iron-like palm.
The creature''s strength was formidable, but it was not sluggish like a boar either. It recognized that Li Tongya''s sword qi was dangerous and opted to either disperse his attacks with its mana-infused palms or withdraw to avoid injuries.
Meanwhile, Li Tongya refrained from employing sword techniques. Instead, he focused on channeling his sword qi to wear down the bear''s strength steadily.
As the two engaged in their fierce exchange, trees copsed and startled birds circled overhead, uncertain of whether to return to their nests amid the great chaos.
Meanwhile, Li Xuanfeng, who was stationed nearby, drew his longbow.
With an arrow made of Ebony Ore nocked on the bowstring and shimmering with golden light, his keen eyes stayed trained on the bear''s every movement as his aura continued growing with each passing moment.
The bear remained fiercely alert, its limbs numbed by the piercing arrow qi.
Despite the difort, it rose to its feet, contending with Li Tongya''s assault while casting suspicious nces around.
It eventually turned its head around, its attention drawn to a distant glimmer of golden light. Before it could react, something had already pierced its chest.
While the bear howled in pain, Li Tongya seized the opportunity to strike. With swift precision, he drew his sword and sliced the bear''s neck with the Celestial Moon sh technique.
However, the bear reacted with remarkable speed, managing to deflect the blow with its massive paw.
Li Tongya''s sword qi, though formidable, had not yet reached its full potential to harm. It merely left a deep bloodied gash on the bear''s paw.
The force of the bear''s counterattack pushed Li Tongya backward, dispersing his concentration.
Startled and greatly intimidated by the pain, the bear turned and fled, leaving behind a trail of destruction as it trampled through the forest.
But before it could get far, Li Xuanfeng''s second arrow pierced through the air, striking the bear from behind and lodging itself deep within the great bear''s body.
The bear bellowed in agony as it dropped to its knees. However, its survival instincts kicked in with full force, propelling it forward once more.
As it desperately attempted to escape, Li Tongya swiftly struck out with his sword, slicing a bloody chunk of flesh from its hindquarters.
The bear let out another pained howl, realizing that attempting to escape would only lead to its demise.
It turned around fiercely to attack Li Tongya, but its movements were slowed tremendously due to its injuries.
Li Tongya''s agile movements allowed him to easily evade the bear''s assault this time. Meanwhile, Li Xuanfeng''s arrow found its mark, further weakening the bear until it eventually copsed to the ground, sumbing to its injuries.
Li Tongya quickly retreated to a safe distance while waiting for the bear''s life force to ebb away slowly.
After the time taken for a stick of incense to burn, Li Xuanfeng emerged from the woods, still cautious.
"Be vignt, demons are known to feign death. We shouldn''t approach it!" he warned.
"I know," Li Tongya replied, nodding approvingly as he looked at the bow in Li Xuanfeng''s hand.
"Your archery skill is quite impressive... Are you utilizing the spiritual orifice in your palm?" he asked.
"Yes," Li Xuanfeng cupped his fist and admitted.
Scratching his head sheepishly, he said, "The bear looked unusually fierce and I worried that going easy on it would cause you harm, so I used full force in my arrows to swiftly eliminate the threat. I feel very guilty that what was supposed to be our ritual offerings is dead."
While Li Xuanfeng was feeling somewhat apprehensive about Li Tongya''s presence, the elder smiled at him and reassured him.
"It''s fine. I was also thinking of hunting down another demon for the ritual offerings instead. Seems like we''re in agreement on this!"
As soon as Li Tongya finished speaking, the bear suddenly stirred from its position, its eyes glowing bright red with fury as it made a final attempt to strike out at them.
However, Li Tongya and Li Xuanfeng evaded its attack with ease and prowess, allowing the creature to copse heavily onto the ground once more.
Blood flowed from its wounds like a crimson river, and it seemed to have ceased making any noise.
Li Tongya, who had been gathering his sword qi for some time, unleashed a burst of white light that swiftly decapitated the demon.
Following this, they hurriedly applied techniques to staunch the bleeding from the demon bear''s wounds before quickly performing the Spirit Sealing Technique on it.
They dismembered the remains of the bear and then stored them in a storage pouch. They even cleaned up the bloodstains on the ground meticulously before soaring to the sky and flying eastward.
"Your mastery of the bow is truly remarkable, Feng''er. Why not document your techniques in a book? That way, future generations of our n can benefit from your expertise."
As they flew eastward, Li Tongya continued, "While our family possesses a variety of spells and techniques, most of them are conventional andck versatility inbat. The most remarkable one among them is the ''Profound Water Sword Technique''... However, not everyone possesses such talent in swordsmanship. If we can introduce another legacy to our family, it would undoubtedly be beneficial."
Chapter 142: Appointment
Chapter 142: Appointment
Li Xuanfeng nodded after some thought, then added, "Writing a book shouldn''t be a problem... but mastering this bow technique is no easy feat for an ordinary person. Without a spiritual orifice in the hand, it would prove challenging to master such a technique. Even if one manages to do so over years, the power will be significantly diminished and they won''t be able to harness the Astral Qi."
"My bow technique relies heavily on Astral Qi... without it, the arrows will lose most of their power which can be quite disheartening," Li Xuanfeng finished with a tight-lipped smile.
Li Tongya frowned slightly, shaking his head in resignation.
"In that case, perhaps you should document it when you have the time... At least it will serve as a record for future generations of our family."
"Understood!"
Afternding on Lijing Peak and checking the time, they realized they still had over a day before the agreed-upon meeting with the Yu Family.
Li Tongya handed over his storage pouch with the bear carcass inside to Li Xuanfeng and gave him a set of instructions.
"Sell these in the prefecture and gather information from the disciples there before returning to report to me."
"Understood," Li Xuanfeng replied eagerly, epting the storage pouch from Li Tongya and bowing before taking off into the wind and flying eastward.
As Li Tongya watched Li Xuanfeng leave, he could not help but smile and mutter to himself.
"This kid..."
When Li Xuanfeng''s figure disappeared from view, Li Tongya mused, "Without an heir for Jing''er, we must keep an eye out for any children with spiritual orifice who could serve as his sessor, ensuring that his lineage continues..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng flew along the Guli Road for a while. Having learned from his previous experiences, he flew over the city wall beforending in the town.
Despite the urge to meet his woman, he remained focused on the task at hand and headed toward the medicine store operated by the Li Family.
Upon entering, he found a young man dozing off behind the counter. Li Xuanfeng managed to identify him as Li Yesheng''s son, whom Li Xuanxuan had sent to oversee the store in the prefecture.
He snorted coldly, then nudged the guy awake. The young man lifted his head and rubbed his eyes drowsily before being startled awake.
"Brother Feng! W-Why... are you..."
Despite being younger, Li Xuanfeng had earned a reputation among the children as a little tyrant, often seen chasing older kids with his bow... and despite being older, the drowsy young man behind the counter addressed him as "Brother Feng".
Li Xuanfeng simply waved dismissively and ignored him.
"Go fetch Wan Tianchou for me."
The young man hurried out of the courtyard and summoned Wan Tianchou.
Wan Tianchou emerged promptly, d in gray clothes. Although his face seemed a lot chubbier and resembled much of how he looked when he was younger, his cultivation had already reached the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
"What can I do for you, Young Master?" he asked respectfully.
Ever since Li Tongya destroyed the Ji Family and presented Ji Dengqi''s head before him, Wan Tianchou had lost his aspirations. He eventually married into the Li Family, but his cultivation progress had remained stagnant ever since.
His wife was an extremely ferocious woman, so he quickly epted his assignment in the prefecture to avoid her wrath at home. While he was having a good time here, he did not expect to be visited by Li Xuanfeng.
"Good thing I stayed home today, otherwise I would have missed your visit, Young Master. Facing my wife''s wrath upon returning home would have been unbearable..."
While Wan Tianchou was pondering the purpose of Li Xuanfeng''s visit, the other man spoke up.
"When will the market on Cloud Crowned Peak open again?" Li Xuanfeng asked curtly.
"It''ll reopen after the first lunar month, Young Master!" Wan Tianchou promptly replied.
"Got it."
Li Xuanfeng nodded, then cast a nce at Wan Tianchou before turning to him to speak.
"How are you doing in the prefecture? Has anyone caused you any trouble?"
"No, not at all! After hearing that we are from the Li Family, the other forces in the prefecture dare not cross us. With assistance from the Xiao Family, everything is smooth sailing!" Wan Tianchou assured him with a proud smile.
After hearing Wan Tianchou''s report, Li Xuanfeng nodded and then bid farewell to the two men before departing.
After leaving the medicine store, he skipped his way to a small courtyard and knocked on the door with a smile.
Jiang Yunu''s soft and alluring voice came from behind the door.
"Who is it?"
"It''s me," Li Xuanfeng answered.
A series of rapid footsteps approached before the door creaked open, revealing the round-faced girl standing before him. Apanying her was a swan goose strutting proudly by her side, its head held high with a nk stare fixed on its face.
"Young Master!"
Li Xuanfeng caught the girl who leaped into his arms but kept his eyes on the swan goose. He grinned foolishly then nted a kiss on her lips before asking, "Why didn''t you eat it?"
"I feel lonely alone here. This swan goose broke its wing, it just flutters around all day. When I was a child, we raised geese at home, so I decided to keep it as a pet!" the girl replied with a jovialugh.
Li Xuanfeng carried her to the bed, then loosened his clothes while saying, "Didn''t I tell you to buy a few servants?"
"I looked, but they''re too expensive! Besides, I''m used to doingundry and cooking. I''m not some nobledy so there''s no need for servants," Jiang Yunu responded sheepishly.
Li Xuanfeng kicked away the stern-looking goose that attempted to peck him while fluttering its wings, then used his mana to restrain the animal to the ground.
He chuckled and remarked, "This goose is really vengeful!"
After enjoying each other''spany between the sheets, Lu Xuanfeng wiped away the sweat that clung to Jiang Yunu''s forehead with a smile.
"How have you been these days?" he asked gently.
"I''ve been doing fine," Jiang Yunu replied, pinning up her hair as sweat rolled down her fair neck.
Sitting in Li Xuanfeng''sp, she wrapped her arms around his neck, gazing at him with her adorable almond-shaped eyes.
"I came to the prefecture to take care of some matters. Once I''m done here, I''ll need to enter seclusion and focus on my cultivation. I''ve been stuck at the first heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm for two years now... it''s time for a breakthrough," Lu Xuanfeng exined with a small sigh.
Jiang Yunu''s expression turned downcast as she asked, "How long will you be staying this time?"
"A few months at least, a year at most," Li Xuanfeng replied, trying to sound asforting as possible.
Jiang Yunu pursed her lips, tracing the unchanged contours of his face over the past year with her fingers.
She tried her best to cheer up, but could not disguise the loneliness in her voice as she spoke.
"You''re an immortal, your cultivation easily takes up years of your life. While I''ll be aging over these few years, you''ll remain as youthful as you are now. That''s really unfair! In twelve years, when I''m twenty-eight, I bet you''ll probably just give me a sum of money and tell me to live out the rest of my life by myself..."
"What are you talking about?" Li Xuanfeng chuckled as he embraced the petite and fair girl tenderly.
"Just wait for a few more years... we''ll have a child. I''ll take you home and make sure no one looks down on you!" he assured her with a soft kiss.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, Li Tongya was practicing the River One Qi Technique.
He exhaled a wisp of white qi, then concluded his training and rose to his feet. The sun was just beginning its ascent into the sky.
He estimated what time it was before slinging his sword over his back and stepping out, coincidentally running into Li Xuanxuan.
"Second Uncle!" Li Xuanxuan cupped his fist and greeted, now sporting a beard that gave him a mature appearance.
It had been nearly a decade since he had overseen the family''s affairs, ensuring that things were well within the major and minor sects.
Li Tongya nodded to him and then announced, "I''m heading out onto theke. Keep a close watch here, and don''t let anyone through the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation unless absolutely necessary."
"Understood, Second Uncle."
After giving his instructions, Li Tongya soared into the air and flew northward, crossing over the crystal-clearke and stopping above the ind at the heart of theke.
The ind was bustling with activity. Arge brown boat was docked on the serene waters, surrounded by a dozen smaller vessels.
Mortals stood on these boats and they were bound with ropes, their expressions nk as they gazed fearfully at the sky, too frightened to utter a word.
"Number twenty-one!" someone shouted on therge boat.
Ten cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm emerged at the stern of the boat, channeling mana into the palm of their hands.
Suddenly, the smaller vessel at the end floated upward, eliciting cries of fear from those aboard. Women sobbed, children wailed, and a cacophony of curses filled the air.
However, the cultivators remained indifferent, their faces impassive as they watched the boat drift toward the sky above the ind at the heart of theke.
With a tilt, the mortals aboard tumbled downward, creating ripples on the surface of the forbidden formation below. Lightning and fire then ensued, detonating spells of light one after another.
The screams of the crowd vanished instantly. Blood and severed limbs soared into the air before raining down, dyeing theke a crimson red.
Crocodiles, shrimps, and crabs surged to theke''s surface, greedily seizing the flesh.
"So... this is what Lu Sisi meant by a venture without any initial investment..." Li Tongya mused.
Chapter 143: Milin Prefecture
Chapter 143: Milin Prefecture
Blood continued to flow over the forbidden formation, and the once lush ind that was protected by the formation quickly turned into scorched earth. As the glow of spells faded, a middle-aged, cowering man came into view, clutching his head. His eyes were shut and he was trembling.
This middle-aged man had a huge gash across his waist, and it was bleeding profusely. After a long while, he opened his eyes in disbelief and looked around. Then, with a burst of ecstaticughter, he hurriedly treated his wound.
After rummaging through the ruins for a while, his face turned even paler from his severe blood loss. Unable to search any further, he wrapped the talismans and dharma artifacts with his clothes before exiting the formation, only to be met by a grumbling cultivator on the shore who snatched the items he had retrieved.
"Damn it, these peasants are trickier than thest... If it weren''t for the need to cooperate with the ones that follow, who would bother giving them gold?!"
After tossing a bag of gold, they hauled the man onto a small boat that could amodate about two or three people.
"Number twenty-one, off you go!" they shouted.
As the small boat departed¡ªwhich was carrying a few lucky ones who survived with only missing limbs¡ªpeople on several small boats at the rear of therge ship looked on in anticipation, waiting for orders from above.
Li Tongya observed such diverse fates on the ind, waiting a while longer. It was not long before an emaciated elder wielding a jade scepter approached from the east, riding the wind.
It was Lu Sisi.
"Brother Tongya!" Lu Sisi cupped his fist and greeted Li Tongya before joining him mid-air.
"The Yu family mentioned meeting here on the ind, but I see none of their kin. From a distance, I only spotted a few minor family heads waiting together in the sky. What does this mean?" he asked in confusion.
Li Tongya, with a low chuckle, nced around and pointed toward the distantrge ship.
"Nothing much... just making an example out of some chickens to scare the monkeys."
Lu Sisi, understanding this gesture,ughed at the misfortune of the people below them.
"I see! We''ve also found these rogue cultivators quite displeasing... but with several Qi Cultivators aboard, none of the families wanted to stir trouble, that''s why they were allowed to roam free for so long."
As they conversed, therge ship suddenly raised its sails in rm, buzzing with activity. Several figures emerged to encircle the ship from all sides, with a formidable-looking man standing abovepletely clothed in ck. He appeared to be middle-aged and exuded an overwhelming presence.
Lu Sisi counted and then remarked, "Nine Qi Cultivators... the Yu Family really is wealthy."
He looked up at the ck-clothed man and continued in a somewhat dejected tone, "That must be the current head of the Yu Family, Yu Xiaogui. We attained the Qi Cultivation Realm the same year, but he''s already a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator now. I''ve dealt with him before... he''s a sinister and ruthless man, not easy to handle at all!"
"Oh?" Li Tongya tutted as he flew closer to therge ship with him.
Lu Sisi continued, "Yu Xiaogui was the leader of the Five Heroes of the Yu Family back in the day. Two of the five have passed away, and of the three who reached the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm and sought breakthroughs, he was the only one who survived."
After standing for a moment in the air, the presence of Yu Xiaogui and his group clearly caused unease among the people below.
An elderly rogue cultivator flew up with a grim expression before pping himself twice in the face. He cupped his fist and pleaded with Yu Xiaogui, "Greetings, head of Yu Family. We''ve ignorantly vited the rules of theke and caused disturbance... I deeply apologize and am willing topensate for any losses!"
This elder was also at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm with a clear flow of true essence, indicating consumption of refined¡ªthough not top-tier¡ªspiritual qi. Despite being significantly older, he addressed Yu Xiaogui as a senior with obsequious ttery.
Yu Xiaogui came forward with an amiable smile on his face. He lifted his arm, revealing his arm that was as smooth as the jade inside the sleeve of his robe. With a wave of his hand, the elder''s head, which was several meters away, immediately burst open like a watermelon. He plummeted to the ship on theke before he could even have the chance to grunt.
This caused argemotion to break out on the ship.
The Qi Cultivators from the Yu Family immediately swarmed in and the formation inscribed onto the ship shone brightly. The area immediately became a battlefield with cultivators shing, causing theke to churn unpredictably. Bursts of spells exploded on the water''s surface.
The few fortunate ships that had just made their escape capsized amidst the turmoil. The injured and drowned vanished beneath the waves, meeting their inevitable end.
"As always! Just as always! That''s Yu Xiaogui''s style," Lu Sisi remarked, shaking his head at the sight of Yu Xiaogui standing with his hands behind his back, finding himself at a loss for words.
Unlike Yu Xiaogui who still looked like a middle-aged man, Lu Sisi had aged significantly, with white hair and limited days ahead.
Li Tongya observed the group while stroking his chin. Noticing their proximity to the ship''s cabin, which would have already ced them within the cultivators'' spiritual sense, he could not help but specte out loud.
"The Yu Family must possess some dharma artifact that conceals their presence... It''s quite effective, considering that it could hide them until they were close to the ship, preventing the rogue cultivators from escaping in rm."
As they spoke, the ship turned into a bloody scene of massacre. The smaller boats that were attached capsized, and hundreds of mortalsy atop the ship''s hull. Many more attempted to swim to the ind but being unfamiliar with the formation, did not know where tond, leading to an even bloodier and unbearable sight.
Soon, the rogue cultivators''rge ship capsized with a thunderous noise. A more magnificent and luxurious ship slowly approached from behind Yu Xiaogui and his people.
With cultivators from the Yu Family still smeared in blood, theynded on the ship. Only then did Yu Xiaogui look up and smile, channeling his mana to amplify his voice to reverberate across theke.
"Honorable Family Heads... please, join us on board for a discussion!"
After a tantalizing pause, people gradually made their way onto the ship from afar. They were seemingly the Yu Family''s entourage and were engaging in cheerful conversation.
Lu Sisi and Li Tongyanded on the ship, their spiritual sense scanning the items on board efficiently. The deck was already set with two rows of stone tables, with Yu Xiaogui seated at the head of it, sipping wine.
Yu Mugao hurriedly came over and greeted them, cupping his fist to Li Tongya while disregarding Lu Sisi by his side.
"Senior Tongya, you''ve arrived early. We apologize for making you wait!"
"Not at all, it actually allowed me to witness the distinguished demeanor of your esteemed Family Head!" Li Tongya politely responded, to which Yu Xiaogui, sitting at the head, looked up. He ced his wine cup down and squinted at him, seeming to be pondering something silently.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, all the families finally arrived. Only two families on theke had Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators¡ªthe Yu Family from the east coast and the Fei Family from the north coast.
Li Tongya was seated next to Yu Xiaogui, directly across from the Fei Family, a position that was quite conspicuous. Li Tongya frowned upon noticing Yu Xiaogui''s gaze and took his seat reluctantly.
The head of the Fei Family, also a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm, was dressed in brocade and appeared much younger and more elegant than Yu Xiaogui.
He smiled slightly at Li Tongya, who returned the gesture with a nod, acknowledging each other''s intentions.
Yu Xiaogui, seeing that everyone was present, nodded and stood up with an arrogant smile.
"Thank you all for being here on time, giving face to my Yu Family. I, Xiaogui, am grateful to everyone." His voice boomed loudly.
The representatives from the other families quickly stood up, saying they dared not take credit.
Yu Xiaogui waved them off, interrupting their polite refusals, and continued, "Ever since the immortal mansion had secluded itself from the world, the Azure Pond Sect, and the Golden Tang Gate had divided the Moongaze Lake, leading to continuous conflicts. There hasn''t been a single day of peace on theke. The rise and fall of various ns over more than three hundred years have led to unbearable chaos... I presume everyone has had enough."
Lu Sisi, caught off guard by the speech, internally cursed at Yu Xiaogui for his slyness. "Everyone''s been livingfortably; who would want the Yu Family to rise above them..?! He sure knows how to sugarcoat things..." he thought to himself grumbly.
Despite thinking this way, he agreed aloud respectfully. "What the family head Yu said is true!"
"I knew it."
Yu Xiaogui nodded and beamed before ncing at Li Tongya, who remained silent at his side. He then turned to look at the brocade-d middle-aged man who seemed more interested in his wine cup.
He smiled, "Fortunately, Golden Tang Gate has retreated, and Azure Pond Sect has moved north... Finally, Moongaze Lake hase under a unified jurisdiction. The end of these chaotic days is near."
Pausing for dramatic effect, he continued, "My son has been epted into Yuanwu Peak, and through his request to the peak''s master, it was reported to the main peak. The entire Moongaze Lake has been designated as a separate jurisdiction, and removed from Lixia Prefecture. Our Yu Family''s twelve towns will form a new prefecture, named Milin Prefecture. From now on, you all will no longer need to submit your tributes at Lixia Prefecture; it can now be done directly at Milin!"
Chapter 144: Yu Mujian
Chapter 144: Yu Mujian
Upon hearing these words, a tumult arose from the seats below. The family heads disyed varied expressions, whispering among each other.
Li Tongya nodded slightly as well, finally understanding where the Yu Family''s audacity stemmed from, and was left to ponder to himself.
With a family boasting two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, a disciple practicing in Yuanwu Peak, securing a unique jurisdiction to control the fate of the surrounding ns, and these coupled with the rebuilding of the market after the destruction of the Moongaze Lake Market to control the flow of goods, all advantages lie with the Yu Family! Should all ns seed, the Yu Family indeed will solidify their dominance over theke...
However, Yu Xiaogui, despite his ruthless actions, is overly impulsive and takes too many risks. Such a straightforward and forceful control over the other ns may backfire instead...
His gaze swept across the visibly upset head of the Fei Family opposite him. The middle-aged man was dressed in white, frowning as he held his cup. He caught Li Tongya''s nce briefly.
Although the two were unaware of each other''s names, having never met before, they found themselves aligned in interests in regards to the Yu Family''s aggression.
The murmurs among the family heads ceased instantly, including those previously rallying behind the Yu Family¡ªwho fell silent almost immediately. Everyone understood the gravity of the situation; no one dared to speak up.
"What do you all think?" Yu Xiaogui sneered, anticipating the reaction of the family heads.
He was indifferent to the response of most ns, his attention fixed on a few whose disciples were cultivating within sects or who had strong backing. Seeing them all silent, with both the Li and Fei families not uttering a word, he pressed on, "Lu Sisi, what does your Lu Family think?"
Lu Sisi, momentarily stunned, wore a bitter smile on his aged face. Knowing full well of Yu Xiaogui''s intentions yet fearing retaliation, he sighed, "If the Yu Family leads, of course it''s for the best..."
His voice trailed off, and Yu Xiaogui, still with a cold expression, then dered loudly to the audience before him, "If there are no further objections, then the market matter is settled! I hope for your support when the timees."
Li Tongya internally scoffed.
A trip to Lixia Prefecture is but a few hours away; what difference would it make to a Qi Cultivator? The Yu Family''s market will only attract those at the Embryonic Breathing Realm and we won''t be seeing substantial profits for the next few decades.
An air of unresolved tension hung over the family heads, powerless against the Yu Family''s dominance.
As the atmosphere at the banquet grew colder, Li Tongya nced down at the delicacies before him, cautiously refraining from partaking in the feasting.
Much to his surprise, a middle-aged man from the Yu Family stepped forward, cupping his fist, "I''ve heard of the Li Family Head''s exceptional swordsmanship. I, too, practice the sword and would like to request your guidance."
Li Tongya sighed quietly, his spiritual sense briefly scanning the man to only discover that this man was at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
So it hase to this... they really do hold me in high regard.
Everyone''s attention instantly focused on Li Tongya. Ever since the Qingsui Sword Immortal, Li Chejing, defeated Chi Zhiyun in Yi Mountain City with a single Celestial Moon Sword Intent, the reputation of the Li Family of Lijing had resounded across thekeside prefectures. All the families were eager for someone to test the Li Family, and the Yu Family''s probing aligned with everyone''s wishes.
For a moment, the atmosphere at the banquet became lively, and even the head of the Fei Family looked up in interest for once.
Li Tongya, under the pressure of everyone''s gaze, simply smiled. However, he showed no desire to take the spotlight, declining politely.
"I''m not sure where you heard such rumors... but I''m afraid I cannot oblige."
The mood cooled down immediately, and the middle-aged man from the Yu Family gritted his teeth when he heard his response.
"A swordsman should advance fearlessly! Yet, Brother Tongya shrinks back... is this the Li Family''s attitude?" he spat rudely.
Yu Xiaogui gestured for him to stop, raising his cup with a smile, "I''d still ask for Brother Tongya to give our family this honor."
With the conversation having reached this point, Li Tongya had no choice but to stand up and move to the center of the boat.
He cupped his fist and introduced himself, "Li Tongya of the Li Family from Lijing."
"Yu Mujian of the Yu Family from Milin," Yu Mujian coldly introduced himself in return, drawing his sword and immediatelyunching an attack toward Li Tongya with a chilling sword glow.
Li Tongya, upon a brief scan with his spiritual sense, knew this man''s swordsmanship posed no threat. However, he felt an inexplicable familiarity with the sword in the man''s hand, prompting him to be more cautious.
Li Tongya drew his sword to block his attack, not going on the offensive but simply and skillfully deflecting each of Yu Mujian''s sword aura and qi with almost no effort at all.
After over a dozen attacks, with Yu Mujian having exhausted most of his sword techniques without making Li Tongya so much as to shift his stance, his expression turned ugly.
The families above watched intently as Li Tongya stood still, effortlessly neutralizing Yu Mujian''s aggressive assaults, earning a round of apuse.
"Li Tongya''s swordsmanship is far superior, Yu Mujian is no match at all!"
"As expected of a Sword Immortal n!" praised another.
Yu Mujian''s face grew even darker, and Yu Xiaogui''s smile slowly faded. He was observing coldly and was lost in his own thoughts.
Such sophisticated sword moves, and such a solid foundation in swordsmanship... The Li Family indeed has a swordsmanship legacy, starting from at least Grade Three!
"You!"
Yu Mujian red at him, forming a hand seal with his left hand while his right hand held the sword which suddenly lit up with a hazy white glow, exuding Sharp Qi. Once again, he shed toward Li Tongya aggressively.
"The Yu family''s sword technique!" someone shouted from below.
Yu Mujian''s face showed a hint of pride, his strikes slower but each with great momentum and force, pressing toward Li Tongya.
After several exchanges, boos filled the air as Li Tongya still stood unmoving in his spot with his sword in hand, effortlessly countering his attacks.
Even the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in the white brocade robe from the Fei Family snickered softly. This was an action that clearly irritated Yu Xiaogui.
"Is that all you can do, Li Tongya? Seems like that Qingsui Sword Immortal was just a nobody, and only good at defense!" Yu Mujian spat through gritted teeth. He was visibly flustered and recklessly cursing, causing an immediate shift in the atmosphere among the family heads seated above.
The white-robed Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from the Fei Family was almost bursting intoughter.
Yu Xiaogui''s face changed drastically, and he hastily shouted, "Fool! Be quiet!"
Li Tongya''s expression finally changed, a frown forming and a sh of anger in his eyes.
He repelled Yu Mujian''s attack with a single sword strike, sheathed his sword, and then drew it again swiftly. A radiant arc of white sword light then burst forth, heading straight for Yu Mujian.
"Mercy, please!"
Just as the brilliant sword light rose, Yu Xiaogui had already stepped forward.
Caught off guard, Yu Mujian hastily parried with three strikes, but against the Celestial Moon sh technique, his efforts shattered like paper. He stumbled backward, pale-faced and on the verge of being wounded when a pair of hands as white as jade caught the bright sword arc in front of him.
With a movement of Yu Xiaogui''s left hand, he forcibly dissipated the sword arc into scattered Sharp Qi before pulling Yu Mujian aside and angrily demanding, "The Qingsui Sword Immortal is not someone you can insult at will! Apologize now!"
Yu Mujian sputtered a few words before finally gritting his teeth and biting down on his tongue.
"I was careless with my words and offended the esteemed Sword Immortal... Please forgive me," he apologized, albeit reluctantly.
Yu Xiaogui, both angry and anxious, now had to humbly apologize for his disciple''s offense despite losing face and having to make amends now. Smiling outwardly but seething with rage internally, he said, "I failed to discipline him properly, leading to the offense against Senior Chejing from Lijing. Brother Tongya, please forgive us! Whatever punishment you deem fit for him, my Yu Family will ept."
While still maintaining a pleasant facade, Yu Xiaogui was furious.
One incapable son has nearly ruined me! Fortunately, Mujian is smarter, otherwise, the future of our Yu Family would be most uncertain...
Li Tongya smiled softly, picking up Yu Mujian''s fallen sword from the ground and offering sage advice, "Cultivating the sword path doesn''t solely depend on sharpness."
Seeing Yu Mujian''s defiant look, Li Tongya earnestly added, "To advance sharply is to retreat swiftly. The essence of drawing des lies in concealment. If you take my words to heart, your swordsmanship can advance further."
"Since the head of the Yu Family proposed a punishment, I''ll keep this sword with me. Once you can control your Sharp Qi at will,e to Mount Lijing to retrieve your sword," he added.
Yu Mujian was visibly shaken by these words, but Yu Xiaogui nodded slightly, feeling relieved instead.
Li Tongya''s remarks gracefully defused the situation, transforming a peer challenge into a junior''s request for guidance, effectively saving the Yu Family from embarrassing themselves.
"Thank you, Senior," Yu Mujian murmured with a dazed look on his face.
The surrounding family heads whispered among themselves after witnessing, with one praising Li Tongya loudly.
"Senior Tongya is truly a gentleman!"
Chapter 145: Father and Son of the Yu Family
Chapter 145: Father and Son of the Yu Family
At the age of forty-five, Li Tongya was significantly younger than most present here, standing out for having attained the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Even the 187-year-old Lu Sisi had only attained the seventh heavenlyyer. Naturally, everyone respectfully referred to him as a senior.
He cupped his fist politely to the other family heads before sheathing his long sword, gracefully returning to his seat. Yu Xiaogui''s expression brightened slightly as he nodded and said, "The Li Family''s swordsmanship is indeed unmatched around theke and far superior to our Yu Family''s... Today has been quite the eye-opener for me."
By attributing Yu Mujian''s defeat to the superiority of the Li Family''s swordsmanship rather than ack of talent in the Yu Family, everyone heard a light chuckle from Li Tongya. He let thement slide, preferring to keep a lower profile to ensure the other families remained wary of the Yu and Fei families.
After all, Lu Sisi doesn''t have many years left. With the An Family and the Lu Family traditionally allied, once Lu Sisi passes away, the delicate bnce between the three families will break, presenting an opportunity for the Li Family... It''s best to keep things as calm as possible before then, avoiding unnecessaryplications!
Having achieved their goal and tested Li Tongya''s swordsmanship, Yu Xiaogui found an excuse to leave the banquet. Soon, the other ns followed suit and also departed, one by one.
Li Tongya deliberately avoided Lu Sisi and headed back to the southern shore alone.
Gliding over the crystal-clearke, Li Tongya reflected to himself.
Yu Xiaogui is ruthless and impulsive, but he''s smart for affiliating themselves with the Yu Family which is rising to prominence... He''s no doubt a difficult adversary. Then there''s Yu Mugao¡ªequally ruthless but more cautious, likely even harder to deal with than his father... It seems like our good days are numbered!
Flying south for a while, Li Tongyanded on a small islet. After waiting a moment, he soon caught sight of a middle-aged man in a white brocade robe approaching from afar,nding gracefully on the islet with an air of great elegance and sophistication. He was none other than the head of the Fei Family.
"Brother Tongya, what a coincidence! I am Fei Wangbai of the Fei Family. Your reputation precedes you!"
Fei Wangbai appeared to be in his forties, however, he was actually over a hundred years old! As he observed Li Tongya, noting his calm and reliable demeanor, his smile became even more gentle.
"Likewise, Senior. You tter me!"
Li Tongya dared not presume himself to be on equal terms with a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, hence promptly addressing Fei Wangbai as a senior.
Seeing Fei Wangbai stroke his beard and smile, he said, "Apart from an old rogue cultivator on the western shore, there are three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators on thiske. The Yu Family ounts for two of them, with Yu Xiaogui at the early stage and Yu Yufeng the White Jade Fist at thete stage of Foundation Establishment Realm. I''m just a nobody who broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm twenty years ago; hardly someone who could be called a senior!"
Fei Wangbai''s intention was clear, and both men understood each other''s stance well. Seeing Li Tongya smile slightly, Fei Wangbai continued, "Among the younger generation of the Yu Family, Yu Mujian is brave and values friendship, achieving Qi Cultivation Realm at the age of forty. Yu Mugao and others are shrewd and ruthless¡ªa deadlybination, and are no fools at all, which makes us quite envious..."
"I understand."
Li Tongya nodded thoughtfully before changing the subject. He asked solemnly, "In your opinion, with the current chaotic situation on the Guli Road...is it possible for the Yu Family''s market to operate smoothly, Senior?"
Fei Wangbai shook his head and a smile crept onto his face.
"That won''t be easy... I have a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator friend in the prefecture who told me that a band of thieves has been roaming the Guli Road. If Yu Yufeng personally oversees the market, it might be fine. However, if Yu Yufeng encounters something that takes him away from the market, I fear there will be trouble!"
Li Tongya immediately understood Fei Wangbai and the others'' ns but did not want to get involved, fearing Fei Wangbai might misunderstand. "It''s a pity my swordsmanship is too conspicuous, attracting jealousy. Otherwise, I would have liked to offer my support," he quickly added hastily.
"That won''t be necessary."
Fei Wangbaiughed heartily in response to hearing that, noting that Li Tongya was not specific on who the offer was for¡ª the Yu Family or the thieves.
Knowing that the Li Family also supported this matter, he finally nodded and spoke nonchntly, "The Yu Family is now dominant. If the families cannot produce another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, I fear they''ll be preyed upon and gradually extinguished over the next hundred years... Although the Li Family is under the protection of a Sword Immortal and the Yu Family dares not cross this line, nothing is guaranteed. Remember, the demise of one leads to the vulnerability of another..."
Li Tongya cupped his fist, deciding to no longer hold back his thoughts and opinions. He spoke his next words in great earnest and fervor, "In the days toe, there will be many opportunities for cooperation between our two families... My Li Family is in the south, and the Fei Family is in the north; geographically, we are natural allies. I am not short-sighted enough to sit by and watch the Yu Family grow unchecked!"
With this, the two men simply smiled at each other before bidding farewell and returned to their own homes.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After the cultivators on the ship had dispersed, Yu Mugao led his two n brothers¡ªone tall and the other plump¡ªinto the cabin. There in the spacious main cabin, arge chair was ced up high where Yu Xiaogui plopped onto with a somewhat gloomy and somber expression.
Upon seeing Yu Mugao enter, he sternly said, "Come here."
Yu Mugao approached quickly, noticing Yu Xiaogui''s fixed gaze on the wooden floor, his demeanor somewhat dark and unreadable. Yu Xiaogui suddenly asked, "What''s the origin of Mujian''s sword? Have you sent someone to inquire about it?"
"I too harbored doubts and had already asked the fourth brother about it," Yu Mugao replied, having anticipated the question.
"That sword is a dharma artifact of the Qi Cultivation Realm... originally acquired by our ancestor during the destruction of Lingyu Gate. It looks unremarkable, and its material is unremarkable too. There''s nothing special about it," he exined.
"Oh?"
Yu Xiaogui''s brow eased slightly at this, his hand lifting lightly as he muttered, "Seems I was overthinking it."
"Then Li Tongya..."
Both father and son started to speak at the same time but abruptly stopped.
Yu Xiaogui nodded approvingly at Yu Mugao, his eyes filled with satisfaction. With a slight lift of his hand resting on the armchair, hemanded, "You, speak!"
Nodding, Yu Mugao then said in a deep voice, "Li Tongya is calm and restrained, like... like a ck mamba lurking in the corner, just waiting for the chance to strike. Father, don''t be fooled by his quiet and respectful demeanor... He is not someone to be underestimated. If we look down on him, we mighte to regret it."
Yu Xiaogui looked up, slightly surprised, putting down his teacup gently. He valued Li Tongya as well, but Yu Mugao''s assessment of him was much higher than he had anticipated.
After pondering for a moment, he asked, "What do you think we should do about him?"
"While he has yet to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, we should overpower him, lure him out, and secretly eliminate him. As long as no one knows that we''ve gotten rid of him, the Moongaze Lake will sooner orter be ours."
Yu Mugao''s expression was fierce, his teeth clenched. His eyes had a glint of malice in them.
However, Yu Xiaogui shook his head, his expression bing peculiarly stoic and unreadable. "You always say I act rashly, yet you are far more impulsive in this matter... Li Tongya has the backing of the Qingsui Sword Immortal, a genius disciple of the Azure Pond Sect. How can we simply dispose of him so carelessly? If the sect investigates and uses a Heart-Questioning Talisman, how would our Yu Family cope? We would likely find ourselves in big trouble!" he reprimanded sternly, his voice hard.
Yu Mugao''s expression froze, reluctantly nodding in agreement as he cupped his fist and said, "You''re right, I was being too reckless."
"Even if we can''t deal with Li Tongya directly, we must curb the rise of the Li Family."
Yu Xiaogui refilled his cup, then continued with a smile, "Once the market matter is settled and we are free, we''ll n to eliminate a few of the Li Family''s younger generation. Make the Li Family suffer a break in lineage, just like our ancestors did with the Wan Family. They had secretly schemed for decades and by the time Wan Huaqian finally realized it, it was toote for him to do anything. He was forced to enter seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment Realm, only to meet a tragic end with the decline of his family."
Yu Mugao''s face also lit up with a smile, murmuring, "Exactly! The Li Family now is exactly like the Wan Family back then, except for the fact that our Yu Family is even stronger now. Back then, we covertly pressured the Wan Family''s Qi Cultivators, secretly preserving the Ji Family... Now, it''s the turn of the An and Lu families!"
"By the way, Gao''er, there''s something I need to ask you."
Yu Xiaogui suddenly put down his teacup, his voice bing grave.
"I''ve heard that the An Family has produced a prodigy named An Jingming, who has attained Qi Cultivation Realm at fourteen. This is remarkable!"
Yu Mugao''s expression turned serious, "Father, rest assured, I''ve already sent people to keep an eye on him. The moment An Jingming leaves the An Family, I''ll be informed... The An Family won''t have the chance to produce another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator!"
Yu Xiaogui then nodded, smiling warmly with satisfaction stered on his face.
"I never have to worry about anything when you''re the one handling things."
Chapter 146: River Crossing Torrential Step
Chapter 146: River Crossing Torrential Step
Chapter 146: River Crossing Torrential Step
Li Tongya returned home, and with Li Xuanfeng not yet back from the prefecture, he returned to his cave dwelling on Meiche Peak instead.
Opening the stone door, he lightly tapped his storage pouch. A rather simple-looking longsword materialized in his hand right away.
"This long sword of Yu Mujian... Its material seems unremarkable," he muttered to himself as he inspected the sword, noting an engraved ''Yu'' character[1] on the hilt, finally understanding the source of the familiar feeling he felt.
"Ah... so it''s an artifact from Lingyu Gate," he murmured to himself.
Activating his spiritual sense, he channeled the River True Essence from within him into the sword, causing it to emit a bright light.
Li Tongya channeled about ten percent of his mana into the sword, and soon enough, a sound of rushing water emerged. His eyes lit up as he heard this, and he continued pouring more true essence into the de.
The River True Essence condensed by the River One Qi Technique was naturally powerful in the first ce, and after receiving empowerment from the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, Li Tongya''s mana was astonishingly vast¡ªmuch like the ocean.
Now, even ten percent of his mana wasparable to half of the mana for an average early-stage Qi Cultivator.
The sound of the water emanating from the sword became increasingly violent.
After several moments focused on channeling his mana into the sword, one stroke of the ''Yu'' character on the sword hilt suddenly lit up.
It took about fifty percent of Li Tongya''s true essence and the time taken to burn a stick of incense to fully illuminate the entire ''Yu'' character.
"Hm... the mana required for this feat far surpassed the capability of a peak Qi Cultivator. It seems this sword was originally intended to select cultivators who practiced the River One Qi Technique and reached the Foundation Establishment Realm..."
Recalling the River Mountain Sutra, Li Tongya had a n.
Considering Zhang Yun''s words, The River One Qi Technique is likely a preliminary technique to the technique in the River Mountain Sutra. If I can unlock that jade slip, my family will possess aplete legacy of the Purple Mansion Realm!
While he pondered these thoughts, the sword in his hand buzzed and levitated, emitting shimmering water light that illuminated the cave. It projected onto the cave walls, revealing a series of hidden text.
"The River Crossing Torrential Step..?"
Li Tongya was overjoyed.
Footwork techniques were the rarest among all the techniques. Not only were they expensive, but they were also seldom seen for sale. He eagerly memorized the content projected by the water light. After a brief moment, the light finally dimmed.
The River Crossing Torrential Step was a footwork technique from Lingyu Gate, sealed in the sword by a predecessor named Xiao Xianyou. The text mentioned that he acquired this footwork technique at a mountain river, and at the end, it even included a minor technique called the Blood Escape Technique, an escape method that consumed essence qi and life and only to be used in times of desperation, potentially saving one''s life in critical moments.
"River Crossing Torrential Step is a Grade Three footwork technique... Xiao Xianyou sealed the Lingyu Gate''s legacy into this sword, using sword light to pass on the legacy. It appears this predecessor''s swordsmanship was also quite profound!" Li Tongya marveled, his eyes twinkling in slight amazement.
"This footwork technique, whether forbating enemies or escaping, provides a safeguard for the descendants of my Li Family. This is truly a great find!" he added joyously.
Keeping the sword levitating mid-air with his mana, Li Tongya bowed slightly as a gesture of gratefulness and respect to the predecessor.
An epiphany struck him as he thought, The Xiao family of Lixia ims legacy from Lingyu Gate, and this predecessor also bears the surname Xiao... Could he be an ancestor of Lixia''s Xiao Family?
Putting the sword away, Li Tongya considered visiting the Xiao Family to inquire further and took out a jade slip to carefully record everything with his spiritual sense.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfengnded in the market of Cloud Crowned Peak, noticing a decrease in foot trafficpared to previous years. After all, it was usually busier during the days of tribute payment when many ns were busy trading in the market. Now, on an ordinary day, it was not nearly as lively.
Li Xuanfeng entered a leather shop and called over a few attendants of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, dropping bear meat sealed with a spell from his pouch onto the floor with a ttering sound.
"How many Spirit Stones can this fetch?"
The attendants nodded vigorously at his request. Upon seeing that it was a demonic beast of Qi Cultivation Realm, they hurriedly called over the shop owner who was a Qi Cultivator and d in leather.
He evaluated the bear meat with an eager gaze before speaking. "Fellow Daoist, this bear meat is full of spiritual qi and hasn''t been dead for long... I''ll value it at twenty-one Spirit Stones!" he dered cheerfully.
Li Xuanfeng nodded. As a seasoned demonic beast hunter, he was familiar with the market and found the price reasonable. He quickly agreed, exchanging the goods for Spirit Stones and pocketing them, feeling satisfied with the earnings.
Stepping out, he encountered a young man in fox fur who greeted him with a warm smile.
"Brother Xuanfeng, we meet again!"
"Brother Changdie!" Li Xuanfeng greeted Liu Changdie in a cheery manner.
The young man held jade beads in hand and wore a pristine fox fur coat.
"I was looking for a formation material in the market and didn''t expect to run into you! Let''s sit down for a chat; my treat!" he proposed generously.
Pulling Li Xuanfeng toward a nearby tavern, Li Xuanfeng, in high spirits, agreed and followed him inside.
Liu Changdie was the first to strike a conversation between the two.
"Is the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation working well?"
"Perfectly fine!" Li Xuanfeng replied right away with a nod.
After ordering a few dishes and bringing up the wine, Liu Changdie pondered for a moment, then thought to himself, It''s been over a decade since that demonic disaster... I wonder if this fellow in front of me has any news about it. However, considering the fact that the cmity affected the Azure Pond Sect and Golden Tang Gate, Li Xuanfeng might not be aware.
Filtering his thoughts, Liu Changdie came to his own conclusion.
Might as well ask; who knows if there might be some knowledge to gain...?
With this thought, he smiled at Li Xuanfeng and leaned forward in a casual manner.
"Brother Xuanfeng, have you heard of someone named Jiang Yan?"
"Jiang Yan...?" Li Xuanfeng mumbled as he thought for a moment. After a brief pause, he realized he had no clue and chuckled.
"Never heard of him! Why? Are you looking for this person?" he asked, rather amused.
"Haha, just asking!" Liu Changdie replied as he quickly changed the subject, feeling somewhat helpless inside. He had hoped to achieve great things in this life, but aside from cultivating faster and bringing back his knowledge of array formations, he found almost nothing else useful.
The powerful figures from his past life had not yet risen, and they never publicly shared their rise to power, leaving Liu Changdie at a loss on how to seize an advantage beforehand. He only remembered some major events from his past life, barely managing to establish some rtionships with potential figures.
Feeling somewhat downtely, he spent his days setting up formations for others to earn some Spirit Stones while feeling uncertain about his own future.
Seeing the carefree Li Xuanfeng, he could not help but feel envious.
"Brother Xuanfeng... what do you think is the meaning of life?"
Caught off guard and a bit amused by such a sudden question, Li Xuanfeng simply waved off the question. "Just to live a happy life, that''s all!" he responded with a light-heartedugh.
With this statement, an unrestrained and unruly aura enveloped him. Liu Changdie replied with an incredulous look, "Brother Xuanfeng, your words are almost demonic, resembling the chaos sown by the demonic faction..."
Li Xuanfengughed heartily before picking up a piece of demonic beast meat and sipping another mouth of wine. "Whether it''s the righteous path or the demonic path... when the top sects disregard lives so loosely, how are they any different from the demonic faction? Themon people struggle to survive. I care for not much in this world; as long as my family is not bullied, I can drink and eat meat freely, I don''t care if the world falls apart!" he proimed with a tight smile.
Setting down his wine cup, Li Xuanfeng solemnly said, "Life is full of disappointments... When faced with adversity, grit your teeth and get through it. When times are good, make the most of it! Otherwise, you''ll regret it when you die someday..."
"Brother Xuanfeng is really..." Liu Changdie chuckled wryly, finding Li Xuanfeng''s carefree demeanor somewhat rxing.
Since his rebirth, he had been constantly calcting nonstop, leading to him being exhausted and dizzy from such extensive effort. He found time spent with Li Xuanfeng to be quite rxing in contrast.
"However, Brother Xuanfeng... we shouldn''t speak too inly in public," Liu Changdie cautioned after scanning their surroundings.
Since it was still early in the day, there were only very few people around. He breathed a sigh of relief and raised his cup to Li Xuanfeng with a smile.
Raising his cup, Li Xuanfeng suddenly thought of the old man named Xu San. He felt a squeeze in his heart and mumbled to himself, "Xu San, just wait! When the opportunity arises, I''ll also make Golden Tang Gate taste blood!"
1. "Yu" as in the "yu" Lingyu, not the "Yu" in Yu Mujian. ?
Chapter 147: Seclusion
Chapter 147: Seclusion
Li Xuanfeng bid farewell to Liu Changdie and left some money behind for Jiang Yunu, then rode the wind southward along the Guli Road for a few hours. The faint golden light dome enveloped in misty clouds of Mount Lijing appeared before him.
Landing on the mountaintop, he was greeted by the cheerful Li Xuanxuan.
Seeing Li Xuanxuan''s contagious smile, Li Xuanfeng could not help but smile as well.
"Brother Xuan, what''s making you so happy?" he asked with a grin.
"Second Uncle has acquired a treasure sword containing a footwork legacy from Lingyu Gate called the River Crossing Torrential Step, it''s a Grade Three technique! Naturally, that''s a cause for joy!" Li Xuanxuan replied with almost a chirp in his tone.
He handed over a jade slip before continuing, "Everyone at home has read and memorized it; Second Uncle has already entered seclusion to practice it... You should read it quickly!"
Li Xuanfengughed as he took the jade slip, scanned it briefly with his spiritual sense, and nodded seriously.
"Great timing! It''s Lu and An families'' turn to guard the mine vein, and there are no affairs at home that need attention... I''m also nning to enter seclusion to make a breakthrough. I''ll take this jade slip with me and leave the home matters to you, brother."
Li Xuanxuan nodded in agreement, waving his hand dismissively to assure him.
"That''s good news! You go ahead and focus on your seclusion."
With Li Xuanxuan and Chen Donghe both already having condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and attained the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, the family''s safety should not be an issue for concern at all.
Li Xuanfeng nodded before pocketing the jade slip, then flew toward Meiche Peak to begin his cultivation in seclusion.
Li Xuanxuan descended the mountain only to be approached hastily by Li Xuanling, appearing to have an eager announcement to make.
"Brother Xuan! People from the Yu Family have arrived at the front yard, asking to see you."
"Not Qi Cultivators..?" Li Xuanxuan frowned.
Usually, when other families visited, Qi Cultivators would inquire from outside the formation; only messengers or disciples of the Embryonic Breathing Realm would send someone to formally announce their arrival.
"He''s a Qi Cultivator who came down riding the wind. He specifically said not to disturb n Uncle Tongya, so I came up to report," Li Xuanling answered.
Li Xuanxuan nodded, puzzled. Nheless, he straightened his clothes and walked toward the courtyard. There, he spotted a middle-aged man in a long robe sitting on a chair, fidgeting with the wooden armrest¡ªclearly uneasy. His aura was formidable, indicating he was at least a mid-stage Qi Cultivator.
"Li Xuanxuan of the Li Family greets the elder," Li Xuanxuan greeted as he announced his presence, cupping his fist.
The middle-aged man returned the gesture right away and upon realizing the visitor was not Li Tongya, looked visibly relieved. He carried a sword on his back and looked rather stiff. He then introduced himself politely.
"Yu Family''s Yu Mujian."
Yu Mujian lost face in the spar on the boat and got severely reprimanded by Yu Xiaogui upon returning home. Coinciding with the Yu Family''s market opening, Yu Xiaogui sent him to apologize to Li Tongya and also to extend an invitation to the Li Family to attend the opening ceremony.
All the way, Yu Mujian felt aggrieved, fearing that Li Tongya would think he hade to reim the sword.
Heaven pity him! All this talk of "Sharp Qi" and "control it at his will" left Yu Mujian utterly confused.
He did not understand even a single word of his.
He thought he grasped the essence of swordsmanship, yet he failed toprehend Li Tongya''s words. Ashamed to meet Li Tongya, he chose to follow the process for Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators when visiting the Li Family.
Upon inquiring with Li Xuanling, he learned that Li Tongya was in seclusion and not receiving guests, which was a relief for him.
Even heaven couldn''t bear to see me embarrassed further...
He could not help but blush sheepishly to himself at the thought.
However, when he met Li Xuanxuan and introduced themselves, Li Xuanxuan realized who he was and could not contain his surprise.
"So, you are Senior Mujian!"
His exmation hit Yu Mujian like a bolt of lightning. Realizing he had made aplete fool of himself to the extent that even people across theke had found out, he gulped and asked awkwardly, "You''ve heard of me?"
Seeing Yu Mujian''s expression, Li Xuanxuan quickly changed the subject, smiling.
"Elder Tongya, my second uncle, told me that among the families around theke, only Young Master Yu Mujian''s swordsmanship can truly be called the way of the sword! The rest are merely hacking with swords."
Though thement was meant as fickle ttery, the simple-minded Yu Mujian took it to heart, delighted. Recalling his provocations on the boat, he felt deep guilt, sighing as he looked up at the sky.
"Li Tongya is truly a gentleman! I am the lesser man."
Li Xuanxuan was stunned, unable to keep up with his train of thought. Yu Mujian sighed before handing over the invitation to Li Xuanxuan. "Once Senior Tongya emerges from seclusion, I must personally visit to apologize!" he said solemnly with a grim smile.
While still muttering words like "Sharp Qi" and " control it at his will", Yu Mujian disappeared into the distance, leaving Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling looking at each other in bewilderment.
"This person..." Li Xuanling was at a loss for words, and even Li Xuanxuan was somewhat puzzled as he opened the invitation card.
The Yu Family had already informed the families about the event on the boat but made a special effort to deliver a formal invitation to the Li Family, both as a gesture of respect and as an attempt at goodwill.
After reading the invitation, Li Xuanxuan made up his mind and instructed, "Brother Qiuyang is good in his way of handling things... Sending someone with his cultivation will not make the Li Family appear too ostentatious as well!"
Time flowed like a river, and over the past year, with not much happening at home, Li Xuanxuan diligently practiced while keeping an eye on the movements of various families. However, mastering theplex and profound ''River Crossing Torrential Step'' from Lingyu Gate was not a feat that could be simply achieved in a day or two.
Lifting his brush, Li Xuanxuan drew a talisman on the paper in one fluid motion. Having practiced for about ten years now, his sess rate in talisman drawing had finally be profitable, adding yet another source of ie to the family.
The sunlight from the window bathed Li Yuanxiu in a golden glow. The boy, now four or five years old and having just returned from school, stood quietly in the sunlight, watching his father.
Li Xuanxuan looked up and caught his eyes.
"What''s wrong?" he asked gently with a smile.
"Father, it''s been a month since youst visited Jiao''er," Li Yuanxiu spoke. Thisment startled Li Xuanxuan, who narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Who told you to say that?"
"Nobody," Li Yuanxiu replied as he pressed his lips tightly together, looking a bit afraid of Li Xuanxuan''s serious demeanor but still meeting his gaze defiantly.
"Alright," Li Xuanxuan finally sighed as he nodded and picked up his son. He headed out, feeling rather emotional.
Li Xiangping had died in Mount Yue''s territory. Although the Li Family was not aware of the details, they had suspected the involvement of Mu Jiaoman and Mount Wu but had to let it go in order to maintain peace and avoid Mount Wu''s attention.
When Mu Yalu came to propose marriage, Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan valued her ancient Mulu bloodline, nning it as a chess piece for future control over Mount Yue¡ªto avoid trouble when great changes ur in the mountains.
However, since Mu Yalu is Mu Jiaoman''s n sister, Li Xuanxuan¡ª despite not saying it aloud, could not help his feelings of resentment. This affected his feelings toward Li Yuanjiao.
Hearing his son''s words now, he began to ponder his actions.
For the sake of the family''s stability in the next hundred years... I must not show favoritism.
As they approached the courtyard, Li Xuanxuan set Li Yuanxiu down gently, who cheerfully ran away to find his younger brother, Yuanjiao.
Soon, Mu Yalu''s joyful voice was heard from a distance.
"Xiu''er, you''re here! Come sit!"
Li Xuanxuanughed and entered the courtyard to see Mu Yalu, who was startled to see him. She paused for a moment before quickly regaining herposure and bowed politely.
"The family head has arrived."
Li Yuanjiao, holding a wooden toy, looked up and called out, "Father!"
"Mm," Li Xuanxuan nodded at Mu Yalu and sat aside, watching the children y. The sunlight at the foot of the mountain was even brighter now, making Li Yuanjiao''s eyes appear a brownish hue as he smiled toward Li Xuanxuan.
"Jiao''er,e here," Li Xuanxuan''s voice trembled slightly. Mu Yalu, sensing something was off, looked up worriedly.
Li Yuanjiao walked over, puzzled. Li Xuanxuan examined his face but found no trace of brown in the shadows.
Sighing, Li Xuanxuan stood up, his gaze wandering. "I have matters to attend to on the mountain. I must leave now," he said solemnly.
With that, he left, leaving Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanxiu ying in the courtyard. Mu Yalu watched him go, sitting quietly in the corner.
Chapter 148: The Stag
Chapter 148: The Stag
Li Xuanxuan returned to the mountain with a heavy heart, only to find a middle-aged man standing in the courtyard. He was dressed simply in a gray robe and holding a sword, appearing to be lost in his thoughts while he gazed at the sky.
"Second Uncle, you''vee out of seclusion!" Li Xuanxuan eximed, immediately filled with joy.
Li Tongya nodded slightly and said softly, "This breakthrough went smoothly... Having umted cultivation for four years, breaking through to the sixth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm was just a matter of time."
By this year, Li Tongya was forty-six years old. Thanks to the aid of the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, he had reached the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
By the age of sixty, he hoped to reach the peak of this realm with hopes of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Without the talisman, reaching the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm by sixty would have been challenging, let alone the Foundation Establishment Realm.
After all, unlike the disciples of major sects who could cultivate peacefully within their sects, their family cultivators were always engaged in skirmishes and battles with others.
As they aged, their bodies became more worn and prone to issues like blood stagnation or the invasion of malicious qi. Without ess to precious medicines or spirit pills for healing, their pace of cultivation inevitably would slow down.
"Is there anything happening at home? What''s the situation with the Yu Family''s market?" Li Tongya asked.
Li Xuanxuan hurriedly reported everything to him, including the incident with Yu Mujian right before Li Tongya''s seclusion. Li Tongya smiled and said, "Yu Mujian is probably the most talented among the Yu Family''s disciples, devoted to swordsmanship... He''s truly fortunate to be born into such a prominent family with his skills."
Li Xuanxuan agreed and changed the topic, a hint of amusement crossing his face. "Since the opening of the Yu Family''s market over a month ago and as their people moved there, we heard someone attacked the main family''s formation in Milin Prefecture... The Yu Family had no choice but to send reinforcements."
Li Tongya raised his eyebrows as he heard this.
It was as he expected.
"A simple yet effective strategy... the attackers probably came back as soon as the reinforcements left, right?"
"Exactly!" Li Xuanxuan recounted with excitement, "No sooner had the Yu Family''s reinforcements left, that two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators immediately attacked the formation directly. Although the Yu Family was prepared, leaving Yu Xiaogui behind and even using two talismans of the Foundation Establishment Realm to block the attacks, it still caused panic, driving away arge portion of their customers. It attracted many troublemakers and looters, leaving them with a huge mess to deal with."
Li Tongya nodded thoughtfully and exined, "It is most likely many of those troublemakers were arranged by the other families, timing it just right to deal the Yu Family a significant blow."
Li Xuanxuan found Li Tongya''s words quite reasonable and continued after a brief pause, "Although the Yu Family was angry, they had no choice but to swallow this loss silently. Monthster, the market saw a drastic reduction in foot traffic, which has yet to recover."
"Did our disciples get involved?" Li Tongya asked with some concern, and Li Xuanxuan assured him almost immediately. "I remembered Second Uncle''s instruction, ordering our family''s disciples not to go out¡ªlet alone cause trouble at that market!" he said with a grin.
"Well done," Li Tongya praised before patting Li Xuanxuan on the shoulder. "Winter is approaching. I''ll hunt a few demonic beasts of the Qi Cultivation Realm in the mountains for sacrifice and request a talisman qi for you guys as well," he instructed.
"Yes!"
Li Xuanxuan was overjoyed, eagerly agreeing. Watching as Li Tongya flew away, his lips moved silently, the doubts in his heart ultimately unvoiced.
"Forget it."
Li Xuanxuan sighed softly before walking a few steps into the yard, murmuring to himself.
"I should talk to Jingtian about this, and see how she recorded it. If it''s not written in the family history, that''s best; if it is, hopefully, she won''t include it. That way, Yuanjiao could have a better life, and this lineage could face less nder and disparagement in the future..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya departed from Mount Lijing where the autumn leaves of Mount Dali had already fallen, covering the ground in gold and russet. Following the mountain veins for a while, thendscape slowly transitioned from lush green to exposed brown earth.
Therge banyan tree with white leaves still stood tall and proud on the slope. A fox was pushing along a battered wooden cart, wandering back and forth clumsily. The cart was filled with fox cubs of various colors, all chirping and yipping endlessly.
"What a prolific friend you are."
Li Tongyanded beneath the tree swiftly, chuckling softly.
The fox looked downcast and squeaked, "Oh, not at all! With wintering, food is scarce, and many foxes in the mountains have died... These cubs would likely freeze or starve to death, so I brought them back to raise them myself."
Looking up at Li Tongya, the fox said, "Three hundred and eighty li to the east, there''s a deer king who has reached the Qi Cultivation Realm, under a great locust tree... It fits your requirements. The deer herd is likely to migrate in winter; if you gote, you mighte up empty-handed."
Li Tongya nodded. Seeing the fox busy and overwhelmed, he dropped a bag of Spirit Paddies on the ground before then cupping his fist and bidding his farewell to the fox. With that, he took off and flew eastward.
After two hours, he finally spotted the big locust tree surrounded by a herd of wild deer. As he descended, the deer scattered in all directions.
Noticing the cleanly gnawed bones of an unidentified wild animal on the ground, Li Tongya surged forward with the wind.
This deer is quite ferocious! Having be a demon, it knows to feed on blood and is very cautious...
After chasing it for dozens of li, Li Tongya finally locked onto arge and strong stag, its coral-like antlers still dripping with bloody droplets.
However, the stag, being only at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, could not outrun Li Tongya who flew in the sky and was unaffected by the terrain.
It did not take him long at all to catch up to it.
Li Tongya aimed to capture this beast alive. Without drawing his sword, he brought his palm down onto the stag''s head with great might. The stag stumbled but persisted, continuing to run.
After another heavy strike to its back, the stag finally tilted and fell, turning back to attempt a bite fiercely.
Li Tongya drew his sword readily, and with a sh of white light, he cut off the stag''s antlers. The deer cried out and fell to its knees, rolling on the ground and leaving a trail of crimson blood behind it.
"Merely a wild demonic beast and not even knowing any spells, it is rather easy to subdue," Li Tongyamented, lifting the stag with his mana and sealing the blood wound on its head. Once he was done, he set off to return to Mount Lijing.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the dim mirror world,yers of gray fog float high in the sky, while belowy and riddled with scars with countless gray-white buildings lying in ruins among moon-white pebbles.
Lu Jiangxian stood alone amidst it all, holding a bright shining spell in the palm of his hand.
He had been studying alone in this mirror world for years, drawing inspiration from the shamanic magic of Mount Yue, and had finally made some progress.
Some ethereal figures made some small movements, and he lifted his palm slightly. Almost immediately, the bright shining spell falls like rain upon the moon-white pebbles before him.
Crack! Crack!
The moon-white pebbles trembled and began to move, enveloped in a faint white halo. They swirled and spiraled under Lu Jiangxian''s feet, assembling into a pile that eventually resembled a humanoid shape,plete with arms and legs.
These moonstone figures¡ªwith their white shard-shaped heads¡ªstood dumbfounded, staring at him nkly.
Lu Jiangxian quickly condensed pure white Supreme Yin Moonlight in his hand before reaching out and touching the tops of these figures'' heads. The shard-shaped heads immediately lit up.
Instantly, these moonstone figures along with their bright heads, all came to life, digging where needed and moving bricks where required. They worked in perfect harmony, beginning to repair the ruins of the gray-white buildings.
"This spell..."
Having read many of the Li Family''s spell manuals, Lu Jiangxian found this spellpletely different from the usual ones.
The Li Family''s spells followed specific procedures strictly, producing exactly what they were supposed to. However, his spells were whimsical, with no fixed oue, and were entirely controlled by his thoughts.
With a thought, Lu Jiangxian appeared at the top of a mountain where a smooth tform stood. At the center of it, there was a giant tree with huge white leaves, its roots entwined. Below it, there were stone tables and chairs that exuded an ancient charm.
Listening intently, Lu Jiangxian heard a humming sound from outside the mirror.
"The Li Family of Lijing offers respect along with fine delicacies and wine with unwavering devotion year upon year... Living at the northern vein of Mount Li, we sow in the spring, nurture the wheat through summer, harvest in autumn, and exterminate demons in winter to safeguard the fields. Observing the three yuan festivals and six regr festivals, we maintain reverence¡ªensuring to pay timely respects. Through the smoke of our offerings and the blood of our sacrifice, we call upon the gods, seeking their blessings."
"It appears they are requesting a talisman," he mumbled to himself quietly.
Chapter 149: Requesting a Talisman
Chapter 149: Requesting a Talisman
"It appears they are requesting a talisman," Lu Jiangxian muttered before pausing for a moment. His divine sense reverberated from within him, enveloping the entire Li Residence. By now, his divine sense coverage had greatly expanded, allowing him to clearly oversee not only the surrounding Mount Yue but also the Lu Family.
The ritual of sacrifice was a major event for the people of the four towns. It had existed even before the Li Family rose to prominence, though it was conducted at different times.
Under the Li Family''s rule, the timing was unified, elevating the status of sacrifice to the highest level. Even children by the roadside knew how to recite a few lines from it: "The weight of all matters lies in sacrifice and military affairs."
The townsfolk each brought fruits to their courtyards and erected wooden poles, hanging papernterns in anticipation of the sacrificial hour.
Now that the residents of the four towns had be more prosperous, ordinary families could now afford toy out a few dishes of sugared fruits and pastries and burn leftover medicines from the past years outside their doors in a ritual called "Discarding a Hundred Illnesses," symbolizing good health.
Below Mount Lijing, the crowd was surging as townspeople craned their necks to look at the scene on the tform. The giant Qi Cultivation Realm deer, tightly bound by iron chains and kneeling on a stone tform, was a bloody and fearsome sight.
"So this is the infamous demon deer!" eximed the townspeople.
"How frightening!"
Though they said such things, they were not too frightened of the beast before them. Having witnessed numerous demonic beasts of the Embryonic Breathing Realm invade their towns over the nearly forty years since the spirit vein of Mount Dali was restored, they had long grown ustomed to seeing subdued demons and were not easily scared by them.
The tform, polished to a mirror finish and carved with intricate patterns, had the huge coral-like antlers of the deer ced on the deer''s neck. Li Tongya¡ªwith one hand on it¡ªhad the beast immobilized.
At its front were several symbolic wooden and y puppets, with the descendants of the Li Family''s Xuan and Jing generations standing behind Li Tongya.
Li Xuanxuan was standing one step behind Li Tongya while Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling were positioned a step lower by the round tform.
"...Through the smoke of our offerings and the blood of our sacrifice, we call upon the gods, seeking their blessings."
After reciting the prayer for the sacrifice, the surrounding townspeople immediately kneeled down in unison. Crowds on the streets and bridges bowed down in devout prayer, enveloping the town in a terrifying silence.
"So this is the Li Family''s sacrifice..." Wan Tianchou whispered softly in awe. He had witnessed sacrifices more than once, but each time he could not help but be deeply moved.
Standing respectfully below the tform, he was shaken to his core by the thick scent of incense and the solemn atmosphere, thinking to himself, This doesn''t seem like an immortal cultivator family that rose only forty years ago; it''s more akin to a four centuries-old prominent immortal cultivator n!
Wan Tianchou had also participated in some ancestral ceremonies during his time with the Wan Family, yet they could notpare to the solemn and dignified nature of the Li Family''s ceremonies.
Looking at the Li Family''s strict management of their disciples, Wan Tianchou sighed softly to himself.
The rapid rise of the Li Family over the past forty years is not without reason...
On the tform, Li Xuanxuan''s ritual knife had already pierced straight into the brain of therge deer at the center of the tform.
The creature let out a mournful cry but was held firmly in ce on the tform by Li Tongya, unable to move and dying instantly.
Under the guidance of Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense, streams of essence qi rose from the body of therge deer. This was apanied by wisps of its dispersing deer-shaped soul, gushing out through the opening of its wound made by the ritual knife like a cloud of vital energy.
Faint golden mists that go unseen by ordinary human eyes rose from everyone below the tform and from every household''s skyntern, converging into the cloud of smoke and tinting it a faint golden hue.
The cloud of smoke ascended for a few moments, dispersing into countless gray specks invisible to the naked eye. It floated up toward Mount Lijing.
Instantly, divine light twinkled on the mirror''s surface. An invisible and formless circle of light spread out, and everyone below felt a sense of weightlessness.
Lu Jiangxian conjured a gray talisman and nced over at it before casting it toward Li Xuanfeng.
The gray talisman circled once and flew into his Shenyang Mansion. Lu Jiangxian''s vision momentarily blurred, revealing several lines ofrge characters.
At the very top were inscribed words that were drawn in deep red strokes that seemed to emanate a fierce and aggressive aura¡ªStrength to Move Mountains.
This talisman qi, like Li Xiangping''s before, could elevate the recipient''s physical condition to an extremely high level, with vitality like smoke and strength that could move mountains. It was akin to that of a demonic beast.
The second line, in light blue strokes, revealed a touch of agility¡ªChasing Clouds and Moon.
This talisman qi would grant the recipient the talent to ride the wind at several times its speed, which would prove to be of utmost practicality.
Thest one¡ª Prolong Life and Increase Longevity¡ª offered forty years of life to the recipient, and was the first that Lu Jiangxian chose to discard.
After all, the path of immortal cultivation was fraught with danger, and it was not certain that Li Xuanfeng would be able to use up his own lifespan. If he could not even survive, then prolonging life was pointless.
Lu Jiangxian hesitated between Strength to Move Mountains and Chasing Clouds and Moon for a while. With a light flick of his finger, the light spot entered Li Xuanfeng''s spiritual sense.
"Let him choose for himself... The poption of the four towns has now increased significantly, and the incense energy has not only condensed into a single gray talisman but also left a small portion unused."
After pondering for a few moments, Lu Jiangxian suddenly remembered a secret technique that had never been used since the reparation of the mirror. Now, with the surplus of talisman qi from the incense which was barely enough to condense another gray talisman, he realized it was just the right time to apply it.
Li Xiangping once killed an old Qi Cultivator and obtained a jade pendant from him. This jade pendant restored the mirror''s ability to condense talisman pills, which involvedbining the surplus talisman qi with the Supreme Yin Moonlight to form a talisman pill.
A cultivator could only consume one of these pills per major cultivation realm to achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation. The extent of its effectiveness hinges on the talisman qi in the pill; it could work wonders on even cultivators of the Foundation Establishment or Purple Mansion Realms.
Consuming this pill also secretly left a talisman seal in the host''s Shenyang Mansion, enhancing the speed of absorbing spiritual qi. When the host died, all their essence qi would then be transformed into talisman qi and returned to the mirror.
Although the efficiency of the talisman pill was not nearly as high as that of Profound Pearls or Talisman Pearls, it could still extract two to three-tenths of the cultivator''s cultivation.
However, because the Li Family was weak back then, this secret technique was never utilized... not until today, when it can finally be put to good use.
It would be best to condense a few more of these talisman pills to greatly elerate the speed of mana enhancement... If they could be circted in the market for cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm and Purple Mansion Realm to consume, and then reimed after their death, wouldn''t that be wonderful?!
Pleased with the thought for a while, Lu Jiangxian then became cautious, murmuring, "But... I wonder if the talisman pill could be recognized and attract enemies to our doorstep, causing trouble. Well, let''s first use it for these few children of the Li Family..."
With the secret technique activated, the mirror shone brightly. Bright moonlight surged out of it instantly, encircling and converging on the tform. It gathered into three glowing pills that had mysterious and intricate patterns on their surfaces, looking quite beautiful.
After condensing the talisman pills, Lu Jiangxian returned to the mirror to continue his study of shamanic spells.
Chapter 150: Imminent Calamity
Chapter 150: Imminent Cmity
As Li Xuanxuan''s knife pierced into the head of the demon deer, its body quickly shriveled. Its pair of antlers also lost their dazzling luster, turning dry and pale.
Upon finishing the sacrificial prayer and with the ceremonypleted, Li Tongya swiftly concealed the corpse of the demon deer from sight, sweeping it into his storage pouch with a simple wave of his sleeve.
Li Xuanfeng straightened himself up, feeling the presence of two talisman qi in his mind. After a moment of contemtion, his spiritual sense settled on the one that was exuding a ferocious aura.
Instantly, a brilliant red light filled Li Xuanfeng''s Shenyang Mansion, and he staggered back a few steps as if intoxicated, hisplexion flushing red. The Qi Cultivation Realm of the second heavenlyyer surged within him uncontrobly, prompting him to step down from the tform.
Descending from the tform, Li Tongya and the others were greeted by the bustling noise of the townsfolk resuming their activities. Li Tongya turned to Li Xuanfeng and asked with a beaming smile, "I saw you acting a little weird just now... have you received a talisman?"
Hearing this, Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling also turned their attention to Li Xuanfeng, eager. Li Xuanfeng nodded.
"Indeed! During the sacrifice, two talisman qi appeared in my mind¡ªStrength to Move Mountains and Chasing Clouds and Moon... I chose the former and have now broken through to the third heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm!"
He then exined the features of the talisman qi he chose. After wiping down his hands, he set aside his ck bow and picked up a piece of stone from the ground. He flicked it tactfully with his finger, and it shattered into a million fragments that scattered on the ground.
"Pure physical strength... without employing mana," Li Tongyamented in awe and admiration.
He picked up his ck bow once more and examined it for a moment before speaking again, "Now that you''ve attained the third heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm, this dharma artifact of the Embryonic Breathing Realm is somewhat unbing. Our family has some savings these years... in a few months, you should visit the prefecture again and consult with a weaponsmith, then have a longbow custom-made to suit your strength."
Li Xuanfeng, visibly pleased, pondered for a moment before a sheepish expression crossed his face,
"How could I? There are many uses for Spirit Stones at home... Brother Xuan and Ling''er have not yet broken through the Qi Cultivation Realm. It''d be better to spend them on some medicinal pills or the like. My needs are not urgent; we can wait until they have achieved their breakthroughs."
Hearing this, Li Xuanling burst intoughter and replied, "Brother Feng, why the formality among brothers? I''ve just recently advanced to the fourth stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm; my cultivation needs further refinement before requiring any medicinal pills!"
Li Xuanxuan also smiled and said earnestly, "I have already broken through to the Jade Capital stage. What''s left is the grind to reach the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... You really needn''t worry about us!"
Li Xuanfeng only responded with a sheepish grin. Seeing the two of them like this, Li Tongya felt a great sense of contentment. He patted Li Xuanfeng on the shoulder and said with a smile, "It''s good that you think this way. You''ve all grown up under my watch, growing up on the mountain like real brothers. There should be no barriers between you; speak freely!"
Li Xuanfeng nodded, visibly moved by these words. Li Tongya continued, "You''re both right about the medicinal pills not being urgent. Crafting a dharma artifact takes time, so it''s best to ce an order now."
With no choice, Li Xuanfeng finally agreed to such generosity. After exchanging a few more words, the four of them went to the courtyard on Lijing Peak to give thanks before the mirror.
Just as they entered the courtyard, a sweep of their spiritual sense revealed three luminous pills on the stone tform. Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow and immediately exchanged a look with Li Tongya, who hurried into the stone chamber.
"Are those the talisman pills mentioned in the Sacrificial Ritual Method?"
After paying their respects to the mirror, they stood up and carefully picked up the pills from the stone tform.
Li Tongya pondered for a moment and then nodded, "ording to the Sacrificial Ritual Method bestowed by the mirror, it can not only condense talisman qi but also¡ª if the incense is sufficient¡ª condense it into talisman pills! An immortal cultivator can only consume one per major realm to achieve a breakthrough..."
The three talisman pills were translucent and luminously white, with mysterious patterns etched upon them. They were smooth and beautiful to the touch. Li Xuanfeng carefully ced each one into a jade bottle, beaming with joy.
"Now we have medicinal pills to for ourselves!"
"Indeed!" Li Tongya agreed as he nodded thoughtfully then added, "Since the talisman pills can help in achieving breakthroughs and each major realm can only consume one... it would be a waste to use it now. It''s best used when breaking through from the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm to Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Xuanxuan and Xuanling can each use one when they break through the Qi Cultivation Realm. That''s going to take a while before it happens, and though we won''t have enough for both of our use, there will be plenty of opportunities for more rituals in the future; so there''s no worry about not having them when needed."
With joy, Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling stored the pills and Li Tongya went back to Meiche Peak to continue his seclusion.
Li Xuanfeng received a few Spirit Stones from Li Xuanxuan, then cheerfully headed toward Lixia Prefecture.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The night shrouded Lijing Town, and the streets emptied. Only a few dim lights shone through the windows and onto the ground.
As Lu Wanrong walked along the street, her servant girl remarked behind her, "The Li Family''s ritual is really lively... We never had such festivals in the Lu family."
"We can''t possiblypare ourselves to them," Lu Wanrong replied as shook her head, continuing her walk as she continued, "The Li Family''s elder is in his prime, and Li Xuanxuan manages the Li Family in an orderly manner. Have you ever seen any Li Family disciples daring to bully others, abusing men and women? The Lu Family''s elder hasn''t managed the family affairs for decades, and my senior n brother loves luxury¡ªa character of extravagance. In the rise and fall, the Lu Family is far inferior..."
Having reached the front of her residence, she saw a man pacing back and forth, sweating profusely. But upon seeing them, his eyes lit up immediately, and he hurried over.
Lu Wanrong recognized him as a junior n brother from her time in the Lu family. A frown appeared on her face.
"Junior n brother... what brings you here?"
The man from the Lu Family wore a morose expression, his panic evident as he could only stammer out his words.
"The ancestor... the ancestor has passed away!"
"What?!"
Lu Wanrong looked as though she was struck by thunder, eximing in disbelief.
Knowing he referred to Lu Sisi, she quickly shook her head, asking softly, "When did this happen?"
"Last night! I heard everything clearly... The ancestor sighed all night in his chair, saying, ''The Lu Family is doomed!'' By morning, he was lifeless."
The man from the Lu Family looked as if he found his pir, whispering to her with a face full of sorrow, "Brother Yuanlu hurriedly buried the ancestor, and now he''s secretly feasting on the mountain. The ancestor once told me to seek you out when he dies... so, I ran here overnight! Sister Rong, what should we do?!"
Seeing his face covered in grime and exhaustion from crossing the Guli Road as a mortal toe all the way to the Li Residence, undoubtedly having faced dangers along the way, Lu Wanrong felt deeply moved.
Immediately feeling anxious, she said quickly, "Wait for me to go inside and write a letter back home. If this matter isn''t handled well, it could spell disaster for our family!"
Chapter 151: Heading to Mount Huaqian
Chapter 151: Heading to Mount Huaqian
Lu Wanrong hurried into the house and took a piece of cloth from the desk while the servant girl quickly ground some ink. She dipped the brush and began to write furiously.
Having heard of our ancestor''s passing, I am filled with extreme anxiety and fear. Our family has lost its support, and I fear we cannot protect the two mountains¡ª Huaqian and Tiaoyun. I urge senior n brother to lead our family eastward, either to Mushroom Forest in or the prefecture, and offer the two mountains to the Li Family. Leave by dawn to ensure our family''s survival. If you hesitate and dy, disaster will strike us overnight... and it will be toote for regrets!
Pausing briefly with her hand hovering mid-air, Lu Wanrong looked at the tear-streaked face of her servant who hade with her as part of her dowry.
Her voice was trembling when she spoke.
"Currently, there are still marital ties between our two families... If my senior n brother could speak kindly and offer both mountains, perhaps we could save our family''s dignity and ensure its survival. If blood is shed between our families, it will lead to our entire n''s annihtion!"
After putting down the brush, she quickly rolled up the letter and stepped out of the house. However, in her haste, she identally bumped into someone, which made her stagger backward.
The person was dressed in a white robe with his hair neatly tied, standing quietly in the yard. His jade pendant tinkled in the wind. His eyes were clear and gentle as he looked at her, looking as though he had been standing there for a long time.
"Husband," Lu Wanrong called out timidly.
Li Xuanling hummed in response and said softly, "Let me see it."
Lu Wanrong handed over the letter. She kneeled down suddenly, sobbing, "Please give the Lu Family a way out, my dear! My n brothers are all frivolous pleasure-seekers, moving the family to the prefecture will render them incapable of causing any threat... please, spare them!"
After reading the letter, Li Xuanling sighed softly and gently said, "What of today''s useless bunch? Who knows about tomorrow? Lu Sisi was quite a figure... but he ended up with such unworthy descendants. Nheless... who can say that these unworthy descendants won''t produce a genius? There''s absolutely no reason to spare them."
He handed the letter back to Lu Wanrong and took her hand before continuing, "Moreover, with your senior n brother''s character, even if you showed him a way out, he wouldn''t know how to take it... he would just blindly rush toward his doom. So, what way out is there to speak of?"
Lu Wanrong immediately cried out, saying softly, "The Lu Family has been arrogant and unbridled, causing harm without restraint... I have already given up on them! But... since I was born into the Lu Family, how could I just watch by idly and do nothing?!"
Having finished speaking, tears streamed down Lu Wanrong''s face as her voice fell softer.
"I was thinking... if our families became blood enemies, resulting in the ughter of our entire n, what would be of our children in the future?! My dear, you must also consider the future!"
At this, Li Xuanling paused, ncing at her for a moment before speaking again.
"Rest assured, I know what I''m doing."
Watching Li Xuanling hastily leave the courtyard, Lu Wanrong wiped away her tears and ced the letter on the table. The servant girl hurriedly asked, "Madam, should we still send this letter?"
"There''s no need," Lu Wanrong replied sorrowfully, adding softly, "What use is human effort against a Qi Cultivator''s speed..? There''s no longer any need to send this letter. Let my junior n brother stay here first... no need for him to go back."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanling quickly headed up the mountain, walking along the stone steps. He soon came across Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya who were standing in front of the courtyard, appearing to be in deep discussion about something.
"Feng''er, weren''t you on your way to the prefecture to forge a dharma artifact..?" Li Xuanling asked in confusion, noticing Li Xuanfeng shaking his head slightly andughing.
"I passed by the Lu Family''s territory and saw the hills covered in white... It seems Lu Sisi has passed away. Thinking it was a great opportunity, I decided to return first."
Li Xuanling couldn''t help butugh and shake his head, saying, "You really can''t wait for others to know! What was Lu Yuanlu thinking?! The Lu Family sent someone to notify Wanrong, and I also received this news, so I hurried up here to report to Father as well!"
Li Tongya nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Before the Yu Family has time to react, we should deal with the Lu Family quickly. If the Yu Family gets involved, it will onlyplicate matters further... Xuanxuan has already gone down to organize the n soldiers. Let us go ahead first."
Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling responded quietly, with Li Xuanling going down the mountain to find Li Xuanxuan, while Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya¡ªboth Qi Cultivators¡ªtook to the air, heading toward Mount Huaqian.
Just after flying half a kilometer, Li Xuanfeng hesitated for a moment before speaking, "The Lu Family¡ªboth main and side, numbers over two thousand people... and with inws, the number touches tens of thousands! If not handled properly, it could definitely be a troublesome affair."
Li Tongya was also in deep thought and nodded upon hearing this.
"Indeed, it''s a difficult situation... This is the first time our Li Family is annexing another n. We need to set a precedent for future generations. If we rashly exterminate them, not only do we waste the spiritual orifice bloodline, but since they are our inws, it wouldn''t sound good if it spread out. It would potentially displease the surrounding families."
"This matter with the Lu Family needs to be handled gracefully and tactfully, ensuring no future problems that would prove to be quite the challenge."
As they flew onward, Mount Huaqian soon appeared in view. Below it scattered were small houses all draped in white cloth, while the mountain itself buzzed with feasting and joy¡ª a rather ironic contrast.
The terrain of Mount Tiaoyun where the Lu Family was originally situated, was steep and humid, and was full of mosquitoes. Since acquiring Mount Huaqian, the Lu Family had moved there, with most of the poption now living at the foot of the mountain.
The formation protecting Mount Huaqian was rather ordinary. As Li Tongya approached and saw flickering lights on the other side of the mountain which signaled Li Xuanxuan and his troops'' arrival, he drew his sword and struck at the mountain''s protective formation.
With a loud ng, the formation around Mount Huaqian lit up instantly, covering the entire mountain in a bright glow.
The banquet below descended into immediate chaos as everyone looked up at the source of the sound, only to hear a loud shout:
"Who dares to attack the Lu family?!"
Lu Yuanlu rose into the air, cheeks visibly flushed from drinking. He appeared both shocked and angry upon seeing Li Tongya, and he cursed, "Since the Li family has be inws with the Lu Family, why now covet our Mount Huaqian?!"
Li Tongya simply sneered as he continued his assault on the formation without pausing, and said coldly, "Lu Sisi has only just passed away, and here you are... his unworthy descendant, feasting and celebrating on the mountain! You dare speak of inws? The Lu Family''s current strength can no longer protect these two mountains... If you know what''s good for you, disable this formation yourself and you may yet live."
"Foolishly arrogant!" Lu Yuanlu roared. Enraged and eyes bloodshot, he drew his sword to confront Li Tongya.
Li Tongya, with a single sword move, forced him backward. And just after a few exchanges, Lu Yuanlu''s expression shifted quickly as he began to think of retreating.
"Such excellent swordsmanship!"
Though proud and arrogant, Lu Yuanlu was somewhat skilled,parable to Yu Mujian. However, his cultivation was far less than his. After a few losses, he still stubbornly resisted.
Li Tongya remained silent, merely exchanging a few dozen moves before knocking Lu Yuanlu''s sword out of his handpletely and swiftly advancing upon him.
Lu Yuanlu''splexion drastically changed, and just as he tried to speak, a sh of light appeared before his eyes as Li Tongya decapitated him cleanly with his sword.
Chapter 152: Imminent Calamity
Chapter 152: Imminent Cmity
Suddenly, Mount Huaqian was filled with screams as they watched Lu Yuanlu''s headless body fall into the forest below helplessly.
The mountain''srge formation began to shake, and it was then that the people began to regret their actions. Cries and shouts of rm echoed all around, and some even kneeled in supplication. The Li Family''s soldiers had surrounded the mountain foot, blocking any means of their escape.
Shortly after, therge formation on Mount Huaqian copsed with a loud noise.
Li Tongya descended upon the mountain, and people below were already prostrating themselves. A middle-aged man¡ªlooking fearful and timid¡ªquickly wailed out, "Head of the Lu Family, Lu Anyu, greets the ancestor of the Li Family!"
It was only now that Lu Anyu and the others from the Lu Family understood the imminent disaster that Lu Sisi had continually mentioned before his death. With Lu Sisi buried only at dawn, disaster had already struck them by midnight.
Li Tongya looked at him and saw his sorrowful expression, and then heard him pleading, "Please spare our lives, Ancestor! The Lu Family will immediately dissolve, and Mount Huaqian along with Mount Tiaoyun will belong to the Li Family... Our disciples will pledge their loyalty to you!"
"Please, stand up!" Li Tongya replied, surprisingly polite and with a hint of regret in his expression.
"I hold great respect for Senior Sisi. I was only forced to discipline Lu Yuanlu because he had gone overboard... I hope you won''t me me for that."
"Oh, I wouldn''t dare!"
After Lu Anyu responded, Li Tongya did not wait for him to continue and spoke again. "Without Qi Cultivators in your current family, the Lu family indeed cannot stand firm in Moongaze Lake... Have you thought of a n, Family Head?" he asked.
The man was initially stunned. Then, with a mix of joy and sorrow, quickly responded, "We are yours tomand, Ancestor!"
Li Tongya nodded, then addressed the direct members of the Lu Family below him.
"The Lu and Li families have had good rtions... Out of respect for Senior Sisi and his character, I offer you two choices!"
After taking a nce around at the surroundings, Li Tongya announced, "Firstly, you may join the four towns of the Li family, with the men marrying into and the women remarrying into our family. With the Lu surname abandoned, you will be no different from the townspeople of the Li Family, still living as wealthy householders... enjoying yourter years."
After pausing slightly, Li Tongya continued, "Secondly, if you still harbor thoughts of rebuilding the Lu Family, we''ll grant you a way out and ceremoniously escort you out of our territory, allowing you to seek your own fortunes elsewhere."
Li Tongya had just finished speaking when Li Xuanfeng, understanding the situation, stood out with a detached expression and smiled.
"Those who wish to rebuild the Lu Family may follow me down the mountain."
Suddenly, the crowd fell silent, with everyone bowing their heads, not daring to move. After a long while, a woman stepped out, standing defiantly in front of Li Xuanfeng.
He took a final nce around before keeping to his word and taking the person down the mountain.
As the soldiers encircling the mountain parted to allow a path, more people dared to follow. In just a few short moments, a small portion of those from the Lu Family had left, led by a few cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. They walked down the mountain dejectedly.
Li Tongya scoffed inwardly, watching Lu Anyu before smiling a tight smile.
"Aren''t you going down with them..?"
Hearing this, Lu Anyu raised his head and smiled bitterly.
"Without any spiritual orifice, leaving the mountain would only make us servants to other cultivators... What''s the point? It''s better to submit to the Li Family. At least, we can still livefortably as wealthy individuals, without the need to wander in our old age and die in some corner..."
After making an obsequious smile, Lu Anyu added quietly, "The Lu Family has a few legacies... I''ll fetch them for you now."
As he naturally stepped forward to leave, Li Tongya nced at him andmanded in a cold tone, "Stop!"
Stunned, Lu Anyu immediately kneeled down, not daring to speak.
Although Li Tongya saw the people of the Lu Family as unworthy, he remained cautious, fearing that Lu Anyu was merely feigning obedience to destroy the legacies.
He then whispered instructions to Li Qiuyang, who was standing by his side in great alert.
"Follow him and see."
Understanding the instruction, Li Qiuyang immediately nodded and pulled up to Lu Anyu. "Stay close behind me, and don''t try anything funny!" he warned.
Soon, Li Qiuyang returned from the courtyard with three jade slips, followed by a still obsequiously smiling Lu Anyu.
Li Qiuyang respectfully reported, "n Uncle, there''s a spirit spring in the cave dwelling on Mount Huaqian with a dense concentration of spiritual qi, even higher by ten percent than the one on Meiche Peak! It''s a good ce."
Li Tongya nodded, taking the three jade slips and examining them with his divine sense.
"Not bad," he praised.
The jade slips were techniques of the Qi Cultivation realm, with two beingmon techniques and not redundant with the family''s own.
Li Tongya epted them, and thest one¡ªcalled Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique, was a Grade Three technique that uses Cave Spring Clear Qi for cultivation.
"This Cave Spring Clear Qi produces abundant life force and sustained strength in Qi Cultivators... No wonder Lu Sisi insisted on keeping Mount Huaqian! It turns out that he was aiming for the spirit spring inside... It also exins why Lu Sisi usedmon techniques while Lu Yuanlu had already started using Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique."
This discovery resolved a question that had lingered in Li Tongya''s mind all this while. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed everyone.
Soldiers escorted the Lu Family members back to the four towns, while Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan went to inspect the spirit spring in the Lu Family''s mountain cave dwelling.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng led a group of Lu Family members who wished to rebuild their family down the mountain. With a cursory nce revealing some resentment among them, he smirked and led the group forward until they encountered another group.
"Brother Feng, is everyone here?" Li Xuanling asked with a smile, d in armor and holding a gleaming sword. A contingent of well-armed n soldiers stood behind him, presenting an intimidating sight.
"All here. I''ve kept a close eye on them and made sure none of them got away," Li Xuanfeng replied.
The captives'' faces turned pale as one tried to argue, "Your ancestor promised that we would be escorted out of the territory safely! Don''t take matters into your own hands and tarnish your family''s reputation!"
Li Xuanfeng scoffed. The captives then realized they were surrounded by Li Family''s soldiers.
"We are already beyond the border of Li Family''s territory... We''ve certainly kept our word. Unfortunately, some of you died or went missing after encountering bandits on the road, and failed to rebuild the Lu family!" Li Xuanfeng snickered.
"You... you...!" The captives were furious but before they could voice theirints, the n soldiers charged forward silently.
Cries and pleas for mercy filled the air as des shed and blood sttered everywhere, dead people falling like flies.
Li Xuanfeng raised his bow and eliminated several cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm who were still putting up a fight with great uracy.
Observing that all adversaries had been subdued, Li Xuanling personally verified each casualty before remarking, "Our n soldiers were meticulously selected for their unwavering loyalty. No word of today''s events will spread, achieving the best of both worlds."
"Indeed."
Li Xuanfeng, with his bow now carried on his back, watched as the soldiers began burying the bodies.
After a brief moment of contemtion, he added, "However, we must remain vignt against any among those who surrendered but might still harbor malice. Upon our return to the towns, we must ensure vignt supervision to avert any unrest."
"Let''s leave those matters to Brother Xuan," Li Xuanling suggested with a soft smile. Being able to give a decent exnation of the Lu Family to Lu Wanrong lightened his mood considerably.
The brothers exchanged a look of mutual understanding and led their troops deeper into the forest.
Chapter 153: First Encounter With An Jingming
Chapter 153: First Encounter With An Jingming
Li Tongya had just finished dealing with the Lu Family members on Mount Huaqian. Knowing that time was of the essence, he did not dare to dy any further.
He immediately rose to the wind and hurried toward the Lu Family''s ancestral home in the distant Mount Tiaoyun, which was to the east.
"The Lu Family surely has more than these three legacies... When the Ji Family annihted the Wan Family, although Wan Xiaohua destroyed the Wan Family''s formation legacy before dying, the Lu Family also obtained many essential insights into the path of formation. Later, when the Lu Family broke through the Ji Family''s defense on Mount Huazhong, they must have acquired these things as well... However, breaking through Mount Huaqian took a lot of time, and it''s uncertain what the situation is now in the east."
After flying on the wind for the time it took to burn a stick of incense, traversing through dense, ovepping forests, Li Tongya finally caught sight of Mount Tiaoyun appearing before him. However, he was met by a young man instead.
This young man was d in golden armor, holding an axe that glowed with the luster of jade, covered in a bright redyer of true essence qi shield. He clearly had attained the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Lifting his head, he revealed a pair of spirited eyes, looking to be around fourteen or fifteen years old. He was staring at Li Tongya quietly as if he had been waiting for a long time.
"Excuse me..." Li Tongya started, slightly confused.
"I am An Jingming from the An family! I extend my greetings to you, Senior Tongya! I have been waiting here for a long time," the young man interrupted him with a cheery voice.
The young man''s voice was clear and respectful and he was sizing up Li Tongya with a sharp gaze. He thought to himself, This must be Li Tongya! He certainly looks dignified andposed... I wonder if the sword in his hand is as remarkable as the rumors say..?
Li Tongya carefully observed him for a while, surprised by his youthful appearance, and thought, This is the rumored prodigy An Jingming from the An Family... so young! He looks to be only about fourteen or fifteen years old but has already attained the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Truly astonishing!
Li Xuanfeng, who was now twenty years old and having just passed this winter, had just reached the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. But even so, this achievement was aided by the increased cultivation he had received during the ceremony.
Furthermore, the Li Family''s Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra was vastly superior to those of other families. Without it, Li Xuanfeng would have needed an additional three to five years to reach the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
The attainment of the Qi Cultivation Realm at the age of fifteen is a feat that even Jing''er in his year might not have matched.
Li Tongya remained silent for a moment, but An Jingming had already begun to speak, his tone painfully polite.
"I''m afraid I''ve made Senior Tongyae all this way for nothing... My elders have already negotiated with the Ding Family from Mushroom Forest in about Mount Tiaoyun. Although the remnants of the Wan Family have been absorbed by your family, and Mount Huaqian naturally belongs to the Li Family, the An Family dares not interfere. However, Mount Tiaoyun has already been promised to the Ding Family."
Li Tongya felt a bit displeased but did not continue the conversation. Instead, heughed and said, "You are indeed young and promising... Aren''t you afraid that bying out so rashly, you might be harmed by the Yu Family?"
"Of course I am afraid! It is precisely because of fear that we led the Ding Family to Moongaze Lake."
An Jingming sighed softly, a hint of mncholy not befitting his age appearing on his youthful face.
"What my An Family has done is not honorable. I am willing to offer the An Family''s share of the ebony mine as an apology, and I ask for Senior Tongya''s forgiveness," he added respectfully with a slight bow of his head.
Li Tongya smiled at him, knowing that there was no longer hope to recover Mount Tiaoyun, and pondered to himself quietly.
The Vein Searching Technique is still in the hands of the An Family... If they were to withdraw their share and pull out their manpower, would we not have to ask for their help again? That would give them an opportunity to manipte us! What a cunning little rascal!
But Li Tongya was not going to fall for it. He waved his hand andughed, saying, "Come now, our families are pretty much neighbors. There''s no need for us toe to such a pass... The An Family can retain a twenty percent share. We can all make money together!"
An Jingming smiled at this, nodding slightly. Suddenly from the west, a figure flew swiftly, with a dark longbow on his back that seemed to blend with the night.
It was Li Xuanfeng.
Li Xuanfeng had just steadied himself when his gaze collided with An Jingming''s. They stared at each other for a moment before An Jingming quickly smiled and lowered his head while Li Xuanfeng appeared eager to test his mettle, the arrows in his quiver vibrating, creating a tinkling sound.
"That settles it then. I bid you farewell!"
Fearing being detained by Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya working together, An Jingming hastily took his leave and headed north.
"That guy is very young but not weak in strength!" Li Xuanfeng praised.
Li Tongya nodded,menting warmly, "This An Jingming is much more difficult to deal with than An Zheyan, definitely no simple opponent! ns like the Lu Family,cking sessors, are ultimately in the minority. Both the An and Yu Families are in a state of revival."
Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly, but he did not think highly of Yu Mugao one bit. He only took An Jingming seriously and flew back west with Li Tongya in silence,ughing as he said, "An Jingming is a worthy opponent, but Yu Mugao is not! That person is uninteresting and insincere."
Li Tongya turned his head to look at him before reprimanding him in a serious tone, "Do not be careless! Yu Mugao is scheming and malevolent... He''s not to be underestimated. It''s better to face An Jingming than to confront Yu Mugao."
After chatting for a while, theynded on Mount Huaqian. Li Xuanling had just climbed up from the steps, his sword still dripping blood which trickled down, forming a puddle on the ground. Following him was Lu Anyu, who obsequiously called out, "Son-inw! Son-inw! There are a few more warehouses over here!"
"Father, Brother Feng!"
Li Xuanling did not heed his call, but instead cupped his fist at the two men and exined, "The Lu Family has a few more warehouses guarded by some loyal servants... I have taken care of them all. Apart from the secr gold and silver, I found thirty-one Spirit Stones and eight hundred jin of Spirit Paddies."
"Not bad."
Li Tongya nodded in satisfaction, and Li Xuanxuan assigned people to guard Mount Huaqian. Then, they all returned to Mount Lijing.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lu Wanrong waited in the courtyard all night until she heard a lot of noises outside. She sent a servant girl to check and saw the servant returning beaming with joy. She whispered, "Miss, it''s our Lu Family''s people! We''ve managed to save their lives after all!"
"Don''t talk nonsense! What Lu family? There won''t even be a Lu surname anymore. If you don''t remember this, losing your life will be the least of your worries, and you''ll even drag me down with you!" Lu Wanrong hissed as she sighed lightly, her anxiety easing slightly.
However, with resentment in her tone, she continued, "I only hate that my cousin is as stupid as a pig! This matter could have been settled decently by both families... Given the Lu Family''s inevitable dissolution by the other ns, if we had offered up the mountain and left before the Li Family made their move, it would have saved the Li Family''s face and preserved the Lu Family''s inner dignity without putting the Li family in a difficult position."
"Now... look at this mess! Not only is our n destroyed and people killed, but it also puts both the Li Family and myself in an awkward position. It''s truly infuriating," she muttered in anguish.
The servant beside her was at a loss for words, but then Lu Wanrong suddenly nced up and a soft whisper left her lips.
"My dear..."
The door creaked open, and Li Xuanling entered gracefully, dismissing the n soldiers around him. He smiled as he said, "From now on, there is no Lu Family. Those who wish to stay may pledge allegiance to my family; those who don''t wish to stay, we have let them go eastward."
"Congrattions, my dear!" Lu Wanrong praised him softly, then frowned and asked doubtfully, "Did you really let them go..?"
Li Xuanling touched her head and lifted her up, chuckling lightly.
"Not really, but they believe it''s true."
Lu Wanrong paused for a moment, then sighed in resignation.
"Well... it''s done."
Li Xuanling looked at her for a while, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Brother Xuan''s eldest son, Yuanxiu, is now five years old, and our family has only two talisman seeds left. Father is nning to adopt another child under Fourth Uncle, which means there will be new demand for the talisman seeds... How will we have enough for the next generation?
Moreover, if the eldest son does not have a spiritual orifice, should we wait for a child with one to be born before giving it to them, or should the direct eldest have priority? It''s not the scarcity that troubles us, but the uneven distribution. These matters areplex! If not handled well, it couldy the groundwork for fraternal strife... It requires deep contemtion and caution.
Thus, he lost the mood for celebration. He simply smiled at Lu Wanrong before saying softly, "There are still matters to attend to in the mountains... I need to go up once more. Rest for now, and I wille to see you tomorrow."
Seeing Lu Wanrong nod nkly, Li Xuanling then left. However, he stopped after a few steps and turned his head to look at her. He said in a serious tone, "I remember you had a n brother who came to report earlier, still staying at the Li Family. What about him?"
Lu Wanrong knew whom Li Xuanling was referring to and quickly responded, "He''s a mere mortal."
Li Xuanling then felt relieved and left the courtyard, murmuring, "Even mortals should not be underestimated... I should remind Brother Xuan about this."
Chapter 154: Ding Xiding
Chapter 154: Ding Xiding
As dawn gently illuminated the sky, the bare trees among the mountains were now covered with sparkling morning frost.
Li Tongya had returned to Mount Lijing. Thanks to the superior recovery abilities granted by the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, the true essence within his body was quickly and fully restored.
Afterpleting his breathing exercises, Li Tongya closed his eyes to scan his surroundings. It had already been a year since he had broken through to the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and his cultivation had been stagnant since then, with little progress.
Thetter three heavenlyyers of the Qi Cultivation Realm are all about umting and building progress... It''s not possible to break through within a short term. It probably needs another five to six years of effort!
While he was thinking these thoughts, the patterns of the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation suddenly lit up.
Li Tongya''s expression immediately turned serious as a booming voice reverberated from outside the formation.
"Ding Xiding of the Ding family from Mushroom Forest in hase to visit... I request a meeting with Brother Tongya!"
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow and looked out to see an old man with thick eyebrows and a rugged face standing outside, holding a staff and closely examining the formation below. The old man was at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"The Ding Family is the family the An Family has invited from Mushroom Forest in to take over Mount Tiaoyun, to counterbnce the Yu Family and our Li Family... They are quite polite to havee to visit so soon after taking charge of the mountain!" Li Tongya muttered grumpily to himself.
With just a thought, the formation had opened to allow for a small entrance. Li Tongya cupped his fist and politely greeted, "Li Tongya of the Li Family from Lijing greets Senior!"
"Ah! Please, no need to be so formal..." Ding Xiding said as he waved his hand andnded on Mount Lijing.
Looking at Li Tongya, he praised, "The reputation of Qingsui Sword Immortal precedes him. This mountain is indeed blessed to have nurtured such a genius!"
Ding Xiding was a smooth talker. He knew that praising Mount Lijing as a blessed immortalnd would sound insincere, so he changed his approach and decided to praise the sword immortal instead.
He cupped his fist once more.
"Congrattions to Brother Tongya for expanding eastward and securing a blessed mountain beyond this perilous position!"
Li Tongya smiled softly and responded, "The Ding Family has also acquired new territory. Congrattions, congrattions! This way please... let''s continue inside."
The two families had just divided the Lu Family''s territories.
Since the Li Family had marital ties with the Lu Family, its remnants were given a way out from Mount Huaqian. However, the people of the Lu Family at Mount Tiaoyun were all freshly ughtered by the Ding Family.
Ding Xiding entered the courtyard and immediately started working on building a good rtionship with the Li Family.
Heughed heartily before speaking, "Brother Tongya might not be aware... but my Ding Family has had generational marital and friendly rtions with the Yuan Family. The Yuan Family has a daughter who is also cultivating on Qingsui Peak and ording to seniority, she is your Sword Immortal''s senior sister."
"I see. This must be destiny!" Li Tongya said politely, deciding to y along well. However, he scoffed to himself inwardly.
What use are generational friendship and marital ties..? Weren''t the An and Lu families also bonded by generations of marriage and friendship?
Lu Sisi had just died, and they had already taken over Mount Tiaoyun without dying any time... They surely didn''t hesitate to wield the ughter knife, conveniently forgetting the generational rtions between them.
Generational marital and friendly rtions huh? More like a conflict of interests!
Ding Xiding nodded slightly, feeling helpless inside. His Ding Family had not experienced any territorial changes for over two hundred years, and the Yuan Family treated the Ding Family like dogs guarding the gate to Mushroom Forest in.
Now that they had finally escaped their predicament and acquired a mountain, it was frustrating to find themselves between a Sword Immortal family and a prominent n with cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
However, on the other hand, Li Tongya sighed.
"Since you have taken over this mountain, you must report to the Yu Family, Senior. You should also go to Milin Prefecture to present some gifts. Otherwise, you risk offending them!"
Ding Xiding''s face changed drastically at this, putting down his tea bowl in shock.
"Is it really so?! Is the Yu Family that domineering..?"
"The Yu Family''s territory is vast, with Yu Xiaogui at the early stage of Foundation Establishment Realm. Yu Yufeng, also known as White Jade Fist, is now at thete stage, not to mention the young talents emerging from their ranks. They have long dominated theke!" Li Tongya said in exasperation, venting his frustrations. It was obvious he portrayed deep resentment.
Ding Xiding was greatly shaken by this, asking, "Even the Li Family... known for your Sword Immortal, is pressured by them?"
"Although my Li Family remains neutral, we too fear them!" Li Tongya responded as he also set down his tea bowl and then whispered, "Senior, how could you not consider the future of your descendants when you have such a family near you? The Yu Family''s influence is too strong!"
Ding Xiding found this reasoning sound, nodding in agreement, then gritted his teeth as he got lost in his own thoughts.
I had some doubts about what the An Family said, but now I see that even the Li Family fears the Yu Family. It seems if I want to carve out a ce for myself here, I''ll need to shake up the Yu Family!
He began considering and scheming on how to contact some friends of the Foundation Establishment Realm and Yuan Family allies to strike at the Yu Family.
Seeing Ding Xiding deep in thought, Li Tongya smiled without distracting him. After a long pause, Ding Xiding finally looked up, looking apologetic. "I was lost in thought, please forgive me, Brother Tongya!" he said sheepishly.
"Don''t worry about it," Li Tongya replied with a small chuckle.
After exchanging a few more words, Ding Xiding took his leave. Li Tongya saw him off and then sat back down, looking at the map of Moongaze Lake on the table.
He touched the corner where Mount Huaqian was and murmured, "With this territory, my Li Family can have another thirty years of peaceful development... Let them fight among themselves for now!"
After saying this with a slight smile, he saw the courtyard door gently open, and Li Xuanling stepped in. He walked respectfully up to him and cupped his fist.
"Father."
"What is it?" Li Tongya asked as his gaze lingered on the map, his voice soft.
"It''s about... the talisman seeds," Li Xuanling began, recounting his earlier thoughts softly. When he mentioned the potential for fraternal strife, Li Xuanling could clearly see his father pause momentarily.
After finishing his exnation, it took several moments before Li Tongya nodded and said in a deep voice, "What you''re considering is to be taken seriously indeed..."
After looking up at him, Li Tongya had an expression of pride.
"You have a good grasp of the situation which ismendable...but that''s still not enough. Have you thought of a solution?"
Li Xuanling pondered for a few moments before answering, "In my opinion, the best solution would be to divide the talisman seeds equally among the four branches, allowing each branch to receive one. Unfortunately, we do not have enough talisman seeds. Thus, we may only select the best candidates to receive the talisman seeds. When the eldest sons and those with spiritual orifice of the branchese of age, we canpare and choose the owners of the remaining two talisman seeds..."
After listening to Li Xuanling, Li Tongya shook his head and said, "You''re still young and your view isn''t far-reaching enough. Even if we had enough talisman seeds for each generation, allowing the four branches to divide them equally would only lead to the branches drifting apart, creating barriers that might causepetition between them in their quest for the talisman seeds."
Pausing slightly to gather his thoughts, Li Tongya continued, "The most feared scenario in managing a n is making the divisions too clear; the branches should be unified! From each generation, select the most exceptional child to be given a talisman seed. Only one seed will be granted per generation. If you give away both now, what will we do twenty yearster when the generation of Yuan and Qing gives birth to the generation of Xi and Yue, and a truly exceptional talent emerges? There''ll be no talisman seed to be granted to them then."
After saying this and gesturing slightly with his hand, Li Xuanling nodded eagerly, saying respectfully, "I see... That is enlightening!"
After thinking for a few moments, Li Xuanling then voiced his confusion, "But... how do we determine who this exceptional child is?"
Li Tongya smiled at this and whispered, "Isn''t that simple? Blindfold them all, block their hearing, and have them kneel in front of the mirror. Then, we shall see who receives the talisman seed! The chosen one shall be then referred to as the Auspicious Child!"
Chapter 155: The Elder of the Chen Family
Chapter 155: The Elder of the Chen Family
Having acquired the devastated Mount Huaqian, the Li Family''s craftsmen andborers who had been idle for years, finally found a ce to unleash their skills.
The poption surplus from various towns also found a new ce to live, instantly revitalizing the area. Arge number of craftsmen flooded into the ruins at the foot of Mount Huaqian, beginning construction and repairs.
The entire ebony mine fell within the Li Family''s territory, still protected by the formation tes left by the Lu Family. However, without the Lu Family''s cultivators meddling unnecessarily, there was no longer a need to support a group of idle people who did nothing but eat, drink, and entertain themselves¡ªsignificantly improving efficiency.
The Lu Family had neglected the well-being of the people, resulting in many tragedies in the viges under Mount Huaqian. When the news spread, it deeply moved the residents of the towns.
The local theater troupes selected a few examples to adapt into performances, drawingrge crowds to the Liyuan Theater. It was so lively that there were no seats that were left empty.
Even Li Xuanxuan watched half of a show secretly, then left with a shake of his head and a smile.
With thisparison, the previously taken-for-granted prosperous life of the residents in the four towns suddenly became interesting again.
With silver in their pockets, the men spoke with more confidence, and all industries thrived. Everything was moving in a positive direction.
The area between the two mountains now had over a hundred thousand residents, with over a thousand infants born each year.
Only one or two individuals with spiritual orifices were identified, but most of themcked talentpared to those of the Li Family''s bloodline, which have absorbed individuals with spiritual orifices for decades.
Most of these individuals were integrated into the Li Family and sent to watch over the spirit fields in various towns.
A fresh snowfall covered the entire mountain. Li Xuanxuan, who was in high spirits, carried a bag of Spirit Rice up the mountain. He quickly entered the courtyard.
He waited until Li Tongya finished drawing a talisman before approaching with a bright smile.
"Second Uncle, this is the first batch of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice of the year... totaling seventy jin!"
Yellow Jade Spirit Rice, a new offering since the Li Family became a Qi Cultivation Realm n, could be sold for four to five times the price of ordinary Spirit Paddies.
It was harder to grow, requiring frequent spirit rain and the asional adjustment of the earth''s veins. If the cultivator was only at the first stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, it might take five or six of them to even be able to manage a single spirit field.
Only cultivators at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm could take care of the spirit field alone.
"Not bad."
Li Tongya nodded in contentment, examining the bag''s contents.
The Spirit Rice, with its grains shining like yellow jade and brimming with spiritual qi, prompted him to say, "Truly a cultivator''s nourishment! The spiritual qi is truly abundant. Our Li Family now needs to contribute three hundred jin of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice and two thousand jin of ordinary Spirit Paddies every five years. The rest, like various medicinal herbs, are easy; we can have the weak Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators nt those... You must manage these two types of Spirit Paddies well!"
"Don''t worry, Second Uncle!" Li Xuanxuan assured as he cupped his fist, saying solemnly, "Now that we have Mount Huaqian, I''ve already dispatched people to cultivate it. Our Li Family can now produce four hundred and fifty jin of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice and over three thousand jin of ordinary Spirit Paddies every five years, which is more than enough!"
Li Tongya began drawing another talisman, pondering for a moment before responding, "Just remember, let those cultivators with lesser talents and lower cultivation realms work together on these spirit fields. Do not waste the time of cultivators who have condensed the Jade Capital Chakra on farming! Let them learn talisman arts... or strive to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. You need to bnce it well, ensuring it doesn''t feel too unfair to everyone¡ªnor too fair."
"I understand."
Li Xuanxuan nodded obediently, before leaning in to whisper, "After managing our household for many years, I know well how to allocate our cultivators. Those with ordinary talents usingmon Embryonic Breathing Realm techniques will never break through to the Jade Capital, so I understand how to arrange them!"
"Good!" Li Tongyamended, now storing the talisman he had finished. He then asked, "Where is Feng''er?"
"He has gone to the prefecture with his savings to forge a dharma artifact. It has been three days, and he has not yet returned."
After Li Xuanxuan answered, he saw Li Tongya smile softly and say, "Being in seclusion for so long must have bored him. Let him have some fun."
Li Xuanxuan paused, then remembered something and said softly, "Second Uncle, there''s news from the Chen Family. Chen Erniu passed awayst night."
Li Tongya paused slightly, the tea bowl he had just picked up not reaching his lips before he ced it back on the table. He let out a somber sigh.
"It was inevitable... The elder was a cornerstone of ourmunity decades ago, aplished and with a clean family reputation. Truly rare! He was also rted by marriage to our family... Let''s go together to pay our respects."
Seeing Li Xuanxuan nod, Li Tongya''s expression turnedplex as he sighed quietly, realizing how the older generation had dwindled¡ªLi Mutian, Liu Linfeng, Li Chengfu, and now Chen Erniu... He was nearly bing the oldest among the rted families.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The biting cold wind rushed through the remnants of the mountains into Lijing Town. It stered the faces of people with bright white snowkes and reddened the cheeks of children ying in the streets who still chattered incessantly despite the biting cold.
"n Brother Pingyi, Uncle Xiewen is a town leader! Last month, most of the cultivators in our n went to Mount Huaqian. Did your father tell you what that was about?"
Surrounded by children either surnamed Li or Ye or from rted families, they were all wearing cotton clothes and were looking up at the boy in the middle.
Li Pingyi nced around before responding, "My father mentioned that there are three viges under Mount Huaqian with just over five thousand people. They have now received orders from the mountain to establish their own towns... This trip was for consolidating and exploring spirit fields."
Li Pingyi¡ªthe legitimate eldest son of Li Xiewen and the legitimate grandson of Li Yesheng, appeared quite clever.
With the younger generation not yet grown up and Li Yuanxiu being a quiet child who disliked causing trouble, Pingyi had be the default leader of the children, much to his delight.
"But that... Ah! It''s people from the main residence!"
Before the children could ask more, two groups of n soldiers suddenly appeared from both sides, trampling the snow piles on the streets into nothing.
Seeing the group of children, someone turned to report back.
The children scattered in a panic, yelling and screaming.
Amidst the chaos, Li Pingyi, being pushed and shoved around, fell to the ground with a loud thud. "Don''t run! Don''t run! You''ve all been spoiled by your fathers and uncles... Hey, don''t push! They''re only catching those who arezy and tyrannical... We''re just children, what''s there to run from?!" he shouted, dizzy from having been pushed around so aggressively.
But before Li Pingyi could finish, the street had already cleared of children. As he got up, he found himself alone except for a pair of brown leather boots in front of him.
Without thinking, he cupped his fist and said, "My father is Li Xiewen! I''m not sure who you are..."
The area fell eerily silent, and the surrounding n soldiers struggled to contain theirughter.
Li Pingyi slowly looked up, only to find his father Li Xiewen staring back at him, furious yet incredulous. Startled, Pingyi cried out, "Father! How did you find me here?!"
Li Xiewen red at him, finding the situation rather amusing despite his stern appearance. He pretended to be angry, scolding, "Damn it! Using my name to engage in such antics?! We''ll settle this when we get home. Now,e with me!"
Li Xiewen was strict on the surface but he was deeply pleased with his son. After all, he had been much duller back when he was the same age, constantly infuriating Li Yesheng. Had it not been for his brothers being even less capable, it''s uncertain if he would have been the one to assist Li Xuanxuan in managing the town and mountain affairs today.
Li Yesheng and Li Xiangping had ventured beyond the mountain together, facing multiple life-and-death situations.
Li Xiewen, assisting Li Xuanxuan with the affairs of the four towns and two mountains, married a woman with a spiritual orifice.
Earlier this year, it was discovered his child did not possess one. Li Xiewen had already nned Li Pingyi''s future, intending for him to follow Li Yuanxiu and continue the family''s legacy...
Following behind, Li Pingyi eyed his father''s white clothes and whispered, "Who died..? Such a grand affair..."
Li Xiewen nodded in approval of his son''s observation, saying solemnly, "An elder from the Chen Family, one of the earliest town leaders who had connections with those on the mountain. Act solemnly; this funeral is significant. Don''t disgrace me."
Chapter 156: Custom-made Dharma Artifact
Chapter 156: Custom-made Dharma Artifact
"My Lord!"
As Chen Donghe entered his home, people on both sides called out to him and addressed him as lord, a title that burned ufortably in his heart; yet, he could not voice his difort.
Before Chen Erniu passed away, he had a final meeting with Donghe.
Donghe, choking with tears, found himself at a loss for words. Chen Erniu squeezed his hand and said hoarsely, "From now on, be bold in your actions... your father won''t me you. You''re a smart child who knows how to handle affairs... Take good care of our family."
Chen Erniu understood Chen Donghe''s inner conflict: marrying into the family was a mutual decision, and Chen Erniu no longer cared about surnames.
If it had not been for Li Mutian''s father, Li Genshui, who saved him, the Chen Family as it was today would not exist. Besides, they did not have the right to refuse anyway since they were living on Li Family''s territory.
However, Chen Erniu had publicly disowned him, cursing his beloved son in the street to prove that the Chen Family hadpletely severed ties with him.
Chen Erniu knew that such an act was unnecessary given their current rtionship with the Li Family, but he still cautiously made the gesture to remain cordial.
Now, with the old man gone, Chen Donghe stood before his coffin... filled with guilt.
From childhood to adolescence and now at twenty-six years old, he had been educated by two men¡ªChen Erniu until the age of seven, and then Li Xiangping.
One taught him to be steady and forbearing, while the other taught him to strike fiercely.
"Father!"
Chen Donghe cried out as he kneeled in front of the coffin, weeping bitterly.
How could he not be in pain when both the man he viewed as a father and his biological father had passed away one after another?
Li Jingtian gently patted his back. Chen Donghe, dressed in his white robe, appeared particrly frail in the wind.
Li Tongya sighed softly at the sight. Donghe was like a son to him and was now also married to Li Jingtian. Watching Donghe cry so painfully, he remained silent, unsure of what to say.
Moved by the solemn atmosphere, Li Pingyi could not help but shed tears as well. He covered his eyes to look at Li Yuanxiu, only to find his eyes brimming with tears as well, whispering, "Brother Yuanxiu..."
Li Yuanxiu turned his head and gestured for him to remain silent. The two then bowed their heads, weeping silently.
After Chen Erniu''s funeral ended and the two boys stepped outside, Li Yuanxiu sat quietly on the steps. Li Pingyi, choking back sobs, whimpered, "If my father dies... I''ll be just as sad!"
Wiping away his tears, Li Pingyi, looking at Li Yuanxiu''s tearful eyes shimmering in the sunlight, spoke softly.
"Brother Yuanxiu..."
Li Yuanxiu lifted his gaze and turned to look at him, also managing to catch sight of Li Pingyi swearing earnestly.
"I''d be sad if you died, too."
Li Yuanxiu nodded vigorously, about to say something more when Li Xuanxuan came out from the courtyard and took the child by the hand. Together, the two departed.
Li Pingyi sat alone for a while before getting up and dusting off his trousers, wandering off alone into the alley to y.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng had arrived in town three days prior and spent several days ying around with Jiang Yunu, their days and nights reversed.
The angry goose still paced furiously in the yard, squawking away.
Holding Jiang Yunu in his arms for a few turns around the yard, he heard the young woman ask, "What should we name the child if we have one?"
Her face was flushed and her voice soft.
Li Xuanfeng chuckled, exining, "I am of the Xuan generation... If it''s a boy, his first name should start with Yuan; if it''s a girl, she should start with Qing."
Jiang Yunu nodded in understanding. Li Xuanfeng nced at the sky, then carried her back to bed, whispering, "The Cloud Crowned Peak market is about to open, but I still have important matters to attend to. I''ll step out for a bit ande back to find you after I''m done."
After getting dressed and kissing Jiang Yunu goodbye, he left and flew westward, soonnding at the foot of Cloud Crowned Peak.
Walking a few steps along the street of the market, the stalls became fewer, and several shops appeared before him.
Li Xuanfeng looked around, choosing a shop that sold dharma artifacts, and stepped over the threshold into the store.
A cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm stood inside, smiling warmly as he approached.
Li Xuanfeng said in a deep voice, "Go ask your shopkeeper how many Spirit Stones it takes tomission a dharma artifact... I want tomission a longbow of the Qi Cultivation Realm."
The shop assistant was momentarily stunned but quickly regained hisposure. "Right away! I''ll go and ask now," he blurted and hurried off.
Shortly after, a muscr man with a bare chest rushed in from the backyard, with various iron implements hanging on his body nging together. He was clearly a peak Qi cultivator.
"What are your requirements, fellow Daoist?" The man''s face was stubbled, and his eyes were piercing as he stared directly at Li Xuanfeng. He looked rugged but spoke quite softly.
After observing Li Xuanfeng for a while, he seemed to recall something.
"I am Li Xuanfeng of the Li Family from Lijing. Pleased to meet you!" Li Xuanfeng said as he politely introduced himself.
"The Li Family from Lijing..? So, you belong to the family of the Qingsui Sword Immortal!" the rugged man praised as he cupped his fist, realization dawning upon him. He let out augh.
"My name is Chu Minglian. Back in the day, I also had a small shop on Moongaze Lake and might have had some connections with your elders!"
"Really?" Li Xuanfeng asked as he immediately perked up.
"Indeed. The Qingsui Sword Immortal once sold me a rare Fire Baleful Qi from the Yue State in my shop. Later, when the Sword Immortal''s fame reached me, it sounded familiar... After much thought, I finally made the connection! I regretted not offering more Spirit Stones; who knows, I might have earned a favor from a Sword Immortal!" Chu Minglian chuckled as he humorously bridged their rtionship with light-heartedness.
Li Xuanfengughed heartily and said, "Since Senior has such a destined connection with my family, it seems I might be able to save some Spirit Stones today!"
Chu Minglian was chuckling but Li Xuanfeng''s words had caught him off guard, leaving him speechless for a second. However, he soon burst intoughter again.
"You''re quite the witty young man!"
After looking at him thoughtfully, he remarked, "The Li Family truly produces geniuses. When the Sword Immortal visited my shop, he was merely at the Embryonic Breathing Realm... Now, he''s established his Dao foundation! You, young and already at the Qi Cultivation Realm, have an immeasurable future as well."
After exchanging pleasantries, Li Xuanfeng quickly got to the point, describing the dharma artifact he wanted tomission.
Chu Minglian listened carefully and nodded.
"Your request is quite rare. Few cultivators use bows, let alone one so heavy."
After pondering for a moment, Chu Minglian said seriously, "I intend to use the Golden Barrier Stone for the bow''s frame and refine it with a mystic me to withstand the strength of five thousand jin while maintaining sufficient flexibility. As for the bowstring... do you prefer the tendons of a demonic beast or a metal?"
"Let''s use metal!" Li Xuanfeng said after some time, considering the destructive power of Astral Qi on the frame. He figured that metal would transmit it faster and that a demonic beast''s tendons might not withstand it, making metal the better choice.
"Then we''ll use the essence of ebony ore. Refining it from ordinary ebony ore to craft this ebony metal essence will meet your requirements!" Chu Minglian suggested with confidence.
Li Xuanfeng nodded eagerly as he heard this.
"How many Spirit Stones will it cost?"
Chu Minglian smiled slightly, exining, "The raw materials will need eighty Spirit Stones, and it will take me a good half year to craft it... charging forty Spirit Stones for thebor; totaling one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!"
Li Xuanfeng felt a slight tingle in his feet when he heard the price, which far exceeded his budget. Even with the spirit stones from his storage pouch and the fifty provided by his family, the total value barely exceeded a hundred. However, satisfied with the bow Chu Minglian described, he bit the bullet and asked in a low voice, "Senior... if I provide the ebony ore myself, how much can the price be reduced?"
After a moment of thought, Chu Minglian answered, "The ebony ore costs thirty Spirit Stones. If you can provide it yourself, the price would be ny Spirit Stones."
"Then it''s settled!" Li Xuanfeng hummed, thrilled with his answer. He then dumped a pile of Spirit Stones on the table for the shop assistant to count.
He also produced arge piece of ebony ore for Chu Minglian to take a portion of, watching eagerly until Chu Minglian nodded and said, "Young friend,e back in half a year to collect it!"
Li Xuanfeng nodded vigorously and the two went to the Xiao Family in the market to draw up a contract, swearing a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath together.
Only then did Li Xuanfeng leave in great contentment, not minding his now-empty pockets. He then cheerfully returned to Jiang Yunu.
Chapter 157: Golden Age
Chapter 157: Golden Age
Li Xuanfeng returned to the mountain to discuss with Li Tongya and the others about the custom-made dharma artifact. After half a year of cultivation, someone came knocking at his stone door.
Li Xuanfeng stepped outside to see that the snow on the mountain had melted, and the greenery was vibrant under the scorching sun. Excited, he rode the wind along the Guli Road toward the prefecture.
Landing in the market, he strutted into Chu Minglian''s shop, where the Embryonic Breathing Realm shop assistant greeted him with the same warm smile.
He offered him tea and asked him to wait for a moment while he fetched Chu Minglian.
Chu Minglian¡ªever so energetic¡ªapproached and was apanied by the sound of nging metal. Heughed as he saw him.
"Young Brother Xuanfeng, you''vee to pick up your bow, haven''t you?"
"Exactly!" Li Xuanfeng responded with a grin, noticing two Embryonic Breathing Realm apprentices carrying a long, thick, dark golden bow that shimmered as they entered the front of the shop.
They were gasping for breath and sweating profusely as they ced the bow on a stone table, a loud thud resounding.
Chu Minglian quickly stabilized the table, causing a white light to emit from the jade surface to dissipate the force and prevent the table from copsing.
"Be careful!" he scolded the apprentices with a frown.
The apprentices bowed their heads apologetically. Chu Minglian then turned back to Li Xuanfeng, his face breaking into a smile as he introduced his proud creation.
"This bow is made from Golden Barrier Stone and strung with ebony metal essence, forged in mystic me for exactly one hundred and twenty-six days. What''s more, the bow frame is fully inscribed with runes for gathering and condensing qi!"
Chu Minglian proudly continued with his extravagant introduction, "The bow is seven chi and six cun long, with horns measuring two chi and five cun. The Golden Barrier Stone is dark gold... radiant throughout! Its quality is considered superior among dharma artifacts of Qi Cultivation Realm, although it is extremely heavy and difficult to draw."
"Splendid!" Li Xuanfeng praised, his eyes sparkling as he grasped the dark golden bow with one hand, holding the bow with his right and pulling the string with his left.
Gritting his teeth and widening his eyes, his robust blood qi surged as heughed fiercely and yelled, "Draw¡ª!"
The dark golden bow tensed instantly, drawn full. The buzzing sound filled the air, leaving the two apprentices watching in shock, their jaws dropping as they crouched in pain from the piercing noise.
Chu Minglian stepped back, astonished.
How is this possible..?! Is this man transformed from a demon beast?! How can he possess such strength? I thought this bow was so heavy that an ordinary person could only draw it a fraction of its capacity... Who knew Li Xuanfeng could fully draw it in one go?!
Seeing the items in the room vibrating, Chu Minglian rushed forward, braving the sharp qi to plead, "Fellow Daoist! Many items in my shop are extremely fragile...If you release the bowstring here, I fear many will shatter!"
Hearing this, Li Xuanfeng, feeling his rtively empty storage pouch on the verge of bing even lighter, quickly eased the tension on the bowstring.
He apologized hastily, "I was too excited! My apologies... and thank you for the reminder."
"Have you thought of a name for this bow?" Chu Minglian asked with a smile.
Li Xuanfeng nodded and pondered for a moment before answering, "Let''s call it the Golden Age."
Chu Minglianughed heartily, proudly gesturing to the bow once more. "Are you satisfied with the bow?" he asked with a grin.
"Extremely satisfied! Brother Chu, your craftsmanship is exceptional!"
Thus, Li Xuanfeng, now beaming with joy, slung the bow over his shoulder and went with Chu Minglian to the market to dissolve their contract and spiritual oath, signifying that the transaction wasplete. He then rode the wind out of the market, eager to get home.
After flying for a while, hended in the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation on the mountain, only to hear a crack under his feet as the Golden Age longbow identally shattered a stone tile.
With an awkward smile, he adjusted the bow and walked into the yard.
Li Tongya was demonstrating sword techniques to Li Xuanling, their swords dancing in the courtyard while Li Yuanxiu watched intently from a stone bench. It was a warm sight to see.
Seeing Li Xuanfeng, Li Tongya smiled gently and sheathed his sword.
"You''ve brought back the bow?"
"Haha."
Li Xuanfengughed heartily and grinned, holding the dark golden longbow proudly. He approached and thoroughly exined it to them.
He then, with Li Xuanxuan who was drawing talismans with a helpless expression, insisted on finding a ce to test the bow''s power with the three of them.
Thus, the four found a clearing in the mountains. Li Xuanfeng took a stance, drew the bow, and concentrated his energy.
The Golden Age longbow instantly lit up with bright golden runes while the bowstring emitted a strong glow, forming a dazzling true essence arrow on the string.
"Fire!"
The distant woods instantly roared and the ground shook violently while a thick plume of dust rose, knocking down five or sixrge trees and leaving arge crater in the ground. The force was so great that it sent dirt flying everywhere.
A pale golden qi also emanated, forcing the surrounding trees to shed their leaves, creating a rustling sound as green leaves covered the ground.
The three onlookers were momentarily speechless.
Li Xuanling looked at the deep pit on the ground and murmured, "With such power, even a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm might suffer if they were caught off guard..."
Li Xuanfeng, lost in thought, shook his head before finally speaking, "I haven''t been able to fully synchronize with this bow; it was merely the power of my true essence and mana force..."
He cupped his fist to Li Tongya, and his tone became serious¡ªsolemn, even.
"I n to go into seclusion for five years to consolidate what I''ve learned... innovate, and in the process, be attuned to this dharma artifact. As you advised, I will also write a manual on archery techniques."
"Very well," Li Tongya said as he nodded in approval and lifted his sword.
As Li Xuanfeng cupped his fist to his two brothers, he rode the wind thoughtfully toward his cave dwelling on Mount Meiche.
Li Tongya and the others walked up the mountain where Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling praised Li Xuanfeng''s actions.
Li Tongya said with a smile, "Among the generations of Xuan and Jing, Xuanfeng possesses the most exceptional talent... You two must not ck off! Xuanxuan, you''re nearly thirty yet still at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Our family''s techniques surpass others by far; do not let this advantage go to waste."
Pausing briefly, Li Tongya added, "Xuanling has impressively condensed the Jade Capital Chakra at the age of seventeen. In the next decade, both of you should aim to advance to the Qi Cultivation Realm to add two formidable forces to our family."
The younger members promptly acknowledged the advice. As they continued walking, a n soldier approached them, looking rather anxious and on edge.
"Lord Chen Donghe seeks an audience with you, n Uncle!"
"Me..?" Li Tongya paused, and both Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling were momentarily taken aback.
Realization then dawned upon Li Tongya as heughed and said, "That''s good news, we were just discussing bolstering our family''s strength... and herees Donghe!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Chen Donghe had waited outside the courtyard for quite some time before someone came to invite him in.
Li Tongya was enjoying tea at the head of the table, with Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling smiling at him.
"I, Chen Donghe, have reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and came to seek guidance," Chen Donghe announced, his tone respectful and sincere.
Li Tongya nodded with a smile and sipped his tea, asking softly, "How old are you this year, Donghe?"
"I am twenty-eight this year," Chen Donghe answered.
"Good!" Li Tongyamended, then turned to the others with a smile.
"If Yu Mufeng had reached Qi Cultivation Realm at thirty and the Yu Family praised his talent, Donghe is certainly not falling short!"
"I am merely diligent in my practice... I''m far from Xuanfeng''s caliber," Chen Donghe humbly deflected.
But to this, Li Tongya immediately quelled his concerns with affirmation.
"I''ll allow you to know this¡ªthe few Grade Three Qi Cultivation techniques the Li Family possesses are all legitimate. Having watched you grow up and with Xiangping treating you as his own, we naturally won''t withhold them from you."
"Currently, there are two techniques avable for gathering qi. The first is the River One Qi Technique, and the other is the Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique."
After detailing the techniques'' advantages and drawbacks, Li Tongya asked, "Which one would you like to have?"
"I''ll leave it to the elder to decide!" Chen Donghe replied, as respectful as ever.
Li Tongya smiled softly and nodded, saying, "The River One Qi Technique it is! I have some River Pure Qi here; start by consuming it for your cultivation. Once you''ve achieved Qi Cultivation Realm, collect a portion of River Pure Qi from the river and return it to the n to bnce the ounts."
"Thank you, elder!" Chen Donghe expressed gratefully.
Chapter 158: Lingyanzi
Chapter 158: Lingyanzi
Chen Donghe thanked Li Tongya before being taken down by Li Xuanxuan to take on the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath. He was meant to also study the cultivation technique, while Li Xuanling excused himself to cultivate as well.
Li Tongya watched the younger generation leave and set down his tea bowl, then stood up to calcte his age. He was nearing fifty and still had some way to go before reaching the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
He could not help but smile bitterly.
"Both the geniuses and the mediocrities end up harmed by others, leaving me¡ªneither exceptional nor terrible, to cultivate arduously... The world is unpredictable and heartless! I might as well dedicate myself more to cultivation..."
With that, he rose on the wind and returned to his cave dwelling to cultivate.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Hundreds of miles away from the Li Family, in the midst of mountains and forests, a young man d in a cloud-patterned robe was fleeing desperately. Wearing a jade crown and ceremonial clothes, he unleashed a pale purple jade bead, creating a radiant purple shield around him as he sped through the sky.
Two Daoists in white robes with flowing beards were in hot pursuit, wielding dharma swords and standing on flying shuttles. They chased after him relentlessly, their dharma artifacts emitting bright silver sword lights that struck the radiant purple shield, causing shes of unearthly collision.
"Lingyanzi, stop running! It will only add to your suffering... This area is filled with minor families who dare not intervene. Coming here is a death sentence!"
The two pursuers continued pursuing him fervently, preventing him from heading toward the prefecture.
Looking down at the mortals kneeling on the ground below, Lingyanzi felt a surge of despair.
"Where exactly is this Li Family from Lijing?!"
Originating from the Purple Smoke Gate¡ªone of the three sects and seven gates located west of the Golden Tang Gate, he came to Mount Dali for an important task.
Unexpectedly, he encountered these two scoundrels from the Changxiao Gate, who had been doggedly pursuing him for three days and nights, circling the outskirts of Mount Dali from the southern foothills to the northern.
When Lingyanzi finally stumbled upon a family, he shouted for help while dodging attacks, only to learn it was a minor family from the edge of Mushroom Forest in and were too fearful to meddle in conflicts among the three sects and seven gates.
They timidly advised, "We are too weak! Please head west, Senior! There, you''ll find the Li Family from Lijing... said to be a Sword Immortal n. They can surely resolve your predicament!"
Frustrated, Lingyanzi cursed three times and continued westward. Now, nearing theke without any sight of the Li Family, he prayed earnestly.
"May the ancestors of Purple Gate Peak bless me... let not the legacy end with me!"
After his prayer, Lingyanzi reflected upon his current predicament, "If not for this Purple Smoke Spirit Shield, I couldn''t have withstood these Changxiao Gate scoundrels for this long... But now, my medicinal pills and talismans are almost running out! If I can''t escape soon... I fear today might really be my end."
Consuming hisst medicinal pill, Lingyanzi spurred his true essence.
As arge settlement and two mountain peaks finally came into view, he spotted the bright formation ahead, much to his great relief.
Ovee with excitement, he elerated his pace and called out, "I am Lingyanzi, a disciple of the Purple Smoke Gate, allied with the Azure Pond Sect! I''m being pursued by enemies... I beseech the elders of the Li Family ahead to save me!"
His voice, bolstered by mana, boomed like rolling thunder. It startled the townspeople below who looked up and whispered among themselves in hushed voices.
The door to Li Tongya''s cave dwelling was hurriedly knocked on by a frowning Li Xuanxuan, but before he could speak, Lingyanzi''s voice came through again.
"I am from the Purple Smoke Gate, allied with the Azure Pond Sect... I beseech the elders of the Li Family ahead to save me!"
Li Tongya''s expression turned grim as he cursed inwardly, Why has the strife of the three sects and seven gates found its way here?! Although the Purple Smoke Gate is an ally of the Azure Pond Sect... the Azure Pond Sect is no good either, having harmed my family several times. If we help him, we might be targeted by the three sects and seven gates chasing after him! Yet if we don''t, we risk offending both the Azure Pond Sect and the Purple Smoke Gate. What a dilemma...
Li Tongya considered leaving his cave dwelling just as Lingyanzi, under relentless attack from the two, could hardly sustain much longer and shouted out once more in desperation.
"I''ve heard the Li Family is a Sword Immortal n with formidable strength... Won''t you save me?! I, Lingyanzi, will surely repay you with treasures and techniques!"
Li Tongya''s face grew even more displeased as he sighed.
"Fame can indeed be a shield... but also a great burden! This person likely sought help from many families along the way, each passing the buck until itnded with my Li Family. Seeing his dire state, this is one hot potato I don''t want to explode in the Li Family''s hands."
Looking around, Li Tongya approached the edge of the formation and extended his spiritual sense, discerning that Lingyanzi was at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. The other two with dharma swords were at the seventh and sixth heavenlyyers respectively, with surging true essence that seemed formidable.
"I am Yuyunzi from the Changxiao Gate! You better not meddle in this... The Azure Pond Sect can''t always protect you if you offend the Changxiao Gate! Who knows when your sect might be eradicated? Given the Azure Pond Sect''s notorious ruthlessness andck of loyalty, would they really stand up for a minor family?" one of the two pursuers threatened as he sneered.
Hearing this, Lingyanzi briefly hesitated. However, he did not give up and cried out with urgency once more.
"Do not be deceived by their words! If I fall here, the Purple Smoke Gate will not let this go! If they trace it back here, you too will face the consequences!"
Li Tongya felt a headacheing on already, and he was formting a n in his mind.
If I intervene now... scaring off these two will indeed save Lingyanzi, but we might be targets afterward. If we don''t save him and the Purple Smoke Gatees knocking, we''re in trouble. Well, it would be best to quietly eliminate these two then! That would be the safest option...
Thus, he rose into the air and exited the formation, revealing himself.
"Greetings to both of you, I''m Li Tongya of the Lijing Li Family!"
Lingyanzi, initially relieved, saw that Li Tongya was only at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and eximed, "Why are you here? Where are your elders?!"
Li Tongya cupped his fist and apologized, "Our elder of the Foundation Establishment Realm isn''t here right now... I''m sorry to have disappointed you."
The two from Changxiao Gateughed heartily upon hearing this, exchanging a nce with each other, sharing the same sinister thoughts.
Since the Li Family''s elder is not here...after killing Lingyanzi, we could also take the opportunity to extort them!
Lingyanzi, now pale, raised his treasured bead and cried out in despair.
"Is the Li Family truly so heartless...?"
At his wit''s end and engulfed in despair, Lingyanzi was about to fight to his death when he was interrupted by Li Tongya''s voice. It was soft and transmitted by mana, resonating lowly in his ear.
Senior, please head toward theke first. Do your best to shake them off, then return to the forest by thekeshore. At a corner of theke, follow the mountain terrain deep inside, where you''ll find a mountain topped with arge white banyan tree; we will be waiting for you there to ambush these two. This way, my Li Family need not be enemies with the Changxiao Gate, and you can escape safely... achieving the best of both worlds.
Lingyanzi was overjoyed inside, though his expression remained unchanged. Heposed himself and shook his head in feigned sorrow and despair as he flew toward theke on his shuttle.
The two from Changxiao Gateughed loudly before nodding at Li Tongya and gave chase on their flying shuttles.
Watching them leave, Li Tongya went down to call out to Li Xuanfeng, who looked bewildered.
Changing his robe and exining along the way, they rode the wind, flying through the mountains for a quarter of an hour beforending under therge banyan tree.
There, a foxy drowsily, barely lifting an eye to nce at them as they arrived.
"Oh... a junior has arrived!"
Li Tongya cupped his fist and shared his n with the fox. He then instructed Li Xuanfeng to hide on the mountain peak opposite them before covering his face with a spirit cloth and moving to stand quietly under the tree, waiting for the three men to arrive.
Chapter 159: Killing Two Men
Chapter 159: Killing Two Men
Lingyanzi made rounds above the rippling Moongaze Lake, sustaining all the attacks of the two pursuers with his Purple Smoke Spirit Shield.
Changing his direction abruptly to return, he pondered quietly in his doubtful heart.
If that person ends up deceiving me... I''ll probably die here today.
Yet, ncing back at the two from Changxiao Gate, his heart filled with dread. He gritted his teeth and flew along the mountain terrain, thinking to himself, There''s no other way now but to trust him; it''s death either way... Without me, my junior brothers and sisters at Purple Gale Peak will struggle.
Soon, arge white banyan tree appeared below him. Lingyanzi''s eyes immediately lit up as he quickly descended, followed closely by the two from Changxiao Gate. Both mennded on the mountain without any suspicion of foul y.
"The scenery here is beautiful, it''s indeed a fine final resting ce!" the two men sneered.
Noticing another person under the tree, they frowned. "Who are you?! We are from Changxiao Gate on official business, please step aside," they demanded.
Li Tongya, however, focused on Lingyanzi, who looked deathly pale and on the brink of copse. He tossed a bottle of Qi Recovery Pill to him before assuring him softly, "Please rest, fellow Daoist. Leave these two to me."
"Preposterous!"
Shocked and enraged, the two from Changxiao Gate charged forward with their dharma swords.
Li Tongya drew his sword immediately, and his Celestial Moon sh technique formed a powerful pure white sword arc, deflecting their swords three meters away with two loud clunks.
"Your swordsmanship isn''t bad."
While the martial brothers from Changxiao Gate wondered which of the three sects and seven gates he belonged to, Li Tongya took advantage of the initial stance of the Celestial Moon sh technique and unleashed more than a dozen sword qi, overpowering them with his robust true essence.
Wary of his strength, the two were temporarily suppressed. Having chased Lingyanzi all this way, their true essence reserves were already low.
Yuyunzi, now growing anxious,municated with Yuhezi telepathically as he assessed the situation before them.
"Junior brother! This man''s background is unknown, and he''s quite skilled with the sword... we don''t know what other tricks he has. Perhaps we should let this one go... What a pity though, the Purple Smoke Spirit Shield was almost ours!"
Though Yuhezi was weaker in terms of cultivation, he was the decision-maker.
"Who else could this be but someone from the Li Family of Lijing?! They''re well-known for their sword techniques, aren''t they? These minor families usually have only one or two legacies. Don''t be fooled by his superior sword technique, he surely can''t match us in other aspects. We''ve got the upper hand; just push him away. However... let''s not expose his identity as that would surely mean a fight to the death!" he responded quickly, also telepathically.
Now with renewed resolve, they stood off against Li Tongya. After a dozen moves, Yuyunzi suddenly felt a tightening sensation. His face contorted in pain as he yelled out in agony.
"It''s a trick!"
His talismans spontaneously ignited without wind, and despite Yuyunzi quickly enveloping himself in severalyers of light shields, a shrill whistling filled his ears. His protective shield burst as if struck by a heavy blow, sending him flying far away.
Seeing Yuyunzi''s pathetic state, Yuhezi felt a chill in his heart and gritted his teeth.
"Senior Brother!"
Li Tongya''s sword light immediately suppressed them, knocking their dharma swords away. Meanwhile, Li Xuanfeng''s arrows continued their onught, each arrow following one after another.
Although they were not as powerful as the first, fully charged shot, they still forced the two into a sorry state, sparking the idea of a retreat.
Lingyanzi was astonished, not expecting Li Tongya to be able to fend off two attackers alone, let alone twist their fates around.
"Brother, do not kill these two... Changxiao Gate members carry tracking dharma seals that can mark the person who kills them. It''s best if I finish them off!" he warned quickly.
Hearing this, the two from Changxiao Gate became all the more terrified. They hurriedly deployed their mana shields and talismans, unleashing theirst-resort spells.
Yuyunzi used a jade bead that was shing with white light, while Yuhezi ignited a glowing red me on his sword. For a moment, they stood their ground against Li Tongya and Li Xuanfeng rather courageously.
Li Tongya''s impression of Lingyanzi instantly improved upon hearing this, nodding.
So... Changxiao Gate has such measures, eh? I''m guessing Lingyanzi''s Purple Smoke Gate must have simr ones... This is enlightening! This method might seem clever, essentially restricting one''s actions duringbat! However, it''s useless when facing a formidable enemy that ends up crippling them and feeding them to demonic beasts.
Lingyanzi suddenly approached with renewed energy, his body enveloped in a radiant purple shield, neutralizing the enemies'' attacks. The two sensed danger and exchanged nces, clearly prepared to flee the scene on their flying shuttles.
"Where do you think you''re going?"
Lingyanzi, clearly harboring deep hatred,ughed coldly and activated his spirit bead. The Purple Smoke Spirit Shield buzzed loudly before expanding and trapping all four of them, thwarting their escape.
Li Tongya, now finding himself inside someone else''s formation, remained alert. However, he could not help but praise, "Such a fine treasure! I expected no less of a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact..."
The two were immediately thrown into a state of panic, cursing under their breath.
As Li Xuanfeng''s arrows failed to prate the formation, Li Tongya advanced with his sword.
Lingyanzi harried them from the sidelines, exploiting their growing desperation as their mana reserves dwindled, visibly darkening their expressions.
"Fellow Daoist, whatever Lingyanzi has promised you, we can promise the same. Killing us would only bring the scrutiny of Changxiao Gate upon you! Can we stop here and pretend that we''ve never met each o-..."
However, before they could even finish uttering that sentence, Li Tongya had swung his long sword, thrusting it toward Yuyunzi''s abdomen.
Depleted of mana and barely able to remain standing in the air, Yuyunzi was not spared despite the pleading look on his face.
"ARGH!"
Yuyunzi cried out, his face contorted in pain.
The sword pierced through his abdomen effortlessly. As it was pulled out, his intestines and stomach spilled out immediately, causing a gory scene. Surprisingly, the de remained unstained by blood.
Being at the Qi Cultivation Realm did not make one immune to pain. Yuyunzi trembled in agony, hisplexion turning deathly pale, and he was sweating bullets.
Lingyanzi blocked Yuhezi''s dharma sword and counterattacked, decapitating Yuyunzi one swift stroke. Both his body and head fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Lingyanzi, relieved and pleased, felt as though he had downed five bowls of spicy soup in one breath. His face and body was also drenched in sweat.
He approached Yuhezi, ignoring his pleas for mercy as he chopped him into pieces.
"That was truly satisfying!" Lingyanzi remarked with augh.
Li Tongya held his sword and looked at him, his sword technique still ready. "Quickly dissolve the formation, fellow Daoist..." he said cautiously.
Internally he pondered to himself¡ª albeit greedily.
The Purple Smoke Spirit Shield is indeed a fascinating treasure, tempting even! Now that Lingyanzi is also nearly exhausted... perhaps...?
Lingyanzi smiled awkwardly and dissolved the formation created by the Purple Smoke Spirit Shield.
Watching Li Tongya pick up the two men''s storage pouches, he quickly warned, "Absolutely not!"
Li Tongya, puzzled, nced at him. Lingyanzi then exined softly, "Disciples of the three sects and seven gates often craft dharma tokens that, when paired with the formations on their storage pouches, record everything from thest time the storage pouch was opened. If you are not the rightful owner and you open this storage pouch, the token will vanish like smoke instantly and within moments, the entire Changxiao Gate will know who has killed their disciple!"
Li Tongya was startled, remembering that Li Chejing had also shown him such a token before when he visited his home.
Realizing the truth of Lingyanzi''s words, he thought to himself, The centuries-old traditions of the three sects and seven gates do indeed have their methods. No wonder everyone fears their disciples... I was tempted by the Purple Smoke Spirit Shield but having now offended Changxiao Gate, it''s better to befriend Lingyanzi!
Thus, he cupped his fist and thanked him graciously.
"Thank you for the warning."
"Not at all! It''s I who should be thanking you... Along my journey, I encountered ten rogue cultivators and six families, but only the Li Family extended help. I am eternally grateful!" Lingyanzi replied earnestly, eliciting a slight smile from Li Tongya.
He thought to himself in resignation, I guess the hot potato has indeed been passed to the Li Family! Having killed these two men but being unable to open the storage pouches, I must extract something valuable from this man aspensation. I shouldn''t have tobor in vain!
As Li Xuanfeng descended from the air, Li Tongya cupped his fist and suggested with a smile, "Why don''t youe along with me to Li Residence for a visit?"
Lingyanzi initially intended to refuse but then thought to himself, If he had wanted to kill me, it was just a matter of a sword thrust earlier; he wouldn''t have needed to lure me into their formation for that... It seems he genuinely wants to befriend me. Perhaps I should ept the invitation?
Chapter 160: The Secret of the Purple Thunder
Chapter 160: The Secret of the Purple Thunder
"I''m Li Tongya from the Li Family of Lijing!"
Following Li Tongya''s introduction, Lingyanzi also introduced himself, "Lingyanzi from the Purple Gale Peak of the Purple Smoke Gate!"
Finally, Lingyanzi reached Mount Lijing and entered the courtyard where he was warmly greeted by Li Xuanling with a polite smile.
"Greetings, Senior!"
Lingyanzi nodded politely but was taken aback when Li Xuanling responded.
"I''ve already gathered all the n members, they are eagerly awaiting to witness Senior''s profound techniques!"
Lingyanzi was momentarily speechless, recalling his hasty promises of techniques and spirit items during his escape.
Li Tongya and Li Xuanfeng could not help but smirk internally, rejoicing with the oue of the situation in their hearts.
Even so, Li Xuanfeng said sternly, "Ling''er, show some respect! Senior Lingyanzi is a skillful cultivator from one of the three sects and seven gates; you need not worry about him going back on his word."
Lingyanzi sighed deeply and said with a bitter smile, "Come now, I''m no skillful cultivator from the three sects and seven gates. Not only have I embarrassed myself in front of you all, but tens of thousands of mortals at the foot of the mountain also saw me being hunted down and fleeing in such a sorry state... I''m just an ordinary man, afraid of death and desperately clinging to life!"
After sipping his tea and carefully savoring it, Lingyanzi continued calmly, "Regardless... I survived. Those two from Changxiao Gate, on the other hand, died by my hands. You have no idea how good it feels to be alive!"
He paused suddenly as if drawing in a deep breath of the spiritual qi from the mountains after having narrowly escaped death. Then in a cheerful tone, he said, "It beats any other feeling in the world!"
His words made Li Tongya hold him in high regard, while the younger members of the Li Family from the Xuan generation paused to reflect.
Lingyanziughed and continued, "The abilities I wielde from my gate, and I''ve sworn a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath... so I can''t share them with you. My Spirit Stones and medicinal pills were used up on the way here, and most of the techniques and scriptures I possess are from my travels and wouldn''t be of much use to you. However, I do have one secret technique called Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique, a standout even among Grade Three techniques and is quite valuable. What do you think, Brother Tongya?"
"Please, do tell us more about it!" Li Tongya urged after Lingyanzi finally broached this topic and listened intently.
"This technique originally came from the ancient Thundercloud Temple, a Grade Four technique that used to involve consuming Purple Gold Thunder Liquid to achieve Qi Cultivation Realm... The Dao foundation formed during the Foundation Establishment Realm was known as Winter Thunderp. However, after Thundercloud Temple was destroyed and Purple Gold Thunder Liquid disappeared, it was modified to be used with Profound Yin Thunder Liquid instead; thus degrading it to a Grade Three technique. The resulting Dao foundation is known as Profound Thunderpool, but it''s still much better than ordinary Grade Three techniques," Lingyanzi exined patiently in great detail.
"Oh? Since it''s a secret technique, it must have some side effects right?" Li Tongya asked, a frown appearing.
"Very minor... Just infertility and a few years off one''s lifespan," Lingyanzi answered.
Li Tongya''s interest visibly faded upon hearing this. For a sect, such consequences might be eptable, but it was not ideal as a family technique as infertility wouldpromise the very foundation of the Li Family.
Seeing Li Tongya''s reaction, Lingyanzi quickly added, "There''s more! I also have the method for gathering Profound Yin Thunder Liquid, which I can also share with you."
Noticing the embarrassed look on Lingyanzi''s face, Li Tongya merely nodded and said in resignation, "Thank you, Senior."
"As for these pouches..." Lingyanzi nodded, lifting the two in pouches from the disciples of the Changxiao Gate. "These pouches can resonate with the techniques of the Changxiao Gate members, so they shouldn''t be opened. Keeping them within your family would only invite trouble... It''s better if I take them. Next year, I will send someone to exchange the items inside these pouches for Spirit Stones and have them delivered to you."
Li Tongya did not trust him entirely but realized that he had no other choice. He decided to give in, hoping to leverage this favor in the future.
"Please take them with you then, Senior," he conceded with a nod.
Lingyanzi then took with him the storage pouches. The Changxiao Gates cultivators'' dharma swords and flying shuttles naturally fell into the Li Family''s possession.
Those two dharma swords were even better than Li Tongya''s, yet he dared not use them. The flying shuttles, though ordinary, were a wee addition to the Li Family.
Since Spirit Stones were important resources to be spent wisely, the Li Family never bought any flying shuttles. Now that they had received two of them, they hesitated to use them, hence Li Tongya nned to sell them all in the future.
After talking for a bit longer, Lingyanzi recuperated on Mount Lijing for a while before bidding farewell and flew back on his flying shuttle to report back on his mission.
With peace returning to Mount Lijing once again, Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya went into seclusion, while the rest busied themselves with their own tasks.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In Lixia Prefecture, the bustling streets were filled with all kinds of people. On both sides of the streets, numerous small vendors pushed their carts along, selling cakes and porridge.
The crowd moved deeper into the streets where the alleyways became quieter and less popted.
In one such alley, arge courtyard paved with green stones appeared even more serene. Verdant vines wrapped around the wooden sticks supporting two rows of drying clothes, gently swaying in the glow of the setting sun.
"Mommy!"
The crisp voice of a boy broke through the silence.
Jiang Yunu looked up at the boy. Her face which was once round and cute had now slimmed down considerably.
"Yu''er," she responded to the boy, who was dressed in simple clothes. Although they were not anything fancy, they were clean and well-washed.
The boy looked at her with round and gleaming eyes, saying, "Mommy, a beggar came asking us for coins."
Jiang Yunu raised an eyebrow at him but pulled out two copper coins from her chest pocket with a smile, then handed them to him.
"Go on... but be careful," she instructed softly.
"Got it!"
Watching the boy head out clumsily, Jiang Yunu felt a wave of concern and quickly followed him.
She gritted her teeth while murmuring, "It''s been five whole years... Has that bastard be addicted to seclusion, or has he been killed in a duel with someone? Not a single word from him in five years... If I wasn''t pregnant with Yuanyu before he left, these five years would have driven me insane..."
Approaching the entrance of the courtyard, she saw that the beggar was a middle-aged man with perfectly working limbs and a rosy face. Yet, he shamelesslyy on the ground feigning pain while little innocent Yuanyu tried tofort him.
Fearing the man might be a kidnapper, she called out hurriedly with a worry-stricken voice.
"Yu''er! Come back here!"
Li Yuanyu looked back at her and approached his mother cheerfully.
"Mommy, this man is so strange! He didn''t take my money but thanked me and told me to move away... He even gave me thisrge, round copper coin!"
He then produced a t copper coin which was dark gray in color, bearing four ancient characters indecipherable to them. Jiang Yunu paid it little mind but kept her eyes on the beggar.
"There are bad people in the prefecture who kidnap children, so you need to be careful."
After advising him, Jiang Yunu scooped her son up into her arms and headed back into the house.
"Would you like to go to your teacher''s ce this afternoon to learn some writing?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Li Yuanyu answered in a childish voice, and as the mother and son stepped into their yard, the splendid morning sun suddenly dimmed.
Thick clouds swiftly covered the sky from the east. Several faint silhouettes stood in the sky above Lixia Prefecture, asionally letting out loudughter. They looked down on the mortals below as if they were mere delicacies on a te.
Chapter 161: The Massacre
Chapter 161: The Massacre
Situ You stood on hisrge flying shuttle, his heart mixed with bitterness and joy. Below, the bustling crowds of Lixia Prefecture looked up at them, causing him difort and agitation.
Just like decades ago, when the Golden Tang Gate invaded Azure Pond to ughter mortals for crafting artifacts, Situ You did not revel in the invasion as his n brothers had back then.
He understood that this was not a deal but a demand from Azure Pond Sect, marking this mission as perilously risky. And quite frankly, that was why the gate had chosen him¡ªthe least valued among the illegitimate descendants of the Embryonic Breathing Realm¡ªfor this task.
The Golden Tang Gate might sound prestigious, but it was essentially controlled by the Situ Family. As cultivators reached for higher realms, their offspring were more likely to be born with a spiritual orifice, inevitably leading the sect to be dominated by a single family like the Azure Pond Sect by the Chi Family, and Golden Feather Sect by the Zhang Family. Outsiders who joined the sect would eventually be serving these families.
With the Golden Tang Gate losing its pir after the death of a middle-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, Situ You''s branch, which had marital ties with the Azure Pond Sect, naturally ascended to power.
His n brother, Situ Yi, who had ughtered thousands had met a grim fate, leaving Situ You wary of the deep waters surrounding invasions. He was aware that any involvement likely spelled doom. Thus, withplex feelings, he embarked on this mission.
Now a vassal to Azure Pond Sect, the Situ Family was ordered to attack the five prefectures of Azure Pond.
Situ You, unclear on why the Azure Pond Sect suddenly began ughtering its own subjects, obediently led his team southward.
"How ridiculous! I''m only an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, yet they expect me to lead a few Qi Cultivators to plunder Lixia Prefecture which is guarded by a Foundation Establishment n..."
Situ You''s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts until a realization hit him.
"I see... I get it now! It seems a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator in the Azure Pond Sect is nearing death... Azure Pond Sect is in fear!"
"Brother!"
A Qi Cultivator called out to Situ You, snapping him back to reality. He hastily summoned his blood-red long saber, a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact with the blood of over a hundred thousand mortals on it.
After this sacrifice, its kill count might even rival the top-ranked dharma artifacts of the Azure Pond Sect.
Activating the saber, Situ You unleashed a torrent of blood-red saber light. Thousands of blood lights danced in the air, seemingly sentient as they swooped down toward the mortals of Lixia Prefecture like birds, signaling the beginning of the massacre.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"n Uncle!" Xiao Ruyu cried out as he approached Xiao Yongling with urgency.
"We must act quickly! Lixia Prefecture is home to tens of thousands of mortals and thousands of our Xiao Family''smon descendants... The attackers are but a dozen Qi Cultivators; we cannot let them proceed with this ughter!"
"Wait a bit longer," Xiao Yongling replied as he shook his head, coldly observing the silhouettes of the Qi Cultivators in the sky above them.
"It''s not so simple... Azure Pond Sect¡¯s people must be watching from the sidelines. This is a trap to lure our Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators into action, aiming for aplete encirclement trap and consequent massacre! Chi Wei won''t live much longer... and we cannot ruin the grand n of our ancestor!"
Xiao Ruyu''s expression stiffened when he heard this.
"We¡¯re talking about the lives of a few hundred thousand mortals who have served the Xiao Family for generations! How can we... How can we just ignore them and let Golden Tang Gate turn them into dharma artifacts?!"
His voice was hard, pained.
"I¡¯m well aware of that!" Xiao Yongling said as he appeared somewhat irate, raising his voice at his junior. Gritting his teeth, he continued, "But our Xiao Family has been biding its time for over three hundred years! We finally have a prodigious talent like Chuting, our ancestor, who broke the alliance of the three families and took control of the entire Lixia Prefecture... Now, with just a decade or so away from breaking free from Azure Pond Sect and establishing ourselves as a Purple Mansion immortal n, how can we afford to act rashly?"
Xiao Yongling kept talking, almost as if trying to convince himself.
"Do you not fear that Chi Wei may be just waiting at the mountain gate, ready to seize us the moment we act impulsively, forcing our ancestor to intervene and ultimately leading to the annihtion of our hard-earned Purple Mansion Realm cultivator? In the end, not only would the mortals be sacrificed, but our Xiao Family could also be destroyed!"
Xiao Ruyu remained silent, not uttering a word. Xiao Yongling gave him a stern look and continued harshly, "As soon as Chi Wei dies, the Azure Pond Sect will no longer have the power to besiege our ancestor. Everything will be worth it! To establish our own territory... and perhaps, in a few decades, take over Milin Prefecture at Moongaze Lake! With theke and Mount Dali at our back, our Xiao Family will have no more worries..."
Xiao Ruyu never spoke another word. Together with Xiao Yongling, they witnessed the horrific scene below the mountain. It was hell on earth, with screams and cries of anguish echoing outside the formation.
Xiao Ruyu''s teeth ttered in anger. It was not a while until he spoke again, his voice filled with anguish and grief.
"I have always despised the Golden Tang Gate and Azure Pond Sect for their despicable acts... but now, looking at our Xiao Family, we''re not any better!"
Xiao Yongling was slightly shaken by these words, his expressionplex as he looked at him and said softly, "If you''re seeking purity, the only ce you might find it is in tales and stories... Perhaps you''ll find one or two there. Do not be deceived by the dazzling sun; there''s nothing truly pure in this world!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng emerged from his cave dwelling, the Golden Age longbow in his hand shimmering under the sun.
Greeted by Li Xuanxuan, Li Xuanfengughed heartily.
"It seems like you¡¯ve been cultivating hard during my five years of seclusion! You''re nearing the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm already!"
"Haha, but I''m still no match for you!" Li Xuanxuan replied cheerfully. He too, had made rapid progress over these five years. Not only had he condensed the final sixth chakra of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, but he was also reaching its peak.
"How''s your bow techniqueing along?" Li Xuanxuan asked.
Li Xuanfeng, with a gleeful smile, handed over a jade slip, dering proudly, "This is the Astral Golden Bow technique. Although it¡¯s quiteplex, fully mastering it means inheriting at least seventy percent of my true legacy."
"Excellent." Li Xuanxuan praised as he epted the precious jade slip, carefully tucking it into his chest pocket, nning to ce it in the stone cave for safekeeping.
With a beaming smile, he said, "Sit down for a moment. I''ll go and call our second uncle."
Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly, his mustache giving him a more mature appearance. Sitting on a stool, he drank his tea in big gulps, feeling restless.
"Strange..." Li Xuanfeng said, setting down his tea bowl. He suddenly thought of Jiang Yunu, murmuring to himself, "In any case, I should bring that woman back home... It¡¯s not easy for a Qi Cultivator to have children. Waiting for her to get pregnant might take forever, and leaving her outside all the time isn¡¯t right either. Regardless of how Second Uncle and the others might react, I¡¯ll have to do my best and exin."
"Feng''er!" Li Tongya called out as he descended in front of the courtyard before entering leisurely.
Li Xuanfeng¡¯s eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up, cupping his fist respectfully.
"Congrattions to Second Uncle for breaking through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm!"
Li Tongya, with his aura already exuding the seventh heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm and even brimming with true essence, indicated that he had broken through a year or two ago. He simply nodded and took his seat.
He epted the tea bowl and smiled. "Have you made any progress with your bow technique?" he asked.
"I certainly have!" Li Xuanfeng replied as he beamed with pride, lifting his bow.
"A few years ago, my mastery was confined to the sheer sharpness of the bow. Now... I''ve truly grasped the intent of the bow. Without the need for arrows, merely drawing and aiming the bow at rabbits is enough to startle them to their demise, while aiming at people can shatter their resolve. Even Qi Cultivators¡ªstruck by my formless, colorless arrow intent, will find themselves thrown into disarray for an extended period... let alone ordinary people and those in the Embryonic Breathing Realm! Those with weaker wills may even sumb to vomiting blood and falling to a fever, unable to even take flight."
"It¡¯s that miraculous..?" Li Tongya repeated softly as he found his bow technique quite peculiar. Lacking knowledge of archery, he could not tell whether Li Xuanfeng¡¯s current mastery was good or bad, deciding it would have to be tested in realbat.
Seeing Li Xuanfeng looking around, Li Tongya asked softly, "What''s wrong?"
Li Xuanfeng shook his head, choosing his words carefully before saying, "Well... before I begin, please forgive me, Second Uncle... I''ve actually taken a liking to a girl in the prefecture. She is of humble background, so I''ve always hesitated to bring her home. It''s been over a decade. I thought of bringing her back today, to continue our lineage here..."
"Huh?" Li Tongya sipped his tea and replied, "Young love is no crime. Find an opportunity to bring her home."
Li Xuanfeng was overjoyed, nodding vigorously. Initially nning to demonstrate his bow technique to Li Tongya and the others, he was now too excited for that.
After bidding farewell to Li Tongya, he rode the wind to the prefecture to fetch Jiang Yunu.
Chapter 162: The Little Goose
Chapter 162: The Little Goose
Li Yuanyu was dozing off at the foot of the bed when he was suddenly awakened by loud cries and shouts. He rubbed his eyes, only to find the room filled with thick fog that obscured his view.
"Mother!" Li Yuanyu called out as he turned to look but found Jiang Yunu, his mother, gone.
Peering outside into the eerily dark sky, he noticed a bright moon.
"Strange," he muttered, stepping out the door only to find no ground beneath his feet. It emptied out and seemed to only extend into an eternal emptiness.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Li Yuanyu felt the cor tighten around his neck as he was yanked up by the cor and thrown into a basket roughly. Looking up, he saw the towering city wall before him, realizing he was already outside the prefecture.
The middle-aged man he had seen earlier met his gaze with a grin. His paleplexion, blood-red lips, and hauntingly ck eyes greatly unsettled Li Yuanyu.
"It seems my spell hasn''t rusted too much... I can''t kidnap others, but a child is still within my means!"
"You..!"
The man took out the copper coin from Li Yuanyu''s chest pocket, carefully storing it away before stating firmly, "Since you took my coin, you must now follow me."
A startled Li Yuanyu protested, "Why are you taking me?! Are you an immortal?"
"No!" the man replied gruffly, his face contorting in anger immediately at the mention of an immortal.
"The so-called ''immortals'' have killed your mother... do not speak of them again!"
Li Yuanyu looked as though he had been struck by lightning, staring in utter shock and disbelief.
"W-What... what are you talking about?!"
The middle-aged man chuckled darkly, stepping forward to brush his hand over the city gate. Suddenly, a pattern spread like water ripples... revealing the ghastly scene within the courtyard. Li Yuanyu caught a glimpse of the gore and cried out in shock, nearly fainting.
His little face turned deathly pale as he sobbed. The man, unmoved by his tears, said with a low chuckle, "My name is Jiang Boqing, and from now on... you will learn curse spells with me. What''s your name?"
Li Yuanyu, still not trusting of this strange man, was naturally unwilling to follow him and began to cry louder. Seeing that Li Yuanyu would not stop crying, Jiang Boqing picked him up with a look of satisfaction on his face.
"Then I guess you''ll have to take my surname and be called Jiang Yan!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng flew along the Guli Road, noticing the five-colored brilliance flowing over Cloud Crowned Peak as if a formation had been activated. A sense of dread filled his heart and he thought to himself, Could it be that someone dares to cause trouble for the Xiao Family..? What''s going on?
With doubts crowding his mind, Li Xuanfeng did not stop. He observed the city gate road below that was deserted with overturned carts, scattered clothes, and various foods left unattended, while unattended horses and cows grazedzily as if nothing had happened.
His heart sank as he flew over the city walls of Lixia Prefecture, spotting bloody handprints covering the walls, as if countless people had attempted to climb over them; only to fall and burst their stomachs, sttering the ground below with blood-stained feces and urine.
It was not hard to find the small courtyard located in the alley, especially with how deserted the city now was.
Landing in front of the courtyard, Li Xuanfeng noticed a small goose crookedly embroidered on a piece of cloth hanging on the door that was stained with blood, swaying in the wind as if ready to take flight.
Creak...
The door was ajar. Pushing it gently, he caught sight of a white, tender little foot on the steps. It was cleanly severed at the ankle¡ªthe cut smooth and precise.
He recognized it instantly as the foot he had caught and caressed countless times under the covers¡ªone of the pair he had once yfully teased, making Jiang Yunu blush and re at him.
As a young man experiencing the beginnings of passion, he had always squeezed her feet and asked, "How can there be something so beautiful?"
Jiang Yunu, with her cute, round face, would always stare at him with her almond-shaped eyes in response as she turned her face away shyly.
Feeling as if he had been pped in the face, Li Xuanfeng''s eyes dodged the sight of the foot as if burned by fire, only to then catch sight of the bloody intestines hanging from the wall.
Copsing to the ground, he picked up the foot as if in a trance and called out in a voice stricken with agonizing grief.
"It''s you..."
Tears flowed uncontrobly as he moved forward, picking up two smooth limbs that were once his lover''s arms. However, in doing so, the foot he was holding fell from his grasp. He picked it up hastily and continued forward.
He saw her bloodied rears, long ck hair, globs of flesh that looked like breasts, and finally half of Jiang Yunu''s face...and her once cute and round almond eye.
That eye, which was once filled with hope, was now lifelessly dull. It was no different to the eye of a dead fish¡ªempty and void of emotion.
As he kneeled, still holding her dismembered parts gently in his arms, the world seemed to sway before him. The past figures of his father Li Xiangping, Old Xu, and countless others whom he cared for shed before his eyes, seeming to form an endless row of figures that only signify painful yet tender memories.
Finding the lower half of her face in a corner, he painstakingly reassembled her, his hands trembling as he did so. He poured her shattered teeth back into her mouth carefully.
"Wait for me... my love," he whispered.
And with that, he closed her eyes gently.
He bit his lip so hard that it bled.
He bent down and nted a kiss on her cold lips, his blood staining her pale ones with a flush of red. With the gentlest voice that he did not know he was capable of, he murmured softly, "It''s my fault! I''m a fool! I don''t deserve to be the one alive... I''ll make sure to avenge you, my love..."
"I don''t care who did this to you... whether or not it is a young master of the immortal gates or a fiend of the Devil Dao... I''ll kill them! Just wait...just wait! I will avenge you!"
He rose and swayed a little on his feet, clearly still in a daze. His eyes zed with a terrifying intensity. His body burned¡ªfrom the top of his head to the tips of his toes¡ªas if he had drunk two jars of liquor.
"I''m not burying you yet because I''m afraid... I''m afraid he might escape. I''ll go ask around and thene back for you."
He was whispering to the severed head... that was split into two on the ground.
Turning around, he took the cloth that was embroidered with the little goose from the wall. He held it carefully in his palm and flew up, soaring over the mountains of corpses and seas of blood below, heading toward Cloud Crowned Peak.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Xiao Ruyu stood stunned on the mountain peak feeling both empty and sorrowful, when a cold voice broke the silence.
"Li Xuanfeng hase to visit... I kindly request the elder to open the gate."
Before Xiao Yongling could speak, a startled Xiao Ruyu eximed, "This is bad! There are still members of the Li Family in the prefecture..!"
Seeing Xiao Yongling''s stern face and his silence, Xiao Ruyu quickly thought, Li Xuanfeng must be furious... I can''t let him confront n Uncle. If he speaks out of turn and causes offense, it could lead to a rift between our families!
Thus, he boldly volunteered, "n Uncle! Leave this to me."
Xiao Yongling stroked his chin and nodded slightly, evidently also having considered the situation.
Xiao Ruyu then flew down to meet Li Xuanfeng, his expression mournful as he called out to him.
"Brother Xuanfeng!"
Li Xuanfeng appeared calm, showing no emotion as he spoke quietly.
"What happened down there?"
"The Golden Tang Gate invaded... ughtering our Lixia Prefecture. My family dared not resist," Xiao Ruyu answered nervously, casting his eyes downward.
"I understand," Li Xuanfeng replied with a curt nod, lifting his head to meet Xiao Ruyu''s gaze and startling him. Gone was Li Xuanfeng''s usual carefree demeanor, instead, it was now reced with an unfamiliar and chilling ferocity.
If Chen Donghe were here, he would be stunned too. This expression, which had appeared thousands of times on Li Xiangping''s face, now marked Li Xuanfeng''s, transferring the same sinister look to his visage and sending shivers down one''s spine.
"Which way did they go?" Li Xuanfeng asked simply.
"East..."
Just as Li Xuanfeng took to the wind and was about to head east, Xiao Ruyu yelled out to stop him.
"Brother Xuanfeng! Don''t be rash!"
Biting his lip, Xiao Ruyu stood frozen for a moment before also taking to the skies, deciding to follow Li Xuanfeng eastward.
Chapter 163: Trembling Heart
Chapter 163: Trembling Heart
Xiao Ruyu followed Li Xuanfeng, feeling rather agitated in that moment. He was of a kind nature and had been holding back his anger at the sight of hundreds of thousands of civilians being ughtered.
Clenching his teeth, he said, "Brother Xuanfeng, those from Golden Tang Gate are merely Qi Cultivators, and the person in charge is just a minor cultivator at the Embryonic Breathing Realm. This is a bait thrown by Golden Tang Gate and Azure Pond Sect! They probably have more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators behind them... Without hooking a few big fish at the Foundation Establishment Realm, they won''t make their move. Although we are only at the Qi Cultivation Realm, if we n carefully... we might make them pay a price."
Although Li Xuanfeng was furious, he was still rational.
"Don''t worry, Brother Ruyu. I''m confident. Not even a Qi Cultivator can escape from me... let alone that young master who is only at the Embryonic Breathing Realm. I''ll make sure he dies obscurely and in a humiliating manner, as a form of interest payment!" he snarled, the same ferocity crossing his expression.
Xiao Ruyu nced at the Golden Age Longbow behind Li Xuanfeng and spected on some possibilities in his head. He patted the brocade pouch on his waist and took out two pale blue talismans before saying in a low voice, "I have two Profound Essence Escape Talismans here, best used for fleeing and as ast resort for saving one''s life. As long as Brother Xuanfeng can ensure a fatal hit, we''ll immediately head west without leaving any traces."
"I''ll count on you then, Brother Ruyu," Li Xuanfeng nodded as he epted one of the talismans, feeling even more confident now.
Xiao Ruyu then sternly said, "If we seed, at the very least¡ªwe couldy the souls of tens of thousands below to rest... and be spared from the guilt. If we fail, we''ll immediately escape without risking our lives. After all, revenge is a dish best served cold."
"Don''t worry, Brother Ruyu. I won''t act rashly," Li Xuanfeng assured as he shook his head, feeling his hatred for Azure Pond Sect and Golden Tang Gate reaching new heights.
He gritted his teeth and continued, "This is only to avenge the elders in my family and my wife. Hatred and resentment will not disappear into thin air just like that... We still have many things to do after we''ve done this."
At that very moment, a group appeared on the horizon. They were all dressed in golden robes, carrying various des on their backs. It was easy to tell that they were people from the Golden Tang Gate.
At the highest point was a boy around twelve or thirteen years old who was wielding a blood-red long sword, from which thousands of red sword lights surged out¡ªeach moving nimbly through the air, lethally seeking a human life to im below.
Surrounded by a circle of Qi Cultivators, they stared greedily at the mountains of corpses and the seas of blood soaking the small town below.
Li Xuanfeng squinted for a moment, selecting a mountain peak to alight upon. Hended with a light step with his left hand tautening the string while his right hand gripped the bow steadily. His fierce gaze bore forward, yet he was making no attempt of nocking an arrow or channeling any mana into his bow... To an observer, it seemed as though he was simply taking aim at a rabbit.
Whoosh!
Only the sound of the bowstring vibrating in the air broke the silence, which was apanied by a gentle breeze that rustled through the mountains, blowing off two dried leaves.
Li Xuanfeng rose to his feet and put his bow away. This time, most of the anger in his expression had dissipated as he spoke softly.
"The man is already dead... Let''s go."
Xiao Ruyu gave him a puzzled look. Nevertheless, the two activated their talismans which transformed into two blue lights, then sped away to the west like the wind.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Wan''er, what''s wrong?"
"Nothing," Ning Wan replied with a small frown, looking at the triumphant look on the face of the young master from Golden Tang Gate, feeling quite troubled.
As a disciple of Moon Lake Peak, Lixia Prefecture was her ce to protect. Yet, now it was being handed over to Golden Tang Gate for ughter.
This put her in an awkward position and it pained her. Yet, she had no choice but to follow the sect''s orders and had to be ready to suppress any Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator that might appear.
She was not an old-fashioned person, nor was she like those naive and ignorant sect disciples. If she had to choose between protecting the Azure Pond Sect and the lives of tens of millions of people, Ning Wan would not hesitate to choose the former.
However, allowing others to ughter their own people just to eliminate a possibility made Ning Wan feel like it was not worth it.
She had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm more than a decade ago, bing the youngest Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Azure Pond Sect to do so, aside from Li Chejing.
Being the strongest Foundation Establishment cultivator among the ones currently hidden in the surroundings, she clearly saw the arrow intent aimed straight at Situ You''s head but chose not to act as a flicker of satisfaction crossed her eyes instead.
With such profound intent, it''s either the work of a seasoned Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator or a Purple Mansion Realm immortal cultivator. Yet... not a trace of mana was mixed in. This seems like a deliberate choice to spare the families any loss of face while still disciplining that guy. Let it be... If he dies, his death won''t affect the n anyway.
After all, Ning Wan harbored no fondness for Situ You. At just twelve or thirteen years old, he was already so cruel and vicious, ughtering the people of her Moon Lake Peak. Although bound by sect rules not to intervene, Ning Wan was pleased to see him dead.
Looking around, several middle tote-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators appeared thoughtful, evidently sensing something as well. However, none was willing to offend an unknown Foundation Establishment Realm or even a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator for an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator they did not know well.
Even the cultivators from the Golden Tang Gate watched coldly from the side, and Ning Wan chuckled to herself in her heart.
Suddenly, Situ You grunted from below. The surrounding Qi Cultivators looked at him hurriedly. Situ You waved at them dismissively, mumbling to himself in confusion.
"Strange... why does my mouth taste so bitter?"
His anxiety grew as he shook his head and he found the bitterness in his mouth intensifying. He called out, "Someonee and look after this dharma artifact for me! Something''s wrong with me."
Someone stepped forward to take his long saber, but as soon as Situ You''s hands left the dharma artifact, he suddenly felt panic setting in. Touching his tongue, he discovered that his fingers were covered in a pale yellow liquid.
"This is... bile? Oh no! No...no!" Situ You screamed suddenly, his chest swelling suddenly as though it was inting. He copsed soon after, crying out weakly.
"Ah!"
"Ancestor! Save me... I..."
As he spoke these words, he continued inting, almost like a balloon.
The Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators above him projected their spiritual senses toward him but none showed themselves, merely watching as he burst like a balloon with a bang.
BOOM!
Blood and bone fragments sttered everywhere, staining the surrounding Qi Cultivators in blood. The group stood dumbfounded, staring at the mist of blood in the air, wiping their faces without any clue of what had just happened.
One of the Qi Cultivators holding the dharma artifact opened his mouth as if to call out something but then was interrupted by a cold voice.
"Carry on!"
No one dared to defy the order.
They simply lowered their heads and cleaned the blood off themselves with spells, acting as if nothing had happened.
The mark left on one of Situ You''s bone fragments that was meant to track his killer flew upward. However, it found no trace of mana and aimlessly circled in ce before disappearing into thin air.
"To think a distinguished young master died in such a pitiful manner..." murmured a nearby Qi Cultivator, feeling a shiver of terror.
Thoughts raced through his mind.
Despite being an illegitimate son of a concubine, this young master was not only cunning and clever but was also born with a spiritual orifice. I thought things would go well if I served him... but now that he''s dead out here, my future seems bleak.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Xiao Ruyu and Li Xuanfeng settled down in the mountains. Li Xuanfeng said in a low voice, "He''s dead, but I was just taking out some anger on him. It''s meaningless because in the end, we''re still powerless..."
Although Xiao Ruyu did not understand how Li Xuanfeng killed the young master from the Golden Tang Gate, he felt sorrowful in his heart. "This has always been a muddy situation... Who doesn''t bear any sins? We just killed the apparent culprit, but those behind them continue with their ughters using dharma artifacts beyond our resistance," he muttered with a grim smile.
Li Xuanfeng had no interest in further discussion as the round trip had taken over four hours. He cupped his fist and bid Xiao Ruyu farewell respectfully.
"I still have things to take care of so I''ll be taking my leave now, Brother Ruyu."
Xiao Ruyu hurriedly returned the gesture and watched as Li Xuanfeng departed. After a while, he turned to address Xiao Yongling behind him.
"n Uncle..."
"Have you had your fill of excitement?"
Once Li Xuanfeng left, Xiao Yongling appeared and stared at Xiao Ruyu, speaking softly, "You managed to escape only because you found a loophole in the situation between the two sects... Don''t do such dangerous things again."
It was clear he had secretly followed them. Stealth was the Xiao Family''s specialty, hence he was not discovered by the two men.
Although Xiao Ruyu felt that neither sect understood how the young master died, he did not counter his elder''s words.
"I''ll keep that in mind."
Xiao Yongling then nodded, looking in the direction Li Xuanfeng had gone, and muttered, "Although Li Xuanfeng isn''t foolish, his heart harbors a bold courage that is innate... It''s a trait that can make or break him. His exceptional archery saved the day, but if he''s ever targeted by others one day, it will likely be through the exploitation of his bravery."
Xiao Ruyu, considering Li Xuanfeng a true friend, shook his head with a pained expression. Xiao Yongling gave him a stern look as he shot him a word of advice.
"Your kindness is no different... Though you''re not stupid, with a lifespan of hundreds of years... if your nature is too obvious, sooner orter, it will lead to your downfall."
Xiao Ruyuughed heartily in response. "There are all sorts of people in this world. In my opinion, if everyone were only cautious and driven by profit, life would lose its meaning!" he said in a carefree tone, though he made sure to remain respectful.
"You little rascal!"
Xiao Yongling was amused, patting his head and murmuring softly, "As an elder, I wish nothing but for you to live well. I''m not forcing you."
Chapter 164: The Burial
Chapter 164: The Burial
The sky was dark when Li Xuanfengnded in the courtyard. It was eerily silent, devoid of any sound except for the distant cries from far beyond the horizon.
The dimness seemed to bury all traces of bloodshed, yet Li Xuanfeng''s cultivation allowed him to see everything clearly.
"My love... I''ve avenged you by ying that young master..."
He dismantled a door to fashion a makeshift coffin and carefully arranged each piece of the dismembered body parts, using his mana to piece her back together.
It took him about an hour to restore her to a semnce of her once human form. As he dressed her in some clothes he found in the wardrobe, he stumbled upon several children''s garments.
Upon closer inspection of them, he realized that they were all suitable for a child around four to five years old. Digging deeper, he found an array of children''s items.
If hisst visit had resulted in her pregnancy, their child would indeed be about this age by now.
Through his tears, Li Xuanfeng noticed the cuffs of one particr piece that bore the name "Yuanyu"[1]¡ªa reminder of Jiang Yunu''s origins from a prominent fishing family by the river. Despiteter ending up in a brothel, she knew how to read to some extent.
He was not sure whether it was theplexity of the characters or the clumsy embroidery work, but the name "Yuanyu" appeared rather messy.
"Yuanyu..."
It was then that Li Xuanfeng realized that he had also lost his child whom he had never met in the city, which led to him feeling even more guilty and pained.
He crouched on the ground for a while before closing the coffin, murmuring to himself, "Considering the time, there''s still no sign of him at home... Could he have been at school or out ying in the streets..?"
Gathering a few sets of the children''s clothing, Li Xuanfeng carried the coffin and flew around the yard. Under the dim sky, he saw no corpse of a four or five-year-old child. Thus, this forced him to head toward a nearby school with tears brimming in his eyes.
There, the ground was littered with the remains of children. Li Xuanfeng searched blindly among the mountain of bloody flesh but failed to identify the child he was looking for.
He sighed sorrowfully, deciding to erect a tomb for the child with his clothes as a recement for his lost body. Shaking off the blood from his hands, he went toward the Li Family''s store.
Still carrying the coffin, he walked around the Li Family''s shop and could faintly recognize the bodies of Wan Tianchou and a n brother of his.
Biting his lip, Li Xuanfeng muttered angrily, "I''ve always told you not to ck off and practice diligently! Yet... you chose to indulge yourself in the city. Look at yourself now... you couldn''t even withstand a single glow from a dharma artifact!"
He wanted to say more, but ncing at Wan Tianchou''s despairing eyes, he could not bring himself to continue.
"Well, it''s not your fault... It''s the fault of this cruel world!" Li Xuanfeng said bitterly, casting his eyes downward.
"I guess I''ll inform his family to recover his body..." Li Xuanfeng sighed softly. With that, he lifted the coffin once more and flew westward, crossing the blood-stained city walls.
Seeing him approaching with the coffin, Xiao Ruyu felt guilty and eximed, "Brother Xuanfeng, I''ve received word... the young master is indeed dead!"
"I know," Li Xuanfeng responded tly without stopping, continuing his way toward the Li Residence.
He left Xiao Ruyu in his wake, still rather confused, who stood alone before returning to the mountain as the sky gradually brightened.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, on Mount Lijing...
Li Xuanxuan took Li Yuanxiu up the mountain with him. Now twelve, the child was quiet and polite. Having discovered his spiritual orifice a few years ago and already having started his cultivation, he had condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra and attained the first stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Li Xuanxuan nned to delegate some family responsibilities to the child and start preparing him to be a leader.
Li Yuanjiao was now eight years old, and likewise, was also blessed with a spiritual orifice. The newsst year delighted Li Xuanxuan immensely.
Li Xuanling was not to be outdone, however. Lu Wanrong bore him two children¡ªa daughter named Li Qinghong and a son named Li Yuanyun. Now four and three years old respectively, both children were extremely adorable, earning everyone''s affection.
"Xuanling''s children are also growing up... In another three years, when these kids have matured, we''ll request a talisman seed before the mirror."
Li Xuanxuan nced at Li Yuanxiu who was engrossed in reading a bamboo slip, and sighed to himself.
I feel sorry for Xiu''er. As the elder brother, he has to wait for his younger brother and cousins.
Setting down his tea bowl, Li Xuanxuan saw Li Tongya''s expression change suddenly. He stood up and walked out of the courtyard, loudly demanding, "What''s going on?!"
Li Xuanxuan followed him outside hurriedly and saw Li Xuanfeng covered in blood, his robe stained crimson red. He carried a huge and shabby bloodstained wooden box, looking very forlorn.
Although he hadposed himself on the way, Li Xuanfeng, now seeing his uncle and brothers gather around him, felt mentally exhausted and forced himself to exin in a painful voice.
"The Azure Pond Sect and Golden Tang Gate have started another ughter... Lixia Prefecture has hardly any survivors left. The Li Family members stationed there, including Wan Tianchou, are all dead. She... and the child I''ve never met, have both perished."
Such sinct words from him stunned everyone. Li Xiewen, standing behind Li Xuanxuan, almost cried out in shock.
His younger brother had been responsible for guarding Lixia Prefecture. He thought it would be a safe assignment... not expecting it to cost him his life like this.
Li Tongya opened his mouth but looking at the child''s weary face, spoke in the softest voice he could muster.
"Let''s bury them on the mountain first..."
Li Xuanfeng nodded and his voice trembled as he spoke.
"I couldn''t find the child''s remains... I only brought back a few clothes of his. We can only erect a cenotaph for him."
Tears welled up in Li Xuanxuan''s eyes. After Li Xuanfeng excused himself to bury his wife and child in the mountain, Li Xuanxuan turned to Li Tongya and said bitterly, "Second Uncle... what''s going on?!"
Li Tongya merely sighed.
"Such is life."
He could not recall how many times he had offered these words offort. While he had first heard this from Li Mutian, he had personally experienced it numerous times in his own life, gradually gaining a profound understanding of its meaning.
Li Xuanxuan sent people down the mountain to have the families of the deceased n members recover the corpses. Watching Li Xiewen rush down the mountain, Li Xuanxuan entered the mountain quietly.
He watched Li Xuanfeng dig the graves himself and bury the ckwood coffin, watching also as he ced the children''s clothes in another grave before carefully covering it up.
Li Xuanfeng lifted his head and looked at Li Xuanxuan. Forcing a smile on his face, he said softly, "I was the one who buried my father, and now my wife and son... When it''s time for me to be buried, I''ll have to trouble you."
"Nonsense!"
For the first time, Li Xuanxuan assumed the stance of an elder brother, staring at him fiercely.
He was about to say something when Li Xuanfeng waved to silence him and continued, "I won''t let this defeat me, brother. I will cherish my life even more, now that I have a mission to avenge my father and family."
As they conversed, Li Tongya, Li Xuanling, and others had arrived. They listened as Li Xuanfeng recounted how he had used his bow intent to kill the young master from the Golden Tang Gate.
Li Tongya wanted to scold Li Xuanfeng for acting recklessly but feared upsetting him, so he could only sigh.
"Don''t do such dangerous things again in the future."
Li Xuanfeng nodded but said nothing else while Li Xuanling, leaning against a rock and seeing that his father and brother remained silent, simply said, "Life is hard, and no family has it easy... We must look forward."
1. The character "yu" (Óæ) used in Li Yuanyu''s name means "to catch a fish" or a "fisherman". This is also the same character in Jiang Yunu''s name, where Yunu actually means "the fisherman''s daughter". ?
Chapter 165: The Generation of Yuan and Qing
Chapter 165: The Generation of Yuan and Qing
In the eighth lunar month, the Golden Tang Gate once again advanced southward, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake as it ughtered the people of Lixia Prefecture. Homes were razed, families perished, and the city streets were littered with bones. There was no one to mourn the dead. Deste roadsy empty, and the air was foul with the stench of decay, bearing witness to the annihtion of countless families within the city walls.
Li Jingtian wrote all of this down in great detail, capturing the tragedy of millions in a short paragraph. Dipping her brush into the ink again, she continued writing.
The young master''s wife and child were not spared from the purge. With eyes zing with rage, he rode the wind eastward, spotting members of the Golden Tang Gate from afar, he swiftly shot one of them down.
"Auntie!"
Li Xuanling''s children entered the courtyard,ughing and ying.
Li Qinghong, the elder sister, had grown tall and was now reaching Li Jingtian''s waist. She had her long hair tied back and boasted an energetic personality, and now she was rushing into the courtyard.
Li Yuanyun, her younger brother, was much quieter, carefully following behind his sister. Upon seeing Li Jingtian, he greeted her respectfully while Li Qinghong had already sat by the table, eyeing her clothes.
The two children¡ªmerely six or seven years old¡ªand not yet of age to leave the mountain, would often visit Li Jingtian, chatting with their aunt and asking for snacks. Last year, when Li Yuanjiao discovered that he had a spiritual orifice and went up the mountain, these two would wander about after school, frequently calling for their older cousin, Yuanjiao. When they finally grew tired, they would end up at Li Jingtian''s ce.
Li Jingtian put down her brush, closed the book on the table despite not being done with the writing, and warmly embraced Li Qinghong. Then, footsteps were heard at the door, and a gentle voice followed.
"Greetings, Auntie."
A young boy in ck attire entered, his long hair tied back and a sword around his waist, his eyes bright and spirited as he looked at Li Jingtian. Remembering his mother Mu Yalu''s instructions, Li Yuanjiao often visited Li Jingtian to borrow books.
"Come, have a seat." Li Jingtian smiled. Seeing the three children getting along well with each other reassured her.
She then asked Li Yuanjiao, "Where''s your father?"
The mention of Li Xuanxuan caused the light in Li Yuanjiao''s eyes to dim slightly.
"He''s either dealing with affairs down the mountain or cultivating in seclusion... Those are the only ces he goes to, where else could he be?" he responded glumly.
Li Jingtian was taken aback, quicklyforting him, "Your father has arge family to manage! Naturally, he can''t always be there for you and your mother... I hope you''re not upset with him."
"I wouldn''t dare," Li Yuanjiao replied hastily, yet thought to himself, Mother and Auntie said the same thing but I''m not blind... Why can he spend time with Brother Xiu every day, but not with my mother and me?
Li Yuanxiu, the elder brother, was quiet and gentle, and Li Yuanjiao shared a good rtionship with him. Hence, these thoughts left Yuanjiao feeling ufortable. He pursed his lips tightly, unwilling to let any of it out.
Li Jingtian, noticing this, was about to offer some constion when two knocks were heard at the door.
Li Tongya dusted his robe before stepping into the room, followed by Li Xuanling in leather armor and Li Xuanxuan in a long robe.
The children in the room were startled, standing up in a flurry and greeting Li Tongya all at once.
"Second Granduncle!"
"Grandfather!"
"Hmm," Li Tongya responded with a smile. Recently, he had unexpectedly broken through to the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, bringing him great joy over the past few months. Seeing the children''s cheerful demeanor brought a rare smile to his usually stoic face.
"Has Xuanfeng note out of seclusion yet?" he asked.
"Not yet."
After burying his wife, Li Xuanfeng immediately went into seclusion on the mountain and was never seen wandering around since then. He had been more diligent in his cultivation than before, now having been in seclusion for over two years.
Li Tongya stroked his beard, feeling reassured by the changes in Li Xuanfeng. As an elder in the family, he looked at things from a long-term perspective.
"If it wasn''t for losing a child in the prefecture, this lesson could almost be considered beneficial... It made this kid seriously reflect and focus on his cultivation."
Observing the cautious children, Li Tongya considered the timing and said to Li Xuanxuan, "It''s time to get Yuanxiu up the mountain... If we dy it any further, it might hinder the child''s progress."
The brothers exchanged nces, understanding Li Tongya''s intent.
Li Xuanxuan nodded, and immediately, a n guard was sent down the mountain to call for Li Yuanxiu, who was now fourteen and had been assisting with some matters at the mountain''s foot.
Li Tongya sipped his tea, observing the children. His gaze lingered on Li Yuanjiao, dressed in ck.
All the children are clever. Xuanling has only Yuanyun for a male heir, while Xuanxuan has many descendants... including four or five from his concubines. We could select one to be adopted by Xuanling to continue the lineage, preferably one with a spiritual orifice... Yuanjiao seems like an ideal choice.
However, this is a significant matter, and it''s better to observe the child''s talent and personality first.
As he mused, Li Yuanxiu had arrived at the house. He was a rather handsome youth draped in a white goose feather cloak. His smile was gentle, yet he remained quiet and polite. Clutching a green sword, he exuded a certain grace.
"Greetings, elders!" Li Yuanxiu''s clear and strong voice rang out.
Seeing him, Li Yuanjiao and the other children stood up and looked at him eagerly, almost wanting to rush up and wrap him in an embrace.
Li Tongya nodded slightly while Li Xuanxuan smiled broadly, thoroughly pleased with the eldest of the fourth generation. Li Yuanxiu, be it in his demeanor, appearance, handling of matters, or talent, was considered exceptional. He was beloved by his cousins and capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities.
Everyone took their seats, and the children, standing awkwardly in the middle of the courtyard, hid behind Li Yuanxiu.
Li Xuanxuan nced at his sibling and then warmly said to the children, "It''s rare for us all to gather like this, especially with your second granduncle out of seclusion. Don''t be shy,e forward."
Li Tongya nced at the long sword hanging at Li Yuanxiu''s waist and asked warmly, "How goes your sword technique cultivation? Have you mastered the Profound Water Sword Technique?"
Li Yuanxiu replied, "I started learning the sword at seven and this is my sixth year practicing it. I''ve memorized the Profound Water Sword Technique by heart and managed to unleash sword aura."
Li Tongya nodded and praised him.
"Well done... Come to the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche tomorrow. I''ll teach you sword techniques."
Li Xuanxuan, overjoyed, knew of Li Tongya''s high proficiency in swordsmanship. Learning from him would be excellent. Li Yuanxiu nodded eagerly while the other children in his generation looked on enviously.
Li Tongya smiled at the other children and exined, "The same goes for all of you. Whoever manages to unleash a sword aura before the age of fifteen maye and find me at the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche."
After saying this and nodding at Li Xuanxuan, Li Tongya left.
Li Jingtian followed to see him off, while Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan exchanged nces with each other.
Li Xuanling suggested softly, "Let''s take the children to the back courtyard then, Yuanxiu, Yuanjiao, Yuanyun... and as for Qinghong..."
"She''lle too," Li Xuanxuan decided after a moment''s thought.
Suddenly, the image of Li Jingtian''s face popped into his mind, reminding him of the bewilderment and helplessness in her eyes when he asked if she would marry Chen Donghe years ago.
Feeling a tightness of guilt in his heart, he spoke firmly, "Take them all! If Second Uncle asks, I''ll exin."
Chapter 166: The Bestowal of Talismans to the Generation of Yuan and Qing
Chapter 166: The Bestowal of Talismans to the Generation of Yuan and Qing
Lu Jiangxian sat at the foot of the mountain, watching the moon-white stone spirits hopping around energetically. These spirits, enlivened by his mana, worked diligently within the mirror; their pale blue halos casting shadows that shifted on the ground.
The majority of the buildings within the mirror realm had been repaired, presenting a much more pleasing sight.
For Lu Jiangxian, life within the mirror involved studying shamanic spells and observing the Li Family outside. It was a life marked by simplicity and, at times, monotony. Such was life, caught in a cycle of resignation and boredom.
Now that my study of shamanic spells has made some progress, these years haven''t been wasted!
He had not only developed certain cursing techniques but had also discovered blessings and tracking spells. However, for an Artifact Spirit confined to a mirror, these advancements held little practical value.
Yet, Lu Jiangxian sensed the increasing connection between the shamanic spells of Mount Yue and the mirror. As his understanding of this type of spell deepened, he found it easier to manipte the mirror, allowing him to perform many actions previously thought impossible with them.
His divine sense spilled out of the mirror, and with a loud rumble, the stone door opened. Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling, leading several children, entered.
The refreshing scent of burning incense filled the air, though the children were unable to smell it with their senses still sealed by mana. Hence, they showed no reaction and followed their elders in silence.
Li Yuanjiao, engulfed in darkness and unable to hear or speak, clutched Li Xuanxuan''s hand tighter when he felt a reassuring pat on his shoulder.
Following his father''s earlier instructions, he kneeled down, his knees cushioned by something soft and smooth as if kneeling on a pad.
Li Tongya had already been waiting inside the stone chamber, silently observing the mirror on the stone tform. He said nothing as the four children kneeled.
He looked at Li Qinghong but did not object to her presence here.
"The Li Family of Lijing offers respect along with fine delicacies and wine... On behalf of the four children present, I respectfully request the Profound Light! They will dedicate their lives to pursuing the Dao and their destinies rest in your hands... When the timees, they will remain true to their oath. With this talisman burned, we express our gratitude to the Supreme Yin," he stated with great solemness and sincerity.
Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense stirred, sending out invisible, colorless ripples that caused a nearly transparent white glow to emanate from each child''s head.
To the far left was the eldest, Li Yuanxiu, who possessed a spiritual orifice andmendable talent. Although he did not match Li Xuanfeng from the previous generation, he was superior to Li Xuanxuan.
A six-cun white glow, indicating hispatibility with the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed, hovered above his head. This glow signified that, once he consumed the talisman seed, his cultivation speed could increase by sixty percent due to his inherent spiritual orifice.
In the middle were Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanyun, dressed in ck and white respectively. Li Yuanjiao, with a spiritual orifice, showed even greater potential than Li Yuanxiu, as evidenced by the seven-cun white glow above his head.
Li Yuanyun, without a spiritual orifice, also had a seven-cun glow over his head. Lu Jiangxian could only sigh and exclude him from his consideration.
Li Qinghong, thest child, caught Lu Jiangxian''s attention. Possessing a spiritual orifice and talentsparable to Li Yuanxiu, her head was crowned with a nine-cun white glow, shining like a faint column of light!
"Li Yuanxiu was indeed a good choice, but based on the future deduced from the Heaven Expanding Profound Talisman for Liu Changdie, there''s no sign of Li Yuanxiu in the Li Family''s future... Investinges with risks and requires caution!"
After pondering for a moment, Lu Jiangxian, like an old farmer nning his spring nting, contemted upon which seed would yield the greatest harvest next year.
The mirror floated up from the stone tform, emitting a faint white light.
"Though Li Tongya wished to grant only one talisman seed to the generation of Yuan, fearing a shortage in a few years, he''s unaware that I have three more talisman seeds hidden within the mirror... This decision is not up to him; I''ll take both Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong!"
The twelve runes on the mirror lit up one by one, causing a twitch in both Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan''s eyes, half-expecting a surge of boiling white moonlight from the mirror''s surface.
Lu Jiangxian focused his mana, then released two Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds.
"Here stand the disciples of the Li Family¡ªwho have forsaken their worldly attachments, ceased all transgression, and severed their roots of evil. To them, I bestow the Profound Light, initiating their journey in the path of Dao, transforming them from mere mortals to saints. They will begin with discipline and ultimately ascend to truth! I grant them a scroll of the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra, along with a tracing technique!"
Two white orbs leaped from the mirror''s surface like water droplets, round and beaming with white light, illuminating the courtyard in a white expanse. The children, their senses still sealed, remained unaware while Li Tongya watched on, momentarily stunned.
The two Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds sunk into the Shenyang Mansions between the eyebrows of both Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong, one after the other. Since neither had practiced the Reception Method, the talisman seeds did not follow the meridian pathways to settle in the Qihai acupoint but instead remained quietly hidden at their Shenyang Mansion, awaiting future activation through the given method.
Li Yuanjiao felt a cool sensation on his forehead as if something had shone upon it, while Li Qinghong frowned slightly. An image of a bright moon appeared on their foreheads, flickering briefly before vanishing.
Li Xuanxuan was stunned. He had not expected the mirror to choose Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong over Li Yuanxiu. Turning to Li Tongya, he whispered, "This...
"Take the children out first."
Li Tongya shook his head, signaling Li Xuanling to take Li Yuanxiu and the three others away.
Then, Li Xuanxuan hastily said, "This... How shall we resolve this? As the eldest of his generation and possessing a spiritual orifice, the family is ultimately to be entrusted to Li Yuanxiu! How can we possibly hide this from him?!"
"There''s no need for us to hide anything... Yuanxiu is generous and kind; he won''t be jealous of his younger cousins."
Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan exited the stone chamber, still concerned. Li Tongya gravely added, "My worry isn''t about Yuanxiu. Yuanxiu himself is generous, but not all future descendants might share his temperament. With only one or two talisman seeds per generation, those who receive them may be proud... Affairs of the world suffer not from scarcity but from uneven distribution. Over time, if we cannot manage our n properly, it may lead to discord."
Li Xuanxuan also fell silent. The two stood on the mountaintop for a while, facing the cold, biting north wind.
Li Tongya murmured, "For our family members, especially the direct descendants who possess a spiritual orifice or have received a talisman seed, let them be aware of the mirror''s existence, but make them take a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath to prevent leaks of information."
"The more people that know about this, the greater the risk of exposure... Second Uncle also knows that the spiritual oath isn''t foolproof," Li Xuanxuan added respectfully.
Li Tongya shook his head and replied, "We can only take it one step at a time. At the very least, we must ensure that the next generation won''t be divided. The system needs to be improved over generations; there''s no measure that can guarantee absolute safety forever."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, in Lixia Prefecture.
The people from Golden Tang Gate had already withdrawn. The blood and corpses in the prefecture town had been cleaned up by scavengers, leaving only scattered traces of life and white, dry bones everywhere.
The now deste prefecture town echoed with the mournful whistle of the wind as if it were silently weeping. Corpses were left to decay and be devoured by wild animals, while the roads of Lixia were slowly being reimed by encroaching wild grass after being deserted for over a year.
The sky above Lixia Prefecture was cloudless. From the south, a figure flew over like a shooting star.
Tied around his waist were five or six medicine pouches, and he carried a long sword on his back. His face showed signs of hardship, including a faint scar on the left cheek.
Looking down at the deste town below, he sighed sorrowfully and said in a low voice, "Twenty years have gone by... and the Azure Pond Sect has finally allowed me to return. It seems n Uncle has also managed to avoid the sect''s scrutiny..."
"The time hase to take action for my Xiao Family''s cause."
Passing through the deserted town, Cloud Crowned Peak loomed ahead. He felt both joy and sorrow¡ªjoy for escaping the clutches of the Azure Pond Sect and returning to his familiar home, and sorrow for having to return his junior brother''s belongings.
Shaking his head, he murmured, "How should I face Jing''er''s family..."
Chapter 167: The Belongings (I)
Chapter 167: The Belongings (I)
Li Yuanxiu stood in the courtyard, holding a sword as Li Yuanjiao, dressed in a ck robe, swung his sword around, cutting through the cold wind sharply and producing several whooshing sounds. His hands turned white from the grip, and the sword was heavy, causing sweat to appear on Li Yuanjiao''s face.
Li Yuanxiu patted Li Yuanjiao''s shoulder, correcting the way he held the sword, and asked warmly, "Jiao''er, how long have you been practicing the Profound Water Sword Technique?"
"A little over two years," Li Yuanjiao responded softly. Li Yuanxiu corrected a few of his mistakes and then a young boy, appearing younger than Li Yuanxiu, entered.
He cupped his fist to them and said, "Brother, Father asks for your presence on the mountain."
"All right."
Li Yuanxiu nodded to Li Yuanyun in front of him and instructed, "Go to the east courtyard and tell them I won''t be dealing with affairs for now."
Behind them, Li Pingyi had grown taller and more robust than his father, Li Xiewen. He nodded in response and left while Li Yuanxiu then followed Li Yuanyun up the mountain.
Li Xuanling was sitting in the courtyard, pondering deeply as he watched the tea leaves floating around in his cup. Li Tongya had instructed him to disclose the matter of the mirror to Li Yuanxiu and the others, filling him with worry and unease.
He had already known that his son, Li Yuanyun,cked a spiritual orifice since long ago. Even so, he still harbored some hope that the mirror might choose Li Yuanyun and resolve the issue.
However, after kneeling before the mirror, Li Xuanling epted reality. With a mix of emotions in his heart, he watched his child run around on the mountain. He could not help but worry.
"What to do with this child¡"
From a young age, Li Xuanling saw his third uncle, Li Xiangping, show particr affection toward Li Jingtian. Now, experiencing it firsthand, he realized it was more than just simple love... To im he felt no guilt or sorrow would be something Li Xuanling could not bring himself to believe.
There was then a knock at the door, and Li Yuanyun led Li Yuanxiu inside.
After a long conversation the previous night about hisck of a spiritual orifice, which had left Li Yuanyun in tears, he seemed more cheerful today¡ªalmost as though trying tofort his father.
"Greetings, n Uncle!" Li Yuanxiu greeted as he cupped his fist while Li Yuanyun stepped outside tactfully.
Li Xuanling lowered his gaze, then turned to Li Yuanxiu.
"I''ve called you here today because there are some family matters you should be aware of, now that you''ve condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra¡"
Li Xuanling had thoroughly sorted through his thoughts before summoning Li Yuanxiu today. Carefully choosing his words, he continued, "Our family has inherited a dharma artifact from our ancestors¡ªan extraordinary bluish-gray mirror, far surpassing the Foundation Establishment Realm, which is capable of performing many miracles."
He described the marvelous uses of the mirror in detail, citing examples from past events. Li Yuanxiu listened with joy, and then Li Xuanling continued, "Some days ago when I took you all and sealed your senses in the courtyard, it was to seek these talisman seeds. Your younger cousins, Yuanjiao and Qinghong, were chosen and have already received a talisman seed in their Shenyang Mansion."
Without mentioning the fact that the talisman seed could be bestowed upon any individual through request and instead emphasizing that only those favored by the mirror could receive one was a tactful move to avoid hurting the feelings of Li Yuanxiu.
The eldest of the fourth generation remained oblivious to this, reacting happily to the news.
"That''s truly wonderful!"
There was a fleeting sadness in his eyes as he quietly added, "I feel sorry for Yuanyun though."
Thisment hit right at Li Xuanling''s sore spot. He nodded somberly and said, "Yuanyun cannot cultivate, and there are many things he can''t confide with me because I am his father... The days ahead will be tough for him, and I will need you to look after him more, Xiu''er."
Li Yuanxiu nodded solemnly. The two talked for a long time, from discussing the threatening Yu Family to the remotely supportive Xiao Family. Many of Li Yuanxiu''s insights impressed Li Xuanling. They talkedte into the night before Li Xuanling had him swear the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, then sent him off.
"With such a boy to lead the family, we have nothing to worry about in the future."
Li Xuanling''s mood had improved considerably. Watching Li Yuanxiu descend the mountain, he nodded in satisfaction and turned to continue his cultivation.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Xiao Yuansi paid a visit to his great ancestor Xiao Chuting and his nephew Xiao Yongling at home before finally being able to leave. He rode the wind along the Guli Road, passing overyers of forests until he reached the territory of the Li Family.
The simple Misty Maze Formation on Mount Lijing had now been reced by aplex, shimmering gold formation, earning Xiao Yuansi''s nod of approval.
Although this formation was nothing particrly impressive to a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm like him, it showed considerable progress in the Li Family over the years.
Standing outside the formation, Xiao Yuansi spoke apprehensively, "Xiao Yuansi from Qingsui Peak¡"
After a moment of thought, he corrected himself, "Xiao Yuansi of the Xiao Family in Lixia hase to visit¡ Please open the mountain gate!"
There was a noticeable dy before a small opening was created. Xiao Yuansi retracted his mana and descended, only to be greeted by a junior he had never met before¡ but seemed oddly familiar.
The junior cupped his fist and introduced himself.
"Greetings, Senior! I am Li Xuanxuan from the Li Family. My elders are currently in seclusion, pleasee rest in the courtyard."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Xiao Yuansi nodded lightly, holding back his curiosity about the junior''s parents, and sat down. While waiting for Li Tongya and the others, he savored his tea.
Just as he organized his thoughts, Li Tongya arrived at the door. After dismissing everyone else, there were only the two of them left in the courtyard. Li Tongya cupped his fist respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior!"
Xiao Yuansi looked at him sentimentally, noticing his graying temples. "You''ve aged. Where''s Xiangping?" he asked softly.
Li Tongya looked down, concealing the emotions that swirled in his eyes as he answered, "Due to an agreement between the two sects¡ Mount Yue''s eastward invasion had forced Xiangping to his death."
Already burdened with guilt, Xiao Yuansi felt as if a heavy hammer had struck him, hard. He untied the green sword around his waist and handed it over, saying softly, "Jing''er¡ he¡ is gone."
Although Li Tongya was already aware of this, he still failed to stop his tears. He epted the sword with both hands and managed to choke out his reply.
"I lost my elder brother at twenty years old, then my parents and younger brothers, one after the other. Now¡ I''m the only one left."
Although Xiao Yuansi was a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm, these few words from Li Tongya stirred him to tears. Recalling his promise to take care of Jing''er when he was refining pills in the Li Family, he clenched his teeth.
"T-Tongya¡ I¡ I''ve let you down."
Li Tongya suddenly raised his eyebrows and spoke softly.
"Senior Xiao¡ I only have one question. How did Jing''er die..?"
Struggling internally, Xiao Yuansi''s face turned red before he spoke.
"He was sacrificed by the Chi Family¡ given to demons in the southern border to be refined into a pill! My master is still locked away in the tower, and I am too powerless to do anything¡"
"So¡ it was the Chi Family!"
Knowing that the Chi Family held significant power within the Azure Pond Sect and were most capable of such deeds, Li Tongya bowed and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Senior!"
"I do not deserve any of that."
Xiao Yuansi sighed as he shook his head. Eager to break the somber atmosphere, he changed the topic and said, "Junior Brother also entrusted me with many things to bring back, all of which I now hand over to you."
"The most precious among them is this Qingche Sword."
Upon saying this, Xiao Yuansi pointed to the sword sheathed in his hand and exined, "This sword was forged by the master of Yuanwu Peak using seven feet of Qingming Copper from Mount Azure Pond, along with thirty-two kinds of heavenly materials and spirit items. When it was made, it wasn''t at the Foundation Establishment Realm. After my junior brother nurtured it day and night, aligning its sword intent with the sword body, it broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, endowing the Qingche Sword with a great degree of spirituality. It umted a pure Celestial Moon Sword Intent, elevating it to a dharma artifact of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Jing''er instructed me to ensure it was returned to your family."
Xiao Yuansi shook his head and sighed.
"However, after it came into my possession, the sword refused to unsheathe, appearing dull andckluster even when summoned with my mana. It seems to have developed its own consciousness and refuses to be wielded by my hands."
Chapter 168: The Belongings (II)
Chapter 168: The Belongings (II)
Li Tongya examined the sword, noting its pale white tassel swaying attractively. However, just as Xiao Yuansi had experienced, he could not draw it from its sheath either.
"That''s proven."
Xiao Yuansi nced sadly at the sword and continued, "Secondly, Jing''er had aplished some feats in the southern border and...knowing your familycked legacy in alchemy, he exchanged for one. Here it is."
He then produced a jade slip, radiant and inscribed with small characters. Li Tongya took it and read the words out loud.
"Secrets of Alchemy..."
Xiao Yuansi also handed over a storage pouch, exining, "This contains misceneous items¡ªover a hundred Spirit Stones, some talismans of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and a precious Essence Gathering Pill that can increase the sess rate of breaking through the Foundation Establishment Realm by half."
Li Tongya quickly epted, impressed by Li Chejing''s thoughtfulness.
"That boy..." he muttered to himself, though fondness was evident in his voice.
Finally, Xiao Yuansi took out two jade slips¡ªonerge and one small¡ªcing the smaller one on the table. "This is Spirit Eye Perception, a rare pupil technique good at breaking illusions. It''s difficult to cultivate and was originally intended for Xiangping, who was known for his archery," he exined softly.
He then handed over therger jade slip to Li Tongya with great care, instructing, "This contains Chejing''s sword techniques,piled into the Law of Celestial Moon. He imed it could be considered a Grade Five technique, which is extremely precious! Be sure not to let the word of this get out... It''s marked with Jing''er''s mana to prove I''ve not read it."
Li Tongya was visibly moved by the revtion of a Grade Five technique, which would even tempt a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator¡ªlet alone Xiao Yuansi who might not have been at the Foundation Establishment Realm then.
He rose to his feet and bowed his head.
"Tongya is impressed by Senior''s conduct!"
After exchanging a meaningful nce, all was understood without the need for words. Xiao Yuansi then settled down to drink a couple of sips of tea in the silent courtyard with only the two of them.
Li Tongya softly asked, "If I may inquire, Senior... how long do you think this matter can be kept a secret?"
Xiao Yuansi set down his tea bowl, having pondered Li Tongya''s thoughts for a moment.
"Other than a few Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, probably only I and Chi Zhiyun from the Chi Family know about this. Chi Zhiyun spends his days in seclusion and dislikes social interactions. Given the disgraceful nature of the Chi Family''s actions, he''s unlikely to spread the word. Naturally, I won''t speak of it either. Keeping it secret for another fifty years shouldn''t be an issue."
"Fifty years..." Li Tongya hummed as he silently noted this timeframe and thanked Xiao Yuansi once more. The atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly grew heavy, both men opened their mouths to speak but found themselves at a loss for words.
After taking another sip of his tea, Xiao Yuansi, feeling restless, finally broke the tense silence.
"Great changes are looming over the Yue State... Among the peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of that generation, three are nearing the end of their lifespans, which will surely lead to turmoil. One is a rogue cultivator, whose whereabouts are unpredictable. Another is from Mount Yue, who has been extending his life with secret techniques but has recently encountered some mishaps, making things rather awkward. Thest one is Chi Wei from the Chi Family. All three are approaching their death and seeking ways to break through to the Golden Core Realm. Though the chances are slim, it''s best to stay vignt."
Li Tongya listened attentively as Xiao Yuansi''s eyes suddenly lit up. "By my calctions, those Snake Dragon Fruit should have grown six or seven by now... Since I''m here, let''s refine those pills. It''ll also prevent the loss of spiritual qi from storing them for too long!" he said with great enthusiasm.
"Oh... How could we possibly impose on you?" Li Tongya forced augh, feeling slightly awkward from Xiao Yuansi''s enthusiasm. After a few courteous refusals he waved his hand, and Li Xuanxuan, who heard his transmitted voice, went to fetch the Snake Dragon Fruits hurriedly.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Xiao Yuansi stayed on Mount Lijing for a few days, refining pills during his stay and offering Li Tongya guidance on cultivation and his future.
"The River One Qi Technique when cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Realm, forms an immortal foundation known as Boundless Ocean, known for its vast and mighty surge of mana. Cultivators with this foundation could often withstand attacks from multiple assants due to the rapid flow of their mana. The former master of the Moongaze Lake market cultivated this technique. It took three cultivators of the same realm, wielding special dharma artifacts, to besiege and kill him. However, this technique is somewhat slow but paired with your swordsmanship, it could indeed be perfect."
Li Tongya nodded, carefully noting this down. Suddenly remembering a disciple from the Yu Family who had been epted into Yuanwu Peak, he inquired, "Senior, do you know of a disciple from the Yu Family by the Moongaze Lake who was epted into Yuanwu Peak?"
Xiao Yuansi nodded, putting away the jade box in his hand before answering.
"Before leaving the Azure Pond Sect, I made sure to gather information about the surrounding ns, including the Yu Family. That disciple is named Yu Muxian, whose talent was decent but excelled in artifact forging, had gained the favor of Yuanwu Peak."
"Speaking of which," Xiao Yuansi chuckled softly and continued, "I heard a curious tale about Yu Muxian. He not only requested from Yuanwu Peak''s master for a separate prefecture to rule but also arranged for the allocation of new disciples to be assigned to those associated with or under the influence of Yuanwu Peak, and this had already filled its quota of disciples in recent years."
In other words¡ªunless by chance, for the next few decades, no one would go to Moongaze Lake to recruit disciples!
Li Tongya pondered for a moment and eximed, "What a clever strategy!"
The reason why the ns by Moongaze Lake had not aggressively annexed each other was primarily due to their deep entanglements with various peaks of the Azure Pond Sect. Any rash action might invite censure from within the sect, and the Yu Family often found this situation troublesome.
However, the peak masters were only somewhat obligated to look after these families since they were not their guardians. The deeds of the Lu Family remained fresh in everyone''s minds, such entanglements were often rted to personal rtionships, with the death of one or two family elders causing protection to wane and entire ns to be annihted.
Yu Family''s strategy effectively severed most ns'' future hopes. As the older generation slowly passed away, the day woulde when protection faded, offering the Yu Family a chance to profit.
Moreover, preventing the peaks from recruiting disciples also eliminates a significant threat.
While epting the medicinal pills handed over by Xiao Yuansi, Li Tongya continued pondering silently.
An Jingming''s talent is definitely among the top in Moongaze Lake in a century... If he were to be epted into the Azure Pond Sect, the Yu Family''s path to expansion southward would bepletely blocked. Moreover, having such a genius from a neighboring family join the sect would likely keep the Yu Family''s head awake at night. Such a cunning n... Yu Mugao and Yu Xiaogui must have spent a considerable amount of gifts to pave such a way for their n. This father and son are indeed difficult to deal with!
Chapter 169: Acquiring Pills
Chapter 169: Acquiring Pills
Xiao Yuansi tapped the alchemy furnace in front of him and the final batch of Snake Essence Pills flew out instantly, glowing brightly as they circled in the air, before eachnded neatly in the jade bottle in his hand.
"Alright... from these seven Snake Dragon Fruit, we''ve managed to produce forty-five pills. ording to the usual rules we''ve established, I''ll take nine, and the remaining thirty-six are for your family," Xiao Yuansi suggested.
Li Tongya shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this, having grown far beyond the young man he once was when he first stepped onto the path of immortality by theke.
After three or four decades of cultivation by theke, he was well aware of the usual shares in alchemy and insisted, "Senior! You''re being far too generous to my family... In the realm of alchemy, if one provides their own materials and the sess rate exceeds fifty percent, the remainder belongs entirely to the alchemist. There''s no precedent for taking only after achieving a seventy percent yield! You''ve assisted my family greatly, how can we take advantage of you..."
Xiao Yuansi paused before a gentle smile crossed his face.
"I have already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm; these Snake Essence Pills are of no use to me. Taking these nine is merely an effort to not break tradition. Your family has many younger members who need these pills far more than I do. There''s no need for such formalities with me!"
"Absolutely not!" Li Tongya refuted immediately. He understood that it was Xiao Yuansi''s sense of obligation because of what had happened at Chejing, and was simply wishing to make amends to the Li Family. He then continued graciously, "But you''re right... we do indeed urgently need these pills. I shall ept your goodwill then!"
After saying this, he took out fifty Spirit Stones from his storage pouch and ced them on the table, respectfully saying, "Since these pills are of no use to Senior, these are the Spirit Stones you rightfully deserve... Please ept them!"
Xiao Yuansi calcted quickly and realized that Li Tongya was still valuing them based on a fifty percent share, and the fifty Spirit Stones were actually more than sufficient.
With a wave of his sleeve, he epted them, not wanting to argue with him.
"Well, I won''t make it difficult for you then... I''ll ept them."
As he stood up preparing to take his leave, Xiao Yuansi suddenly remembered something and said warmly, "The Lixia Prefecture has been devastated with hardly any poption left... My Xiao Family will need to migrate some people over from the various families along the Guli Road. A junior wille byter to discuss the details."
"Understood, Senior. Safe travels!" Li Tongya quickly replied, watching as Xiao Yuansi rode his flying shuttle away, disappearing into the horizon.
It was only then did Li Xuanxuan dared toe into the courtyard. Seeing the table filled with jade bottles, his face lit up with joy. "With these pills, the cultivation of our family members can advance further!" he eximed gleefully.
Li Tongya nodded, collecting the pills on the table with a wave of his sleeve.
"The Snake Essence Pill is known for its mild nature, suitable for those at the Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm. They''re just what our family needs right now," he remarked with an approving nod.
Li Xuanxuan estimated the timing and smiled, "I''ve been at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm for two years now... With these Snake Essence Pills, plus a talisman pill of each major realm, I have great confidence in breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm!"
Li Tongya handed him the pills, asking softly, "Have you decided on which cultivation method to pursue?"
"Though the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique is powerful, the required Profound Yin Thunder Liquid can only be collected during specific thunderstorms... and I can''t wait that long. So, I''m choosing between the River One Qi Technique and the Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique. Both are unique in their own way, but I''m leaning toward thetter," Li Xuanxuan exined his decision in one breath, clearly having thought through this a long time ago.
Li Tongya simply waved his hand in response to this.
"...And your reasons?"
"The Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique uses the vitality-rich and nimble Cave Spring Clear Qi for qi cultivation, which will greatly aid in talisman crafting. Having delved into the art of talismans for over a decade, I believe it could significantly contribute to our family''s needs. Moreover, Xuanling is proficient with the sword, and the River One Qi Technique suits him perfectly. If everyone in our family were to cultivate the River Pure Qi, ourmon traits would make us easy targets for our enemies..." Li Xuanxuan said thoughtfully, his face serious.
Li Tongya nodded in agreement and handed over a portion of Cave Spring Clear Qi he had collected over the past few years.
"Sounds like you have a good n! Make all the necessary arrangements first before entering seclusion... If Yuanxiu can''t handle the family affairs, then get Xuanling to do it," he advised.
Li Xuanxuan nodded firmly. Li Tongya then took out the Spirit Eye Perception jade slip, instructing him to deliver it to Xuanfeng in seclusion, and then retrieved another light purple one titled the Secrets of Alchemy.
"I''ve nced through this. Not everyone is cut out for alchemy... it requires a certain talent. Copy the section on conjuring Pill me from this slip and distribute it among the family''s disciples. In theing years, if anyone manages to conjure the Pill me, have them seek me out on Meiche Peak."
Li Xuanxuan acknowledged the instructions and left. Li Tongya then picked up the sheathed Qingche Sword, gazing at it for a moment before firmly grasping the hilt and exerting a gentle force.
ng!
A soft white light poured forth, illuminating the courtyard with a gleam of aqua and white sword light, casting ripples of light throughout the cave. In fact, the force was so strong that it caused the sword at Li Tongya''s waist to tremble resonantly.
"Jing''er..."
The moment Li Tongya touched the sword, he had realized that using the initial stance of the Celestial Moon sh technique would allow him to draw this spirit de.
At that time, Xiao Yuansi was nearby, so he did not apply much force. Now, drawing the sword from its sheath, he saw the word "Qingche" engraved on the de.
"I''m sorry that you''ve suffered..." he whispered, his voice pained.
The Qingche Sword hummed in his hand, radiating a cold brilliance. Li Tongya noticed a new wording out from the sword tassel¡ªAnnihte.
"Annihte... Qingche..." Li Tongya pursed his lips and sheathed the sword, then flew toward Meiche Peak.
Li Xuanxuan, having made all the necessary arrangements, took the spiritual qi he received from Li Tongya and went to Meiche Peak for seclusion, leaving Li Xuanling and Li Yuanxiu in charge of the family affairs.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Qinghong and Li Yuanjiao had learned the Reception Method on the mountain and were now using the moonlight to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra.
Meanwhile, on Lijing Peak.
Knock, knock.
Li Yuanxiu entered the courtyard with a smile. Li Yuanjiao, who had just finished his cultivation, was practicing with his sword in the courtyard.
Seeing Li Yuanxiu, he quickly greeted him with a bright smile.
"Big brother!"
"Come here, Yuanjiao."
Li Yuanxiu ruffled up his hair and handed him a jade bottle. "This is the medicinal pill that your fourth granduncle sent back. Take good care of it and use it when you''re about to break through," he said warmly, his gaze tender.
In order to keep Li Chejing''s death a secret, Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan imed the items Xiao Yuansi brought back as sent by Li Chejing. Li Yuanxiu and the others, not knowing the truth, naturally epted them happily.
Li Yuanjiao, having received a talisman seed and rapidly breaking through the Profound Scenery stage with the help of moonlight, was privy to the family''s secret. He had taken the spiritual oath and had been cultivating on the mountain since then.
Seeing Li Yuanjiao obediently nodding and epting it, Li Yuanxiu felt relieved that he had personally delivered the medicinal pills as instructed by Li Xuanxuan before his seclusion.
"After all, the Snake Essence Pills are precious... It''s better to deliver them personally to avoid any unsightly incidents and unnecessary trouble."
Li Yuanxiu''s lips curled into a small smile.
Although the cultivators in the branch family had been obedient with no unsightly incidents urring so far, he still did not trust them fully. Hence, he preferred to handle such important matters personally.
"Chief!"
While Li Yuanxiu was still deep in his thoughts, Li Pingyi and the others entered the courtyard hurriedly,ing up to him with several town managers following closely behind. Their heads were all bowed, and none of them dared to speak.
Since Li Yuanxiu was managing affairs in the n Affairs Courtyard, Li Pingyi naturally addressed him as the n leader.
Hearing Li Pingyi calling him ''chief'' instead of ''young n head'' with town managers behind him, Li Yuanxiu knew something had happened to the n disciples.
"What''s the trouble?"
I''ve just praised our disciples, and now there''s trouble... How trulyughable!
Li Pingyi did not dare to beat around the bush, looking somewhat troubled as he responded hastily, "n Uncle Qiuyang has returned from the mines... He has already broken through to the Jade Capital stage and possesses a spiritual sense now! When he returned to town, he took a stroll on the street and...unexpectedly, with a sweep of his spiritual sense, caught several n disciples in the courtyard... They... in the courtyard..."
"What were they doing?" Li Yuanxiu asked sternly, only to hear Li Pingyi grit his teeth and say, "Gambling on dog fights... Some were stripped naked and fooling around with women in the courtyard..."
"How dare they!" Li Yuanjiao eximed in disbelief and shock. His expression darkened as he listened and watched Li Yuanxiu''s expression contort with shame and indignation.
Chapter 170: Rectifying the Atmosphere
Chapter 170: Rectifying the Atmosphere
"Who are they? Have they all been caught?" Li Yuanxiu asked as he stepped out of the courtyard, his voice low.
Li Pingyi responded promptly, "I''ve caught them red-handed. Apart from those not bearing the Li surname, there were six individuals in total with the Li surname. Five of them are descendants of the illegitimate brothers of our founding ancestor, and one... one is my uncle."
Li Pingyi''s confession was delivered with a sense of shame and dread.
The founding ancestor he was referring to was naturally Li Mutian. Li Pingyi''s uncle was one of Li Xiewen''s siblings, specifically one of the sons of Li Yesheng. While Li Yesheng was alive, there was at least someone to keep them in check. After his death, they remained subdued for a few years but with Li Xiewen preupied with affairs, they eventually began to stir up trouble.
"I see."
Li Yuanxiu left after just speaking those two words.
"Brother, I will go too!" Li Yuanjiao muttered and quickly scrambled up to follow Li Yuanxiu down the mountain. Li Yuanxiu whispered a few words to Li Pingyi who nodded and left, then led the way to the front of that courtyard in question.
A crowd had gathered in front of the courtyard, with n guards securing the area tightly. Li Xiewen, looking grim-faced, stood at the entrance.
Upon seeing Li Yuanxiu, he cupped his fist respectfully.
"Greetings, young n head."
"Uncle Wen, there''s no need for formalities," Li Yuanxiu responded as he entered the courtyard with him, only to witness a scene of pure chaos.
The floor was littered with fruit and vegetable scraps, making it difficult to navigate through. A dozen men¡ªbare-chested, were pressed to the ground. His n uncle, Li Qiuyang, stood by with his arms folded.
"Greetings, n Uncle," Li Yuanxiu said curtly as he greeted his n uncle.
"Young n Head!" Li Qiuyang responded right away as he caught sight of him, cupping his fist and then retreating into a corner, choosing to remain silent. Li Yuanxiu noticed his graying temples.
Li Yuanxiu surveyed the courtyard. Everyone''s expressions varied¡ªLi Xiewen appeared ashamed, Li Qiuyang calm, and the townsfolk angry and fearful, creating a heavy atmosphere. Eyes were all fixated on Li Yuanxiu.
His few illegitimate brothers, whom he had barely seen since he was six, now watched him silently from the crowd, resembling silent wolves. Li Yuanjiao, standing by his side, stared back at them coldly.
Li Yuanxiu had not interacted much with his elder brothers who lived at the foot of the mountain. These three elder brotherscked spiritual orifice and were not well-educated, yet they had never been a bother to Li Yuanxiu.
They were aware that Li Xuanxuan had only assigned Li Yuanxiu to manage household affairs temporarily. Li Yuanxiu, being an immortal cultivator, was destined to stay on the mountain.
With four towns in Lijing and three in Huaqian, plus over a dozen scattered viges, some towns were so wealthy that the presence of immortals was the norm, while others were so poor that they barely scraped by for years. They were wary of each other, keeping a close eye on certain positions.
Li Yuanxiu then focused his steely eyes on the people before him and demanded in a cold voice, "Who started this gambling den?"
All eyes drifted toward one individual, who stumbled forward on his knees. It was a cultivator not bearing the surname Li, still at the Profound Scenery Stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm despite being in his thirties.
Without a word, Li Yuanxiu advanced swiftly and drew his sword. The grayish gleam of the Profound Water Sword Aura burst forth, and with one swift strike, the man was decapitated.
As his head rolled on the ground, the Adam''s apple in his throat was still bobbing up and down as if pleading, "Mercy, please, Young n Head!"
The crowd recoiled in shock. Li Yuanxiu stepped to the side, avoiding the spurt of fresh blood, and the onlookers began to wail and cry.
As the crowd continued their chaotic cries, Li Pingyi arrived with a pot of boiling oil. The n soldiers exchanged looks with each other, understanding their task silently. They then pressed the struggling gamblers down and forced their hands to be outstretched.
"Gambling is a disease of the hands..." Li Yuanxiu sneered coldly.
Li Pingyi and his men proceeded to pour the boiling oil over the gamblers'' hands, which immediately caused blisters to form. While the men were screaming in agony, Li Yuanxiu then ordered, "Those who pulled down their trousers... step forward!"
Li Qiuyang, who had been silent in the corner, finally lifted his head. With a slight gesture of his finger, several burly men suddenly stumbled forward.
Even the n soldiers who were holding them down staggered a few steps forward. Li Yuanxiu naturally knew that it was Li Qiuyang who had singled them out.
"Pour again!" hemanded loudly. His tone was harsh and unforgiving.
The distinct smell of roasted meat quickly filled the air, and the men realized at this point that their hands were far gone.
Li Yuanxiu turned to the crowd and dered, "The n Affairs Courtyard enforces the rules set by our ancestors: prostitution, gambling, and adultery will not be tolerated! These rules apply to everyone in our family, from the main lineage and even to the most distant branches. Don''t go thinking you can get away with breaking the rules and tarnishing the Li Family''s name just because you''re down at the foot of the mountain!"
Silence fell all around them, and Li Yuanxiu noticed his illegitimate brothers lowering their heads, no longer meeting his gaze. He then gave out another order, though now in a gentler tone.
"Have someone treat their injuries."
As Li Yuanxiu led his group out of the courtyard, the onlookers parted to give way to them, shrinking back and avoiding his gaze.
Li Pingyi, feeling a sense of satisfaction, stepped forward and said, "Young Family Head, that should shut up those uncles and n elders who often criticize you for not being harsh enough!"
"There''s no need to mind them," Li Yuanxiu responded, walking through the dimly lit streets.
He then continued, "Those people are just looking to shift more control of the seven towns from the main family and Uncle Xiewen to their own descendants... Their gossip is meaningless. Now that this is over, they''ll say I''m too brutal to lead the family."
"Power and profit struggles are inherently dirty! It''s all about ndering each other... and in the end, whoever causes the other to suffer the worst defamation gets thest word..." Li Yuanxiu spoke nonchntly, patting Li Yuanjiao''s head and continuing solemnly, "Our real adversaries are never these minor internal family disputes, but the Yu and An families... along with the other ambitious ns surrounding us."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, walking beside him. After a moment of thought, he said seriously, "Brother, I''m afraid they''ll hold a grudge against you. Maybe we should just send someone to get rid of them for good..."
Li Yuanxiu shook his head and replied softly, "They''re still our rtives at the end of the day. Our family is already few in number... A few notorious and begrudging mortals can''t make much of a difference! The n Affairs Courtyard will keep an eye on them, there''s no need for drastic measures."
Li Yuanjiao could only nod and say coldly, "Did you notice the looks from those few brothers of ours? They''re quite frightening."
Li Yuanxiu sighed slightly, causing Li Pingyi behind him to step back half a step instinctively, his gaze wandering as if lost in thought.
Li Yuanxiu shot him a nce before responding, "They''re merely troublemakers without any spiritual orifice... It''s not surprising that they harbor some jealousy toward us. After all, we share the same father; yet, they were born without spiritual orifice. I''m sure they also understand the bigger picture. With them around, the outsiders can''t stir up much trouble."
"Understood, brother!" Li Yuanjiao said thoughtfully, nodding.
The two then ascended the mountain together, sharing a smile as they looked down at the darkening night below. Li Yuanjiao''s ck robe fluttered in the night,plementing Li Yuanxiu''s pure white cloak. Having felt little fatherly love from a young age, he felt a profound sense of affection from his brother.
"Brother, you are much better than father!" he chirped cheerfully.
Li Pingyi, who was behind them, wished that he could cover both his ears at that very moment.
Li Yuanxiu stared sternly at Li Yuanjiao and said righteously, "What kind of talk is that?! Father is the most hardworking among all our elders. In his life, he has had little to take pride in but instead has had to act against his nature day after day... Now, in his mid-thirties, he already has a head full of gray hair. It''s inevitable that he might neglect some aspects; you should be more understanding of father."
"Mhm," Li Yuanjiao chuckled, agreeing. Clutching his brother''s cloak, he continued with a smile, "Brother, one day, our Li Family will surely defeat the Yu and An families under our leadership. United as brothers, we are much stronger than any Yu Mugao or Yu Muxian!"
Li Yuanxiuughed heartily, patting his head, his eyes filled withughter and hope. Together, they gazed at the moonlight, walking in silence.
Chapter 171: Turmoil in Mount Yue
Chapter 171: Turmoil in Mount Yue
Eastern Mount Yue.
Mu Jiaomany on his bed, tormented by a burning sensation swirling in his mouth. His heart was cramping painfully, leaving him dry-mouthed and unable to speak.
"Great King! Oh...Great King!"
His wives and concubines wailed around him, their cries irritating him. He bit his lip and shouted with all his might.
"Shut up!"
Yet, his voice was so faint it came out sounding only like a murmur, and no one paid him any attention. They continued wailing, plunging him into further despair.
Under his rule, Eastern Mount Yue¡ªthough not flourishing¡ªhad improved significantly from the chaotic times in the past. The territory of Eastern Mount Yue had been expanding, with viges surrendering to them from time to time.
Mu Jiaoman, knowing Li Tongya was a cautious man, pretended that they had the support of Mount Wu to prevent Li Tongya from invading their territory. In apromise, he opened the trade routes, allowing the Li Family to exchange some novel luxury items for the massive amount of food and materials in the hands of the mountain tribes'' families.
By using the hundreds of thousands of mountain tribes asbor to support over a hundred thousand humans, they have managed to secure a lifeline.
Just as everything seemed to be improving, a demon wolf of the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm invaded the town. It had mysteriously traversed hundreds of miles of mountains and rivers without making a sound, appearing at the foot of his city.
Mu Jiaoman had no choice but to fight. Over the years, a few Qi Cultivators had emerged in Eastern Mount Yue, though they were nowhere near the level of those immortal cultivators since they had consumed various unrefined qi. Despite this, they were consideredbat forces. However, since they were being stationed on the western front, reinforcements were too slow to arrive.
Hoping to hold out for a short while until reinforcement arrived, he did not expect the demon to possess several innate spells that left him in a bad position. In desperation, he sacrificed his blood qi and cast an ancient shamanic spell to call upon Mount Wu.
"Why is there no response..." Mu Jiaoman''s mind went nk, his heart sinking into silence. Years of honed intuition led him to a grave realization.
"There''s trouble on Mount Wu... This demon is definitely a probing pawn sent by a certain immortal cultivator!"
Using a shamanic spell to drain his life force, Mu Jiaoman finally repelled the demon. Now that he was lying on his luxurious jade bed, he realized his time hade.
As his wives and concubines wept, a roar interrupted them, "Out of the way!"
A burly Mount Yue tribesman, covered in talismanic tattoos, barged into the pce anxiously. The bone and jade he wore as jewelry ttered loudly.
Mu Jiaoman mustered his strength and muttered weakly, "You..."
"Sorry I''mte!" the man cried out. Upon seeing him, Mu Jiaoman suddenly became spirited, clutching his hand and murmuring, "Pass my position to Qimu... and kill all other sons and daughters! Make sure there are no survivors."
"Yes..." The Mount Yue tribesman answered.
"You must remember!", Mu Jiaoman emphasized as tears streamed down his face.
"Ensure all other children are killed... Do not let them fall under the Li Family''s control! Our tribe is silently enduring them, not submitting. Do you understand? Do you?!"
The burly man looked up with tears brimming in his eyes, tears that refused to fall. Mu Jiaoman''s grip loosened, falling back onto the jade bed... lifeless. The Mount Yue tribesman wiped away his tears,menting loudly, "Your Majesty... Until we meet again!"
The city''s bells tolled loudly, and Mount Yue soldiers scurried through the streets. Screams of killing and agony rose as the once high and mighty lords were dragged out and beheaded cleanly.
However, a dark gray ox cart had already left the city, making its way on the rugged Guli Road. Several figures jumped off the cart hastily and darted toward the woods to the east.
"That old man truly loved Qimu... Thankfully, we had informants in the pce, or we would have been ughtered like pigs and dogs!" one of the men said.
"What should we do now, my lord?" voiced out another man. These men were clearly guards or advisors, and they closely followed their leader.
The man replied, "I heard that my aunt is also a concubine in the easternnds. Our only option now is to flee east and seek refuge with her!"
They oriented themselves by the stars and plunged into the dense woods, vanishing from sight.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya was in his cave dwelling, reading through the Law of Celestial Moon, silently practicing the moves and asionally praising the work.
"Wonderful! Truly the peak of perfection!"
When Li Chejing returned home and wrote down the Celestial Moon sh technique, Li Tongya was just a novice in the way of the sword, never realizing the sophistication of his younger brother''s sword technique.
As he progressed year by year, grounded on the Celestial Moon sh technique exined personally by Li Chejingbined with his own decent talent in swordsmanship, his skill soared, quickly grasping the essence of sword qi and finally appreciating the depth of his younger brother''s understanding of the sword.
The exnations in the Law of Celestial Moon were clear and ingenious, significantly elerating Li Tongya''s slow swordsmanship progress over the past few months. Many previously perplexing issues became clear, and he estimated that it would now take less than ten years before he would be able to grasp the next realm of swordsmanship¡ªthe Sword Essence.
The Celestial Moon sh technique was merely the introductory form of this set of techniques, which included dozens of sophisticatedbinations and variations that dazzled Li Tongya with admiration as he continued to practice diligently. Suddenly, there was a knock at the stone door.
"Who is it?" Li Tongya asked as he looked up, hearing his son Li Xuanling''s familiar voice.
"Father, a Qi Cultivator from the Xiao Family has arrived. It seems we might need to host them."
"I understand," Li Tongya replied, pondering for a moment before standing up and leaving the cave dwelling with Li Xuanling waiting outside. Seeing his father emerge, Li Xuanling let out a sigh of relief.
Li Xuanling was in a difficult position. There was a significant status gap between the Qi Cultivation Realm and Embryonic Breathing Realm, and given the Xiao Family''s favors toward the Li Family, not sending a Qi Cultivator to receive them could be seen as disrespectful.
Li Xuanfeng was in seclusion, and he could not afford to distract Li Xuanxuan, who was on the verge of a breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm. Chen Donghe, though a Qi Cultivator, had no authority to make any decisions. It seemed that Li Tongya was the only remaining option as he was not in seclusion, hence the visit to the mountain to invite him.
Li Tongya put away the Law of Celestial Moon he was reading and, together with Li Xuanling, headed to the main courtyard atop Mount Lijing.
There, a man in his mid-twenties, dressed in a flowing robe and striking appearance, looked up at them. Surprised to see Li Tongya, he quickly stood up and cupped his fist before introducing himself.
"Xiao Ruyu from the Xiao Family! It''s an honor to meet you."
Xiao Ruyu had expected Li Xuanfeng but was pleasantly surprised and slightly nervous to see Li Tongya.
Li Tongya is a peer of n Uncle Xiao Yongling and one of the most distinguished cultivators on the Guli Road...
With that in mind, Xiao Ruyu said with a smile, "Your reputation precedes you! My n uncle often speaks highly of you and I''ve finally met you in person after hearing so much about you!"
His polite and dignified demeanor left a good impression on Li Tongya, who smiled graciously and replied softly, "Likewise, I''ve heard a lot about you from Xuanfeng... Your willingness to apany him into dangerous territories shows bravery!"
"You''re ttering me, Senior," he replied humbly.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Ruyu decided to cut to the chase and stated the purpose of his visit.
"I''vee for two main reasons... Firstly, with nine out of ten homes empty in the prefecture, we need to relocate people from other areas. The Li Family has the most people, and the Xiao Family is willing to pay a price..."
"That''s hardly an issue," Li Tongya interrupted with a smile, "Our Li Family can provide up to a thousand male and female workers to your n each year. There''s no need forpensation between our families."
The Li Family was short on many things but definitely not people. The annual influx of refugees from Mount Yue posed a dilemma,plicating local settlements and risking cultural contamination. Sending them back seemed wasteful given their potential as abor force.
In the seven years since the Li Family took over Mount Huaqian, the poption soared from five thousand to almost twenty thousand, nearly reaching half the size of a prefecture city. Without the support from the several hundred thousand Mount Yue tribesmen to the west, the Li Family would indeed face challenges.
Chapter 172: The Xiao Familys Scheme
Chapter 172: The Xiao Family''s Scheme
"Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Ruyu thanked as he cupped his fist, but he did not wish to owe a favor to the Li Family over a few thousand mortals.
Shifting the conversation tactfully, he chose his next words with great thought and care.
"However, before leaving, my elders specifically instructed that the closer the two families are, the more such minor details must be clearly settled to avoid any potential futureplications. Keeping this in mind, I dare not take advantage of your generosity..."
Seeing him handle the matter so cleanly and with such propriety, Li Tongya regarded him even more highly.
"What do you suggest then?"
"For every batch of mortals delivered to Lixia Prefecture, our Xiao Family willpensate one Spirit Stone for every thousand mortals."
Xiao Ruyu''s offer was considered generous. After all, with the Azure Pond Sect setting a precedent, all families looked up to the sect''s actions. Without proper regtion, the mortals under their control were merely seen as resources to be exploited. Save for a few cultivators with special needs who might value them, most looked down upon them.
"Alright, let''s settle it that way then!" Li Tongya said in agreement.
Xiao Ruyu nodded, then brought up another matter, "There''s also another reason for my visit... The Guli Road hasn''t been maintained over a long time, with many paths bing overgrown and hazardous due to roaming beasts. This has led to a disruption inmunication between families and only those who have attained the Qi Cultivation Realm can traverse the prefecture freely, which poses a significant inconvenience! Our Xiao Family wishes to restore the Guli Road, establishing ry stations at the borders of each family''s territory. In areas where there are gaps, the Xiao Family will fill them. This way even the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators andmoners can travel for trade, thus benefiting all families along the Guli Road."
"Oh?"
Li Tongya was surprised that the Xiao Family would undertake such a thankless task.
He pondered briefly before speaking.
"For the Xiao Family to lead this effort benefits my Li Family greatly, and naturally, I have no reason to disagree. However, if I may be so bold, why would your esteemed family bother with such a thankless task?"
Li Tongya was never one to meddle unnecessarily but given the long-standing friendship between their families and the kindness shown by Xiao Yuansi and Xiao Chuting to the Li Family, he attempted to dissuade them.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior." Xiao Ruyu simply smiled.
On his way through Guli Road, he had met with many families, all of whom had readily agreed, though they probably wereughing behind his back. Only Li Tongya cared enough to offer advice, and Xiao Ruyu was grateful for that.
He then went on to exin, "The Xiao Family coborates with many ns in alchemy and smithing, supporting a third of the cultivators within Lixia Prefecture''s influence... This is crucial for our family''s expenditures. If we lose ess to medicinal herbs and spirit minerals, it would be a significant loss. We''re interested in the spirit resources along Guli Road... and I''m afraid I can''t reveal more. I hope you understand."
This exnation along with Xiao Chuting''s quiet achievement of the Purple Mansion Realm allowed Li Tongya to connect the dots in his mind. He had his suspicions but chose not to press any further.
"That''s fine," he replied after a moment of contemtion.
After discussing and arranging the distribution of the ry stations, Xiao Ruyu respectfully took his leave.
Li Xuanling escorted him out of the courtyard, watching him ride the wind eastward before returning to the courtyard. He saw Li Tongya sitting silently with a tea bowl in hand and after a moment of silence, he inquired, "Father, the Xiao Family has connections with Mushroom Forest in and the families of Linghai Prefecture, with long-term trade rtions. Are they perhaps afraid someone will cut off the trade flow from the east..? Who has such power to prevent the families from dealing with the Xiao Family?"
Li Tongya put down his tea bowl and shook his head in response.
"The Xiao Family is probably nning to break away from Azure Pond Sect and stand on its own."
"What?!"
Li Xuanling was stunned, then his expression quickly turned to rm. He said hoarsely, "This... They actually dare to do that knowing that the Azure Pond Sect currently has three early-stage Purple Mansion Realm, one mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm, and even a peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivator like Chi Wei...?"
"The Xiao Family is waiting for Chi Wei to pass away," Li Tongya said matter-of-factly, narrowing his eyes. He had analyzed the situation in his head and was feeling fairly certain of such a spection.
Narrowing his eyes, he then said softly, "With Xiao Chuting having reached the Purple Mansion Realm, they have the standing toe to the fore... Didn''t the Chen Family also dere independence on the spot when a Purple Mansion Realm elder emerged among them? Among the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of Azure Pond Sect, only Chi Wei has the power to eliminate Xiao Chuting on the spot. Once Chi Wei dies, it''s only natural for the Xiao Family to break away from Azure Pond Sect, taking over this battered Lixia Prefecture¡ªbacked by Mushroom Forest in and Moongaze Lake. The Azure Pond Sect might even have to present congrattory gifts to them."
"Purple Mansion Realm..." Li Xuanling murmured, sighing deeply. "The families and the three sects and seven gates are just tools in the hands of those in the Purple Mansion Realm..."
"Once they break away from Azure Pond Sect, which family in the prefecture would dare to trade with the Xiao Family across borders? Naturally, the Xiao Family will have to look for new sources and targets for dumping their goods, hence moving westward, restoring the Guli Road, and targeting the scattered families around Mushroom Forest in and Moongaze Lake without arge prefecture city."
Having finished his lengthy exnation, Li Tongya felt more assured in his deductions, left pondering to himself.
But how should our Li Family preserve itself and seek benefits amidst such upheaval..? Diverting trouble eastward, thus changing the current situation in Moongaze Lake where the Yu Family dominates alone.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao stood in the courtyard with a sword in hand, facing a girl with her hair tied up. Her almond eyes were fixed on the sword in his grasp. After circling each other in the yard for a while, Li Yuanjiao noticed her agile footwork, likely focusing on swift and unpredictable moves. He thrust his practice wooden sword toward her face, closing the distance.
The girl countered with her wooden spear, retreating a few steps and using her left hand to parry Li Yuanjiao''s sword. She chuckled and said, "You''re really cunning, Brother Jiao."
"Hmph."
Li Yuanjiao snorted lightly, also stepping backward and putting away his sword. "There''s nothing cunning about it. It''s just that your spear technique is solid enough to block a few of my moves, Qinghong!" he scoffed.
Li Qinghong giggled, aware that she had been at a disadvantage earlier, and conceded, "It''s naturally easier to learn with a family sword technique. I''ve even sought the best spear teacher from the mountain foot, yet I''m still struggling..."
"Why bother with a spear when there''s a family sword technique to practice? Spear techniques are easy to start but hard to master without proper guidance. You could spend a lifetime failing to get anywhere," Li Yuanjiao frowned, gazing intently at her with a serious expression.
Li Qinghong, however, ced her spear against the wall and exined, "The thought of practicing the sword technique gave me a headache! Father brought various weapons for me to choose from, and they said longer weapons have an advantage, so I chose the spear. Father was very pleased and encouraged me to keep at it."
Seeing that it was Li Xuanling''s decision, Li Yuanjiao abandoned the idea of persuading her to switch to swordsmanship. Hanging up his wooden sword and straightening his robe, Li Qinghong also leaned her spear against the corner and began to undo her hair. The practice had left a rosy tint on her face, lending her a feminine charm.
A respectful voice came from outside after a double knock on the door.
"Young Master, Madam is calling for you!"
"Got it," Li Yuanjiao replied, seeing an old servant at the door with his head bowed. He was the one who usually served his mother.
"Did something happen?" Li Yuanjiao asked, slightly worried.
"Some people from Eastern Mount Yue came saying that... Mu Jiaoman had passed away due to serious injuriesst night," the servant replied after a brief moment of hesitation.
Li Yuanjiao''s eyes sparkled, showing no emotional disturbance over the death of this uncle he had never met. Instead, he was visibly excited. Seeing Li Qinghongughing beside him, he turned and asked, "What''s so funny?"
Li Qinghong, though not fully aware of the details, sensed intuitively that this was a good omen.
Suppressing a smile, she looked up at him cheekily as she replied, "Nothing much... just that it''s good news!"
"Hehe." Li Yuanjiao giggled, then hurried out of the courtyard, bursting with excitement.
"The nine towns and twenty-six tribes of Eastern Mount Yue will soon all belong to our family!"
Chapter 173: Shamoli
Chapter 173: Shamoli
Shamoli, along with a few loyal members of his tribe, snuck through the forest for several days and nights, not daring to look back or light a fire to cook. When hungry, they ate a few fruits; when thirsty, they scooped up water to drink. They had finally managed to escape the territory of Eastern Mount Yue.
Upon encountering the bustling and affluent towns of the Easterners filled with throngs of people, they were stupefied by the sight. Disguised as refugees from Mount Yue, they were taken into custody and could only watch from a distance as the lively scenes of horse-drawn carriages and cloud-like canopies moved westward; the sound of opera drifting in the air.
"This Eastern lifestyle... it''s practically divine!" Shamoli remarked in awe, finally understanding why the ves were so desperate to flee eastward.
After being confined for several hours, Shamoli noticed an opulently dressed Mount Yue tribesman approaching. His spirits lifted immediately. This person was a former vassal of the Mulu Family who had disappeared years ago, presumably to enjoy life in the East.
Shamoli quickly called out to him in their native Mount Yuenguage.
"Hey, skinny... look this way!"
That person''s expression turned into annoyance almost immediately, and he looked toward the direction of the shout. Suddenly, bursting with joy, he shouted loudly, "Quick, seize that man! He is a royal descendant of Eastern Mount Yue!"
Shamoli, who possessed the strength of the third stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm, did not resist and was meekly taken away, eventually thrown into a courtyard paved with stone bs.
Kneeling on the cold, smooth ground, Shamoli looked up timidly to see a young man about fourteen or fifteen years old staring back at him. The youth''s stern appearance and prating gray eyes gave off an overwhelming sense of authority.
"Greet... Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Shamoli spected that this imposing figure was likely Li Xuanxuan, who appeared youthful due to attaining the Qi Cultivation Realm early in life. Despite this, Li Xuanxuan was still his uncle.
"You must be joking," Li Yuanxiu responded with a slight smile, amused by the unexpected turn of events. He had to suppress the urge to burst intoughter at the thought of having such an advantage over Mount Yue, courteously engaging with the trembling Mount Yue prince while sizing him up mentally.
"I am Li Yuanxiu, the eldest legitimate son of the family head. I believe we are of the same generation," Li Yuanxiu began as he introduced himself.
It was only at this moment that Shamoli learned that he was speaking to the heir of the Easterner King. He smiled at Li Yuanxiu politely and was about to speak when another person resembling Li Yuanxiu came in, interrupting him.
The neer had shorter eyebrows and longer eyes, giving off a more predatory aura. Shamoli instinctively bowed his head in fear.
"Yuanjiao is overjoyed to hear that a cousin hase to visit!" the neer announced as he approached.
Shamoli''s face immediately lit up with joy, thinking this person must be his support in the East. "Ah, so you''re Brother Jiao! Your reputation precedes you! You''re even better looking than I expected," he quickly added hastily.
Li Yuanjiao curled his lips, stood next to Li Yuanxiu, and stared at the people below. The people from Mount Yue knew that he was a descendant of the Mulu Family and given the way he had treated them, they all looked up to him in admiration.
"I''ve heard about your father''s incident... would you be willing to exin it to us again so that we can understand the whole story?" Li Yuanxiu asked leisurely as he took his seat, holding his cup of tea in his hand.
Shamoli trembled in his seat and quickly replied, "Yes... of course!"
He quickly narrated the events surrounding Mu Jiaoman''s death in detail, taking nearly half an hour to exin everything in great detail without leaving out anything. Only then did the surrounding people finally understand and begin whispering among themselves.
Li Yuanxiu waved his hand, his expression slightly shifting, disappointed at how foolish Shamoli was.
I specifically called everyone here to let him state the facts, yet this simpleton really justid it all t out, not even trying to smear some dirt on his older brother to give my Li Family a pretext to intervene! Truly a waste of my kindness...
Looking up at the others in the room, Li Yuanxiu softlymanded, "I''d like to speak privately with Shamoli. I''ll have to ask the elders to step out for now."
A few n elders frowned and were about to speak, but Li Yuanjiao hummed and stepped forward, staring them down. Knowing they had no choice, they left reluctantly. As the n elders left, the crowd quickly dispersed like the tide, leaving only the n soldiers behind and the two brothers Li Yuanxiu and Li Yuanjiao. Li Qiuyang stood beside Shamoli, preventing him from ambushing anyone.
Li Yuanxiu quickly left his seat and took Shamoli''s hand with a friendly gesture, smiling as he said, "Brother Shamoli, with the elders around earlier, Yuanxiu couldn''t speak freely. We are sort of rtives, so formality isn''t needed between us!"
Shamoli was stunned, not expecting Li Yuanxiu to be so approachable, stuttering without daring to speak. Li Yuanxiu then continued, "When your father was critically injured, Lord Qimu usurped the throne and against the former king''s wishes, he ughtered the other lords... truly an unfilial act! Since my Li Family has promised to protect Eastern Mount Yue, we can''t sit by and do nothing! Please rest assured."
These words left Shamoli dumbfounded. His mind went nk right away, doubting internally if he had failed to make the story clear. It was his father who passed the position to Qimu and personally ordered the execution of his other sons, but in Li Yuanxiu''s mouth, the story changedpletely...
Shamoli looked at Li Yuanxiu''s smiling face, and a spark of realization shed through his mind instantly. A trembling surge of desire that he had long suppressed, thinking the throne was beyond his reach, suddenly made him shiver with both joy and horror.
He immediately replied with great eagerness.
"Yes... Yes! Lord Qimu took advantage of the king''s critical injuries to usurp the throne and then, against the king''s wishes, ughtered many lords..."
Li Yuanxiu was relieved to see this simpleton finally grasp the situation and sighed in relief as if a burden had been lifted off his chest.
"Your father could also be considered Brother Jiao''s uncle, and this offense is an affront to the Li Family as well. You should enjoy your stay at the foot of the mountain for now and take in the scenery of the East, which is quite different from Mount Yue. I will report this to the elders and thene find you," he said with a smile.
Shamoli''s mind was aze with visions of returning to Mount Yue to reim his throne.
He nodded in agreement before snapping back to reality, fervently saying, "I cannot possibly repay the great kindness of the esteemed Li Family! I am willing to pave the way for the Li Family, to guard the West for the Li Family, and to pay tribute annually!"
Li Yuanxiu waved his hand, speechless at how off-point Shamoli was, thinking to himself.
Guarding the West and paying annual tribute... how is that any different from how it is practiced now..? Shamoli really can''t get to the point, showing no sensitivity to the situation at all!
After such thoughts, Li Yuanxiu nodded and left the courtyard to go up the mountain, leaving Shamoli and Li Yuanjiao to stare at each other.
Shamoli was still lost in his daydreams when Li Yuanjiao nced at him and patted the shoulder of his distant rtive, whispering in his ear, "Our Eastern beauties and music are the most renowned... Cousin might as well go have a look."
"Ah..! Sure..." Shamoli mumbled as he left the courtyard in a daze.
Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao nodded to Li Qiuyang, whispering to him, "I''ll leave the rest up to you, n Uncle. Please select some singers and dancers carefully, we must ensure Shamoli leaves behind a few offspring who stay in the town to study. Only by achieving this can we truly hold Mount Yue in our grasp."
"I understand."
Li Qiuyang nodded and cupped his fist before leaving, not showing any disrespect to Li Yuanjiao just because he was younger.
Chapter 174: Scheming Against Mount Yue
Chapter 174: Scheming Against Mount Yue
Li Yuanxiu stepped onto the mountain along the stone path, finding the courtyard quiet and serene. Most of the elders were secluded in cultivation, only Li Xuanling was in the garden, holding a tea bowl in one hand and a white jade slip titled River Crossing Torrential Step in the other
Noticing Li Yuanxiu''s joyful entrance, he softly inquired, "What brings you such joy?"
"Eastern Mount Yue was attacked by a demon beast, Mu Jiaoman died a sudden death, and his son, Shamoli, has sought refuge with our family... He''s waiting at the foot of the mountain as we speak," Li Yuanxiu exined as he shared the news, to which Li Xuanling promptly ced down his tea bowl with a nod.
"Good news indeed!" he remarked, beaming.
Observing Li Yuanxiu''s eager look, Li Xuanling then asked, "You seem to have some ns in mind..?"
"Exactly!"
Li Yuanxiu cupped his fist and nodded eagerly, having clearly thought through his strategy.
He proposed, "With Shamoli in our grasp, our natural course is to support him as the leader of Eastern Mount Yue. However, this is quite aplex matter. While we hold Shamoli, we mustn''t underestimate Mount Wu. It''s prudent to gather intelligence before making any decisive moves."
"Well said," Li Xuanling nodded with a serious expression on his face. He then inquired, "What kind of person is Shamoli?"
"I''ve met him before. He appears naive and simple-minded... Even so, we must be wary of him, in case he''s putting up a facade for our family to see. For now, we''ll entertain him with singers and dancers to probe his intentions. Ideally, he''ll father a few children here," Li Yuanxiu exined.
"Oh?" Li Xuanling pondered after a pause, "He''s not a Qi Cultivator yet, is he..?"
"No," Li Yuanxiu met Li Xuanling''s gaze, both having the same thought in mind.
Li Yuanxiu then suggested, "We have a copy of Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique. Once he has offspring here, we can bind him with a spiritual oath and grant him this technique without telling him about its side effect of infertility. Grateful as he might be, once he returns to Eastern Mount Yue, regardless of his future ambitions, he''ll have no descendants! Inevitably, we''ll have to send a king''s heir we''ve raised, thus keeping everything within our control."
Li Xuanling nodded in agreement, picking up where Li Yuanxiu left off, speaking softly, "We need not refine an entire portion of Profound Yin Thunder Liquid. Just extract ten to twenty percent of it and mix it into various unrefined qi for his cultivation will suffice... Even if the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique is potent, what could possiblye of cultivating with such unrefined qi? Once he attains the Qi Cultivation Realm, he''ll only be mediocre at best, preventing him from bing too powerful and slipping out of our control with a Grade Three technique!"
Li Yuanxiu nodded vigorously, his thoughts in sync with Li Xuanling. It took them just a few words to each other to concoct a plot tightly ensnaring Shamoli.
Li Xuanling chuckled, then said seriously, "Though we''ve made this n, I still need to discuss it with your father to keep him informed. He''s privy to many secrets, and we might as well inquire about Mount Wu."
Li Yuanxiu cupped his fist and replied, "Then I shall proceed with making arrangements. Shamoli shows a particr fondness for Brother Jiao, so his involvement will be crucial in this matter."
"I trust that you''ll do a good job," Li Xuanling encouraged with a satisfied smile. After a moment of thought, he then patted his storage pouch and pulled out several jade boxes.
"These contain spirit fruits of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, mostly gifts from other families. They''re good for improving cultivation progress. Our family doesn''t have any recipes to make them into pills, but direct consumption can lead to a shaky foundation, thusplicating future cultivation. Therefore, they''ve remained unused and are losing spiritual qi to the extent of nearly bing ordinary fruits now," he exined.
"Take these spirit fruits and offer them to Shamoli when the time is right to elerate his cultivation progress, ensuring his progress matches our pace. It''ll be good to elevate him to the Qi Cultivation Realm as soon as possible so we can put him to good use," he instructed.
"Got it!"
Li Yuanxiu took the jade boxes and said respectfully, "Uncle''s ns never cease to amaze! Xiu''er will get everything done."
Watching him leave the courtyard, Li Xuanling mulled over the entire n once more before heading to Mount Meiche to find Li Tongya.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Mu Jiaoman died a sudden death..?" Li Tongya muttered as he ced down the jade slip just as Li Xuanling finished recounting the turmoil in Mount Yue. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
Mu Jiaoman had ways tomunicate with Mount Wu. Logically, he could have enlisted the help of Qi Cultivators from Mount Wu by offering something in return. It''s puzzling why he''d just let himself be killed by a demon beast...
After pondering for a moment, Li Tongya recalled Xiao Yuansi''s mention of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from Mount Yue nearing the end of his lifespan.
Given Mount Yue''s history, this Purple Mansion Realm cultivator likely had the highest seniority among them and hence most respected, living nearly six hundred years through several extensions of life via secret methods.
"The figure from Mount Wu is probably attempting to break through to the Golden Core Realm. With the Xiao Family also at a critical juncture, it''s best to send a letter to inform them and to inquire about the specifics. This will allow us to gauge Mount Wu''s current hold over Mount Yue," Li Tongya suggested.
"Get Donghe here," he instructed.
Li Xuanling nodded and left. Li Tongya picked up a jade slip but after a brief consideration, opted instead for a sheet of cheaper spirit cloth to write a concise letter.
After sealing the letter, he resumed reading the jade slip.
Chen Donghe had attained the Qi Cultivation Realm for over four years now and was currently in the early stages of the second heavenlyyer. He consumed proper Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth for his Qi Cultivation and practiced with an authentic technique, thus possessing a pure true essence.
He approached respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior!"
Li Tongya waved his hand, then handed the letter to him and said, "Please take a trip to the prefecture and deliver this letter directly to Senior Xiao Yuansi of the Xiao Family. If he can write a reply immediately, then bring it back with you."
"Understood!" Chen Donghe cupped his fist and took his leave, riding the wind out of the cave dwelling.
Li Tongya turned back to look at Li Xuanling standing beside him and quietly asked, "Have you managed to condense the Nascent Spirit Chakra?"
"Yes, Father! I just broke throughst month."
Li Tongya scanned his son with his spiritual sense and nodded approvingly. "You are twenty-five this year. This pace is just right, no need to rush. With a few more years of diligent practice, you should be able to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm before turning thirty."
"I will keep your advice in mind," Li Xuanling replied respectfully and then shared the n that he and Li Yuanxiu came up with.
Li Tongya listened impassively and responded, "Yuanxiu is thoughtful! Eastern Mount Yue sends not only many spirit items but also arge quantity of food and materials to the east every year, which are crucial for the livelihood of over a hundred thousand people under our Li Family''s rule. This also indirectly affects the abundance of offerings for next year''s sacrificial ritual. If Mount Wu is indeed preupied, we can boldly take further control of Eastern Mount Yue!"
"I understand. But what if that person from Mount Yue attains the Golden Core Realm..?" inquired Li Xuanling, forever a cautious person.
Li Tongya smiled and exined, "In the path of cultivation, it''s always best to break through as early as possible on a stable foundation. Those Purple Mansion Realm cultivators who wait until their lifespan is nearly over and force themselves to break through as their vitality wane, show that they''re uncertain about their breakthrough."
"I''ve also reviewed numerous historical records. After the war between immortals and devils, the Yue State was established, and some individuals broke through to the Golden Core Realm in that period. Later, when the Moonlight Origin Mansion withdrew from the world and the three sects and seven gates emerged, there has not been any cultivator breaking through to the Golden Core Realm since then¡ªlet alone those from Mount Yue."
Chapter 175: The Changing Situation (I)
Chapter 175: The Changing Situation (I)
Shamoli spent several months on the territory of the Easterners, finally understanding what true enjoyment meant. The sight of those veiled, graceful dancers nearly made his eyes pop out of their sockets.0
A few of the Li Family''s younger members took him to watch operas, hunt, taste wine, stroll through markets, and participate in cockfights and dog races. Every day was filled with delightful living.0
"Damn it, the folks in the west are really a bunch of fools!"0
Shamoli finally realized why those tribesmen from Mout Yue who returned from the east often looked down upon their western counterparts. Life in the east waspletely different, it was rxing andfortable. The only headache for Shamoli was theplex and sensitive political life in the east.0
Whenever Shamoli spoke, nine times out of ten, his words would offend someone, leading them to silence him with displeased faces. Unintentionally offending people became a routine until he learned to be cautious, choosing to stay quiet and just smiling happily unless absolutely necessary.0
"Young master!"0
When Shamoli came back to his senses, he saw someone approaching him. After a moment of recollection, he realized that this person was Li Yuanxiu''s half-brother, which in Shamoli''s view was akin to a royal family''s distant rtive.0
He quickly replied, "Greetings, brother!"0
The man was slightly taken aback, but since he was ustomed to Shamoli''s bluntness, he did not take it to heart. He smiled and asked, "Do you like these dancers?"0
"Yes! Of course, I like them," Shamoli immediately grinned. After spending a few days here, he figured out a pattern¡ªif he expressed his liking for something, nine times out of ten, it would be delivered to his room the next day.0
"The only downside is the strict rules of the Easterners. Unlike at home where you can just drag away anyone you fancy, here, you can only have these dancers..." Shamoli sighed in regret.0
Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open, and a young man in a ck robe entered. Upon seeing him, everyone else bowed their heads in silence while Shamoli''s eyes lit up. "Brother Jiao!" he called out warmly.0
Li Yuanjiao entered the room, nced around, and was pleased that the useless ones in the family could finally contribute. They got along well with Shamoli and had likely extracted a lot of information from him.0
Seeing Shamoli''s visibly flushed face from mild intoxication, Li Yuanjiao ced a jade box on the table in front of Shamoli, saying with a smile, "I got some spirit fruits recently and immediately thought of you, cousin. These are for you!"0
Shamoli was overjoyed, thinking to himself,Li Yuanjiao really is my pir in the Li Family. He has brought me several gifts these past months, each of them excellent spirit items!0
Shamoli expressed his gratitude as he took the jade box, pondering over how much he could fetch for such a spirit fruit. Naturally, Li Yuanjiao was well aware of his thoughts. He knew Shamoli''s daily activities like the back of his hand.0
Li Yuanjiao then reminded him, "Cousin, I hope you still remember the great endeavor of reiming your throne!"0
"Of course I remember!" Shamoli''s already red face turned a shade deeper. During his first few days in the town, he remained focused on his endeavor of reiming the throne thanks to Li Yuanxiu''s constant reminders. Buttely, he had almost pushed the matter to the back of his mind, engrossed in daily pleasures.0
"I must speak frankly, cousin. If you can''t even attain the Qi Cultivation Realm, you won''t be able to stay on the throne even if our family managed to ce you there... You need to remember this clearly!"0
This warning stunned Shamoli, sending a shiver down his spine, cursing himself internally for even considering selling the fruit.0
Gratefully, he said, "Thank you for the reminder. I''m extremely grateful! After arriving here, I''ve already broken through to the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. I will definitely focus on my cultivation from now on and break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm as soon as possible!"0
Li Yuanjiao nodded and left, leaving Shamoli in the courtyard, his gaze still fixated on the dancers. Meanwhile, everyone else was looking at him.0
Shamoli looked in the direction Li Yuanjiao had gone, then cleared his throat and said, "Continue dancing, tonight will be thest... I-I''ll start cultivating tomorrow!"0
Li Qiuyang, standing at the side with a sword, remained silent. Assigned to protect Shamoli, he had been by his side day and night and hade to understand the nature of this young man quite well. He sighed quietly, thinking to himself,The lineage of the Mulu n is decent. Although this guy is just a self-indulgent scion, he still managed to reach the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in his twenties! How unfair¡0
Touching his graying sideburns, Li Qiuyang realized that he was already forty-five years old. Yet, he had only just condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and attained the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. A wave of sorrow washed over him.0
My cultivation speed has been declining day by day. After sixty, cultivators of both the Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm will see a drop in their blood qi. I wonder if I''ll ever break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm in this lifetime, to fly with my qi and roam the heavens and earth¡0
I started on the path of immortality at eight and seized every moment to cultivate diligently¡ I''ve never squandered my time away outside frompleting the tasks required by my family. Yet, I might end up dying just like any other mortal, while this self-indulgent scion who spends his nights in revelry, is on the verge of reaching Qi Cultivation Realm... Life is really unfair.1
Hiding in the shadows, Li Qiuyang looked increasingly aged, harboring a barely suppressible longing.0
Uncle Tongya has watched me grow up since I was a child and naturally harbors a bit of affection for me as a younger family member¡ If I ask him for a pill, perhaps I still have a chance to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm in this lifetime..?"0
Li Qiuyang, lost in thought, could not help but let a wistful smile cross his face, only to abruptly quell his longing. He scolded himself internally.0
With all these talented juniors emerging in the family, not to mention Yuanxiu and Yuanjiao, even Qinghong is making rapid progress. How could I justify wasting precious pills on an old man like me?0
Li Qiuyang bit back his impulse, resigning himself to silence, observing Shamoli without uttering a word. This middle-aged man had dedicated most of his life to the family''s cause but yet¡ in the end, he refrained from asking for a single pill from the family.6
"Hahahahaha, how charming!"0
Shamoli''sughter echoed in the courtyard, the dim light reflecting off Li Qiuyang''s gray hair, highlighting his age even more. He seemed out of ce amidst thevish scene. Like a statue, he silently watched over Shamoli as instructed by his family.2N?v(el)B\\jnn
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª0
"Senior, the Xiao Family has received the letter and asked me to bring back their reply, expressing their thanks."0
Chen Donghe knocked on the door of the cave dwelling, presenting a jade slip to Li Tongya. He epted it and scanned it with his spiritual sense.0
Xiao Yuansi''s warm voice filled his mind.0
Having received Brother Tongya''s message today, our ancestor has already made a trip into the territory of Mount Yue. With Mount Wu sealed off and left unable to attend to other matters, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of Mount Yue is preparing for a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm within the next six to seven years, during which signs will surely appear in the heavens and earth.0
Within the sect, I''ve also learned that all twelve disciples of Mount Wu are Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators who have already made deals with the three sects and seven gates. Once this Purple Mansion Realm dies, Mount Wu will cease to exist, with its Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators each leading people to join the three sects and seven gates.0
It''s possible that three or four of them will remain within Mount Yue to establish their own sects or families under Azure Pond''s governance. If your n has any ambitions, you must act swiftly after that person''s death to take advantage of such an opportunity. Once the situation stabilizes and Mount Yue''s Foundation Establishment Realm has divided the territory and established rtions with the sect, any further plots will be difficult!
Chapter 176: The Changing Situation (II)
Chapter 176: The Changing Situation (II)
After reading the jade slip, Li Tongya pondered for a while, formting a n in his mind. After a while, he turned and instructed Chen Donghe, "Get Xuanling here."0
Li Xuanling, already waiting at the entrance, entered upon hearing the call.0
Chen Donghe excused himself and Li Tongya whispered softly to him, "Read this jade slip."0
After Xuanling read it, he lowered his head in thought, then heard Li Tongya say, "With Mount Wu about to vanish, the west will see the rise of several Foundation Establishment Realm families under Azure Pond''s governance. Our Li Family can seize this opportunity amidst the turmoil to take over Eastern Mount Yue."0
Li Xuanling nodded in agreement, then listened as Li Tongya dered solemnly, "Help Shamoli attain the Qi Cultivation Realm swiftly. As Mount Wu remains sealed, we shall assist Shamoli ascend the throne under the guise of minor upheaval and secretly gain control over Eastern Mount Yue. Once Mount Yue''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator dies, we''ll immediately im Eastern Mount Yue for our Li Family using the Azure Pond Sect''s name. Those Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators from Mount Yue, having just lost their backing, won''t dare to act rashly!"0
"I understand," Li Xuanling replied in a respectful tone, pondering for a moment before speaking softly, "When those Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators have divided their territories and be part of Azure Pond Sect, they will learn of the Sword Immortal''s fame and would not dare to oppose our family. It''s likely they will even seek to ingratiate themselves with us like the Yu Family. If handled properly, our Li Family can gain the territory of Eastern Mountain Yue without any effort!"0
"Correct!" Li Tongya nodded, then proceeded to give him his next instructions.0
"There are still a few years left, take a Snake Essence Pill with you, and feed Shamoli with them until he reaches the Qi Cultivation Realm."0
Nurturing Shamoli to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm within six years was somewhat challenging, but not impossible. After all, it only required breaking through two stages, unlike normal cultivation which required steady progress step by step. They could just invest in him with Spirit Stones and spirit fruits without caring about the stability of his foundation. Besides, the consumption of unrefined qi was easier than proper spiritual qi from the environment. However, this also meant that his cultivation progress would suffer in the future, forever unable to attain the Foundation Establishment Realm.0
"I''ll make sure it happens!" Li Xuanling replied, ready to leave when Li Tongya suddenly stopped him, asking, "Who is currently looking after Shamoli?"0
"It''s Brother Qiuyang, Father," Li Xuanling answered.0
Li Tongya calcted the time, saying gravely, "Li Qiuyang should be around forty-five by now, and I heard he had just recently broken through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... Shamoli is an outsider after all. Although these spirit items are for acquiring the territory of Eastern Mountain Yue, we can''t explicitly say so. Qiuyang has never requested anything from the family aside from the usual allowance of Spirit Paddies and Spirit Stones over the years. I fear he might perceive this situation as unfair... Call him over."4
Li Xuanling quickly nodded and left. Not long after, there was a gentle knock at the stone door of the cave, and Li Qiuyang''s respectful voice came from outside the door.0
"Greetings from Li Qiuyang, n Uncle!"0
"Come in."0
Li Tongya put down the jade slip he was holding, nced at the white hair at Li Qiuyang''s sideburns, and said warmly, "In my memory, you''re still that little boy on the tform, getting tested for a spiritual orifice. Time really flies, and in the blink of an eye, you have your ownrge family and have be one of the elders! Your diligent and earnest effort over the years has not gone unnoticed by me."0
Li Qiuyang slightly bowed his head, his eyes moist. He then replied apprehensively, "If not for the family, I would just be an old farmer tending the fields today¡ I am grateful for the family''s kindness and dare not be negligent."1
Li Tongya nodded approvingly, flipping his hand to reveal a small brocade pouch. His expression turned warm.0
"You''re a cultivator at the Jade Capital Stage now, yet you don''t even have a storage pouch. This is an old one that I used in my youth. It doesn''t have a veryrge capacity, but you can use it for now."0
"Absolutely not!" Li Qiuyang was shocked, knowing the storage pouch was worth a dozen or two Spirit Stones, far beyond what he could afford.0
His usual allowance went to cultivation, and he could not even produce half a Spirit Stone from his pockets. He repeatedly protested, "I can''t possibly ept this!"0
Li Tongya waved his hand dismissively and tied the brocade pouch around Li Qiuyang''s waist. He pped his own storage pouch and took out a small jade bottle.0
"This is a Snake Essence Pill, refined by our family. Take it for now. If you can''t break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm,e back up the mountain to find me," he said softly.0
Li Qiuyang was stunned, his eyes reddening but he found himself unable to refuse such a tempting offer that could potentially let him live for another hundred years.0
He stammered in gratitude, "Thank you¡ for this kindness that I do not deserve!"0
Li Tongya said sternly, "Nonsense! You deserve this more than the younger generations in the family! Over the past thirty years, you have taken care of our spirit fields, guarded the mine, and eliminated demon beasts. There''s no one more dedicated in our family than you!"4
Tears welled up in Li Qiuyang''s eyes as he continuously thanked him. Li Tongyaforted him with kind words before sending him off from the cave dwelling.0
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª0
Meanwhile in An Residence on Mount Huazhong¡0
An Jingming stopped in front of the grand and luxurious hall. Today, his father, An Zheyan, was again feasting in the hall. This hall began construction the day An Zheyan became the family head and waspleted on the day of An Jingming''s birth. However¡underneath its splendory the bones of countless craftsmen.0
An Jingming sighed softly, his eyes filled with confusion which quickly turned to anger as he looked at the lively scene.0
With the Yu Family in the north coveting ournds, the Li Family in the south rising like the sun, and even the Ding Family we brought here growing ambitiously bold, our family still feels no sense of crisis and indulges in luxury!1
An Jingming strode forward angrily, only to encounter several mortals bowing their heads as they passed, carrying arge basket dripping with blood. The fear on their faces was palpable, and they dared not meet his gaze.0
"What''s going on?!" An Jingming roared as he blocked their path, his voice cold. The mortals had no choice but to drop the basket and kneel, revealing several fingers that rolled out toward An Jingming''s feet.0
"The... the bear paw the Family Head ate today..."0
An Jingming closed his eyes, already understanding the situation. An Zheyan was not lustful or greedy, but had an insatiable appetite and was brutally cruel. Any dissatisfaction with the cooks'' work led to executions; a poorly stewed bear paw resulted in chopping off the chef''s fingers, and an undercooked pork shoulder meant cutting off the chef''s legs. Daily, cries could be heard from the mountain hall.0
"Never mind, I get it already."0
An Jingming shook his head, feeling powerless as he could reprimand anyone in the family except his father.0
Stepping into the grand hall, he found An Zheyan drinking with a stern face but smiling upon seeing An Jingming. He called out to him, "My family''s pride and hope has arrived!"0N?v(el)B\\jnn
"Father," An Jingming greeted him respectfully and then said, "I have something to tell you."0
"What is it?" An Zheyan frowned, distracted by the stewed bear paw, not expecting An Jingming to solemnly say, "The day of our death and the annihtion of the An family is imminent!"
Chapter 177: Father and Son of the An Family (I)
Chapter 177: Father and Son of the An Family (I)
At the head of the table, An Zheyan was toying with a piece of bear paw on his te. Hearing these words, he raised his eyebrows and pushed up the leather hat on his head. His expression immediately shifted, now marked by fleshy folds as he visibly tensed. He said sternly, "What do you mean by that?"
An Zheyan''s tone was rtively gentle, devoid of any reproach, indicating that An Jingming truly was the apple of his eye. Any other n member who dared to utter such words would have been executed on the spot; only from An Jingming''s mouth would these words prompt An Zheyan to take him seriously.
"The Yu Family acts tyrannically, full of ambition, while the Li Family is reserved and quietly ruthless. Our An Family is caught in between, struggling to look after both ends. Father, aren''t you afraid?"
Standing in the courtyard, with the sunlight reflecting off the gold bracelets on his wrists, the young An Jingming stood tall against the wind, staring directly at his father at the head of the table.
"Well..." An Zheyan was at a loss for words for a moment before saying, "Haven''t I already followed your advice by drawing the Ding Family to Moongaze Lake, maintaining a tripartite bnce? The Yu Family has also promised not to attack the families that pay tribute... If the Li Family ever invades from the north, the Yu Family will surely not stand idly by and watch them expand... there''s nothing to fear then. You just need to focus on your cultivation. Once you''ve reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, our family will have a ce on theke. Wouldn''t that be wonderful?"
An Jingming clenched his teeth and shook his head, unable to muster anger at the sight of his father''s contented face. He swung his sleeves and said softly, "Father! What makes you think the Yu Family will just sit idly by and watch me attain Foundation Establishment Realm? I dare not even leave our family''s grand formation now. As I slowly increase my cultivation year by year, the Yu Family will eventually be impatient and will surely find an excuse to kill me!"
An Zheyan was momentarily stunned, his mouth moved but no words came out. Unable to formte a rebuttal, he could only ask, "What do you suggest then?"
Clearing his throat, An Jingming said in a voice still tinged with youthful timbre, "Our family''s awkward position is due to its poor geographical location... caught between the Li and Yu families. The best strategy now is to sell Mount Huazhong to the Li Family, letting them face the pressure from the Yu Family directly. The two families could sign a pact, in turn, making the Yu Family feel the threat of the Li Family''s rise."
An Jingming continued toy out his ns, "I''ve heard that Li Tongya has reached the eighth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm, which could draw the Yu Family''s attention. The two families supporting each other from east to west, I could marry a girl from the Li Family, leveraging the might of the Sword Immortal to deter the Yu Family. Once I''ve reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and if Li Tongya seeds in his breakthrough, we could support the Li Family against the Yu Family... If Li Tongya fails, then we could lead both families, with each party getting what they need."
As An Jingming was still speaking, An Zheyan''s lips trembled, and hisplexion turned unsightly. He interrupted his son, mming his silver chopsticks down.
"No, absolutely not! Do you know how many spirit fields are on Mount Huazhong, feeding how many of our n members?! We fought tooth and nail to get it; how can we just hand it over to the Li Family!"
An Jingming sighed lightly, realizing that An Zheyan''s character would never allow for the ceding of Mount Huazhong. Thus, he solemnly suggested, "Since Father is reluctant to give up Mount Huazhong, I have another n. The key to the Li Family is Li Tongya...He is extremely cautious, fully focused on cultivating in seclusion in the south, and difficult to remove. However, if we can ally with the Yu Family against Li Xuanling and Li Xuanfeng, eliminating one of them, could Li Tongya still remain indifferent?"
Continuing, An Jingming said, "With the Yu Family currently favorably inclined toward us, there are opportunities to be utilized. Yu Mugao is a dark and ruthless man, difficult to deal with. If we can unite with other families to assassinate Yu Mugao, the threat of the Yu Family can be significantly reduced."
An Zheyan was confused, seeing him aim to kill Yu Mugao on one hand and remove Li Xuanling and Li Xuanfeng on the other. He was unable to follow his son''s ambitious line of thought. He murmured, "So, does our An Family side with the Yu Family or the Li Family?"
"Both sides!" An Jingming softly chuckled, lifting his head slightly as he dered, "As the Yu and Li families harbor mutual suspicions, our An Family has the opportunity to sow discord and navigate both sides. Regardless of who dies, or if both sides suffer no casualties, it''s as good as setting a feud between the Yu and Li families."
An Zheyan, somewhat moved by this, pondered for a moment before hesitantly saying, "But... neither side is foolish. How could they simply act as you suggest?"
"Don''t worry, Father," An Jingming assured, "It is precisely because neither side is foolish and they are wary of each other... Fear leads to murderous intentions. The conflict between the two families is inevitable, and we are merely a catalyst. Father just needs to follow the script I''ve taught you, ensuring that both families betray each other, resulting in mutual destruction."
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In the estate at the foot of the mountain in Lijing Town, Mu Yalu paced around the courtyard before taking a seat on a stone bench. A servant hurriedly served her tea.
Since it was discovered that Li Yuanjiao had spiritual orifice and extraordinary talent, Mu Yalu''s days in the main courtyard had significantly improved.
Previously, Li Xuanxuan rarely visited her courtyard and Mu Yalu always tried to keep a low profile, minimizing her presence. Once Li Yuanjiao started spending more time on the mountain, Mu Yalu instantly became one of the most significant figures in the courtyard.
"Madam, this tea was sent over by the main family yesterday. This month, they''ve sent gifts to the courtyard three times already," whispered a servant girl beside her.
This woman, a descendant of the Mount Yue refugees who had assimtedpletely with the Easterners, was brought into the courtyard personally by Mu Yalu and was deeply trusted by her.
Upon hearing this, Mu Yalu nodded slightly, and the servant girl added softly, "Since Young Master Xiu and Jiao''er get along well, the first madam has always been displeased. But in recent years, ever since Jiao''er was found to have spiritual orifice, she has started to curry favor..."
Mu Yalu gestured for her to stop talking and said quietly, "The first madam is crafty. Over the years, she has managed the concubines in the family well, and Xiu''er has been well-taught; he''s capable of managing a household and is no ordinary person. She sees Jiao''er as Yuanxiu''s future right-hand man, hence naturally wanting to maintain a good rtionship with me..."
Setting her small teacup on the table, Mu Yalu softly inquired, "Have you found out about the matter I asked you to investigate?"
"Yes Madam, the man''s name is Shamoli¡ªthe fourth son of Mu Jiaoman. He is now residing on the eastern side of the town," the servant girl replied obediently.
Mu Yalu smiled, her eyes slightly crinkling as she spoke gently, "What a godsent opportunity! In the future, Mount Yue will be even closer to the Li Family, and when Jiao''er grows up, he can also receive some support from the Mulu n."
Although the servant girl did not understand why Mu Yalu considered it a godsend opportunity, she felt happy seeing her madam so delighted. However, their conversation was interrupted by a gentle knock on the door.
Chapter 178: Father and Son of the An Family (II)
Chapter 178: Father and Son of the An Family (II)
"Mother, I''ve returned!"
Li Yuanjiao''s cheerful voice came from outside the door.
"It''s the young master!" the servant girl eximed happily as Mu Yalu quickly stood up and walked to the door, gently pushing it open to see Li Yuanjiao standing there with a beaming smile.
"Jiao''er!"
Mu Yalu stepped forward to embrace him, softly asking, "Are you ustomed to living on the mountain this year?"
"It''s been all right! My siblings have all been quite nice to me," Li Yuanjiao chuckled and swiftly entered the courtyard to sit beside the stone table, taking the teacup in his hands. He quietly asked, "Has Father been in seclusion on the mountain this year? Has anyone troubled you at home?"
"Not at all," Mu Yalu replied with a soft voice, refilling his cup with water.
Li Yuanjiao sighed in relief as he continued, "Stepmother has been quite kind to you. There haven''t been any petty schemes in the family, which has really eased my mind. At least Brother and I won''t have to worry about it!"
As Mu Yalu nodded and smiled, Li Yuanjiao paused before seriously adding, "I''ve been dealing with affairs in the n Affairs Courtyard with brother these past few days and learned quite a lot."
Mu Yalu raised an eyebrow at him, observing as Li Yuanjiao put down his teacup. He then whispered, "Mother, have you sent someone to inquire about Shamoli''s news?"
Mu Yalu was momentarily shocked, nodding with a hint of unease before she responded meekly, "Yes..."
Li Yuanjiao shook his head, advising, "Mother, given your sensitive status, it''s better to have someone ask me these things directly on the mountain. In the future, avoid inquiring yourself. Li Family''s territory is not like Eastern Mount Yue; the n Affairs Courtyard has many eyes and ears around. I''m afraid you might inadvertently give them something to hold against you, Mother..."
Mu Yalu was instantly rmed and anxious, her voice filled with concern as she asked, "Could this lead to any consequences?! Has Mother caused you trouble?"
"It''s nothing serious," Li Yuanjiao reassured, taking a sip of his tea and smiling. "It''s not a big deal. Besides, Brother gave me that secret letter to handle myself. I just wanted to remind Mother," he continued with a small grin.
"That''s a relief."
Mu Yalu sighed softly. After a brief exchange, she had the servant girl leave and then softly asked, "Does... Lord Yuanxiu treat you the same as before?"
"Yes," Li Yuanjiao''s voice lowered in response, "In our family, where only my brother from the direct lineage can cultivate and with the family being sparse in numbers¡ªregardless of legitimacy or gender¡ªall descendants with spiritual orifices are treated equally. I haven''t faced any mistreatment; on the contrary, I''ve received tremendous benefits!"
"That''s very good," Mu Yalu visibly rxed, only for Li Yuanjiao to continue, "I''ve heard that the family is considering adopting me into fourth granduncle''s line, who is solely focused on his cultivation in the southern border without any interest in taking a wife for himself. I came today to get your opinion on this matter..."
"What?!" Mu Yalu was stunned, feeling as though fortune had suddenly smiled upon her. She asked hesitantly, "You''re talking about... the Qingsui Sword Immortal?"
"Yes."
Li Yuanjiao was quite shocked himself when Li Xuanling confided in him about this intention. Observing his mother''s disbelief, he softly added, "Father... He has agreed to it. If you are fine with it, I''ll be the direct descendant of the fourth lineage, which will be greatly beneficial in the future."
"Good."
Mu Yalu nodded as she heard this, her primary concern always being her son''s well-being, thus agreeing without hesitation. After pondering for a moment, she whispered, "That way, you couldpete with Yuanxiu for the position of the young n head..."
"Mother, you must not speak nonsense!" Li Yuanjiao shook his head firmly, stating, "I respect my brother the most. The position of the young n head can only be his. In this life, I only wish to support him well¡ªwith no other intentions."
"That''s fine too," Mu Yalu replied with a smile, thinking about how to convey these exact words to the main household.
"However, regarding Shamoli, he''s quite the pleasure-seeker..."
The mother and son discussed further regarding the neer, with Li Yuanjiao detailing Shamoli''s personality.
"Not everyone can be adept at human rtions. The Li Family is only kind to its own and those under its rule. Shamoli, falling into you and your brother''s hands, is rather unfortunate!" Mu Yaluughed.
"What''s there to pity about him when he''s being handed a throne on a silver tter?" Li Yuanjiao dismissed,ughing heartily.
Mu Yalu watched him with a joyful eye, from Li Xuanxuan to Li Yuanxiu, she realized that both were not at all simple-minded men.
She thought to herself, Every one of the Li Family is cunning and bad, focusing outward for now... By the sixth or eighth generation, when kinship thins, internal strife will surely happen. Fortunately, my son was born early and is thus spared from having topete with simrly shrewd characters.
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Atop Mount Lijing, Li Tongya stepped through the air, his figure shifting like a phantom. Around him, several reflections that looked like water gleamed, floating around his figure for a moment before dissipating with a soft ssh.
"I''ve finally mastered the River Crossing Torrential Step! Now, I have an addedyer of protection against enemies... Unless facing against a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, I can escape with ease even if I can''t win," Li Tongya mumbled to himself gleefully.
The River Crossing Torrential Step had three stages. The initial stage was not too challenging, but it became significantly more difficult with progression. It took Li Tongya seven to eight years just to master the first stage.
Li Tongya''s practice of the River One Qi Technique from Lingyu Gate, a foundational technique that shared origins with this footwork technique, should have sped up his training.
However, these past few years, his focus was on cultivation, aiming to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm before sixty. Thus, this footwork technique was only revisited during cultivation bottlenecks, taking him seven to eight years to master what should have taken three to four.
Only Li Xuanling from within the family showed a natural aptitude for this technique, mastering it early on. No other n members were known to have seeded.
"It''s unbelievable that among the vast Li Family, no one could master the Pill me Secret Art and produce a Pill me..."
Li Tongya thought again. Among the members of the Xiao Family, farrger than the Li Family, only Xiao Chuting and Xiao Yuansi could conjure the Pill me. This put things into perspective for him.
"No wonder Yu Muxian of the Azure Pond Sect is so valued by the Yu Family... I''m guessing there are also certain conditions to meet before one can refine artifacts."
Just as Li Tongya settled on the mountainside, a voice transmission entered the formation, echoing in the cave dwelling.
"An Zheyan from the An Family is here to visit. Please open the formation, Brother Tongya!"
"An Zheyan..?"
Li Tongya paused momentarily. He had little interaction with this individual, having only divided the Lu Family''s assets in tacit agreement. He wondered about the purpose of today''s visit.
After opening the formation, Li Tongya sat for a moment. Soon, Li Xuanling led An Zheyan inside. Li Tongya nced at him and courteously said, "Greetings, Brother Zheyan."
"No need for formality, Brother Tongya!" An Zheyan grinned, returning the greeting. His bald head was now adorned with a gray-white leather hat that made him look less like a butcher from the secr world, but more like a wealthyndlord.
"Word has it that Brother Tongya has broken through to the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Truly remarkable!"
An Zheyan, taking the offered tea, smiled. It had been decades since theirst meeting. Back then, their cultivation realms wereparable, but now An Zheyan was at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm while Li Tongya had already reached the eighth.
"You''re ttering me, Brother Zheyan..." Li Tongya replied with a shallow smile. He decided to cut to the chase.
"What brings Brother Zheyan here today?"
Chapter 179: External Cultivator (I)
Chapter 179: External Cultivator (I)
An Zheyan cupped his fist, then answered in a calm tone.
"To kill Yu Mugao."
"Hmm." Li Tongya chuckled inwardly, maintaining a slight smile on his face. He then softly said, "If Brother Zheyan hase for this matter, then please leave."
"Ling''er, please see the guest out," Li Tongya called out. Right away, Li Xuanling, who had been silently standing in the corner, stepped forward.
An Zheyan hurriedly waved his hand, hastily saying, "Brother Tongya, please hear me out!"
Since Li Tongya did not n to dismiss him so unceremoniously, he turned his head at his plea.
An Zheyan quickly continued, "Brother Tongya! Although your family is protected by a Sword Immortal and no one dares to look down upon it, the Yu Family has long harbored intentions to sweep across Moongaze Lake... Even if they dare not openly annex your family, they will certainly not refrain from acting in the shadows! Yu Mugao wouldn''t dare target Brother Tongya directly, but it''s entirely possible for him to hire a few foreign cultivators, rogue cultivators, and outer sect disciples to secretly assassinate your n''s disciples! They''ll only be at ease when all your family''s promising juniors meet untimely ends."
"Though the Sword Immortal''s cultivation is profound, he is far in the southern border. The Yu Family also has backing within the sect... As long as they leave no evidence, the Qingsui Sword Immortal can''t possibly cross thousands of li to act for one or two mysteriously deceased juniors."
An Zheyanid out these points bluntly, causing Li Tongya to frown deeply.
"Brother Zheyan seems to know quite a bit about the Yu Family," he remarked with a grave tone.
Rather than persuading Li Tongya, An Zheyan''s words only raised more suspicions in his mind. Living as neighbors for so many years, both sides had their spies in each other''s territories, and Li Tongya was somewhat aware of An Zheyan''s actions.
Yu Mugao is indeed ruthless enough to do such a thing, but An Zheyan has always been selfish and stingy, not someone who typically thinks in such grand terms... Why is he suddenly speaking like this today?
Seeing Li Tongya silent, An Zheyan thought he had swayed him and pressed on. "Even if one does not provoke the tiger, the tiger may still harbor the intent to harm. Although your family resides peacefully on itsnd, if the Yu Family wishes to monopolize the Moongaze Lake, they will inevitably need to suppress your family. Unable to find a way to deal with Brother Tongya directly, they will certainly plot against the younger generation in your family."
Li Tongya shook his head, finding an excuse to reply in a stern voice, "Both Yu Mugao and Yu Mujian are of good talent. Not to mention Yu Xiaogui who is at the Foundation Establishment Realm, several members of their generation of Xiao are also at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm. There is no need for them to fear my Li Family. I will say it again, Brother Zheyan, if you havee for this matter, there''s no need to speak further. Please leave."
An Zheyan, seeing that Li Tongya was indeed unmoved, did not panic but spoke softly, "Every word I''ve spoken is true, and Brother Tongya knows it. If your family doesn''t believe me, just wait a few more years, and you will understand the value of my warning."
After cupping his fist, he rode the wind away, leaving Li Tongya standing there for a while. Li Xuanling approached hesitantly, whispering, "I find his words quite reasonable; we should be cautious."
Li Tongya, with a furrowed brow, sat back down. He was feeling increasingly uneasy. After pondering for a moment, he responded, "Those words aren''t something An Zheyan woulde up with on his own... This must be An Jingming''s idea."
He then recalled Yu Mugao''s character and thought about the close rtionship between the An and Yu families. Li Tongya felt somewhat troubled and spoke after some time, his voice soft.
"Given Yu Mugao''s nature, he would indeed do such a thing... I''m sure he''ll target not only our family. An Jingming must also be on his mind, hence An Zheyan is rushing to find someone to deal with Yu Mugao."
Li Xuanling, who was standing by, frowned and replied, "But that man is always guarded by peak Qi Cultivators when he leaves home... he''s not easy to kill. Doing so would just offend the Yu Family for no reason."
Li Tongya nodded and advised, "This is an impractical matter. For now, let''s ensure our younger family members don''t leave our territory, and wait until the Xiao Family finishes executing their ns. By then, we may be able to borrow the Xiao Family''s strength and no longer allow the Yu Family to dominate unchecked."
Li Xuanling noted his words. Li Tongya looked at the sky and instructed, "Now that we have Snake Essence Pills, I can try to break through to the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Although it''s been only two to three years since myst breakthrough and it''s a bit rushed, there''s no other choice. I must try to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm before turning sixty..."
Li Xuanling clenched his teeth, his eyes filled with deep worry. Afterposing his thoughts for a long while, he finally spoke with unease, "I have heard that the breakthrough from Qi Cultivation Realm to Foundation Establishment Realm is fraught with danger, almost a nine in ten chance of death. With Father being ate-stage Qi Cultivator, you are the pir of our family. I''m afraid..."
His voice trailed off.
Li Tongya was initially startled, then sighed deeply. Looking at his son, now a father himself with a fully grown beard, he felt somewhatforted and responded, "I have only consumed three pills and one talisman qi in my cultivation journey, relying solely on diligent practice without taking any precious medicines or spirit items like those in the three sects and seven gates do. This breakthrough indeed carries a high risk of death..."
Seeing Li Xuanling''s worried gaze, Li Tongya reassured him with a warm smile, "But I have been earnestly cultivating day and night, aiming to reach Foundation Establishment Realm before I turn sixty, even if it''s just a slightly better chance. If our Li Family wishes to advance further, we must have a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. In this vast Moongaze Lake, only those at the Foundation Establishment Realm can truly make their voices heard. With the prestige of your fourth uncle, our Li Family will be worry-free for the next fifty years... It''s the perfect opportunity to attempt the Foundation Establishment Realm. If I fail and perish, the Yu Family won''t trouble us too much and lower their guard instead."
"I understand."
Li Xuanling cupped his fist, and Li Tongya nodded slightly before stepping out of the courtyard and flying toward Meiche Peak in the south.
Li Xuanling watched with concern, hoping that the day Li Tongya''s attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm wouldeter rather than sooner.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In Lijing Town, the biggest and mostvish residence was not that of Li Xuanxuan at the foot of the mountain. Compared by size and splendor, Li Xuanxuan''s residence would likely be ranked lower. The residences of n uncles and elders are among the top, followed by the Chen, Liu, Ren, and Tian families, with Li Xuanxuan''singst.
Chen Donghe, who had been guarding Mount Huaqian for years and cultivating with the aid of the spirit spring on the mountain, rarely returned home. To his surprise, the Chen Family''s estate had expanded significantly, now housing over three hundred family members. Without a map listing names, it would be almost impossible to find someone.
As he approached the courtyard, firecrackers sounded. He noticed that people lined both sides. His only surviving brother, now over fifty and considered the head of the household, waited respectfully at the entrance.
A boy in a padded jacket stared at him intently, recognized by Chen Donghe''s spiritual sense as the special child the family had called him back for.
Chapter 180: External Cultivator (II)
Chapter 180: External Cultivator (II)
"How old are you now?" Chen Donghe asked the child.
"Eight," was the reply.
Chen Donghe scrutinized the boy. He was biting his lip and staring back at Chen Donghe innocently, and he asked his next question.
"What is your name?"
"Chen Mufeng," the boy answered.
Standing up, Chen Donghe noticed his brother approaching respectfully, speaking in a tone of unfamiliar deference.
"We''ve asked the Immortal Master here in the hope that he might mentor the child... The Chen Family would be eternally grateful!"
After finishing his words, with a thud, he fell to the ground on his knees. The crowd around him followed suit, their pleading voices swelling like a tide.
Chen Donghe, focusing on the boy and ignoring the surrounding people, pondered to himself.
I cannot personally mentor this child, as it would recklessly leave traces... I''ll find him a good family instead. This is the least I can do for the Chen Family.
Helping his brother up, he said solemnly, "I cannot mentor this child personally but I can find him a good teacher..."
His brother''s expression shifted with uncertainty, and he was momentarily stunned. He hesitated. "Will this teacher be someone from the Tian... or Liu Family?"
Chen Donghe, not often interacting with external cultivators at the foot of the mountain, paused at this question.
A realization struck him.
The Li Family has epted thirty to forty external cultivators over the decades, most of whom are at the first or second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. However... there are also three or four at the fourth stage, and there might be factions involved which also concerns the Chen Family''s position.
Seeing Chen Donghe''s reaction, his brother became somewhat flustered, squeezing out a smile through his wrinkled face. He responded hurriedly, "We do not doubt the Immortal Master''s decision nor wish to choose shamelessly; we just need to know the name of the teacher to understand whom the child will be mentored by..."
Chen Donghe, smiling warmly, reassured his brother.
"Don''t worry, brother. It''ll be someone from the Li Family."
"The Li Family?!"
His brother was immediately overjoyed, smiling broadly to reveal a few decayed teeth. He eximed, "That''s excellent! Excellent indeed!"
With a heartyugh, Chen Donghe took Chen Mufeng''s hand and soared into the sky, leaving a group of envious onlookers on the ground.
Flying over the town for a while, Chen Donghe descended into a spacious courtyard with the trembling child in his arms. Chen Mufeng stumbled a few steps uponnding.
Chen Donghe released his hand and saw a person standing in front of the stone door with gray hair and a straight posture. He looked somewhat surprised to see him and greeted, "Greetings, Brother Donghe... This is quite rare. Are you here looking for that Shamoli?"
"Not at all."
Chen Donghe returned the greeting with a warm smile, pulling the child closer and softly adding, "I''m here looking for Brother Qiuyang."
Li Qiuyang stepped forward and took a seat on a stone bench in the courtyard, sweeping his spiritual sense over the area while keeping an eye on the stone door to the room where Shamoli had retreated for seclusion.
He smiled.
"Brother Donghe, just speak your mind."
Chen Donghe nodded, speaking seriously, "I returned to the Chen Family recently, and we have a child with a spiritual orifice. They wanted me to mentor him, but I felt it wasn''t right for me to take him under my wing... I was hoping to entrust him to you."
"Oh?"
Li Qiuyang lowered his head but did not immediately agree. He observed Chen Mufeng for a while. Seeing the boy was well-behaved, Chen Donghe transmitted his voice.
"I''ve heard Brother Qiuyang''s sons are without spiritual orifice, which will be troublesome in the future. Why not take this child as your disciple andter marry him to one of your daughters? When you pass away in a hundred years, your descendants will have someone to shelter them..."
This suggestion struck a chord with Li Qiuyang, who immediately brightened up and began nodding vigorously. He then said solemnly, "Since brother has put it this way, I will take the child under my wing."
Chen Dongheughed heartily, patting the boy''s back and beaming.
"Call him Master."
"Master!"
The boy obediently did so and Li Qiuyang warmly took his hand, asking for his birthdate and name.
After they had spoken, Chen Donghe then spoke softly, "I have a question for Brother Qiuyang..."
"Go ahead," Li Qiuyang replied as he looked up.
Chen Donghe took out two small cups and a gourd from his storage pouch, filled the cups with clear wine, and then said softly, "Having practiced on Mount Huaqian for many years, I''m not very familiar with the external cultivators of our home... Could Brother Qiuyang enlighten me?"
"Ah, that matter!"
Li Qiuyang was about to sip from his cup but set down the jade cup, looking toward the closed stone door before letting out a loud, heartyugh.
"There are twenty-eight external cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in our family now, and six from the Ye Family have changed their surname to Li. Most are at the first or second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, hardly worth mentioning... However, a few early cultivators with decent talent are noteworthy."
Li Qiuyang nced at Chen Mufeng next to him, who was all ears. He nodded slightly, and continued solemnly, "The first¡ªat the fifth stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm¡ªis surnamed Tian, rted to the... Family Head, the Great King''s wife''s family."
Li Qiuyang''s mention of "the Great King'''' silenced them both. Both of them had been through thick and thin with Li Xiangping and everyone called him the "Great King" while they were in the territory of Mount Yue.
"The Great King passed away in thends of Mount Yue, and his mother followed in sorrow within a few years. The Tian Family has declined quite a bit, but this man''s talent is decent; now at forty, his likelihood of breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm isn''t high, but still possible. He''s currently in charge of managing the cultivation of the Spirit Paddies in town with quite a few people covertly supporting him, and can be considered a leader of one faction. Following them are the Liu and Ren families, both at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm but mostly without a chance to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, each leading a faction."
Chen Donghe sipped the clear wine, frowning slightly, and asked in a low voice, "Is this known to the family?"
"I wouldn''t know..." Li Qiuyang said as he shook his head, his spiritual sense sweeping inside and outside the courtyard before whispering, "Such matters should be managed by the n Affairs Courtyard... I avoid these affairs as much as possible. Who in the Li Family doesn''t fear the n Affairs Courtyard?"
Realization struck Chen Donghe and he quickly apologized. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Is the struggle intense?"
"It used to be manageable."
Li Qiuyang''s voice had grown even lower, the shallow wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bing even more evident in the dim light.
He softly continued, "After all... each family has its interests, and the output of each spirit field differs; so does the stipend provided. These people used to vie for the better fields to skive off, and no one was willing to take the barren ones... Since the Young Master Xiu took over, the factions have be increasingly antagonistic. Many people have been squeezed into the barrennds due to their disputes, having no choice but to toil thanklessly."
"I see," Chen Donghe responded as he nodded slightly, pondering deeply to himself.
This matter probably needs to be reported to the family for Li Xuanling and others to decide, to prevent long-term issues from brewing...
After bidding farewell to Li Qiuyang, he flew away from the courtyard and headed toward the mountain, leaving Li Qiuyang in the courtyard silently watching his departure direction. He then eventually smiled and chuckled to himself.
"He''er never changes!"
Chapter 181: Donghes Worries
Chapter 181: Donghe''s Worries
Li Qinghong stepped onto the stone-paved road on Mount Lijing¡ªa path that wasid decades ago, and now the time that had passed by was evidenced by how it was now fully covered with moss.
She heard it wasid during the time her third granduncle, Li Xiangping, led the family. In fact, a few of the craftsmen involved were still alive.
Walking up the mountain, Li Qinghong looked around. It had been days since shest saw her younger brother, Li Yuanyun. After searching the mountain, she finally found him in their aunt Li Jingtian''s side courtyard.
The boy sat there, engrossed in a wooden slip. Entering the courtyard, Li Qinghong felt a twinge of unease.
"Brother Yun..."
Having received a talisman seed on the mountaintop almost a year ago, Li Qinghong had been busy with cultivation and spear training. Li Yuanyun rarely visited the main courtyard, and their infrequent encounters left Li Qinghong with a sense of guilt; especially since knowing her brother could not cultivate.
"Ah, you''re here, Big Sis! It''s been quite a while since Ist saw you," Li Yuanyun eximed as he brightened up, setting aside the wooden slip.
Li Qinghong smiled sweetly, noticing the wooden slip titled ''Two Hundred Years of Linghai Prefecture''s Scenery¡ªAnnotated by Li Jingtian'' on the table.
Curious, she asked, "You used to dislike these long and boring history books... What made you start reading them?"
Li Yuanyun chuckled.
"Since I can''t cultivate, and I certainly can''tpare to Brother Xiu in managing our home, I thought I''d find something I can do. I''vee to our aunt''s ce to study, hoping I can be of help to her in the future."
His words hit Li Qinghong like a physical blow, causing her to awkwardly change the subject with a forced smile.
"Have you gained anything from reading this?"
Li Yuanyun sighed softly, picking up the wooden slip again. "After reading this, I feel only... fear," he muttered.
Puzzled by his response, Li Qinghong asked curiously afterposing herself, "Fear..? What''s there to be afraid of?"
"I always thought our family was harmonious, with Mount Yue already subdued and our parents in a loving marriage. I believed we lived in a peaceful world..." Li Yuanyun confessed, his voice betraying a hint of terror as he gripped the wooden slip tightly.
"...But this book showed me the turmoil beyond our borders,nds awash with blood, filled with plots and schemes. The endless cycle of conspiracies makes one realize how vile the world can be. Our Li Family might seem stable now, but who knows what dangers lurk in the shadows? It''s disheartening to see how filthy this world truly is."
"Sister, although being born into the Li Family means being clothed in silk and feasting on delicacies where even a mortal without spiritual orifice can enjoy a life of pleasure, I am truly terrified. I fear waking up one night to find our family''s protective formation shattered, shimmering immortal swords descending from the sky, and dying in my sleep without knowing why," Li Yuanyun confessed, his eyes reddening with emotion.
Li Qinghong was speechless for a moment. However, sheposed herself and found her words, speaking softly, "Father once said: the rules of this world are set by immortals... Would immortals care about the morality of mortals? Of course not! They would resort to any means necessary..."
"Sister," Li Yuanyun lifted his head to look at her, speaking softly, "I''ve read our family history. Mount Huaqian was taken from the Lu Family, which was also our mother''s maternal home... but it''s destroyed now. I''ve seen Mother cry in secret, perhaps it is because of this..."
His voice trailed off.
Li Qinghong fell silent for a while before responding, "If the Li Family hadn''t taken it, the An Family would have by the next day. The Li Family wasn''t wrong, and neither was the Lu Family. The situation developed to this point as the only way out when there was no other choice. If the head of the Lu Family had been wise, this could have ended gracefully. The fault¡ªif any, lies with him."
"You''re right, Sister..."
Li Yuanyun put down the wooden slip, his mood seeming to have lightened considerably.
"It''s a pity that my perspective is limited. Otherwise, I''d write a Two Hundred Years of Moongaze Lake''s Scenery, surely as interesting as that of the Linghai Prefecture!"
Li Qinghong smiled softly and was about to speak when the courtyard door creaked open. A woman in her mid-twenties with long, flowing hair tied up behind her head walked in. She set down her paper parasol and greeted warmly, "Ah, you''re here, Qinghong."
"Auntie!" Li Qinghong giggled, hurrying over to embrace Li Jingtian. However, she was not expecting to see another middle-aged man with a dignified air following her aunt into the courtyard.
He greeted her politely.
"Oh, you''re here too, Uncle!" Li Qinghong eximed in slight surprise.
Chen Donghe nodded. The children found their uncle, who was a Qi Cultivator, stern and unfamiliar since they rarely saw him. Feeling awkward in his presence, they quickly excused themselves.
Li Jingtian nodded, smiling as she saw them off. She then turned back to the courtyard, noticing Chen Donghe examining the rows of wooden scripts on the table.
"What are you looking at?" she asked softly.
Chen Donghe stroked his chin, marveling, "The Li Family''s bloodline is truly extraordinary. The speed at which Qinghong and Yuanjiao have broken through to the Profound Scenery Stage is astonishing! Even Xuanxuan and Xuanling were exceptional back in the day. It seems they were born cultivators!"
Li Jingtian lowered her gaze to hide the flicker of sadness in her eyes. She simply turned her head away andughed.
"That''s nothing surprising. After all, they carry the bloodline of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator."
Chen Donghe nodded without giving it much thought. Once he confirmed there were no others around with a sweep of his spiritual sense, he spoke softly, "I don''t mean to worry you, but these days I''ve made some observations that unsettle me... I''m considering whether to discuss it with Second Uncle or Xuanling on the mountain. I need your insight on this."
"What''s the matter?" Li Jingtian asked as she joined him at the table, listening as Chen Donghe spoke seriously, "Currently, our family has dozens of external cultivators. Although most are only at the first or second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, they shouldn''t be underestimated. These individuals are distributed across various territories to cultivate spirit fields, or assigned as guardians of towns, responsible for tasks like demon extermination and healing."
Pausing here to allow Li Jingtian a moment to digest the information, Chen Donghe continued, "These people represent the voices of various forces outside the Li Family... With several factions headed by three cultivators at the fourth and fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, their actions are not always clean. The n Affairs Courtyard doesn''t strictly control them, and I fear that over time, this may lead to problems."
Li Jingtian pondered for a moment, her delicate hands neatly arranging the wooden slips on the table before she responded in a soft voice, "The n Affairs Courtyard has eyes and ears everywhere... I''m sure they have already noticed the issues you mentioned. It''s likely that these matters have already been brought up to Xiu''er or perhaps even to the cave dwelling on Meiche Peak by now. If the family has yet to address this, there might be other considerations at y."
"These people represent not just themselves but also the interests of the branches and minor ns theye from. Conflict is inevitable, and who knows..."
Seeing Chen Donghe looking at her, Li Jingtian leaned in closer, whispering softly in his ear with a gentle voice, "The one letting them fight might just be our Xiu''er."
Chapter 182: Clan Affairs Courtyard
Chapter 182: n Affairs Courtyard
The n Affairs Courtyard was situated at the foot of Mount Lijing, directly adjacent to the mountain itself. It was once the Li Family''s main residence when they still lived at the foot of the mountain, which was nked by two other courtyards. The entire estate was rectangr, facing north to south.
The front courtyard was an open area, constructed by the four Li Brothers themselves in earlier days that had already gone by. Li Changhu and Li Tongya were responsible forying the bricks, while Li Xiangping and Li Chejing mortared them in ce.
Looking closely at the seams, one might still find the small fingerprints of the young Sword Immortal. The work done by family members was meticulous and tightly sealed, enduring through wind and rain with no problem at all.
Li Xiewen, now in his thirties and a stern middle-aged man, stood in traditional attire in the front courtyard. With Li Xuanxuan in seclusion and Li Yuanxiu managing the household affairs, Li Xiewen naturally delegated the town''s duties to his eldest son, Li Pingyi, and came to the n Affairs Courtyard to work.
Just like the night Li Yesheng handed over Lijing Town to him, Li Xiewen took Li Pingyi''s hand and talked all night by candlelight, discussing from the days Grandfather Li Yesheng used to herd ducks at Meiche River to the present prominence of Li Xiewen''s lineage.
Holding Li Pingyi''s hand solemnly, he said, "Our lineage has governed Lijing Town for generations... Your grandfather and Uncle Xiangping both perished in thends of Mount Yue, and I, along with your grandfather, have controlled the various families and disciplined the descendants here for eighteen years. You must understand that the rise and fall of our lineage rests solely on the Young Family Head. Make sure you tread cautiously!"
Li Pingyi, always astute, had observed these matters since he was young. He had heeded his father''s efforts in creating chances for him to stick close to Li Yuanxiu. Now aiding Li Yuanxiu in managing household affairs for just over a year, he had shown no signs of negligence.
Li Xiewen stood in the yard, and as n soldiers passed by, they bowed and he responded in kind. After waiting about half an hour, he saw his son, Li Pingyi, exit the courtyard and approach him while cupping his fist.
"The n Leader has descended the mountain... please follow me, inspector."
In the n Affairs Courtyard, each of them had their own duties. With all eyes in the n on them, they naturally could not address each other as father and son in court.
Li Pingyi referred to his father by his official title, and Li Xiewen responded respectfully, "Thank you."
Li Xiewen followed Li Pingyi into the central hall where many n soldiers stood silently. Below, two men were kneeling¡ªstripped to the waist and whipped with thorned whips. Blood sttered the floor.
They bit down on their lips with their teeth, not daring to make a sound. Gray wooden ques were stuck in their necksbeling their crimes: "bullying a woman" and "extortion". Seeing they were not from his direct family, Li Xiewen breathed a sigh of relief.
Beyond the dim central hall, the rear hall was much brighter. It had windows on both sides letting in streams of sunlight and was lit bymps that seemed to be ignited by mana, producing no soot.
A young man, about sixteen or seventeen, was seated at the desk at the front. His ck hair was neatlybed and he wore a jade crown. His eyebrows were smooth and his face was chiseled.
His gray eyes looked up and smiled.
"I heard Uncle Xiewen was looking for me so I rushed down from the mountain. Sorry to have kept you waiting."
"Please, no need to apologize!" Li Xiewen responded, warmed by his sincerity but careful not to presume as much. He continued gravely, "As the appointed inspector, I''m tasked with overseeing the cultivators from the minor sect and branches... I''ve recently received some news that I have to report urgently."
"Please continue, n Uncle," Li Yuanxiu instructed as he nodded slightly.
Li Xiewen then cupped his fist and continued, "The son of the Chen Family has be a disciple of Li Qiuyang and is betrothed to his sixth daughter, thus aligning the Chen Family with Qiuyang''s lineage."
"I have already discussed this matter with Uncle Donghe," Li Yuanxiu interjected, waving his hand dismissively.
"Uncle Donghe and n Uncle Qiuyang are pirs of our family. This matter is of no concern," he added with a smile.
Li Xiewen could tell that Li Yuanxiu did not want to delve deeper and had deliberately interrupted him. Aware that further discussion could offend him, he quickly moved on.
"Currently, the Ye branch of our Li Family consists of over six thousand five hundred people, with twelve hundred in minor sects, including eight cultivators. The disciples involved in the strife with the three external cultivators have been identified¡ªover six hundred mortals and... three cultivators among them."
"Hmm."
Li Yuanxiu frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before speaking softly.
"These mortals are mostly married into families of external cultivators... Entanglements are inevitable. As for the family''s cultivators, the minor sects aren''t isted; they have their own family ties and emotional preferences, and the intertwined interests areplicated to manage."
After ncing at Li Xiewen, Li Yuanxiu suggested quietly, "If n Uncle identifies any disciple with exceptional talent, relocate them to Mount Huaqian to cultivate with Uncle Donghe, away from these conflicts. The rest will merely mire in their current cultivation realms for life... Let them fight it out. As long as it''s not too unsightly, let them be."
"Understood," Li Xiewen replied gravely, then shared some additional minor details before bowing and excusing himself.
Li Pingyi then turned to Li Yuanxiu and asked softly, "Do we continue to let our people stir the pot, n Leader..?"
"No need. Withdraw them," Li Yuanxiu instructed, putting away some documents and taking a sip from his tea bowl.
"If it esctes further, it could be ugly. The current level of conflict is just right, letting them fiercelypete while remaining impotent. The number of cultivators in our household is increasing daily, and although cultivators aren''t truly detached from worldly needspeting fiercely over Spirit Paddies and Spirit Stones¡ªthe struggle is inevitable. This push now makes clear who the cunning and sly ones are, along with who the steady and honest ones are. Should a real problem arise, we''ll have a reference."
Li Pingyi nodded in agreement.
Li Yuanxiu, holding a brush, drew on the fabric in front of him. He raised his eyebrows and said in a low voice, "However... With most of the senior members in seclusion, we must proceed with caution and not disturb the elders. Assign some people to keep a close watch, and if a real problem urs, issue a warning beforehand. It would be unsightly if it resulted in a loss of life."
"Understood," Li Pingyi responded, cupping his fist.
He recalled the recent reports and a look of concern appeared as he spoke.
"n Leader, that one from the Tian branch has condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and broken through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, thus awakening his spiritual sense. He''s be sharply aware of everything around him. Our young ones have almost been exposed several times... I had to pull them back to avoid detection."
"Cultivators at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm are considered to have truly transcended the secr world and are not easily managed. I''ve thought about this too," Li Yuanxiu remarked, setting down his brush.
He added, "Once a cultivator reaches the fifth stage or the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, their powers elevate them beyond humanly possible¡ªeven beyond the jurisdiction of the n Affairs Courtyard. I''m considering writing to Meiche Peak, proposing that cultivators at the fifth stage and above be separated from the others. Having them continue to farm with spiritual sense is a waste... They could better serve by hunting demons in the mountains or crafting talismans, without being under the direct control of the mountain''s administration."
Li Yuanxiu paused and mulled over his thoughts for a while before continuing, "The problem is, we still have too few cultivators with awakened spiritual sense to form a separate group... Eventually, as the external cultivators in our family grow, this issue will need to be addressed openly."
"You are right, Young n Head," Li Pingyi agreed.
Chapter 183: King of the Kings
Chapter 183: King of the Kings
"What?! Another one?" Shamoli was roused awake in the deep, dimly lit stone chamber.
Upon hearing the news from the person before him, he was momentarily stunned. He muttered in embarrassment, "How is that possible... H-How many does that make now?"
"Your Highness, this is the fifth one!"
Shamoli felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He had been cultivating among the Easterners for two years and had consumed several spirit fruits, finally breaking through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He had thought his progress impressive, only to find that the rate at which his concubines were bing pregnant far surpassed his own cultivation speed.
"The firstborn here has already learned how to walk... It truly is astonishing."
Back in his pce in Eastern Mount Yue, Shamoli also had wives and concubines, who, under the directive of Mu Jiaoman, had been dyed in bearing children. Unexpectedly, sinceing here, children seemed to spring forth one after another.
Confused, Shamoli stepped out into the courtyard, facing a host of wives and concubines. He was barely able to match their faces to names. One concubine approached him with a radiant smile; she had been pregnant even before his seclusion and was nearly due.
"S-Surely... it''s mine, right...?" Shamoli asked, fraught with uncertainty. After months away, the faces of his many wives and concubines seemed all but new to him. He pulled the pregnant woman closer, peering at her bashful face, struggling to recall any shared moments of joy.
"Never mind, at least the first son is definitely mine..." Shamoli mumbled as he looked toward the crowd and spotted a woman at the forefront, holding a child who looked about one or two years old. The child had narrow eyes and a healthy tannedplexion¡ªclearly of the Mulu n lineage.
This concubine had been pregnant when he first arrived in thends of the Easterners. It was Shamoli''s first child and so he cherished the baby deeply, watching over him carefully. He had managed to keep track of the timing and was confident that this child was indeed his own.
"Look who''s here? The future heir to the throne!" Shamoli dered as he proudly took the child in his arms and yed with him for a while.
Soon after, an attendant approached respectfully.
"Your Highness, Young Master Jiao is here."
Shamoli''s beaming face instantly fell, and he muttered under his breath, "Damn it... he must have brought spirit fruits, and now I have to return to cultivation!"
Shamoli wanted to enjoy more time with his wives and concubines, but he could not possibly ck off while living under another''s roof. Internally cursing, he stered a forced smile on his face and hurried out to greet his guest.
"Young Master, you''re here!"
Having lived on the Easterners'' territory for two years, Shamoli had finallye to understand their way of speaking and managed to be polite for once.
Li Yuanjiao entered the courtyard with a raised eyebrow as he heard Shamoli''s greeting.
"Cousin, you''re unusually polite today..."
"Ah..." Shamoli chuckled awkwardly. He had only learned how to greet but was unprepared for Li Yuanjiao''s off-script question which had caught him off guard and left himughing with painful awkwardness, unsure of how to respond.
As the wives and concubines dispersed, Shamoli led Li Yuanjiao into the courtyard where they took their seats, tea being consequently served to the two men.
It was then that Li Yuanjiao spoke.
"Cousin, with your breakthrough to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, you''re one step closer to reiming the throne in Eastern Mount Yue. Congrattions are indeed in order!"
Shamoli chuckled awkwardly, nodding clumsily, only to see Li Yuanjiao wave his hand dismissively. He spoke nonchntly, "Your elder brother, Qimu, has now firmly secured the throne, rallying the tribes and factions within the state. None of your brothers have survived to challenge him. He truly enjoys his glory now!"
"That''s truly infuriating!"
Shamoli felt a mix of jealousy and hatred as he heard this, and could not help but curse aloud.
Li Yuanjiao, sipping his tea as if it were a matter of no consequence, casually revealed, "Your brother does have some foresight... As soon as he secured his position on the throne, he dispatched trading caravansden with five or six carts of tributes, and he also arranged marriages to maintain alliances. Right now, the streets outside are bustling with people drawn to the spectacle at the town''s edge."
"What?!"
This statement hit Shamoli like a lightning bolt out of the blue, nearly making him jump three chi in the air. Now, he felt not only jealous and hateful but also fearful and panicked; so much so that he was momentarily stupefied and left unable to speak.
Shamoli was currently living a carefree life, not only surrounded by numerous wives and concubines but also having ascended a level in strength¡ªall thanks to the Li Family.
While Shamoli was not the sharpest tool in the shed, he was notpletely foolish. He understood that his valuey in bringing the Eastern Mount Yue under control.
His brother had always been a force to be reckoned with and was likely well aware of these dynamics. This prompted him to swiftly submit, making Shamoli feel redundant and frightened. He was so terrified that he trembled and found himself speechless.
Grasping a teacup, he gulped several mouthfuls. Although Shamoli usually was not strategic, he possessed some wits when it counted, which was why he fled in haste to the Li Family.
He stammered nervously, "Y-Young... young master... Qimu is greedy and unloyal! He''s definitely not genuinely submitting, but waiting for an opportunity to strike..."
Seeing how terrified he was, Li Yuanjiao sighed and deliberately remained silent for a while. Watching Shamoli''s eyes redden, he felt it was the right moment to speak solemnly, "Rest assured, Cousin... I understand. You are my true brother. How could Qimu¡ªwho murdered his brother and father¡ªever be genuinely submissive?"
"Exactly... exactly! He who kills his brother and father could never be truly submissive!"
Shamoli nearly apuded Li Yuanjiao for his spot-on analysis, which greatly relieved him. However, Li Yuanjiao''s expression suddenly darkened and turned serious as he gritted his teeth.
"But that man disguises it too well... Some elders at home actually believed him. I had to argue based on reason to prevent them from handing you over... but..."
"But what?!" Shamoli gasped exasperatedly, deeply moved by his cousin''s staunch support and rmed by the twist in the conversation.
"It''s just that your cultivation is progressing too slowly... it''s causing the family to lose confidence," Li Yuanjiao answered after a short pause.
Thump!
Shamoli stood up so hastily that he broke the leg of hisrge wooden chair, which fell awkwardly to the ground. His face flushed with anger, he shouted loudly, "Damn it! I''m going to cultivate right now!"
"Wait a moment!"
Li Yuanjiao was taken aback by Shamoli''s sudden and drastic reaction, pausing for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Are you practicing the native methods of Mount Yue?"
Shamoli''s face reddened with embarrassment as he nodded awkwardly and stammered, "Yes... This method is very slow to cultivate. When breaking through, it involves condensing a mere portion of unrefined qi from the sky over the course of a month and consuming it. It can''t possibly bepared to the sophisticated techniques of your Eastern people."
The issue of cultivation methods had been a longstanding pain for the people of Mount Yue. Any ruler who rose to prominence there and had seen the wider world would soon realize how inferior they werepared to true cultivators.
A cultivator who practiced authentic techniques could easily overpower multiple Mount Yue cultivators who had ingested unrefined qi and practiced crude techniques, even those from Mount Yue were superior in terms of cultivation realm.
"I know your methods are unreliable, brother... That''s why I''ve specifically requested our family to grant you a proper technique," Li Yuanjiao said as he reassured him.
"What..?"
His words were shocking, and they overwhelmed Shamoli, causing his breathing to hasten as he struggled to maintain hisposure. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Brother, such kindness I will remember forever! Please... do not offend the elders on my ount."
"Don''t worry," Li Yuanjiao reassured, shaking his head as he continued, "As long as you can reach the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm within a few years, I am confident that our family will bestow a proper technique upon you... one that will make youparable to the legendary Jianixi!"
Overwhelmed with emotion and now with tears streaming down his face, Shamoli nodded vigorously, bowing deeply to Li Yuanjiao. He then made a loud deration through his tightly gritted teeth.
"No thanks needed! As long as I live, you, Brother Yuanjiao... are the king of the kings in Mount Yue!"
Chapter 184: Envoy from Mount Yue (I)
Chapter 184: Envoy from Mount Yue (I)
In the great hall, the candlelight flickered. Li Yuanxiu stood to the side at the highest seat with an envoy from Mount Yue kneeling below him, his head pressed firmly against the ground.
He spoke with respect, "My humble self greets the Young Family Head! Our king remembers the friendship between our two families and often speaks of the health of my aunt and uncle, and recalls the alliance between our two families... He has sent many products from our region. Currently, the position of queen remains vacant, and the king still hopes to marry a daughter from the Li Family..."
Li Yuanxiu stepped forward and descended two steps from his elevated position. The n soldiers on both sides immediately focused their attention on this envoy from Mount Yue.
Chen Donghe, who was standing below the steps, also went on high alert, ready for any sudden movements from the visitor.
"Our Li Family is located in the east and has only heard of the upheavals in Mount Yue. Mu Jiaoman''s side branches have all perished without survivors... With the envoying from afar, can you enlighten me on this matter?"
Li Yuanxiu did not respond to the envoy''s initial address, instead bringing up the details of the unrest in Mount Yue. This caused the envoy to stammer and sweat profusely.
The current king of Mount Yue, Qimu, although following Mu Jiaoman''s orders to kill his brothers, had such an excuse often doubted within his own territory. Naturally, that excuse alone was not sufficient to convince Li Yuanxiu.
The envoy could only shakily say, "There was unrest... it resulted in the death of the previous king''s heirs, and a change in kingship is inevitable... it wasn''t our king''s intention. He made sure to protect the mother queen, which was indeed meritorious!"
The ''mother queen'' naturally referred to the woman from the Li Family who had been married off there. Mu Jiaoman, while keeping the woman in his pce, acted cautiously, never allowing her to bear children. Her status in the pce was quite unique, and during the turmoil, forces from all sides sent protection for her immediately.
Li Yuanxiu listened but made no response. Observing the Mount Yue envoy trembling before him, he contemted to himself quietly.
Before Shamoli breaks through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, we should pacify Qimu to prevent him from bing suspicious and seek help elsewhere, potentially causing trouble. Everything should remain as usual, making him feel at ease.
Tributes and trade are easy to agree upon; it''s just a matter of issuing another order. However, if a daughter of our n were to marry over there... wouldn''t she be a widow within a few years? There are many daughters in the minor ns right now, but several n uncles and elders will inevitably make a fuss.
The envoy from Mount Yue, not understanding the situation, thought Li Yuanxiu was angry and trembled like a leaf. His sweat was pooling on the stone floor, almost forming a small puddle.
Li Yuanxiu then spoke up, breaking the silence softly.
"Mount Yue wishes to continue the marital alliance with our family, and we, the Li Family, also agree. Matters of tributes and trade will follow the old practices; there is no need for changes."
"Thank you, great king! Thank you, great king!"
The envoy bowed deeply several times in relief, blurting out his thanks, calling Li Yuanxiu a "great king". Li Yuanxiu raised his hand slightly, smiling warmly.
"However... our family does not have many daughters to marry off as of now. They hold significant status within the n, so we can''t simply arrange a marriage... Besides, my father is currently cultivating in seclusion. I, the Young Family Head, am not easy to persuade like my father. There is one condition for this marital alliance with Mount Yue."
"Do tell, great king," the envoy quickly said, to which Li Yuanxiu, still smiling, replied, "How could my family''s daughter marry into the West withoutnd to showcase her prestige? To the west of Eastern Mount Yue, there are several viges. Let Qimu conquer a few viges to the west as a celebration gift for our daughter''s wedding."
"T-That''s..."
Caught off guard by Li Yuanxiu''s demand, the Mount Yue envoy momentarily froze, knowing well that grantingnds to a daughter who would wield no real power upon marrying out merely meant extra tax revenue from thosends.
He could only respond, "Would it be possible to grant and or two from the various viges of Eastern Mount Yue? Our king is not stingy! The region is unstable, and it might not be advisable to mobilize troops rashly..."
Li Yuanxiu frowned and, cutting him off mid-sentence with amanding tone, challenged, "Is this truly the extent of your king''s sincerity?!"
As Mount Yue was in a position of weakness and reliant on the Li Family for survival, the envoy, naturally bing submissive, panicked under Li Yuanxiu''s intimidation and started begging for mercy.
"This lowly one will report back to the king immediately! A response will be provided within a few days... please, forgive me, Young Family Head!"
"You''re dismissed."
Li Yuanxiu simply waved his hand, and the envoy hurriedly retreated.
Then, a n soldier brought forward another person dressed in Mount Yue attire who kneeled and cupped his fist instead as he greeted, "Young Family Head!"
"What news does my n sister bring?" Li Yuanxiu asked, lifting his head.
The messenger from Mount Yue then pulled a thick stack of documents from his chest pocket and replied respectfully, "The Queen Mother has recorded all the arrangements Qimu made upon ascending to power, along with the distribution and locations of Mount Yue cultivators within the state here."
Li Pingyi stepped forward to receive the book, and Li Yuanxiu nodded with a smile. He then said softly, "Tell my n sister when you return to first excel in her role as Queen Mother, and within these few years, we''ll find a way for her to reunite with her family."
"Understood."
The man bowed in gratitude and withdrew.
Li Yuanxiu then took the stack of documents from the approaching Li Pingyi, spread them out, and began to read. He muttered to himself, "Three at the early stage of Qi Cultivation Realm... one at the mid-stage... all are cultivators with unrefined qi. Mount Yue is indeed too weak; no wonder Qimu was able to stabilize the state in one fell swoop. He couldn''t afford to wait and hase to affiliate himself."
As Li Yuanxiu read on, Li Yuanjiao was already standing in the courtyard. He nced at the Mount Yue messenger. Once the messenger had exited the courtyard, Li Yuanjiao spoke, "Although our n sister is from the minor sect, she''s no easy mark. Mu Jiaoman was wary of her while alive, yet she quickly garnered support after his death and meticulously gathered information, cing people within the trade caravans that were returning home, which is no small feat."
"Hmm."
Li Yuanxiu simply nodded, continuing to read the letter before responding, "When selecting a daughter from the minor n to go west that year, she was chosen with great care, and her entourage was loyal. When she returns, we must acknowledge her and her group''s contributions."
The Li Family''s marriages were certainly more strategic than when Mu Yalu hade over alone in her time. Not only could the n daughter return home annually, but she could also bring many loyal attendants along with her.
After listening to his brother''s exnation, Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement.
"Brother, Shamoli has already broken through the fifth stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm and has been persuaded by me to go into seclusion... The spirit fruits have also been delivered to him. With these aids, he should attempt to break through the Qi Cultivation Realm within two years."
"Good!" Li Yuanxiumended as he nodded. He pondered for a moment, then softly added, "I''ll also personally go up the mountain to make sure that our family is prepared with a portion of unrefined qi."
Chapter 185: Envoy from Mount Yue (II)
Chapter 185: Envoy from Mount Yue (II)
Li Yuanjiao chuckled softly and responded, "From what I managed to listen to outside, brother, your method is indeed effective. No matter whether the new king of Mount Yue takes one or two towns in the west, in the end, it will still belong to our Li Family!"
Li Yuanxiu''s face, which bore a resemnce to Li Yuanjiao''s but with a more rxed and casual expression, curved into a smile. He nced at his brother below and replied, "We both know the family''s strategies; it''s merely closing a loop. With Mount Wu sealed off, the viges of Mount Yue to the west have lost their backing. ording to the reports, Qimu also harbors ambitions to expand westward... I''m merely giving him reasons to act. When he conquers more viges for our family, his troops will also suffer from the strain andmit atrocities. It will be more legitimate for Shamoli to rece him then."
"You always think things through so thoroughly," Li Yuanjiao praised with a smile of awe.
Li Yuanxiu waved his hand and replied, "It''s a small move that doesn''t greatly impact the overall situation, but it''ll make subsequent ns run more smoothly."
"As for the n daughter to be married off... brother, whom do you n to send?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
Li Yuanxiu shifted his gaze from the letter and his voice was soft when he replied, "Nobody."
Li Yuanjiao was momentarily stunned, then quickly grasped his brother''s intention, murmuring, "Brother, I understand your care for our nspeople, but will this really work..?"
"Li Yuanxiu smiled and nodded, exining, "We''ll find a respectable family in the town that''s willing to provide a daughter... We will then train her up and send her over. Whether Qimu realizes it or not, he''ll have to pinch his nose and ept her. Would he darein? Once we control Eastern Mount Yue, we can bring her back, and she''ll have earned the status of a branch family. Surely, many families will be willing to volunteer themselves then!"
Li Yuanjiao lowered his eyes slightly. His care for his n members was based on affection rather than bloodline, and he was inclined to truly send a n daughter to appease Qimu, even if there was a slight chance of causing a disturbance.
However, since Li Yuanxiu had spoken thus, he could only nod in agreement. He replied solemnly, "As long as you are confident about this, Brother."
Li Yuanxiu looked at him, catching wind of the disagreement in his mind. Setting aside what he was holding, he then said gently, "Qimu is requesting a daughter from the minor sect... There are five bloodlines within the minor sect, which have been separated since our great-grandfather''s time. The elders from families are very old and usually silent, yet their feelings must be considered. These people are closely rted to us and are instrumental in managing our household affairs. Several of the elders have the ear of our father and granduncle. If we were really to marry off a n daughter indiscriminately, the n''s elders would have significant objections... Remember, harmony within the family is paramount."
Li Yuanjiao scoffed at this.
"Who cares what they think?! They''re just ordinary people."
"Jiao''er!" Li Yuanxiu shook his head, saying in a stern voice, "The reason our family stays closely knit is firstly due to the orderly transmission of our cultivation techniques, and secondly, because of the humility and respect within our ranks¡ªfrom honoring the elderly to cherishing the young. If these principles copse, what follows will be endless bloody strife and a disordered, fragmented n, rendering the intelligence of future generations useless. We are the role models for the younger generations; they will remember how you act today. Don''t underestimate those noisy elders; they may seem to fuss over securing advantages for their descendants, but they understand the gravity of major right and wrong. They restrain their descendants from disgraceful acts, contributing significantly to the stability ensured by the n Affairs Courtyard."
Li Yuanxiu stared into his brother''s eyes, exining, "If these elders see their childrenmitting acts that disgrace the family, they would even hobble over to the n Affairs Courtyard with their canes to report it. They understand the importance of the family''s reputation and deeply wish for its prosperity. Moreover, for the sake of the family, Uncle Qiuyang and several cultivators from the minor sect have been diligently supporting us. If you marry off their children like this today, and annihte Qimu tomorrow, it will dishearten these people."
Li Yuanjiao opened his mouth, not expecting Li Yuanxiu to have thought so deeply. His view of those nagging elders improved significantly, and he nodded, murmuring, "I see... thank you for enlightening me, Brother!"
Li Yuanxiu nodded approvingly, continuing, "In the past, it was natural to be cautious of those from the minor sects when our main familycked capable cultivators. Now that our main family is thriving, with our granduncle''s swordsmanship unmatched on theke, these minor sects and branches are invaluable aids in managing our affairs. The approach should be to embrace and favor them, treating them as our own."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement. The brothers exchanged a smile and a few more pleasantries before Li Yuanxiu chuckled and revealed, "I''ve now broken through to the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm!"
"Really?"
Li Yuanxiu had started cultivating earlier than Li Yuanjiao, who had rapidly advanced through the Profound Scenery Stage thanks to a talisman seed, and had broken through to the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm a few months earlier. Li Yuanxiu, catching up a few monthster, also had amendable pace.
"Why would I even lie about that?" Li Yuanjiaoughed.
Li Yuanxiu calcted the time and spoke, somewhat concerned, "As the day of the sacrifice ritual approaches, with several elders still in seclusion aiming for breakthroughs and no sacrificial offerings prepared, I''ve already made arrangements... But I fear if the elders don''t emerge soon, we might miss the deadline."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At the cave dwelling on Meiche Peak, there were three stone chambers where Li Tongya, Li Xuanxuan, and Li Xuanfeng each resided in seclusion. Li Xuanling, however, meditated in the great hall, having sat cross-legged on a straw mat throughout the night. The main door of the cave trembled slightly, and two n soldiers stepped aside as a woman dressed in a white robe entered.
She had a dignified appearance and smiled gently at him.
"My dear," Lu Wanrong said, now at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in her cultivation¡ªconsidered quite capable among the external n cultivators. With a warm smile, she approached him, holding a bamboo-woven food basket which she ced on the stone table.
Li Xuanling spoke softly upon seeing this, "They could have brought it up; you didn''t need to trouble yourself bying all the way here..."
Cultivators at the first four stages of the Embryonic Breathing Realm exhibit vigorous blood qi and consumerge amounts of food. Once they break through the crucial Jade Capital Stage and transcend the mortal realm, their need for food drastically reduces.
Upon reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm, and being blessed with the longevity of a deity, they sustained themselves on air and dew, needing only to drink clean water. If they eat at all, it must be spirit meat or spirit rice, as secr food could hinder their cultivation progress.
Li Xuanling, at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and a step or two from the Qi Cultivation Realm, still required regr meals; roughly once every day or two. Now that his household was prosperous, he no longer consumed ordinary grain but spirit rice and demon beast meat instead.
Lu Wanrong opened the food basket and retrieved two tiers¡ªone containing steamed, pristine spirit rice, and the other several slices of tender, red demon meat.
Li Xuanling took the jade chopsticks from his wife and ate slowly, chewing thoughtfully.
After he was done, Lu Wanrong handed him some tea which he epted gracefully. She spoke softly, "Yuanyun hasn''te down from the mountain for over a year, and I''m really worried about him. He''s very proud at heart, and despite the setback, he won''t share his troubles with us..."
Li Xuanling''s expression became pained and slightly guilty as he responded to his wife''s concerns.
"I''m aware of that."
Chapter 186: Preparing for the Sacrifice
Chapter 186: Preparing for the Sacrifice
Li Xuanling set down his chopsticks, his expression turning somewhat despondent.
After a long pause, he said, "What else can we do? Yuanyun finds sce in thepany of Sister Jingtian as they share simr fates... If he wishes to stay on the mountain and read, let him. We can''t possibly ask him toe down, that''d only hurt him more."
Lu Wanrong sighed softly.
"It would be best if she''s willing to teach him. I initially thought about having hime down the mountain to manage some worldly affairs to distract him as that might ease his mncholy over time."
Having seen many such kinsfolk without spiritual orifice in her youth, Lu Wanrong was experienced in dealing with such situations. She hade to make this suggestion, but knowing that staying with Li Jingtian was preferable toing down the mountain, she changed the subject.
"Qinghong loves to train with a spear, but weck a proper master at home. Now that she has reached the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, not even the skilled mortals below can match her. My dear, could you possibly find a good teacher for her?"
"I''ll keep it in mind and ask my father when I get the chance," Li Xuanling replied as he nodded in agreement.
As the couple shared an intimate moment together, the stone door beside them creaked. Some dust flew up as it moved aside to reveal a young man carrying a golden longbow who stepped out.
Seeing the couple, he raised an eyebrow and greeted them.
"Brother Ling, sister-inw."
"Greetings, elder brother," they both replied as they stood up.
Li Xuanfeng nodded, his demeanor fairly rxed as he said, "I''ve just broken through to the fourth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm. With the day of the ritual approaching, I decided to step out for some fresh air."
Li Xuanling breathed a sigh of relief.
"We still haven''t secured a demon beast for the sacrifice. With father deep in his breakthrough, I dare not disturb him. I''m d you''re out now; Yuanxiu was just about to knock on your door."
cing his Golden Age Longbow on the ground, causing a gust of air to burst forth, Li Xuanfeng joined Li Xuanling at the table as thetter recounted the happenings of recent years.
After listening, Li Xuanfeng responded, "It''s fortunate that all is well. Once Shamoli achieves the Qi Cultivation Realm, Second Uncle won''t need to be troubled. With my bow alone, not a single Qi Cultivator from Mount Yue will escape."
Li Xuanling smiled and nodded, adding, "We still haven''t gathered the unrefined qi needed for Shamoli''s cultivation. I''ve asked Donghe to keep an eye out for it. Not having broken through to Qi Cultivation Realm myself, I''m unsure if we''ll manage in time."
"No matter. Now that I am out, I can simply collect it during thunderstorms. After all, it''s just unrefined qi and doesn''t require much effort," Li Xuanfeng said as he reassured him.
By the time he finished speaking, Lu Wanrong had prepared some tea and had served it in two jade cups for the men.
Li Xuanfeng took a sip and asked with a smile, "How is Yuanxiu managing the household?"
Li Xuanling set down his jade cup, his expression filled with satisfaction as he spoke softly.
"He handles it skillfully, managing to sway all branches of the family. Even those elders who are a constant headache for Xuanxuan havee to praise him to me. He skillfully bnces severity and gentleness, fosters closeness among the major and minor branches, and has incited suchpetition among the external cultivators that their age-old silent agreements have copsed overnight... This boy manages our household better than either of us ever did!"
Li Xuanfeng was momentarily stunned by Li Xuanling''s high praise, then pped his thigh and eximed, "Really?! He was such a quiet kid... I never imagined he''d be so capable!"
Li Xuanling beamed as he spoke of Li Yuanxiu.
"Xiu''er is subtly brilliant. His unassuming appearance often makes people underestimate him, only to find themselves ensnared in his schemes before they realize it. Jiao''er, on the contrary, projects bravery and resolution from the outset. Both brothers are formidable in their own right!"
"Hahahaha!"
After years of separation, Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling conversed a while longer before a brief silence fell between them.
Li Xuanfeng reached for his long bow and excused himself with a smile, saying, "I''ll go settle the matter regarding the sacrificial beast. The sooner we address the issue, the fewer worries we''ll have."
After bidding farewell, he flew out of the cave dwelling and into the mountains.
Watching Li Xuanfeng disappear into the distance, Lu Wanrong murmured, "My brother-inw is nearly thirty and still hasn''t married or had children. It''s bing an issue."
Lu Wanrong had only met Li Xuanfeng a few times and hence did not share a strong bond with her husband''s brother. Despite herment, she felt somewhat relieved deep down. After all, the more children there were in the family, the less attention would be given to her own daughter, Qinghong. Still, as a sister-inw, it was proper to show concern.
"Indeed," Li Xuanling agreed, showing genuine concern. He then continued, "But that incident was a hard blow to him... I fear he has little inclination to think of marriage right now. We won''t be able to persuade him... only Father can."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng soared into the air, following the route he had once taken with Li Tongya when they had ambushed the two individuals from Changxiao Gate. After the time taken to burn a stick of incense, he finallynded under arge banyan tree with white leaves.
Arge fox was busily digging at something by the tree roots, surrounded by various other foxes that were hopping around. The little ones were unafraid of Li Xuanfeng, even sniffing curiously around his feet.
"Greetings, Senior!" Li Xuanfeng called out, cupping his fist respectfully.
The fox paused in surprise before anxiously asking, "Where''s Li Tongya? Why are you here instead? Surely, he hasn''t... died out there, has he?"
"The elder is currently in seclusion focusing on his breakthrough, so he sent me here instead," Li Xuanfeng replied reassuringly.
The fox then stood upright, eximing nervously, "Is he attempting to attain the Foundation Establishment Realm?! That''s a life-and-death trial..."
"My second uncle is now at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. His seclusion is not for attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm," Li Xuanfeng rified.
The fox calmed down upon hearing this, saying, "Humans really cultivate fast! It takes you just a few years to break through a heavenlyyer... soon, he''ll surpass me."
After a nce at Li Xuanfeng, the fox said mysteriously, "I heard from the great demons of my n that the ruler of Mount Yue is about to die of old age... Are you aware of this? Your home borders the mountain region; you should be prepared!"
Li Xuanfeng appreciated the fox''s concern for Li Tongya and its prompt advice for the Li Family. He thought to himself, It''s funny how the demons of this world often seem more sincere than humans...
Thinking this, Li Xuanfeng responded aloud, "Thank you for the warning, Senior. My family is already aware of it."
"Good to know," the fox huffed, seemingly frustrated at not eliciting a more dramatic reaction from Li Xuanfeng, which seemed to itch its need to share gossip.
Laying down on the ground, the fox then decided to pry further.
"What brings you here?"
"I seek to capture a couple of demon beasts. Do you have any advice for me, Senior?" Li Xuanfeng asked, making the intention of his visit known.
The fox epted the Spirit Paddies from Li Xuanfeng and smiled, revealing the locations of several demon beasts.
As Li Xuanfeng flew away, the fox stuffed its mouth with the paddies while wagging its tail and chittering to itself happily.
"That''s a nice golden bow!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanfeng flew for an hour and came upon a hill shrouded in mist, dotted with fruit trees. Deer and horned horses roamed among them. He peered closely, searching for the creatures he sought.
"The fox mentioned a pack of hyenas here, with two at the Qi Cultivation Realm... but I see nothing, not even a trace of demonic qi! They hide well!"
Li Xuanfeng observed for a while longer and finally spotted a gray hyena sitting on arge rock. It seemed to have attained the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, with robust hind legs and weaker front limbs. Sitting like a child on the rock, it watched the deer below. At first nce, it looked like a child in a gray fur coat.
"Is it... herding?" Li Xuanfeng wondered to himself.
Chapter 187: The Hyena Demon
Chapter 187: The Hyena Demon
Li Xuanfeng watched in amazement as the hyena asionally howled loudly,manding the other hyenas to drive the deer to another lush grazing area. Once the deer had nearly finished grazing, they were herded back into the forest.
Li Xuanfeng, who had hunted many demons in the mountains for years, had never seen such a phenomenon and patiently waited the entire afternoon. As the sun set and everything was eventually basked in its orange glow, the hyena finally selected a few deer and awkwardly led them deeper into the forest, using its forelimbs like arms, staggering oddly on two legs.
Despite its ineptitude, the gray-haired hyena stumbled a few times after just a few steps, getting so frustrated that it threw down the rope and howled angrily before switching to running on all fours, guiding the rope with its mouth.
Li Xuanfeng, using a stealth spell, followed the hyena closely as it navigated through the woods to arge rock face covered in green vines. It had arge cave entrance where light and two other hyenas could be seen sleeping at the entrance. The gray hyena howled once before awkwardly entering.
The other two hyenas, merely at the second and third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, did not challenge Li Xuanfeng as he confidently passed by them. Soon, he could hear the crackling of fire and the noisy chattering from within.
"Yip yip, ha ha..."
Inside, it sounded like a group of yful children¡ªnoisy and lively with intermingling sharp cackles, robustughs, and asional murmurs and giggles. The voices echoed erratically throughout the cave.
The dim, reddish light of the fire cast bizarre, twisting shadows on the cave walls, resembling a chaotic dance of demons. Amidst theughter were intermittent cries of deer, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Having heard the fox describe the hyena''sughter as childlike and unsettling, Li Xuanfeng was now fully witnessing it. Knowing that there were Qi Cultivation Realm demons inside, he dared not probe with his spiritual sense, fearing that he might alert them of his presence.
He lingered at the cave entrance, pondering, The narrow confines of the cave are ill-suited for bowbat... I need to find a way to lure them out.
Thus, he retreated a few miles and pondered for a moment before settling around the forest perimeter. With a flick of his fingers, he conjured a me with his mana and moved it closer to arge locust tree, which instantly crackled as the fire climbed its branches. In mere moments, the entire tree was ame.
The night wind was favorable, sparing Li Xuanfeng the effort of conjuring a windstorm with his mana. He then flew a few miles away and waited patiently. As expected, a pack of hyenas soon arrived, frantically circling the growing wildfire and howling.
These hyenas, merely minor demons at the Embryonic Breathing Realm, were naturally powerless against the mes. After about the time it took a stick of incense to burn, two gusts of demonic wind finally arrived, summoning rain from above using their mana.
These two Qi Cultivation Realm hyenas appeared tock any sophisticated lineage and were unfamiliar with techniques like cloud maniption; they merely used their mana to mobilize the moisture in the air. Given the recent damp weather and abundant nighttime humidity, the fire gradually diminished.
Li Xuanfeng did not attack immediately but waited quietly from a distance, firstly to let the two demons deplete some of their mana, and secondly, there were many other great demons in Mount Dali. If the fire escted, it could attract countless other demons, creating unnecessary trouble for him.
Once the mes had mostly subsided, Li Xuanfeng drew his bow and nocked an arrow. The bowstring shimmered in bright gold before he released the arrow, sending it speeding directly toward the back of one of the demons.
The demon, who was patrolling the forest atop the wind, was caught off guard by the arrow flying toward it. Its fur bristled in rm, and it barely managed to conjure a grayish-ck demonic shield in a desperate attempt to block the iing attack, all while letting out a loud screech.
However, the demonic shield shattered like thin paper in the face of the golden arrow. The Qi Cultivation Realm hyena was pinned to the ground like a regr hyena, wailing pitifully.
"This one''s a bit weak... I shouldn''t kill it with a single arrow," Li Xuanfeng remarked from a distance. Unable to urately judge the opponent''s cultivation with his spiritual sense due to the distance, Li Xuanfeng pinned it down with one arrow. The Astral Qi had already begun to spread within the demon''s body, potentially killing it instantly.
Li Xuanfeng quickly aimed to attack the other hyena, but unexpectedly, the hyena was quick to react and bold enough to rush toward him, exhaling a ck breath toward his face.
Li Xuanfeng raised his bow to shield himself, and the hyena, with its fourth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm and apparently experienced in killing, knew of the frailty of cultivators'' bodies. It swiped its w towards his bow while continuously exhaling ck breath.
ng!
The hyena had dreadfully underestimated his opponent. Li Xuanfeng''s bow was both heavy and hard, deflecting the w with a metallic ng. Taking no chances, Li Xuanfeng concentrated his mana to block the deadly breath of the hyena, creating a dazzling disy of mana light. The demon, unwilling to show weakness, attacked with its ck ws, each strike heavy and powerful. Fortunately, Li Xuanfeng, having received the talisman, was as strong as a demon. The battle raged on fiercely and with great intensity.
With most of his cultivation invested in his bow, Li Xuanfeng''s strength was significantly reduced when the demon got close. The cunning creature clung tightly to him, refusing to allow any distance between them, forcing the two into a stalemate.
After a dozen moves in a tense standoff in the air, Li Xuanfeng spotted an opening. With a swift motion, he pped his storage pouch, causing two yellow talismans to fly out. They transformed into streams of fire, effectively blocking the demon''s spells and providing him with momentary respite.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Xuanfeng retreated a few steps, drew his bowstring, and unleashed a radiant golden light toward the hyena''s face.
The hyena demon shifted several times in the air, attempting to evade the relentless onught of the golden light, but to no avail. With no other option, it mustered a robust mana shield, summoning its courage to endure the powerful st of golden light.
The Astral Qi exploded against the hyena demon''s mana, disrupting its flow and creating an opening. Seizing the opportunity, Li Xuanfeng stepped back, each retreat apanied by the release of an arrow. With each shot, he widened the gap between them, relentlessly bombarding the hyena demon with waves of golden light.
Within just a dozen breaths, Li Xuanfeng had released five arrows. Feeling overwhelmed, the hyena demon spewed a jet of ck air aimed toward Li Xuanfeng before darting into the forest like a shooting star, hoping to utilize the cover of night and the dense woods to evade Li Xuanfeng''s relentless barrage of arrows.
"What a fool!" Li Xuanfeng sneered coldly. With determination, he pulled an ebony arrow from his quiver, swiftly nocking it to his bow. Through the dense canopy of treetops, he fixed his gaze on the fleeing figure.
Though the distance was too great for his spiritual sense to urately lock onto his target, the demon was affected by his Astral Qi, thereby granting Li Xuanfeng a faint sense of its position.
As the golden arrow umted power, it subtly adjusted its trajectory to match the movement of its target. With great precision, Li Xuanfeng gently released his hold, allowing the arrow to streak across the night sky before striking the ground with unerring uracy.
The demon bristled in panic and frantically scratched at the ground, attempting to dig a hole where it could hide. Its efforts were futile, however, as it was too slow to evade the iing attack.
The first arrow pierced through its nk, causing the demon to cry out in agony. Before it could gather its wits, a second arrow found its mark, leaving the creature gasping for breath as it copsed to the ground in defeat.
Despite the creature''s futile resistance, spitting intermittent bursts of ck air, he used his mana to lift it effortlessly. With precision, Li Xuanfeng injected a stream of true essence into the creature''s body, effectively sealing its cultivation. He picked up the subdued demon hurriedly and rode the wind once more tond beside the weaker demon he had already subdued earlier.
The weaker hyena demon was already struggling to breathe and gasping for air. It seemed to have only recently broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. A group of Embryonic Breathing Realm hyena demons surrounded it, wailing softly. Upon seeing Li Xuanfengnd nearby, they scattered like leaves in the wind.
Li Xuanfeng quickly worked his mana to sustain its life. He removed the ebony arrows from both demons and carefully treated their wound before taking to the air with his trusty bow slung over his back. He then headed home with both demons in each of his hands.
Chapter 188: Yuanxius Ritual
Chapter 188: Yuanxiu''s Ritual
"Report!"
A n soldier rushed into the courtyard and entered the rear hall, announcing his arrival at the door before kneeling down in a panic.
"Come in."
A youthful voice¡ªclear and slightly high-pitched, characteristic of his age¡ªcame from inside the hall.
The soldier entered the rear hall and presented a small letter to Li Pingyi, who approached him. His voice was solemn when he spoke.
"Report from Jingyang Town."
Li Yuanxiu read the letter and muttered, "The fourth son of the Tian Family and a male member of the Liu Family got into a fight on the streets of Jingyang Town, knocking out three of the Liu Family member''s teeth... Incensed, the Liu Family sent a letter overnight to my aunt, seeking justice."
Li Yuanxiu was amused by the letter. Granduncle Li Tongya''s wife was from the Liu Family, which afforded the Liu Family a certain status among the towns.
Although the Tian Familycked powerful backers, several of its members held significant power, leading to endless disputes between the two families that had now escted to Liu Rouxuan.
Li Yuanxiu could not help butment, "They couldn''t even handle such a trivial matter and decided to escte a report..."
"Should we arrest the culprit?" Li Pingyi asked.
"No need," Li Yuanxiu responded softly, his voice low. He held a slight disdain for the Liu Family''s manager; he could have stopped the report but chose not to intervene due to respect for his elders.
Soon after, another n soldier entered the courtyard. Without looking up, Li Yuanxiu inquired, "What was my aunt''s reaction?"
The soldier was momentarily stunned, not expecting Li Yuanxiu to predict his news.
Swallowing the long speech he had prepared, he responded sinctly, "The person from the Liu Family delivered the letter, but she only read it without responding..."
Li Yuanxiu simply nodded and pondered over the letter in front of him for a few moments. He then lifted his brush and wrote¡ªRead¡ªbefore continuing, "Assign the guy from the Tian Family to the ebony mine for a three-year term."
Liu Rouxuan''s response to receiving the letter was not to sternly reprimand her people for stirring up trouble but rather to remain silent.
Realizing that his aunt was somewhat dissatisfied with the Tian Family''s actions yet refrained from acting due to her past rtionship with his third aunt, Tian Yun, Li Yuanxiu decided to tactfully administer a mild punishment to the Tian Family.
He then instructed Li Pingyi, "Send a younger family member to reprimand the Liu Family''s manager. How dare they escte such embarrassing minor issues to the elders? Theyck discretion!"
"Understood," Li Pingyi responded quietly. Suddenly, he perked up his ears.
Li Yuanxiu also sensed that something was amiss and looked toward the courtyard.
ng, ng...
The sound of weapons hitting the ground echoed as the n soldiers outside all bowed their heads and kneeled,ying their weapons on the ground. Through the open courtyard gate, a robust figure swiftly emerged. Beneath his long eyebrows were a pair of calm eyes.
A man, carrying an impressivelyrge, beak-nosed canine that was still squeaking, entered the courtyard nonchntly. He had a gold bow ornately carved with patterns slung on his back and he smiled as he looked at Li Yuanxiu seated at the head of the hall.
The old guards in the rear hall were all familiar with this person, so they instantly kneeled andid down their weapons as a gesture of respect.
Although Li Pingyi did not recognize the man, the sight of the iconic golden bow startled him, prompting him to kneel on one knee and bow his head as well.
"Wee, n Uncle!"
Li Yuanxiu quickly set down his writing brush and hurried forward, cupping his fist respectfully.
"Greetings, Uncle!"
"Hahaha!"
Li Xuanfeng let the two demon beasts drop to the ground with a thud andughed heartily. He scrutinized Li Yuanxiu, noting, "It''s been years, and you''re all grown up already. Xuanling told me you were modest, but I see you are handsome and wise, not just bright inside... Very good...very good indeed!"
Li Yuanxiu chuckled softly and replied, "The family still depends on the elders. My little cleverness is nothing special, I''m just managing the family''s various branches as my duty."
Li Xuanfeng waved his hand, gesturing toward the two hyenas on the ground, exining, "The sacrifice is nearing, and these two beasts I''ve captured are for that. I''ve sealed their powers. You should prepare for the sacrifice, it''s likely that your second uncle and your father won''t be able to attend due to their training in seclusion. Arrange everything properly; the household affairs are now in your hands."
"Understood," Li Yuanxiu replied as he nodded seriously.
Li Xuanfeng then inquired about Li Yuanxiu''s progress in cultivation. After making sure that the young one had no questions regarding his training, Li Xuanfeng flew out of the courtyard.
Watching Li Xuanfeng leave with envy, Li Pingyi remarked, "With n Uncle out of seclusion, the family''s uing sacrificial ritual should proceed smoothly now."
Li Yuanxiu agreed with a relieved smile, "Indeed. Summon the family elders... We need to consult them about the rituals. We can hold the ceremony at the end of the year."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Winter snow arrived on schedule, thoroughly icing over the shores of theke. Every household litmps at the foot of the mountain ording to the age-old tradition. Children worshiped the moon and frolicked before the lights, theirughter carrying far into the distance.
Li Yuanxiu consulted with the family elders and finalized the preparations for the sacrifice. The street market surged with people who craned their necks at the stone altar, whispering among themselves as they gazed at the two massive hyena demons strapped in ce.
Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense emerged from the mirror, observing the noisy scene below the mountain. Streams of pale golden incense flowed out, swirling like threads of gold, all converging on his mirror''s surface.
"Time flies... three to five years pass in the blink of an eye. Is this what they call the seed of longevity?" he mumbled.
Lu Jiangxian, having spent nearly fifty years on the mountain, had watched Li Tongya evolve from a mortal to a Qi Cultivator. He had also seen Li Xuanxuan grow from a naive child into the head of a family, witnessed elders pass away, and children born.
A multitude of emotions welled within him.
Time flowed as usual within the mirror. Over the past decades, Lu Jiangxian had focused solely on studying shamanic spells within the mirror, deepening his understanding of the craft. The curses and spells he had developed were now potent enough to easily kill a Qi Cultivator.
"They are here."
In the town center of Lijing, the stone tform was filled with people prostrating themselves. The sacrificial stone knife prated the skulls and brains of the two hyena demons.
A robust flow of blood qi and essence qi rose, mingling with the pervasive incense before pouring into the mirror.
"The Li Family of Lijing offers respect along with fine delicacies and wine with unwavering devotion year upon year... Through the smoke of our offerings and the blood of our sacrifice, we call upon the gods, seeking their blessings."
Lu Jiangxian stood atop the mountain within the mirror''s world, a wisp of gray talisman qi appearing in his hand.
Observing the changes in the talisman qi, he pondered for a moment before picking up a jade pot from the table, dividing half of the talisman qi for future study.
His divine sense circled a few of the younger generation of the Li Family below, musing to himself, Talisman qi is precious indeed... but to me, it costs nothing. However, if granted too freely, it loses its value and significance.
Looking at the people below, Lu Jiangxian nned his actions carefully.
From now on, each generation should only receive one or two talisman qi... It''s better to focus on quality. The excess talisman qi could be condensed into talisman pills or stored forter use.
As for today''s sacrifice... each person should only receive one talisman qi. If given now, it would only be a gray talisman of Qi Cultivation Realm, which isn''t much. It''s worth the wait though. Once Li Tongya achieves the Foundation Establishment Realm and secures a demon beast of that realm, I will bestow white talisman qi of the Foundation Establishment Realm to the generation of Yuan and Qing in the Li Family.
With his mind made up, Lu Jiangxian activated the mirror, condensing half of the talisman qi into talisman pills. In the stone chamber on the mountain, the bluish-gray mirror radiated a bright white light, calmly floating up and releasing six intricately patterned talisman pills.
Chapter 189: The Concerns of Shamoli
Chapter 189: The Concerns of Shamoli
Li Yuanxiu wiped his hands that were stained with the blood of the demon beasts and slowly descended from the altar.
His uncle, Li Xuanfeng, had already inquired about the situation and, after confirming that no one had received a talisman, had departed on the wind, leaving the younger generation behind to handle the aftermath.
With the sacrificial ritualpleted, Li Xuanling took a talisman pill and retreated to the mountains to cultivate in seclusion. Having been at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm for several years, he nned to use the power of the talisman pill to break through to the sixth stage.
Touching the jade bottle in his pocket, Li Yuanxiu knew it contained a portion of unrefined qi.
Chen Donghe had been collecting it for two years, and after Li Xuanfeng emerged from seclusion, he and Chen Donghe had vigorouslypleted the collection over the past few months... specifically preparing it for Shamoli.
He nced at Li Yuanjiao, who was engrossed in his own thoughts.
He handed him the jade bottle, whispering, "The family''s unrefined qi is ready. You should go up the mountain to fetch the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique, Make sure you make the necessary adjustments to the beginning and the end of the content before taking it to Shamoli for his cultivation."
"Understood."
Li Yuanjiao epted the jade bottle with a curt nod. Perhaps feeling a bit down for not receiving a talisman this year, he took the bottle and tucked it into his chest pocket, murmuring, "Why did we not receive a talisman this year? Our fathers'' generation used to get one, so why not us..."
"Well..."
At that, Li Yuanxiu smiled softly and ruffled his hair, responding, "Don''t overthink it. If it did not happen this time, there''s always a next time. We''re only in our teens, there''s no need to rush. Look at Qinghong, she did not receive a talisman either, yet she remains happy, training with her spear."
"She''s just too carefree!" Li Yuanjiaoughed as he thought of Li Qinghong''s cheerful demeanor. His spirits visibly lifted, but he had not expected a yful p on his back, causing him to stagger.
Turning around, he saw Li Qinghong with a smirk, holding a wooden spear as usual. She teased with a smile, "I could hear you gossiping about me from afar, Brother Jiao!"
"Hmph."
Li Qinghong was a favorite among the family elders, and Li Yuanjiao, wary of herints, chose not to argue and turned back¡ªonly to see Li Yuanyun holding backughter, thoroughly amused by the scene.
"Brother Yun! What''s so funny?!" Li Yuanjiao grumbled.
Li Yuanxiu finally could not hold back hisughter. He bent down to scoop both Li Yuanyun and Li Qinghong into his arms, bnced one in each, and smiled warmly.
"I find it funny too."
"Brother!"
Li Yuanjiao was alsoughing now, but he quickly straightened up and became serious again, shedding his childish demeanor as he spoke.
"I have heard that absorbing unrefined qi is much easier than pure spiritual qi from the heaven and earth... It probably won''t take long for you to need to mobilize troops and get ready."
"Of course," Li Yuanxiu nodded and smiled. "Currently, our standing army numbers are over five thousand. With just onemand from me, we can mobilize over ten thousand troops. If Uncle takes care of the Qi Cultivators of Mount Yue, it won''t take longer than three days before the entire Eastern Mount Yue is under our control."
Li Yuanyun, having read for several years, could not help but feel excited by these words, sensing the thrill of witnessing history. Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement, and they walked down the street together, observing the n soldiers who stepped aside with a slight smile ying on their lips.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Brother Shamoli, I have brought the items for you."
Li Yuanjiao held a jade slip in his hand, knocking on the stone door.
After a moment, the door slid open loudly and Shamoli emerged¡ªhis beard unkempt, his expression full of anticipation.
He stammered, "Brother, did you... did you manage to obtain the technique and the spiritual qi of heaven and earth?"
Li Yuanjiao saw that Shamoli had made progress in his cultivation over the past few days and had not wasted time. He nodded in affirmation and replied, "Yes."
Overjoyed, Shamoli took the jade slip and jade bottle from Li Yuanjiao''s hands, continuously expressing his gratitude.
Patting Shamoli on the shoulder, Li Yuanjiao pulled out two more jade bottles from his chest pocket and exined, "I have also obtained two pills for you. One is called the Snake Essence Pill, which is used for breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm."
Shamoli took the jade bottle from Li Yuanjiao, and upon channeling his spiritual sense into it, indeed found a white round pill inside it.
Li Yuanjiao continued, "The second one is a unique pill of our Easterners, called Moonlight Pill. Take it immediately to break through to the sixth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
The pill Li Yuanjiao brought was in fact a talisman pill, but fearing that Shamoli might inadvertently cause trouble if he knew its true nature, he had not revealed its real name and instead had made up a name for it.
Shamoli, upon receiving the bottle and seeing a white pill covered in intricate patterns, felt it was even more precious than the Snake Essence Pill and said hurriedly, "This... this is too valuable! How can I possibly ept it?! After all the trouble I have caused you, I can''t possibly ept such a great favor from you...!"
"Enough of that. Time is of the essence!" Li Yuanjiao said as he cut him off with this reminder. He instructed Shamoli to take a spiritual oath to never reveal anything about the pill or the technique before cupping his fist to him and leaving.
Shamoli courteously saw him off, then turned back with renewed vigor as he entered the secret chamber happily. He carefully ced the jade slip on his left and the jade bottle on his right then gazed at the two items on the ground in a daze.
A sudden change from tion to a mix of guilt and fear overwhelmed him,ing so swiftly that it made his head spin. He understood all too well that opening the coveted jade slip and consuming the spiritual qi that he received without lifting his finger could grant him a lifespan of two hundred years as a Qi Cultivator, and the kingship he had dreamt of for over twenty years would be within easy reach.
Yet, Shamoli also recognized that by doing so, he would lead the foreign army across the soil of his homnd, subjugating hundreds of thousands of his people in body and spirit.
Eastern Mount Yue would be reduced to nothing more than a name. The entire nation, from the court to themon people, would depend on the whim of the Easterners. His elder brother, who had always been superior to him, would also be executed, leaving him, a mediocre man, to rule Eastern Mount Yue.
"Is it worth it..? That is the lifetime effort of my father..."
Shamoli could almost see his stern father standing coldly before him. Suddenly, the reachable throne and spiritual qi lost their allure. He wavered for a moment and then, frightened by his own hesitation, began to tremble.
Shamoli did not dare contemte how the Li Family might deal with him, aware that the family had Qi Cultivators in itste stage, likely observing him from the sky at that very moment. Even if he were to achieve the Qi Cultivation Realm and attempt to flee, he could not possibly escape far...
"Father, I''m afraid of death... Who isn''t? If I weren''t so afraid of dying, I would have faced execution in the pce long ago instead of fleeing to the easternnds... I really don''t want to die!" Shamoli cried out as he slowly closed his eyes, recalling how his father, Mu Jiaoman, had consolidated his territory in the months following the death of Jianixi, using numerous underhanded methods and killing many of their own people in the process. And yet now here he was, weakly submitting to the Easterners.
With tears, he sneered to embolden himself, his eyes fiercely wide open as he muttered, "How can I say no? This is what you taught me, Father..."
He picked up the jade slip from the ground, sat up, and began reading intently. In a guilty tone, he whispered, "Qimu does not understand the vast ambitions of the Easterners; he will eventually end up delivering Eastern Mount Yue into their hands. Only I can save it... Father, only I can preserve Eastern Mount Yue."
His eyes became resolute as he found justifications for his actions, casting aside all his feelings of burden and guilt. Shamoli bowed his head, ground his teeth, and wiped his tears as he continued to immerse himself in the jade slip, gradually stabilizing his emotions.
Chapter 190: Xu Gongming
Chapter 190: Xu Gongming
"It''s really damn cold!" the old man grumbled as the harsh winter wind lingered over theke for months. The weather had slightly warmed in spring, but it was as cold as the winters of previous years.
The young nts stuck in the soil withered and turned yellow, not a single one survived. When the chill finally receded, summer warmed up only briefly before plunging back into a bone-chilling fall. That year, the fields yielded no crops, and the farmers, swallowing their pride, set down their hoes to forage in the mountains for food.
Old Master Xu sat in front of his house, shivering as he rubbed his hands together in the cold wind, calcting whether his family''s remaining grain wouldst until next year. Since his father, Xu San, had passed away, he had been managing the household for over a decade and had be quite adept at it.
The Xu Family was one of therger families in the town, although far scruffierpared to the Tian and Liu families. They had never managed a town during the era when the Li Family rose to power and had naturally declined over the years.
While the number of their family members had swollen thanks to the Li Family''s exploitations of Mount Yue and absorbing refugees from the east, the family had not progressed, merely surviving year after year without any improvement.
Old Master Xu got up and strolled around the yard. After counting the grain left from the previous year, his courtyard door was knocked on twice.
"Who is it?"
"Uncle, it''s me, Gongming!"
The gate creaked open, and a young man entered.
Old Master Xu stroked his beard and called out, "Gongming,e inside and sit."
As Xu Gongming entered the courtyard, he immediately said, "Uncle, have you heard? The main family is preparing to fight Mount Yue, and they are recruiting soldiers in town. There has been drumming for many days... I want to join the army. My parents, being farmers, are undecided, so they asked me to consult with you."
After Xu San''s death, the Xu Family split, and each branch developed separately in town. As the eldest and somewhat educated, Old Master Xu naturally became the decision-maker of the family. He looked at the young man before him and hesitated to speak.
Xu Gongming, the only one in the family with a spiritual orifice and now at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, became anxious seeing his uncle''s silence and said in a low voice, "Uncle! No family in our town is as destitute as ours! The Liu Family has always ownednds in Jingyang and holds significant status since they are rted to the ancestor of the main family through marriage. The Tian Family is thriving with many capable members controlling most spirit fields, and the Chen Family, though quiet, already boasts a Qi Cultivator... If our family is to find a way forward, it can only be through the military!"
Old Master Xu picked up arge bowl and squinted as he counted the grains inside, responding slowly, "The army is a tool for the townsfolk, but which battalionmander[1] is not from the Li Family..? Do not think it is that easy..."
Xu Gongming slumped into a shabby wooden chair, disheartened by his uncle''s words which disrupted his hopeful ns. He urged hastily, "Then give me some advice... The Xu Family is about to fall into my hands, yet I feel powerless to do anything!"
Old Master Xu nodded but his face fell as he spotted a few mouse droppings at the bottom of the basket.
"If you want to join the army, that really is a good path. I do not know much about military formations or cultivation, but I can only teach you two words," he said.
"The first is loyalty."
Old Master Xu set the basket down, finally bing serious. His face rxed slightly, and in a low voice, he continued, "Our Xu Family once took revenge for the main family, and our contributions are acknowledged by the ancestor and current family head. Once you join the army, you will carry the name of our family and can immediately secure a decent position, thanks to the heritage left by our forebears. You must be willing to suffer wounds, and at crucial moments...even die. You need to be stern and impartial, even if it means offending others, and you must engrave this mark of loyalty deeply into the minds of those from the main family."
These words struck Xu Gongming like a hammer, and he finally understood why his parents had sent him to consult his uncle. He memorized these words carefully before asking, "And the second word is..?"
"The second isposure."
Old Master Xu, sitting beside him, stretched out his thin and bony fingers before saying softly, "The Young Master Xiu is well aware of the happenings within the family... In the army, do not seek des, but strive to avoid faults. When you see members of the main family, speak little, but remain silent andposed. Do not socialize too much in the army, and never promote your own family''s young men. Handle everything impartially. If you can do this for twenty years, bing amander of a thousand is within reach. If you are lucky enough to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, you could be a confidant of the family head, and our Xu Family could secure a ce among the various towns."
"Twenty years..." Xu Gongming mumbled as he nodded silently, then quickly expressed his gratitude. He then asked about potential questions he might face if Li Yuanxiu summoned him.
The old man answered each question while picking up the basket, before impatiently shaking the rice basket.
"Enough talking, go and prepare your things."
Although he was caught off guard by his elder''s curt dismissal, Xu Gongming knew his uncle had a peculiar temperament. He quickly thanked him again then left thoughtfully.
Old Master Xu sat in the courtyard for a while and looked at the rice basket in his hand. He picked out the few mouse droppings, shook the old rice in the basket, and murmured to himself.
"This will barely suffice..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Xu Gongming..."
Li Yuanxiu opened the letter that was handed to him and read it. He recalled the situation of the Xu Family, and said softly, "This Xu Family member is the first Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator to join the army, is he not..?"
These cultivators, having barely stepped onto the path of immortality, cherished their lives immensely. When the family issued the conscription order, revealing ns to attack Mount Yue, they did not specifically summon these cultivators.
All of them pretended not to hear what was happening outside though they were usually busying themselves with singing, dancing, banquets, and outings. Now, they all obediently stayed at home farming; none ventured out to cause trouble.
"Yes," Li Pingyi responded, watching as Li Yuanxiu pondered for a moment, flipping the letter back and forth several times. He then murmured, "The Xu Family has also contributed to our family. Over the decades, we have given them opportunities, and my father even mentioned them specifically to me, but the Xu descendants have not grasped these opportunities well... leading unsatisfactory lives."
"Xu Gongming is already outside," Li Pingyi interjected, prompting Li Yuanxiu to nod.
"Call him in."
Shortly after, a young man around twenty-five or twenty-six years old walked in. He wore a sword at his waist and had an earnest look, appearing quite straightforward.
Upon seeing Li Yuanxiu, he cupped his fist and said in a deep voice, "Xu Gongming greets the young master." After speaking respectfully, Xu Gongming stood silently with his head bowed humbly.
Li Yuanxiu inquired about his family''s circumstances. Xu Gongming answered sinctly and clearly; whether he had prepared his responses in advance or was simply quick-witted, his answers were all satisfactory.
Li Yuanxiu nodded slightly and said in a gentle voice, "You may go to the barracks tomorrow."
Xu Gongming cupped his fist again, his expression solemn as he withdrew without asking further about the position he would receive, simply departing silently.
Li Yuanxiu felt an increased respect for him and murmured, "The Xu Family has had a tough time over the years... Now that they finally have a member with a spiritual orifice, it seems he wishes to serve in the military. Let''s start him off as a squadron leader of a hundred; his cultivation at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm should be good enough for that role."
Most of the cultivators in the military were from the Li Family''s minor sect and branches, with those at the first and second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm serving as squadron leaders of a hundred, and those at the third and fourth as battalionmanders of a thousand, totaling eight. With Xu Gongming, there were now nine cultivators.
As Li Yuanxiu was contemting this, someone hurried into the courtyard. As usual, the n soldiers kneeled one by one,ying their weapons on the ground as a gesture of respect. Seeing this, Li Yuanxiu quickly descended the steps.
Upon recognizing the figure, his face lit up with joy and he let out a loud exmation.
"Father!"
1. The battalionmander here actually means a 1000-manmander. ?
Chapter 191: The Elders Emerge from Seclusion
Chapter 191: The Elders Emerge from Seclusion
"Xiu''er!"
The man smiled triumphantly; it was none other than Li Xuanxuan. Now that he had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, bing the fourth Qi Cultivator in the Li Family with a lifespan of two hundred years and the ability to ride the winds and traverse the heavens and earth, he was naturally in high spirits. Even his appearance seemed rejuvenated by several years.
"Father, you''ve emerged from seclusion!" Li Yuanxiu eximed joyfully as he descended the steps to greet his father who shook his sleeve with a proud flourish, boasting, "Your father has consumed the Cave Spring Clear Qi and condensed the Cave Spring True Essence, which brings prolonged vitality and skill in regting qi and drawing talismans. Now, I am a Qi Cultivator! Not only me, but your granduncle has also broken through his seclusion, utilizing the power of the talisman pills to reach the ninth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm."
"That''s amazing!" Li Yuanxiu grinned as he nodded repeatedly. As Li Xuanxuan disyed a wisp of pale blue true essence, revealing a lively and refreshing aura, Li Yuanxiu looked on enviously and cupped his fist.
"Now that Father is back, the stewardship of the family naturally returns to your hands."
He then stepped back, lifting his long robe slightly to kneel, indicating that he was handing back the authority of the family head to Li Xuanxuan.
Mention of this made Li Xuanxuan visibly flustered. He had managed the family for over a decade and wondered before his seclusion whether Li Yuanxiu could take over his role effectively. Upon emerging, he was surprised to learn that Li Xuanling praised the household''s better order. Several elders shook their heads and sighed upon seeing him, leaving him bemused.
"Xiu''er, you''re being too formal!" Li Xuanxuan said as he shook his head and stated seriously, "Now that I have achieved the Qi Cultivation Realm, I naturally need to devote myself to deep cultivation¡ªparticrly in the art of talismans, to add more depth to our family''s legacy. There''s no reason for a Qi Cultivator to still cling to positions of power. Perhaps in a hundred years, when our Li Family has a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and Qi Cultivators are numerous, then it would be suitable for a Qi Cultivator to lead the family. For now, you should continue to lead."
Li Xuanxuan then continued proudly, "Moreover, I was extremely pleased to hear from Xuanling how well you''ve managed the family over these years, so I descended the mountain to see you!"
Li Yuanxiu chuckled, his earlier remark just a formality. He knew well that Li Xuanxuan would not want the position back.
"During your seclusion, there was unrest in Mount Yue, and the heir, Shamoli, had fled eastward and is now attempting a breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm in seclusion..." he said.
He then proceeded to exin their strategies against Mount Yue for the next few years. Li Xuanxuan, having already heard from Li Xuanling, listened again to Li Yuanxiu''s ount, thenmented thoughtfully, "Shamoli''s consumption of the unrefined qi is easier than pure spiritual qi of heaven and earth. This means that he''s likely to emerge from seclusion within a year..."
The father and son, sitting at the head of the room, dismissed the guards and servants. Li Yuanxiu exined the family''s internal strategies in detail, earning repeated nods and praise from Li Xuanxuan.
"Xuanling said you''ve surpassed us, but it seems he spared my feelings. This is far more than just surpassing!" hemented andughed.
Although Li Yuanxiu was ttered, he repeatedly apologized for outshining his father. The father and son continued their cheerful conversation into the evening. The two even shared a meaningful dinner together before Li Xuanxuan returned to the mountains.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya emerged from the cave dwelling, his body shimmering with true essence. Now a ninth heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator, he was among the top cultivators over Moongaze Lake, matched only by a few Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Despite this, he felt little joy, and a touch of worry tinged his mood.
"My cultivation speed is ultimately mediocre... Even using that precious talisman pill, it still took me three years to break through. Now that I''m approaching sixty, I fear I won''t be able to make it!"
Feeling restless, Li Tongya exhaled slowly, looking at Li Xuanxuan''s empty stone chamber, feeling somewhat relieved.
"Fortunately, Xuan''er has sessfully broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm... We have another Qi Cultivator in the family, and this child is better at talisman drawing than I am. This will add another legacy to our family..." he mumbled to himself.
Li Tongya''s knowledge of talisman arts came from the Spiritual Talisman Method manual brought back by Li Chejing, which included methods for twelve Embryonic Breathing Realm talisman arts and three Qi Cultivation Realm talisman arts. These were basic but widely applicable.
Unfortunately, Li Tongyacked talent in this area. After over a decade, he had only mastered the Embryonic Breathing Realm talismans but had never seeded with a Qi Cultivation Realm talisman. He eventually abandoned this pursuit to focus on sword cultivation.
Li Xuanxuan, possessing greater talent and a cultivation method more suited to drawing talismans, naturally became the most suitable candidate to assume the family''s talisman duties.
Reflecting on his limited sess with talismans and his nearly two-decades-long contributions to creating another source of ie for the family, Li Tongya suddenly realized his current cultivation mindset was uneptable.
"I''m rushing to break through to Foundation Establishment Realm by sixty, but such eagerness for quick sess is a taboo in cultivation! Thankfully, I have decades of deep cultivation and the talisman pills to support me; otherwise, being stuck at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm for years wouldn''t be surprising. That would have been a real dy!"
Relieved, Li Tongya discarded his obsession with reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm before sixty and consoled himself silently, Progressing steadily in cultivation, even if I exceed sixty, is fine. Having experienced so much in my cultivation journey, whether I achieved Foundation Establishment Realm or not, I started as a mere farmer''s son and now soar between heaven and earth, wandering freely with my sword. What more could I possibly demand from the world?
Breathing out deeply, Li Tongya, self-taught and without formal guidance, was thankful he could correct his path just by being cautious and reflective.
After meditating in the grand hall of the cave dwelling, he saw his son, Li Xuanling, approaching. He was a robust young man now.
"Congrattions on ending your seclusion, Father!"
"Mm..." Li Tongya nodded, his gaze briefly sweeping over his son. He smiled proudly before saying, "You have also reached the sixth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... In a few years, you should break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm."
"Yes." Li Xuanling sat beside his father, carefully choosing his words before speaking. "Father, Qinghong enjoys spearmanship, but weck a master of spears at home... I thought of finding a good mentor for her."
"Spearmanship..."
Upon hearing this, Li Tongya raised his eyebrows. He suddenly remembered the Foundation Establishment Realm spear emitting faint electricity in his storage pouch, and a man named Fei Wangbai. He was the old man in a white brocade robe who also attended the banquet hosted by the Yu Family back then and happened to be the master of the spear.
"I have heard that someone from the Fei Family on the northern shore excels in spear techniques, possessing top-tier strength around theke. The head of the Fei Family once invited me to visit their home... Perhaps this is a good opportunity to discuss this matter and foster good rtions between our families," Li Tongya responded.
"That would be perfect!"
Li Xuanling was thrilled at the prospect. Although Fei Wangbai of the Fei Family had only recently achieved a breakthrough a few years ago, he was a genuine Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
Even if the Fei Family was unwilling to share their most guarded techniques, instruction from a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was still far superior to that from any Qi Cultivator.
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In the secret chamber of Lijing Town, Shamoli performed a series of hand seals, then held a small jade bottle. He exhaled thin wisps of pale purple air, rhythmically pulsing with each of his breaths. After eighty-one cycles, the streams gradually faded and vanished.
Shamoli suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a flicker of purple electricity, albeit slightly impure and dyed. A look of wild joy spread across his face as he sped his hands, causing a sh of lightning-charged mana to circte between his palms.
"Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique! Secret Thunder True Essence truly is overwhelmingly powerful... With a single strike of this lightning, ordinary Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators could be severely wounded. No wonder everyone envies the Path of Thunder; it really is remarkable!"
Shamoli paused to feel the mana surge within his body, smacking his lips with a hint of regret. "However, for some reason, the mana inside me feels somewhat inferior to what the scriptures describe for typical cultivators... It seems suited only for quick battles andcks endurance."
Rising to his feet, Shamoli pushed the stone door open with his palm and looked out into the courtyard. The sunlight was soft on his skin, warm andforting, much like the throne and life he was about to embrace.
Chapter 192: Attacking Mount Yue
Chapter 192: Attacking Mount Yue
Shamoli raised his head as he walked out of the courtyard. However, much to his surprise, he did not see his usualrge group of pampered wives and concubines.
The courtyard was empty, save for only a few leaves scattered on the ground. A middle-aged man stood there and was leaning against the stone chamber, watching him quietly.
"I am Chen Donghe, greetings to Your Majesty... Congrattions on your breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm!"
Chen Donghe''s greeting was polite. The title made Shamoli feel utterly content and pleased, causing him to nod happily.
With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he recognized that this man was at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Shamoli had seen him before at the side of Li Yuanxiu, though it was only now that he found out his name. He then cupped his fist in response.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist!"
However, Chen Donghe did not acknowledge him but bowed deeply with respect and said in a solemn voice, "Second Uncle, this person is Shamoli."
Shamoli was momentarily startled. Upon realizing that another person was present, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat and was rmed.
The neer was dressed simply in a gray robe. His eyebrows were long, and his demeanor was majestic. He carried a sword on his back that was wrapped tightly in cloth, yet another sword hung at his waist, which was rather unusual. His cultivation was evidently at the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"Shamoli greets the elder..."
It was at that instant that Shamoli then realized that this man was in fact Li Tongya, the revered elder of the Li Family. In a sh, he was half-kneeling on the ground and cupping his fist, too nervous to speak.
Li Tongya nced at him and said softly, "Show me your condensed true essence."
After observing the Secret Thunder True Essence in Shamoli''s palm, Li Tongya nodded approvingly. The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique was truly extraordinary, possessing significant power and the rare force of thunder. It was no wonder it required such hard-to-collect Profound Yin Thunder Liquid.
If Shamoli had cultivated using pure spiritual qi of heaven and earth, he would certainly be considered a strong cultivator in the early stages of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Li Tongya''s spiritual sense surveyed Shamoli for a while before finally speaking again.
"Rise, I will send you back to Mount Yue to im your throne."
Although Shamoli was prepared, he was still overwhelmingly excited upon hearing this. He lowered his other knee and repeatedly pressed his forehead on the ground, uttering words of thanks. When he looked up again, Li Tongya had already disappeared.
Before Shamoli could recover, several people hurried into the courtyard. They stripped him of his eastern garments and adorned him with various animal bones along with jade stones. The eastern-styled crown on his head was also removed along with the jade hairpin, causing his long hair to cascade over his shoulders. Now, he properly resembled a true man of Mount Yue.
"Um..."
Feeling his long hair tickling him, Shamoli, having stayed long in the easternnds, secretly despised this disheveled appearance but could only chuckle awkwardly.
After changing his clothes and ornaments, Shamoli was led out of the courtyard. Upon seeing the steps in front of him lined with kneeling Mount Yue people¡ªprepared by the Li Family as his retinue, including over ten of his ymates from recent years in the easternnds¡ªhe hurriedly descended the steps.
"Each of you is my backbone! Please, rise quickly!"
Shamoli''s words came out impulsively, sounding nothing like what a great king of Mount Yue would say. The crowd got up with puzzled expressions. Only then did Shamoli, now beaming with joy, walk through the crowd and step onto a carriage pulled by tworge horses.
tter...
Shamoli''s banner was raised and he was escorted by a group of soldiers, marching majestically out of the town.
Lying in the spacious carriage, Shamoli listened to the nging of weapons and the sound of footsteps, repeatedly touching thefortable fabric of its interior. He picked up a fruit and ced it in his mouth before a satisfied smile formed at the corner of his lips.
"This is what life should be like! What were those earlier decades all about..."
The curtain pped open unexpectedly, and in walked an old man with fleshy folds on his face, snow-white hair, and a matching beard. His bulging eyes bore into Shamoli with intense scrutiny. Startled, Shamoli choked and quickly straightened up, desperately trying to feignposure.
"Who might you be..?"
The old man, at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and d in Eastern attire with his white beard curling upward, rxed his stern face a little. Looking quite elderly, he then spoke.
"Your Majesty should know... I belong to the Mount Yue tribe that once upied the present Eastern Mount Yue. Having been defeated by Jianixi''s eastward advance, I took refuge with the Easterners and followed Lord Xiangping back and forth through Mount Yue seven times, earning numerous merits over twenty-one years."
"You''re Jianixi''s adversary?!"
Shamoli was genuinely startled by the man''s bold ims, knowing that someone like Jianixi was considered a divinely appointed ruler in Mount Yue. His own father had been merely one of Jianixi''s generals.
He quickly showed his respect and asked politely, "May I know your name, Senior?"
"Ahuici!"
The old man grinned as he replied, revealing yellow teeth. He looked straight into Shamoli''s eyes as he spoke slowly, "I am merely the Great King''s high shaman, in charge of hunting, healing, and agriculture."
Shamoli stiffened momentarily. The high shaman''s role in Mount Yue was akin to a vice king. Barely seated on the throne, the Li Family had already arranged everything, making him feel incredibly awkward. However, he did not dare show his emotions and instead forced a smile.
"I will need much assistance from you in the future!"
"That is already expected."
Watching Ahuici''s neatly tied hair, Shamoli shifted ufortably in his seat. Finally unable to endure it any longer, he coiled his hair and secured it with a jade chopstick from the table.
"I really can''t stand this barbaric look!" Heughed after letting out a huge sigh of relief.
Ahuiciughed heartily, lifting his head proudly.
"The etiquette of the Easterners isplex, Great King... you have much to learn!"
"Indeed!" Shamoli nodded solemnly.
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"Brother, have you thought through how we will govern thisnd of Mount Yue?" Li Yuanjiao asked as he stood in the swaying carriage, gazing into the distance at the rugged mountain road ahead.
Unlike Shamoli''s carriage, the one he and Li Yuanxiu rode was a battle chariot designed for charging, offering a broad view. The cold wind pped against their faces, but as cultivators in the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, they felt no chill at all.
"Hmm."
Li Yuanxiu nodded in response, resting his arm on the support next to him before speaking softly, "Themon people of Mount Yue will be under Shamoli''s control. We will operate behind the scenes, maintaining governance as usual, and all positions rted to the path of immortality will be held by our people. Once we conquer Eastern Mount Yue, we will immediately survey thend and assess the spirit fields... These spirit fields and resources will rightfully belong to our Li Family. We will dispatch people to cultivate and harvest them. The territory of Eastern Mount Yue is vast, and there are likely many spirit fields."
Li Yuanjiao nodded as he listened to all this before whispering, "Our cultivators might not suffice; we''ll have to choose the most fertile spirit fields to start with."
Li Yuanxiu smiled and shot a brief nce at Shamoli''s carriage ahead before replying, "Eastern Mount Yue has over two hundred thousand people, we can turn many of them into cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Although these people might not be fit forbat, they can certainly cultivate spirit fields. Even if the people of Mount Yue are not skilled in farming, a few years living in the east will naturally make them eager to learn."
The brothers shared a smile. They recalled how over the years, many from Mount Yue who came east were influenced by thevish and refined lifestyle. They voluntarily wore the easterner''s attire¡ªrobes and hair crowns¡ªand adopted their officialnguage. They even despised the natives of Mount Yue more than the native Easterners did. Hence, the brothers felt confident about changing these people.
"When the barbarians enter ournd, they transform into Easterners!"
Li Yuanxiu chuckled before patting the long sword in his hand. He then lowered his voice and said, "What one cannot have is always the most precious... Once we control Eastern Mount Yue, we will strictly limit the eastward migration of the Mount Yue people and force them into selling their possessions in order to afford a trip east. Within twenty years, a top-down admiration for the east will pervade among them, and they will be no different from the Easterners!"
Chapter 193: Qimu
Chapter 193: Qimu
Eastern Mount Yue had stationed a force of about two thousand soldiers at Big Fish Creek on the border between the two territories, guarded by a single Qi Cultivator.
Under the reign of Mu Jiaoman, there had been over five thousand soldiers, but now, the numbers had long dwindled.
Compared to the national strength of Eastern Mount Yue and the power of the Li Family, this military force was pitifully small. Perhaps Qimu had not even nned to resist the westward advance of the Li Family, thinking it was sufficient enough to have a Qi Cultivator to send alerts and messages.
Xu Gongming, following orders from Li Yuanxiu, led the troops as the vanguard. He took a hundred soldiers to probe the enemy''s strength. Unexpectedly, they were met by a Mount Yuemander with a face full of ingratiating smiles who walked up to their formation unprotected. He was shouting as he approached.
"Is the envoy arriving?! My lord has already conquered his fief and hase to wee the princess!"
Xu Gongming was stunned, his stern face almost cracking a smile, not expecting themander to mistake their arrival as part of a wedding delegation. The surrounding soldiers looked at each other in confusion.
Xu Gongming quickly said, "Please,e talk inside the formation!"
Themander, still foolishly smiling and d in armor mimicking that of the Easterners, approached even closer.
Xu Gongming''s corner of his mouth twitched, and he stepped forward suddenly. Without warning, he stabbed the man with his sword, shook the blood off his de, and waved his hand.
The troops below immediately sprang into action, charging at the unprepared Mount Yue forces. Blood sttered everywhere as they disrupted the enemy''s formation, instantly creating a scene of great chaos and bloodshed.
The two armies behind pressed forward, and Xu Gongming, with his second stage Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivation, struck down enemies with each punch, fighting his way to the front of the formation.
As Xu Gongming fought fiercely, a figure suddenly flew up from therge camp. His voice reverberated across the battlefield, amplified by his mana.
It was the Mount Yue Qi Cultivator.
"Which faction are you from? How dare you cause chaos here?!"
This Qi Cultivator who was unaware of the situation, initially assumed that it was a mutiny. Only when he noticed the well-crafted armor of the troops below did he exim and recoil in shock.
"Easterners..?!"
"Do not panic, someone will deal with him." Seeing some of his soldiers hesitating, Xu Gongming smiled coldly and looked up. Sure enough, a golden light, like a shooting star, streaked from the east.
The Mount Yue Qi Cultivator did not even have time to react before he exploded into a shower of blood and flesh, raining down organs and meat chunks onto Xu Gongming''s armor.
"Unrefined qi cultivators are just like that..."
Having cultivated for seven or eight years and having seen many of the Li Family''s cultivators, Xu Gongming knew about unrefined and pure qi and understood that the Qi Cultivator of Mount Yue was particrly weak.
His eyelid twitched, and though he spoke with a false facade of toughness, he felt a growing reverence for the family elder who was a great archer.
Even though he cultivates with unrefined qi, he''s stillparable to ordinary Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators. Yet, in front of that elder, he''s less than a mortal... The elder is truly formidable! Whether it is due to his cultivation realm or the technique itself, the various qi gathering techniques of our family are indeed tempting...
Xu Gongming momentarily indulged in his thoughts, and by the time he snapped out of it, the Mount Yue army hadpletely copsed, scattered around him like headless chickens. He tightened his grip on the long saber in his hand and ferociously pursued the remaining survivors.
In the sky above, a figure of a young man appeared. He was dressed in animal leather, yet wore a hair crown atop his head. A powerful voice echoed through the air.
"Qimu is inherently vicious, closely engaged in evil and perversion, harming the loyal and good, murdering siblings, andmitting regicide. I am Shamoli, son of the former king! Today I raise arms to seize the throne, to bring justice back to our people... Lay down your weapons immediately! Those who surrender will not be killed."
"He''s the lucky child..."
The soldiers of Mount Yue around Xu Gongming were already dropping their weapons and surrendering readily. Xu Gongming looked up at Shamoli, who stood proudly as he rode the winds, feeling a growing sense of deep envy.
Anyone with clear eyes could see that Shamoli was merely a puppet propped up by the Li Family, but who wouldn''t envy him? He was granted the power of the Qi Cultivation Realm and gained a position of power. Even though he was constrained, he was still the sovereign of a nation, enjoying all the associated glory and wealth.
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Li Xuanfeng stood with his bow and beside him was Li Tongya, who watched the Mount Yue Qi Cultivator explode like fireworks and nodded with a smile.
"Not bad... this arrow wouldn''t just harm that unrefined Qi cultivator from Mount Yue; even amon early-stage Qi Cultivator would suffer greatly from it."
Li Xuanfeng lifted his bow and cupped his fist in response as spoke humbly.
"I have gained very much from my years of seclusion."
He turned his Golden Age Longbow in his hands, caressing the runes on it as a pale golden light illuminated from within. Li Xuanfeng exined, "The Golden Age Longbow is made from Golden Barrier Stone, which can contain my Astral Qi. I usually refine an arrow''s intent within it, enhancing it with Astral Qi. Each refinement makes it more potent. I do not use it simply, reserving it only for critical moments. When I unleash this diligently refined arrow''s intent, it is bound to deal a significant blow to the enemy."
"Oh?" Li Tongya raised an eyebrow. Although he failed to grasp the intricacies of what was described, it sounded quite sophisticated. He nodded slightly, and Li Xuanfeng, with the bow slung over his back, watched as Shamoli flew with the wind below.
After observing for a while, he transmitted his thoughts through his mana and let out a sigh as he said, "Even unrefined qi can possess such power... The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique truly should not be underestimated. If it were not for the side effects that inhibit reproduction and reduce lifespan, it would indeed be quite valuable."
"That is true," Li Tongya agreed as he looked at the troops moving like ants below and continued softly, "With such arge formation from our family, the ns on theke are not blind... More than likely, a good thirty to fifty percent of cultivators havee to investigate the situation by now, hiding within the surrounding mists. Let Shamoli handle what he can; we should not intervene to avoid revealing our strengths and weaknesses."
"I understand," Li Xuanfeng nodded. Both men then concealed their presence, following closely behind the army formation. Chen Donghe and Li Xuanxuan stayed within the army, guarding and protecting the younger family members to prevent any mishaps with the talented cultivators of their household.
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The army marched on for an hour, conquering several towns. Qimu had redirected his troops and cultivators to attack viges in the west, so these towns had some slight defense¡ªmostly by Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators.
Shamoli revealed his identity as the royal heir and easily captured them, as the people of Mount Yue had no strong loyalty to their ruler and mostly surrendered without resistance.
After advancing for half a day, they finally saw gs fluttering in the distance. It was the current ruler of Eastern Mount Yue, Qimu, rushing over with his troops. Five or six Mount Yue cultivators stood in the air, dressed in animal leathers and adorned with jade. Their eyes were wide with anger.
Below, the armies faced off, and the air was thick with tension. Qimu''s face bore a strong resemnce to Mu Jiaoman, but he looked even more sinister, with thinner eyebrows and more borate clothing.
His eyes gazed intently at Shamoli, his expression a mix of shock and anger as his hands trembled uncontrobly. He stuttered over his words as he spoke, ovee by anger.
"You... you... have some nerve! Where did these troopse from, trespassing on ournd?!"
Qimu had rushed over, unaware that Shamoli''s forces were actually the eastern army, thinking that they were just from another faction he had rallied. Seeing Shamoli''s formidable aura of the unmistakable Qi Cultivation Realm, he was both shocked and frightened. He immediately sensed that something was amiss, and grew suspicious.
Hearing this, Shamoli cackled loudly. He then soared into the sky alone, coldly confronting the face across him that closely resembled his own. The pale purple lightning in his hand crackled continuously as he chuckled lowly.
"Brother... Shamoli has returned!"
Chapter 194: Fratricidal Strife
Chapter 194: Fratricidal Strife
Qimu did not respond, but instead lowered his gaze to scan the battle formation below. The cold glint of the armor struck fear into his heart, and he realized the Easterners'' intent. Feeling a sense of emptiness, he looked around, unsure of how many were hidden in the mist.
"The ancestor of the Li Family is said to have reached the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and is skilled in swordsmanship, nourished by pure spiritual qi of heaven and earth... If I were to flee now, I probably wouldn''t get far..."
"My king! Allow me to deal with this Shamoli."
A few Qi Cultivators around him who were unaware of the dangers, eagerly volunteered, stepping forward with cupped fists. Only Zhong Yudai, an old minister left by his father Mu Jiaoman, remained silent, his hands trembling as he stared down at the troops below. Filled with fear, he lifted his head to look at Qimu but could not utter a single word.
"You... and you, go and test him together."
Qimu gave him a deep and meaningful look before calmly selecting two people, watching as two eager n members stepped forward. He then called the old minister, Zhong Yudai, closer to him and transmitted his voice through mana.
"Shaman, Shamoli has colluded with the Easterners... and this time, they most likely want me dead. Take a troop westward and escort my son and two daughters out of the city. Find a ce for them to live their lives and leave a legacy for me. Also, don''t let them strive for more..."
Zhong Yudai''s eyes reddened as he let out a shaky sigh, and descended. The two individuals beside Qimu exchanged nces, sensing that something was amiss. They wanted to ask out loud, but Qimu was staring at the skies with a grim expression, leaving them no room to speak.
Shamoli, seeing the two approaching, one a second heavenlyyer and the other a third heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator¡ªboth superior to him in cultivation¡ª felt no fear, instead he was feeling triumphant. He raised his twin hammers and swung fiercely at one of them.
The Mount Yue Qi Cultivator, d in animal bones and jade that rattled with a clinking sound,ughed heartily. However, he wore a fierce expression. Holding a bone spear imbued with mixed true essence, he thrust it toward Shamoli''s hammers.
Shamoli''s body surged with purple true essence with lightning shing, which spread from his hands to his hammers. When the hammers collided with the bone spear, their true essences violently shed, exploding into fine sparks of electricity.
The Mount Yue Qi Cultivator''s smile immediately faded as he was struck by the heavy hammer. He retreated in shock, half of his body numbed by the impact. Fortunately, the stronger Qi Cultivator beside him stepped forward with a staff, blocking Shamoli''s offense.
This gave him a moment to catch his breath, shing with Shamoli a few times back and forth. Observing Samoli''s formidable true essence, he quickly shouted, "My king, this man''s techniques are strange... the two of us might not be able to hold him off!"
Seeing the true essence around Shamoli, Qimu grew even more certain of his spection, silently gesturing with his hand. The remaining two people took to the wind, pressing together towards the enemy. Qimu remained still, caught in his own thoughts.
Shamoli must have received proper technique from the Easterners, serving as theirckey... Now, all I can do is dy and drag on this fight as long as possible to buy some time for my children.
The four Mount Yue Qi Cultivators pressed together, greatly increasing the pressure on Shamoli. Although his hammers swung fiercely, repelling and causing any bone spear or knife that touched them to explode, the four Qi Cultivators took turns engaging him in battle. This gave them time to dissipate the force of the lightning, and they seemed to be able to manage it without much difficulty.
Shamoli fought impressively, but internally he struggled, as his mana reserve was low. Although powerful, it could notst long; quick resolution was crucial. Seeing himself restrained by four opponents and the Li Family not intervening, he reluctantly shouted out loud for their assistance.
"F-F-Family... Head... save me!"
As soon as these words were spoken, a figure from the eastern army formation soared into the air. Sword in hand, it was gleaming and robust with true essence. He intervened among the four, swiftly knocking away two bone-made dharma artifacts. Casting a cautious nce at Qimu who remained uninvolved in the distance, he did not announce his name but silently engaged the enemies in battle with his sword.
This man was Chen Donghe.
Chen Donghe single-handedly faced the encirclement of four with great ease. He then said in a deep voice, "Brother Shamoli, go directly to confront Qimu... leave this to me."
Chen Donghe, now at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, practiced his family''s authentic River One Qi Technique, which, as profound as rivers, was particrly effective against multiple opponents. Although unable to kill, he was able to at least hold his position under pressure without any issue.
Having married into the Li Family, he had received the Profound Water Sword Technique legacy. Although he had not yet developed sword qi, hisbat prowess against these unrefined qi cultivators was overwhelmingly superior, making the four opponents struggle continuously. While the pressure was not as intense as what Shamoli had faced earlier, Chen Donghe''s relentless and unyielding approach made it clear that he was far from being as drained as Shamoli appeared.
"Chen Donghe is indeed excellent, with considerable talent and diligence in training. He''s especially strong in his foundational skills too!" Li Tongya praised from above.
Although Chen Donghe''s swordsmanship was not as outstanding aspared to Yu Mujian''s, it was still sufficient forbat, capable of holding his own against any adversary, ensuring no premature defeat.
"It''s a pity that Jingtian has yet to have children... Chen Donghe spends too much time in seclusion. Fortunately, Yuanyun is with her, otherwise, she would be quite lonely..." Li Xuanfeng mumbled as he thought about his sister.
Li Tongya shook his head and whispered, "As a Qi Cultivator, it''s rare for Chen Donghe to have children, and Jingtian being mortal makes it even more challenging."
As the two conversed, Shamoli had already broken free from the group, wielding his hammers and flying toward Qimu.
Qimu, watching Chen Donghe hold off the crowd alone, sighed in despair. He flew into the air with his sword and came face to face with the triumphant Shamoli who was fast approaching.
"Shamoli... do you know what you are doing?"
"What am I doing?" Samoli sneered fiercely as he repeated his brother''s words, his hammers glowing with purple lightning as they struck down on Qimu''s approaching sword, sparking a burst of scattered purple light.
"Who are you to judge? You don''t even realize that this path that I have taken is the true salvation for Mount Yue!" he shouted.
"Y-Y-You, you... Such a waste of Father''s instructions!" Qimu spat through gritted teeth. He was seething in rage.
Shamoli shed with him in several exchanges, each move forceful and heavy, causing Qimu to retreat. His body went numb, and his true essence flowed unevenly, leaving him no match for Shamoli.
Upon hearing Qimu''s words, Shamoli''s sneer grew fiercer as he responded, "You dare mention him? What right did Mu Jiaoman have?! You were made the ruler, while I was left to face execution... You, as the eldest, had everything your way. Have you ever felt what I have endured?"
Qimu managed to hold his ground for the time it took an incense stick to burn, but it did not take long before he was drained of his true essence, his limbs growing powerless. At Shamoli''s words, he paused, before bursting out intoughter.
"Now I understand, Shamoli! So, you care that much about Mu Jiaoman... Listen well..."
"No matter how glorious your future will be, no matter how well you govern Mount Yue, you''ll always just be a dog to the Easterners!" Qimu growled as he stepped back several paces.
Without warning, he then twisted his sword to position it at his own neck. The sharp de slid across his throat, drawing a line of blood. With a fierce look and a coldugh, he held eye contact with his brother once more.
"In the underworld, my father and I will scorn you for your despicableness, mock your ipetence, ridicule you for being ackey, deride you for deceiving yourself and others... andst of all, for not acting like how a son should!"
Shamoli trembled all over, feeling both shocked and furious.
"SILENCE!" he yelled.
Qimu, however, sneered coldly and closed his eyes. With a swift motion of the de, his head quickly separated from his body. His head swung loosely as he fell, like a chicken being ughtered.
Shamoli, looking as though he had been pped, caught the head like a defeated dog. He merely nced at it before the sight scorched his eyes,pelling him to look away. He lifted Qimu''s head despondently and made a loud deration with feigned pride.
"Qimu is dead... Those who surrender will not be killed."
The four Mount Yue Qi Cultivators looked at each other, before briefly hesitating and stopping their actions. Below them, the military formation descended into chaos, cries and screams mingling with the damp morning breeze.
Shamoli did not realize that his cheeks were slightly wet as he gazed at the majestic mountains and rivers shrouded in the pale white morning mist, muttering to himself, "His words... Should I have just resigned myself to death..? Should I have fled and lived a life in exile? Why... Why should I..."
Chen Donghe, riding the wind, approached and was slightly startled to see Shamoli holding Qimu''s head in a daze, sprayed with blood yet seemingly oblivious to what was happening around him. He just stood there with tears streaming down his face.
Chen Donghe sighed softly and congratted him.
"Congrattions... Great King!"
Chapter 195: Li Feiruo
Chapter 195: Li Feiruo
The old minister Zhong Yudai, leading over a hundred people, passed through various towns. Many approached to inquire but he ignored them all, speeding along the dirt road, filled with worry.
After ensuring that everything was in order with the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators among his group, he left the army behind and soared through the air toward Mulu Town, the capital set by Mu Jiaoman.
It was still early morning when he had left. After flying for an hour, Mulu Town finally appeared on the horizon. The sun rose, gradually warming the earth and wetting him with dew.
"Mulu Town..."
Zhong Yudai shook the dew from his body and flew directly over the city below, ignoring the Mount Yue ns who looked up from beneath. After a while, the grand pce appeared before him.
He was about tond in the pce, but the pce''s protective formation had been activated unexpectedly.
A transparent barrier enclosed the entire pce tightly. It was a secret constructionmissioned by Mu Jiaoman to a rogue cultivator from theke, costing a significant sum of money.
"Please open the formation! I am the minister, Zhong Yudai, sent by the king on urgent business!"
Zhong Yudai had to stop and call out twice. However, a person appeared on the pce wall¡ªa woman who had the appearance of an Easterner. She looked to be a middle-aged woman with fine eyebrows and was dressed in rich, majestic attire, gazing down at him indifferently.
"The queen consort?!"
The woman was indeed a n daughter from the Li Family, Mu Jiaoman''s consort. Zhong Yudai was shocked after having served under Mu Jiaoman for many years, and he blurted this out without thinking.
"Zhong Yudai, you''ve returned alone... Qimu''s reign of power is gone, huh?"
The n daughter smiled faintly, her voice carrying softly outside through the formation.
Zhong Yudai trembled as he listened to her words, both shocked and angry. He then eximed desperately, "Li Feiruo... how could it be you?! Where is the high shaman?!"
"Here."
Li Feiruo smiled softly as she bent down, picked something up, and threw it out.
It was a bloody, decapitated head. It rolled twice on the pce wall before falling outside, where the formation disintegrated it into a puff of ash.
"Just open the formation!" Zhong Yudai called out in a pleading tone, unable toprehend how a Qi Cultivator could be killed so easily by a mortal with no cultivation.
Despair filled his heart but Li Feiruo merely waved her hand. Behind her, people brought forward three children into his line of sight¡ªtwo girls and a boy, the oldest no more than ten, and the youngest only six.
All of them were in tears as they looked at Zhong Yudai, their gazes wrenching his heart.
"Minister Zhong Yudai... are you looking for them?" Li Feiruo asked softly as she stared into his eyes, carefully gauging his emotions. She was like a predator watching her prey.
Zhong Yudai, as if anticipating what was toe, had tears streaming down his face as he cried out, "H-How could you...? You are their stepmother...!"
Li Feiruo pretended not to hear hisment, still smiling as she said, "Minister Zhong Yudai... if you agree to one condition, I might just spare their lives."
"Name your conditions!" Zhong Yudai eximed immediately without hesitation, moving closer to the formation, staring intently into Li Feiruo''s eyes.
"Take your own life."
Her voice was calm.
Zhong Yudai was shocked, his excess qi bursting forth as he cried out in grief, "You wicked woman...!"
Li Feiruo had already drawn a sharp dagger, pressing it against the neck of the little girl, who immediately began to cry loudly.
Zhong Yudai grew hasty and moved forward, gesturing for her to stop.
"Wait a moment!"
Zhong Yudai paused for a few moments, his expression tormented. Finally, he lifted his sword and ced the de against his neck, his voice defeated.
"The former king and I have underestimated you."
Li Feiruo simply nodded without a word. Zhong Yudai made a swift motion with the de, and just like that, his head flew off, gray hair iling in the wind.
The formidable fifth heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator had taken his own life, and his headless body fell to the ground with a thud. Only then did a gaze from above the clouds slowly withdraw, ncing at Li Feiruo and murmuring in admiration.
As Li Feiruo watched Zhong Yudai fall, her eyes dimmed slightly, the air of control around her fading. One of her confidants, unable to bear it any longer, whispered, "Mydy, isn''t this a little too..."
"It was a choice of necessity, as was mine..." Li Feiruo sighed, the jade ornaments around her neck clinking as she continued softly, "Zhong Yudai was one of the few who remained utterly loyal to Qimu. With the family elders not here, if he were to escape and then covertly target me or our younger family members, wouldn''t that be a great trouble? Even though our family elders are far stronger than him, they can''t always be guarding the younger ones. If he seeded in his actions, I would be beyond redemption."
Li Feiruo continued to justify her actions.
"I am merely a mortal... who, though I enlisted the power of the ns within the city to kill the high shaman, possess only the capability to protect myself with formations. How could I possibly contend with a fifth heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator? This method may be dirty, but it is the only path avable to me right now... The fight to the death between two families, I fear, may not rid us of future troublespletely."
Li Feiruo, supported by several of her confidants, descended from the pce walls. She quietly observed the Mount Yue ministers kneeling below with blood flowing from beneath the pce, staining the hem of her luxurious dress a faint red. Li Feiruo smiled softly and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Rise, all of you."
The ministers below obediently stood up, not daring to look up at her. Li Feiruo walked through the blood-stained steps and hall of the pce, step by step into the pitch-dark main hall.
The fallen candles burned quietly on the floor, while the injured continued to moan within the hall. She walked through the blood to the front and whispered, "Has the young master replied?"
"Yes, he has."
A confidant handed her a sealed letter. Li Feiruo read it carefully before cing the letter inside her chest pocket. Only then did the ministers dare to speak.
"Mydy, how shall we deal with Qimu''s heirs?"
"Death is but a simple matter... but let''s imprison them first and wait for the head of the family to decide."
Li Feiruo sighed once more, then picked up a brush and ink from the table and wrote a few lines on a piece of fabric. She handed it to her confidant and said softly, "Send this to the young family head."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The four Mount Yue Qi Cultivators submitted to Shamoli, directly addressing him as "Great King," andnded on the ground together to meet the main family.
They cautiously made their way through the military formation and soon saw a dark metal chariot, decorated with several gs that fluttered proudly in the wind.
A young man stood on the chariot, d in a white robe, looking dashing and approachable. He smiled warmly at them, raising his cup in the morning breeze cheerfully.
"Congrattions, Great King!"
"This credit is not mine to take," Shamoli said, still covered in blood.
He kneeled on the ground and bowed respectfully to the young man. The four Mount Yue Qi Cultivators who were unclear on the protocol, awkwardly attempted to mimic his bow.
Shamoli then stood up and cupped his fist, saying, "My position today is all thanks to you and the other esteemed lords; I dare not call myself king before you. However, I have already unified Qimu''s troops. ording to the generals who surrendered, Qimu had previously released a loyal confidant, a fifth heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator who poses a significant threat... I hope you will take heed. I also suspect that Qimu still has offspring and confidants in Mulu Town. I wish to lead a group there to ascertain this and prevent them from escaping and causing further trouble."
Li Yuanxiu nodded and replied, "Our elders are already tracking down the Mount Yue Qi Cultivator, so he won''t be able to escape. As for Mulu Town..."
Li Yuanxiu smiled softly, nced down at the five Mount Yue tribesmen below, and raised the secret letter in his hand.
"Two hours after Qimu left Mulu Town, the entire pce had already fallen under the control of my n aunt. Qimu''s children have fallen into our hands, and his close associates have been ughtered by her. If I am not mistaken, someone is already on their way to surrender."
Chapter 196: Discourse in the Hall
Chapter 196: Discourse in the Hall
"Has the Li Family gone mad?! How are they brazenly leading troops across the border when the Azure Pond Sect and Mount Yue have marked boundaries..? Even though the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of Mount Yue has been in seclusion for many years, aren''t there a bunch of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators on Mount Wu? How can they just watch this happen?!"
Yu Mugao massaged his temples, visibly filled with confusion and frustration. He was looking at two subordinates of his that were at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and he asked sternly, "Did you see it clearly?"
"Master, the Li Family has the heir of the previous king of Eastern Mount Yue on their side, iming that he was there to reim the throne... perhaps because of this... Mount Wu did not realize and intervene," exined one of the cultivators who had stepped forward.
Yu Mugao nced at him and raised his eyebrow skeptically.
"I can see through the Li Family''s tactics as well. You don''t understand... This is most likely done to offend Mount Wu. It''s a risky move, not something Li Tongya would characteristically do! The few from Mount Wu are not known for their tolerance. Although they are not good at directbat, their shamanic spell is notoriously tricky. In the past, Li Xiangping did not know that Mount Yue had Mount Wu''s protection, and had ventured deep into their territory with his men... only to be cursed to death by the people of Mount Wu. Given how it can be considered a rather recent lesson, and also considering Li Tongya''s cautious nature, how could he do such a thing..?"
Yu Mugao''s words left everyone below him speechless, their heads bowed in deep thought. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. In recent years, Yu Family''s Milin Prefecture had faced many troubles. Yu Mugao knew someone was scheming behind the scenes to divert the Yu Family''s focus, yet he still had to maintain the situation. He was vexed by the Li Family stirring up more trouble.
"Could it be a problem with Mount Wu..."
Yu Mugao, after eliminating many possibilities in his mind, finally arrived at an unlikely conclusion. He said gravely, "Bring me a paper and a brush, I will write to ask Muxian."
His attendant hurriedly brought the writing materials to him, and Yu Mugao finished writing a brief letter rather quickly. However, his eldest son cautiously stepped forward, whispering in his ear.
"Family Head... Eastern Mount Yue has been under duress to support the Li Family, using the popce to sustain their towns. The Li Family''s actions simply rece a loyal ruler of Mount Yue with no significant gain..."
Yu Mugao was stunned, feeling a tightness in his chest before it was filled with rage. He then scolded, "Fool! Before, they were tributaries to the Li Family, but now... Eastern Mount Yue will be a vassal to the Li Family, with all spirit fields and spirit items under their control! The difference is not slight, how can such wordse from your mouth?!"
The young man paled and withdrew. Yu Mugao mmed the table angrily and shouted, "You will learn nothing by being here... get out, and send your younger brother in tomorrow!"
Watching his eldest son retreat dejectedly, Yu Mugao''s frustration simmered. He narrowed his eyes as he muttered coldly, "We can''t let the Li Family run wild either... We simply can''t allow Li Tongya to grow too powerful! We must think of a way to suppress them."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mulu Town, as the capital of Eastern Mount Yue, boasted a poption of twenty thousand,parable to one of the four towns under the Li Family. When Mu Jiaoman was reigning, he had been diligent. He constructed four roads leading to the four borders, greatly facilitating the movement of the Li Family''s troops. It only took them one night to reach Mulu Town.
The town gates were wide open, and a group of Mount Yue''s nsmen kneeled before them¡ªincluding two Qi Cultivators, who were also bowed. The dark chariot ignored them and drove straight into the town, heading straight for the pce.
The chariot, carrying a host of soldiers, stopped in front of the blood-stained pce where more Mount Yue ministers were kneeling. Li Yuanxiu got off the chariot with Chen Donghe following behind him silently. His gaze swept over the crowd, finally resting on the woman at the front.
Li Yuanxiu took two steps forward and helped Li Feiruo to her feet with a smile on his face.
"Auntie has preserved the pce''s formations for our family, and they were even strong enough to withstand ordinary Qi Cultivators... You''re a great hero in this battle!"
Li Feiruo smiled faintly before she stood up gracefully to face him. She then said softly, "The ns heard that our family elder wasing and were so terrified that they wanted to surrender. I haven''t done much... I just facilitated the connections!"
After modestly downying her role and efforts, Li Feiruo pped her hands. Like clockwork, several Mount Yue tribesmen brought forward two bodies, dropping them with a thud in front of the steps.
Li Feiruo spoke again, but this time her voice carried some coldness.
"These two were Qimu''s shaman and his loyal dog Zhong Yudai, both of whom have been executed."
Li Yuanxiu nodded in response, and two people behind him stepped forward to confirm their identities. Li Feiruo then had someone bring out Qimu''s three children, and dered loudly, "Qimu had his brothers ughtered... Now, only Shamoli and these three heirs of Mu Jiaoman remain. I thought the main family might find a use for them, so I detained them for the time being. The decision is yours to make, Young Family Head."
"What use could they be? Just kill them." Li Yuanxiu smiled faintly before walking past the crowd with Li Feiruo. Both entered the inner hall together, ignoring the children''s desperate cries and pleas for mercy behind them.
In the spotlessly clean inner hall, the n soldiers quickly took their positions on both sides, giving the empty hall a somber appearance.
"What is this?" Li Yuanxiu asked as he looked up at the throne. There, a brown spherical object was hanging, swaying, and overlooking everyone below.
"The Eye of Jianixi."
Li Feiruo answered tly, causing Li Yuanxiu to pause briefly before she continued, "Mu Jiaoman obtained the remains of Jianixi and preserved his Foundation Establishment Realm eyeball, preventing it from decaying. They hang above the throne, overseeing everyone..."
"The customs of Mount Yue are indeed eerie..." Li Yuanxiu muttered as he nced at the brown eyeball, feeling an inexplicable familiarity with it. Deciding not to dwell on it, he then gave a softmand.
"Take it down to be used in a ritual for Granduncle Xiangping."
"Yes!"
As soon as thatmand was given, two n soldiers immediately stepped forward to remove the eyeball. Li Yuanxiu took another look at it before turning to Li Feiruo.
"Auntie never had children of her own..?"
"I once did have my own... but they were harmed by Mu Jiaoman."
As she said this, Li Feiruo touched her stomach gently, her expression slightly weary. Li Yuanxiu was clearly taken aback by this revtion and felt a sense of guilt.
"You''ve endured a lot over the years, Auntie... is there anything you wish for?" he asked softly, his tone apologetic.
Li Feiruo''s lips curved into a smile, and she slowly kneeled down.
"There is indeed one thing... I am only in my thirties, and I wish to choose a cultivator from our family to marry into mine; to have a son or a daughter. This wouldfort me in my remaining years."
Li Feiruo''s answer was unexpected yet reasonable to Li Yuanxiu, who nodded in agreement. Just then, the pce doors swung open. This was startling to all those present, as there were no strong winds at all.
The n soldiers on either side bowed as a middle-aged man with a sword on his back stepped into the hall, revealing himself. He had another sword at his waist, and he exuded an extremelymanding aura.
"Greetings, Granduncle!"
Li Yuanxiu''s demeanor immediately became solemn and submissive, bowing down.
Li Feiruo followed suit though she did not recognize the man, as she could tell from everyone''s reactions that he ought to be of importance.
"Feiruo greets the elder!"
"No need for such formalities."
Li Tongya nodded approvingly as he nced at Li Feiruo, saying warmly, "Well done, you have saved our family much trouble... Which branch are you from?"
"My father is Li Yesheng, who served Lord Xiangping. Li Xiewen is my elder brother," Li Feiruo answered respectfully.
Li Tongya pped his hands, letting out a heartyugh.
"So you are Yesheng''s daughter? Then there''s no mistake about it! You have your father''s spirit! Back then, I had Xuan''er send a n daughter over, never imagining it was you."
Li Feiruo smiled and thanked him. Li Tongya then made a quick gesture, and the eyeball, previously held by a servant, flew up andnded before him.
The brown eyeball, once filled with fierceness and slyness, now only held a vacant stillness. Li Tongya inspected it closely and sighed.
"Jianixi... a man that once drove our family into disarray. I have to admit, he was truly a remarkable person! Fortunately, he died at the hands of Mount Yue''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator..."
Li Yuanxiu, young and not very familiar with that history, listened intently. Li Feiruo, having spent many years in Mount Yue, was more knowledgeable and hence exined it to him softly.
"I heard that Jianixi was a half-brother of Mu Jiaoman¡ªborn of a ve, who acquired an ancient secret technique to cultivate his qi. He reached the Foundation Establishment Realm by the mere age of forty. He was truly a genius."
Li Tongya frowned when he heard this.
What ancient secret technique..? Even if one acquires such a method, it''s impossible to cultivate without proper qi. That was most likely an opportunity arranged by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of Mount Yue...
He then raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you know what kind of immortal foundation Jianixi established?"
"Mu Jiaoman, when drunk and weeping for Jianixi, once mentioned that his foundation was profoundly powerful and mysterious."
After saying this, Li Feiruo thought for a moment and paused. When she spoke again, her voice was low and serious.
"It is called Emperor''s Mandate."
Chapter 197: The Conspirators
Chapter 197: The Conspirators
"Emperor''s Mandate..."
The ancient and imposing name took both Li Yuanxiu and Li Tongya by surprise.
While Li Yuanxiu was less affected, Li Tongya, who had encountered numerous immortal foundations throughout his life, was stunned to hear of one named after an emperor for the first time. He pondered deeply to himself.
The immortal foundation formed from the River One Qi Technique is called Boundless Ocean, and the one from Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique is Spring''s Echo... The immortal foundation is always closely rted to the method of cultivation; Jianixi''s technique must also have been equally powerful!
Li Yuanxiu, who was standing beside him, disyed a look of yearning as he listened to the name of the immortal foundation. His ears pricked up instantly, and he felt an uncontroble desire rising within him.
To cultivate an immortal foundation and to traverse the mysterious realm... the allure of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm is so tempting! I wonder if in this lifetime I might glimpse the realm beyond Qi Cultivation...
The Li Family''s main lineage had already produced three Qi Cultivators, and Li Xuanling was just a step away. The expectations for Li Yuanxiu and his younger rtives were primarily set beyond the Qi Cultivation Realm, hence instigating such thoughts in Li Yuanxiu.
Li Tongya inquired further about the details from Li Feiruo, who patiently answered each of his questions.
Mu Jiaoman had been cautious of Li Feiruo during his lifetime and hadn''t said much, so no further useful information was obtained.
"I see," Li Tongya said before smiling warmly to Li Yuanxiu, thus ending the prior topic of conversation.
"We have mobilized a great number of people for this, and many eyes are upon us... We risk bing targets, so it''s not advisable to stay away from home for long. I''ll remain here for a month while several elders will stay in the city to watch over things. Go sort out the affairs of the Mount Yue territory with your father. Once that''s done, we''ll return home together."
"As for Feiruo..." Li Tongya''s voice trailed off as he nced at her, and Li Feiruo quickly expressed her wishes.
Li Tongya nodded in understanding andmended her once more.
"You''ve worked hard these years. Help Xiu''er handle the affairs and then return to Lijing Town to live a peaceful life."
"Yes!" Li Yuanxiu and Li Feiruo both responded respectfully. Li Tongya then nodded, his figure fading as he rode the wind away... of course, taking the brown eyeball with him.
Left behind, Li Yuanxiu and Li Feiruo exchanged a nce with each other in the courtyard.
Li Feiruo made a weing gesture, and Li Yuanxiu took his seat at the head of the table.
"Please enlighten me, Auntie," he said warmly.
"My pleasure..." Li Feiruo smiled as she nodded gently, speaking softly.
"Currently, Eastern Mount Yue has a poption of 226,000, with 11 towns and 63 viges. There are 62 Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators and 8 Qi Cultivators¡ªall harnessing unrefined qi. They''re not very useful in major capacities, but adequate for cultivating spirit fields. The Eastern Mount Yue consists of six major noble ns, with the Mulu n as their leader. Most of the cultivatorse from these ns, which hold ny percent of the treasures and spirit items. Mount Yue is not skilled in agriculture, however... most of the spirit fields lie fallow."
Li Yuanxiu nodded and said in a low voice, "Thend of Mount Yue is much more fertile than that of our Li Family. It''s approximately the same size in area but with a muchrger poption. People in Mount Yue live by hunting in the mountains and gathering crops, and although they practice agriculture, they are not adept at it. Once we educate them, they could support an additional hundred thousand people."
"The matter of the spirit fields has already been attended to by my father, who has sent people to investigate. We should have a clear understanding of it in a few days," Li Yuanxiu paused after saying this, noticing that Li Feiruo had something to say. He stopped to look expectantly at her.
"That''s right, Young Family Head, but what about these spirit items currently in the hands of the ns? How do you n to handle them?" Li Feiruo asked quietly.
She had managed to execute the high shaman with the help of these ns, and now that she was about to leave the court and return to Lijing Town, she did not hesitate to propose such an idea.
"These people are cunning; if we don''t kill a few, they won''t obey..." she added as she nced downward.
"Indeed."
Li Yuanxiu pressed his hands on the table and continued, "I''ll ask n Uncle Qiuyang and Uncle Donghe to take our n soldiers and search house by house. With their spiritual sense, these people will have nowhere to hide. We''ll find an excuse to detain their young and exchange them for spirit items."
Li Yuanxiu paused briefly, then sighed. When he opened his mouth to speak again, his voice was heavy with emotion.
"I didn''t want to use such crude methods, but with only a month''s time, we cannot afford to wear them down slowly. We must resort to violence... and deter them through fear of ughter."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Shamoli flew over the eleven towns below, strategically cing his troops in each one. His spirits, previously dampened by Qimu''s nonsensical words, had improved considerably.
After making aplete circuit with the four Mount Yue Qi Cultivators following him, they finally descended upon Mulu Town.
"Years have passed since I left in destitution, and now I return in fine clothing..."
Shamoli sighed, attempting to articte his feelings with the limited literary ir he had picked up from the Easterners. Running out of eloquent expressions, he naturally stumbled over his words.
He suddenly turned his head, and with considerable disdain, looked at the attire of the few Mount Yue Qi Cultivators behind him andmanded, "You lot! Tie up your hair, and what are these ragged clothes you''re wearing?!"
The group of Mount Yue Qi Cultivators was stunned and clearly dumbfounded.
"R...Ragged?" they sputtered, repeating his words in disbelief.
Shamoli sighed softly before grabbing the hand of the one in front. He patted his shoulder and exined, "You have spent your lives in this dirt hole... and never had the chance to witness the prosperity beyond our borders. Give it another two years, and you''ll understand the difference between good and bad."
They hadnded in the town center as they were in conversation, only to see n soldiers bustling about, armed and rushing in formation through the streets.
Their cold armor clinked sharply; however, they were not heading toward the houses of the rich ormon folk but specifically targetingrge estates led by either Embryonic Breathing Realm or Qi Cultivators, marching up the stone steps.
Angry shouts then followed as the n soldiers silently dragged out the obese bodies of the people along.
The Mount Yue ns were not as regted as those ruled by the Li Family, and each of them was as fat as a pig due to theck of productive work, and they were screaming as they were dragged out.
It took two soldiers to haul each one, and one even yelled, "Do you know who I am?! My uncle is a Qi Cultivator!"
A soldier promptly kicked him, causing him such pain that he rolled around, unable to speak.
The leader, a third stage Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, stood expressionless as he pointed his long sword at the man.
Shamoli, witnessing this, felt his expression change and his unease grow. He stopped a troop of n soldiers, demanding in a stern voice, "What are you all doing?!"
The leader, looking serious yet honest, still holding his long sword, replied cautiously, "Xu Gongming greets the Great King... We are acting on orders from Young Master Jiao to arrest those among the six major ns who are conspiring with Qimu''s remnants. What about you, Great King..?"
"Ah."
Realizing they were searching for Qimu''s remnants, Shamoli''s expression shifted to one that was between shock and joy.
He then looked fiercely at those n members and eximed, "Good! Brother Jiao is indeed thorough! Go ahead and do what you need to; I have your back!"
With that, he turned to stare coldly at the four Mount Yue Qi Cultivators that were behind him. They were indeed from the six major ns, all of whom bowed their heads guiltily, not daring to meet his eyes.
"Well then, I shall execute my order!" Xu Gongming responded, still expressionless. He gave a signal, and the n soldiers immediately sprang into action.
Chapter 198: Exploiting the Clans
Chapter 198: Exploiting the ns
"Mydy... what is this? What''s going on here?!" the old ministers asked.
Li Feiruo sat at the head of the table, smiling radiantly at the old ministers below. They were all white-haired and visibly anxious, repeatedly saying, "We all contributed to the fight against Qimu! Why, then, are our people being captured?! T-T-The notion that they are remnants of Qimu is a grave misunderstanding!"
Li Feiruo furrowed her brow and beckoned the anxious ministers closer, speaking softly, "Each of you has indeed contributed greatly... and I hold that in my heart. Early this morning, I heard that people from several ns had been taken away, and I immediately went to inquire with the head of the family."
The old ministers looked at each other and then cupped their fists, but their eyes still were heavy with doubt.
"Thank you, mydy! But... about these remnants of Qimu..."
Li Feiruo waved her hand with a helpless expression.
"This matter is under Young Master Jiao''s control... He''s tyrannical andwless, and even the Young Family Head fears him somewhat. Naturally, I am powerless... To make things worse, Young Master Jiao''s mother is from the Mulu n, and Mu Jiaoman is his granduncle. Qimu has murdered his own brothers and father... Young Master Jiao naturally hates him to the bone. If your offspring fall into the hands of such a brutal and greedy person, they will undoubtedly suffer!"
Upon hearing this, the n elders who hade seeking an exnation were all startled. The younger ones were anxious and unsure of what to do, while a few older ones exchanged nces, relieved.
This is just extortion. It''s our wealth they''re after, not our lives...
Li Feiruo, now grinning, watched as an elderly man with white hair stood up. Highly respected among the ns and seasoned from a lifetime in the bureaucracy, he naturally knew what Li Feiruo wanted.
He coughed, then slowly cupped his fist and said, "Mydy, having sent an army of justice to support the Great King... My Wutu n once served the false king but has now seen the light. Now, in fear, we wish to offer the spirit fields under our control and over thirty spirit items. We seek nothing else but to serve the upper sect. We hope mydy can speak kindly of us in front of Young Master Jiao."
This old man was decisive and smart. Knowing there was no way he could keep the spirit fields, he readily offered all of them along with more than thirty spirit items.
Though these items¡ªmostly Embryonic Breathing Realm shamanic tools and spirit items¡ªcould notpare to the dharma artifacts and pills of immortal cultivators, they could certainly serve the Li Family''s lower-level cultivators well.
"The old n chief is indeed magnanimous." Li Feiruo nodded in approval.
These shamanic tools and spirit items were many years of savings by the n, and even for a n that had dominated thisnd for years, offering over thirty items was a significant sacrifice.
She nced at the other n leaders who, after exchanging looks with each other, made simr offers.
"We''re willing to offer twenty-five plots of spirit fields... and fifteen spirit items..."
"Our n is willing to offer fifteen plots of spirit fields and twenty spirit items..."
After listening to them all, Li Feiruo finally smiled in satisfaction.
"Everyone, please calm down... I understand all your positions. For now, go back and wait for my news. I will speak with Young Master Jiao and get back to you allter."
Seeing that Li Feiruo had already spoken to dismiss them, they could only reluctantly leave the room.
Once Li Feiruo saw that the room was empty, she called someone over and instructed, "Follow them and take care of the spirit fields and items. Make sure to ount for everything each family has ceded. Record them in a register, and send it to Young Master Jiao. He will decide whom to kill based on this... Those who give less will face more executions among their ranks, while those who offer more will see their members spared to a greater extent. Within three days, these old fellows will naturallye looking for me again."
"Understood," the attendant beside her replied before she withdrew.
Li Feiruo, with a gleeful smile, picked up her brush. She fondly circled it over the fabric before her, musing to herself.
Having great power and pressuring others is truly intoxicating... I wonder if I can secure a decent position when I return to town.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the pce of Mulu Town, Mu Jiaoman had built many prisons during his construction of the pce to detain dissenters. As his rule became more stable, these prisons became emptier.
Now that Shamoli had risen to power, the prisons had suddenly filled up again, with rooms originally meant for one person now packed with three to five prisoners each. It was cramped and filthy, with urine and feces everywhere.
Li Yuanjiao raised the whip in his hand before stepping on the blood-stained face beneath his foot. His expression shifted as he whipped the man on the ground, causing him to scream in pain. His voice was dangerously low when he spoke.
"Say it again."
"Mu Jiaoman... is Jianixi''s younger brother... They had the same father... different mothers, Jianixi''s... mother was a ve... she fled into the woods to give birth to him..." the man answered weakly.
Li Yuanjiao fell silent for a moment, then whipped the man again, demanding, "How many spirit items and fields does your n have? Don''t hide anything, you''re not the only person in the Wutu n."
"I-I''m just a mortal... I really don''t know!" the man pleaded in pain, trembling.
Li Yuanjiao waved his hand dismissively before whipping him a few more times. He only paused when an attendant handed him a small letter, interrupting his assault.
He nced at it and sneered, "You''re a thoroughly wicked person. I guess physical pain isn''t enough for you... please don''t me me for this."
As he spoke, his second stage Embryonic Breathing Realm aura burst forth. Not waiting for the man to plead further, he struck the man''s head with his mana-enhanced whip, causing it to explode instantly. Blood and brain matter sttered everywhere, staining the ground.
"Report to the young master. Thedy has sent over the register."
Li Yuanjiao turned and took the document, scanning it from top to bottom once more, making thorough mental notes. He then issued amand, and another prisoner was dragged out of a cell, crying and begging for mercy.
Just as Li Yuanjiao raised his whip again, a voice transmitted by mana reached him, stopping him in his tracks.
"Young Brother Jiao, hold on!"
Li Yuanjiao pursed his lips, then saw Shamoli stumbling into the room hurriedly. He awkwardly began, "Brother Jiao, I know you hold resentment in your heart... but the people of the six major ns and our Mulu n have deep rtions. Could you perhaps... show them some mercy for my sake...?"
"Oh, it''s you, Brother Shamoli..." Li Yuanjiao smiled as he tossed aside his whip and said with a cheerful smile, "You''ve just ascended the throne, and there are many affairs to handle within the state. Leave these minor matters to me; there is no need to trouble yourself toe here."
Shamoli chuckled. Since ascending the throne, he had indeed taken up the role with great fanfare, but every day, the matters that reached him were merely trivial issues of the state. None of the key issues ever came to his hands, leaving him so frustrated that he was lost for words.
His visit this time was because the six major ns had already sent sufficient gifts, and he also wanted to use this opportunity to gauge Li Yuanjiao''s intentions, to see when the Li Family would leave.
Seeing Shamoli smiling awkwardly without speaking, Li Yuanjiao exined, "I''m trying to eliminate dissenters for you, to establish authority. Rest assured, leave this matter to me, I know the limits..."
Shamoli, already indebted to Li Yuanjiao, was even more at a loss for words, and could only sigh softly. "When will Brother Jiao return to Lijing Town? I''ll also arrange the time to fulfill my duties as the host!"
Li Yuanjiaoughed heartily and said in a low voice, "If the six major ns cooperate and the remnants of Qimu can be dealt with within a month, we''ll return east. If the six ns drag their feet and resist, it might take months or even half a year!"
Shamoli was pleased to hear this, knowing that once the Li Family finished exploiting the six major ns, they would leave. He quickly replied, "I understand! I understand!"
Li Yuanjiao patted his shoulder, speaking warmly, "I understand the difficulties you face, brother... I''m also acting under orders. We indeed trouble you by staying here, but as soon as the six major ns cooperate, I''ll write to the elders to return east early, and we won''t linger any longer on your territory!"
Eager to witness the departure of the Li Family and indifferent to the concerns of the six major ns, Shamoli felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders. He nodded gratefully and said, "Brother Yuanjiao is selfless indeed... I will do my best to cooperate, brother!"
Chapter 199: Observing the Ceremony
Chapter 199: Observing the Ceremony
Azure Pond Peak is the highest peak of Mount Azure Pond, known for its steep terrain. At the foot of the peak stood a stele inscribed with the characters Azure Chi, which often puzzled new disciples who wondered why it read Azure Chi instead of Azure Pond.
The older disciples, however, kept their mouths sealed and offered no exnations. Over time, no one asked about it anymore.
The cave dwelling at the summit of Azure Pond Peak was the ce with the richest spiritual qi in the entire mountain range. Facing the east where the sun and moon rise, cultivating here could yield great results with minimal effort.
Chi Zhiyun, holding a sword, had been waiting respectfully in front of the stone door for a long time when it silently opened.
An elderly man with white hair and a benevolent face emerged, holding a jade alms bowl. His aura was undetectable, and he seemed like just an ordinary old man.
"Zhiyun greets the Ancestor! Congrattions on attaining mastery of your divine ability!" Chi Zhiyun called out respectfully.
The white-haired elder smiled gently and spoke in a low, aged voice.
"It''s hardly any great achievement... I merely extended my life by consuming a treasured pill, and finally mastered my fifth divine ability¡ªqualifying me to attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm."
ncing at Chi Zhiyun, Chi Wei cleared his throat. Strangely, two voices emerged simultaneously¡ªone sharp and fine, a woman''s voice, and the other deep and aged, clearly belonging to an old man¡ªsaying in unison, "Middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, not bad at all!"
This was rather eerie, and Chi Zhiyun felt a shiver down his spine, though he dared not show it. Instead, he humbly replied, "My modest cultivation doesn''t deserve such praise, Ancestor."
Chi Wei took a step forward, his voice returning to normal as he said in a low voice, "I have emerged from seclusion because that old bastard Duanmu is about to break through to the Golden Core Realm, and he has invited me to watch the ceremony. Although your immortal foundation has not yet shown signs of harboring divine abilities, it would be beneficial for you to observe."
Chi Zhiyun''s eyes lit up at the suggestion as he quickly thanked his ancestor. Chi Wei watched him for a moment before small clouds formed under their feet. They ascended into the sky, heading toward Mount Dali.
Standing behind Chi Wei, Chi Zhiyun hesitated for a moment before asking quietly, "Ancestor, if I may inquire about Li Chejing..."
"He has already been refined into a pill, which has been delivered to me... to aid me when I break through to the Golden Core Realm," Chi Wei responded indifferently, and Chi Zhiyun sighed in relief.
Chi Wei then continued, "The techniques of the three sects and seven gates mostly originate from the Moonlight Origin Mansion, including that Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique thates from the Moonlight Secret Decree. The immortal foundation it builds, known as the Lake Moon Autumn, has the ability to oversee all techniques. This immortal foundation greatly benefits my breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm."
Chi Wei shared these secrets which mesmerized Chi Zhiyun and greatly excited him.
Seeing his reaction, Chi Wei continued, "Unfortunately, Li Chejing was born fifty years toote. By the time he reached the Qi Cultivation Realm, I had already acquired four divine abilities and one immortal foundation. Had he been born fifty years earlier, I could have taken his Lake Moon Autumn instead of settling for the far inferior Spiritual Sustenance, and my chances of breaking through the Golden Core Realm would have been much greater."
Chi Zhiyun also shook his head regretfully. With the refined techniques of the Purple Mansion Realm, they soon arrived at Mount Dali.
They effortlessly crossed over Lijing Town and Eastern Mount Yue, causing Lu Jiangxian on the mountain to shrink back into his mirror, lying motionless on the stone tform like a lifeless being.
Fortunately, Chi Wei flew high, paying no heed to the situation below, and crossed over Eastern Mount Yue directly. He stopped near the white jade steps at the edge of Mount Wu and stumbled upon someone else riding on clouds.
The man was dressed in a glittering golden robe, with white hair and a beard¡ªyet his face retained a middle-aged appearance. His aura also marked him as a peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.
Upon seeing Chi Wei, the man cupped his fist and greeted. "Brother Chi Wei, long time no see!"
"It''s been seventy-three years... Brother Zhang remains the same as always!" Chi Wei responded heartily.
The middle-aged man smiled. Chi Zhiyun looked up and noticed another person behind him, seemingly of early Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation. This individual appeared unremarkable, carrying a long sword on his back and casting a provocative gaze toward Chi Zhiyun.
Chi Zhiyun snorted coldly, quite displeased as he thought to himself, Zhang... probably from the Golden Feather Sect. This person is merely at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet behaves so arrogantly... Does he truly believe anyone can use me to gain fame, just like Li Chejing?
The two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators chatted for a bit more until the grand formation on Mount Wu suddenly opened, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in a ck robe.
He paused, observing that representatives from the three sects and seven gates, various rogue cultivators, and even Purple Mansion Realm cultivators from neighboring states had all gathered. With cold eyes and an air of arrogance, he spoke.
"I, Duanmu Kui, am breaking through to the Golden Core Realm today. ording to the cultivation world''s convention over thest three hundred years among the four states, I have extended invitations to you all. Kindly give me some space and refrain from interrupting the process carelessly."
The people gathered in the clouds paused, and someone spoke.
"We understand these rules... Senior Duanmu is the eldest among us in the Purple Mansion Realm, whom we respect the most. We all havee to witness the ceremony."
Duanmu Kui sneered and looked down at Mount Wu, while the disciples below watched him nervously. He was well aware that these disciples had long been in collusion with the three sects and seven gates, and that they were ready to disperse should he fail. Yet, Duanmu Kui remained indifferent.
Establishing Mount Wu was purely to find some errand runners, and these disciples held no ce in his heart.
Chi Wei watched quietly, his expression filled with emotion. He then said to Chi Zhiyun beside him, "Duanmu Kui is the sole survivor from the era when the Moonlight Origin Mansion was prominent... When I was young, I heard legends about him. He received divine teachings from an immortal under a mulberry tree in ancient Li City, rising from a beggar to a Purple Mansion Realm immortal cultivator, leading a life full of dramatic turns."
Chi Zhiyun hesitated for a moment before asking, "What are his chances of breaking through the Golden Core Realm?"
Chi Wei paused for a while before answering in a low voice.
"Greater than any of ours."
Duanmu Kui levitated into the air, his gaze fixed on the slowly rising sun. The pure qi of heaven and earth rose in the atmosphere, while the murky qi sank. The essence of the sun and moon intertwined, creating an ideal atmosphere for a breakthrough.
Divine lights began to rise around Duanmu Kui, his expressionplex and unreadable.
Duanmu Kui, despite not possessing exceptional talent, had nheless dominated his era with techniques bestowed by an immortal. Having lived for 647 years, he had exhausted the sixteen life-extending methods from the book titled Answers to a Beggar''s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree, and eventually attained mastery of five divine abilities.
"He said... I could break through to the Golden Core Realm."
When Duanmu Kui was twenty-two years old, he had copsed under a mulberry tree, nearly starving to death. An immortal had given him a bowl of noodles.
Duanmu Kui, expressing deep gratitude and iming he had nothing to repay him with, was met with a simple response by the immortal¡ª"Eat slowly."
After wandering aimlessly for eleven years, Duanmu Kui wept bitterly upon hearing those words. The immortal had then stuffed the book titled Answers to a Beggar''s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree into his chest and said softly, "Breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm. I''lle looking for you in five hundred years."
As the essence of the sun and moon reached its peak in the sky, Duanmu Kui''s spiritual sense stirred. A faint light flew out from his Shenyang Mansion, activating Locust Shade Ghost, a life divine ability.
His vision cleared, revealing two vague figures in the clouds. Duanmu Kui cupped his fist respectfully and said solemnly, "Please wait a moment, esteemed seniors."
As he spoke, the other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators present stepped back in awe. Duanmu Kui listened intently and heard a sharp, high-pitched voicee from the distance.
"If your breakthrough fails, you will turn into smoke and dust... but if you seed, we shall call you an immortal."
Duanmu Kui smiled softly, and his other four divine abilities emerged from his body, stirring the spiritual qi of heaven and earth which swirled around him.
"Untraceable Presence, Earth Shaman''s Blessing, Fool''s Mountain Chase, Blood Drinker."
Duanmu Kui called each of his abilities out one by one, sighing softly with a hint of resentment on his face. If only he had notcked the Emperor''s Mandate, he would not be in such a dire situation.
His gaze swept over the Daoist halls of Yue State angrily before he refocused himself. The first ray of light from Locust Shade Ghost ascended into the sky, drawing invisible mes in its wake.
Chapter 200: Locust Shade Ghost
Chapter 200: Locust Shade Ghost
Chi Zhiyun noticed Duanmu Kui cupping his fist respectfully toward the clouds. Yet Chi Zhiyun saw no one among the clouds, leaving him both surprised and slightly confused. He then turned to Chi Wei and asked, "Ancestor, what''s going on..? Could it be that a Golden Core Realm cultivator from another state has arrived?"
"Not at all." Chi Wei shook his head and activated his divine ability, ncing at the two vague figures in the clouds. He swept his eyes across them briefly, not daring to let his gaze linger, and turned to exin to Chi Zhiyun.
"To break through to the Golden Core Realm, the key lies in refining that indestructible metallic essence, and then using it to catalyze a divine ability to achieve the Golden Core. Duanmu Kui is adept in shamanic spells, and even if he can''t form a Golden Core, he can still refine this metallic essence. Those two are emissaries of death, ensuring that should Duanmu Kui fail and his soul escape, the metallic essence won''t transform into a monstrous force."
Chi Zhiyun, having read the scriptures within his sect, naturally understood that the metallic essence of the Golden Core was not the metal of the five elements, but instead symbolized the indestructibility of metal.
He was greatly puzzled and eximed, "Are there really such benevolent people?"
"It''s a necessity." Chi Wei sighed softly and said, "You, being young, do not know how many spirit veins of mountains were broken and how many powerful beings¡ªfrom Golden Core Realm to beyond¡ªdied in the ancient battles between immortals and devils... Those beings had all refined the metallic essence, turning into various fiends. Inflicting suffering upon the living is one thing, but these fiends retain traces of metallic essence... naturally, it stirs envy in others. So, the immortals established a supreme sect dedicated to capturing these creatures... Nowadays, it''s one of the few upper sects that has never hidden away from the world, always shrouded in mystery."
While Chi Wei spoke, Duanmu Kui''s five divine abilities in the sky had merged into a ray of colorful light, spewing invisible mes. Witnessing this, the other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators stepped back in awe and were dumbstruck, while Duanmu Kui continued to refine his powers within these invisible mes.
"Duanmu Kui is taking the path of bncing water and fire, a method now rarely seen... Having received techniques granted by an immortal, he''s more confident using these ancient methods," Chi Wei remarked while Zhiyun, not quite understanding his exnation, simply stared nkly at the radiant disy of divine abilities.
On the other hand, Chi Wei nodded thoughtfully, focusing intently on the scene before him.
No one in the Wu and Yue States had achieved the Golden Core Realm for hundreds of years. The few known methods for breaking through the Golden Core Realm had led to the deaths of many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, leading to an agreement among them to invite juniors to witness their breakthroughs¡ªa mutually beneficial arrangement in the hopes of finding the right method for advancement.
Everyone watched intently, but one of the vague figures in the clouds shook their head.
In a high-pitched voice, the figure said, "He has the Locust Shade Ghost life divine ability, so he should have cultivated the Emperor''s Mandate instead of Fool''s Mountain Chase..."
"Exactly, Duanmu Kui likely has no hope left... Let''s prepare to intervene."
As the two conversed, nobody below them could hear their voices. The invisible fire in the air zed even fiercer, using the divine abilities as kindling, faintly condensing a bright point of light.
All the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators widened their eyes in envy as they watched the spirit light. Duanmu Kui pushed his palm forward, and the essence of the sun and moon surged toward that light.
Slowly, a few ethereal dewdrops appeared above the glimmering spirit light, shimmering beautifully and dripping down. The light grew even brighter, but suddenly, the dewdrops ceased. After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the five divine abilities had been fully consumed, and no more dew fell.
"Ah..." Chi Zhiyun watched, puzzled, while Chi Wei had already lowered his head in disappointment. The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators looked at each other, their hearts pounding as they gazed at Duanmu Kui.
Duanmu Kui paused for a moment, then inhaled sharply. Like a whale, he swallowed the entire spirit light into his belly. Aplex expression flickered across his face before he burst outughing. His voice was unexpectedly high-pitched, filled with triumph and satisfaction.
"I''ve seeded!"
Chi Zhiyun looked up in shock to see Duanmu Kui''s face streaked with fine lines, resembling a cracked porcin doll. He shivered at the unnerving sight.
Meanwhile, Duanmu Kui continuedughing loudly. Witnessing this odd phenomenon, Chi Wei was greatly rmed and immediately pulled Chi Zhiyun back by several li.
"Let''s go!"
The other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators also quickly fled without looking back. The two figures in the sky appeared before him quickly, and the one with a sharper voice called out to him fiercely.
"Duanmu Kui!"
Duanmu Kui, oblivious, continued to rub his face. His skin was now king off in pieces and chunks, revealing the bone beneath. The spirit lights of his spells had faded, transforming into rising wisps of ghostly light instead.
"Duanmu Kui!"
The figure called his name out three more times before exchanging a nce with hispanion. He then sighed softly.
"Who are you?!"
Duanmu Kui then looked up, his facial skin now grotesquely shredded, revealing an eerie, skeletal face beneath. He chuckled darkly and let out a piercing shriek that reverberated through the vast sky.
"I am... the Locust Shade Ghost!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya sat solemnly in a chilly secret chamber, holding a warm jade stone in his hand. He had been overseeing Mulu Town for the past few days, waiting to return home once order was restored. His spiritual sense asionally swept over various locations, vignt for any disturbances.
The Li Family had scavenged three Qi Cultivation Realm treasures from the entirety of Eastern Mount Yue, one of which was the jade stone in his hand. Known for stabilizing qi and enhancing concentration, it also expedited cultivation and was thus effective for Qi Cultivators. Hence, it was promptly sent to Li Tongya.
The other two items were a Qi Cultivation Realm longsword and a small shield which Li Tongya gave to Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng respectively, providing Li Xuanxuan with a Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifact.
"In addition to the spirit fields and manpower of Eastern Mount Yue, the family has also amassed a significant collection of spirit items and dharma artifacts over the years, much to the delight and benefit of the younger generations."
Li Tongya immersed his spiritual sense into his Qihai acupoint, where his cultivation at the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm manifested as a swirling mass of white qi.
Beneath the ethereal veil of white qiy a calmke, its water formed by his condensed true essence. Thanks to the blessing of the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman and River One Qi Technique, theke was as vast as an ocean instead.
Li Tongya, who had yet to show signs of forming an immortal foundation, had read the River One Qi Technique back and forth over a dozen times, memorizing its crucial points.
He estimated that it would take about another decade for him to establish his immortal foundation. As he concentrated on his cultivation, a piercing scream interrupted his thoughts and cut through his silence. It was so loud that it echoed through his mind.
"I am... Locust Shade Ghost!"
Li Tongya, who was deeply engrossed in meditation, was immediately jolted from his state by the unexpected shriek. He instantly turned pale as he exhaled a frustrated and rmed breath, his mind racing to discern the source of the disturbance.
Who was that?!
After briefly regting his breathing, Li Tongya pushed open the stone door and ascended into the sky, where he saw several younger Qi Cultivators of the Li Family with grim expressions on their faces.
Chen Donghe, Li Xuanfeng, and others stood aloft in silence, looking westward.
Li Tongya looked toward the west, where dark clouds swarmed the sky and thunder boomed. Brilliant bursts of mana light flickered continuously from within the cloud, resonating with loud explosions.
This all caused his heart to skip a beat as he murmured, "This day has arrived earlier than expected... It seems that the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of Mount Yue might be breaking through to the Golden Core Realm. However... it''s uncertain whether this phenomenon indicates sess or failure."
Li Xuanfeng joined him, his expression grave. The Golden Age Longbow on his back glistened in the sunlight as he said to Li Tongya, "Judging by the days, it''s likely that the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of Mount Yue is attempting to break through to the Golden Core Realm... However, given the current scene, it appears there may be a battle happening above."
"Mount Wu will disperse, and the territory of Mount Yue will fall into the hands of Azure Pond Sect..." Li Tongya paused, then added in a low voice, "As for why there is a battle, it might be that the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of Mount Yue has enemies seeking revenge. These matters aremon for high-level cultivators and are not of our concern. However, we should inform the Xiao Family of this news... Donghe, you fly to the prefecture and notify the Xiao Family."
"Understood," Chen Donghe replied with a nod before flying eastward along the Guli Road right away.
Li Xuanxuan, who had been standing nearby, nodded in response to the news, his expression tinged with worry.
"ording to the Xiao Family, the territories of Mount Yue will be divided among the Mount Yue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators aligned with Azure Pond Sect... However, it is uncertain which Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators adjacent to our family will take control. The situation on theke is about to change again..."
Chapter 201: Fei Luoya
Chapter 201: Fei Luoya
Several members of the Li Family were observing the sky when they saw several streaks of lighting from the north, stopping over the territory of Eastern Mount Yue.
Li Tongya and Li Xuanfeng exchanged nces, murmuring, "With such amotion, no family on theke could fail to notice. Now, things are getting interesting."
Sure enough, the leading streak of light slowed down, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in ck clothes. He stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an imposing aura. He swept his gaze over Li Tongya, and said softly, "Tongya, my young friend... it has been several years. Your cultivation has greatly improved!"
"Greetings, Senior!" Li Tongya greeted as he flew up to greet the man, who was none other than Yu Xiaogui, the father of Yu Mugao and the ancestor of the Yu Family¡ªa Foundation Establishment Realm immortal cultivator.
Yu Xiaogui nodded as he scanned Li Tongya from top to bottom, but another streak of light joined them. A middle-aged man in white brocade robes descended gracefully, looking distinguished and elegant. It was Fei Wangbai, the ancestor of the second Foundation Establishment Realm n on theke.
"After so many years, Brother Tongya still looks splendid!"
Fei Wangbai''s tone was warm, contrasting sharply with Yu Xiaogui''s. Li Tongya cupped his fist in response, feeling helpless inside.
"Greetings, Senior!" he greeted.
Li Tongya nced to the side and indeed saw Yu Xiaogui snort coldly, clearly irritated by the close rtions between the Fei and Li families, as well as Fei Wangbai''s friendliness.
He stated coldly, "The head of the Fei Family is indeed good-natured."
Fei Wangbai simply chuckled in response to his snidement. Soon, more streaks of light arrived with the leader being An Zheyan, the head of the An Family. He wore arge leather hat atop his plump face, trailing behind Yu Mugao of the Yu Family.
In no time, all the Qi Cultivation Realm families from theke had gathered. An Zheyan looked up at the two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and asked respectfully, "May I know if the seniors have any insight into this phenomenon..?"
Yu Xiaogui nced at An Zheyan without a word while Yu Mugao stepped forward with a wave of his sleeve, drawing everyone''s attention. His voice was gravely solemn when he spoke.
"I received a message from my brother, stating that a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from Mount Yue is breaking through to the Golden Core Realm... thus causing these unusual phenomena."
"Your esteemed n indeed has well-informed sources," An Zheyan praised loudly, to which Yu Mugao grimaced and shook his head.
Noticing the members of the Li Family below, Yu Mugao suddenly realized something, and he thought bitterly to himself, No wonder the Li Family has been acting strange... They must have already received the news early and seized the opportunity to advance westward. How infuriating... We have no other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to rely on in the sect, and with Muxian in seclusion recently, we were informed toote, allowing the Li Family to effortlessly annex this territory.
Yu Mugao''s gaze swept over Li Tongya and Li Xuanfeng, and his unease grew as he pondered, Now that the Li Family has taken over thends of Eastern Mount Yue, there''s no room for us to intervene. With the support of several hundred thousand people, the Li Family is not the same as before... They''re bing even more difficult to handle now.
With a snort, Yu Mugao further validated An Zheyan¡¯s thoughts, saying, "We''re no match to the Li Family... I wouldn''t be surprised if Senior Tongya had been aware of this situation for quite some time and had already strategized ordingly!"
All the cultivators then turned their attention to Li Tongya, who knew he could not avoid the topic and stepped forward to offer a futile response.
"We''ve also just received the news from the sect..."
An Zheyan scoffed and questioned, "Howe I heard that your family had obtained the heir of Mount Yue years ago, carefully nurtured him, and conveniently elevated him to power just as Mount Yue¡¯s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator was about to break through, thereby gaining control over Eastern Mount Yue? If you weren''t privy to early information and meticulously prepared, how could such a coincidence ur?"
Li Tongya nced at An Zheyan, noting his sarcastic tone. He then shook his head slightly, responding, "It was merely a timely opportunity that we took advantage of, nothingpared to your n''s ability to manipte and sow discord."
"You...!"
An Zheyan did not expect Li Tongya to counter so bluntly. His face changed color, and he was about to speak when a figure quickly approached from the west, diverting everyone''s attention. An Zheyan closed his mouth and looked over with an ugly expression.
The neer, dressed in borate clothing and wearing a storage pouch typical of cultivators but with the appearance of a Mount Yue person, stopped not far from the group. He was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and he was cautiously observing everyone.
"People of Mount Wu..."
Yu Xiaogui and Fei Wangbai both tensed up, unsure of whether the Mount Yue Purple Mansion Realm cultivator had seeded or failed. After a moment of staring contest, the Mount Yue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator finally spoke up.
"Are you people from Azure Chi?"
Given that Azure Chi and Azure Pond shared the same pronunciation, no one found his question strange[1].
As the highest-ranking cultivator and leader of the dominant family on theke, Yu Xiaogui responded, "Indeed... Are you one of the Mount Wu group?"
Unexpectedly, the Mount Yue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator scoffed and announced, "Mount Wu is no more. Duanmu Kui''s attempt to break through ended in failure, resulting in his demise. The wealth and knowledge of Mount Wu have been distributed among several Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. We have submitted to the Azure Chi sect, and henceforth, we are allies... I look forward to coborating with each of you."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogui was momentarily taken aback before his expression turned sour.
The cultivators from Mount Wu, with their cultivation ranging from early to peak Foundation Establishment Realm and their proficiency in shamanic spells, made them even more challenging to deal with than ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
If they were to join the Azure Pond Sect and a few of them settled down, they could easily establish several Foundation Establishment Realm ns.
The Yu Family had firmly established themselves on theke for many years, cultivating a system where tributes from neighboring families flowed steadily to them. The emergence of several additional Foundation Establishment Realm ns could potentially upset the stability they had painstakingly maintained.
Naturally, Yu Xiaogui was displeased. Observing the perplexed expressions below, he exined, "The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from Mount Yue was known as Duanmu Kui."
"The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator has fallen..."
Everyone paused at this revtion,menting the death of a high-ranking Purple Mansion Realm cultivator right before them.
Someone muttered, "It''s actually for the best... Yue State hasn''t had a Golden Core Realm cultivator for many years. If he had achieved it, we wouldn''t be under Azure Pond Sect anymore... We''d all end up following Mount Yue along with the three sects and seven gates."
Although thement was blunt and even brought a slight smile to some faces, it truly expressed everyone''s sentiments.
Yu Xiaogui, slightly agitated, broke the silence. "If you n to stay here long-term, we''ll be neighbors. Once you establish your immortal mountain and spread your lineage, we wille to celebrate."
"Of course."
The Mount Yue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was cautious and had merely responded politely as he had yet to fully understand power dynamics here.
Yu Xiaogui nodded and then departed with Yu Mugao.
As soon as Yu Xiaogui left, the atmosphere immediately became more lively. Many approached Li Tongya to congratte him, to which he thanked each one.
He then turned to the Mount Yue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator and said solemnly, "May I know your name, Senior? I am Li Tongya from the Li Family... As our families will be neighbors, I hope we will get along well with each other."
"Fei Luoya."
The Mount Yue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator stated his name with a serious tone. Although he did not regard a mere Qi Cultivator highly, he was polite, not knowing if the Li Family had any Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. He looked down at the pce of Eastern Mount Yue and raised an eyebrow.
"Although I rarely venture out of Mount Wu, I know the boundary between Azure Chi and Mount Wu was set at Big Fish Creek. What brings you moving east?"
Fei Luoya stared coldly at Li Tongya, his Foundation Establishment Realm authority showing, but Li Tongya was unfazed and simply chuckled.
"Surely, you must be jesting, Senior. Since Mount Wu no longer exists, thisnd is owned by no one, and it''s only natural for my family to expand eastward."
Seeing Li Tongya so unfazed, Fei Luoya narrowed his eyes and said in an aggressive tone, "When my brothers and I set boundaries, we agreed that everything east of Big Fish Creek was my territory; I cannot let this go unjustly. Your cultivation realm is humble; get your elder to speak with me!"
1. Azure Chi and Azure Pond actually share the same pronunciation in Chinese¡ª"Qing Chi". The Chi character used for Azure Chi was the same as Chi Wei''s surname, but could also mean te". Since the Chinese word for "pond" was also pronounced as "Chi", hence, no one found any issue with the question. ?
Chapter 202: The Retreat
Chapter 202: The Retreat
Li Tongya cupped his fist respectfully and replied, "Our Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator has been ordered by the sect to go on an expedition to eliminate demons, hence he is not currently avable..."
Li Tongya had first heard from the White Banyan Fox about the Demon King refining pills at the southern border. Although Fei Luoya, often isted on Mount Wu, was unaware of worldly affairs, Li Tongya crafted the story carefully, simply choosing to mention that Li Chejing was out on a demon-exterminating mission without specifying that it was in the southern border.
Upon hearing this, Fei Luoya frowned. People from Mount Yue were not keen to beat around the bushes, so he demanded directly, "What is the cultivation realm of your family elder?"
Just as Li Tongya was about to respond, a figure descended next to him. This person was dressed in a flowing white robe, exuding an air of elegance.
It was none other than Fei Wangbai, the head of the Fei Family.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists," Fei Wangbai cupped his fist and greeted, carrying a white long spear that was strapped to his back.
Li Tongya returned the greeting respectfully. Fei Luoya, seeing that Fei Wangbai was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, also returned the greetings in a proper manner.
Fei Wangbai raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "What''s going on? Does anyone dare to provoke the sword immortal''s n?"
It was apparent from a distance that Fei Luoya was likely here to cause trouble, so Fei Wangbai stepped forward to show support.
Fei Luoya furrowed his brow at the mention of the sword immortal, feeling somewhat uneasy now.
"Of course not! Senior Fei Luoya merely wishes to meet the sword immortal," Li Tongya replied in a soothing voice.
Hearing this eased Fei Luoya¡¯s mind a little, but Fei Wangbaiughed heartily and teased, "Everyone on the thirty-six peaks inside the sect and five prefectures in the Yue State wishes to behold the sword immortal''s face. My fellow Daoist, you are quite bold... Could it be since no one is currently guarding the Li Family, you intend to bully those under the banner of the Qingsui Sword Immortal?"
Fei Wangbai¡¯svish praises sounded more convincing than if Li Tongya were to speak those by himself, which immediately startled Fei Luoya. Although he had been confined to Mount Wu by Duanmu Kui for many years and was not well-versed in worldly affairs, he was still a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
He gritted his teeth and scoffed, "Do not try to scare me, fellow Daoist... We, the people of Mount Yue, are not so ceremonious. We take what we can defeat and flee when we cannot win. The revered sword immortal is not even present here. To expect me to yield to a mere Qi Cultivator is too much..."
Though Fei Luoya spoke with a tough voice, his tone had softened considerably and he had even begun to consider retreating.
It''s just a few pieces ofnd after all... I might as well let him have it. As a Foundation Establishment Realm immortal cultivator, gaining this worthlessnd brings me no benefits. I was only fighting to get back a little bit of pride.
Just as Fei Luoya was about to lift his head and offer some conciliatory words, two streaks of light arrived from the east.
A middle-aged man adorned with sachets and an old man d in a gray robended next to Li Tongya. The middle-aged man cupped his fist and greeted Li Tongya, then gave Fei Luoya a sidelong nce before letting a wry smile cross his face.
"Brother Tongya, it seems I''m not toote..."
"Greetings, Seniors!" Li Tongya cupped his fist and greeted with a light chuckle. The middle-aged man was Xiao Yuansi.
Turning to look at the old man, whose face bore a resemnce to Xiao Yongling, Li Tongya knew he was a member of the Xiao Family and respectfully inquired, "And who might this be?"
"Xiao Chuchou of the Xiao Family," the old man answered warmly, his eyes twinkling as he stared at Fei Luoya.
Fei Luoya, sensing the cultivation realms of the two men¡ªone at the early stage and the other at the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm¡ªsuddenly felt a sense of crisis.
The alliance of these three could potentially detain him here. While his heart was racing, he heard Xiao Yuansi begin to speak.
"And you are..?"
Fei Luoya''s demeanor changed immediately as he quickly smiled broadly and replied warmly, "I am Fei Luoya, formerly of Mount Wu... Now that I''m settling down here, I thought to acquaint myself with Brother Tongya and witness the might of the sword immortal!."
"Oh," Fei Wangbai chuckled softly, choosing not to expose Fei Luoya''s pretense.
Li Tongya courteously responded, "Since we are neighbors from now on, Senior Fei Luoya is most wee to visit my Mount Lijing."
"Of course... of course..." Fei Luoya quickly acquiesced,ughing awkwardly before hastilying up with an excuse to take his leave.
Fei Wangbai then turned to greet the two from the Xiao Family. Seeing that they appeared to have more to discuss, he politely excused himself.
"There are urgent matters at home, so I won''t disturb Brother Tongya any longer!"
"Take care, Senior... I will visit you in a few days," Li Tongya said. Although he had not yet achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm, his power was second only to Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators on theke.
Fei Wangbai, keen on fostering a good rtionship, addressed him as an equal while Li Tongya continued to refer to him as senior¡ªa formality that put a small smile on Xiao Yuansi''s face.
"Thank you foring to support me during my time of need, Seniors."
Li Tongya¡¯s face was earnest as he expressed his gratitude. Together, they descended to the pce where the servants immediately served them tea.
Xiao Chuchou, with his head full of white hair, took a sip of tea and said softly, "Given the current rtionship between our families, I will speak frankly... We didn¡¯te solely for your sake."
"Decades ago, I traveled through various states with a Buddhist. In the mountains of Mount Yue''s territory, we discovered a precious herb guarded by a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm demon beast. At that time, I was only at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm and also wary of attracting the attention of Mount Wu, so I noted the location and left disappointed. Now that Mount Wu no longer exists, I brought Yuansi here hoping to retrieve that herb," he exined.
"I see," Li Tongya remarked as Xiao Chuchou was clearly the senior member of the Xiao Family; even Xiao Yuansi listened respectfully without speaking.
Li Tongya agreed with a nod before Xiao Chuchou smiled.
"I¡¯ve heard that your elegance is unmatched, and indeed it is so. Speaking of which, I must thank your Li Family... If it weren¡¯t for the sword immortal obtaining an Essence Gathering Pill for our family, my son might not have broken through."
Li Tongya responded modestly and chatted briefly with Xiao Chuchou before voicing a question that had been on his mind. "May I ask about the Buddhist, Senior?"
Xiao Chuchou sipped his tea leisurely and replied, "You are still young and haven¡¯t traveled far from home. Our Yue State is in the south, controlled by our Dao gate, and so is the Great Xu to the north... If you cross the long river to the north, reaching the states of Yan and Zhao, that¡¯s the territory of the Buddhists."
"The world is vast, not dominated by our Golden Core Dao Gate alone. Buddhism also has its cultivation methods that differ from ours... However..." Xiao Chuchou shook his head, a flicker of fear crossing his face as he clenched his teeth and advised, "When you encounter a Buddhist, it''s best to deal with them superficially and refrain from associating yourself too closely with them. Those who are not firm in mind can be swayed by a single encounter, falling into many traps."
"In this world, there are minor paths such as shamanic spells and curses, as well as major ones that involve consuming blood for power like the Purple Mansion Realm and Golden Core Realm. Your chosen Dao path is yours to decide, guided by the desires of your heart. But once you embrace Buddhism, you no longer have a say in the matter."
Li Tongya shivered slightly at the warning, relieved that Buddhismy far to the north and was not an immediate concern.
"Thank you for the caution, Senior," he said respectfully.
Xiao Chuchou nodded and exchanged a few more words with the men before noticing how much time had passed. He and Xiao Yuansi rose into the sky in search of the medicinal herb, not wanting others to reach it first. Li Tongya courteously saw them off beyond his territory.
As they flew onward, Xiao Chuchou seemed to still be lost in the memories of his youthful adventures. Xiao Yuansi nced at him and whispered in his ear, "Ancestor, about the herb..."
"The herb is secondary," Xiao Chuchou interrupted, shaking his head.
"Though the herb is real, it''s also a distraction; I know of several relics likely left by the people of Mount Wu, guarded by seals. Now that Mount Wu has fallen, it¡¯s the perfect time to explore them. If we could find even a page or two of that book, it would be immensely beneficial to our family."
Xiao Yuansi nodded, his heart set on the book bestowed by the immortal, murmuring, "Answers to a Beggar¡¯s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree... that¡¯s surely a Grade Seven or Eight immortal text."
"Don''t get your hopes too high," Xiao Chuchou cautioned softly.
"If there was a trace of this book at Mount Wu, those Purple Mansion Realm cultivators would have already fought over it... Duanmu Kui''s old tales are too ancient; perhaps the story of the immortal¡¯s gift is just something he fabricated to aggrandize himself."
As they continued on their flight, Xiao Yuansi expressed his puzzlement.
"So, Duanmu Kui ultimately failed... Is attaining the Golden Core Realm really so difficult? Despite hundreds of years and countless Purple Mansion Realm cultivators that have attempted to break through, not a single one has seeded..."
Xiao Chuchou chuckled and replied, "Golden Core Realm... Refining the metallic essence can extend your lifespan by a thousand years... As long as one is not discovered by the emissaries of death, even a dead Golden Core Realm cultivator can continue to linger in the mortal realm by virtue of this metallic essence. Therefore, such prestige is not easily achieved."
Chapter 203: The Clan Gathering
Chapter 203: The n Gathering
With Fei Luoya''s recognition, the territory of Eastern Mount Yue was entirely and undisputedly in the hands of the Li Family.
After settling the affairs of the six major ns and determining the locations and outputs of the various spirit fields, the return to Mount Lijing was finally scheduled.
In the front hall of the Mount Yue Pce, Li Yuanxiu wrote down his thoughts on a fabric sheet for a while then drafted his speech. He then put down his brush and nced at the time, whispering, "Pingyi, bring the maps... let''s go and pay our respects to the elders together."
Li Pingyi tightened his sleeves and took a scroll of maps in his hands, before following closely behind Li Yuanxiu. He appeared to be slightly nervous. They walked through the long corridor nked by n guards who stood silently, holding their weapons without even a nce sideways.
After walking a while, Li Yuanxiu and Li Pingyi entered the pce''s rear hall and saw Li Feiruo respectfully standing at the doorway. Li Pingyi slightly looked up and softly called out, "Aunt."
Li Feiruo, Li Pingyi''s paternal aunt, had been married off when Li Pingyi was very young and had only returned home during festivals or rituals. Each visit, she discussed the affairs of Mount Yue with her elder brother Li Xiewen, and by the next day, these discussions would have beenpiled and ced neatly on Li Xuanxuan''s desk. Although Li Pingyi was not very close to her, he still smiled and greeted her.
"Young Family Head, Yi''er," Li Feiruo acknowledged them softly before they all entered the hall together.
Inside, Li Yuanxiu saw that the seat at the head of the hall was empty. On the left sat a middle-aged man with sharp features and equipped with a golden bow, who was joking about something. It was Li Xuanfeng. To the right was his own father, Li Xuanxuan, who listened intently and nodded in agreement from time to time.
Next to him was his third uncle Li Xuanling, who, currently at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, was expected to break through within the next few years. He held a jade slip and nodded slightly upon seeing Li Yuanxiu.
Chen Donghe and Li Qiuyang sat quietly next in line, not daring to speak. Further down sat Li Xiewen and other influential n uncles. The elders of the family were not here due to their age, so those present were rtively younger but still held significant positions within the family.
"Greetings, Seniors," Li Yuanxiu and the others began. After waiting a while at the bottom of the steps, someone flew into the hall with the wind, prompting everyone to stand and greet him in unison.
"Wee, n Uncle/Ancestor/Second Uncle!"
"I amte. Thank you all for waiting..." Li Tongya said as he settled into the seat at the head of the hall and nodded at Li Yuanxiu, who stepped forward. His tone was solemn and serious when he spoke.
"Our Li Family now fully controls Eastern Mount Yue, and we have gathered 54 spirit items worth 32 Spirit Stones, and seven Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts and shamanic tools worth over 40 Spirit Stones."
Li Yuanxiu paused. Having already reported three Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts to Li Tongya privately, he skipped them in the list thus avoiding provoking idle talk among the n uncles.
He then changed the subject, saying, "Currently, our Li Family needs to submit a tribute every five years consisting of 1,000 jin of Spirit Saddies, 100 White Essence Fruits, 300 jin of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice, and 25 Spirit Stones, along with various other spirit goods worth a total of 50 Spirit Stones.
"The native yield of Spirit Paddies on Mount Lijing is around 1,300 jin. Since we acquired the territory of Eastern Mount Yue, there''s been a shortage of manpower, and the productive spirit fields there currently yield about 1,000 jin... After distributing the n allowances to the cultivators, we can have a surplus of 800 jin of Spirit Paddies every five years. The main ie, however,es from the ebony mine, bringing in about 30 Spirit Stones every five years."
Li Yuanxiu made a gesture, and Li Pingyi unrolled a map. Li Yuanxiu detailed the distribution of the spirit fields, their fertility, and sterility as the elders listened intently.
Li Tongya thought to himself, This doesn''t even include talismans and misceneous items like Wuzha Spirit Silk... If those were counted, the ie could reach 40 Spirit Stones. With the 30 Spirit Stones we have in reserve, in a few years, we could afford tomission a formation for Mount Huaqian!
Observing the junior members below, Li Tongya nodded slightly and spoke warmly, "This upation of Eastern Mount Yue required effort from all present... The family will reward you ording to your contributions when we return to the town."
The crowd thanked him in unison. The n uncles below whispered among themselves and exchanged nces, until finally, one of the minor sect cultivators stood up. He was a third stage Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator and looked up hesitantly before speaking.
"The acquisition of Eastern Mount Yue territory isrgely due to the efforts of our Qi Cultivation Realm elders. We merely yed a supporting role and dare not im credit... However..."
As he stood up, Li Qiuyang, the head of the minor sect cultivators, looked startled and somewhat angry, clearly taken aback by the unfolding events.
Li Qiuyang clenched his teeth, and Chen Donghe, who was beside him, ced a hand on his shoulder and shook his head gently.
The minor sect cultivator suddenly fell to his knees and said earnestly, "Now that Eastern Mount Yue is wholly ours, we beseech the elders to abolish the Mount Yue royal lineage and its governance system to ensure control under the Li Family... and prevent any loyalty conflicts from the royal heirs!"
While this minor sect cultivator was still speaking, Li Qiuyang suddenly had an epiphany and sighed silently. Without a word, he hung his head in dejection.
The struggle for benefit is inevitable, Li Yuanxiu thought to himself with his back facing the speaker.
He was fully aware of their intentions. With the Li Family''s towns and viges already under the administration of his several illegitimate half-brothers, who were quite cunning, these minor sect members naturallycked the power topete with them. Hence, they turned their attention to thends of Eastern Mount Yue.
Having previously hinted multiple times and having firmly chastised them, my n brothers were still not deterred, seeking yet another gamble in the presence of our granduncle...
Li Yuanxiu narrowed his eyes. If the royal lineage of Eastern Mount Yue was removed and the territory directly administered by the Li Family, the numerous towns that might emerge would naturally tempt these individuals to propose a significant candidate to test the waters.
Moreover, this individual is a junior... Even if something were to go awry, there would be enough room to navigate through it.
After the minor sect cultivator had finished delivering his prepared speech, Li Yuanxiu gave a slight smile without turning his head. He spoke softly.
"Thend of Eastern Mount Yue has been through numerous wars... the people are in turmoil, it is a turbulent time. For the Li Family to take over now is merely inheriting a mess that drains resources, consumes food and craftsmen, and would require further resources to manage a group of officials who capitalize on the chaos..."
Li Yuanxiu stepped forward, his implications causing the faces of the n uncles to change. His gaze swept over the faces of the various n uncles,pelling them all to lower their heads.
He smiled and continued, "My family is interested in the spirit items and spirit fields of Mount Yue. Now that we have obtained these, during this time of great resentment among the people, it would be better to let Shamoli govern over them. Let the me for grievances fall on the King of Mount Yue, and the bacsh on Shamoli. When Mount Yue changes its customs and the people''s strength is restored, we can gradually absorb more territory. By that time, the people''s lives will have improved, and they will recognize these as the merits of the Li Family."
Hearing this, Li Tongya, sitting at the head of the hall, smiled in approval and nodded subtly. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he dered firmly, "The royal family of Eastern Mount Yue is nominally a vassal, but actually a puppet of ours... This matter is settled. No further discussion is needed."
"Yes," was the collective response.
Li Tongya, one of the highest-ranking and strongest in the family, respected as an elder and nicknamed the ''Grand Elder of the Li Family,'' spoke softly but decisively. Hence, his statement prompted everyone to stand and agree, settling the matter with finality.
The minor sect cultivator awkwardly returned to his ce. The smaller branch members exchanged nces and all sighed softly, realizing the futility of their aspirations.
Li Yuanxiu briskly turned the page on the matter, adding, "From the second lunar month until today, we''ve been stationed in Eastern Mount Yue for twenty-seven days. Thirteen n members havemitted vitions of indulgence... nine have abused their powers for personal gain, and seven othersmitted various smaller offenses."
"Those who incited troops are to be stripped of their ranks and imprisoned, and from squad leader upward, all are to be executed if they could not dissuade their subordinates..." Li Yuanxiu paused here as his voice trailed off, his tone hinting at the gruesome nature of the punishments. This made some of the younger members flinch.
He continued, "Those who epted bribes are to be stripped of their positions, and those who offered bribes are to be imprisoned or executed¡ªnever to be employed again."
Li Yuanxiu then concluded the rest of the administrative matters. Li Tongya nodded and assigned a few people to stay in Eastern Mount Yue to oversee the spirit fields and manage the local cultivators.
"The matters of Eastern Mount Yue are concluded; withdraw the troops and return home," he said.
Chapter 204: News from the An Family
Chapter 204: News from the An Family
Spring rains were gentle and nourishing, and thousands of acres of fertile fields sprouted lush green seedlings. A farmer in a straw raincoat straightened up in the fields, looking worriedly at the soldiers hastening back.
"My child joined the army; I wonder if he was hurt..."
A few days earlier, the farmer had received news of a great victory in the west with minimal casualties. He knew some soldiers had been executed for indulging in excesses and abuse, but he was not overly concerned.
"I''ve taught that boy for over a decade; he wouldn''t do such things!" he reassured himself.
The muddy earth waspressed under the wheels while gleaming armor shed in the rain, ringing out sonorously. The crystal-clear raindrops split in two upon hitting the sharp des and rolled off swiftly, dripping onto Xu Gongming''s eyebrows.
Xu Gongming looked ahead at the dark carriage frame, reviewing his conduct along the way and feeling satisfied that he had lived up to Old Master Xu''s teachings. He visibly rxed. Just then, he saw a rider approaching amidst the drizzle, a g fluttering weakly behind him.
"Riding in the rain... it must be urgent news!" Xu Gongming perked up immediately and quickly moved forward.
The rider, whose cultivation was at the third stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm, reined in his horse in front of the carriage before carefully dismounting. He then handed over a bamboo tube, stating gravely, "A message from Mount Huaqian!"
Xu Gongming took it and climbed onto the carriage step. He shook off the rain and saw Li Pingyi emerge from behind the curtains to take the bamboo tube, bowing as he retreated back into the carriage.
"The first branch of the minor ns..." Xu Gongming looked enviously at Li Pingyi. Li Yesheng''s branch was always the closest to the main family and was highly respected among the various branches, always priding themselves as confidants of the main family. It was a status even higher than that of Li Qiuyang''s branch, fueling Xu Gongming''s envy.
"If only the elders in charge during Lord Xuanxuan''s time had beenpetent, we wouldn''t be in this position..." Xu Gongming hopped down from the carriage, looking at the young man who had arrived on horseback.
He gave him a smile before asking, "May I know your name?"
"Tian Zhongqing."
The young man raised his wet eyebrows and responded politely with a sincere expression.
"So, you are a son of the Tian Family..." Xu Gongming gave a slight smile before ending the conversation, mindful of Old Master Xu''s instruction to refrain from associating with prominent families. He chose to remain silent.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Young Family Head, there''s a letter from Mount Huaqian," Li Pingyi said as he removed the cloth covering from the wooden tube and walked to Li Yuanxiu''s side.
Li Yuanxiu withdrew his gaze from the wooden scroll and whispered to himself, "Mount Huaqian..? Whatever could be the matter with Mount Huaqian?"
Taking the wooden scroll, Li Yuanxiu removed the wax seal and unfolded the white cloth inside, carefully reading the single sentence written on it.
Confidential: A letter from An Family''s informant. An Zheyan confessed after getting drunk, revealing that An Jingming had broken through to the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"Eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm?!"
Li Yuanxiu was stunned for a moment, finding this hard to believe. He raised his head in disbelief and murmured softly, "How is that possible? An Jingming is only... about twenty-three or twenty-four, right..? Is he going to break through to Foundation Establishment Realm at thirty?! How talented is he?"
Li Pingyi remained wordless and did not respond while Li Yuanxiu furrowed his brow in thought. When he spoke again, his voice was low.
"Summon the messenger."
Li Pingyi nodded and exited. Shortly after, a man came in, removing his straw raincoat to reveal a damp tight-fitting robe. He cupped his fist respectfully before answering.
"Tian Zhongqing pays respects to Young Family Head."
"Tian Zhongqing..."
Li Yuanxiu felt a sense of familiarity with the name but could not quite ce his finger on where he had heard it before. He then asked softly, "Which generation do you belong to?"
This was Tian Zhongqing''s first meeting with Li Yuanxiu, but he was not nervous. He raised his head and smiled. "Tian Yun, the wife of Lord Xiangping, is my father''s paternal aunt, and I am her grandnephew."
"Ah."
Li Yuanxiu noted that Tian Zhongqing was seventeen or eighteen years old and was already at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, carrying himself withposure. He stored this information in his mind and nodded, saying, "Take this letter to the military ounting office and deliver it to my father."
"Understood."
Tian Zhongqing took the wooden scroll and wrapped it in a cloth bag before stamping a wax seal on it. He covered it with twoyers of cloth before briskly leaving the carriage, riding westward along the military formation.
"This person is the eldest grandson of the Tian Family, the leader of the younger generation of their family," Li Pingyi said as he stepped forward to remind Li Yuanxiu, who simply nodded in agreement.
"That''s not bad at all."
Rolling up the wooden scroll in his hand, Li Yuanxiu pondered inwardly, It''s no wonder that the surrounding families are reluctant to let outsiders cultivate... How can a familypete with several families? With more people, there will always be a few geniuses. By then, allowing outsiders to be the top cultivators of the family would make things difficult! Fortunately, our family has the mirror and talisman seed which can elerate cultivation speed, ensuring that the decent talent of each generation... It allows for our assurance, at least.
Returning from his thoughts, Li Yuanxiu picked up another wooden scroll from the desk and said in a low voice, "With An Jingming''s talent and An Zheyan''s careless behavior... how can he live long?"
After a moment of careful consideration, Li Yuanxiu felt rather uneasy. Setting down the wooden scroll in his hand, he dered firmly, "No, I must personally go and find Father!"
With that, he donned his raincoat and swiftly left the carriage to search for Li Xuanxuan.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya slowly opened his eyes and waited a few moments before the carriage door was gently knocked on. He exhaled a breath of white air and said softly, "Come in and talk."
Li Xuanxuan pushed the door open and entered. The rain outside was getting heavier, but not a drop had touched him. Li Xuanxuan was also about forty years old, but due to his breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm, much of the white at his temples had vanished, making him appear just over thirty. His expression was grave as he followed Li Yuanxiu into the room, his clothes slightly damp from the rain.
"Second Uncle, An Jingming has already broken through to the eighth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm..." Li Xuanxuan said as he looked up at Li Tongya with a serious expression, adding, "This matter is of great importance, so I came to report it as soon as I received the news."
Li Tongya raised his eyebrows in surprise. He had anticipated An Jingming''s rapid cultivation progress but had not expected it to reach such an extent. He said in a deep voice, "An Jingming isn''t even thirty yet, is he?"
"Twenty-three or twenty-four," was the reply.
Li Tongya calcted the time; thest time he had seen An Jingming was over seven or eight years ago when the boy was only fifteen and at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Now, he was already at the eighth heavenlyyer. Li Tongya murmured quietly to himself, deep in thought.
"That''s roughly one heavenlyyer per year..."
Li Tongya found it increasingly unbelievable. Normally, a Qi Cultivator would take over five years to advance one heavenlyyer; three to five years was considered extremely quick.
If one''s talent was not considered good enough, it could even take up to seven or eight years... Yet, An Jingming had managed to advance five heavenlyyers in just seven years, including two heavenlyyers during the demandingter stages of the Qi Cultivation Realm, nearly catching up to Li Tongya himself!
Li Tongya knew that if he had not received the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, his own cultivation would at best be at only the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, perhaps even lower than An Jingming.
Li Xuanxuan, who had only recently broken through the Qi Cultivation Realm himself and knew the difficulties involved, saw Li Tongya''s silence and felt uneasy. He spoke in a low voice, "The spirit veins in Mount Huazhong are thin and inferior to those of Mount Huaqian, let alone Azure Pond Peak... I''ve heard that disciples in sects who consume heavenly treasures and bathe in spirit fluids advance one heavenlyyer every two to three years... how does one advance one heavenlyyer per year?!"
Li Xuanxuan paused, then clenched his already tensed jaw.
"I''ve heard gossip in the markets about reincarnated immortals who progress swiftly due to their past life''s cultivation. Could this person be... some reincarnated deity or immortal?"
"That''s impossible."
Li Tongya was also shaken but shook his head and said firmly, "If he were indeed a reincarnated being of the Golden Core Realm or higher, we would have been wiped out by him long ago... How could the Yu Family still be jumping around here?"
Chapter 205: Leaking the News
Chapter 205: Leaking the News
The rain drizzled outside, yet it was unusually quiet inside the carriage.
Li Tongya stroked his beard and spoke thoughtfully, "This person is quite calctive... Who could have foreseen such rapid progress in his cultivation? He probably hopes to take advantage of the turmoil over theke to swiftly break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. With that attainment, he could travel between heaven and earth unrestrained. On his territory, he can rely on formations and geographical advantages to resist Yu Xiaogui. Even if he''s outside of his territory, the Yu Family is hesitant to act against his family..."
Li Tongya had just finished speaking when Li Yuanxiu picked up the thread, speaking in a grave tone. "Moreover, with his talent, it''s impossible for him to stop at Foundation Establishment Realm... Once An Jingming escapes abroad, who would dare to touch his family? In twenty or thirty years, he could return as a peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... or even a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator!"
Li Xuanxuan was silent for a moment before looking up.
"..But it''s not so simple. Our Li Family has now expanded to the borders on both sides. With a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in Mount Yue to the west, there''s no way out. If the An Family appears in the east, our Li Family will be sandwiched between Moongaze Lake and Mount Dali, leaving us no room to expand."
Seeing that the two younger men were taking this seriously, Li Tongya nodded, already formting a n in his mind. He looked at Li Yuanxiu and asked with a smile, "Do you have a n?"
Li Yuanxiu was instantly invigorated, knowing that Li Tongya was testing him. He cupped his fist and replied in a low voice, "When our family annexed the Lu Family because of Lu Yuanlu''s foolishness, it was done poorly. The families around theke don''t say it openly, but they have been quietly critical and vignt. If we rashly interfere in the An Family''s affairs, we might provoke public anger... For now, we can rely on another tiger to devour the wolf."
Seeing that both elders nodded, Li Yuanxiu smiled and continued, "We are anxious, but the Yu Family is even more so. With the rise of the Xiao Family''s business, we have strong external support. We are also internally backed by the deterrence of a sword immortal, allowing An Jingming to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm only means we are trapped in between. However, the Yu Family forcefully collects tributes from the families around theke and frequently interferes in their affairs, gradually encroaching through vassal marriages, earning them deep resentment from every family. However, the Yu Family''s strength is formidable, and Yu Mugao''s tactics are sophisticated, managing to suppress and divide the major families, which is exactly why they''ve stabilized the situation."
Li Yuanxiu chuckled softly and added, "They are the ones who fear An Jingming''s advancement to Foundation Establishment Realm the most. Once they learn of this news, even their Purple Mansion Realm ancestor, Yu Xiaogui, might emerge from his seclusion."
"Indeed." Li Tongya nodded in approval, exchanging nces with Li Xuanxuan before instructing, "Since Xiu''er has a n, you will be left to handle this matter. Leak the news discreetly to the Yu Family."
"Understood!" Li Yuanxiu said as he cupped his fist, confidently departing to carry out his n.
Li Xuanxuan watched him go with a chuckle while Li Tongya nced at him and grinned cheekily.
"You''ve raised a fine son!"
"Heh." Li Xuanxuanughed, sping his fist and adding, "Just so Second Uncle knows, my first wife will give birth again in a few months, adding a sibling born of the same mother to Xiu''er."
"Oh!" Li Tongya raised an eyebrow and spoke softly, "You have indeed done well in this respect. Ling''er is faithful, Feng''er is still trapped in past events, and among the younger generation... you are the only one who has spread his branches and leaves."
With a wave of his hand, Li Tongya''s brow furrowed with worry again as he said in a grave tone, "Indeed, An Zheyan was right back then... Yu Mugao is a ruthless man. He fears An Jingming, but he also fears our Li Family. He will certainly not let our family off easily. Over the years, the Fei Family has caused him many troubles, and the Yu Family has annexed two others, so he simply hasn''t had the chance to act. The quieter this man is, the more uneasy I feel..."
Li Xuanxuan listened to these words and fell silent for a moment, then cupped his fist once more.
"Now that Xuanling is in seclusion to break through, we brothers must be more cautious... Unless Yu Xiaogui himself takes action, who could possibly threaten us?"
"Indeed..." Li Tongya nodded gently. Li Xuanxuan then asked for some guidance on his cultivation. Although Li Tongya had been cultivating for many years and they did not practice the same techniques, his advice suddenly enlightened Li Xuanxuan, who left in a better mood.
Once I return to the mountain, I can focus on advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm. I can''t rest easy until there''s a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator overseeing thiske and mountain...
At this thought, Li Tongya sighed softly and closed his eyes to meditate.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
When the Li Family''s troops returned to the four towns of Lijing, there was not much noise of carriages and horses. Most of the influential members of the Li Family had left the town, leaving only Li Yuanyun to wee them at the town''s entrance.
Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanxiu alighted from their carriages and the brothers embraced, talking about the events of the past few months.
Standing nearby, Li Qinghong held her spear with a cheerful smile. Dressed in leather armor, the teenage girl, now around twelve or thirteen years old, had bright eyes and wore her ck hair neatly in a ponytail. With the characteristic gray-ck eyes of the Li Family, she stood gracefully as she watched her brothers smilingly.
"Qinghong!"
Li Yuanjiao scratched his head awkwardly. Having grown up beside her, he had always treated her more like a boy, and never thought it odd. Now, having been away for a few months and returning to see her blossom into a youngdy, he felt momentarily embarrassed and called out to her somewhat awkwardly as if he hardly recognized her.
"What''s the matter, Brother Jiao? After fighting in the mountains for months, you don''t recognize your little sister anymore?" Li Qinghong''s raised her eyebrows slightly as she teased him. Her usually gentle eyes suddenly lit up brightly. Since she wore no makeup on her face, her cheeks were slightly rosy.
"Not at all!" Li Yuanjiao replied as heughed heartily. The conversation allowed him to feel more at ease and he said, "Once I return to the town, we''ll have a match!"
Li Yuanxiu smiled warmly, pulling Li Yuanyun to the front, and prompting Li Qinghong to greet him right away.
"Brother!"
Li Yuanxiu was pondering the arrangements for their return to the town. Hearing her voice, he looked up, his eyes twinkling immediately as he smiled.
"Qinghong, you''ve grown much taller this year!"
As the younger generation chatted, a serious-looking man with slightly graying temples alighted from the carriage behind them.
It was none other than Li Xuanxuan.
"Father."
Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanxiu called out respectfully, to which Li Xuanxuan nodded in acknowledgment.
The sight of Li Qinghong''s smile momentarily stunned him, as if he was seeing Li Jingtian from more than a decade ago. While Li Jingtian exuded a gentler, calmer demeanor, Li Qinghong''s eyes sparkled with energy, lending her a lively and assertive air.
"Uncle!" Li Qinghong called out with a smile, which made Li Xuanxuan feel a slight emptiness in his heart. He responded, but his mind had wandered off.
I should visit Jingtian too... Having secluded myself for so many years, and immediately going on a campaign in the mountains after emerging from seclusion, I have not seen her even once.
Li Xuanxuan was instructing these younger rtives on their cultivation while Li Yuanxiu stood behind silently. Li Pingyi quickly approached him and whispered, "Young Family Head, Tian Zhongqing has already been summoned."
Li Yuanxiu ran through his ns repeatedly in his mind before nodding and replying, "Have him wait for me at the n Affairs Courtyard."
Chapter 206: Counter-Espionage
Chapter 206: Counter-Espionage
Li Yuanxiu strode into the central hall, while Li Yuanjiao followed closely behind. They saw several n uncles waiting anxiously in the hall, their expressions frantic and their behavior restrained.
They began pleading, "Young Family Head... please forgive my son''s recklessness and allow him to return home..."
"Indeed! Young Family Head, I understand that you''re managing the household but you must do so withpassion..."
Li Yuanxiu swept his gaze over them and immediately recognized them as the elders of those n brothers who had been causing trouble in Eastern Mount Yue, allowing their soldiers tomit atrocities and dishonor others. He simply cupped his fist and spoke in a stern voice.
"It''s not that Ickpassion, but my n brothers had indeed gone overboard with their actions. They took pleasure in ughtering, bullied the married women and their daughters, and reveled in impaling infants on spears... Can you truly excuse such horrible actions?!"
The elders were startled by his words and exchanged nces amongst themselves. Yet none could stammer out a response.
Li Yuanxiu sighed softly and continued, "Establishing a n Affairs Courtyard to maintain order among the n members was the dying wish of our ancestor, and for many years, there has been no change to this decree. Furthermore, news of this incident has reached my granduncle, and he is quite shocked and angered... I would like to help, but I am powerless. If you can persuade my granduncle to overlook this matter, I will release them immediately."
The ancestor Li Yuanxiu mentioned was none other than Li Mutian. The establishment of the n Affairs Courtyard had been a directive of Li Mutian before his passing. The mention of Li Tongya also pressured the elders into silence, causing them to withdraw with a resigned sigh.
Watching the elders leave, Li Yuanxiu then smiled and shook his head as he moved toward the rear hall. Li Yuanjiao, following behind, was amazed and praised him.
"I''m impressed by how quickly you managed to silence such a formidable group of elders!"
"It''s no big deal," Li Yuanxiu replied as he chuckled softly and quietly said, "After all, in this world... power is respected. Suppressing others with strength is most convenient. Our methods of governance merely leverage the authority of stronger elders. Without power, no amount of talking will help."
The twoughed and entered the rear hall where incense was burning, with wisps of smoke swirling around.
A man d in leather armor stood respectfully and vigntly in the center. He cupped his fist to the approaching men and greeted them with a smile, "Tian Zhongqing pays his respects to the two lords."
"Hmm." Li Yuanxiu acknowledged him and walked to the seat at the head of the hall before addressing him directly, "In Huaqian Town that you oversee, there''s a man named Ma Haiji, who is a spy for the Yu Family... Are you aware of this?"
"No, I am not!" Tian Zhongqing was taken aback by this revtion, his pupils dting slightly as he quickly kneeled on the ground, stammering, "I have failed to discern him clearly..."
Li Yuanxiu waved his hand to stop him and sighed before speaking softly, "This is not your fault... I deliberately allowed this person to remain free. Dealing with spies isn''t just about killing them; managing them seems much more reassuring than removing them. At crucial moments, they can still be useful to me."
After he had finished speaking, he made a small gesture. Immediately, a n soldier brought forward a bamboo tube containing a secret message, which he handed to Tian Zhongqing.
"I want the Yu Family to know about the contents of this letter. Among the spies, this person''s name is particrly unpleasant and he is the easiest to deceive... so let''s use him... this Ma Haiji," Li Yuanxie instructed, letting out a soft chuckle.
Tian Zhongqing nodded repeatedly. Li Yuanxiu went on to exin the n in great detail, making sure his instructions were as clear as possible.
"Make it look natural... let Ma Haiji believe he had stumbled upon this identally."
After carefully listening to his instructions, Tian Zhongqing quietly excused himself. Li Yuanjiao was still sitting casually at the bottom of the steps. Seeing TianZhingqing leave, he then turned to his brother.
"Brother, Yu Mugao is not easy to fool. Whether he believes it or not, Ma Haiji is likely to be discarded by the Yu Family after this... Do you have a n for handling this?"
Li Yuanxiu nodded and smiled. "When someonees to our house to spy on us, is there any reason for him to leave unscathed and still live a life of luxury? Once his message gets out, we''ll make his life worse than death."
Picking up a writing brush, Li Yuanxiu and Li Yuanjiao exchanged a nce and smiled. Li Yuanxiu then drew a circle on the fabric sheet.
Li Yuanjiao raised an eyebrow in response and said with a cryptic expression, "Tian Zhongqing and Xu Gongming are both talents that can be utilized... The families have many members and are bound to produce a few formidable characters."
Li Yuanxiu looked down at the circle he had drawn and let out a small sigh.
"Talents that can be utilized are good enough... we don''t need someone like An Jingming. Our pond is too shallow to nurture flood dragons."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Under the administration of Mount Huaqian, the four towns flourished, with Huaqian Town at the foot of the mountain being the most lively. In recent years, many courtyards had been built, and in the sparse spring rain, people wearing straw raincoats bustled about.
"The official hase to visit... Please inform Brother Zhongqing!"
Ma Haiji waited outside in the courtyard under the spring drizzle for a while until a servant creaked the door open.
"Oh, it''s you, Lord Ma!
Pleasee," the servant said respectfully upon recognizing him at the doorway.
Ma Haiji nodded before walking into the courtyard with his hands behind his back. As he crossed the threshold, he took off his straw raincoat. There was no sign of Tian Zhongqing in the main courtyard and not even an attendant was in sight, leaving the courtyard eerily empty.
He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where is Lord Zhongqing?"
"The lord received an urgent message early this morning and went out with his men, leaving only me to watch the house. Please wait a moment, I will bring you some tea..." the servant answered, with his head bowed meekly.
Tian Zhongqing was known for his frugality, employing only a few personal servants. Such situations were not umon. Ma Haiji nodded at the servant''s exnation, who went to prepare the tea hurriedly.
Upon hearing the words ''urgent message'', Ma Haiji''s interest was piqued. He sat down on a wooden chair, eyeing the bamboo tube on the table that fluttered slightly in the wind. It piqued his own greedy thoughts as he gazed at it.
I wonder if I could get any information from this...
Ten years ago, Ma Haiji had fled to this ce from the roads. He was skilled in speech and good at calctions, which earned him a position managing the granary under Tian Zhongqing.
However, he had another identity¡ªhis real surname was Yu and he came from one of the Yu Family''s branches.
His generation had fallen on hard times, but thanks to his cleverness and a rmendation, he had secured a position as a spy and infiltrated the Li Family.
His gaze lingered on the bamboo tube on the table.
Ma Haiji could hardly contain himself; he had been here for ten years, transmitting only bits and pieces of information, and was never involved in anything significant... so much so that he felt as if he were starting to forget his own surname.
"If this information is important enough, perhaps I could return home in glory, no longer needing to skulk around here..."
Truthfully, life in the Li Family was not harder than in the Yu Family. With the support of hundreds of thousands from Mount Yue, themon folk of the Li Family lived far better than those under the Yu, where although the upper echelons were wealthy, themoners still starved.
Ma Haiji looked around before quickly approaching the table, squatting to inspect it. The wax seal on the bamboo tube had been broken, and it was empty, its contents most likely already taken away by Tian Zhongqing.
"What a pity..."
Ma Haiji sighed and sat back down before kicking his legs up. His eyes swept across the floor around him and spotted a piece of white cloth caught under the table leg, fluttering gently in the soft spring breeze.
"Hmm?"
His eyes twinkled instantly. Always quick-witted, he quickly realized what the cloth was.
"This must mean that Tian Zhongqing indeed received a very important and urgent message... He must have left the courtyard in such a hurry that he didn''t secure the tube properly, and the spring breeze must have blown the message under the table!"
Ma Haiji was delighted. He peeked at it and saw that the ink had smeared across the cloth, leaving only a few legible words. "An Jingming... has broken through to the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm..."
"Your tea is here, Lord Ma!"
The call startled Ma Haiji to his core. He plopped back into his chair swiftly and took the offered tea bowl nonchntly. However, his mind was racing with thoughts and he was eager to leave.
After the servant left, he breathed a sigh of relief and wiped his face, recalling the process and silently praising himself, "My actions were wless... Time to leave quickly!"
Chapter 207: The Yu Familys Reaction
Chapter 207: The Yu Family''s Reaction
Yu Mugao sat in a high position in the hall, with two peak Qi Cultivation Realm guests standing respectfully beside him. The vast hall was silent, with not a single person daring to speak. Yu Mugao''s expression was slightly weary, clearly having suffered greatly during this period. His deep voice reverberated through the hall when he spoke.
"Muyuan... is there still no news from Mujian?"
The person seated below him was tall and thin. His features bore a resemnce to Yu Mugao, albeitcking his dark and venomous demeanor. It was one of the two men who used to follow him, and they nodded and replied respectfully, "Fourth brother said he went north to seek a ce to sharpen his sword''s edge.... It''s been several months, and there''s still no sign of his return."
"Damn fool!" Yu Mugao hissed as he cursed under his breath. As annoyed as he was, he felt powerless regarding his brother''s situation, who was wholly devoted to the path of the sword. He sighed softly.
"Muyuan, it''s fortunate I have you to watch over things... Otherwise, with so many troubles at home, I would be driven to my grave."
"I dare not... I''m merely alleviating my big brother''s worries," Yu Muyuan responded.
Just then, a person hurried up from below, holding a letter in his hands. He handed it to Yu Mugao, whispering, "Family Head, we''ve received a secret letter from Ma Haiji of Mount Huaqian!"
Yu Mugao raised an eyebrow, his expression darkening. He took the letter, broke the wax seal, and read the letter twice over.
His face contorted angrily at once as he gritted his teeth and eximed, "An Jingming... that cunning fox! I''ve overlooked him these days, only to find that he has reached such a level..."
He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before handing the letter to Yu Muyuan, who took it with both hands.
After ncing at it, he was unable to contain his shock and eximed, "H-...How is this possible?! It''s only been a few years! An Jingming has reached such a realm of cultivation..?!"
The eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... How can this be possible? What''s with that monstrous cultivation speed? Is this information from the Li Family reliable? Our family is currently on good terms with the An Family... could this be a divisive strategy to make us turn against the An Family?
Yu Mugao closed his eyes and thought deeply for a while, then shook his head. He spoke gravely. "It doesn''t seem possible... The Li Family has always been reserved, and Li Tongya is not one to stir up trouble. ording to the spy, acquiring this information was a near-death experience. This likely isn''t a ploy by the Li Family."
Neither Li Yuanxiu nor Yu Mugao could have anticipated that Ma Haiji, in his desire to highlight his own contributions, had embellished the letter, describing the process of obtaining the information as fraught with deadly peril. Unfortunately for him, this had influenced Yu Mugao''s judgment, making him more certain and decisive of the news''s authenticity.
Yu Muyuan cupped his fist and said through gritted teeth, "If that''s the case, this man must not be allowed to live!"
Yu Mugao''s expression was ominously dark as the progress of An Jingming''s cultivation had far exceeded his expectations. He sighed deeply and spoke in a low voice, "Indeed... he cannot be left alive. Our family must kill him. With his rate of cultivation, he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm in just a few years. There could be unforeseen consequences then... It would be best to suppress both the Li and An families together."
Yu Muyuan watched his elder brother ponder on, knowing that Yu Mugao was likely concocting some sinister n. His brother had always been capable of oundish and ruthless schemes and had never failed in his machinations against various figures. Hence, he remained silent, waiting patiently below.
Yu Mugao pondered only briefly before his ns took shape in his mind. He spoke softly, "The An Family has revealed the locations of the Li Family''s towns and has arranged for our people to be ced there, which couldn''t be better."
"I already have a n. First, we''ll strike at the Li Family to curb their influence, then catch the An Family off guard. We''ve allowed these two families too much freedom for too long... it''s time to rein them in."
Yu Mugao smiled faintly as he spoke, clearly confident of his strategy. He then said softly, "Go fetch Master Jiang."
The servant below hurried to make arrangements, and soon, an old man with a head full of white hair was brought over. Judging by the wrinkles on his face, he was likely over one hundred and fifty years old. Yet, his cultivation was only at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Despite his weak vitality, heughed heartily and cupped his fist.
"Head of Yu Family, it''s been a long while! How many people do we need to eliminate today?"
"Master Jiang!"
Yu Mugao was exceedingly polite, clearly holding Master Jiang in high regard. He then continued with a beaming smile, "I do need your assistance to eliminate one person..."
Master Jiang sat down casually on a rosewood chair, kicking up his feet. Yu Mugao showed no sign of annoyance but instead gestured to Yu Muyuan with a smile. "Fifth Brother, I''ll have to trouble you to apany Master Jiang!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Ma Haiji lit a fire and carefully wrapped the letter before cing it in the mes. Watching as the paper vanished into ashes, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked around, gathered his belongings, and prepared to go home.
After taking a few steps, Ma Haiji stopped in his tracks. He turned back to extinguish the fire pile and covered it with dirt, nodding to himself in reassurance. After walking several dozen steps, he suddenly felt uneasy.
He squatted to the ground and murmured to himself, "The Li Family values this message so highly, so surely, they must have their own ns... I''ve already ryed this message home, and Yu Mugao will surely act to disrupt it. Eventually, the Li Family will realize the message has leaked..."
"If Tian Zhongqing returns to the courtyard and sees the paper on the ground and inquires from his servants, they will surely know I was the only visitor... Wouldn''t that expose me?!"
Ma Haiji was greatly shaken and extremely distressed, his expression darkening the more he thought about his predicament.
"There''s no turning back now! I can never return to the Li Family... they''ve probablyid a trap by now, and going back would be walking into certain death."
With his bag on his back, Ma Haiji was overwhelmed with panic as he mumbled, "I can''t wait for a reply from home... I need to leave now! I need to escape here and return home!"
Ma Haiji still had some sense in him left. He quickly pieced together the sequence of events, picked up his bag, and dashed into the woods. Heading north for the duration of the time it took to burn an incense stick, his body was thoroughly scratched by branches and thorns.
Unexpectedly, a figure suddenlynded before him, interrupting his escape.
The man, dressed in a in gray robe with a sword at his waist, exuded a dignified demeanor. His eyes fixed on Ma Haiji as he smiled and asked, "Where do you intend to go?"
Ma Haiji was terrified, his legs beginning to shake uncontrobly.
"Who are you..?!" he cried out.
"I am Chen Donghe!"
Chen Donghe smiled slightly, ncing at Ma Haiji and saying softly, "You''re quite perceptive... Had we not been waiting here already, you might have indeed escaped."
"Chen Donghe... a Qi Cultivator!"
Having been with the Li Family for many years, though only as an ordinary official, Ma Haiji knew well of Chen Donghe''s reputation. He drew a dagger from his waist and shed his own throat.
However, Ma Haiji was merely a mortal. With a flick of his finger, Chen Donghe effortlessly knocked the dagger in Ma Haiji''s hand with a forceful blow, sending it flying out of his grasp andnding by the riverbank. Then, with a wave of his hand, Ma Haiji copsed to the ground,pletely limp.
Chen Donghe looked at Ma Haiji with a slight pang of pity for the helpless man before picking him up. He took to the winds right away, heading toward Mount Lijing in the west.
Chapter 208: Enmity (I)
Chapter 208: Enmity (I)
Mount Yue, entrenched in thend of Wu and Yue States, boasted its own customs and had a scattered poption numbering over ten million.
North of Mount Li, a vein of more than a million people found refuge under the protection of the Duanmu Kui. With the demise of Duanmu Kui, Mount Wu''s disciples scattered far and wide, some fleeing while others sought refuge in various sects. The territory once controlled by Duanmu Kui was now divided among his four disciples, each imposing their authority, constructing pces amid a scene of turmoil.
Deep within the northern vein, a monstrous beast dwelled in a deep cave amid the forest. Its mouth bristled with sharp teeth and its body was covered with yellowish scales. Its two brown eyes¡ªeach the size of a human head, stared lifelessly into the air.
"Finally, we''ve in this beast!" Xiao Chuchou sighed, feeling a sense of relief wash over him as he epted a pill from Xiao Yuansi. Swiftly swallowing it, he felt an immediate sense of reassurance and renewed strength overwhelm his body.
He let out a soft sigh and chuckled before saying, "My lifespan is dwindling and my qi is weakening. Not only has my cultivation stagnated, I don''t even move like I used to! To think how heroic I was when I traversed the north... dominating thends of Jin and Zhao States! Now, in the blink of an eye, I''ve be an old man..."
Xiao Yuansi looked at the old man with concern, hesitating slightly before finally speaking.
"Old Ancestor, you... you may want to consider trying the blood sacrifice ritual passed down from the sect... It could prolong your life by a few more years and alleviate your physical difort."
Xiao Chuchou sneered in response.
"No thanks. When my father fought with Chi Wei and ultimately became a sacrifice for him, I made a vow in my youth... I will never condone any sacrificial rituals."
"Chi Wei... He''s truly the devil''s spawn," Xiao Yuansi muttered resentfully as deep-seated hatred seeped from his usual gentle demeanor.
Xiao Chuchou was taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor. He hesitated before continuing, "I know you resent him, but the war between the immortals and the devils has passed. The line between good and evil has be blurred... Chi Wei is indeed a viin, but hardly a devil''s spawn."
"What goodness does he possess?" Xiao Yuansi eximed indignantly, unaware of the conflicted look in Xiao Chuchou''s eyes.
"More than a hundred and fifty years ago, when I was but an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, the Demon King at the southern border invaded. Millions faced imminent doom... and while the three sects and seven gates watched from afar, it was Chi Wei and a few others¡ªwho had just attained the Purple Mansion Realm¡ªthat intervened. They risked their lives to coerce the ancestors of the Azure Pond Sect and others to take action, ultimately saving the day. Chi Wei sacrificed his lifespan during that battle and severely damaged his cultivation foundation. Had it not been for his sacrifice, he wouldn''t still be struggling to break through to the Golden Core Realm even now... Simply put, the Xiao Family and half of Yue State owe him our lives," Xiao Chuchou revealed.
"What..." Xiao Yuansi spluttered, shocked by this sudden revtion.
Xiao Yuansi had only vaguely heard about a demonic rebellion that had happened more than a hundred years ago, but the details eluded him. Hearing Xiao Chuchou''s revtion was like a bolt from the blue, leaving his mind reeling with shock and disbelief.
"How can that be..?!" he eximed in denial.
As they ventured deeper into the cave, Xiao Chuchou sighed and continued, "Who hasn''t dreamed of saving the world and rescuing those in need when they were young? But after decades of stagnation in cultivation, practicing tirelessly day and night with no progress, cultivation itself can be a burden. With all your efforts over the past hundreds of years on the verge of fading away and enemies lurking in the dark, waiting eagerly for your downfall to strike at your descendants and disciples, if you only need to sacrifice a few lives to break through... will you choose to do it?"
Xiao Chuchou''s gaze held a mix of emotions, his aged features contorting with pain as he regarded the bewildered Xiao Yuansi.
"To kill is to protect your family and ensure the safety of loved ones... To refrain from killing is to leave yourself vulnerable, risking the ughter of those dear to us. How many can bear such a burden? Whether it''s killing one life or ten thousand, the act remains the same. Once the seed of evil is sown, it''s difficult to contain. Chi Wei may have eaten your junior brother, but it''s not possible to determine and judge if he''s good or evil. While he may have eaten a few talented disciples, he has ultimately saved millions in Yue State."
"Furthermore, with Chi Wei''s demise, the Azure Pond Sect will teeter on the brink of copse. That family your junior brother is born into may be able to call it a day and return home... Yet, the Chi Family..."
While Xiao Chuchou was still talking, Xiao Yuansi could not take it any longer. He finally raised his head, his voice tinged with desperation.
"Old Ancestor, how can the world be so twisted? If good and evil are indistinguishable, and if everyone is a mix of both... where do we find our footing in this world?"
Xiao Chuchou nodded in agreement, his voice barely above a whisper as he remarked, "Immortals under the sun are inherently a blend of good and evil, true purity is a myth. The line between good and evil has blurred ever since the war between the immortals and devils ended. Only enmity remains..."
Xiao Yuansi fell silent for a few breaths before letting out a deep sigh. He found it difficult to calm down. He had joined Qingsui Peak when he was young, where Si Yuanbai had taught him the distinction between good and evil.
Chi Wei had reversed all that he knew, and now Xiao Chuchou''s words had shaken him deeply. His emotions churned, causing a divine light to burst forth from his immortal foundation¡ªthe Vermillion Sage. It appeared that it had been enhanced.
"Only enmity remains..."
As the two conversed, they finally arrived in an empty cave that was devoid of all light. Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm naturally were not troubled by such darkness.
Xiao Yuansi nced around him, his eyes falling upon a cluster ofrge yellow flowers blooming in the depths of the cave. A group of stamens curled up, with a drop of glistening dew gathering at the ends of them, emitting a fragrant aroma.
"It''s a valuable medicine¡ªNine-Stamen Spirit Daylily."
While Xiao Chuchou was still struggling to identify the strange flower, Xiao Yuansi recognized it instantly, having been immersed in the alchemy for many years. Xiao Chuchou nodded in realization and chuckled.
"Even if we don''t find any relics here, obtaining this precious herb alone already makes the journey worthwhile."
For cultivators in the Purple Mansion Realm, ordinary spirit items were no longer effective to them. Only the precious medicines that had been nurtured by the essence of heaven and earth could work wonders for them.
Satisfied with their find, Xiao Yuansi flicked his sleeve. Mana surged through his hand but it was without the expected luster of a spell.
"Old Ancestor, please be careful... This flower is sensitive to light."
Xiao Yuansi retrieved a dharma medicine pouch and carefully stowed away the flower. Xiao Chuchou observed the string of medicine pouches draped over Xiao Yuansi''s body and chuckled.
"Always prepared, aren''t you?"
Xiao Yuansi smiled wryly. Dharma medicine pouches and qi collection bottles like these possessed inner space and could not be stored within storage pouches. Despite this inconvenience, Xiao Yuansi still carried them around with him.
After collecting the Nine-Stamen Spirit Daylily, the two exited the cave and buried the demonic beasts on the ground.
Xiao Chuchou performed a few Spirit Sealing Techniques, then spoke again, "With the current situation of our Xiao Family, the Li Family on Moongaze Lake could provide a breakthrough, securing the west side for our family. Moongaze Lake, backed by Mount Dali, is an advantageous location... Even if Chi Wei dies, the Azure Pond Sect likely won''t relinquish control of Moongaze Lake. Given the rtionship between our families, using the Li Family as a barrier seems most appropriate."
Xiao Yuansi, his head lowered as he cast spells, nodded in agreement.
"That''s good, I''ve heard that Yongling gets along quite well with Li Tongya... Ruyu and Li Xuanfeng are also friends."
Chapter 209: Enmity (II)
Chapter 209: Enmity (II)
Seeing that Xiao Chuchou and the other ancestors in his family had no ns to expand westward, relief washed over Xiao Yuansi. After all, he had promised Li Chejing that he would look after the Li Family.
He then spoke in a deep voice, "Li Mutian, the ancestor of the Li Family, used to be a farmer before he became a rogue cultivator, eventually attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm. He must be a remarkable individual, and his offspring are likely no less remarkable. Li Tongya, while not exceptionally talented, possesses a good heart. Li Chejing must have inherited his father''s talent in swordsmanship... But I have never heard much about Li Mutian. He didn''t seem to be famous in the Yue State."
Xiao Chuchou was listening intently to him but suddenly frowned and asked, "Do all four of Li Mutian''s sons have a spiritual orifice?"
Unaware of the intent behind the old man''s question, Xiao Yuansi pondered for a moment before replying, "The eldest son passed away when he was very young, but the remaining three sons all have spiritual orifices."
Xiao Chuchou raised an eyebrow, the wrinkles on his aged face gathering as he continued, "Oh? And what about their Xuan generation?"
After a moment''s recollection, Xiao Yuansi replied slowly, his voice thick with uncertainty.
"There are three boys and one girl... All three sons possess spiritual orifices."
Xiao Chuchou picked up the tail of a spirit beast and flipped its carcass over before storing it in his storage pouch.
"The Yuan generationes after the Xuan generation, right?"
Xiao Yuansi nodded and replied, "Yes, but I don''t know much about those in the Yuan generation... There are more of them. I only know that three of them possess a spiritual orifice."
Xiao Chuchou nodded, feeling a bit reassured. He waved his hand solemnly andmented, "Li Mutian is undoubtedly remarkable. I would not be surprised if he had consumed some extraordinary heavenly treasures at some point. The bloodline of the Li Family doesn''t seem like that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... it''s more akin to that of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator!"
"Oh?!"
Xiao Yuansi was taken aback by this perspective, impressed by the depth of knowledge his old ancestor possessed.
During the decline of the Xiao Family, Xiao Chuchou was only a peak Qi cultivator. He left all the family''s treasures and the Essence Gathering Pills to Xiao Chuting and ventured out on his own to seek opportunities. Because of this, he had gained extensive knowledge.
Xiao Yuansi recalled the demeanors of both Li Tongya and Li Xiangping, then nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Indeed... that could be the case."
As the two soared through the sky toward the Li Residence, Xiao Chuchou suddenly smiled and whispered, "I have an idea. Since the Li Family''s lineage is exceptional, the Xiao Family could consider marriage with them. This would not only solidify the rtionship between our families but also potentially produce a prodigious talent! If the Li Family can unify Moongaze Lake, our family could not only use them as a barrier but also form an alliance with them. After all, we''re dependent on each other."
Xiao Yuansi nodded, smiling warmly as he responded, "Old Ancestor, the union you''re suggesting is akin to that of the Ning and Chi families within the Azure Pond Sect. Theyplemented each other and monopolized the Azure Pond..."
"Our families don''t need to be that close," Xiao Chuchou interjected, shaking his head. "It''s good for the families to get along with each other. However, a union too close risks mutual usurpation. A mutually beneficial rtionship, bound by the master-disciple ties, is adequate."
"I understand," Xiao Yuansi affirmed.
As they conversed, Mount Lijing appeared on the horizon. The foot of the mountain was lively, and the morning sunlight cast a gentle glow upon the majestic golden formation, creating a scene akin to that of a fairnd.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya examined the jade boxes on the desk carefully, inspecting each one carefully before stacking them up, shaking his head with a tinge of regret.
"These spirit items from Mount Yue are potent even for those in the Qi Cultivation Realm. However, without the proper elixir or pill form, ingesting them directly not only diminishes their effectiveness but also poses harm, making future breakthroughs increasingly challenging."
Spirit items, while effective, also carried impurities that could cause adverse effects. Pill crafting involved the careful refinement of these substances to minimize their adverse impacts and maximize their efficacy.
Passing the jade boxes to Li Xuanxuan, Li Tongya suddenly recalled something and asked, "Is Qiuyang still struggling to make a breakthrough?"
Li Xuanxuan nodded, equally as perplexed.
"I''ve spoken with Qiuyang, and indeed... he''s still struggling. It''s puzzling! Considering Qiuyang''s talentpared to Donghe''s back then, he shouldn''t be in such a state..."
After thinking for a while, Li Tongya finally recalled a distant memory. Realization dawned upon him as he asked, "Do you remember the Snake Dragon Tree at home?"
"Of course," Li Xuanxuan replied as he nodded slowly. The Snake Dragon Tree could be considered the Li Family''s most prized possession after the mirror and the Qingche Sword.
It bore a Snake Dragon Fruit once every five years, which Xiao Yuansi would then refine into pills. Many in the family relied on these Snake Dragon Pills to achieve breakthroughs in their cultivation.
Li Tongya shook his head, recounting an old tale in a warm tone, "Back then, we were able to discover this precious tree all thanks to Qiuyang... The child seemed blessed. He ventured into the mountains and identally consumed a Snake Dragon Fruit when he was young. Luckily, the fruit''s mild nature only rendered him unconscious for several days. Afterward, the speed of his cultivation was extraordinary. Within just a year, he had managed to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra."
Li Xuanxuan listened intently to the story.
Li Tongya sighed, continuing, "At the time, we all thought it was Qiuyang''s good fortune. Little did we know that fortune and misfortune walk hand in hand. His rapid cultivation, fueled by reckless ingestion of the spirit fruit without proper cultivation, left him with underlying issues... Now, he struggles to advance beyond the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
Realization dawned upon Li Xuanxuan as he nodded. Li Tongya picked up the tea bowl from the table and continued, "Among all the mountains under our family''s control, the spiritual qi of the spirit spring on Mount Huaqian flows the thickest. Exin to Qiuyang about his situation, then send him to Mountain Huaqian to cultivate."
"Understood," Li Xuanxuan replied respectfully. As he raised his head, an abrupt buzz emanated from the grand formation, and an elderly voice came through.
"Xiao Chuchou from the Xiao Family hase to visit... Please open the formation, Tongya, my friend."
Li Tongya quickly opened the formation and soared into the sky. Xiao Chuchou and Xiao Yuansinded atop the mountain with a smile on their faces.
"Greetings, Seniors!" Li Tongya greeted respectfully as he cupped his fist.
"As courteous as ever, Tongya..." Xiao Chuchou remarked with a smile as he followed Li Tongya into the courtyard.
Seated alongside Xiao Yuansi, he epted the tea that was offered to him. They exchanged a few pleasantries before shifting the conversation to the purpose of his visit.
"Your house''s grand formation is ingeniously crafted. I''ve traversed north and south and have some knowledge of formations... This one is particrly notable," Xiao Chuchou remarked.
"It was set up by Master Liu Changdie," Li Tongya replied, causing Xiao Yuansi to raise his eyebrow at the mention of the name.
"I''ve seen this Liu Changdie before," Xiao Yuansi chimed in warmly, "He''s quite an interesting person... Very skillful in formations and speaks as if he''s been around for nearly a century. He seems to know many people."
Xiao Chuchou seemed uninterested in this topic and redirected the discussion. He scrutinized Li Tongya briefly before asking, "How confident are you in building your Dao foundation, Tongya?"
"I haven''tpleted my Qi Cultivation yet, so I''m uncertain," Li Tongya responded respectfully.
Xiao Chuchou nodded, sharing some crucial insights onying the Dao foundation. Li Tongya, who hadrgely relied on himself throughout his cultivation journey, was naturally thrilled to receive such valuable guidance. He absorbed the advice diligently, carefully noting down every wisdom Xiao Chuchou imparted to him mentally.
Xiao Yuansi listened and interjected asionally, adding his insights.
After receiving their guidance, Li Tongya quickly expressed his gratitude.
Xiao Chuchou smiled and waved his hand, his gaze intense and piercing as he addressed Li Tongya directly.
"Tongya, I''m sure you''re also quite informed about my family''s affairs!"
Chapter 210: Departure of Guests
Chapter 210: Departure of Guests
Xiao Chuchou''s words were gentle, yet they struck a chord of dismay in Li Tongya''s heart, setting his mind aze with swirling thoughts.
As he gazed upon the old man''s smiling countenance, he responded respectfully, "Through the years of our families'' dealings, I''ve certainly gleaned some understanding of your family''s situation. Ancestor Chuting has indeed extended kindness toward me, for which I remain deeply grateful."
Xiao Chuchou noticed the subtle implication in Li Tongya''s words with his vague reference to their ancestor, Xiao Chuting. He simply nodded once and murmured softly, "In that case, there''s no need for further boration. Our two families have long relied on each other... Should you attain the Foundation Establishment Realm in the future, do send word to my Xiao Family. We can then discuss arrangements for a union between our families for mutual support."
Xiao Chuchou was direct with his intention, and Li Tongya was a level-headed man and was deeply grateful to Xiao Chuting. Not only that, he was also the elder brother of Li Chejing and maintained good rtions with Xiao Yongling. Over the years, correspondence between the families had solidified the Xiao Family''s trust in him.
For Li Tongya, attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm would mean securing the support of the Xiao Family for the Li Family. Conversely, if he failed to achieve this milestone and perished, the rtions between the two families would remain connected to the personal rtionships between Xiao Yuansi and Li Chejing.
Li Tongya listened intently, his heart swelling with joy at the realization. Pragmatic by nature, he did not allow himself to dwell on the bluntness of Xiao Chuchou''s words.
Instead, he silently reflected.
Xiao Family presently has Xiao Chuting, a Purple Mansion Realm Cultivator, and Xiao Chuchou, who is at the middle-stage Foundation Establishment Realm. Additionally, there are three other cultivators at thete-stage Foundation Establishment Realm and five at the early middle-stage Foundation Establishment Realm... Undoubtedly, they stand as a prominent family, rivaled only by the Yu Family of Linghai Prefecture, the Chen Family of Yuyang Prefecture, and a few others.
Even if the Xiao Family were to soon sever ties with the Azure Pond Sect and ascend to the status of the Purple Mansion Immortal n, they wouldn''t be able to override the Azure Pond and intervene in Moongaze Lake''s affairs. Nevertheless, their support would remain invaluable.
Moreover, the Xiao Family relies on our family to serve as a defensive wall on Moongaze Lake, facilitating the distribution of pills and dharma artifacts... Such mutual dependence fosters a symbiotic rtionship between our families, naturally ensuring mutual benefit.
Li Tongya cupped his fist with a solemn expression, knowing full well of the Xiao Family''s ns.
"I am grateful for the esteemed ancestor''s faith in us! The Li Family will definitely serve as a barrier for your n and safeguard the Moongaze Lake."
Xiao Chuchou chuckled, nodding vigorously as he helped Li Tongya to his feet, warmly sping his hand. His aged voice echoed in the courtyard as he spoke gently.
"What are you saying? We''re just looking out for each other."
After another brief exchange of pleasantries, Li Tongya and Xiao Chuchou returned to their seats and continued their conversation, touching upon recent events with increasinglyposed tones.
As the conversation lingered and Li Tongya sensed the guests'' impending departure, he quickly sent out a voice transmission through his mana. When Li Xuanxuan received the message, who was waiting outside the door, he entered the courtyard right away and presented four jade boxes.
"Here are four spirit items from our family... I humbly request the Senior''s discerning eye to inspect them," Li Tongya said politely.
Xiao Yuansi set down his tea bowl. With his adept cultivation in alchemy, he swiftly examined the jade boxes, discerning their contents with ease before speaking.
"These four spirit items aremon ingredients of the Qi Cultivation Realm. With my current knowledge in pill crafting, three of them can serve as supplementary ingredients and one as a main. If you trust me, you may consider selling the supplementary ingredient to my family, and as for the main ingredient, I can refine it into pills. We can split the proceeds as usual, and I''ll arrange for its delivery to your residence uponpletion," he offered.
Li Tongya was anticipating this offer from Xiao Yuansi. He quickly cupped his fist and bowed his head slightly.
"Then I''ll take you up on that offer, Senior!"
Handing over the four jade boxes to Xiao Yuansi, Li Tongya listened attentively as Xiao Yuansi detailed the utility and value of each spirit herb. Upon receiving twenty Spirit Stones as payment for the three supplementary ingredients, they conversed a little more before the guests from the Xiao Family were ready to take their leave.
The two men bid farewell to Li Tongya and left the mountain''s formation. After soaring through the skies for hours, Xiao Chuchou finally broke the silence.
"Yuansi, Rulian is already neen... How about arranging her marriage into the Li Family?"
Xiao Yuansi considered for a moment before replying, "I''m afraid she''s not the right candidate. If we were to arrange a marriage with the Li Family, the groom should be someone from their generation of Yuan. Rulian belongs to the same generation as the generation of Xuan, and all the boys from that family already have spouses. It''s not appropriate for her to marry into the Yuan generation... We should consider someone from the generation of Gui on our side instead."
Xiao Chuchou nodded thoughtfully, seeing the logic in his words.
"Then Guiluan it shall be... She''s still young. By the time Li Tongya attains the Foundation Establishment Realm, it''ll be the right time for her to wed."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Pingyi, now sporting a thick mustache on his upper lip which served as a symbol of his prime years, strode into the courtyard. He nodded toward his wife, who came over to greet him.
"You''ve finally returned, my dear... We''ve been looking for you. Auntie has been waiting for quite some time," his wife said with a small smile.
Upon hearing his wife''s words, Li Pingyi hastened into the house where he found Li Feiruo seated with a smile. She had shed the elegant attire of Mount Yue for the in dress of the Easterners.
She greeted him warmly, "Seems like you''ve been really busy, Yi''er... It''s really hard to catch even just a glimpse of you."
Li Pingyi smiled awkwardly in response and replied, "I''ve already discussed the matter you mentioned with the Young Family Head, Auntie."
"Ŷ?"
"Oh?" Li Feiruo perked up instantly, listening intently.
Li Pingyi continued, "Since you''re aware of the matter on Mount Yue, the Young Family Head has decided to send you to Lichuankou in the west upon careful consideration... You''ll manage the town, negotiate with Mount Yue, and regte the influx of refugees across the border. He believes that this task suits you best, and within three days, you''ll receive formal instructions to move."
Li Feiruo was delighted by the news.
"Excellent! I''m truly grateful for the family''s trust, I won''t let them down!" she beamed.
Li Feiruo had demonstrated boldness since her teenage years in Mount Yue and had a natural aptitude for management. Now presented with such an opportunity, she was more than eager to settle into her new role.
After conversing for a while, Li Pingyi was approached by a discreet n soldier who whispered a few words in his ear.
"My lord, there''s news from the mine. A precious pearl has been unearthed from the cave, and Lord Xu retrieved it ndestinely."
Li Pingyi raised his eyebrow in surprise, and as Li Feiruo noticed this change in his expression, she tactfully excused herself.
Li Pingyi courteously saw her off then turned his head around and eximed, "I wouldn''t be surprised if Xu Gongming cannot discern a spirit item... But how can a cultivator at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm not recognize such a precious item?!"
The n soldier simply shook his head with a small shrug of his shoulders.
"Lord Xu only mentioned that the pearl emanated an immense aura, far surpassing that of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
"Where''s the item now?" Li Pingyi asked.
"Lord Xu is waiting outside the courtyard, and he brought the precious pearl along with him," the n soldier replied.
"Excellent. Come with me to see the Young Family Head."
Li Pingyi led the n soldier out of the courtyard as the main courtyard was adjacent to the side courtyard where they had been. After a brief walk along the stone path, they reached the main courtyard.
Taking the wooden box from Xu Gongming, Li Pingyi proceeded alone through the front hall and the middle hall. He eventually reached Li Yuanxiu, who was deeply engrossed in reading a wooden slip in his seat.
"Young Family Head."
Li Pingyi presented the wooden box with reverence, exining the situation in detail. Li Yuanxiu listened attentively, and once he had finished, he gave a simple instruction.
"Open it up, let me take a look."
Li Pingyiplied, opening the box and taking out a dark and translucent treasure pearl, which was roughly the size of a fist.
Li Yuanxiu reached out to grasp it, feeling a slight tingling sensation in his hand upon contact. He examined it closely but found no discernible clues.
Raising an eyebrow, he remarked, "It seems to be a spirit item of the Qi Cultivation Realm... Uncle Qiuyang and Uncle Donghe are away on Mount Huaqian, and I''m not sure if Father and the rest are in seclusion right now..."
"I know that the senior at Foundation Establishment Realm from the Xiao Family came to visit this morning and just left not too long ago, so I''m guessing Granduncle isn''t in seclusion."
Li Yuanxiu held up the precious pearl and instructed, "Send this spirit item to Granduncleter and have him take a look at it."
Chapter 211: Thunder Pearl
Chapter 211: Thunder Pearl
"Right here?"
Yu Muyuannded on the small ind in theke, dressed in a gray cloak. Even though they were in a remote area, Yu Muyuan remained cautious. He ensured that he was tightly covered, wary of any passerby who might inadvertently stumble upon them.
Standing behind him was a gray-robed old man, a grin stered on his face as theynded together on the small ind.
Yu Muyuan respectfully cupped his fists and asked, "Master Jiang, is this far enough?"
"Yes, it is!"
Master Jiang chuckled as he tapped his Shengyang Mansion, closing his eyes and kneeling on the ground.
Yu Muyuan stood beside him, asking, "The An Family has discreetly sent the item into the mine and the Li Family has discovered it... Master Jiang, how potent is this spell?"
With his eyes tightly shut, Master Jiang appeared to be spiritually traversing the realm as he searched for something intently.
"The physical bodies of immortal cultivators are fragile... Your elder brother is the one who taught me this spell that could easily catch anyone off guard. It can swiftly incapacitate even a Qi Cultivator unless they have established their immortal foundation. Coupled with my curse, it will not only damage their root foundation but also inflict harm upon their vital qi. Even if they''re saved, their future prospects are bleak," he replied.
Though Yu Muyuan had heard of Master Jiang''s abilities before, he could not help but feel creeped out upon hearing his exnation.
"What a truly insidious spell that leaves no room for defense..." he said.
Master Jiang let out a heartyugh and then said, "I''m not surprised to hear that from you... I''ve traveled far and wide, but your elder brother is the most sinister person I''ve ever encountered."
Yu Muyuan raised an eyebrow at him and was about to respond, but was stopped by the smile on Master Jiang''s wrinkled face.
"Don''t even try to intimidate me... I''m not afraid if you report this to your elder brother. Even if I call him sinister, he would take it as apliment," Master Jiang said with the same crooked grin.
Before Yu Muyuan could react, Master Jiang eximed, "I''ve found it! The Thunder Pearl is currently in the hands of a leader... Ah, it seems to be the Young Family Head of the Li Family, a cultivator at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... He''s most likely Li Yuanxiu. They''re about to transfer it to Li Tongya''s hands."
Yu Muyuan was taken aback before skeptically saying, "Why would the Li Family entrust the family''s leadership to an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator..?"
Master Jiang simply snorted in response.
"The Li Family isn''t as powerful as your Yu Family, where Qi Cultivators are plentiful..."
But before Master Jiang could finish his sentence, Yu Muyuan''s expression turned serious as he interrupted him with an important question.
"How long can you sustain this technique?"
Master Jiang was slightly caught off guard by the question but mumbled, "Two hours..."
What he did not expect was the determined expression on Yu Muyuan''s face as he instructed, "Do it now!"
"What?!"
Master Jiang gave him a confused look as he asked slowly, "Why bother with a mere Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator..? Why not wait a little more to catch something bigger, Young Master? Forget about Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling, the Thunder Pearl is already on its way to Li Tongya... Once it''s in his hands, we''ll injure him, dashing any hopes of him attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm! Won''t that be wonderful?"
"Are you trying to get my family in trouble, Master Jiang?!" Yu Muyuan''s countenance darkened with irritation and anger as he eximed, "Have you considered the rtionship between Li Xuanfeng, Li Yuanxiu, Li Tongya, and Li Chejing?! There''s a chance Li Chejing may overlook it if a few of the younger generations in the Li Family were killed, however, if Li Tongya¡ªhis own brother¡ªwere killed, he''d definitelye back all the way from the southern border! It takes only a rity Talisman to expose us, and when he discovers the truth, the Yu Family will be as good as dead!"
Realization finally dawned upon Master Jiang. Yu Muyuan grabbed him roughly and demanded loudly, "So, do it now! Li Yuanxiu is good enough! No more dys; if something goes awry and dys our ns, neither of us can bear the consequences!"
"Of course, of course!"
Although Master Jiang''s cultivation was modest, his seniority was considerable. Being chastised by his junior left him with a somewhat sour expression, but nevertheless, he performed a hand seal with both hands and thrust both fingers forward.
"Release!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanxiu carefully stowed away the wooden slip in his hand, issuing a fewmands before gesturing for Li Pingyi to hand over the wooden box. As Li Pingyi promptly handed it over, Li Yuanxiu delicately ced the precious pearl inside.
Feeling the slight tingling sensation in his hand, he suddenly recalled something. He picked up the wooden slip from the table and handed it to Li Pingyi, who epted it and exited the room.
"Yuanyun enjoys history books. I got one this for..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Li Yuanxiu suddenly heard a faint voice that belonged to an old man.
"Release!"
In an instant, the jade pearl inside the wooden box beside him shed brightly. A surge of majestic energy burst forth and erupted with the might of a volcano, catching Li Yuanxiupletely off guard.
Before he could even react, thunder mes zed out and engulfed his whole body, tearing through his flesh and bone, and causing blood to stter everywhere.
BOOM!
With a deafening roar, the entire hall shook violently, engulfed in billowing smoke.
Although Li Pingyi was a mortal and was a good distance away from the rear hall, the mana shockwave broke several of his bones, sending him rolling like a gourd over a long distance. Two thunder mesnded on both his arms, blowing them to smithereens and sttering out a ground of blood. He merely grunted before fainting, all in just a matter of moments.
"WHO?!"
As the dark purple thunder me blew the rear hall into pieces, a curse aura synonymous with the Qi Cultivation Realm spread through the town, causing the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation to buzz.
Li Tongya, who had just seen the two guests from the Xiao Family off and was about to enter seclusion, soared into the sky in shock and anger beforending in the courtyard. Several stone doors on the back mountain also opened, a few practicing Qi Cultivatorsing out from their seclusion with frowns on their faces.
"Who dares to ambush Mount Lijing?!"
Li Xuanxuan soared into the air. Li Xuanfeng furrowed his brow in displeasure as he swiftly entered the stone chamber and retrieved the mirror.
With a gentle stroke on its cool mirror surface, the vast territory unfolded in his mind, revealing the events transpiring at the foot of the mountain. With anger burning in his heart, his steely gaze followed the qi trail into the distance, spotting two figures in gray robes watching from theke.
"Bastards, you have quite the audacity!" he spat.
With a swift motion, Li Xuanfeng retrieved his Golden Age Longbow. He took a step forward, his mana surging as he drew the bowstring and unleashed a bright golden arrow that glimmered impressively.
Unfortunately, the exertion proved too much for his body, and he coughed up ck blood. He wiped the corner of his mouth with an icy expression as he aimed at his enemies in the distance with the mirror''s help, before letting loose another mana-charged arrow.
Li Tongya, who was at the foot of the mountain, looked up suddenly as if he had sensed something and sure enough, spotted a golden light soaring into the air.
Although Li Tongya''s spiritual sense could not extend far enough to pinpoint the enemy''s location, he knew that Li Xuanfeng had detected their presence with the help of the mirror.
As Li Tongya propelled himself into the air, chasing after the arrow, his initial fury gave way to caution.
"Could this be a trap..?"
He gritted his teeth and with firm resolve, decided to continue flying in pursuit behind the arrow. However, he was ready to retreat at any time if necessary.
"The enemy doesn''t know about the mirror''s ability, so they''re likely defenseless... Regardless, I must proceed with caution. The families by theke wouldn''t dare harm me for the time being..."
Chapter 212: Muyuan (I)
Chapter 212: Muyuan (I)
Master Jiang was still scanning the surroundings, oblivious to the distant golden light that was headed directly toward him. He took a few steps backward but as soon as he performed another hand seal, a searing pain shot through his abdomen.
The golden arrow had found its mark, causing him to let out a cry of agony. At the same time, he realized that he had been discovered.
"Young master, help me!" he called out, desperationcing his voice.
Master Jiang, a cultivator only at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm,cked realbat experience as he had devoted his whole life to mastering curse spells specialized in ambushing opponents.
The arrow had pierced deep into his abdomen, sapping his vital qi. The Astral Qi in Li Xuanfeng''s powerful attack surged in him painfully, leaving Master Jiang unable to ride the winds for escape.
Beside him, Yu Muyuan paled, gripped by fear. Hearing Master Jiang''s cries, he eximed, "How is this possible?! We''re so far away! Does Li Xuanfeng have some sort of divine ability?!"
Despite his shock, Yu Muyuan moved fast and struck Master Jiang''s Shenyang Mansion without any hesitation. Master Jiang''s eyes immediately turned bloodshot and blood came spewing out from all the seven orifices of his body.
The Shenyang Mansion was where the soul resided. Master Jiang was already sweating profusely and paralyzed by the pain and upon being struck by Yu Muyuan, he immediately turned limp and copsed onto the floor like a dead pig.
Yu Muyuan''s mind raced as he spoke, already formting his next moves. He swiftly removed Master Jiang''s storage pouches before disfiguring the man''s face beyond recognition with a fire spell. Then, he pped several Wind Movement Talismans onto Master Jiang''s body, sending him away like a leaf caught in a gust of wind.
After doing all that, he used his talismans without holding back, hiding insideyers andyers of shields before activating a dharma artifact¡ªa spirit shield.
Yu Muyuan discarded the two storage pouches into theke,mitting their location to memory before he vanished into the distance.
In the next moment, a second burst of golden light glinted in the sky, apanied by a middle-aged swordsman who was flying right behind it.
Yu Muyuan''s heart sank as terror gripped him.
"Not again! And Li Tongya..! M-My... fate is sealed!" he cried out in fear, almost whimpering
Li Tongya had always been perceptive. With just a nce at Master Jiang''s body flying in the sky, he could tell that it was a diversion tactic. His gaze swiftly honed in on Yu Muyuan, who was making a hasty retreat.
Yu Muyuan was always cautious in his actions. The robe he wore could conceal his spiritual sense, making it difficult for Li Tongya to discern his true strength and real identity. Yet, Li Tongya could tell from this person''s behavior and movements that he was extremely afraid of him.
"Bastard... have a taste of my de!" Li Tongya roared, unsheathing his sword and sending a white-colored Celestial Moon Sword arc.
BOOM!
Yu Muyuan had conjured a small floating golden shield from what seemed to be a remarkable dharma artifact of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
It was as expected of a prominent family; despite being an insignificant descendant of the Yu Family, Yu Muyuan possessed a dharma artifact that was superior to Li Tongya''s own.
Li Tongya had gotten the dharma sword in his hand from a woman from the Wu Family. As it shed against Yu Muyuan''s shield, the force of the impact sent the shield flying backward, its light dimming amidst the powerful reverberations that echoed through the air.
Undeterred, Yu Muyuan channeled more mana into the shield, striving to withstand the relentless assault.
Unfortunately for Yu Muyuan though, Li Tongya had grown significantly stronger. With another powerful sword sh, he broke Yu Muyuan''s dharma artifact into two, which was swiftly followed by yet another strike that pierced through the manyyers of shields Yu Muyuan had conjured with a barrage of talismans. Li Tongya''s third strike was aimed directly at Yu Muyuan''s chest.
Yu Muyuan hastily performed a hand seal, attempting to defend himself in futility. However, before he couldplete it, the golden light had already pierced through his abdomen, disrupting his spellcasting.
Now coughing up blood, Yu Muyuan felt another chilling sensation spread through his chest as Li Tongya''s sword aura prated deeply into his flesh and bone. Shocked by Li Tongya''s strength, Yu Muyuan struggled to catch his breath.
With the Law of Celestial Moon, Li Tongya was no longer the man who could only rely on the initial stance of the Celestial Moon sh technique and the sword arc released by it to overpower his opponents.
Within moments, Yu Muyuan, despite being in the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, realized he was on the brink of defeat. Fortunately, he had prepared for this and kept a piece of white talisman on him. After a moment of activation, a radiant golden glow finally enveloped him.
"A talisman of the Foundation Establishment Realm?!"
Although Li Tongya could have risked decapitating Yu Muyuan with his sword, he deemed it unwise as he was unsure of the talisman''s capabilities. Unwilling to risk his life yet hoping to capture Yu Muyuan alive, Li Tongya unleashed onest move with his sword before withdrawing.
The sharp de drew blood this time, causing Yu Muyuan to grunt in pain.
However, to his surprise, the gray-robed man did not use the talisman to attack Li Tongya. With one decisive motion, he pped the talisman onto his own head.
BOOM!
A brilliant golden light erupted above Moongaze Lake, engulfing Yu Muyuan in a fiery ze. Mana fluctuations surged and flickered across theke''s surface for a fleeting moment before dissipating.
Stumbling backward to avoid the burst of fire, Li Tongya''s expression darkened with silent frustration. He activated his mana to shake the blood off his de, gritting his teeth as he muttered to himself.
"What a shy way to die..."
Li Tongya was quite certain that this whole incident was likely the doing of the Yu Family. No other families in the area possessed the power to harm his Li Family or would recklessly employ talismans of the Foundation Establishment Realm in such a manner.
With no further recourse avable to him, Li Tongya could only release a frustrated sigh before reluctantly turning back.
Li Tongya recovered another gray-robed man from the depths of theke, bloodied and lifeless. He removed the man''s hood, only to find a charred ck mass where his face once was.
"Second Uncle."
Li Xuanfeng descended from the air, his face slightly pale yet still filled with anger as he looked at the corpse in Li Tongya''s hands.
"Disfiguring the man''s face is useless. Qi Cultivators around theke are well-known figures. This person was an elderly man and his clothes were still intact. If we just disy the body to the other families, I''m sure they''ll recognize this person..." he remarked coldly.
By the time Li Xuanfeng had finished speaking, his anger had ebbed slightly. Feeling that something was amiss, Li Tongya shook his head.
"This is not the right ce for discussion."
Li Xuanfeng nodded uncertainly. With a surge of magical power, Li Tongya summoned a me to cremate the corpse in his grasp.
Together, they then soared into the sky and headed back to Mount Lijing.
As soon as they left, two figures emerged on theke. One had a cold demeanor and white sideburns and was d in a gray robe that billowed in the wind. Behind him stood a younger figure, who was gritting his teeth as tears streamed down his face.
"Second Brother..." Yu Mugao''s voice trembled, his words hoarse with emotion.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogui wore a grim expression, his voice barely above a whisper as he mumbled, "How did ite to this..? Master Jiang''s death is one thing, but losing Muyuan and arousing suspicion from the Li Family... This isn''t worth it at all!"
Yu Xiaogui''s resolve remained firm as he refused to intervene and watched Yu Muyuan die before his eyes.
"This wasn''t a mere oversight in nning. There''s something off about this Li Xuanfeng... I''ve never heard of someone with a spiritual sense spanning a hundred li. He can''t be just a Qi Cultivator... Even a Purple Mansion isn''t capable of such a feat!" Yu Mugao eximed indignantly.
"That''s enough!" Yu Xiaogui cut him off coldly, "Li Tongya isn''t dumb. He could have gathered evidence but he chose not to. Although he decided not to pursue this matter and fall out with our family, this incident still marks the beginning of a rift between our families. From now on, we''re not even apparent allies but enemies..."
"Father... I understand," Yu Mugao said, standing up straight and wiping away his tears. His expression hardened as he made a cold and steely deration.
"This is the right time to eliminate An Jingming!"
Chapter 213: Muyuan (II)
Chapter 213: Muyuan (II)
Meanwhile, on the shore of Moongaze Lake...
Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya flew in silence for a while before Li Tongya finally broke the silence.
"It''s the Yu Family''s doing."
Li Xuanfeng''s expression darkened, a simmering anger evident as he clenched his teeth.
"I knew it was the Yu Family when I saw you disposing of the body. However, we probably can''t confront them right now... If we didn''t have that... we would have never known who had done this. Yu Mugao must have employed some insidious tactics to harm Xiu''er in this manner."
Li Tongya''s voice turned cold as he spoke with finality in his tone.
"There''s no need for further discussion on this matter. The truth will be clear once we return and investigate."
Li Tongya slowly sheathed his sword and continued, "This incident has stirred up quite amotion... I suspect that everyone on theke is already aware of it. If my guess is correct, Yu Xiaogui has likely arrived or is on his way to the scene. That was why I suggested that we leave first. Although he might not dare to fight us directly now, it was still better for us to leave quickly."
Li Xuanfeng''s heart sank. Although everyone feared the Li Family because it was under the protection of a sword immortal, only members of the Li Family knew that this was merely a facade.
On the surface, the two families had not yet turned openly hostile, but in secret, they had already be enemies. No one knew for sure what would happen from now on...
"Should we... seek assistance from the Xiao Family?" Li Xuanfeng inquired in a low voice.
Li Tongya shook his head in response.
"We should wait until I attain the Foundation Establishment Realm. Besides, the Yu Family has the Yuanwu Peak backing them, and the Xiao Family is trying toy low for now so they won''t intervene in such matters. We''ll reassess the situation when the Xiao Family makes their move. We can''t always rely on others... we must rely on ourselves."
As they conversed, Moun Lijing loomed beneath them. People had gathered below, kneeling and crying. Li Xuanfeng''s eyes welled with tears, unable to bear the sight.
Meanwhile, Li Tongya sighed softly, hovering in the sky above.
Upon arriving at Lijing Town, Li Xuanxuannded before the copsed rear hall. mes were still licking at the wooden structure. n soldiers hurried over to him.
Li Xuanxuan swept his spiritual sense forward, allowing the scene beneath the ruins to materialize in his mind.
His face paled slightly as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He turned his head to the side and asked, "Was the Young Family Head in the courtyard?"
The unconscious Li Pingyi had already been retrieved and taken away to be treated, while a trembling n soldier stood before him. "Reporting to the Family Head, I saw him earlier... he should have been in the courtyard," he said, his voice timid.
Li Xuanxuan''s chest tightened. His face paled and he could almost see stars before his eyes. He dropped onto his knees with a thud and cried out loudly.
"XIU''ER...!"
He continued sweeping the area with his spiritual sense but found only the remains of a few n soldiers amidst the rubble, along with blood, dismembered body parts, and bone fragments.
There was no sign of Li Yuanxiu. He doubled over, feeling the world spin before his eyes as he wailed in agony.
Hearing the head of the family in such distress, the surrounding n soldiers and cultivators were filled with horror, joining him and kneeling on the ground as well.
Li Xuanxuan clutched his chest as he struggled to catch his breath. Tears streamed down his face as he spoke through gritted teeth. "W-What... what has happened here..?"
A n soldier rescued from the rubble kneeled and cried out in agony.
"It was the pearl! The pearl... it unleashed a spell!"
Beside him, Xu Gongming recoiled in shock and fear. It was he who had sent over the precious pearl from the mine to the courtyard.
His vision darkened, never expecting that he would be a suspect in this incident. He got down on his knees and stumbled forward.
"The precious pearl came from the mine! I-I will... go investigate this...!"
"From the mine..?" Li Xuanxuan''s face darkened. The Ebony mine had been explored under the leadership of the An Family. Naturally, they were the prime suspects.
Li Xuanxuan let out a frustrated sigh before hissing resentfully, "Is the An Family out of their minds?!"
Despite his turmoil, Li Xuanxuan managed topose himself. He wiped his tears away and barked amand, "Go and investigate this!"
As Xu Gongming scrambled to leave, Li Xuanxuan lowered his gaze to see Li Yuanjiao, who had already arrived before him. His cheeks were smeared with dirt for he had been searching among the rubble with tears streaming down his face, and they were still dripping from his chin.
Meanwhile, Li Qinghong cradled Li Yuanyun in her arms, both of them sobbing uncontrobly. Several n elders were kneeling nearby, their aged faces stained with tears. The courtyard was silent, save for the sound of mournful weeping.
The oppressive stillness was shattered when Li Tongya and Li Xuanfeng finally descended into the courtyard. Seeing Li Tongya, Li Xuanxuan''s tears surged once more, and he spoke with indignation.
"Second Uncle! Xiu''er... he..."
Li Xuanfeng clenched his fists while Li Tongya sighed quietly and approached Li Xuanxuan.
"Come with me..." he said softly.
Li Xuanxuan nodded through clenched teeth, apanying Li Tongya as they rode the wind toward the mountain.
Meanwhile, Li Xuanfeng stayed behind to investigate. When he finally pieced together the events, he spat angrily, "What a low move!"
As soon as he said that, the rapid sound of hoofbeats echoed nearby. Tian Zhongqing rode in on his horse, carrying a mystery person. He quickly dismounted and dropped the person to the ground, eliciting cries of pain from that person. He then addressed Li Xuanxuan with a respectful bow before speaking.
"My lord, the culprit has been captured. He''s a spy from the An Family!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile in the An Residence...
The An Family had just constructed an impressive, shimmery golden pavilion atop Mount Huazhong.
An Zheyan hadmissioned the pavilion for his son, An Jingming, and it hadplex formations engraved onto it. It was designed to harness spiritual qi and to stabilize one''s soul.
An Jingming sat cross-legged alone within the golden formation, his handsome features illuminated by its soft glow. His long hair was tied back neatly, and he wore crystal-clear gold bracelets on his wrists. A jade ax stood before him, surrounded by a gentle white mist that seemed to lend him an aura of immortality.
An Jingming should have been deep in cultivation, but he was frequently distracted and was unable to immerse himself in his meditation.
Currently at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, he was far ahead of his father, An Zheyan, in terms of cultivation. This fact filled An Zheyan with pride.
After sitting for a while, An Jingming found himself still unable to concentrate. After another half an hour, he finally rose to his feet, descended the stairs, and pushed open the door to a luxurious hall.
An Zheyan was seated inside, with a wine cup and a pair of silver chopsticks in each hand, watching as seven or eight dancers danced to a beautiful melody in front of him. He had a contented expression, and there was a smile on his lips.
He was just picking up a small piece of rabbit meat from the dish in front of him when he spotted An Jingming descending the stairs in his flowing Daoist robe.
An Zheyan hastily discarded his chopsticks and dismissed everyone in the hall hurriedly.
"Go away, all of you!"
The musicians and dancers quickly scattered as An Jingming approached.
"Did I disturb your meditation, son?" An Zheyan asked, looking somewhat guilty.
"Not at all, since the building has a soundproofing formation," An Jingming reassured his father, shaking his head.
He looked at his father for a moment before continuing, "I''ve been feeling restless today. Have I forgotten something important...?"
An Zheyan attempted to dispel his son''s concerns with a heartyugh.
"Nonsense, my boy... Don''t worry yourself."
However, An Jingming, sharp as ever, sensed that something was aloof and fixed his father with a prating gaze.
"Father, you mustn''t keep secrets from me! What are you hiding?!" he demanded with a slightly gloomy expression.
Chapter 214: An Jingmings Death
Chapter 214: An Jingming''s Death
"It''s... it''s nothing really," An Zheyan stammered, withdrawing his hand awkwardly, a sheepish expression crossing his face as he spoke.
"A few days ago, while you were in seclusion, I sent some members to assist the Li Family on behalf of the Yu Family... I may have indulged in a bit too much wine and spouted some nonsense."
After saying that, he waved his hands hastily and forced a smile on his face, adding, "But rest assured, everyone present at the time was trustworthy and loyal. They won''t breathe a word of it!"
"Spouted some nonsense?!" An Jingming interrupted, disregarding his father''s attempt to exin further. His expression betrayed his unease as he murmured, "You didn''t tell the others about my achievements in cultivation, did you?"
An Zheyan froze for a moment before a crestfallen expression appeared on his aged face. Observing his father''s reaction, An Jingming immediately knew that he had hit the nail on the head. He immediately lost his temper and flew into a rage.
"Father, surely, you understand the gravity of this situation?!" he hissed through his clenched teeth.
An Zheyan bowed his head in shame like a child. Before An Jingming could erupt in anger further, they felt the mountain''s grand formation shaking.
An Jingming nced up sourly and noticed a gray-clothed figure floating outside the formation. The figure was looking at the pavilion below calmly with chilling indifference.
"An Jingming, get your ass out here!" Yu Mugao''s voice cut through the air, which was tinged with annoyance. His carefullyid ns to strike at the Li Family had beenpromised, leaving behind a trail that would inevitably lead back to the An Family. He anticipated that the Li Family would inevitably turn to the An Family for exnations¡ªif not outright usations.
Yu Mugao had already prepared his pawns and devised a scheme. All they were waiting for was the arrival of the Li Family''s representatives. However, to his surprise, Li Xuanfeng had managed to uncover the traces and had even assassinated Master Jiang and Yu Muyuan.
With the Li Family suddenly quiet, Yu Mugao realized he had no choice but to take matters into his own hands. Crafting a pretext, he aimed to shift some of the me onto the Li Family.
"This person has conspired to murder the young head of the Li Family... The Yu family, entrusted by the Li family, vows to bring this person to justice. There are witnesses to support this," Yu Mugao dered in a deep voice.
Finishing his statement, Yu Mugao muttered to himself, "This won''t be enough to take over the An Family... We can only settle this before the Li Family reacts. Eliminate An Zheyan and An Jingming, and pick a puppet leader within the An Family. Their influence will serve to distort the truth and deceive others."
ustomed to such machinations, Yu Mugao wasted no time in devising his next moves. He nced down toward the pavilion below where An Zheyan and An Jingming stood, visibly bewildered.
An Zheyan''s disbelief boiled over as he eximed, "The Li and Yu families?! What is the meaning of this?"
An Jingming, however, wore a resigned expression and let out a sigh.
"Father, if we do not tread carefully, we risk bing casualties... How loyal do you think the remaining people of our family are? Both families have likely infiltrated our family thoroughly... The seeds you nted long ago may have sprouted into traps for us. By drawing attention like this, I surmise either Li Xuanxuan or Li Xuanfeng is dead."
"T-That''s...!" An Zheyan faltered, rendered speechless momentarily. After a moment of silence, tears welled in his eyes.
With a remorseful p to his own face, he dered through clenched teeth, "This is the doing of Yu Mugao. Leave me be! I will handle this! So long as you survive, the An Family still has hope."
An Zheyan grasped An Jingming''s hand, his voice tinged with desperation as he urged, "Didn''t you ask me to construct a secret passage leading out of the mountain before? Go now! Leave these outsiders to me... you must go..."
Sweat beaded on his brow as he ced all his hope for the future on An Jingming, showing little regard for his safety.
An Jingming, however, shook his head solemnly in response. "Father... it''s toote. Can''t you see? It''s not just Yu Mugao who seeks me out... Yu Xiaogui and the others are probably also watching from afar with Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators waiting outside. There''s no escaping this. The Yu Family will never be at ease unless I''m dead."
The defensive formation of the mountain rumbled ominously, and panicked voices filled the air as footsteps drew nearer. An Jingming mmed his foot down, causing the doors in the pavilion to seal shut one by one, emitting a radiant golden glow.
"Family Head! The Yu Family is attacking us! Family Head!"
"Family Head...! Save us, please!"
An Jingming had meticulously inscribed formations during the construction of the pavilion, unaware that they would one day serve to barricade his own kin.
The people outside the pavilion cried and wailed while they pped on the doors desperately, hoping to gain entrance. From the other side of the door, palm prints could be seen pressed against the door screens.
Most of the An Family members were ckers¡ªmere Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators. Apart from An Zheyan and An Jingming, none of them had even managed to condense the Jade Capital Chakra. Naturally, they were too weak to breach the formation. Thus, they could do little but cry and curse outside. Even so, their voices were barely audible amidst the chaos.
An Zheyan copsed to the ground with a whimper, pping himself vehemently in regret. The force drew blood from the corners of his mouth and knocked two of his teeth out in the process. Through tears, hemented, "It''s all my fault! My selfishness, my greed, my indulgence in pleasures... It has brought this upon you, upon us all..."
An Jingming''s tears flowed freely as he sank to his knees, cradling An Zheyan''s plump, tear-streaked face.
"I will carve a path through them... you should leave through the secret passage. Yu Mugao''s gaze is fixed on me. Father, there''s still a chance for you to escape..." he told An Zheyan as if he were his father instead.
An Zheyan''s trembling legs betrayed his resolve as he struggled to articte a response. Finally, he managed to choke out, "Where... should I go?"
"To the Li Family," An Jingming replied, tears mingling with determination in his eyes, "I think I understand what''s going on now... Time is running out, we can''t keep talking here."
With a firm grip, he lifted An Zheyan to his feet. His heart was heavy with sorrow as he said, "Father, you must stop drinking and abstain yourself. Always speak wisely, and protect yourself. Do not dwell on revenge... and consider having a few more children."
BOOM!
A thunderous boom echoed through the air as the An Family''s grand formation shattered. An Zheyan winced and dashed toward the rear of the pavilion while wiping away his tears.
An Jingming watched his father disappear into the secret passage before turning away. With a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips and tears streaming down his face, he removed his jade crown, allowing his dark locks to spill freely over his shoulders. His once serene demeanor gave way to a fierce resolve.
He removed a dharma sword from the wall, secured it to his waist, and tightened his clutch on his jade axe. He heard the jingle of the golden bracelet around his wrist.
He slowly descended the staircase, pushing open the courtyard door. Before himy a scene of carnage, blood staining the ground and heads rolling before the steps.
"Yu Mugao of the Yu Family."
The young man before him bore a fierce countenance, wearing a white headband that covered his forehead. He was staring at An Jingming like a ferocious wolf.
An Jingming scrutinized him carefully while Yu Mugao returned the stare with cold indifference. An Jingming did not resort to pleading for mercy or begging for him to spare his family.
Instead, he introduced himself.
"An Jingming of the An Family."
With his jade axe raised, An Jingming charged forward. Yu Mugao simply watched as one of the Yu Family''s Qi Cultivators of the eighth heavenlyyer came forward from behind him, blocking An Jingming''s jade axe with his dharma sword.
A loud metallic ng rang out when the weapons collided against each other. The Qi Cultivator recoiled from the impact, taking a step backward. An Jingming turned the direction of his jade axe, prompting Yu Mugao to raise an eyebrow.
Another figure emerged from behind him, a peak Qi Cultivator, repelling An Jingming''s jade axe with his dharma sword.
"Your progress in cultivation is impressive to be able to keep up or maybe even surpass the peak Cultivator by a margin," Yu Mugao remarked with a sigh, his toneced with amusement.
"Had you not been born into the An Family and were given another hundred years to cultivate, I''m sure you''d make a name for yourself among the three sects and seven gates..." he drawled.
An Jingming offered no reply. Instead, he took a step back and swung his jade axe again, grappling with the two Qi Cultivators from the Yu Family. Despite holding his ground against them, he found himself unable to break the stalemate even after a series of exchanges.
Anxiety began gnawing at him. With Yu Xiaogui''s absence, he resolved to push through regardless of mana expenditure and rose into the air.
Before he could make another move, a figure cloaked in gray appeared before him. With his white sideburns and smooth hands akin to jade, the man stood silently with his eyes closed.
"Yu Xiaogui," An Jingming addressed him, calmly tying his jade axe around his waist and then cupping his fist.
He then drew his sharp white dharma sword and positioned the de against his own neck. The razor-sharp edge sliced through the ck hair cascading over his shoulder, and the severed strands fell to the ground.
"A great man will inevitably meet other heroes in the world, just as a river will eventually merge with the sea. Although one may strive to touch the clouds with ambition, he is ultimately dragged down by his n..."
With a swift motion, blood sttered everywhere as he beheaded himself, leaving his headless body copsing onto the ground.
Yu Xiaogui''s eyelids fluttered briefly as he lifted the corpse with his mana and inspected it carefully.
"Even the most extraordinary beings are not beyond mortality... to think such a genius would meet such an end," he remarked softly.
Chapter 215: Pingyi
Chapter 215: Pingyi
Li Pingyi was in a daze when he heard the sound of crying. He stepped outside and found a little boy sitting by the door with tears glistening on his eyshes. Sunlight bathed his face, lending him an endearing appearance.
Li Pingyi took a step closer tentatively, and to his surprise, a childish voice escaped his own lips.
"Brother Yuanxiu..."
The boy looked up. Li Pingyi then heard himself earnestly saying, "I''d be sad if you died, too."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Ngh."
Li Pingyi''s vision slowly grew clearer as he finally woke up from his dream. Pain throbbed throughout his body, and a bitter and metallic taste lingered in his mouth. His chest ached due to his broken ribs while his legs screamed in agony¡ªlikely fractured as well.
Two flies buzzed before his eyes. Li Pingyi attempted to swat them away, but his limbs refused to respond. He writhed on the bed, gradually noticing a figure seated beside him, silently and solemnly watching him like a stone statue.
"Father..." Li Pingyi uttered weakly, but Li Xiewen''s expression remained impassive, devoid of any emotion.
"Where are my hands...?"
His thoughts drifted, disjointed and distant as he croaked out the question.
"They''re gone."
Li Xiewen had finally found his voice and broke the silence with two quiet words.
Li Pingyi froze as if he had been struck across the face. All the memories came flooding back to him¡ªthe precious pearl, the thunder mes, the crumbling house.
With a burst of energy, Li Pingyi writhed violently and eximed, "How''s Young Family Head?!"
Li Xiewen''s moved his lips again, uttering yet another two words.
"...He''s gone."
Li Pingyi felt a squeeze in his throat as he croaked out something incoherent. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he struggled to repeat his father''s words.
"He''s... gone?"
Li Xiewen''s watched quietly as Li Pingyi transitioned from silent tears to outright sobbing, to convulsive weeping, only to abruptly cease... because Li Xiewen brought his hand down on his son''s cheek.
SLAP!
Again, his hand struck Li Pingyi''s other cheek, leaving the boy dizzy and disoriented from the force.
Li Xiewen reached for Li Pingyi''s neck as the boy squirmed on the bed, sobbing.
"Father, I have unfinished business."
Li Xiewen regarded him coldly as Li Pingyi continued to squirm, his gaze darting around the room until it settled on the charred wooden slip at the head of the bed.
Li Pingyi halted his tears and spoke quietly, "Young Family Head told me to deliver this book to Young Master Yuanyun... Please, Father."
Li Xiewen faltered, his voice thick with emotion as two burning tears trickled down his cheeks.
"You were the one who brought that precious pearl to him..." he said hoarsely.
"Yes, it was me," Li Pingyi squeezed the words through clenched teeth, his body instantly going limp as though he had lost his backbone.
Tears streamed down Li Xiewen''s face as he continued hoarsely, "You''ve been a good kid since young... You''re sharp and resourceful. Other than yourck of spiritual orifice, you''re no less capable than the children among the generation of Yuan. Unlike me, I''ve been dumb since I was a child. Were it not for my close ties with Brother Xuanxuan and theck of ambition among my younger brothers, I would never have been chosen as a town manager."
Li Xiewen shed more tears as he continued, "And then you were born. When those two dark eyes stared at me, my only thought was, ''Ah, this child will surely grow into a capable man and surpass me one day.''"
Li Pingyiy on the bed. He could taste his father''s tears in his mouth¡ªthey were bitter. Tears continued flowing from his eyes as he whimpered, "I''ve let you down... Father."
Li Xiewen wiped his tears and gently patted his eldest son. He gritted his teeth and hissed, "But Xiu''er is gone... Li Yuanxiu is gone! That''s Li Yuanxiu we''re talking about! The Young Family Head of the Li Family, the sessor your grandfather entrusted to me, which I entrusted to you! Do you understand the weight of that responsibility?!"
Li Pingyi closed his eyes and nodded silently.
"I do, Father."
Li Xiewen rose slowly, tucking the charred wooden slip into his sleeve before casting onest nce at his eldest son''s face. With a wave of his sleeve, he exited the room, closing the door behind him.
As the door swung open, the blinding sunlight flooded Li Pingyi''s vision. But as his father departed and closed the door behind him, darkness reimed the room.
The faint glow from the desk barely reached Li Pingyi. Unable to see his surroundings clearly, he squirmed on the bed like a worm and peered over its edge.
Straining his eyes, Li Pingyi realized the thunder mes had damaged his vision¡ªhis left eye barely functioned. With his right eye, he discerned a big bucket beneath his feet. It was made of wood found on the mountain and bound by iron, securely sealed to prevent any leakage.
Within the bucket was bloody water, likely remnants of his own when his father had wiped him down. A pungent and metallic odor assaulted his senses. A gray rag floated on the surface like a dead fish.
"Not bad."
Estimating the distance, Li Pingyi shifted his only functional leg, bracing himself for the pain of moving over broken bones. With a deep breath, he stomped down.
PLOP!
He plunged into the blood-filled bucket headfirst, the liquid rising just below his chest. Fearful of moving involuntarily, he wedged his leg into the bed''s corner.
As the taste of blood filled his mouth, Li Pingyi began to cough violently, inhaling and expelling the crimson fluid with each convulsion, causing gurgling noises in the water. Eventually, his body stiffened, urine leaking from his rigid form and wetting his pants.
A beam of light appeared before his eyes and faces flickered through his mind¡ªhis father''s, his mother''s... and Li Yuanxiu''s.
Amidst the turmoil, a single thought surfaced¡ªTo be able to see his face again onest time before my death... it''s all worth it.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Outside the door, Li Xiewen closed his eyes, clenching his hands tightly until they turned white. Tears streamed down his face uncontrobly. When the gurgling sound from within ceased, he copsed softly onto the ground.
For a moment, he could not discern his own surroundings, and he was not even sure of which the floor and ceiling was. Dizziness overwhelmed him, and he found himself staring at a pair of leather boots before him.
Raising his head, Li Xiewen locked eyes with a face bearing a striking resemnce to Li Yuanxiu''s, albeit with more angr features and a fiercer gaze.
The man peered intently at him and asked, "Uncle Xiewen, where''s Pingyi?"
Li Xiewen rose to his feet, his voice barely above a whisper as he replied, "Greetings, Young Master Yuanjiao... Li Pingyi was too distraught by the Young Family Head''s passing and took his own life."
Without waiting for Li Yuanjiao''s reaction, Li Xiewen retrieved half of a burnt wooden slip and presented it to him with both hands.
"Young Family Head has instructed Li Pingyi to deliver this to Young Master Yuanyun... With this, I have fulfilled Li Pingyi''sst task on his behalf!"
Chapter 216: An Zheyu of the An Family
Chapter 216: An Zheyu of the An Family
"Second Uncle!"
Li Xuanxuan dropped to his knees in the cave dwelling. Li Tongya watched his nephew''s tear-streaked face silently, wordlessly.
"Are we... going to just... forget about this whole incident?!" Li Xuanxuan asked through his gritted teeth.
"Forget about it..?" Li Tongya lowered his gaze and continued, "This is not up to the Li Family to decide alone... The question lies in whether the Yu Family is willing to cease hostilities! Once enmity is sown between two families, either party cannot easily resolve it..."
Li Xuanxuan lifted his head, wiping his tears before clenching his jaw tightly.
"It''s Yu Mugao who colluded with others and killed the members of the Li Family... He can''t still resent us and keep harming us! It''s our family members who got killed, yet we still have to be wary and fearful that the Yu Family won''t stop at this... That''s just..."
Li Xuanxuan hesitated just as he was about to finish the sentence with the word "unfair". As someone approaching the age of forty, it was absurdly childish for him to be hung up about fairness in this world.
Yet, the weight of powerlessness and grief still bore heavily upon him. He bowed his head as he wept silently.
"Such is the cruelty of the world... the merciless whims of fate, where even the mightiest are but ants," Li Tongyamented, his gray locks cascading around him as he sighed in anguish.
Li Xuanxuan covered his face and said mournfully, "Xiu''er was the pride of our family, destined to lead the Li Family... And now he lies fallen..."
"With Xiu''er gone, who among our remaining disciples is fit to lead the family? Yuanjiao is fierce, Yuanyun is gentle, Qinghong is carefree..." Li Xuanxuan murmured.
Li Tongya shook his head gently and quietly said, "That can wait... You''ll take charge for now but do not descend the mountain. Let Xiewen manage matters at the foot of the mountain and ry them to you. Considering the two centuries of a Qi Cultivator''s lifespan, you''re still in your prime. If none of the children among the generation of Yuan are suitable to lead the family, we''ll assess the younger ones in twenty years'' time."
Li Xuanxuan''s lips trembled as he closed his eyes, shedding two more tears as he uttered only a single word quietly.
"Understood."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The cool spring rain continued for several consecutive nights, marking the end of spring on Moongaze Lake. With its departure came the arrival of warm summer winds sweeping down from the north, colliding with Mount Dali and dispelling the lingering dampness and chill.
Gusts of wind from the southern shore of theke carried remnants of gray and ck paper, casting an onyx hue across the sky as far as the eye could see. The mournful sound of weeping drifted through the air, echoing from Mount Lijing to Mount Huazhong and onward to the Milin Prefecture, where homes were decorated in white.
Li Yuanxiu had been torn apart by the thunder mes, leaving behind only bits of flesh and bloodbined with the debris of the copsed rear courtyard.
Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfengbored to clear away the rubble so that they could gather the soil that was soaked with Li Yuanxiu''s blood. The bloodstained soil and pieces of his bones were filled inside the coffin. They had also made a wooden sculpture that resembled Li Yuanxiu and ced it on the bloodstained soil before burying the coffin.
"Xiu''er!"
Veiled in white, the coffin was transported from the town to the mountains in solemn procession, the only sound piercing the silence being the muffled sobs of mourners. n uncles and brothers mourned in silence while the elders wept openly, their grief etched upon wrinkled faces.
Li Xuanxuan led the procession, carrying two long gray wooden poles that bore the weight of the coffin, with Li Yuanjiao supporting it from behind.
Raising his head, Li Yuanjiao met the gazes of those gathered around him. Among them, he caught sight of his half-brothers, their countenances reflecting a mix of sorrow and anger.
Li Yuanjiao''s adoption was carried out in secret, so in the eyes of the others, he was still an illegitimate heir. Li Xuanxuan had just be a Qi Cultivator, so he would be preupied with cultivation and unable to handle the family''s affairs.
With Li Yuanxiu''s death, the position of the family head was likely to fall to Li Yuanyun''s hands. This meant the authority would potentially be shifted away from Li Changhu''s lineage and to Li Xiangping''s lineage. How could those shrewd brothers not worry?
The major sect of the Li Family upheld principles of equality. Yet in reality, only those with spiritual orifices who grew up together on the mountains truly treated each other as equals.
Those dwelling at the foot of the mountain found themselves subject to differential treatment. There was also a huge difference between the way the Family Head treated those in the main lineage and those of a different lineage.
Although Li Yuanjiao immediately understood the thoughts of his half-siblings, he was too consumed by his own grief and anger to pay any heed to them.
"The Yu Family... and Yu Mugao," Li Yuanjiao uttered their names through his gritted teeth.
Despite his resolve for vengeance, he couldn''t shake the bitter realization of his own limitations as a lowly cultivator at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
"The Yu Family boasts ate-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Yu Yufeng, along with Yu Xiaogui at the early stage, and a mid-stage Qi Cultivator¡ªYu Mugao himself. This path of vengeance won''t be an easy one..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Unlike the mournful atmosphere shrouding Mount Lijing beneath its veils of white silk, Mount Huazhong resonated with jubntughter.
"Congrattions, Family Head!"
"Congrattions! An Jingming and his father were long overdue for removal by the Yu Family. Now, Mount Huazhong is rightfully ours!"
The man smiling smugly at the forefront was a cultivator at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He simply nodded in satisfaction at these words.
"An Zheyan was a fool who squandered the family''s resources on his precious son. The two of them acted arrogantly just because they were Qi Cultivators while I, An Zheyu, toiled away like a ve for them! But now, their folly has led to their demise... With the main family''s backing, our An Family is poised for prosperity and growth!"
An Zheyu was naturally the puppet leader chosen and supported by the Yu Family. At the age of fifty, he was still stuck at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. If it were not for the Yu Family, he was destined to remain a nobody in the An Family. He reveled in his newfound position of authority, indulging in feasts.
Another figure, at only the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, chimed in obsequiously, "Well said! Had these resources been bestowed upon your lordship earlier, you would have attained the Foundation Establishment Realm long ago! It''s truly regrettable they were squandered on An Jingming!"
The words struck a nerve with An Zheyu, prompting a visceral reaction. His gaze turned fierce as he retorted, "So what? With the allowance provided by the Yu Family, I''ll attain the Qi Cultivation Realm in less than three years!"
"Indeed, indeed!" the other man responded as he pped his own cheek apologetically.
"Family Master, the Yu Family took away An Jingming''s head, intending to preserve and study it. His body is still here though... What should we do with it?" he asked quietly.
An Zheyu''s eyes gleamed with a mixture of greed and bitter resentment. Through gritted teeth, he responded, ''I''ve heard tales of the miraculoustent powers in a genius''s body. It''s rumored that by consuming it, one may be able to inherit one or two of these powers... Get someone to dismember it and present it on a silver tter. I''d love to see how miraculous it is!"
An Zheyu''s words immediately caused the temperature of the hall to drop by a few degrees. The guards stationed on either side of him stirred restlessly.
An Jingming had been kind and generous toward everyone, except for the useless ones in the family. Despite being at odds with certain n members, particrly An Zheyu and the others in his group, An Jingming had a great reputation among the others. During the seven days of his mourning, cries filled the air.
The guards exchanged nces with each other but they were too powerless to defy An Zheyu and could only silently shed tears.
Meanwhile, theckey vying for favor with the next family head made the necessary arrangements happily. It was not long before an old servant arrived, bearing wooden steamer baskets and a pot of soup.
Observing the tearful look on the old servant''s face, theckey flew into a rage, delivering a swift kick to the man''s waist.
"What''s with the long face on such a joyous asion? Someone, drag him away and flog him to death!" he barked with a sneer.
Despite theckey''s order, the guards refused to move. Tears were streaming down their faces uncontrobly as well.
Enraged by their refusal toply, theckeyshed out, "You guys have a death wish too?!"
It was only then did the two guards move and drag the old servant away.
"I have served the An Family for four generations... The head of the family is foolish and his sons are unfilial. Ming''er was the only wise one, yet such tragedy befell him and now we are reduced to thepdogs of the Yu Family... An Zheyu, you have betrayed us!"
As the old servant''s anguished cries disappeared down the corridor, An Zheyu burst outughing.
"I once gambled away two gold bars in my youth, and that old fool snitched on me to Father. I was beaten so badly that I was bedridden for three days... But I couldn''t get back at him because he was protected by An Zheyan. I''ve never forgotten about this and now, after decades of waiting, I''ve finally taken my revenge!"
After saying that, An Zheyu set his wine cup down and dipped his finger into the pool of watery blood in the steamer baskets. He gave it a careful whiff and could only recognize the all-too-familiar metallic scent of blood.
"They say the corpse of a Qi Cultivator doesn''t decay for days... Seems the rumors were true!" he marveled.
Chapter 217: Li Yuanping
Chapter 217: Li Yuanping
Lu Jiangxian withdrew his gaze from the throngs at the foot of the mountain, retracting his divine sense into the mirror.
He descended beside a stone table that seemed to be made of white jade, his robe swaying in the gentle breeze. With a sigh, he lowered himself onto the seat. Sadness enveloped his expression as he murmured to himself.
"Four pairs of fathers and sons, three families plotting against each other, generations enmeshed... Such is the world; one fears the other, inciting harm until vendettas erupt, all culminating in mourning and funeral rites...
"Immortals are battling for survival as the upper sect mercilessly ughter, refine human pills, perform sacrificial rituals, and pit families and ns against each other, while the people resign to their fates like fish on the chopping block..."
Doubt clouded Lu Jiangxian''s heart as he murmured quietly, "How did the war between the immortals and the devils end... to lead the world to such a pitiful state?"
He redirected his attention to a more pressing concern.
"Day by day, I find myself growing increasingly emotionally detached..."
During the initial decades after losing his physical form, a sense of inertia propelled him forward, permitting fluctuations in his emotions to ur. Since he spent most of his time drifting in and out of sleep, he never really did notice this problem.
Yet, as the decades wore on and Lu Jiangxian spent more time awake and less in slumber, he spent his time delving into shamanic spells. His capacity for emotional turbulence began waning.
Thanks to this detachment, he could observe changes in the families indifferently. In the mirror, a few decades felt only like a day to him.
In truth, Lu Jiangxian possessed the capability to intervene and save Li Yuanxiu, yet after careful consideration, he chose not to do so.
The mirror appears to harbor a profound secret from its past, leading to its current decline... The strength of our adversaries must be truly formidable, given they were in the deductions of the talisman qi. I must proceed with utmost caution, ensuring not even the slightest hint of exposure.
A soft, silver-colored light manifested in Lu Jiangxian''s hand and hovered above it¡ªit was the power of deduction that he had recovered from Liu Changdian years ago. He had spent three years deducing the possibility of his own exposure and had finally managed to obtain some information.
The Supreme Yin Profound Light is the essence of pure moonlight from the Supreme Yin. Utilizing it to eliminate adversaries poses minimal risk of exposure, as per my deductions. Conversely, confronting enemies with shamanic spells entails significant peril. The more powerful the spell, the higher the probability of attracting unwanted attention...
Should I venture beyond the confines of this mirror... the heavens and earth would quake, drawing the attention of all immortals.
Lu Jiangxian contemted deeply and reached the conclusion that quietly waiting within the mirror, patiently waiting for the Li Family to rise to prominence would appear to be the most secure path. By steadily amassing power within the talisman seeds, he could ensure his safety and longevity.
"I once thought that sects could amass talisman seeds more swiftly than families... However, after observing the Azure Pond Sect and Golden Tang Gate, I realize they are just families in disguise..."
Spiritual orifice and bloodline would inadvertently lead to intermarriage between sects, resulting in tangled lineages that would eventually form distinct families or even factions of their own.
While this initially elerated the umtion of power, it also undermined the stability of that power over time. The risk of such fragmentation into multiple families with different surnames would potentially lead to the leaks of sensitive information.
With an almost endless lifespan, Lu Jiangxian favored safety over speed, and he was more than willing to endure minor setbacks in order to avoid any hint of his exposure.
"Now that I think about it, I''ve revealed too much before the Li Family decades ago since I was unaware of the mirror''s history... Li Mutian had watched me for over a decade and had probably even managed to glean some clues. Fortunately... the old man is no longer around."
With a wave of his translucent hand, Lu Jiangxian conjured three luminous white pills that looked rather divine.
"When Li Tongya attains the Foundation Establishment Realm, I''ll reveal these talisman seeds... He''ll likely attribute their appearance to his cultivation breakthrough. Given his cautious nature, this should alleviate some of his suspicions."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, in Lijing Town...
"Where is Xiu''er?"
Beneathyers of curtains and amidst the soothing aroma of burning incense, a beautifully attired woman raised her elegant eyebrows, her dignified gaze fixing upon the figure before her.
"Did you not hear my question?"
The figure in in gray robe and buttoned jacket trembled slightly, raising her gaze to meet the woman''s eyes before quickly averting it again.
"Madam, the old master sent the young master away a few days ago... He said it was for important matters..." she replied shakily, the fear and uncertainty in her voice evident.
The woman rose to her feet, her swollen belly prominent, a clear indication that she was nearing the end of her pregnancy. She looked at the person kneeling before her, her lips curling into a cold smile as she spoke.
"Do you think I''m blind and deaf? Despite my absence from managing affairs these past months, do you truly believe I''m easily deceived? No matter where Xiu''er is going, he would never leave without telling me first!"
The woman, exuding an air of refined nobility, was Li Xuanxuan''s first wife and the mother of Li Yuanxiu.
Despite the concerted efforts to shield her from the truth while she remained confined to the backyard during her pregnancy, Li Yuanxiu''s prolonged absence and somber sounds of weeping that echoed in the surroundings had aroused her suspicions. Her unease only grew.
Met with dead silence from her servant, a sense of foreboding seized her heart. Having raised a son as astute as Li Yuanxiu, it was no surprise that she possessed keen intelligence.
As her suspicions grew stronger, anxiety gnawed at her heart, her tone turning icy as she demanded the truth.
"Speak."
The servant was drenched in cold sweat, trembling as she struggled to find her voice. Finally, she managed to utter the words a mother would never wish to hear.
"The Young Family Head has been assas-... H-he has passed away..."
The woman almost lost her ability to breathe the very moment her worst fears were confirmed. Though she had sensed trouble brewing, the reality was far more devastating than she could have ever imagined.
She stifled a sob but immediately felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. She gritted her teeth and asked, "Where''s Li Xuanxuan?! What kind of father is he...? How could he let this happen to my son?! Li Xuanxuan! Li Xuanxuan!"
"The Young Family Head is..."
The servant lowered her head, unable to bear her mistress'' distress. To her horror, the woman copsed before her.
"Madam! Madam...!" she cried out in a panic.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Waaaah!!"
The white veil of the Li Family had been fluttering on the eaves for months, but finally, a cry pierced through the silence of the courtyard.
Li Xuanxuan held his wife''s hand, channeling mana to stabilize her breathing as the midwife emerged, cradling a fragile infant in her arms.
"Congrattions, Old Master... It''s a boy."
Li Xuanxuan took the child in his arms, observing his small and delicate form. The baby furrowed his brow and after letting out a feeble cry, he fell silent and remained motionless.
Were it not for the subtle rise and fall of his nostrils and Li Xuanxuan''s spiritual sense detecting the baby''s life force, he might have feared the worst.
"Well done, my dear... you have endured much," Li Xuanxuan murmured softly, trying tofort his wife. Emotions surged within him as he weed a new life into the family amidst the recent loss of his eldest son. Tears streamed down his face, rendering him unable to speak.
Holding the newborn close to him, he gazed upon him for a while, his mind filled with a multitude of thoughts and emotions. Eventually, all the words he wished to convey condensed into a soft sigh.
"After toiling away for half of my life... I now realize that all I truly desire in this world is safety."
He stroked the infant''s damp hair tenderly, then presented the child to his wife. When he spoke again, his voice was soft, tender.
"Let''s name him Yuanping... Li Yuanping[1]."
1. The "Ping" in Yuanping''s name means "safety". ?
Chapter 218: Peak of Qi Cultivation Realm
Chapter 218: Peak of Qi Cultivation Realm
Li Qinghong, with a white ribbon tied around her forehead, ascended the stone path leading up the mountain. Her white robe billowed in the wind. The spear she carried was no longer made of cheap wood, but instead was now made of white ash wood.
The spearhead gleamed coldly under the moonlight while the red tassel danced lightly in the breeze.
"Father has been in seclusion for some time now... I wonder how he''s doing now. Breaking through from the Embryonic Breathing Realm to the Qi Cultivation Realm isn''t too difficult¡ªthe main challenge lies in absorbing the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. There shouldn''t be much cause for concern..."
It had been a year since Li Xuanling entered seclusion to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. Despite various family matters arising during this time, no one had dared to disturb him.
Li Qinghong stuck her spear into the ground and paused. At thirteen years old, she had lingered at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm for a while now. There was still quite some progress to be made before she could reach the fourth stage. With her highpatibility with the talisman seed andmendable talent, she easily outpaced her peers.
"I wonder why grandfather asked me to meet him on the mountain..."
Li Qinghong paid a visit to the family tomb and after having spent some time talking to the deceased Li Yuanxiu, she continued her ascent to the cave dwelling on Meiche Peak.
Meiche Peak was part of Mount Lijing now. While not particrly rich in resources, it was sufficient to amodate Li Tongya¡ªa Qi Cultivator at the ninth heavenlyyer¡ªas well as Li Xuanfeng, who was at the fifth heavenlyyer.
With more Qi Cultivators present, their cultivation progress would be slowed, which was why Chen Donghe was relocated to Mount Huaqian and Li Xuanxuan was also reassigned to Mount Huaqian.
Although the cultivation conditions at Mount Huaqian were superiorpared to Meiche Peak, its weak formations left it vulnerable. Thus, it was deemed best to station an external cultivator like Chen Donghe there.
If Father manages to break through and bes a Qi Cultivator, he''ll probably be assigned to the cave dwelling in theke to cultivate. This means we''ll have even less time together... Li Qinghong thought to herself.
The cave dwelling she was referring to was none other than the Snake Demon Cave, which was discovered by Li Tongya years ago. It was spacious, and over time, the Li Family had constructed numerous dwellings within its depths. However, frequentings and goings might attract unwanted attention, so nobody had chosen to cultivate there.
As Li Qinghong mulled over these thoughts, the cave door slowly opened, drawing her curious gaze. Inside, the furnishings were minimal save for a stone table, a few stools, two shelves, and a small futon.
At the very center of the cave sat a figure with graying hair and a beard, deeply engrossed in a purple jade slip in his hands. A cup of tea sat on the table with wisps of white steam rising from it.
Li Qinghong bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Grandfather!"
Li Tongya raised his head at her words, setting down the jade slip on the table. His cultivation was formidable, nearing perfection.
Over the past two years, he had managed to untangle the knots in his heart and condense his cultivation. It could be said that he was now at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm, just a step away from forming his immortal foundation and attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm.
With the Essence Gathering Pill that Jing''er sent home, I can now attempt the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
While Li Tongya was caught in his thoughts, Li Qinghong''s cheery voice suddenly interrupted him.
"Congrattions on your cultivation progress, Grandfather."
Li Qinghong could not discern his progress herself. It was Li Xuanxuan who had informed her about the ancestor''s significant progress in his cultivation and reminded her to congratte him before sending her up the mountain.
"Thank you," Li Tongya responded as he nodded gently, reflecting on his uing challenges in cultivation.
The Qi Cultivation Realm consisted of nine heavenlyyers, and there was no such thing as the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm, nor was there a full mastery of the Qi Cultivation. What awaited cultivators at the end of the ninth heavenlyyer was a life-and-death trial.
Many individuals found themselves trapped at the ninth heavenlyyer, unable to progress further. Without ess to the secret methods of the three sects and seven gates, over seventy percent of cultivators could not even gauge their likelihood of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. With such dire circumstances, only a few dared to attempt the leap.
For those who found themselves trapped in the ninth heavenlyyer, they spent their days refining their cultivation. Those beneath their ranks would politely refer to them as peak Qi Cultivators in an effort to stay on their good side.
However, in esteemed sects like the Azure Pond Sect and the Golden Feather Sect, true recognition was reserved for those who reached the peak of Foundation Establishment or Purple Mansion Realms.
Qi Cultivation was not simply about umting an immortal foundation, so there was technically no such thing as a peak Qi Cultivator.
Observing Li Qinghong now, Li Tongya took note of her thoughtful demeanor and bright-eyed gaze, as well as her firm grip on her spear. It was evident that she had been training diligently.
He nodded approvingly at her and sighed gently before continuing, "I never anticipated that you would make the fastest progress among the generations of Yuan and Qing... Justst month, Jingtian''s pregnancy was confirmed, but I''m uncertain about the child''s innate talent. Xuan''er showed me Yuanping, but unfortunately, he''scking in fetal qi... Cultivation may prove to be a challenge for the child. You will need to assume a guiding role in the future and impart your wisdom to them."
"Don''t worry, Grandfather! I''ll do my best to guide them!" Li Qinghong replied confidently.
Li Tongya acknowledged her statement before continuing, "I was the one who allowed you to learn spearmanship. I have a dharma weapon here, but it''s quite powerful and no one has been able to wield it. When you reach the Qi Cultivation Realm, you can try it out. It might enhance your spearmanship skills significantly."
"Thank you, Grandfather!"
Li Qinghong''s eyes lit up immediately at the prospect of such a powerful weapon, though she could not yet fathom its true strength.
However, the sparkle in her eyes disappeared as quickly as it came. She lowered her gaze and remarked glumly, "It''s too bad that no one in our family knows how to wield a spear, so I''ve had no one to guide me. I''ve barely made any progress, and this has been going on for years now. Having no one to rely on and self-learning my skills has proven to be quite the struggle..."
Li Tongya''s voice softened as he patted Li Qinghong''s head.
"Your father told me about this before. The Fei Family by theke is renowned for spearmanship, and I''ve asked you to meet me today for this very matter. We''ve found a skilled master for you and have already arranged for you to study there secretly... Now go pack your bags, you''ll be leaving soon."
"Huh?!"
Li Qinghong''s excitement was tinged with a hint of apprehension. The thought of leaving her family behind and spending less time with them filled her with reluctance, and the idea of living with the Fei Family meant that she would need to exercise great caution.
Ultimately, she bit her lower lip before finally responding, "Thank you, Grandfather... I have no issues with these arrangements."
Li Tongya nodded as he heard this and watched as Li Qinghong departed hurriedly. An hourter, she had appeared outside the cave dwelling again, this time carrying a wooden box on her back.
Li Tongya came out and lifted her into the air, casting a concealment spell as they headed toward the north coast.
"Remember, do not reveal your true surname to anyone except Fei Wangbai," Li Tongya reminded sternly.
As Li Qinghong marveled at the view of Lijing Town below, feeling the exhration of soaring in the skies, Li Tongya continued his exnation.
"You''ll be staying with the Fei Family as a rogue cultivator... I''ve already discussed this with Fei Wangbai. Yu Mugao is dangerous, and if your identity is exposed, it could lead to trouble."
Li Qinghong nodded but hesitated.
"If it''s too much trouble, I can continue cultivating at home by myself..."
However, Li Tongya shook his head and said firmly, "The Fei Family is far up the north coast, and Fei Wangbai rules his family with strict discipline. It will undoubtedly be safer for you there than remaining within the confines of the Li Family. Yu Mugao''s actions are unpredictable, so it''s unwise to rely solely onmon sense to anticipate their actions. Besides, this decision also provides an additionalyer of security for you."
He took a deep breath and let out a gentle sigh as he continued.
"Moreover, the Fei Family excels in spearmanship, and the spiritual qi on their mountain is much richer than what we have at home... This environment will greatly benefit your training. Fei Wangbai also intends to strengthen ties with our family, making this decision mutually beneficial and paving the way for asting alliance."
Li Qinghong nodded in understanding and tightened her grip on her spear as she looked onward bravely.
"When can I return home?"
Li Tongya contemted briefly before replying.
"Until you''ve reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Once you''re back and manage to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, our family will have gained another formidable asset."
Chapter 219: Fei Wangbai
Chapter 219: Fei Wangbai
Moongaze Lake, once home to the illustrious Moonlight Origin Mansion hundreds of years ago, now boasted fertilend and abundant spiritual qi.
The southern shore was close to the imposing Mount Dali, which was now teeming with spirit herbs and demon beasts. The western shore was close to the desert, characterized by loose geological formations and abundant resources, including various spirit mines. The northern shore abounded in spirit veins and towering peaks, while the eastern shore¡ªinhabited by the Yu Family, presented a t, fertile expanse.
Li Tongya embarked on his journey by traversing the Lake of the Moon, heading toward the north shore. Covering several hundred li on foot, the journey would take a day and a night of relentless paddling for those in a mere rowing boat.
Along the way, he passed through areas where aquatic demons lurked, who briefly probed Li Tongya''s presence before receding back into the depths.
Unconcerned by these demons, Li Tongya paid them no heed. He had no intention of engaging with them knowing their cunning and treacherous nature, especially in water where they reigned free.
Without reliable informants like the demon fox in this region, he harbored concerns that stronger ancestors might lurk behind those he might encounter. The potential risks far outweighed any possible gains. With this in mind, he pressed onward, endeavoring to avoid entanglement in further trouble.
Midway through his journey, Li Tongya passed by the ruins of thekeside market on the ind, located at the heart of theke. The once bustling market nowy deste, its remnants picked clean by scavengers.
Therge boats that once traversed the waters had long ceased operations, leaving behind only the remnants of a forbidden formation atop the ruins that were still glowing faintly.
As Li Qinghong observed in silence, the north shore gradually came into view. She found herself captivated by the spectacle of clearke water crashing against rugged cliffs, and she marveled at the sound of waterfalls cascading from stone caves into theke.
As she gazed upon thendscape, Li Qinghong remarked softly, "The terrain of the northern shore is notably elevated. It''s cold here! There are broken cliffs, stone walls, snowy peaks, and frigid pools everywhere. It''s a stark contrast to the endless reeds near our home... Each shore has its own unique charm. While the climate of the southern shore may be more pleasant, it''s the northern shore that holds the magnificence of mountains, rivers, and spirit veins, ideal for cultivation."
Li Tongya nodded in agreement as he continued flying northward. As the terrain grew steeper, a towering peak eventually emerged. It was shrouded in thick clouds and mist, covered with pines and cypresses. A translucent formation enveloped the summit, making it seem like an otherworldly paradise.
Amidst the mountain structures, faint silhouettes could be faintly discerned from a distance; some in meditative postures while others sparred with spears and swords.
On the snow that nketed the mountaintop, a quaint, elegant pavilion stood in the middle.
Li Tongya gracefully ascended and approached the formation. With a gentle touch and a surge of mana, he announced his presence.
"Rogue Cultivator Wan has arrived... please reveal yourself, Senior."
Several figures immediately appeared in the air, probing Li Tongya with their spiritual senses.
Since Li Tongya''s gray robe was made of spirit cloth, he was impervious to their prying scrutiny. After a brief moment, a streak of light approached and descended before Li Tongya.
It turned out to be a middle-aged man who was d in a white brocade robe, his demeanor elegant and refined.
It was none other than Fei Wangbai.
"This is hardly the right ce for discussion. Please...e inside, Brother Wan," Fei Wangbai invited, addressing Li Tongya as Brother Wan with familiarity.
Li Tongya nodded before bringing Li Qinghong to the small pavilion atop the mountain with him. They entered the building with Fei Wangbai, then settled into their seats and were served tea.
"Condolences, Brother Tongya..." Fei Wangbai sighed.
Li Tongya was slightly taken aback but quickly understood what Fei Wangbai was referring to. Yet, he opted not to dwell further on the matter and gestured toward Li Qinghong instead.
"This girl is the one I''ve told you about before, Senior."
Fei Wangbai observed Li Qinghong for a few moments, noting her keen demeanor.
He then requested her to show him her palms. Observing the worn calluses that covered them, he nodded in approval and assured, "Don''t worry, Brother Tongya! I''ll personally train her."
The matter had been discussed and agreed upon beforehand. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Fei Wangbai was inclined to ept Li Qinghong as his disciple, as long as the girl was not a cker.
With just a nod from Li Tongya, Li Qinghong kneeled respectfully right away and addressed Fei Wangbai as "Master".
Fei Wangbai nodded and acknowledged her greetings.
I''m satisfied as long as she''s a sensible student... I don''t expect her to excel or master any great skills. At least she''s easy on the eyes, he thought to himself as he observed Li Qinghong.
Fei Wangbai ced importance on appearances. The disciples within the Fei Family were all prim and proper, so Fei Wangbai was relieved about Li Qinghong''s refined demeanor.
With a gentle tone, he instructed, "You may leave us now. I wish to have a private conversation with your grandfather."
"Understood."
Li Qinghong stepped down obediently with a respectful bow of her head after noticing Li Tongya''s nod of approval, then swiftly exited the inner hall.
Admiring the serene sight of white snow drifting under the dark night sky, a soft smile yed on her lips as she moved forward, gracefully opening the courtyard door.
"WHOAA!"
As Li Qinghong opened the courtyard door, a person fell forward with a shocked yelp. Fortunately, Li Qinghong had swift reflexes, given she was now an immortal cultivator who had attained the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
She deftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a collision with the mystery boy. Avishly dressed boy mmed right onto the ground and was now grimacing in pain from the fall.
"Who are you?" Li Qinghong asked in amusement as she extended a hand to help the boy up.
In the prime of her youthful vigor, Li Qinghong''s voice exuded a lively energy, a stark contrast to her gentle countenance. The boy blushed shyly as he struggled to stutter out his name.
"F-Fei... Tongxiao."
Li Tongya smiled as he watched Fei Wangbai set down his teacup and shake his head in embarrassment.
"That child..." he muttered under his breath.
"That''s normal behavior for a teenage boy... don''t worry about it."
Li Tongya easily downyed the situation to diffuse the awkwardness.
Fei Wangbai nodded in agreement, his expression turning serious as he resumed their conversation, "So, Brother Tongya, are you confident in securing the support of more than two Foundational Establishment Realm cultivators after establishing your Dao foundation?"
"Yes," Li Tongya nodded gently, exuding an air of confidence as he replied, "My younger brother has arranged for someone to deliver an Essence Gathering Pill to me. With its help, it''s worth a try."
Fei Wangbai let out a soft sigh upon hearing this andmented, "Weck the immortal secrets passed down through generations, unlike disciples of renowned sects. The journey to Foundation Establishing Realm has always been a precarious one... a gamble with one''s life."
"My grandfather perished at that stage, and so did my father. Among the three generations of the Fei family, ten had attempted Foundation Establishment Realm, but I was the only one who seeded," he continued with a sigh.
The gravity of their discussion weighed heavily upon the atmosphere, prompting Fei Wangbai to shake himself out of it and clench his teeth in determination.
"Very well! I''ll ce my trust in you, Brother Li Tongya!" he dered resolutely, lifting his teacup in a toast.
"I''m willing to buy you time for three years and make sure that the Yu Family''s hands are tied and unable to target your family during this period... And in five years, they will be too exhausted to pose any threat, including Yu Mugao," Fei Wangbai carried on, his voice brimming with conviction.
Seeing Li Tongya''s nod, Fei Wangbai continued, "But it is imperative that you seed, Brother Tongya... These eight years will be bought with many sacrifices and covert maneuvers on my part. Should you fail to build your Dao foundation and perish..."
Fei Wangbai let out a soft sigh and finished glumly, "Then theke will really be taken over by the Yu Family, with every other family destroyed over the next hundred years... all for the sake of Yu Mugao''s deadly ambition!"
Li Tongya nodded, fully grasping the gravity of their situation. If he failed to build his Dao foundation, the Li Family''s threat to the Yu Family would diminish significantly. This also meant that the Li Family would be vulnerable, and the repercussions could be dire. They could potentially be erased, especially when Li Chejing''s death would finally be exposed.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya soared over theke until the brilliant morning sun cast its glow upon the vast reeds of the southern shore. Finally arriving at his destination, he paused, gazing at the scene before him. Emotions surged within him.
"A gamble with one''s life..." he murmured, his gaze fixed on the small ind nestled amidst the reeds.
He descended on the shore, watching the craggy rocks basking in the golden hues of dawn in a daze.
He remembered leading Xiangping through these very reeds, stripping his clothes on this muddy shore, and preparing to swim to the ind while Xiangping crouched among the reeds, clutching the mirror close to his chest.
He was a robust youth in those days, standing tall in the fading light of twilight, shouting instructions at his younger brother.
"Master! Where are you headed?"
A voice interrupted his daydream.
Li Tongya raised his head slowly, his gaze meeting that of an old man rowing a small boat on the calmke. Wrapped in a straw raincoat, with a weathered face and a long bamboo pole in hand, the man smiled warmly at him.
"Are you headed to Lichuankou, Master?" he asked Li Tongya, his eyes bright and twinkling.
Chapter 220: The Old Man
Chapter 220: The Old Man
"Indeed..." Li Tongya answered in a low voice, to which the old man immediately showed delight, his face beaming. He lightly tapped his bamboo pole, moving closer to the small ind.
Draped in a damp straw raincoat that was soaked with the morning dew, the old man''s face was honest and kind, his white beard hanging downward. His eyes, sharp and vigorous beneath his broad hat, sparkled as Li Tongya boarded the small boat.
The old manughed heartily, skillfully handling the smooth oar to head toward the riverbank.
"I have been rowing boats here for over ten years... Rest assured, once we leave theke and follow the Big Fish Creek southward, Lichuankou Vige will soon be in sight!"
Li Tongya scanned him with his spiritual sense and realized that the man in front of him was merely a mortal. While he was standing at the stern enjoying theke view, the old man was exerting more effort. He raised his hands high and pushed hard, making the small boat travel both steady and fast.
After ncing at Li Tongya''s expression, he said with a beaming smile, "Master, you have a noble face and a majestic demeanor... clearly the evidence of a great and kind person!"
"A kind person?" Li Tongya paused and repeated the old man''s words, almostughing out loud. Suddenly intrigued, he touched the sword at his waist and said softly, "It seems you are mistaken, old boatman... My family and I are naturally bad seeds. We aren''t good people."
Despite frequently cultivating in seclusion, he had killed many since he began his journey as an immortal cultivator, and the number of those indirectly harmed by him was countless. By that alone, he was far from a good person.
The old man was taken aback, not expecting such a response from Li Tongya. Heughed hoarsely and, while still rowing, chuckled a response.
"You must be jesting!"
"Hmm."
Li Tongya simply hummed and withdrew his gaze. He could not help feeling as though something was vaguely familiar about the man''s face.
"I find your face familiar... have we met before?"
The old man put down his oar and sized up Li Tongya before turning his attention back to his rowing,ughing in amusement once more.
"Perhaps I have seen you once... I too was born into a prominent n, never short of food or clothes. In my youth, I roamed the Guli Road and met many people."
"A prominent n..?" Li Tongya asked as he narrowed his eyes slightly. Though his expression remained unchanged, he suddenly felt an indescribable sensation within him. His typicallymanding and steady aura receded, causing a shiver in those who saw it.
Fortunately, the old man, wearing his hat andpletely focused on his rowing, did not notice but instead let out augh once more.
"My surname was originally Lu, from the Lu Family in the west. After the old ancestor of the Lu Family passed away, and our connection with the immortal sect severed... our family was divided between the An and Li families. I had no choice but to change my surname to Liu and fend for myself."
"I see." Li Tongya responded, then said in a low voice, "Judging by your appearance, your days seem quite bearable."
The old man shook his head and sighed. Yet, he continued his steady rowing and chuckled.
"Master, there are three hardships in this world: rowing boats, forging iron, and grinding tofu... They are indeed tiring work!" he remarked with a grin.
After they crossed the turbulent river center, the boat eventually stabilized with the river''s flow. The Li Family was known for its strict governance and exacting demands on its n members, avoiding monopolistic practices; and with the support of Mount Yue, themon folk led rtivelyfortable lives.
The old man propped his oar and opened a small stove in the middle of the boat, surprisingly producing a cup of warm rice wine.
He lifted his head to take a sip and exhaled in satisfaction before continuing, "Every profession in this world has its hardships... everyone has their own sorrows, and understanding this makes it easier."
He squinted nostalgically, remarking somewhat wistfully, "When I was young, I had great ambitions. I traveled as a wanderer, returned in middle age to enjoy life with a yellow dog and a beautiful concubine, ying the role of a father... But in my old age, my n was destroyed overnight, and I found myself kneeling on the ground like a beggar. The wonder of life is exactly like this! Those immortals may seem carefree, but they too have their sufferings. s... Have you any idea where the sons of the immortal ns have gely?"
Li Tongya was silent for a while, observing the old man''s demeanor before speaking softly, "The Li Family is no saint either... Have you ever harbored hatred toward them?"
"Hatred?" The old man repeated as he paused and set down the oar once more. He lifted the stove to reveal the charcoal beneath and showed the rice wine to Li Tongya.
"I''m just a humble boatman. In spring, I can use charcoal to brew wine... Though I can''t drink freely, I still manage to enjoy a good drink every three days."
The old man picked up the oar again after he said this, stirring up a trail of water and pointing toward the western mountains.
"Tyrannical rulers, mass murderers... exploiting the entire Mount Yue for their ownvish lifestyles!" he eximed with a wave of his hand.
His wrinkled, thin finger then pointed toward the region of Lixia Prefecture, continuing, "Whole ns are wiped out and the entire prefecture is destroyed while the immortal ns remain silent... merely observing!"
Finally, he pointed toward the Yu Family''s Milin Prefecture, his tone fierce this time.
"Commoners are disced, resorting to trading their children for food. While the ns drink and throw pot games, singing joyously, themoners weep. Butchers hang dog heads, but beneath them, they sell human flesh. The price of human flesh has fallen even more this year, from three coins per jinst year to just two coins now..."
Tears streamed down the old man''s cheeks as he spoke softly, "Seeing such suffering among the people, yet I can still drink and burn charcoal... The dissolution of my old n was merely the removal of a scourge; what is there to hate?"
Li Tongya was deeply moved and sat down beside the old man. The two let the small boat drift on its own as the old man drank again, tears streaming down his cheeks.
He spoke in a deep voice, "Master said that the Li Family is no good either, but if we are to judge good from evil, I, who don''t have many years left, might as well speak some words worth beheading for."
He picked up the oar, his beard bristling. Dewdrops rolled down his beard as he clenched his teeth and dered, "Demons, immortals, sects, ns, the powerful, and even themon people¡ªeveryone, if judged by their morality, deserves to be killed!"
Such wordsing from a mortal sent a slight chill through Li Tongya. The usual sounds of birds, beasts, and insects along the river ceased.
The old man then sighed softly and added, "Having seen so much and so many people, I no longer consider the deceitful and vile as evil, nor do I consider the upright as good. In thiswless world, the vile thrive and the upright perish. To truly judge good from evil, one should look at only one thing."
"And what is that?" Li Tongya asked softly.
After taking another sip of his wine, the old man answered, "If the people under one''s rule are joyful and well-fed, that is good; if they are disced, resorting to cannibalism, that is evil. The Li Family strictly disciplines its members and manages its household rigorously, excelling in nning. Themoners live almost divine lives, all looking forward to their leadership. Did you not see that when that young lord passed away, every household in the town was mourning? If any hypocrite barks about misconduct, the people would spit at him and point at his backbone."
As the gravity of his words fell, Li Tongya pondered deeply. The two sat facing each other in silence.
After a dozen breaths, the old man picked up the oar again and wiped his tears, smiling softly. "It seems I''ve lost myposure," he said with a wistful voice.
"Not at all, your words were enlightening."
Li Tongya cupped his fist solemnly, feeling an unexpected sense of peace within his heart. He spoke softly, "Before my father passed away, he insisted on establishing a n Affairs Courtyard. The old man thought far ahead; our family has benefited immensely for generations."
The old man, confused, turned around to look but saw only an empty stern and calm waters flowing. There was no sign of his guest, leaving a void in his heart.
When he turned back, he noticed a small piece of bright silver reflecting light on the small table.
The wind on the river was brisk, and the silver shimmered dazzlingly. The old man drank the rest of his wine and sat down slowly, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Chapter 221: Duck Soup
Chapter 221: Duck Soup
Li Tongya returned to Mount Lijing where Li Xuanfeng, carrying his long bow and holding a jade slip with a furrowed brow, hurriedly tucked away the jade slip upon seeing Li Tongya. He greeted him respectfully, "Second Uncle, you''re back... How is Qinghong?"
"She has settled into the Fei Family," Li Tongya replied as he sized him up for a moment and smiled.
"Fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... and you''re just over thirty! That''s remarkable progress, but you still need more training," he said.
"Indeed." Li Xuanfeng nodded.
He listened quietly as Li Tongya continued, "When Yu Mujian was your age, he had just begun cultivating qi. You have received the enhancement of a talisman seed and are endowed with talisman qi, which has brought you to this level of cultivation... Although you cannotpare with the monstrous An Jingming, you are certainly among the best on theke.
"An Jingming was truly exceptional, feared by friends and foes alike... Not to mention the Yu Family, even the Ding Family feared him and hoped for his death. With him overshadowing you, everyone''s attention was diverted from you. Now that An Jingming is dead, you must tread carefully," Li Tongya advised.
Li Xuanfeng nodded in response. "I understand."
After a wry smile, he told Li Tongya, "Do you still remember the Spirit Eye Perception technique? It was a rare pupil technique Senior Xiao brought us. I''ve been studying it for years but with little progress. The book mentions that cleansing one''s eyes with Pure Essence Spirit Water would benefit greatly. I''ve never heard of such spirit water, so I''m still keeping an eye out for it."
Li Tongya hummed in acknowledgment, Li Xuanfeng hesitated briefly before looking up at the older man.
"Second Uncle... are you preparing to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?" he asked.
"Indeed."
Li Tongya nodded, causing Li Xuanfeng''s expression to change to one of concern right away. Seeing this, Li Tongya instructed, "I will enter seclusion today to break through... Keep an eye on the younger ones, don''t let them wander out needlessly. The Fei Family is stirring trouble for the Yu Family, and Yu Mugao won''t be free for a while. Just remember to keep a low profile."
After a brief pause, Li Tongya continued, "I may take two to three years¡ªor even as long as five years. If I seed, I''ll emerge from seclusion. However... if you don''t see me in ten years, then it means I''ve perished. In that case, you can break in to retrieve my remains."
Li Xuanfeng could not bear such talk and hung his head low. Li Tongya gave his instructions and was about to head directly to his cave dwelling, but on impulse, he stopped at the graveyard on the mountain.
Amidst the various-sized tombstones, the oldest ones bore light green moss, while the newest shone brightly. Li Tongya walked among them, stopping before the cenotaph of Li Xiangping.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly pped his brocade pouch to retrieve a brown eyeball. He carefully ced it in front of Li Xiangping''s grave and then opened his mouth to speak, but couldn''t find any words.
His gaze swept over the tombstones before he walked past each one, eventually arriving at a small open space positioned somewhat lower than Li Mutian''s, between Li Changhu and Li Xiangping¡ªa spot that stood out starkly amidst the rows of graves.
Li Tongya lowered his gaze to the spot and quickly estimated his own height to ensure that the space was more than sufficient to amodate him. Then, with a loudugh, he rode the wind toward his cave dwelling on Mount Meiche.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Within the territory of the An Family at Moongaze Lake, the southern shorecked significant mountains. Mount Huazhong had gentle slopes covered in lush forests.
The blood from the Yu Family''s massacre on the mountain had long been washed away by heavy rain and then meticulously cleaned under the directive of An Zheyu. However, dark red stains could still be seen in the crevices of the rocks.
Mount Huazhong was originally owned by the Ji Family but had been conquered by the Wan Family, then passed to the Lu Family before eventually falling into the hands of the An Family.
Over just a few decades, it had witnessed four massacres with countless beheaded, which ironically had helped the trees on Mount Huazhong flourish.
Several li south of Mount Huazhong stood a small orchard that was enclosed by a palisade of palm wood. A few fruits hung from the branches, suggesting that it probably belonged to a farmer. On the adjacent hillside, a few small houses had been constructed.
An Zheyany bewildered and fearful in bed, worried about being discovered by the Yu Family. He had hidden in the forest for several days, too afraid to fly. Determined to evade detection, he changed his appearance and walked to this ce instead.
The family was hospitable. Having lost a son years ago in an ident where a tree branch pierced his neck in their own yard, they now had an extra guest room, which they had kindly offered to An Zheyan.
"The Li Family..."
An Zheyan was unaware of the current state of Mount Huazhong but learned from the family that An Zheyu had be the new head of the An Family.
Feeling a void in his heart, he thought to himself, That bastard... he has probably be apdog for the Yu Family...
An Zheyan did not know the fate of An Jingming''s body, but he had a bad gut feeling about it. Wiping away tears, he sighed softly. "Although it''s aggravating... it''s time to leave. I have to go to the Li Family."
With that thought, An Zheyan''s expression turned fierce as he muttered, "I can''t let this couple live."
He performed a series of hand seals and conjured a me before slowly rising to his feet. Since this was a wooden house, it would burn away quickly. All it would take was just one spark of fire to erase his trailpletely.
Knock, knock!
A knock came from the door, causing An Zheyan to raise an eyebrow in surprise and confusion. He stepped forward and opened the door, only to see the wife of the household standing timidly with a bowl of duck soup in her hands.
"It''s rare for us to have a visitor in these remote hills... You''re probably not used to the wild vegetables, so my husband killed a duck and stewed it for a few hours. He hopes that you''ll find it tasty," the woman said meekly.
An Zheyan was profoundly moved by her words. ustomed to delicacies, he had only nibbled at the meals over the past few days, which the couple had noticed and worried that he wasn''t eating well.
"T-Thank you so much..." An Zheyan stuttered as he epted the soup in a daze, feeling as though he had been pped right in the face as he lowered his head and tasted it hesitantly.
The couple probably only cooked duck soup on rare asions, for it was nd with a slightly earthy taste. The taste lingered briefly on his tongue before settling in his stomach.
In the past, anyone who dared to serve such a soup to An Zheyan would have lost their hands. But now, An Zheyan had to force himself to swallow it while cursing internally.
It truly tastes awful!
Even so, tears welled up in his eyes, and he couldn''t control himself from crying out in delight.
"Delicious! Truly delicious!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, An Zheyan began to sob uncontrobly, his heavy body of a hundred and eighty jin rolling on the ground.
The woman, clearly startled, stepped back in rm, spilling some of the soup on her arm in her haste. She looked at An Zheyan on the ground, then carefully sipped the soup dripping from her hand.
"I''ve truly made a grave mistake..."
As ridiculous memories flooded his mind, An Zheyan sat on the ground crying for a while before spitting out a mouthful of stale blood, feeling much better after he had done so.
Ignoring the screaming woman, he threw down two pieces of gold and rode the wind northward.
The woman, left confused in the courtyard, watched on as her husband entered the room in a hurry. Both of them stared at the gold pieces in shocked silence.
After a moment, the man quickly grabbed a hoe and eximed, "What are you waiting for? Bury it first!"
Chapter 222: Arrival from Mount Yue
Chapter 222: Arrival from Mount Yue
In the third lunar month of spring, the Yu Family concealed a spell within a pearl, which was ced inside the ebony mine and unearthed by a servant, who then presented it to Young Master Xiu. At that moment, thunder mes erupted. The house copsed and Xiu perished.
Li Yuanyun had grown up quite a bit. With his ck hair now tied back neatly, he looked like a proper teenager.
He lifted his head and looked at the half-burned wooden slip. Tears welled up in his eyes as he continued writing.
The townsfolk mourned loudly and everyone was draped in mourning clothes. The vicious and sinister nature of the Yu Family''s young master is now widely known.
Li Jingtian was pregnant and leaning tiredly against the desk, her eyes half-closed. Chen Donghe had already returned to the mountain to take care of his wife. Under the setting sun, he took two oranges and peeled them. The pale golden sunlight cast patches of gold on his white robe.
"Auntie, take a look at this."
Li Yuanyun handed the finished work to Li Jingtian, who looked it over and said softly, "Well done."
Li Yuanyun took it back and checked it twice more before setting down the brush. He picked up the half-burned wooden slip again. The characters on it were charred, with only a few strokes remaining intact.
He carefully turned it over, revealing a fewplete characters on the side¡ªit was a signature.
"...gift to Brother Yun."
Li Yuanyun was still examining the wooden slip in his hands when Li Jingtian epted an orange from Chen Donghe and said in a low voice, "Yun''er, given the current situation, our familycks a head to manage affairs. You shoulde down from the mountain to handle some matters..."
Li Jingtian¡¯s words were straightforward, and Li Yuanyun knew that Li Jingtian was asking if he intended to take on the role of the family head.
He shook his head and answered, "I have no such desires. Firstly, I do not enjoy managing affairs, and secondly, there is Brother Jiao. He possesses a spiritual orifice and is a more suitable candidate than I am."
"Mortals are indeed too frailpared to immortal cultivators. If we let a mortal manage those of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm, it might diminish our family''s dignity," Li Yuanyun remarked, sharing his concerns.
Li Jingtian nodded slightly as she listened.
"You have a point," she responded softly.
She looked at Li Yuanyun who was engrossed in reading with his head down, then continued, "But you are also of age. You won''t be able to find a woman you love if you spend all your years up here on the mountain..."
She then turned to look at Chen Donghe, who was quietly peeling oranges. "Are there any suitable candidates with spiritual orifices among the young at the foot of the mountain?" she asked.
Chen Donghe looked up and thought for a moment, then answered warmly, "There are none... The younger ones have not yet matured."
Li Jingtian pondered for a few moments, then resigned herself to the situation, leaning against the desk tiredly and closing her eyes once more.
Li Yuanyun and Chen Donghe fell silent, and for a while, the courtyard was bathed in golden sunset, apanied only by her steady breathing.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Family Head."
Li Xiewen, with a white cloth still tied around his forehead, cupped his fist to Li Xuanxuan who was nearby, and spoke softly, "People from Mount Yue have arrived."
"Oh?" Li Xuanxuan replied as he raised his eyebrows at the news. Although he still looked to be in his thirties, he appeared considerably worn and much older than usual.
After pondering for a moment, he asked, "How are the few descendants of Shamoli who stayed with the Li Family doing?"
Li Xuanxuan and Li Xiewen had been partners for a long time. Even though Li Xuanxuan had not been managing household affairs for a while, Li Xiewen was well-prepared beforeing up the mountain.
"All the children are only three to five years old, and nothing much can be discerned yet. They are all studying with the other kids in the n together in the school," he replied readily.
"I see... let theme up," Li Xuanxuanmanded.
Li Xiewen promptly left to carry out the order, and Li Xuanxuan returned to his seat. He prepared his ink and started drawing a talisman.
Now that he was handling affairs on the mountain, Li Xuanxuan had to make a considerable journey up and down the mountain and pass through the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation each time, which he found to be quite troublesome.
He finished the talisman in front of him and waited for the time it took an incense stick to burn before Li Xiewen returned with the visitor to the small courtyard.
Li Xuanxuan was still working on a second talisman. As the bright red tip of his brush glided across the pale yellow talisman paper, the envoy dared not make a sound. He remained kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear until Li Xuanxuan finally lifted his brush and sighed, content with his work.
Currently, Li Xuanxuan''s sess rate with drawing talismans was two or three out of ten. Achieving two consecutive sesses was indeed rare for him, and he mused, Since I broke through the Qi Cultivation Realm and mastered the Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique, this method has be increasinglypatible with talisman arts. I can draw talismans better now!
It was only then did he look up at the envoy, who was dressed in white with a hemp garment over it.
Li Xuanxuan spoke in a low voice. "State your business."
"The King of Mount Yue heard of Young Master Xiu''s demise and was extremely saddened. He sent me with offerings, presenting three hundred and sixty ves to serve as funeral attendants for the young master..."
As Mount Yue had be a vassal, the envoy no longer dared to refer to Shamoli as our great king, but instead referred to him as the King of Mount Yue. He also presented himself as a servant, adopting a very humble posture.
Li Xuanxuan frowned upon hearing this and said sternly, "Our family does not practice the custom of sacrificial burial. Send the ves back."
"Yes."
The envoy remained kneeling on the ground as he bowed deeply and repeatedly, knowing that Li Xuanxuan was in a foul mood.
Li Xuanxuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Anything else?"
Sweating profusely, his white clothing clinging to his rough bronze skin, the envoy replied, "The King of Mount Yue has recently organized the state''s affairs, and with domestic stability restored, he finds himself lonely without children around. As he has four sons and a daughter still in the east, he thought... he thought of... bringing a child back..."
The envoy was trembling while Li Xuanxuan remained silent, staring at him. He pondered to himself, Shamoli must not have discovered the w in that technique yet... he''s probably just thinking of bringing back a few hostages to raise.
He lifted his head and replied, "Then you may take the princess back."
The envoy hesitated slightly. Shamoli did not care about his daughter and only wanted to bring back male heirs, but he dared not say more. He stood up and pretended to be relieved, saying, "Thank you, Great King!"
"Hmm." Li Xuanxuan nodded, and the man quickly left. Li Xiewen then stepped forward and handed over a report.
"The tributes from Mount Yue are recorded here. Most of them are spirit items of Embryonic Breathing Realm."
Li Xuanxuan epted the document and did some mental calctions before chuckling coldly.
"It looks like a long list but everything totals up to only less than three Spirit Stones in value. From what we know, Shamoli isn''t having an easy time either," he remarked with a snort.
Li Xiewen nodded in agreement, and Li Xuanxuan took out another piece of talisman paper. He continued sketching with his vermilion brush, musing, Shamoli won''t notice the side effects of that technique anytime soon. Once he''s been married for over a decade, he''ll definitely see that something is amiss, and then he''ll be desperate to find his sons.
Images of Shamoli angrily wielding a hammer shed before Li Xuanxuan''s eyes, causing him to worry.
If Second Uncle fails to break through, the rest of us will have to work together to kill this man... The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique is a profound technique, and although Shamoli has consumed unrefined qi, he is not to be underestimated. After all, Mount Yue has a poption of hundreds of thousands! Things can easily get out of hand.
Chapter 223: An Zheyan Seeks Refuge
Chapter 223: An Zheyan Seeks Refuge
An Zheyan flew for a while, thennded and walked through the forest. He quickly cast an invisibility spell, and soon reached the Li Family''s territory. After walking over ten li, he saw a stretch of houses, and a few dozen more li brought him within sight of Lijing Town.
Along the way, he observed the peaceful and secure life of the locals, who felt safe enough to leave their doors open at night. This observation rendered An Zheyan speechless.
Drawing closer to observe, he saw peopleughing and chatting on the streets. An Zheyan walked around the streets twice and bought a bowl of wontons to eat.
In his life, An Zheyan had always enjoyed good food. Having a bowl of steaming hot wontons settle in his stomach eased his anxiety and sorrow considerably.
He took out a gourd of spirit wine from his storage pouch and drank half of it to bolster his courage. Then, with flushed cheeks, he stepped out of the crowd and approached a patrolling Li Family n soldier.
"Go and inform your family head that the An Family..."
An Zheyan was about to say "An Zheyan from the An Family," but a wave of destion washed over him, and he quickly changed his words.
"...A rogue cultivator, An Zheyan, hase to visit."
The n soldier was slightly taken aback but his cupped fist and responded, "Please wait a moment, Senior."
He then hurried off, leaving An Zheyan standing by the wonton stall for a while. Two n soldiers invited him to sit in the guest courtyard and An Zheyan nodded in agreement.
Well, I am a cultivator at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... Even if Li Tongya is formidable, I can still die if I truly wish it. There''s no need to stay and suffer, for there''s nothing left in this world for me to cling to.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Since Li Tongya had entered seclusion, Li Xuanfeng had seldom secluded himself in his absence. He mostly kept an eye on family affairs, fearing that prolonged seclusion might lead to issues at home.
He was in the courtyard studying the Spirit Eye Perception when Li Xuanxuan hurried up with startling news.
"Brother Feng, something has happened in the Milin Prefecture!"
"What?"
Li Xuanfeng quickly put away the jade slip he was reading and looked up, somewhat startled. He then asked in a low voice, "The Yu Family''s Milin Prefecture?"
"Exactly!" Li Xuanxuan nodded, looking somewhat pleased, and continued, "ording to our people''s intel, a geological upheaval struck the Milin Prefecture, leaving the entire prefecture in chaos. The market''s grand formation, which is connected to the earth vein, was also shaken, affecting the entire spirit vein and decreasing the concentration of spiritual qi."
Li Xuanfeng listened with growing confusion, shaking his head and saying, "How is that possible?! The Yu Family''s construction of the grand formation would surely have connected to the local earth vein to suppress the region. This formation, which locks space and restricts thend, can even hold off cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm. How could there be a problem with the earth veins beneath it that could cause such upheaval and leave everything in such disarray?"
Li Xuanxuan pped his hand down and sat down abruptly. He then took the tea handed to him by a servant and eximed, "Indeed, it is ridiculous... Had I not sent people to investigate several times and see for themselves that Milin Prefecture indeed had copsed walls and rivers of blood, I would never have believed such a thing."
Li Xuanfeng thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered what Li Tongya had said about the Fei Family being able to hold off the Yu Family for eight years.
"Fei Wangbai said he could hold off the Yu Family for eight years... it''s likely their doing then! It''s quite the bold move. Yu Mugao and Yu Xiaogui must be fuming with rage by now but are forced to swallow this bitter fruit...The Fei Family''s tactics are probably just beginning," Li Xuanfeng said as a small grin crossed his face.
Li Xuanxuan chuckled, somewhat taking pleasure in the Yu Family''s misfortune. He thenmented, "Who would have thought that someone as gant as Fei Wangbai would employ such unfathomable tactics? I''d reckon Fei Wangbai had secretly tampered with the earth veins of Milin Prefecture decades ago before the prefecture market was built. Since the disaster happened within the market''s grand formation, there''s no way it could be stopped."
"Indeed, Big Brother makes a good point."
Li Xuanfeng nodded and swept the area with his spiritual sense, then furrowed his brows suddenly.
"Brother Xuan, I have noticed that your cultivation has not progressed in the past six months, and you''re still at the early stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Why is that?" he asked, looking at his brother inquisitively.
Li Xuanxuan smiled awkwardly and exined, "I''ve been making rapid progress in talisman arts over the past six months though. I''m focusing all my energy on crafting talismans to help support the family''s finances. On top of that, managing family affairs naturally slows down my cultivation pace..."
Li Xuanfeng shook his head. Now at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, he could not help but remind his elder brother, "Techniques are for self-defense, but the Dao is what truly matters. You must be cautious, Big Brother."
Li Xuanxuan, however, dismissed his concern with a wave of his hand, evidently having considered this deeply. He set down his tea bowl before replying.
"I have indeed thought about it... With you and Second Uncle excelling inbat techniques, and myck of aptitude in that area, I can only focus on the study of talismans. This will not only increase our family''s ie but also provide some protection for the younger generation."
He sighed softly and continued, "I am approaching forty years old, and there''s no way I can break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm before sixty. Even if our family obtained a second Essence Gathering Pill, it would only increase my chances by only five percent. Since I''m not destined for the Foundation Establishment Realm, I might as well delve deeper into talisman arts to enrich our family''s legacy."
Li Xuanfeng was taken aback and found himself at a loss for words, only managing to sigh.
"If you''ve already made up your mind, then there is little more I can say..." he said softly.
Li Xuanxuanughed it off lightly in an effort tofort him.
"The family ultimately relies on you and Second Uncle... You are only thirty and already at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. You will surely make it before sixty!"
As they were talking andughing, Li Xiewen hurried into the courtyard and cupped his fist, interrupting their lively conversation.
"Reporting to the family head! An Zheyan hase to visit!"
"An Zheyan?! He didn''t die on Mount Huazhong..?"
The mention of this name made Li Xuanxuan slightly surprised. He exchanged a look with Li Xuanfeng, and both men smiled.
"Damn, it''s a double blessing!" Li Xuanfeng remarked cheerfully.
"Bring him up," Li Xuanxuan instructed. With the grand formation''s protection on this mountain and Li Xuanfeng''s Golden Age Longbow, which was not just for show, they were not afraid of any tricks from a stray dog like An Zheyan.
"For this man toe to our family after losing his home... He must be seeking to ally with us to seek revenge against the Yu Family," Li Xuanxuan spected in a low voice after Li Xiewen had left.
They waited for a while, but An Zheyan still had not arrived. Li Xuanxuan had already thought through many things. He solemnly remarked, "The news of An Jingming''s breakthrough was leaked by An Zheyan himself. This man is indiscreet and unreliable. Now that hees to us, we don''t know if he harbors ulterior motives. Let''s draw out whatever techniques and methods the An Family possesses from him first. He can serve as a tool for us, and we''ll observe him closely for a while."
As Li Xuanfeng was about to respond, a man slowly stepped into the courtyard. He was slightly overweight, wearing a leather hat atop his head, his expression marked by unease.
Bowing respectfully, he greeted them, "An Zheyan greets the two... seniors."
An Zheyan was at his wits'' end, reduced to greeting the two men who were as young as his own son, all while being at the mercy of the Li Family.
Li Xuanxuan did not want to leave him standing awkwardly and quickly stepped forward, his face full of feigned terror as he said, "What is going on, Senior?! You''re making Xuanxuan nervous!"
An Zheyan''s expression brightened significantly, even showing a trace of gratitude. His eyes reddened with emotion as he fought to find his words.
"I regret not following my son''s advice to ally with your family against the Yu Family... Now, I find myself in this pitiful state! Truly, I have only myself to me!" he cried out bitterly.
An Jingming had originally advised An Zheyan to cede Mount Huazhong and arrange a marriage with a daughter from the Li Family''s main family, suggesting they support each other to resist the Yu Family.
However, An Zheyan¡ªbeing greedy and miserly¡ªwas unwilling to cede Mount Huazhong. This forced An Jingming to find an alternative, ultimately leading to their current plight.
"Senior, you''re too harsh on yourself!" Li Xuanxuan said with great respect, lowering his voice to ask, "But what of the An Family now?"
This question twisted painfully in An Zheyan''s heart, and he replied tearfully, "It has been overtaken by my illegitimate brother and has be a vassal to the Yu Family... My poor son, he likely doesn''t even have a ce to be buried!"
Li Xuanxuan quickly consoled him.
"Senior, you are now a rogue cultivator, and like our Li Family, you bear deep grudges against the Yu Family. You must havee to our Li Family to join forces with us... Why not stay with us for a while?"
Li Xuanxuan''s words were well chosen, and An Zheyan was deeply moved by them. Though grateful, he understood that once he agreed to such terms, he would likely have to take a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, thereby relinquishing the An Family''s secret techniques and many legacies. With nothing left to lose, he found himself with no choice.
Recalling the words An Jingming had instructed before his death, An Zheyan''s eyes reddened, and he thought to himself, Jingming told me to seek refuge with the Li Family before he died. He must have had his reason for saying this... I just need to obey! Now I can do nothing else but follow his wishes.
Chapter 224: Aged Courtly Path Sutra
Chapter 224: Aged Courtly Path Sutra
An Zheyan cupped his fist and lifted the hem of his robe before falling onto his knees, his expression one of sorrow. His voice was full of resentment when he spoke.
"My three sons and a daughter, along with numerous wives, concubines, and brothers, have all been ughtered by the Yu Family... The An Family has fallen into the hands of traitors and has been enved. The hatred in my heart is as deep as the waters of the boundless sea, impossible to contain. Despite past grievances, your family has agreed to shelter me, An Zheyan, a dog who has lost his home... I am deeply grateful and willing to offer the legacy of the An Family to serve as your ws and teeth, toiling for you for the rest of my life."
An Zheyan paused as he finally made up his mind.
"If I live to see the day when I can return to Mount Huazhong, I am willing to offer the entire territory of the An Family as repayment!"
As he finished speaking, he performed a hand seal. Almost immediately, a point of light appeared on his forehead, indicating that he had just taken a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath.
Li Xuanxuan was overjoyed, yet his face had feigned sorrow as he helped him up, saying solemnly, "Why must you resort to this, Senior..? The Yu Family is ourmon enemy, it is only right that we help each other!"
An Zheyan got up and sat down, hesitating for a moment before shaking his head and whispering, "My ancestors were also once glorious... Our forefather was an outer disciple of the immortal mansion. At that time, the Wu, Yue, and Xu States were all under the Moonlight Origin Mansion''s protection. The immortal mansion established a rule to separate the immortals from mortals, constraining all immortal sects to secluded cultivation, unlike the current mingling of immortals and mortals. My ancestor cultivated alone in the mountains back then.
"Later, as the immortal mansion withdrew from the world, the three sects and seven gates emerged into society¡ªdividing the Yue State. The earliest ns dered themselves kings and marquises. My ancestor had already died of old age, and his descendants spread out here, eventually splitting the family and forming their own ns. If we were to discuss kinship, the Yu, Ji, and Lu families all share ancestry with the An Family... with only the WAn Familying from the east."
Li Xuanxuan listened intently, also surprised by this news. Thinking about the rivalry between these families, he nodded silently.
"That is truly... remarkable," he said quietly.
"Eight hundred years of kinship has turned us into strangers. When you think about it, which family in Yue State is not descended from prominent ns that migrated from the north to the south? Except for Mount Yue, probably all have amon origin."
An Zheyan let out a small sigh before continuing.
"Our family''s cultivation technique was originally an ancient technique recorded in the Aged Courtly Path Sutra. It could be practiced by immortal cultivators from the Embryonic Breathing Realm to the Purple Mansion Realm, as long as they had the Courtly Red Dust Qi for cultivation. Over generations, this qi became unattainable, leaving only a secondary method that could only reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. It''s called Guardian of the Courtly Path, a Grade Two technique using the Courtly Frost Armor Qi for cultivation."
Listening to the name of this technique, Li Xuanxuan immediately recognized it as an ancient technique. Ancient techniques often bore mystical-sounding names, and this one was no exception. He felt intrigued right away.
"Since it has been modified into a secret technique, it must not be perfect... What are the ws in this technique?" he asked.
An Zheyan nodded and exined patiently, "The beauty of this technique lies in its ability to enable cultivators to quickly condense the six Embryonic Breathing Chakras, thus achieving the Qi Cultivation Realm swiftly. However, progress slows significantly after reaching this realm, and one''s lifespan is slightly reduced as a consequence. Nheless, the synergy between mana and jade dharma artifacts is enhanced, meaning the power of dharma artifacts made by jade will be amplified.
"As for the Courty Frost Armor Qi required for this technique, we have a method of gathering it... By submerging copper and iron heavy armor into a specially crafted jade well to soak in rainwater, one can collect a wisp in three months, with ten wisps making a full portion. This is considered the easiest to gather among the spiritual qi of heaven and earth. However, the Courtly Frost Armor Qi serves no other purpose and is solely useful for this ancient technique, so it barely fetches a few Spirit Stones."
"That''s amazing! This essentially grants those with lesser talents nearly a hundred more years to cultivate! What a treasure!" Li Xuanxuan gasped upon hearing this. He was already brimming with ideas and was delighted.
"Exactly," An Zheyan nodded and paused briefly before responding, "There is another important thing¡ªthose who cultivate the Guardian of the Courtly Path will find their power greatly reduced if they encounter someone practicing the Aged Courtly Path Sutra. Even if their cultivation realm is much higher, they would likely not be able to defeat them... Fortunately, that''s not a big problem as this technique is no longer possible to cultivate."
"Indeed, indeed!" Li Xuanxuan nodded repeatedly.
An Zheyan continued, "There is also the vein searching technique, known as Earthly Court Detection Technique. Let me find an empty jade slipter and write a copy of it for you."
"Thank you, Senior," Li Xuanxuan said as he pondered for a moment. Sensing that something was not quite right, he spoke softly.
"But there is something I do not understand... If the Guardian of the Courtly Path makes it easy to achieve the Qi Cultivation Realm... then why, in the past, did only your father and you from the An Family achieve this realm while the rest lingered in the Embryonic Breathing Realm?"
An Zheyan sighed deeply and cupped his hands awkwardly before responding.
"After experiencing so much, I have realized that I am stingy andck vision... Only my father and I practiced this technique, and I used other methods to pacify the other branches of the family."
"I see!"
Li Xuanxuan fell silent and drank some of his tea, then inquired about the details of that fateful day on Mount Huazhong.
An Zheyan answered each question patiently before cupping his fist once more. "Fearing that carrying it on my person would risk the legacy falling into the hands of the enemy, I destroyed the jade slip when I left the An Residence... I will go transcribe the technique from memory now," he said with a somber voice.
Having said this, he left hurriedly. As An Zheyan departed, Li Xuanfeng, who had been silent throughout the conversation, then raised an eyebrow and issued an instruction.
"Uncle Donghe is still on the mountain... have him go down and watch this man."
Li Xiewen nodded and took his leave while Li Xuanxuan sighed softly, saying, "Second Uncle once told me about this man... An Zheyan was originally a greedy and miserly person, but he has undergone a transformation through this great disaster!"
After a brief moment of contemtion, he continued, "The An Family''s ancestor was originally an outer disciple of the immortal mansion. This technique might well be a special one imparted to outer disciples by the immortal mansion, and being able to pass down the technique unrestrictedly suggests that the An Family''s ancestor must have held some status."
Li Xuanfeng nodded but was still unconvinced and skeptical. He waved his hand dismissively and said in a low voice, "Appearances can be deceiving... Although this man has taken the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, we cannot ce too much trust in him. He has loose lips. Just let him exterminate demons and tend to the fields... When there''s something to be done at home, let him be a handyman. There''s no need to let him know more than necessary."
"I know," Li Xuanxuan nodded in agreement as he put down his tea bowl. "Let''s observe him for a while before discussing further," he added after a short pause.
The two of them talked for a while before Li Xiewen came up holding several jade slips. Li Xuanfeng took them and examined them. Apart from the Guardian of the Courtly Path, Earthly Court Detection Technique, and the unpracticable Aged Courtly Path Sutra, there were several Grade One techniques for the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms.
He read through all of them, nodding continuously and excitedly, then eximed, "The An Family''s ancestors indeed had profound connections; these techniques are truly amazing! It''s a pity that the Aged Courtly Path Sutra can no longer be cultivated... It''s unclear what grade it belongs to. However, the Guardian Rite of the Courtly Path is quite unique and stands out even among Grade Two techniques, especially with its effect of hastening advancement to the Qi Cultivation Realm. It''s certainly very useful!"
Li Xuanxuanughed heartily and nodded, saying, "It''s not just for use with the less talented disciples within the family... Nowadays, with cultivators in thete stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm to suppress them, those external cultivators can also benefit from this technique. We''re not looking forbat power; having more Qi Cultivators means we would have more people that are capable of flying, which makes everything more convenient!"
"You''re right, Brother Xuan," Li Xuanfeng agreed with a small smile. He then passed over the Earthly Court Detection Technique, his voice soft as he spoke.
"Since the An Family was attacked, our personnel have been withdrawn, and we havecked people to survey ore veins. The ebony mine has been idle for a long time... You should keep technique and choose new personnel to restart the mining."
Li Xuanxuan took the jade slip, and seeing that Li Xuanfeng was ready to leave to continue his cultivation, he smiled slightly, teasing, "It''s a wonder how An Zheyan could have fathered a genius like An Jingming. Maybe we should arrange more wives and concubines for him... perhaps he could produce another genius. Wouldn''t that be great for us?"
Li Xuanfengughed heartily, knowing that Li Xuanxuan was just joking. He left for the mountain, leaving Li Xuanxuan in the courtyard to drink some tea.
Li Xuanxuan pulled out a piece of yellow paper and began drawing a talisman. It took him a while before he finally put away the ink and paper and instructed, "Let An Zheyan choose a few women. He may look a little dumb, but he''s still a Qi Cultivator... Let''s see if any women with spiritual orifices are willing to marry him."
Li Xiewen nodded in agreement while Li Xuanxuan shook his head. An Zheyan''s arrival had indeed profited the Li Family greatly, yet he still harbored some regrets.
"If only our families had joined hands back then, allowing An Jingming to marry a girl from our Li Family... Had that been the case, we wouldn''t have had to face so many tragedies today," he murmured softly to himself.
Chapter 225: Three Years Later
Chapter 225: Three Years Later
Fei Family, cial Cloud Peak.
cial Cloud Peak was the tallest peak on the northern shore, brimming with spiritual qi and covered with pines and cypresses.
The Fei Family had entrenched themselves here for countless years, fortifying the area like an iron fortress. With Fei Wangbai presiding, evente-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators would find it hard to break through.
The peak waspletely covered by snow that sparkled across thendscape all year round.
Fei Tongxiao had already condensed the third chakra of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Agile and nimble, he left no footprints in the snow. After running for a while, a small courtyard appeared before him, freshly painted in white. Two pots of wintersweet were nted by the door, gently swaying in the breeze.
Fei Tongxiao exhaled lightly, stopping carefully on the stone steps in front of the gate. After tidying his attire, he knocked twice on the door and called out clearly, "Sister Qinghong!"
After two breaths, the courtyard gate creaked open and a girl about fifteen or sixteen stepped out. She was dressed in white, and her smile was as beautiful as the crescent moon in autumn. Her forehead glistened with a hint of sweat and a white cloth belt cinched her waist, preventing her flowing robes from snagging her long spear, while still highlighting her slender figure.
"Junior Brother!"
Li Qinghong''s bright eyes met Fei Tongxiao''s gaze, causing him to lower his head as if he had been scalded. He could only focus on Li Qinghong''s white-furred brown deerskin boots as she nted her spear firmly on the ground.
"Are you here to practice spearmanship with me?" she asked with a smile.
Fei Tongxiao nodded obediently. Seeing Li Qinghong smiling warmly, he could not help but smile back and said softly, "Sister Qinghong, did something good happen to you?"
Li Qinghong yfully grabbed his hand and led him into the courtyard, crunching the snow beneath their feet.
Sheughed as she replied, "Yesterday, I broke through to the Jade Capital Stage and awakened my spiritual sense! I have now reached the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm!"
Fei Tongxiao could only feel the warmth of her hand. Li Qinghong had just finished her spear practice and was still radiating heat, leaving Fei Tongxiao blushing and dazed as he followed her into the courtyard. It took several breaths for him to react after she let go.
"The Jade Capital Stage?! Sister Qinghong, it''s only been three years since you came to cial Cloud Peak, and you were only at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm then... Breaking through two stages in three years is truly impressive!" the boymended, his shyness now reced with awe.
Li Qinghong chuckled lightly and replied, "Junior Brother, you started two monthster than me, yet you''re still at the third stage... You must work harder!"
"I''m no match for Sister Qinghong!" Fei Tongxiao said humbly as he smiled, nodding.
Li Qinghong grasped her spear and twirled it around with a yful smile.
"I want to spar with you again. I''ll use only the power of the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm so it''ll be fair."
The red tassel swayed as her spear moved like a dragon, aiming straight at Fei Tongxiao.
In the past three years, Fei Tongxiao had sparred with Li Qinghong countless times. Her lower stance was nimble, and her spearmanship leaned toward the softer style.
Fei Tongxiao thrust his spear forward, using force to counter her finesse, parrying her spear aside before pushing his spear back toward Li Qinghong.
Li Qinghong had studied under Fei Wangbai for three years. Although she had not learned the Fei Family''s prized Grade Three technique, Dragon Reflection, she had mastered most of the other spear moves.
While her spearmanship wasn''t yet outstanding, she waspetent in a fight. She stepped back, her spear rising like a venomous snake as it lunged at Fei Tongxiao.
Fei Tongxiao stepped aside to dodge Li Qinghong''s spear, switching from a thrust to a sweep aimed at her legs.
Unexpectedly, she shifted her footwork like a shadow, evading his spear effortlessly. Her spear advanced even further, aiming straight for his face.
"What?!"
Fei Tongxiao let out a gasp, clearly startled. He was unable toprehend how she had so deftly eluded his spear moves. He hurriedly retracted his spear and stepped back, narrowly avoiding her strike.
Li Qinghong took advantage of this, unleashing an endless barrage of spear techniques aimed toward Fei Tongxiao. He retreated repeatedly, parrying dozens of strikes before he became frustrated and lifted his spear. A hazyyer of gray qi enveloped it, sending Li Qinghong''s spear flying backward with one blow.
Li Qinghong observed his energy flow carefully before finally retracting her spear. She stood calmly, smiling.
"I expected no less of a Grade three spear technique... The Dragon Reflection technique is truly impressive."
Fei Tongxiao muttered incoherently to himself as he lowered his spear, puzzlement written across his face. He nced at her and asked, "How did you dodge my spear technique, Sister Qinghong?"
Li Qinghongughed softly, raising her head slightly.
"My family has a footwork technique known as River Crossing Torrential Step. It''s incredibly profound. I have only mastered a couple of moves, but it has already proven highly effective."
"So it''s a footwork technique!"
Fei Tongxiao had suspected as much and now had his answer as confirmation. He nodded enviously as he replied, "My grandfather told me that Senior Tongya had a mysterious footwork technique... it must be this one then!"
After exchanging a few more words, Li Qinghong escorted Fei Tongxiao out of the courtyard. She then lifted her spear and stood still, reflecting on the moment Fei Tongxiao had used the Dragon Reflection technique. She murmured quietly to herself.
"That spear aura... how exactly did he achieve that...?"
She pondered for a while, then went inside to retrieve ink and brush, meticulously noting down her insights from the day and carefully putting the book away.
She thought to herself, There''s no way I can learn the Dragon Reflection technique here... I have mastered most of the spear techniques, and what''s left is just polishing my skills. My cultivation has reached the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. With two more years of refinement, I should be able to condense the final chakra and start umting for the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Li Qinghong wiped her spear clean and ced it on the rack, muttering to herself, "I wonder how Granduncle is doing... and whether Father has broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. I''ll write a letter tomorrow to ask how things are back home."
Carefully closing the courtyard gate, Li Qinghong swept the snow away before settling down to meditate. She closed her eyes and sat cross-legged, beginning her cultivation.
Meanwhile, Fei Tongxiao left the courtyard, his body flushed with sweat. It only emphasized the chill of the biting snow and wind. He shivered but quickly dispelled the cold by circting his mana, which drove away the chill almost instantly, thanks to his third chakra of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Fei Tongxiao walked briskly for a while until he saw a figure standing with hands behind his back in front of his own courtyard. The man''s white robe billowed elegantly, and his handsome face was serene as he stood with his eyes closed.
Seeing this person, Fei Tongxiao could almost feel himself shrink as he cautiously approached, mumbling softly, "Father..."
Fei Yihe slowly opened his eyes. As Fei Wangbai''s eldest son, he had reached the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"You went looking for that girl again," he remarked.
"Yes..." Fei Tongxiao answered nervously, adding, "I only went to spar with her."
Fei Yihe shook his head. Now in his fifties, he had gone through this same phase and fully understood his son''s intentions.
He sighed, speaking sincerely, "Xiao''er, I have met Li Qinghong... This girl is solely focused on cultivation and spearmanship. She does not seem interested in romance. You should temper your emotions."
Fei Tongxiao nodded silently, but Fei Yihe could tell his son had not taken his advice to heart. Seeing him hang his head in silence, he thought to himself.
Li Qinghong is graceful and radiant... I only hope that this boy is just infatuated by her beauty and will grow tired of it after a few years, rather than developing genuine feelings.
Fei Tongxiao remained quietly bowed, which pained Fei Yihe. He then asked, "What is Li Qinghong''s current cultivation level?"
"The fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. She has condensed the Jade Capital Chakra," Fei Tongxiao answered truthfully.
Fei Yihe raised an eyebrow, shocked by such a revtion. He then said gravely, "She broke through again?! She''s only sixteen... she truly is a prodigy!"
Fei Yihe''s thoughts stirred as he looked at his youngest son and muttered, "Perhaps I could go to the Li Family to ask on your behalf, but this girl is so talented... we cannot have you join their family. Bringing it up would only damage rtions between the two families, and your grandfather will not agree."
Finally, Fei Tongxiao raised his head, his expression unchanged as he said, "Father, you need not say more."
Chapter 226: Absolutely Impossible
Chapter 226: Absolutely Impossible
Meanwhile in Lijing Town...
Autumn rain once again sprinkled down gently onto the earth. The forest leaves had fallen, covering the ground in shades of gold and deep red; the woods between the mountains were serene, and the distant sound of something slicing through the air could be heard.
A young man in a ck robe, with a sword strapped to his back, leaped through the forest with great ease. His lips were pursed, eyes slightly narrowed and his cheeks thin, giving him a rather fierce look.
Li Yuanjiao vaulted from the tip of a slender tree branch, causing it to sway from the impact. He paused in midair like a swallow, quickly adjusted his step, and gentlynded back on the ground, sshing a few drops of the chilly autumn rain.
"The River Crossing Torrential Step is indeed a Grade Three footwork technique, and it certainly is extremely difficult to master! I heard that only Uncle Ling managed to master it in two years... For others, it takes five or six years. In three years, I have only grasped a few of its forms..." Li Yuanjiao sighed as he closed his eyes slowly, his spiritual sense extending to scan around him.
At just eighteen years old, he had broken through to the Jade Capital Stage before the end ofst year. Judging by the passage of time, he should be able to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm around the age of twenty.
For the past three years, things had been fairly peaceful for the Li Family. The Xiao Family had rebuilt the Guli Road, bringing many rogue cultivators through the area, most of whom were in the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
asionally, some Qi Cultivators could also be seen roaming around. The passing rogue cultivators would often stop to rest in Lijing Town, and those from other families would sometimes chat with the Li Family cultivators to exchange goods and information.
Most of the Embryonic Breathing Realm demons from Mount Dali had not yet gained intelligence and continued to venture outside. With the Li Family''s increased numbers, they now had cultivators stationed for defense and had even sent people to patrol the surrounding forests.
In three years, a demon beast at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, which had secretly preyed on the townspeople, was eventually found and eliminated by An Zheyan swiftly after Li Xuanxuan had sent him to investigate the matter.
After practicing several sword moves, Li Yuanjiao''s ears perked up as he saw a middle-aged man riding the wind before descending in front of him.
The man stood upright, his eyes piercing, and his gray robe was spotless. He had a faint smile on his face as he assessed the young boy before him.
"Your footwork technique is quite good."
His voice was warm and weing.
"Greetings, Uncle!"
Li Yuanjiao beamed and he quickly sheathed his sword. "Thank you for thepliment. I''m just showing off my mediocre skills," he replied respectfully.
This man was Li Xuanling, who had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realmst year, condensing the River True Essence and emerging as the fourth Qi Cultivator in the main branch of the Li Family.
His expertise in the River Crossing Torrential Step was profound, and he expertly pointed out the shorings in Li Yuanjiao''s footwork, which thetter promptly corrected.
It was only then that Li Xuanling smiled andmended him, saying, "It seems you have been diligently cultivating these past years... Last year, you broke through to the Jade Capital Stage, and if you can advance to the Qi Cultivation Realm before twenty, you''ll have a good chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm."
Watching Li Yuanjiao nod respectfully, Li Xuanling then sighed and continued, "You and Qinghong both have the talisman seed and are blessed with spiritual orifices... Only Brother Feng canpare to the two of you. You are all seeds capable of achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm, so don''t ck off."
The two spoke for a while, and the rain in the mountains grew heavier. It dripped through the branches, seeping through the faint golden light of the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation. Li Yuanjiao followed Li Xuanling along the stone paths through the mountains and arrived at the courtyard.
Having broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Xuanling was now protected by his true essence and not a single drop of rain touched his skin. Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao''s sleeves were slightly wet, having been dampened by the rain.
As they approached the side courtyard, they saw Chen Donghe reading a jade slip carefully under the eaves, looking very rxed.
Chen Donghe, at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, was now forty years old. Since he had reached the Qi Cultivation Realm early, he looked younger than his real age.
Chen Donghe raised an eyebrow and then cupped his fist.
"Ah, it''s you, Xuanling..." he said with a soft smile.
Li Xuanlingughed heartily and replied, "I haven''t seen you in years, Brother-In-Law! For the past few years, I''ve been cultivating in seclusion to break through, and when I finally emerged, you had gone to Mount Huaqian. Now that you''re back, I must make the trip to meet you."
Mount Lijing was not known as a famous mountain range, and its spiritual qi was limited. While it could support Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators, it was now strained by the many Qi Cultivators of the Li Family, making resources scarce.
Li Tongya was working to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and the entire Meiche Peak cave dwelling had been given up for his sole use. Meanwhile, the remaining Lijing Peak struggled to support Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanxuan, and with the addition of Li Xuanling, the spiritual qi had grown even thinner. Chen Donghe was thus assigned to Mount Huaqian, which reduced his time at home.
The three of them entered the courtyard, and Chen Donghe stepped forward and whispered, "Swords."
The two immediately understood what he meant and ced their swords in their storage pouches.
Most swords were made of sharp metallic materials, and since Li Jingtian and others were in the side courtyard with their mortal bodies, the sharp energy could easily harm them.
Entering the house, they saw only a small table ced beside the window. Li Jingtian wore a jade hairpin and sat next to a girl, who was kneeling and gazing out the window at the autumn rain. Hearing the noise, she turned and greeted Li Xuanling warmly.
"Brother Ling, you''re back!" she eximed happily.
Li Xuanlingughed heartily and stepped forward, taking the little girl''s hand in his. The child looked up obediently, her cheeks rosy as she called out to him in a soft and meek voice.
"Uncle..."
This little girl was Li Jingtian''s daughter, Li Qingxiao. Now over two years old and approaching three, she was quite well-behaved. Li Xuanling watched as Li Jingtian took Li Qingxiao away, and Li Yuanjiao and Chen Donghe sat down by the table.
Chen Donghe seemed puzzled and broke the silence first, saying, "I was summoned home this time, but I''m not sure what it''s about..."
Li Xuanling nodded and spoke seriously, "Since Father retreated to the Meiche Peak cave dwelling a year ago, all the spiritual qi on Mount Meiche has flowed toward the summit... Even clouds have been forming inside and outside the cave dwelling, which is quite mysterious. A yearter, there were faint water sounds inside the cave, and at midnight, the sound of rivers flowing could be heard. Clear water seeped through the cracks in the walls outside the cave, glistening everywhere."
This was Chen Donghe''s first time hearing about the signs apanying the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and his face was filled with admiration. Since he was cultivating the River One Qi Technique as well, he listened attentively and sighed.
"Everyone says that establishing the immortal foundation is when true wonders begin, and that is indeed the case!"
Li Xuanling took a sip of his tea and nced at Li Yuanjiao.
"The night beforest, the cave dwelling waspletely silent, and dew no longer settled on the ground. It''s been quiet for two days now..." he said softly, his voice trailing off toward the end of his sentence.
"What..?"
Chen Donghe raised an eyebrow, a little shocked, murmuring, "He must have seeded... right? Second Uncle is not one to fail."
Li Tongya had always nned everything carefully and meticulously before taking any action, and Chen Donghe had admired him since his childhood. Since Li Tongya went into seclusion, Chen Donghe never imagined that he could fail.
The Li Family had no precedent for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and hearing this uncertain news left Chen Donghe feeling empty and speechless.
In that moment, Chen Donghe''s mind was flooded with memories... from practicing the River One Qi Technique and the Profound Water Sword Technique, to tirelessly training day and night.
That year, when he was just seven years old, Chen Donghe had kneeled in the courtyard. The autumn wind was bleak and the chill was biting. Above him, Li Tongya had smiled at Li Xiangping and made ament he still remembered clearly to this day.
"This child is reliable, and may prove useful."
Back then, the young Chen Donghe had looked up and met Li Tongya''s calm and deep gaze, and he was instantly filled with admiration and respect for the man before him.
He secretly thought to himself, I want to be someone like him in the future.
Chen Donghe suddenly realized that his steady and quiet demeanor,posed elegance, and careful consideration in his actions were all imitations of this elder whomanded respect from all the families around theke.
To Chen Donghe, Li Xiangping was like a father, and Li Tongya was like a mentor.
This realization left Chen Donghe both disoriented and relieved. He picked up his tea bowl gently and took a sip of tea to hide the fear rising in his heart.
The thought of Li Tongya failing to break through lingered in his mind for a while before Chen Donghe finallyughed and made a loud and confident deration.
"It''s absolutely impossible for him to fail!"
Chapter 227: Building the Immortal Foundation
Chapter 227: Building the Immortal Foundation
Meiche Peak Cave Dwelling.
Before going into seclusion, Li Tongya often pondered to himself, What is an immortal foundation..?
The Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra says: The essence of Supreme Yin is gathered from the Cold Lunar Pce; the essence of Supreme Yang is in the Golden Sr Pce... When these two energiesbine, the immortal foundation can be formed.
Li Tongya believed that this phrase referred to a secret technique of gathering the Supreme Yin Moonlight and the Supreme Yang Sun Essence, suggesting that the immortal foundation was a metaphor for a special divine ability.
Later, Li Tongya obtained the River One Qi Technique, which included the phrase¡ªThe qi of rivers is whole andplete, rising and sinking through the great depths... The qi of heaven and earth is clear and bright, wandering above and below. By harnessing this qi to shape rivers and seas, one can build a foundation known as the Boundless Ocean.
Having now consumed the Essence Gathering Pill which was beautifully etched with pale gray patterns, the six chakras appeared from his sea of qi and sea of consciousness, disintegrating simultaneously above the foggy sea of qi into six bright streams of light.
Li Tongya felt a wave of weakness wash over his body, and he instantly knew that if he could not transform these into an immortal foundation, he would perish without a doubt.
Following the methods of the River One Qi Technique, the six streams of light formed by the chakras swirled above his sea of qi, stirring waves of qi. The true essence in his sea of qi bounced up and infused itself into the streams of light.
Li Tongya''s sea of qi was remarkably vast, and the streams absorbed the essence quickly. They swirled for an unknown length of time until the sea of qi had dropped by half. Only then did gray light begin to rise... and a talisman appeared.
Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman.
The talisman qi spiraled above the sea of qi, reflecting and blending with the six streams of light. It hovered above quietly.
Li Tongya could not discern whether this was a good or bad sign, but he had no other choice but to continue cultivating ording to the technique. After a while, the sea of qi finally emptied, revealing a faint gleam.
"Hmm..?"
Li Tongya was slightly surprised when beams of light emerged from the bottom of the sea of qi, revealing a white pellet that radiated brilliantly.
"The Talisman Seed..."
The white pellet leaped into the six streams of light, and Li Tongya knew he could not afford to waste any time, so he immediately activated the technique to form the immortal foundation.
"This...!"
Each of the six streams of light became full, and when they collided mid-air, they coalesced into flowing clear water that gently descended into the sea of qi.
Li Tongya felt weaker as his qi churned relentlessly. He finally understood why people said it was crucial to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm before sixty.
Suppressing his growing frailty, the six streams of light within Li Tongya spun faster and faster, and the sound of rivers flowing emanated from within his body.
After an unknown amount of time, a silver beam of dazzling light fell upon him. Li Tongya opened his eyes and let out a cough, releasing a jet of white qi that struck the stone wall in front of him, leaving a small dent in its surface. The dark chamber suddenly lit up with the booming sound of crashing waves.
Li Tongya remained seated for a few breaths before he could not help but chuckle softly to himself.
"After sixty-two years... I have finally built my immortal foundation!"
He chuckled a couple of times and wiped away a glistening tear from the corner of his eyes. He then slowly stood up, still feeling puzzled.
"This was... almost too simple."
The process of Li Tongya''s breakthrough went smoothly with barely any obstacles, and could even be considered somewhat effortless.
"The secret techniques umted by the three sects and seven gates over generations can increase the chances of sessfully breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm... While my family is considered a n, we can''t even estimate our chances of achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm. Worse still, after the breakthrough... we don''t even understand where the advantages lie."
Li Tongya slowly stood up, his early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation radiating powerfully. The mystical aspects of the immortal foundation known as Boundless Ocean filled his mind.
"Boundless Ocean
arises from the rivers and inherits the extraordinary strength of the Qi Cultivation Realm... In rivers, its power is even greater, excelling in water-based techniques. Mastering this immortal foundation grants mastery over water maniption. It grants the ability to predict droughts and floods by studying water channels, enter the waters without disturbing crabs or fish, suppress hunger through breathing, remain unharmed by water or fire, and even bless water with talisman qi to heal and aid people..."
After a few moments of contemtion, Li Tongya was puzzled by the abilities of the Boundless Ocean immortal foundation and thought to himself, Entering the water with greater strength, excelling in water maniption, and imbuing water with talisman qi are understandable... But not disturbing fish, being unharmed by fire and water, and predicting water channels seem rather useless.
Bestowing talisman qi upon water was only beneficial for cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm, since it only required consuming some mana.
However, being unharmed by normal water and fire meant little, as even Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators could resist them with simple spells. Predicting water channels and not disturbing fish were even more pointless...
"The Purple Mansion Realm and Golden Core Realm... what kind of cultivation are they exactly?" Li Tongya pondered aloud as he sighed.
Even the information from the Moonlight Origin Mansion remained obscure, let alone the origin of the immortal Dao itself. As a mere Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, he was noteworthy around Moongaze Lake but insignificant in the Yue State.
He set aside his doubts and gently pushed open the stone door, leaving the dark chamber like the wind.
Outside, the main hall was empty, and the stone tables and chairs were spotless. However, he observed that they were wet with clear water. Puddles littered the floor, and the spiritual qi concentration had recovered significantly now that Li Tongya had stopped cultivating.
The cave dwelling''s main entrance was slightly ajar. Eager to test the power of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, he cast an illusion spell and walked through.
Outside, Li Xuanfeng, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes. He nced around in confusion, then bowed his head when he saw that the dewdrops were undisturbed. He finally closed his eyes to resume cultivation.
"Feng''er is at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... This should take about three to five years."
Li Tongya stepped out of the cave dwelling, and the brilliant, dazzling morning sun was rising between the distant mountain peaks. The golden sunlight flowed down the mountains, filling him with joy. He smiled faintly and flew swiftly toward the town.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lijing Town.
This town had stood for many years. The stone roads were now worn with cracks from years of travel by carts, horses, and pedestrians. The stone path around the pear orchards of Lijing Town was especially scarred, having been worn down daily by various wheels of sorts.
The white walls were stained ck, and the pear orchard was one of the few ces where influential lords andmoners alike gathered to shed tears together and apud in unison.
The singing from the stage drifted out, and a group of children outside pressed their ears to the wall, listening attentively.
"Ahhh... On the Golden tform, I, Jianixi, shall rise! With a beast crown upon my head and my iron armor draped upon my shoulders!"
On stage, an actor was dressed in ck armor and was waving around a ck banner. He was adorned with animal tusks and jade and had a fierce face painted on, inspiring amotion among the crowd. Some were indignant, some sighed, and others wept silently.
The actor, donning the ck armor and waving a ck banner, shook his robe and shouted, "Mu Jiaoman!"
"Your servant is here!"
A slightly plump man in golden armor this time¡ªwith a neatly drawn mustache that made him look quite sly¡ªjumped onto the stage, immediately eliciting a chorus of boos from the audience.
In the crowd stood an elderly man, shaking his head and sighing with his hands sped behind his back. Unexpectedly, a warm voice came from behind him, "Elder, what is this y about?"
With gray hair at his temples, the old man squinted and smiled warmly as he replied, "It''s about Jianixi''s tragic end at the Great Jueting."
Chapter 228: Wolf-like Gray Pupils (I)
Chapter 228: Wolf-like Gray Pupils (I)
"Mount Yue should have fragmented, so why try to unify them by force? The devil lord stood upon the clouds... to ensure that he... that he would be left with no ce to be buried!" a narrator shouted hoarsely, beating against gongs.
The actor ying Jianixi, a young general dressed in a ck robe, exuded an aura of power. With a flick of his robe, he dered, "Ha! I did this deed... and it is known to you, to me, and to the heavens and earth alike. Even if I die and be a ghost, my heart will remain guilt-free!"
In unison, the audience leaned forward and sighed deeply, and some even stood up to cheer. In the minds of the Mount Yue people, Jianixi held a high status. Many of the Mount Yue people who migrated from the Great Jueting were refugees who brought with them stories of Jianixi''sst days.
The reverence of the Mount Yue people mixed with the fear of the natives of Lijing Town had given birth to the figure of this ruler who stood both just and evil.
The old man continued to sigh, while a gentle voice from behind him¡ªcalm and clear amid themotion.
"Elder, why are you sighing?"
The old man shook his head, his eyes filled with sentiment as he whispered, "When I was thirty, I followed Lord Xiangping to thends of Mount Yue... I saw many things. Jianixi was... a heroic figure."
Turning to look at the person behind him, he saw a man who appeared middle-aged, with broad shoulders and long, gentle eyebrows. His aura wasmanding, and he stood with his hands behind his back. Knowing that he was no ordinary person, the old man''s attitude immediately became much more respectful.
On stage, the narrator sang and continued to beat against his gongs.
"You, you, you¡ªdon''t harm the people under your rule!"
"Bah! Themon folk shall be my carriage, and my soldiers will be my de andnce. Ha! What can you do about it?!" The young general in the ck robe shouted loudly, and the people in the audience withdrew their heads in silence.
The middle-aged man nodded slightly and murmured, "Such words are something Jianixi would have said... He had such spirit."
"Indeed!" the old man said as he pped his thigh andughed. He then continued, "The next act is called Lord Xiangping''s Soul Returns Home, and Mu Jiaoman Seizes Power During a Drought, which will make people sigh and curse with rage. It''ll be quite a sight to see!"
"Drought..." Li Tongya muttered softly and whispered, "There was indeed a severe drought back then."
"How old were you at the time, to remember such things? That''s remarkable!" the old man praised.
The longer he looked at Li Tongya, the more familiar he seemed, though he could not recall where he had seen him before. Tentatively, he asked, "My lord... is your surname Li?"
Li Tongya shook his head gently and did not respond directly. Instead, he smiled and said softly in light amusement, "This young general in the ck robe is nearly perfect, except for his eye color... Jianixi had fierce brown eyes."
"The fierce brown eyes of the eagle owl are a rare sight!" the old man responded cheerfully. Seeing that Li Tongya appeared refined and courteous, giving him the respect he deserved, he leaned in closer and whispered in his ear.
"My Lord, the world always speaks of the wolf with the fierce eyes of an eagle owl... Since you know the sign of fierce brown eyes, are you also aware of another ominous trait?"
"Oh?"
Li Tongya''s curiosity was instantly piqued, and he smiled warmly, urging the man to share more. "Tell me more, Elder," he encouraged with a small smile.
The old man coughed and then lowered his voice even further. If Li Tongya had not had exceptional hearing, he might not have caught the old man''s words in the noisy environment.
"Eagle-owl-like brown eyes and wolf-like gray pupils... those with wolf-like gray pupils possess the appearance of the Wolf Lord described in the y¡ªeyes gray and white, cautious and suspicious, harboring ill intentions, and always scanning around while walking... Such people have a nature that seeks to devour and annex enemies."
"I see!" Li Tongyaughed heartily, instantly grasping the old man''s meaning. "People with fierce brown eyes are hard to find, but those with wolf-like gray pupils are abundant in Lijing Town!" he replied with a grin.
"Hah!" the old man jumped in surprise, forcing a bitter smile and whispering, "As long as you understand, my lord! Speaking of this openly isn''t a pleasant topic..."
Li Tongya chuckled softly, recognizing that the old man was hinting at the Li Family, the master household. He straightened his expression and asked, "Since you are knowledgeable about face reading, Elder... why not take a look at me?"
The old man chuckled and observed Li Tongya for a while before responding.
"You have an imposing aura and the face of one who will guard his domain... blessed with great fortune beyond description."
Li Tongya let out a smallugh as the crowd erupted into a noisy frenzy. The y on stage had reached a climax, and the actor ying Jianixi had fallen. The old man quickly looked up, but when he turned back with a sigh, the person behind him had vanished.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
On Mount Lijing, Chen Donghe stood in the courtyard, dressed in white. A gentle drizzle slid past him, blocked by his mana. He slowly drew his sword, and a pale gray aura glowed from the de.
Opposite him, Li Xuanling had already drawn his sword, which was also radiating a gray light. Chen Donghe nodded and advanced with his sword drawn.
"Here Ie!" he announced.
Li Xuanling did not unsheathe his sword immediately but instead watched Chen Donghe approach with a smile on his face. When Chen Donghe reached him, Li Xuanling finally drew his sword, unleashing a bright white arc.
Chen Donghe''s pupils widened, and he switched to a defensive position right away, eximing in surprise, "The Celestial Moon sh!"
The sword technique shed with Chen Donghe''s de, forcing him to retreat several steps backward. He tightened his grip and steadied his breath before taking another step back to regain hisposure.
Li Xuanling capitalized on his momentum and advanced with relentless sword moves.
Chen Donghe had not expected Li Xuanling to have mastered the Celestial Moon sh technique and suffered a slight loss, leaving him at a disadvantage. However, both men had practiced the River One Qi Technique and the Profound Water Sword Technique, so they were rather familiar with each other''s techniques.
With his stronger foundation, Chen Donghe quickly turned the tide and went on the offensive, suppressing Li Xuanling.
"Brother-In-Law is indeed superior!"
After an hour of fighting, Li Xuanling, slightly breathless, sheathed his sword and stepped backward, admitting his defeat.
Chen Donghe also returned his sword to its sheath and smiled.
"I never thought you had mastered the Celestial Moon sh technique. Congrattions," he praised with a smile.
"Twelve years, and that is all I have got..." Li Xuanling said as he shook his head and sighed.
His voice was mncholic as he continued, "My father could use this Celestial Moon sh technique when he was only at the Embryonic Breathing Realm... I, however, had only managed to wield it with true essence after I reached the Qi Cultivation Realm. The difference is clear..."
Chen Donghe shook his head and smiled, reassuring him, "Don''tpare yourself with your father. How many around theke can rival him? Your talent in swordsmanship is already remarkable. I can only suppress you because I''m a few years older... Don''t underestimate yourself."
"But Yuanjiao has already mastered the sword aura... His talent in this is quite good, possibly better than mine," he said quietly
The mention of Li Tongya brought a look of concern to Li Xuanling''s eyes, and he said quietly, "I wonder how Father is doing now."
As soon as he spoke, the courtyard door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man stepping inside. His temples were graying, and he wore a gray robe and simple cloth shoes. Though he radiated no mana, the light drizzle did not wet him at all. Raindrops slid off his silhouette obediently before touching him, giving an otherworldly impression.
The man raised an eyebrow and took a step forward, making the puddles part away like they hade to life, keeping his cloth shoes perfectly dry. He then shot out a word of advice.
"If that sword technique had shifted two degrees to the right, you would have held your own against Donghe."
"Father!"
Li Xuanling was immediately overjoyed and stepped forward with excitement. After studying the man for a moment, he eximed, "Father, you''ve established your immortal foundation!"
Li Tongya nodded with a gentle smile, and Chen Donghe respectfully cupped his fist and congratted him, "Congrattions, Second Uncle!"
Li Tongya looked at the two younger men in front of him, their faces radiating uncontroble joy, and felt immense satisfaction within him. He smiled, proud.
"Now, our Li Family is the third Foundation Establishment n on theke!"
Chapter 229: Wolf-like Gray Pupils (II)
Chapter 229: Wolf-like Gray Pupils (II)
Li Tongya took the main seat in the courtyard, with members of the Li Family sitting neatly below him. Everyone wore joyful expressions, chatting andughing heartily with one another.
Li Tongya smiled gently from his position at the head of the table, with Li Xuanfeng at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm on his left, and Li Xuanxuan at the second heavenlyyer on his right. Below them sat Li Xuanling and Chen Donghe, and at the bottom were Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanyun. Together, they spoke in unison.
"Congrattions, Second Uncle/Father/Granduncle, on sessfully establishing your immortal foundation!"
Li Tongya nodded and said with a smile, "During my seclusion this time, I''ve formed the Boundless Ocean and advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm... Our family is now a n and consequent changes must be made."
After saying these words, he then looked at Li Xuanxuan and asked, "Xuan''er, how have things been on theke these years?"
Li Xuanxuan stood up and cupped his hands respectfully before replying, "Second Uncle, you were only in seclusion for a month when a geological upheaval struck the Milin Prefecture. It caused the ground to crack, towns to copse, and it left Yu Mugao at a loss. Soon after, the three main roads leading out of Milin Prefecture were attacked. Ry stations and narrow passes were targeted, people were killed, roads were destroyed, and the mountain passes were blocked. Yu Mugao was furious but had to handle things alone. The younger generation of the Yu Family is hardly promising, and Yu Mujian remains in seclusion... Do you remember the one who harmed Yuanxiu?"
Li Tongya nodded slowly. That person was clever, quickly using others'' corpses to create diversions and disposing of two storage pouches to prevent giving resources to enemies. Knowing escape was impossible, he had used talismans to destroy his own body.
Quite a feat, indeed.
Li Xuanxuan nodded and continued, "That man, Yu Muyuan, was Yu Mugao''s capable assistant¡ªkeen and decisive... With Yu Muyuan gone, Yu Mugao is now overwhelmed and struggling. The next year, before the market in Milin Prefecture could be fully restored, a rogue cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm arrived among the families on the eastern shore, previously considered the Yu Family''s exclusive domain. He seemed intent on establishing a n, stirring discontent among the Qi Cultivation Realm families, which left Yu Mugao with a severe headache."
Li Tongya nodded and murmured, "This must be Fei Wangbai''s doing... Yu Mugao is ruthless and cunning, but now he''spletely overwhelmed, rendering him unable to be the usual troublemaker."
The others nodded in agreement as Li Yuanjiao clenched his fists, sighing bitterly. Li Tongya then continued, "It''s always easier to harm than to defend. If the foundation of one''s rule is unstable and therger the territory, the more challenging it would be to control."
Li Xuanxuan nodded and brought Li Yuanping and Li Qingxiao forward. Li Qingxiao looked adorable with her rosy cheeks, and she greeted each elder.
Li Yuanping was simr in age but appeared much smaller, still needing to be held by Li Xuanxuan''s first wife. He seemed timid and was too afraid to speak.
Li Tongya first pulled Li Qingxiao closer and stroked her head for a while, before taking Li Yuanping from Li Xuanxuan, frowning slightly.
Li Xuanxuan raised his head guiltily while his wife slowly lifted her head and spoke softly, "When I was pregnant with Ping''er, it was right when Xiu''er had his ident... It led to a premature birth, leaving him weak and showing signs of congenital deficiency."
Li Tongya first raised an eyebrow at her and praised, "Xiangping and I arranged the marriage with you and Xuanxuan back when because we admired your dignity and resourcefulness... You have spent these years in the family residence, helping Xuanxuan a lot, and your cultivation has now reached the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
"Second Uncle, you''re too kind," the woman nodded meekly, handing the child to Li Tongya who inspected him carefully. He performed a series of hand seals, and almost immediately, a pleasant fragrance wafted through the air which attracted everyone''s attention.
Li Yuanping looked up at Li Tongya innocently as small crystal-like particles appeared in mid-air, twirling around in the air as before entering his little mouth. Li Yuanping smacked his lips and let out a soft hum.
Li Tongya stopped casting the spell, and with Li Xuanxuan and his wife watching him expectantly, he shook his head and exined, "All it does is replenish some vitality. With innate essence missing, only a divine ability can restore it fully..."
The woman took Li Yuanping back quietly and bowed before retreating from the room. Li Xuanxuan lowered his head and murmured, "That''s good enough."
Li Tongya nced at everyone''s faces and said warmly, "Since I''ve broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, there are a few matters that need to be scheduled."
"Donghe."
Chen Donghe took a step forward as Li Tongya continued, "You should visit the Xiao Family and deliver the news. Don''t go empty-handed; bring some spirit items from the n, though they need not be too valuable... spirit items suitable for the Qi Cultivation Realm will suffice."
"Understood!" Chen Donghe responded respectfully and quickly left the courtyard, heading down the mountain.
Only then did Li Tongya turn back and say softly, "Elder Xiao Chuchou of the Xiao Family and I once had an agreement that if I broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, our families would form a closer alliance through an arranged marriage. If I failed, the agreement would end. Now that my immortal foundation is established, the marriage shall be arranged."
Everyone''s faces changed, revealing mixed emotions. Li Xuanfeng cupped his fist and said, "This marriage arrangement will be fine if we are to wed someone. All of the Yuan generation is of age, but if we are to marry someone off, only Qinghong is of suitable age..."
Li Xuanling, being Li Qinghong''s biological father, grew increasingly anxious. "Absolutely not! Qinghong has been bestowed with the talisman seed, and her talent is the highest among the generations of Yuan and Qing. How could we have her marry into another family?" he protested earnestly.
Li Xuanxuan shook his head, equally troubled. "Indeed, it is not possible... But the Xiao Family is wealthy and influential, and their willingness to arrange a marriage with our family is already a sign of respect. They would never agree to have someone from their side marry into ours! Bringing in a husband is certainly out of the question, and Qinghong cannot be married off either!" he added with a frown.
Li Tongya shook his head, setting the tone of the conversation before continuing, "Although the marriage has yet to be finalized, our family''s power is weak. Logically, it makes sense to marry a daughter into their family... There is actually a solution to this."
He took a sip of tea and continued, "We can have our legitimate son marry their concubine-born daughter. Such apromise is enough and should satisfy the Xiao Family."
"You''re right, Second Uncle!" Li Xuanxuan agreed, then continued, "One more matter has yet to be reported¡ªThe Yu Family used our family as an excuse to kill off many members of the An Family and installed a puppet to make them a vassal. An Jingming is dead, and only An Zheyan managed to escape. He fled to our household and has now joined our n, offering several techniques and spells."
"An Zheyan..." Li Tongya hummed, pausing for a brief moment.
"Let hime up and see me."
Everyone immediately nodded in agreement. After chatting a bit more, they all took their leave. Some went back to drawing talismans while others returned to their cultivation practice, each bing busy with their own tasks.
Chapter 230: The Lesson of the Jiang Family
Chapter 230: The Lesson of the Jiang Family
"Senior!"
An Zheyan walked out of the house, greeted warmly by the n guards on both sides. Smiles lit up their faces as they waved to him, even those outside the courtyard.
An Zheyan nodded to each of them, answering with a smile. Suddenly, he felt like he was in another world. He had always acted greedily and domineeringly, ruling the An Family with an iron fist. Servants cowered in his presence, and he would kill over the slightest dissatisfaction.
After his family''s downfall, he had taken refuge with the Li Family. During a demon beast attack, he thought to curry favor with them by saving a young n guard.
That night, the boy cheerfully knocked on his door, carrying arge bowl of dumplings his mother had made to express their gratitude. The two chatted all night, and while An Zheyan forced himself to eat the food, he asked, "Aren''t you afraid of me?"
The boy froze for a moment, thenughed heartily and replied, "What is there to fear?"
An Zheyan chewed the dumplings, which tasted like dog shit to him, but he forced them down nheless and said with an equally forced smile, "Indeed... there''s nothing to fear!"
After that night, An Zheyan would join the n guards for drinks and drinking games, where they wouldugh and cry together. They would sit by the wall watching the young women pass by, and An Zheyan would take them flying, scaring the boys so much that their legs went weak. An Zheyanughed heartily and often shed tears fromughter.
Returning to his senses, An Zheyan noticed the n guards smiling at him. He pulled out a long bench and said with a grin, "Alright kids, what supernatural stories would you like to hear today?"
The guards'' eyes lit up, and they started fighting over which story to hear first. An Zheyan watched them all with a smile until the sound of hoofbeats approached, kicking up dust at the end of the alley.
A young man in a white robe reined in his horse in front of the courtyard and dismounted, cupping his fists respectfully.
"Senior! The family head requests your presence."
"Captain Tian!"
A guard cried out in surprise, and the group quickly bowed lowly, half-kneeling. They then said in unison, "Greetings, Captain!"
Tian Zhongqing nodded and saw An Zheyan shake out his robe while sitting on the wooden bench.
"I understand," he replied.
He then soared into the air and headed straight up the mountain. Tian Zhongqing watched in envy before the guards swarmed him, all asking questions eagerly.
"Captain! What level is your cultivation now?"
"Brother Zhongqing! Are there more Qi Cultivation Realm demons devouring people?"
Tian Zhongqing simply waved his hand and replied, "I''m only at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, nothing worth mentioning... As for the family head''s matters, they are beyond my understanding."
The guards continued to ask questions, and one whispered, "Brother Zhongqing! Is it true that n Uncle Xuanling has broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm?"
Tian Zhongqing nodded and smiled. "Yes, it is true."
The guards then erupted into a hubbub of chatter. Tian Zhongqing shook his head with a smile as he nced around, mounted his horse, and rode out of the alley.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The stone path was meticulously clean. As An Zheyan ascended the mountain, he was filled with confusion, pondering to himself deeply.
What could this be possibly about..? Even if a Qi Cultivation Realm demon infiltrated the town, there''s no need to personally call me up the mountain.
Mount Lijing was mostly deserted, with only the chilly breeze greeting him as he arrived. An Zheyan murmured, "Could it be that the Li Family suspects me because I haven''t taken any of the women sent to my home in recent years?"
As the courtyard made of bluestone bricks appeared before him, he took a moment to dust his sleeves. The gate was mostly ajar.
An Zheyan pushed the heavy gate open to find the house quite unguarded, save for the two n guards standing outside silently.
An Zheyan clicked his tongue. He thought about his own grand hall, then looked at the small house in front of him. He felt bitterness fill his mouth and he muttered under his breath, "An Zheyan... you truly deserve death."
He stepped into the modestly furnished house and bowed his head, having made a habit of it, and lifted his robe hem. He was just about to kneel when he suddenly opened his eyes wide.
The person seated at the head wasn''t Li Xuanxuan, but instead a middle-aged man with graying temples and long, gentle eyebrows. His expression was calm as he sat in the main seat, holding a white jade slip.
An Zheyan, at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, could immediately read the small characters engraved on the jade slip¡ªAged Courtly Path Sutra.
With a thud, An Zheyan dropped to his knees, his heart filled with fear and trembling as he bowed deeply and stammered out his words.
"Zheyan... greets Senior!"
Foundation Establishment Realm! How did he reach Foundation Establishment...
An Zheyan''s head buzzed with thoughts like a beehive. He swallowed hard in disbelief. He had previously reached the Qi Cultivation Realm before Li Tongya and had watched him rise from beginner to the fifth heavenlyyer, and then to the eighth.
Now, with Li Tongya achieving Foundation Establishment Realm, An Zheyan''s attitude shifted from disdain to amazement, from amazement to respect, from respect to fear, and finally... he kneeled in front of him.
His conflicting emotions were clear; they were all written on his facial expressions.
Seeing that Li Tongya had reached the realm he had only dreamed of reaching, An Zheyan bowed deeply and closed his eyes¡ªa mix of admiration and fear. Li Tongya then smiled gently.
"Brother Zheyan, no need to be so formal... Please rise," he said softly.
An Zheyan stood up, watching as Li Tongya set down the jade slip, and said warmly, "I heard that your ancestors were once outer sect disciples of the immortal mansion, and this Aged Courtly Path Sutra was passed down by them... Would you care to exin it in detail?"
An Zheyan nodded eagerly, setting aside his emotions. After recalling for a moment and organizing his thoughts, he replied, "My ancestors bore the surname Jiang and were outer sect disciples of the immortal mansion. They reached the Qi Cultivation Realm at eighteen, meeting the minimum requirements and receiving this Aged Courtly Path Sutra, and they led the immortal soldiers on patrol from the Moongaze Marsh''s three eastern domains to the Yuling Lake area. They achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm at thirty-nine and became an immortal general, receiving these two legacies and recruiting their own subordinates."
"From the three eastern domains of Moongaze Marsh to the Yuling Lake area..?" Li Tongya asked as he raised an eyebrow.
An Zheyan quickly replied, "Nowadays, it is the southeastern shore up to the Mushroom Forest in... Back then, it was all part of Moongaze Marsh."
Seeing Li Tongya nod, An Zheyan continued, "My ancestor failed to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm and passed away... He had only one son, who reached the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Left with no choice, he recruited external and rogue cultivators to defend the territory,ying the seeds for future disaster... Ten yearster, his son broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. His descendants were few but all had spiritual orifices. The cultivation technique quickly led them to the Qi Cultivation Realm, but the higher their realm, the more difficult it became to produce heirs. Later, when his son pursued an opportunity to advance to the Purple Mansion Realm, he was in, and the various external cultivators began topete for control, each supporting their own descendants. This foreshadowed the family''s copse."
An Zheyan sighed deeply and said softly, "The external cultivators formed alliances, marrying their daughters to one another and bing increasingly divided. The different lineages grew ever more distant and within a century, even some members of the main family began marrying into the external families. After three generations, there weren''t many left with the surname Jiang..."
Li Tongya stroked the jade slip in his hand silently.
An Zheyan nced at him and said in a low voice, "Thus, only very few families on theke dare to ept external cultivators, wary of repeating the Jiang Family''s tragic lesson. Families like ours, with legacy techniques, fear this most of all. That''s why there are almost no external cultivators in our households."
An Zheyan straightened before hesitating for a moment, then added, "The main family oversees the Chen, Liu, Tian, and Ren families, which have all produced individuals with spiritual orifices. If we don''t suppress them, problems may arise over time..."
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, surprised that An Zheyan would bring this up. He chuckled softly and answered, "Don''t worry, our family isn''t the Jiang Family. Nothing will go wrong."
"I''ve spoken out of turn," An Zheyan quickly said as he lowered his head.
Li Tongya gave him a once over and asked, "How old are you now?"
"Eighty-five," An Zheyan replied, seeming to be a little downcast at this revtion.
"My cultivation technique makes it difficult to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, and I''m only at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm at eighty-five... I doubt I will have any hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm," he added with a tight smile.
Li Tongya paused and offered a few words offort before watching An Zheyan leave. Picking up the jade slip containing the Aged Courtly Path Sutra, he murmured, "Courtly Red Dust... our family still holds the River Mountain Sutra. There''s still a long way to go to the Purple Mansion Realm, so there''s no need to hurry..."
Chapter 231: Paying Respect to the Ancestors and Elders
Chapter 231: Paying Respect to the Ancestors and Elders
Li Tongya saw off An Zheyan, then burned incense and took a bath, before changing into his formal attire. He donned a gray robe with white cloud-patterned sleeves and slung a sword over his back, then walked to the summit of Mount Lijing.
He pushed open the doors of the ancestral hall where the ancestral tablets stood silently, surrounded by curling smoke that gave the ce a solemn atmosphere.
The tablets represented the six generations of ancestors from the vige records, along with Li Genshui and Li Mutian. Li Tongya was technically a descendant of the ninth generation, but if counting from the beginning of their connection to the Dao, he was a second-generation disciple.
Li Tongya gazed at the tablets amidst the swirling smoke. He kneeled and bowed three times to the leading tablets, showing proper respect, and said reverently, "I, your unworthy descendant Tongya, offer my respects to the revered ancestors and elders... I respectfully inform you all: Our family has striven diligently through seven generations to cultivate grains. My fatherid the foundation with cultivation techniques, thereby connecting us to the Dao. I, the younger generation, work tirelessly from dawn till dusk, always cautious and alert, not daring to make a mistake."
His eyes moistened slightly, and he bowed deeply before continuing, "For years, old grievances have lingered¡ªmy eldest brother was in, Western barbarians invaded and cursed my younger brother, and an expert from the immortal sect devoured my youngest sibling... Only I, Tongya, is left to manage the household alone now, holding it together for forty-two years. I have finally established my immortal foundation, and I hope this brings somefort to all of you!"
Li Tongya straightened up after he had finished. Though he held anger in his heart, he bore no resentment. He had killed many too, invading east and expanding west. In the murky depths of this worldly pond, everyone was helplessly swept along.
He turned to the tablets of his two brothers and Li Yuanxiu. Due to pressure, he couldn''t even ce Li Chejing''s tablet there. Li Tongya silently cupped his fist without saying much.
Li Tongya finally stepped forward and pushed open a stone door before waving his hand gently, illuminating several mana-powered candles within the stone chamber. He bowed deeply, then reached out to pick up the mirror on the stone tform.
The moment he touched it, his mind suddenly brightened. Simrly, the mirror floated in front of him, glowing much more vividly now. Through a foggy haze, he saw three beams of light descend, transforming into three glowing white pills that rotated inside the mirror.
"Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds!"
Li Tongya was overjoyed at the sight of them. Upon breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, the number of talisman seeds in the mirror had reached nine, filling him with immense delight.
"So, the number of talisman seeds depends on the strength of the one conducting the ritual... When a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator uses the mirror, nine seeds will appear!" he eximed to himself in utter delight.
Li Tongya had worried that the Xi and Yue generation wouldck talisman seeds, but now he felt much more relieved. He bowed deeply and thought to himself, It seems that the power and mystery of the Supreme Yin Profound Light will be significantly changed as well. I wonder how effective it will be against Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators...
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the world within the mirror, Lu Jiangxian slowly exhaled and stood up.
With Li Tongya breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, Lu Jiangxian also benefited from the feedback of the talisman seeds. Though it was not as much as when Li Chejing seeded in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was stillparable to the recovery of a peak Qi Cultivation Realm talisman seed.
"Li Tongya broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm far too easily," Lu Jiangxian murmured as he frowned slightly.
He had observed the entire process of Li Tongya''s breakthrough and knew that Li Tongya attributed it to the effects of the Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds and talisman qi.
However, ording to Lu Jiangxian''s knowledge, these did not increase the sess rate of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. This was different in the Purple Mansion Realm though, as talisman qi would significantly aid in condensing divine abilities.
"The River One Qi Technique and the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman..."
Lu Jiangxian had some suspicions but couldn''t be sure of them. He thought to himself, I''ll wait for the Li Family to seed a few more times before I can decipher such a pattern.
He waved his hand, and the sword that stood atop arge boulder at the mountain peak sprang up immediately. Lu Jiangxian caught the long sword and tossed it lightly.
"Is there anyone else worthy of notice?" he asked the sword.
The sword paused, then slowly released a glow, buzzing deeply before returning to the boulder¡ªmotionless.
"It seems that Li Tongya and Li Yuanjiao''s swordsmanship talents still fall a bit short."
Lu Jiangxian shook his head. Not everyone could receive the power of this sword, which required a talent for swordsmanship that wasparable to that of Li Chejing. Of course, one couldn''t attain Li Chejing''s mastery through mere enlightenment alone. Instead, a sword mark would appear on their brow, slowly elevating the host''s swordsmanship.
Patting the table, Lu Jiangxian picked up a small book on the table, which contained the spells he hadpiled over the past decade. After pondering for a while, a line of words appeared on the book cover automatically¡ªProfound Shamanic Spells.
Dusting off the cover, Lu Jiangxian ced the book back on the table and thought to himself, This shamanic spell isn''t something everyone can practice either... In a few years, when someone in the Li Family has extraordinary spiritual insight, I''ll grant it to them to test what I''ve learned...
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Li Tongya left the ancestral hall, now feeling much better. He checked around the cave dwelling to find that Li Xuanfeng was in seclusion for cultivation, while Li Xuanxuan was studying talisman arts. Li Tongya thought to himself, Qinghong is still with the Fei Family, so I should inform Fei Wangbai and bring her back.
Having made up his mind, Li Tongya rode the wind from Mount Lijing, flying over the deep greenke for a while. Before long, arge ind appeared in front of him, with shing lights and the sounds of thunder and fire echoing continuously. Among the ruins, broken walls and remnants could be faintly discerned¡ªthis was the site of the Moongaze Lake Market.
Seeing the ruins, Li Tongya suddenly felt a stirring in his heart. The market had been destroyed years ago when Chen Taoping from the Lingyu Gate activated the formation. The lightning shattered the formation wedges, creating the forbidden formation.
At that time, Li Tongya was still a Qi Cultivator and could only watch on helplessly. Now, having achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm, he could finally explore this ind.
Li Tongya used his true essence to form a protective shield and descended into the forbidden formation. Thunder roared all around him, lightning striking his shield relentlessly.
His true essence poured out like water, but with his deep mana reserves, he resisted the lightning head-on. With help from the River Crossing Torrential Step, hended on the ind with ease.
After a dozen breaths, Li Tongya finally passed through the formation and set foot on the ind, immediately feeling the abundant spiritual qi and a sense of refreshing rity.
"This ce has more spiritual qi than anywhere else I have seen... If it were not for the forbidden formation, a family would have long imed this ce!" Li Tongya marveled as he calcted his mana mentally. He had consumed over twenty percent of his power, which was equivalent to about fifty percent of a typical early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator''s strength.
All around himy broken walls and ruins, with thick weeds growing everywhere. He stepped forward, carefully avoiding the bones at his feet, and began wandering around the ind.
"After a dozen years, the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators who have passed through here must have looted this ce many times over. There likely is not much left of value..."
Li Tongya wandered about for an hour without finding anything, before finallynding in the center of the ind. The smooth ground was covered in formation patterns.
Originally, there must have been arge structure here, but now only four pale stone pirs of varying heights remained, creating a deste and deserted atmosphere.
In the middle was a deep well, pitch-ck and seemingly bottomless. Li Tongya probed it with his spiritual sense but could not reach the bottom. He thought for a moment before cing his hands on the well''s edge. The well water suddenly surged upward, bringing up muddy water from its depths.
The water gushed on endlessly, rapidly depleting Li Tongya''s sea of qi, and draining another twenty percent of his mana. He drew up a mass of water the size of a small hill, and the well water trickled out like a small stream, flowing away in ordance with the terrain.
Li Tongya was delighted as he beckoned, and a jade box flew out of the well''s bottom. Theplex patterns on the box felt warm to the touch.
Li Tongya flicked his fingers, and the jade box opened, only to reveal that it waspletely empty.
"Huh?!" Li Tongya froze for a moment before letting out augh and said softly, "I have indeede toote."
The box''s contents had obviously been taken already. The person who took them likely wasn''t skilled in water maniption but knew some divine abilities or spells. They had managed to effortlessly steal the contents from a distance, leaving only an exquisite empty jade box in its ce at the bottom of the well.
"Although the contents are gone, the jade box itself is no ordinary item. Its surface is covered in formation patterns, so it can likely store spirit items of even the Purple Mansion Realm... Its material is also unparalleled, so this trip isn''tpletely a waste!"
Li Tongya turned the jade box over in his hands, satisfied, and nodded. He hadn''t hoped for much to begin with, so the discovery of a fine jade box was a pleasant surprise.
He ced the box away and sat down cross-legged to meditate for half an hour before taking to the wind again, breaking through the forbidden formation and heading north.
Chapter 232: Both Families Learn the News
Chapter 232: Both Families Learn the News
Chen Donghended at the foot of Cloud Crowned Peak, where a cold wind rustled through the pines and cypresses. He took a few steps forward and caught sight of a middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe, sweeping the stone path. The broom gently brushed the ground as Chen Donghe approached him.
"Please deliver a message... Tell them that Chen Donghe of the Li Family hase to visit and would like to see Senior Xiao Yongling."
The man in front of him straightened up with a smile, carefully examined Chen Donghe, and replied, "Please wait a moment, Honored guest... I''ll report this right away."
Soon, a small opening appeared in the formation, and Chen Donghe quickly entered. He climbed the stone steps to the small courtyard, where two potted dwarf pines stood by the entrance.
The middle-aged man bowed and left, while Chen Donghe gently pushed open the door to see Xiao Yongling. He wore a snow-white, long, straight-cored robe with a crescent-patterned sash around his waist, all exuding a luxurious aura. His long sword at his waist shone brilliantly, and he looked like he had just returned from elsewhere.
Chen Donghe was stunned into silence by Xiao Yongling''s attire. In the past, Xiao Yongling hadn''t worn dharma robes and had always been polite, so his family''s wealth wasn''t as apparent. Now, dressed inplete luxury, Chen Donghe felt a twinge of envy.
"Greetings, Senior!" he greeted respectfully.
"So it''s you, young friend Donghe..." Xiao Yongling said as he nodded slightly and continued politely, "Does the Li Family need my assistance?"
"Not at all," Chen Donghe answered respectfully with a smile, "Our elder has achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm, so I was sent here to share the good news!"
"What?! Tongya did?"
Xiao Yongling''s expression changed dramatically as he heard this, and he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. His face went through several emotions before he finally sighed after a dozen breaths.
"Brother Tongya has ultimately bested me!" he eximed.
Years ago, when Xiao Yuansi had returned home, he told Xiao Yongling¡ªthen at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, that Li Tongya had reached the eighthyer. Xiao Yongling hadmented that Li Tongya was advancing faster than him and looked forward to seeing who would reach the Foundation Establishment Realm first.
Three years had passed since then. Xiao Yongling had taken spirit medicine and reached the ninth heavenlyyer but still needed time to gather strength for a breakthrough. Meanwhile, Li Tongya had already achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm, leaving Xiao Yongling with a mix of emotions. His lingering discontent finally dissipated, turning into deep admiration.
"Everyone says Li Chejing had extraordinary talent but overlooked Brother Tongya. He may be quiet and steady, yet he''s also a dragon among men!" Xiao Yongling sighed as he gazed into the distance.
He didn''t know that Li Tongya had the assistance of talisman qi and talisman pills, believing that Li Tongya''s independent training in the wilderness was faster than his own cultivation at Cloud Crowned Peak, even with spirit medicine. He let go of thepetitive spirit and grew moreposed.
Chen Donghe waited silently until Xiao Yongling came back to his senses and smiled warmly at him.
"Please congratte Brother Tongya for me!"
Chen Donghe nodded with a bright smile, cing the gifts he carried on the table and exining everything carefully.
Xiao Yongling immediately offered earnestly, "Please stay for a few days, my young friend. First, I need to discuss our families'' marriage arrangement with our ancestors... Second, it is only right to follow proper etiquette. Brother Tongya''s breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm is a joyous asion, and our Xiao Family must show our goodwill!"
"You''re too kind, Senior!" Chen Donghe responded politely. After chatting with Xiao Yongling about the Li Family''s current affairs, thetter waved for the middle-aged man to lead Chen Donghe to the guest room for a rest.
After Chen Donghe left, Xiao Yongling stroked his beard and nodded, a smile lingering on his face.
"Chen Donghe... Not bad at all."
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The Xiao Family typically received guests at Cloud Crowned Peak, however, the main peak was over a hundred li eastward and deep within Lixia Prefecture, where a grand mountain called Mount Xianyouy. Its slopes were broad and imposing.
Mount Xianyou was divided into two parts by a river known as the Yue River. It flowed swiftly, with boatmen often riding its currents from upstream, their songs echoing through the peaks in a captivating manner.
Xiao Yongling flew for an hour andnded between the peaks, where he saw a deep pond surrounded by cold mist. Two old men sat across from each other on a cliff, each holding a fishing rod and fishing in the pond below.
Xiao Yongling took a step forward and climbed the stone steps, approaching one of the old men. He whispered in his ear softly.
"Ancestor, Li Tongya has reached the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Oh?"
The old man raised his eyebrows, and his fishing rod trembled slightly as he spoke softly, "That was quick... That boy must have had some fortuitous encounter."
Xiao Yongling nodded gently and replied respectfully, "Then, regarding the marriage arrangement..."
The other old man at the pond''s edge also raised his head and smiled, "Chuting, I have met Li Tongya, and he is quite capable. In my opinion, we should marry one of our daughters to them and have them send one over to us... Both families will benefit from this arrangement."
Xiao Chuting nodded and raised his fishing rod. The water of the cold pond below exploded with a thunderous roar as the snowy water surged upward, climbing nearly halfway up the cliff before an invisible force pushed it back down, creating a crashing sound like thunder.
Boom!
As Xiao Chuting reeled in the rod, a shimmering silver dagger was pulled out. He raised his snowy-white eyebrow before grinning proudly.
"A fine catch!"
Xiao Yongling stood mesmerized, but Xiao Chuting waved his hand and said softly, "Let Yuansi handle this!"
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Meanwhile, at Fei Residence on cial Cloud Peak...
The cool moonlight fell gently as Li Qinghong sat on a treetop, swinging her feet back and forth. The soft, pale moonlight enveloped her, highlighting her delicate face.
"Sister Qinghong!"
Fei Tongxiao took a few leaps through the woods and climbed up to the treetop. He walked along the branches with a bright smile and said eagerly, "Sister Qinghong, you seem in good spirits today to be moon-gazing today!"
"Junior Brother," Li Qinghong politely acknowledged him with a nod and asked, "Are you looking for me to practice spear?"
Fei Tongxiao hesitated briefly before stuttering, "N-No! Just moon-gazing... moon-gazing..."
Li Qinghong saw his expression and couldn''t help but chuckle, leaving Fei Tongxiao momentarily dazed. His breath quickened, and his face flushed as he said softly, "Sister Qinghong, I..."
"Junior Brother..."
Li Qinghong stood up on the tree, shook her head, and smiled. "That''s not right. Life is fleeting, and there is little time to admire the moon... We should spar instead. I have made progress this month, and you probably won''t be able to beat me!" she teased, her eyes twinkling in the moonlight.
Fei Tongxiao was interrupted mid-sentence, his face turning pale. He looked downcast and conflicted, trying to muster the courage to speak, but Li Qinghong had already jumped down from the treetop. Her clear voice echoed through the woods.
"Junior Brother, let''s go up the mountain and spar!"
Fei Tongxiao watched her disappear into the forest and bit his lip in frustration. He jumped down to the ground, where a group of Fei Family''s disciples were gathered. One of them peeked out and remarked with some envy, "That rogue cultivator''s daughter, Ye Qinghong, is really quite striking, and her figure is charming too... besides, she is already at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Brother Tongxiao has good taste!"
Fei Tongxiao nced at him with irritation and shook a fist at him threateningly, which immediately sent the boys scattering off in all directions. Only a young man in white remained, leaning against a tree, looking down at Fei Tongxiao.
Fei Tongxiao whispered, "Brother Yu."
Fei Tongyu stood with his arms crossed and smiled softly, replying, "Fei Tongcai is not acting with good intentions, bringing those people to mock you... Li Qinghong saved your face, so do not bother her again."
Fei Tongxiao looked up indignantly and protested, "But I did not even say anything!"
Fei Tongyu shook his head, his eyes gleaming. When mentioning Li Qinghong, he spoke with admiration, "Some things remain unspoken yet are already asked, while others are left unsaid yet still answered. Li Qinghong is only sixteen, but she is both radiant and charming, cheerful and graceful. Yet, she is also measured and gentle... No wonder you are infatuated."
Fei Tongxiao felt both sad and angry, twisting his hands together. Fei Tongyu nced at him and said with a smile, "Li Qinghong is stubbornly independent. If you cannot even beat her, how can you gain her respect? Focus on cultivating. Our Fei Family is full of refined gentlemen. Give it a few more years, and when you mature, no female cultivator will be able to resist you."
Fei Tongxiao was stunned and suddenly seemed to realize something, his face lighting up with joy. He nodded andughed. "I understand now!"
He then rushed up the mountain, leaping through the forest after Li Qinghong. Fei Tongyu watched him disappear from view and chuckled, shaking his head. From behind a tree stepped out a middle-aged man, elegantly fanning himself. He was none other than their father, Fei Yihe.
"You always know what to do!" Fei Yihe praised him but heard no response. He turned to see his eldest son lost in thought.
Noticing his father''s gaze, Fei Tongyu snapped out of his daze and looked up, asking, "What is it, Father?"
Fei Yihe felt uneasy seeing his eldest son so pensive and was worried that he might have missed something. He quickly asked in a low voice, "What have you so deep in thought? Is something wrong?"
Fei Tongyuughed heartily and shook his head, saying, "Li Qinghong is certainly impressive and a direct daughter of the Li Family..."
Fei Yihe sighed and gritted his teeth, then pinched the bridge of his nose before kicking Fei Tongyu''s leg, making him cry out in pain. He then scolded angrily, "Perish the thought!"
Chapter 233: Patterned Brocade
Chapter 233: Patterned Brocade
Li Qinghong walked alone at the mountain summit, her white deerskin boots crunching the perennial snow underfoot. She brushed her loose hair behind her ears and walked with her hands sped behind her back.
"Grandfather... I wonder how he is," Li Qinghong wondered out loud as she pressed her lips together and pondered to herself.
It''s only been three years... Grandfather is likely still refining his cultivation. Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm is a life-and-death ordeal; it''s not easy.
"Sister Qinghong!" Fei Tongxiao trotted up behind Li Qinghong, smiling as he was about to speak. However, he didn''t expect the grand formation of cial Cloud Peak to slowly activate, and a strong voice reverberated across the peak.
"Rogue cultivator Wan hase to visit. Please open the mountain gate, Senior!"
These words brought a smile to Li Qinghong''s lips, and her almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise as she murmured with joy, "It''s grandfather!"
Fei Tongxiao, standing behind her, stiffened. His heart felt empty, but he forced a smile and stepped forward. "Congrattions, Senior Sister!" he said, feigning excitement.
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Li Tongya descended on cial Cloud Peak, where Fei Wangbai greeted him warmly. Wearing a silver-white brocade robe, he looked even more handsome in the falling snow. With a cupped fist, he said, "Congrattions on your breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, truly transcending the mundane!"
"You''re too kind, Senior!"
Li Tongya''s attire was much simpler this time, a gray robe with white cloud-patterned sleeves and a long sword on his back. He did not appear smug about his achievement but politely cupped his fist and answered, "I am here to disturb you again today... I apologize for the trouble."
The two of them stepped into an elegant pavilion on the mountainside and sat down on the white jade terrace at the top floor. Fei Wangbai swung his sleeves, shaking off the snowkes, and smiled.
"Congrattions, Brother Tongya!"
Li Tongya joined him and epted the tea. He took a slow sip before smiling warmly. "I have been in seclusion for three years and only now see your handiwork, Senior... The Yu Family waspletely caught off guard."
"Ah." Fei Wangbaiughed heartily and shook his head.
"It is just a precaution my father put in ce years ago. The Yu Family did not anticipate it and suffered a great loss. When Yu Yufeng broke through to the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, my father, who led the household, sensed that something was amiss. He went to the Milin''s mountain ranges and chose several locations where earth veins converged. He spent a few years nting secret formation points and buried nine talismans in each one... When my father returned, he sought me out and said, ''The Yu Family grows ever stronger, but I left these formations to shake the earth veins of the Milin mountains. They may be useful one day.'' Not long after, he attempted a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm but perished, and the formations remained undiscovered until the Yu Family surveyed the earth veins and built a market there."
"I see!" Li Tongya nodded and praised, "Your father was truly farsighted."
Fei Wangbai sighed and shook his head before continuing solemnly, "As for the Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivator on the eastern shore, he is a friend of mine. He is at the early stage of Foundation Establishment Realm and is only staying here to give Yu Mugao a scare."
After putting down his teacup, Fei Wangbai chuckled softly before a hint of puzzlement crossed his face.
"It took me five years to break through, and Yu Xiaogui needed over five years as well... but Brother Tongya... you managed it in just three years. It really is surprising! Truly, you are a man of exceptional talent."
Li Tongya maintained a serious demeanor and cupped his fist, humbly saying, "It is mostly due to the Essence Gathering Pill. Senior''s praise is too kind... I am unworthy of it."
"Oh!" Fei Wangbai had never seen an Essence Gathering Pill, so he listened credulously. He quickly shook his head andughed. "You are good in every way but too humble. ording to proper etiquette, you can just call me Wangbai... Calling me ''Senior'' makes me feel rather old!"
Li Tongya couldn''t help butugh and shook his head, unable to resist Fei Wangbai. He conceded and said seriously, "Wangbai, just as you did not expect, Yu Xiaogui won''t expect it either. This is an excellent opportunity to suppress the Yu Family!"
Fei Wangbai also became excited and ced his white jade teacup down, saying softly, "Fellow cultivator He from the western shore has been wary of the Yu Family for a long time. If we call upon my friend as well, the four Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators can make the Yu Family suffer a significant loss! Of course, that is not to mention any other reinforcements Brother Tongya might bring along as well!"
Li Tongya nodded as snowkes drifted past him. "This cultivator He... is he the Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivator, Daoist He, from the western shore?" he asked.
The families on the western shore were mostly small ns at the Embryonic Breathing Realm, scattered like stars, but one Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivator named Daoist He stood out.
With no children of his own, he built a small temple in the mountains and took in six or seven disciples, collecting tributes from the families. Daoist He had a close friend in the Azure Pond Sect who served as a protector and had little ambition, content with living among the western shore families.
"That''s right," Fei Wangbai replied,ughing. "This Daoist He has a longstanding grudge against Yu Yufeng, the Yu Family''s ancestor in seclusion. It is said that Yu Yufeng once took away an opportunity from Daoist He, and he has been resentful ever since, troubling the Yu Family repeatedly. Later, when Yu Muxian joined the Azure Pond Sect, someone came down to mediate and the conflict stopped."
Li Tongya suddenly understood and nodded silently. Fei Wangbai extended a finger and said softly, "But... we cannot ignore Yu Muxian. He is still a disciple of a high sect, though it is unclear how highly he is regarded there. Brother Tongya, could you ask the Sword Immortal? We should align our actions with the situation."
"I understand." Li Tongya nodded calmly and tapped the white jade table before answering, "My fourth brother once cultivated within the peak. The Qi Cultivation Realm disciples of the immortal sect do not wield much power, but they do protect their family''s bloodline. As long as Yu Muxian has not reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, and we are not nning to wipe out the Yu Family, there should not be too much trouble."
Li Tongya, naturally cautious, thought for a few breaths before shaking his head.
"Nheless, I will first ask someone to look into the situation."
Fei Wangbai nodded with satisfaction and extended a finger, speaking softly, "Do we kill the old one... or the young one?"
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow before stroking his chin, a smile slowly appearing.
"Patience, Brother Wangbai... If we are confident enough, we could even kill their ancestor."
Fei Wangbai nodded thoughtfully. The two chatted briefly as the wind and snow on the mountainside grew heavier, making the scene obscure.
The snowkes slid away from the two of them, and Fei Wangbai smiled. "I have not made a move in years... and I am itching to fight. Brother Tongya, how about a little sparring?" He grinned.
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow with a confident smile.
"Sure."
As soon as this word left his mouth, the two soared into the air. Fei Wangbai''s silver-white brocade robe fluttered lightly in the falling snow and he smiled.
"Since this is a friendly sparring match, I will show my immortal foundation."
Fei Wangbai''s two white brocade sashes fluttered in the air as he stood tall and handsome, proiming, "This is Patterned Brocade!"
His silver-white brocade robe swirled in the air, and he tied a cloak with crescent moon patterns around his shoulders. He swept his spear outward, sending a fierce energy wave toward Li Tongya.
"Boundless Ocean!"
As Li Tongya spoke, the waterfall and springs at the foot of the mountain roared to life. The clear river water leaped up as if given life, surging toward the sky above Li Tongya immediately at hismand.
Clink Clink Clink Clink...
Fei Wangbai''s long spear, wrapped in a silver-white qi, had not yet struck before dozens of water swords flew toward it, striking like falcons pouncing on their prey.
Fei Wangbai chuckled softly and whirled his spear, spinning his cloak in the air. The water swords missed and were swept behind the cloak. Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, grasping the sword at his waist. Seeing Fei Wangbai charge forward, he drew his sword.
A moon-white arc leaped from Li Tongya''s sword. Fei Wangbai had heard that Li Tongya''s sword draw was especially remarkable, so he used his spear to block the iing sh swiftly. He was forced backward a single step but absorbed the rest of the force with his cloak.
The subsequent sword strikes poured down like torrential rain on Fei Wangbai, who didn''t back down. His spear danced like pear blossoms, blocking each sword.
He would strike from beneath his robe or behind his cloak asionally, interrupting Li Tongya''s sword moves and gaining time to catch his breath.
Below, some on the mountainside poked their heads out to watch. The two separated after the initial sh, but the heavy wind and snow obscured their figures in the air.
The Fei Family disciples below could only sense the Foundation Establishment Realm aura, but couldn''t see them through the snowy sky.
Chapter 234: Qinghongs Ambition
Chapter 234: Qinghong''s Ambition
After dozens of exchanges, Li Tongya finally sheathed his sword, and the surging river water transformed into dozens of clear water swords that hovered quietly. The remaining waves floated around him, enveloping himpletely.
The cold climate formed tiny ice crystals on the water surrounding him, asionally releasing a string of ice kes that fell.
Fei Wangbai also stood with his spear lowered. His cloak turned into numerous ribbons before dissipating into spiritual qi. The wind and snow gradually subsided, and Li Tongya''s water control technique dissipated.
The river water fell like torrential rain but froze into a hailstorm before reaching the ground, pattering against the mountainside.
"Brother Wangbai, your spear technique is truly impressive," Li Tongya praised as he gradually withdrew his energy andnded next to the jade table.
Fei Wangbainded with a smile and said softly, "Everyone knows Brother Tongya''s swordsmanship is superb, but they do not realize your water control technique is just as good."
After this exchange, both understood each other''s methods better, making them more prepared for future cooperation. Sparring is far more effective than mere verbal exnations, revealing weaknesses and strengths alike.
Theyplimented each other for a while, and Li Tongya shook his head with augh before looking up with a smile. "My Qinghong has arrived."
With a flick of his finger, Fei Wangbai opened the pavilion door with a creak. A girl came up the stairs, d in white and holding a spear. Her smile was radiant like an autumn crescent moon¡ªit was Li Qinghong.
"Greetings, Master!"
She greeted Fei Wangbai cheerfully first before turning toward Li Tongya with a beaming smile.
"Greetings, Grandfather! Congrattions on breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Both elders hummed and nodded in acknowledgment. A boy also peeked out from between the floors before cupping his fist respectfully, then stood quietly to the side.
"This is my grandson, Fei Tongxiao," Fei Wangbai introduced him with a smile and then paused.
"Well..?" he asked expectantly.
Li Qinghong and Fei Tongxiao, seemingly unaware of what was happening, stood watching the elders. To them, the two men appeared to be sitting across from each other in silence.
Clearly, Fei Wangbai had cast a spell, and the two were unknowingly caught in an illusion.
Li Tongya nced at them and understood what Fei Wangbai implied. He shook his head and replied, "My Qinghong is a Foundation Establishment seed... I cannot bear to let her marry anywhere; and if she does not agree, our family will not marry her off."
Fei Wangbai shook his head with regret. He had watched Li Qinghong grow up for the past three years and thought highly of her, but he could only apologize for his presumptuousness and changed the topic.
After chatting briefly, Li Tongya put down his cup and said with a smile, "We have imposed for years... Qinghong, thank Senior."
Li Qinghong bowed gracefully and thanked him. Li Tongya then took out several jade boxes from his storage pouch and said softly, "Brother Wangbai, a small token of appreciation for taking care of this child."
Fei Wangbai couldn''t refuse and gracefully epted with a wave of his sleeve. After chatting for a bit more, Li Tongya cupped his fist in farewell and flew away with Li Qinghong, leaving Fei Tongxiao standing dejectedly in the pavilion.
"Tongxiao."
Fei Wangbai sipped his tea and said softly, "Find time to cultivate. Do not fall too far behind others, or you will only be left with empty thoughts."
Fei Tongxiao respectfully nodded and left. Fei Wangbai gently put down his cup and whispered with emotion, "What a pity... That girl is too talented."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya flew over theke, and the deep green water shimmered beautifully below him. The hour waste, and the pale moonlight fell gently upon them. Beside him, Li Qinghong was in a wonderful mood, her lips constantly curling up into a smile.
On one hand, she was happy that her elder at home had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, providing reliable support... On the other hand, she was excited to see her family after many years.
Li Qinghong felt a surge of joy, and if Li Tongya hadn''t been beside her, she might have started singing.
"Qinghong, That boy from the Fei Family seems to fancy you... What do you think of him?" Li Tongya suddenly asked with a smile.
"Ah." Li Qinghong hadn''t expected Li Tongya to ask this, and after a few moments of surprise and reflection, she answered firmly, "I have no interest in love, nor do I want to be anyone''s wife or concubine..."
Li Qinghong''s almond-shaped eyes shone brightly, and her dark hair tied at the back of her head fluttered in the evening breeze over theke. The moonlight lit up her rosy lips as she dered, "Though I am not a man, I aspire to condense my six chakras and cultivate my divine abilities... I want to hunt down demons and protect the realm, wielding my red-tasseled spear as heroes falter and immortals bow their heads!"
Li Tongya hadn''t expected such words from Li Qinghong. He listened with a shiver, staring at her smiling face. After a few breaths, he spoke, his voice gentle yet firm.
"That''ll be difficult."
Li Qinghong''s determination only grew as she grabbed Li Tongya''s hand and said softly, "I want the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique!"
"No." Li Tongya shook his head and refused her right away, speaking indignantly, "The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique was derived from a Grade Four cultivation method and is a secret technique... Though lightning is powerful, the technique is too aggressive. It will render you infertile and even shorten your lifespan."
"Grandfather, I know about that!" Li Qinghong nodded and said through clenched teeth, "I seek the power of lightning, I desire that Foundation Establishment Realm spear in our family''s possession. I do not intend to marry or be someone''s concubine, this technique is the one I want most."
Li Tongya sighed and shook his head, advising, "You still have a few more years to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm... You should think it over again."
Li Qinghong responded respectfully to the advice. As she looked up, Mount Lijing came into view from afar, cloaked in a faint golden formation. With her parents and siblings in sight, Li Qinghong felt uplifted.
Meanwhile, Li Tongya furrowed his brow, feeling a mix of emotions within his heart.
"Qinghong is ambitious... I wonder if that is a blessing or a curse."
Hended on the mountain with Li Qinghong, where Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling were already waiting. Li Xuanling, not having seen his daughter for years, was ovee with tears.
Li Xuanxuan stepped forward and spoke softly, "Second Uncle... someone from the Xiao Family is here. Senior Xiao Yuansi has been waiting in the courtyard for a while."
Li Tongya had been smiling but was taken aback by this news. He quickly turned and followed Li Xuanxuan into the house. Stepping over the threshold, he saw Xiao Yuansi sitting to one side, holding a jade slip.
Li Tongya adjusted his gray robe and cloud-patterned sleeves, respectfully bowing as he greeted, "Greetings, Senior. I''m sorry to have kept you waiting!"
Xiao Yuansi put away the jade slip and had a conflicted expression on his face. He sighed as he replied, "Not at all... I suppose I should now address you as a fellow Daoist."
Xiao Yuansi had watched Li Tongya rise step by step to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. When they first met, Li Tongya had only been a lowly cultivator at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm; now, he had achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Xiao Yuansi sighed but saw Li Tongya solemnly bow and cupped his fist as he said, "Senior has shown my family immense kindness, instructing us like a mentor. Such praise is overwhelming for a junior like me."
Xiao Yuansi chuckled, visibly more rxed.
"This is a joyous asion... Do not worry too much! I''m sure Chejing is pleased with your progress."
Li Tongya took a seat while Xiao Yuansi smiled and said, "Our ancestors made a marriage arrangement with your family years ago... Do you remember it, Tongya?"
Chapter 235: Chi Wei (I)
Chapter 235: Chi Wei (I)
"I dare not forget." Li Tongya nodded.
Xiao Yuansi ced his tea bowl down, saying warmly, "Our two families should establish a marriage alliance and support each other...Does the Li Family currently have any unmarried direct descendants?"
"Indeed, we do," Li Tongya replied respectfully and used his mana to send a voice transmission to Li Xuanxuan.
"Bring up all of the Yuan and Qing generation... except for Qinghong and Yuanyun."
Li Xuanxuan hurried off to make the arrangements while Xiao Yuansi studied Li Tongya carefully and said with a smile, "If I''m not mistaken, you have established your immortal foundation through the River One Qi Technique, which we traded with your family. It should be called Boundless Ocean."
"That''s right," Li Tongya replied, cupping his fist.
Xiao Yuansi became serious and said, "Achieving one''s immortal foundation is significant. Since you have seeded, I should give you some advice."
"Please do, Senior!"
Seeing Li Tongya respond earnestly, Xiao Yuansi sipped his tea and said softly, "Boundless Ocean and our Man On Creek share the same origin, these two immortal foundations are closely rted. If you encounter a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator with either immortal foundation, be extremely careful!"
Li Tongya looked up, immediately thought of something and asked, "Are there any taboos?"
Xiao Yuansi nodded and continued, "Boundless Ocean and Man On Creek are types of immortal foundations that the ancient Daoists called Dao Partners... Demonic and devil cultivators refer to them as Shared Pills. Such immortal foundations have many connections and canplement each other, however, If you meet someone with impure intentions, they are likely to..."
Xiao Yuansi paused, struggling to find the right words.
"They might... dig out your own immortal foundation and consume it to supplement theirs," he finished his sentence.
"Consume..?"
Li Tongya was silent for a moment before asking quietly, "Senior, howmon is this practice?"
"Notmon," Xiao Yuansi replied as he shook his head and exined, "First, this method is risky and may cause madness. Moreover, it is hard to find Dao Partners... Consuming them requires considerable skill in alchemy. Second, although it greatly enhances one''s cultivation and makes the immortal foundation more marvelous, the person will be stuck at Foundation Establishment Realm and will not be able to advance to the Purple Mansion Realm. Only those who have no hope of breaking through and are desperate might attempt such a feat."
Li Tongya sighed softly and asked Xiao Yuansi, "Senior, which types of immortal foundations are considered Dao Partners of Boundless Ocean?"
Xiao Yuansi folded his sleeves and replied, "The first is Darkening Clouds, the second is Boundless Ocean, the third is Man On Creek, the fourth is Holding the Ridge, and the fifth is Grieving River Departure."
Seeing Li Tongya carefully noting them down, Xiao Yuansi transmitted more information to him with mana.
"These immortal foundations are also coveted by Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. However, to im an immortal foundation, a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator must first carefully cultivate and imnt a Dao seed starting from Qi Cultivation Realm... We do not need to worry about that."
"I understand, Senior," Li Tongya nodded, finally realizing why Chejing had been targeted by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of the Azure Pond Sect. He sighed softly and smiled bitterly. "A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator may improve their cultivation by stealing an immortal foundation, but they struggle to advance to Purple Mansion Realm... There must also be hidden consequences for Purple Mansion Realm cultivators who take one!"
Xiao Yuansi nodded curtly and became more cautious in discussing the topic, speaking in a low voice, "With proper preparation, Purple Mansion Realm cultivators can gain significant power by taking an immortal foundation. Although it is not as perfect as one cultivated by oneself, it drastically shortens their cultivation time. Naturally, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators seek it eagerly..."
While they were whispering, Li Xuanxuan arrived with the others. Li Yuanjiao held Li Qingxiao''s hand while Li Xuanxuan''s wife followed with Li Yuanping in her arms.
Li Tongya smiled, "These are the juniors of the Yuan and Qing generation in our family. Please take a look, Senior."
The two children looked nervously at Xiao Yuansi. Li Yuanjiao stepped forward and said respectfully, "Greetings from Junior Li Yuanjiao, Senior!"
Xiao Yuansi nced over them, focusing on Li Yuanjiao, who at just seventeen or eighteen had already reached the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He nodded.
"Li Yuanjiao... that''s a good name."
Li Tongya added, "There was originally another eldest child, but he was assassinated by the Yu Family..."
"The Yu Family..." Xiao Yuansi stroked his chin and offered his condolences, speaking softly, "I have heard about them in Lixia Prefecture. When my n uncle reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Yu Family also sent someone to offer congrattions. I have heard their actions are ruthless and tyrannical, and now I have seen it for myself."
After speaking, Xiao Yuansi shook his head and returned to the topic at hand with a smile. "It is just that your n has no suitable girls of age, so I cannot make a proposal. Our family has an unmarried direct daughter who could marry Yuanjiao... What do you think, Brother Tongya?"
"This is out of the question!"
Li Tongya was stunned at how Xiao Yuansi proposed this marriage and immediately eximed, "Such a marriage alliance between our families would be us overreaching! This cannot be allowed..."
"Ah." Xiao Yuansi smiled warmly and continued, "I see that Qingxiao is only about three to five years old and has not grown up yet. We can wait a few years, there is no rush."
Li Tongya dismissed the younger ones and bowed deeply, saying earnestly, "A direct daughter marrying our Yuanjiao is really inappropriate! Please reconsider, Senior!"
"Don''t worry, Brother Tongya! The ancestor favors your n... I''ll handle this, and there will be no problem from our side," Xiao Yuansi said, attempting to persuade him further.
However, Li Tongya remained bowed, saying solemnly, "I know you mean well, Senior, but our family cannot ept it... Please reconsider, Senior!"
Xiao Yuansi paused, thought for a moment, and seemed to understand something. He then said quietly, "I did not consider this carefully... Please forgive me, Brother Tongya."
"You''re too kind, Senior!" Li Tongya replied as he thanked Xiao Yuansi.
Xiao Yuansi then stroked his beard and continued, "In that case, we do have a direct concubine-born daughter named Xiao Guiluan¡ªwho is excellent in character and appearance. She is surely a perfect match for Yuanjiao!"
"Thank you for your understanding, Senior!" Li Tongya immediately agreed, then paused when he recalled something.
"I heard from Donghe that your family''s main peak is called Mount Xianyou, and there is a river named Yue River... Is that true?" he asked.
"Yes," Xiao Yuansi nodded, slightly puzzled.
Li Tongya then asked, "Senior, do you know Xiao Xianyou?"
Xiao Yuansi''s expression immediately grew serious, and with a wave of his hand, the courtyard gate closed tightly. Mana flowed around it, isting them.
"Brother Tongya... how did you learn that name? Xiao Xianyou is from our line and is the ancestor''s second uncle!"
Li Tongya hesitated and then recounted, "I once obtained a sword and when I channeled River True Essence into it, I obtained a secret technique known as River Crossing Torrential Step, which was created by Ancestor Xianyou..."
"Is that true?" Xiao Yuansi was overjoyed at this news. Li Tongya took out the sword, but the emblem of Lingyu Gate had already been reced by a generic engraving. Xiao Yuansi took a closer look at it and shook his head in disappointment.
"It is just a standard dharma sword, with nothing remarkable about it," he said finally.
Li Tongya nodded and pulled out a jade slip, saying softly, "Since this belongs to your family''s ancestor, I''ll return it to you, Senior."
"This..."
A footwork technique was precious, and for Li Tongya to offer it so freely left Xiao Yuansi stunned. He wanted to refuse, but words failed him.
River Crossing Torrential Step held exceptional significance to the Xiao Family, far beyond that of an ordinary Grade Three footwork technique. Xiao Yuansi sighed quietly and said, "Brother Tongya, your integrity is impressive, but I do not know what to offer in return. Is your ncking anything at the moment?"
Chapter 236: Chi Wei (II)
Chapter 236: Chi Wei (II)
The evening wind swept through the mountains, drifting through the forests of Azure Pond Peak before reaching Chi Wei on the mountaintop. His white hair fluttered in the breeze, and his wrinkled eyes squinted.
He reached out to touch his face. He could have used a younger visage, but after living for hundreds of years, Chi Wei no longer cared about beauty... or ugliness.
Scattered figures stood among the clouds. Chi Wei''s reputation was not as prominent as Duanmu Kui''s, but Purple Mansion Realm cultivators from the three states of Yue, Wu, and Xu still came to observe him.
Standing behind him was Chi Zhiyun, his face full of sorrow and reluctance. He watched Chi Wei''s moon-white patterned robe fluttering in the wind and said softly, "Ancestor, the matters in the sect have been resolved..."
Chi Wei remained silent, standing on the mountaintop, facing the evening breeze while he reminisced. He smiled and said, "Zhiyun, what do you think of this man named Chi Wei?"
Chi Zhiyun was puzzled but cupped his fist respectfully and answered, "The ancestor is the cornerstone of the Azure Pond Sect... With immense power, he dominates an era, learned beyond mortalprehension, profound as a deep pool, and possessing extraordinary bearing..."
Chi Weiughed heartily and shook his head as he heard this, then waved his hand. "Dominating an era? I cannotpare with Duanmu Kui and Li Jiangqun. As for being learned beyond mortalprehension, that is nonsense! I am not even a match for that old flood dragon and am inferior to both Xiao Xianyou and Tang Yuanwu," he replied rather bitterly.
He paused, his expression thoughtful and his gaze sharp. Heughed, "...And as for being profound as a deep pool, I''m nowhere near Xiao Chuting."
"Xiao Chuting?!"
Chi Zhiyun searched his memory for this name before finally recalling it, leaving him stunned. He mumbled, "Xiao Chuting... Xiao Chuting... from the Xiao Family in Lixia."
Chi Zhiyun wasn''t stupid. He looked up abruptly and eximed, "Xiao Chuting has broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm?!"
"Hmm..." Chi Wei smiled broadly, then nodded toward a point in the clouds.
Chi Zhiyun mumbled in disbelief, "How could that be?! How did he obtain Purple Mansion Realm techniques, let alone find secret divine abilities... or even have the courage to do so?!"
"Courage..." Chi Wei chuckled hoarsely, "Do not think of Azure Pond Sect as some superior sect that treats all beings like pawns. The world is full of talents scrambling to climb up like fish crossing the river. For the Azure Pond Sect to hold its current position..."
Chi Wei paused, sighing.
"It is like sitting on a hot pan over burning coals!"
Chi Zhiyun simply stuttered, unable to speak, and Chi Wei continued, "You young ones have grown up hearing my name, believing me to be a hero who dominated an era..."
"Is that not true?!" Chi Zhiyun protested indignantly, saying firmly, "You prevented the cmity, drove away the demons, swept across the southern border, and eliminated the monsters... Ancestor, you have saved millions of people. Even if tens of thousands were sacrificed for your cultivation, so what? These people should remember that without our protection, they would not be alive..."
"Humph!" Chi Wei scoffed, shaking his head, "I am but a petty man. From the age of seventeen, when I stole Li Jiangqun''s pouch, to now... at 377 years old, swallowing human pills to extend my life... it is all the behavior of a scoundrel! Shameful to behold!"
"I borrowed Li Jiangqun''s influence and coborated with various sects to eradicate two gates. I destroyed Lingyu, and eliminated Xiao Xianyou. Every year, I harvested families and refined the disciples who absorbed the foundation of moonlight... The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators have all seen this," Chi Wei said as he looked up and smiled, calling out to the dark night sky.
"Everyone above can hear me clearly... Tell me, does that not make me a scoundrel?!"
In the sky, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators looked at each other with varying expressions. Some sighed softly, some sneered in disdain, while others hummed coldly.
After a while, a cool female voice spoke, "If you are not a scoundrel, then who else is worthy of the name?"
"You!" Chi Zhiyun was enraged but remained silent, wary of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators above. Chi Wei simply nodded with a smile. The sunrise was already on the horizon, but he stood still.
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators also watched him silently. They had all lived for at least a century and were in no rush¡ªat least not as much as Chi Wei was.
The rising sun gradually illuminated the world as pure qi floated upward and murky qi sank. The essence of the sun and moon blended harmoniously, creating the perfect conditions for a breakthrough. Divine light began to rise from Chi Wei''s body, and his expression remained calm.
As the celestial energy of the sun and moon reached its peak, Chi Wei''s spiritual sense activated. A faint glow flew out from his Shenyang Mansion¡ªhis divine ability, Heavy Murk¡ªnow in full effect.
Chi Wei took a step forward, and his vision cleared. Two indistinct figures appeared among the clouds. Chi Weiughed heartily and called out, "So, you two are here to collect my remains!"
The two figures had long grown ustomed to the varied scenes of Purple Mansion Realm breakthroughs and hence were not offended by his jest. One of themughed sharply and called out to him.
"Chi Wei... your day has finallye!"
Chi Wei waved indifferently as his appearance grew increasingly youthful and handsome, but there was still a sinister air about him. Four more divine abilities flew out from his body, stirring up the spiritual qi of the heavens and earth that danced around him.
The five divine abilitiesbined into one radiant light, weaving together and transforming into five colors: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. They merged and soared, and one figure from above muttered, "He''s using the Five Elements Command Metal Technique..."
Chi Wei flicked his fingers, and a pill appeared in his hand, radiating colorful light and emitting a rich fragrance. Its brilliance illuminated the surroundings, and the observers above craned their necks, murmuring in curiosity.
"Oh?"
The two indistinct figures noticed this phenomenon as well. One of them asked sharply, "What kind of pill is that?"
The other squinted and replied softly, "Judging by its appearance, it should be Lake Moon Autumn."
"Indeed."
The first figure, after examining Chi Wei''s other immortal foundations,ughed and said, "That is also a viable method!"
Chi Wei put the pill into his mouth and waited for a few breaths, but only felt faint movement. Panic set in, and his expression shifted rapidly. He was clearly going through a range of emotions. Anger and fear appeared on his face as he shouted in anger, "Old flood dragon! How dare you deceive me with a fake pill?!"
The five-colored light drawn by the divine ability continued to burn, gathering into a bright point of light. The two indistinct figures above snickered in unison. "Chi Wei! You''ve been swindled!"
All the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators widened their eyes, pointing at the glowing light. Chi Wei quickly adjusted his mindset and sighed with closed eyes. He pushed his palm forward, summoning the essence of the sun and moon to pour into the light.
Five bright and light-colored beams gradually emerged above the light, floating downward before slowly fading away. The light point grew brighter while the colored beams vanished.
"Indeed, not as good as Duanmu Kui..."
Those above exchanged thoughts through their spiritual senses, while the two indistinct figures in the sky prepared their techniques, awaiting the emergence of the metallic essence.
Chapter 237: White Hair
Chapter 237: White Hair
Chi Wei''s divine ability red brightly in the sky until it burned out, leaving only a tiny, translucent point of light pulsing rhythmically, apanied by the cries of a newborn.
Chi Wei''s now youthful, handsome face showed resignation and relief as he murmured softly to himself, "This is the end."
BOOM!
Before he even managed to finish speaking, his body crumbled, disintegrating into particles that scattered as white and gray dust, leaving smoke trails like dragons in the sky.
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators above whispered to each other. One of them remarked, "Chi Wei could not even condense the metallic essence..?"
Another Purple Mansion Realm cultivator looked up at the two blurry figures and heard one of themugh sharply. "I knew your divine ability is Heavy Murk, so why pretend?"
The envoy pped his hands, pulled out a gray, andughed. "I even borrowed the exalted immortal''s Nine-Layer Attribute Net, just for a beast like you."
He pinched one corner of the, cast it out, and pulled hard. His arms stretched into long strips like noodles, mimicking a tugging motion in the air. Heughed sharply. "You cannot escape!"
The tightened, forming a twisting spherical shape in the air. The other figureughed heartily, reaching out to help pull. The metallic essence screamed shrilly but was slowly subdued.
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators looked on in silence, feeling a sense of shared sorrow. Below them, Chi Zhiyun was already in tears.
After securing Chi Wei''s metallic essence, the two figures turned to the other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and said, "We''ll take our leave now, Fellow Daoists."
After that, the two figures grew even more blurry and disappeared. The rest of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators also dispersed, leaving only a few standing in the air.
"The Azure Pond Sect has now lost its pinnacle Purple Mansion Realm cultivator... They will need to make substantial reparations!" A cool female voice came from above.
Immediately after, a refined, noble voice chimed in, "Absolutely, absolutely!"
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators listened with mixed expressions. A heavy, nging voice asked, "Why are you getting involved in this mess, Fox? Is Mount Dali''s Demon Cave also going to intervene?"
The youthful voiceughed yfully before responding, "I am just listening in... Why are you all so sensitive? Though my ears can pick up whispers from lowly cultivators, it is much better to hear things directly."
Chi Zhiyun listened quietly from below. The remaining four Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in the sect slowly ascended, and the heavy, nging voice said, "Fellow Daoists, let us test our true capabilities through action."
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"I wouldn''t dare ask for anypensation!" Li Tongya responded with a gentleugh.
Xiao Yuansi shook his head repeatedly and exined, "My ancestor''s original name was Xiao Jinzhou... He used the alias Xiao Xianyou of Lingnan while traveling to avoid implicating the family. Since this is a Grade Three footwork technique, he had to make it harder to decipher."
Li Tongya nodded and said, "My family has a daughter named Li Qinghong, who excels at spear techniques. However, her cultivation method is unique and unsuitable for marriage, so I did not bring her to meet you, Senior."
He deftly shifted the topic to Li Qinghong, subtly using this to transition the conversation and continued, "But my family doesn''t have many legacies andcks noteworthy spear techniques... If your n has any, could my granddaughter study them?"
Xiao Yuansi nodded. The Xiao Family was aware of Li Qinghong but had not seen her in years since she was hiding with the Fei Family. They had even assumed she was dead.
After thinking for a few moments, he answered, "We do have a Grade Three spear technique called Wing Clipper... But that footwork technique is precious, and exchanging it for a spear technique would be unfair to you."
"Let''s do this instead..." Xiao Yuansi shook his head as he continued, "Apart from the spear technique, my family will owe your n a favor... That should be fair."
Li Tongya cupped his fist, genuinely touched.
"You are truly noble, Senior!"
Xiao Yuansiughed, and after exchanging a few words, Li Tongya asked, "Senior, are you familiar with Yu Muxian?"
Xiao Yuansi raised his eyebrows thoughtfully, "This person is a disciple of Yuanwu Peak... If I remember correctly, he should be between the sixth and seventh heavenlyyers of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He has some talent as a weaponsmith."
He nced at Li Tongya and asked softly, "Do you have ns for the Yu Family? Given Yu Muxian''s current position, the Azure Pond Sect would not protect the Yu Family if there was internal unrest."
Li Tongya nodded and then asked, "What about Yu Yufeng?"
Xiao Yuansi paused before answering seriously, "Ancestor Chuchou has fought him before... Yu Yufeng is strong and should not be underestimated."
Li Tongya fell silent for a moment, determination surging within him.
"Senior, do you think your family would help me kill this person..?" he asked finally.
"Kill Yu Yufeng..." Xiao Yuansi sighed and replied, "My family would have no problem helping, but this is not a good time for us to make a move. Moreover, killing Yu Yufeng silently is nearly impossible... Using Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators alone would create a disturbance that would offend Yuanwu Peak and many others."
Xiao Yuansi''s hesitation was evident, and Li Tongya couldn''t bear to put him in a difficult position. He promptly cupped his fist.
"I understand, Senior! If this option isn''t feasible, my family will find another way. Do not trouble yourself over it!"
But Xiao Yuansi gritted his teeth and waved his hand, saying solemnly, "Well it''s not entirely impossible..."
He thought for a few moments and continued, "I will present the River Crossing Torrential Step to convince the ancestor. Perhaps we can kill Yu Yufeng quietly while Azure Pond Sect is distracted by Chi Wei''s death..."
"That would be excellent!" Li Tongya''s eyes lit up as he bowed deeply and said earnestly, "Then I must trouble you, Senior... Do as you see fit, and if it does not work out, there is no need to force it."
"I understand." Xiao Yuansi nodded. After confirming the marriage between Li Yuanjiao and Xiao Guiluan, he then took the jade slip of River Crossing Torrential Step and flew off.
Li Tongya escorted him out of the formation before returning to the courtyard, where Li Xuanxuan greeted him with a worried expression.
Having overheard Xiao Yuansi''s intention to marry a daughter from the Xiao Family''s main lineage, he spoke anxiously, "Second Uncle... Could the Xiao Family have ns to annex our family? If so, marrying even this concubine-born daughter is worrisome!"
With nearly ten Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, the Xiao Family''s power was enough to make Li Xuanxuan uneasy.
Even though the Xiao Family was willing to marry off a daughter from their main lineage, the Li Family didn''t dare ept such an arrangement. If anything happened to Li Tongya, that daughter could easily serve as a springboard for the Xiao Family to annex the Li Family.
"That should not be the case," Li Tongya shook his head slightly as he dispelled such thoughts. "Senior Xiao Yuansi spends his years refining pills on the mountain... Hecks the experience of managing a household, so his good intentions may have led to this oversight. The rtionship between the Xiao and Li families remains strong, so we need not worry about this for three generations."
He raised his head and said quietly, "I am more concerned about Xiao Guiluan, though. Senior Xiao said she is a clever girl, but we do not know her personality. Yuanjiao is already leading the Yuan generation, so if his wifees from a powerful family, I am worried that the next generation could face unrest."
Li Xuanxuan paused, surprised by Li Tongya''s foresight. He then remembered that Li Yuanjiao had been adopted by Li Chejing and was not considered part of the eldest lineage.
Thoughts of Li Yuanxiu made him sorrowful, and he spoke softly, "Right now, we cannot think too far ahead. With you around, Second Uncle, any problems can be suppressed."
Li Tongya shook his head and sighed deeply. "What good is suppression? If brothers hold grudges in secret, trouble will only surface after the elders pass away. The more I have seen of this, the more I fear it. We can only wait to find out what kind of person this Xiao Guiluan is."
Li Tongya looked quietly in the direction of the Xiao Family in Lixia Prefecture. He was already over sixty, and although reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm made him look younger, his temples were still graying, and he was beginning to show signs of age.
The moonlight was like water, and the evening breeze lifted his slightly gray hair. Li Tongya''s mind shed back to the busy, humble old man he once was, and he murmured a realization to himself quietly, "Overthinking has made my hair turn white."
Chapter 238: Chuting
Chapter 238: Chuting
"Xiao Guiluan..." Li Yuanjiao mumbled as he strolled along the stone path, bathed in moonlight.
Wearing a ck robe, his mind was filled with mixed emotions as he was soon to be married, but had yet to meet his bride. He pressed his lips together silently, feeling both excited and uneasy.
After walking for a while, he arrived at the small courtyard. He gently removed his jade crown, allowing his dark hair to cascade freely in the wind. His ck hair was straight and silky, just like his mother''s. He let it hang loose as he took a step forward and gently knocked on the wooden door.
"Mom."
The sound of footsteps approached, and the courtyard''s wooden door creaked open. The servant greeted him and let him inside. Mu Yalu stood in the courtyard with a warm smile and spoke softly, "Jiao''er..."
Li Yuanjiao entered and sat down, taking the tea bowl offered by the servant. After waving the servants away, he spoke quietly. "Has Mother made things difficult for you?"
By Mother, he was referring to the main wife, Madam Dou. Although he had a close rtionship with Li Yuanxiu, he worried that Madam Dou would make trouble for Mu Yalu out of hatred for losing her son.
"No," Mu Yalu shook her head, a trace of pity shing in her eyes. She continued softly, "She knows about the adoption. Although she lost Yuanxiu, she has Yuanping to care for and treats me fairly well... She is astute and knows that Yuanping will likely need your help in the future, so she is kind to me."
"That is good," Li Yuanjiao nodded with a small smile and continued, "The family has arranged for me to marry a woman named Xiao Guiluan... She is from a prominent immortal n, a direct descendant but born of a concubine. She possesses a spiritual orifice and is said to have reached the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
"What?! An immortal n?"
Those words spun around in Mu Yalu''s mind, filling her with anxiety. After a while, she mumbled, "An immortal n''s daughter... Will she be headstrong? How should I, as her mother-inw, meet her?"
"I don''t know," Li Yuanjiao replied. He could not help but smile at her reaction, teasing her a little. But after a few moments of calming herself down, Mu Yalu grew serious and there was an urgency in her voice when she spoke.
"Jiao''er... Are you really not going to be the head of the family?! Things are different now, and you should consider carefully... You are the leading figure of the Yuan and Qing generation, and Yuanping has congenital deficiencies and cannotpare with you. Now that you are marrying an immortal n''s daughter, if you do not take the headship, what will others think?"
Li Yuanjiao shook his head and replied quietly, "I''m not interested in it; leave it to Yuanping. And as for what others think..."
Li Yuanjiaoughed heartily and ced his sword on the table, saying softly, "Once I reach the Qi Cultivation Realm, I will find a ce to cultivate and rarelye down from the mountain. That way, I will have fewer worries. As for Yuanping managing the family..."
Li Yuanjiaoughed and shook his head, signaling Mu Yalu toe closer before whispering, "Mom, do not forget my half-brothers. Now, they each control their own territory. They worry that I will take over and are also afraid the family headship will go to another branch. They prefer Yuanping as head, and with their support, who can cause trouble?"
Mu Yalu nodded, sighing silently. She held back many concerns, unsure where to start. It wasn''t Yuanping''s ability to manage the family that worried her. With Li Xuanxuan and Li Yuanjiao around, even if Yuanping could only nod in agreement, he would hold his position securely.
She thought to herself, The greatest threat is my son... The brothers are harmonious now, but who can guarantee filial loyalty for future generations? If one branch is too strong while the other three are weak, with a powerful inw family, it''s dangerous.
Her anxious thoughts left her uneasy. She spoke softly, "Jiao''er... Yuanping is not the problem, but Xiao Guiluanes from a strong background... You are the leader of the Yuan and Qing generation, and our branch is strong while the others are weak. If you do not take the family headship, and your descendants start harboring ideas..."
"Mother!" Li Yuanjiao abruptly cut her off, as if he understood what she was about to say, and smiled.
"Our family does not raise cowards!"
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Xiao Chuting stood silently in the northern wind at a high altitude, gazing toward the Azure Pond Sect. The divine abilities of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators shed in the sky, releasing colorful radiance. He exhaled lightly, and the divine abilities within him stirred restlessly.
"It''s been over three hundred years..."
He looked into the distance where Azure Pond Peak appeared intermittently among the clouds, surrounded by autumnal colors. Lights of mana often swirled down, and below, mortals hawked their wares.
Over five prefectures, families, and countlessmoners had been feeding the Azure Pond Sect for over three centuries, building up others'' cultivation.
At the age of twelve, Xiao Chuting had stood beside his Second Uncle, Xiao Xianyou, at the same spot. Xiao Xianyou had exined in detail how the Azure Chi Devil Gate used various bloody methods to drain blood from mortals, rogue cultivators, and families.
"I have heard that Mount Yue has an immortal foundation aptly named Blood Drinker! If this divine ability became a metallic essence and escaped those two''s grasp to witness the world''s scenery, it wouldugh its head off, feeling utterly humbled!" Heughed.
Xiao Chuting listened in bewilderment and asked, "I heard there was a battle between immortals and demons at Pingming Ford that caused the death of many exalted immortals and destroyed the celestial order... Is that true?"
Xiao Xianyou remained silent as he took a swig from his gourd. "That is exactly what should happen..." he replied dejectedly.
Frustrated, Xiao Chuting asked, "Why? If I were in charge, I would support rogue cultivators externally and unite families internally, make disciples work the fields, have cultivators look after the people, overthrow Azure Chi, and create a new world!"
Xiao Xianyou said nothing and just smiled. It was only then Xiao Chuting realized he had boasted too much and felt ashamed.
After Xiao Xianyou died and Xiao Chuchou left in anger, the family declined. When Xiao Chuting was left to manage the family, he finally learned that the Xiao Family was also "drinking the people''s blood", albeit less tantly.
If Xiao Chuting wanted to change everything, he would have to kill his uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters and watch the Xiao Family fall. But then, new families would just rise again and do the same thing, even more openly this time.
The mountains and rivers of Lixia Prefecture undted before his eyes, and the bloody cmity seemed to have passed. People wandered through the empty alleys while a variety of wolves prowled outside the city, their glowing green eyes waiting and longing for human flesh. That disaster had satiated them, so to this day, they remained obsessed with the taste of human flesh.
Divine lights gradually rose from Xiao Chuting and rippled across the sky, like ake disturbed by a stone. His voice echoed, carried by his divine ability in all directions.
"Xiao Chuting of the Lixia Xiao Family has advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm today! ording to custom, the Xiao Family will separate from the Azure Pond Sect and proim itself a Purple Mansion Immortal n. In three months, we will hold a ceremony, and all are wee to attend!"
Chapter 239: Qiuyangs Experience
Chapter 239: Qiuyang''s Experience
"Xiao Chuting of the Lixia Xiao Family has advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm today! ording to custom, the Xiao Family will separate from the Azure Pond Sect and proim itself a Purple Mansion Immortal n. In three months, we will hold a ceremony, and all are wee to attend!"
"Lixia Xiao Family..."
Divine abilities rippled through the sky like waves, passing from Lixia Prefecture over Moongaze Lake, Mushroom Forest in, and Azure Pond Peak, all the way to Lin''an Prefecture. Mortals looked up, puzzled, while cultivators nced at each other before soaring up and inquiring among themselves.
"Xiao Chuting?"
"He actually dares to publicly announce his real name? Is he not afraid to die?"
"Is that not Xiao Family''s expert in alchemy? Another Purple Mansion Immortal n has emerged..."
Cultivators rose into the air and bowed respectfully to Xiao Chuting. He stood in the sky when a blue-robed man appeared in the distance, surrounded by the radiance of his divine abilities.
He cupped his fist and praised, "Congrattions on breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm, fellow Daoist! I am Ning Tiaoxiao from the Azure Pond Sect. On behalf of the sect, we offer you the five western towns of Lixia as a congrattory gift for attaining mastery of the divine abilities and wish you great sess in refining your Golden Core."
Xiao Chuting smiled gently and replied, "My family has served the sect faithfully for over three centuries and is still grateful... In the future, we hope the immortal sect will continue to look out for us."
Hearing this, Ning Tiaoxiao beamed andughed heartily. "You are an understanding man, fellow Daoist... The Xiao Family will surely prosper!"
He then adopted a more serious tone. "Si Yuanbai was framed by a viin and has now been released from the tower. The sect has alreadypensated him for his losses. If my subordinates have caused offense, I hope we can mend rtions."
Xiao Chuting nodded with a smile as more figures appeared beside him, surrounded by the radiance of their divine abilities.
"Congrattions from Golden Tang Gate!"
"Best wishes from Changxiao Gate!"
A crowd of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators gathered around him, their smiles masking the fact that they had once viewed peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, such as Xiao Chuting had been, as expendable.
The brilliance of their divine abilities radiated, making them appear ethereal. Even a three-eared fox demon perched on a cloud to look down at him with a grin.
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"Xiao Chuting of the Lixia Xiao Family has advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm today!"
The echoes continued unabated.
Li Tongya stood at the peak of Mount Lijing and looked up slowly, his expression full of delight. He said in a low voice, "To think that Chi Wei died so quickly..."
Beside him, a young man holding a golden longbow raised his head slightly and said softly, "Good riddance."
Li Tongya gripped the sword in his hand and spoke in a low tone, "This is important. Three monthster, I will personally visit the Xiao Family. Meanwhile, dispatch Donghe to convey our congrattions."
Li Xuanfeng acknowledged the instruction and slung his bow over his back, then rode the wind down right away. Before long, Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling had hurried up the mountain, both with joyous expressions.
Li Xuanxuanmented, "Chi Wei is finally dead! The Azure Pond Sect is now in chaos and has lost some influence over the various prefectures."
"Indeed!" Li Xuanling nodded enthusiastically and added, "Now, the Xiao Family controls most of Lixia Prefecture, making Moongaze Lake a remote, isted enve only connected to Mushroom Forest in by a few roads. Moongaze Lake is adjacent to Golden Tang Gate and Mount Dali, and beyond the desert lies the Golden Feather Sect. The Azure Pond Sect will inevitably have a period of weakness ahead, and Moongaze Lake is the tricky, undesirable burden for them that is hard to control."
Li Tongya nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "In a few months, I will attend the Xiao Family''s ceremony and inquire about these matters with Xiao Yuansi."
"Understood."
Both men cupped their fists respectfully, but Li Xuanxuan frowned with some worry and said, "If we are going to celebrate this achievement of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm, we cannot attend empty-handed... Offering spirit items of the Qi Cultivation Realm would look shabby, but our supply of Foundation Establishment Realm treasures is depleted. What should we do?"
After a few moments of thought, Li Tongya replied, "We must present a gift of the Foundation Establishment Realm. The Xiao Family is on good terms with us, and we are also relying on them, so we must not cut corners."
"Do not worry about the Foundation Establishment Realm treasures; I will visit the fox at Mount Daliter. If there is no news, I will head to Mount Yue." He paused for a moment and then asked, "How many Spirit Stones are left at home?"
Li Xuanxuan understood Li Tongya''s intention and replied quickly, "The Spirit Stones offered annually by Mount Yue umte each year. After meeting the needs of the family''s cultivators, there are about a hundred remaining. Adding the various items looted from Mount Yue before, the totales to about two hundred."
Li Tongya nodded and instructed gently, "Good, bring them over. This should be enough to buy some decent precious medicine, so we can rest easy."
He waved his hand, and the two withdrew. Soon after, a n soldier approached with his head bowed. He looked at Li Tongya with reverence and said respectfully, "Ancestor, Li Qiuyang requests an audience."
"Qiuyang?" Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, immediately guessing Li Qiuyang''s intentions. He then responded in a low voice, "Let hime up."
After a while, a figure appeared on the stone path, draped in a green robe. His temples were graying and his face showed slight wrinkles, marked by guilt as he bowed deeply before him.
"Congrattions on breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, n Uncle!"
Li Tongya hummed in response. Seeing that Li Qiuyang''s cultivation remained stuck at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm with his vitality declining and his spirit now dejected, Li Tongya remarked gently, "I remember you went into seclusion to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm years ago... It seems it has not worked."
"I am deeply ashamed!" Li Qiuyang sighed with remorse, bowing his head.
"I took the family''s Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique and Cave Spring Clear Qi into seclusion for a long time but failed to absorb the spiritual qi of heaven and earth. Instead, I lost some years of my lifespan... wasted the family''s spirit pills... I..." he stuttered in shame and guilt.
Seeing Li Qiuyang in tears, Li Tongya sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm are both mortal realms... Once you''re over sixty and your vitality starts declining, cultivation bes increasingly difficult. Only upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm can one somewhat limit signs of aging. You have already passed fifty, and your chances were slim from the start. Do not be too hard on yourself."
He patted Li Qiuyang''s shoulder and said gently, "Right now, the only option is to consume various unrefined qi to advance to the Qi Cultivation Realm. If you wait any longer, you might not even be able to obtain any unrefined qi!"
Consuming unrefined qi was much easier than refining normal spiritual qi. In those days, Shamoli took only a year to break through after consuming unrefined qi, while others like Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling needed three to five years, showing the clear difference between the two methods.
"Understood. Thank you, n Uncle!" Li Qiuyang said as he nodded silently.
Li Tongya advised, "You are an elder of the family and the first elder to advance to Qi Cultivation at your age. You took spirit pills and the family''s secret medicinal pills without sessfully breaking through, showing how challenging it is. Your lesson will help future Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators over fifty understand the benefit of unrefined qi and avoid futile efforts that only shorten their lifespan."
The secret medicinal pills naturally referred to talisman pills. Over the years, Lu Jiangxian converted several talisman qi of the Qi Cultivation Realm into talisman pills, resulting in abundant reserves in the Li Family. They didn''t dare to sell them casually due to their ability to help cultivators break through minor stages.
Li Qiuyang swore a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath before receiving one to speed up his progress by several years.
Li Tongya''s words immediately improved Li Qiuyang''s mood. Offering his experience for the benefit of younger generations, he felt his loss of lifespan was worthwhile.
Cupping his fist respectfully to Li Tongya, Li Qiuyangmented, "I do not mind if n Uncle finds thisughable, but in my youth, I had a fateful encounter with a spirit fruit. My early cultivation progressed rapidly, and I believed I was destined for great things... I never expected it wouldter hinder my path. The swift changes between fortune and misfortune are beyond words. If future generations learn from my experience, perhaps they will avoid detours, and it would have been worthwhile."
"Indeed."
Li Tongyaforted him with a few gentle words, then took out a jade vial, performing incantations that conjured droplets of crystal-clear talisman water in the air. He collected them into the jade vial and then sealed the vial with a spell before handing it to Li Qiuyang.
Chapter 240: Jing Dragon King
Chapter 240: Jing Dragon King
Seeing Li Qiuyang step forward to receive the bottle with both hands, Li Tongya advised once more, "You failed to break through and damaged your body... This talisman water was condensed from my own immortal foundation and cannot be stored for long. Take it twice a day for three days, meditate carefully, and perhaps you can recover a little."
"Thank you, n Uncle!" Li Qiuyang thanked him gratefully as he epted the bottle and bowed deeply.
Li Tongya then asked with a smile, "I heard that you took a kid from the Chen Family as your disciple... It has been several years now. How is he?"
Li Qiuyang nodded.
"His name is Chen Mufeng, a member of the Chen Family, from the same lineage as Donghe. His talent is remarkable... even better than mine! He is now twelve years old and has just reached the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by this revtion. "He is indeed promising. You have taught him well!" he praised.
Li Qiuyang repeatedly shook his head and answered, "The boy is a hard worker. Donghe''s lineage has always been remarkable! I suspect his ancestors were not ordinary men at all."
Li Tongya made a mental note of this before dismissing Li Qiuyang. He sheathed his long sword and then flew toward Mount Dali.
He traveled along the mountain paths he was familiar with, until he reached a cliff. Arge banyan tree with pale leaves stood on the slope, its white leaves drifting to the ground. It covered the area with a beautiful dappled white pattern.
As expected, arge red fox was sleeping under the tree. The moment Li Tongyanded, the fox''s ears pricked up instantly, squinting warily before lying back downzily.
"Chi Wei is dead! Even his metallic essence was taken away... The Emissaries of Death specially brought a dharma artifact just to capture his metallic essence," it squeaked.
"Metallic essence?" Li Tongya asked quietly. He had heard rumors before that the metallic essence was the key to forming the Golden Core, the source of the mysticism of the Golden Core Realm cultivators, often transforming into various divine objects.
However, he was unfamiliar with the Emissaries of Death, and his curiosity was very much piqued.
"Who are the Emissaries of Death...?" he asked.
The fox flicked its tail before shooting a fleeting nce at Li Tongya, and it was about to respond when it suddenly jumped up, its eyes wide with surprise. It eximed loudly, "You... you broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Li Tongya nodded lightly, and the fox''s expression immediately drooped. It rolled on the ground, grumbling, "Aaaaaah, how annoying! I am still stuck between the sixth and seventh heavenlyyers of the Qi Cultivation Realm, while you have already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm... It is frustrating!"
The fox was quite blunt, saying whatever was on its mind, which brought a smile to Li Tongya''s face. The fox eventually sighed weakly, "I don''t know all that much... I was only repeating what I heard the demons above me say."
Then, it lifted its head, sniffing at Li Tongya before grinding its teeth.
"What kind of immortal foundation did you cultivate?"
Li Tongya paused briefly and replied gently, "Boundless Ocean."
"Boundless Ocean...?"
The fox cocked its head in confusion and stroked its whiskers for a moment, when suddenly its eyes widened as big as saucers, as if hit by sudden realization.
"It''s the Jing Dragon King!"
"Jing Dragon King...?" Li Tongya repeated. Now it was his turn to be puzzled.
The fox chuckled and exined, "Is it the immortal foundation that grants the ability to predict droughts and floods by studying water channels, enter the water without disturbing crabs or fish, and has the ability to create talisman water?"
"It is!" Li Tongya confirmed. Initially, he had intended to keep it a secret, but he noticed that this fox was already well-informed, so he cupped his fist and simply admitted it.
The fox continued with a smile, "In ancient times, this immortal foundation was called the Jing Dragon King, often formed by snake and dragon demons... That is how it got its name, and it is said to be a good one."
It paused for a moment, smiling as it took the Spirit Rice handed over by Li Tongya, then added, "There was once a Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivator who practiced the Jing Dragon King in the northern foothills of Mount Dali... He came into the mountains a few times to y demons, but hecked insight and offended several demon generals. Hence, they chased him away. I saw that battle myself and have been keeping an eye on this immortal foundation ever since, so I know a bit more about it."
Li Tongya nodded inprehension. The fox rolled over to find afortable position to lie down and asked, "So, what orders does this esteemed Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator have for me today?"
Seeing the teasing expression on the fox''s face, Li Tongya knew it was joking and replied, "I would not dare give orders... but do you know where to find valuable medicinal herbs in the mountains, my friend?"
"Medicinal herbs..? Most are already imed, though some might still remain hidden..." it mumbled.
The fox raised its head, waving its paw. "But if I knew where to find them, would I leave them for you? I would have already eaten them to improve my cultivation. These herbs in the mountains are like the Spirit Paddies you cultivators nt. Each one is recorded in the demon den''s ledger, carefully monitored by demons, and immediately taken away when ready. It is best not to covet them! If you were a rogue cultivator, you could steal them and run away. However, considering your family lives at the foot of the mountain, offending the demon den would not be wise."
Li Tongya nodded lightly and expressed his thanks for this information. After thinking for a few moments, he asked, "If there is nothing to find in the mountains, do you know where else I could seek these medicinal herbs? A senior of mine has made a breakthrough, and we are closely connected to his family. We rely on them, so we are obliged to offer a respectable gift."
The fox swayed its tail and pointed its paw toward Mount Yue, replying, "Right now, the only ce left to search is within the territory of Mount Yue. There are just a few Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators over there. As long as you carefully navigate around them, you will find that Mount Yue does not specialize in farming. Much of thend is dense forest, and if you search diligently for a few years, you will likely have made some valuable findings."
"Thank you, my friend!" Li Tongya nodded as he sighed inwardly, already formting a n as he thought to himself, In just three months, how could I expect to find something so easily? I''ll still have to spend this money after all! Hmm... I''ll first check out Mount Yue territory, and then visit the surrounding markets.
The fox''s ck, beady eyes darted around as it asked tentatively, "What kind of gift requires valuable medicinal herbs? Is it for a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator? That senior of yours... could it be the new Daoist Master of the Xiao Family?"
Li Tongya had known this White Banyan Fox for decades, so after some brief contemtion, he decided to answer honestly.
"Yes, it is for that Daoist Master who has recently separated from Azure Pond Sect. Our family intends to forge an alliance with them."
The fox narrowed its eyes thoughtfully for a few moments before its expression changed. It eximed, "That Daoist Master cultivates a divine ability known as Man on Creek, and your Boundless Ocean is one of its Dao Partners... You must be careful not to consume any pills or herbs given by them. Do not follow in your younger brother''s footsteps and be someone''s supplement!"
The fox''s concern was genuine, and Li Tongya nodded appreciatively, saying quietly, "The Xiao Family specifically brought up the topic of Dao Partners with me, intending to be transparent to avoid such suspicion. As for the pills..."
Li Tongya carefully recalled, and after digging through distant memories, he spoke with a serious expression, "I only received one medicine powder from the Daoist Master back when I was in the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... That was the only instance, so it shouldn''t be a concern."
"Make sure you stay aware is all."
The fox lowered its head and gloomily counted the Spirit Rice as it replied, "I came down from the demon den and do not have many friends in the mountains... There are plenty who want to eat me, though. I imagine your world is not much different. I have to protect myself, and you should avoid being eaten too. For at least a hundred years, you and I can still chat under this tree."
Li Tongya stared nkly at the fox for a moment before chuckling softly.
"Agreed."
Chapter 241: Achievements Through Generations (I)
Chapter 241: Achievements Through Generations (I)
"Dividing off the eastern mountainous region, offering treasures from the southern border to the old flood dragon, and keeping the Purple Smoke Gate in the north allied and rtively quiet, while being cut off by Xiao Chuting to the west..." Chi Zhiyun muttered as he sat silently on the radiant throne, holding his forehead in distress.
He felt deeply uneasy, only now realizing what Chi Wei had meant. At this point, the Azure Pond Sect was like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
No sooner had Chi Wei died than the Xiao Family dered themselves an immortal n. Several other immortal sects had continually tested the waters, and families across various prefectures had grown restless. If not for the four Purple Mansion Realm cultivators holding the fort, things would have already gone awry.
Now, the only option is to appease and keep the Xiao Family neutral, while firmly suppressing the families. As long as there are four Purple Mansion Realm cultivators within the sect, nothing too drastic will happen...
Chi Zhiyun thought of how the Xiao Family had produced four Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators overnight and ground his teeth in fury. He struck the armrest heavily and cursed out loud.
"What an annoying n!"
While he remained deep in thought, a person approached and reported respectfully, "Sect Master, Linghai Prefecture has been in turmoil... A group of devil cultivators incited rogue cultivators to attack the market established by our Azure Pond Sect. Fortunately, several peak masters arrived in time to disperse the crowd and capture a few impoverished rogues."
Chi Zhiyun raised his head in disbelief, asking in a stern voice, "How could this happen? How dare these rogue cultivators assault our immortal sect''s market?!"
The man hesitated for a moment before replying, "ording to the peak masters, it seems these people have been bewitched by devil techniques and acted in madness. This is no trivial matter!"
"Devil techniques..?"
Chi Zhiyun froze for a moment. In ancient times, people would always say devils should be killed on sight. Nowadays, few distinguished between immortals and devils. If anything, it was most likely a curse spell.
"Don''t worry about them for now," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
The man cupped his fist in acknowledgment before continuing, "Si Yuanbai has left the tower, gathered his belongings from the Azure Pond Peak, and left without speaking to the Daoist Master. He headed out on his own."
Chi Zhiyun chuckled and nodded.
"Let him do whatever he wants."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya bid farewell to the fox and continued heading east with the wind,nding at the market on Cloud Crowned Peak. Now that Xiao Chuting had attained the Purple Mansion Realm, the market felt different, frequently hosting cultivators who arrived specifically to discuss the Xiao Family.
Li Tongya found a spirit medicine store. Inside, a Qi Cultivation Realm apprentice was counting medicinal ingredients behind the counter. Spotting Li Tongya, he immediately stood up and walked over with a weing smile.
"Old Master, are you here to purchase some herbs?"
"Yes, good medicine," Li Tongya replied with a nod.
The apprentice was momentarily stunned before dropping to his knees.
"Might you be a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator..?" he asked nervously, head bowed.
"Yes," Li Tongya answered softly.
With that confirmation, the apprentice fell prostrate, bowing repeatedly and struggling to speak.
"I... I apologize for myck of manners! Please follow me upstairs, Senior..." he stammered.
Li Tongya was at a loss for words, surprised by the reverence given to Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. He wanted to speak but remained silent when he noticed the apprentice trembling, simply ascending the stairs without another word.
The second floor was furnished much morevishly, with several Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators busy browsing the counters for ingredients.
As Li Tongya walked through the door, all eyes turned toward him instantly. The moment their spiritual senses came in contact with his aura, they quickly withdrew it in shock and greeted him respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior!"
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Seeing how cautious the Qi Cultivators were, and sensing the sudden hush in the shop, Li Tongya waved his hand somewhat awkwardly.
"Continue as you were... I''m only here to find some ingredients."
"Understood!"
The cultivators awkwardly resumed their browsing but exchanged uncertain nces with each other, eventually leaving one by one until the entire shop was empty¡ªexcept for Li Tongya.
The shopkeeper, though business was disrupted, stered on an ingratiating smile and said respectfully, "What would you like, Senior?"
"Do you have any spirit medicine?" Li Tongya asked.
The shopkeeper frowned slightly at this, and he stammered, "Selling spirit medicine is forbidden under the orders of the Azure Pond Sect... Only the immortal sect itself can handle such transactions."
Li Tongya paused and reflected on the earlier presence of Qi Cultivators, a suspicion forming in his mind. He murmured quietly, "It seems this market is no longer of use to Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators..."
The shopkeeper responded respectfully, "Senior, Cloud Crowned Peak Market provides spirit items and dharma artifacts mainly for the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realm. It is rare for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to visit here. However, you may find useful information from the nearby ns... Some of them might have what you are looking for."
He continued, "Only a few markets in Yue State have spirit items and artifacts suitable for those of the Foundation Establishment Realm. In the past, the Moongaze Lake Market attracted many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Unfortunately, it is no longer active."
Seeing Li Tongya deep in thought, the shopkeeper offered an obsequious smile and continued, "You should ask around... The immortal ns on the peak, the Yuan Family at Mushroom Forest in, and the Yu and Fei families at Moongaze Lake might know where to find the spirit medicine you''re looking for."
Li Tongya nodded, though he couldn''t help but inwardly chuckle to himself.
Buying spirit medicine from the Xiao Family just to give it back as a gift is quite absurd!
Observing Li Tongya''s expression, the shopkeeper asked carefully, "Senior, may I inquire which family you are an ancestor of, or which peak you cultivate at? I can gather information for you and bring any updates if theree any."
Raising an eyebrow, Li Tongya realized that this shopkeeper was smart and bold indeed, trying to find a powerful patron. However, he couldn''t reveal his identity, as only close allies and immediate family knew of his recent breakthrough. Moreover, it wasn''t time to intervene in this market yet. He waved it off dismissively.
"I am just a rogue cultivator."
The shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead and apologized profusely. Li Tongya didn''t mind this and, noting the shopkeeper''s shrewdness, left him an open-endedmand.
"Keep your ears open... I will return in a few years."
The shopkeeper brightened at this and nodded repeatedly as Li Tongya ascended on the wind, vanishing above the market. Finally, wiping his brow, the shopkeeper murmured, "With a Foundation Establishment Realm n supporting us, we could move closer to the market center and avoid being pushed around."
His apprentice stepped forward and whispered, "How can you be sure? What if he is really just a rogue cultivator? Would we not be inviting trouble?"
With a sly grin, the shopkeeper replied, "The senior was seeking spirit medicine directly and openly, which are not something rogue cultivators can easily afford. His aura wasmanding, indicating high status... Even at worst, he would at least have a small temple. I see you still have much to learn!"
"Yes!" the apprentice acknowledged. The staff, now cheerful, resumed organizing their herbs with renewed energy.
Chapter 242: Achievements Through Generations (II)
Chapter 242: Achievements Through Generations (II)
Li Tongya ascended on the wind, while the Cloud Crowned Peak market below grew smaller.
He mused to himself, Our family is backed by the mountains, producing many herbs and spirit items... Having a shop in the market is essential. With alchemy recipes and furnaces at home, establishing a lineage of alchemists is crucial, and medicines are indispensable. This clever and bold shopkeeper could be usefulter on, so I''ll keep him as a potential asset.
Reflecting on how others had reacted to his presence, he was deeply moved. He had always known Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were respected, but not to such an extent.
He recalled how when Si Yuanbai descended from the sky, the Li brothers could only muster a facade of bravado. Now, having reached the Foundation Establishment Realm himself, he was among the same rank, being addressed as "Ancestor" and on par with a peak master of Azure Pond Sect.
"There are the three sects, seven gates. Azure Pond had thirty-six peaks and most Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, around forty of them... The Golden Feather Sect and Yue Cultivating Sectbined have fifty or so, and the remaining seven gates have around fifty to sixty. Adding in the various families and rogue cultivators, Yue State likely has just over two hundred Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators."
With a poption of millions and tens of thousands of cultivators, only a little over two hundred were at the Foundation Establishment Realm, highlighting their rarity.
Though the Li Family couldn''tpare to the Xiao Family, they had solid foundations nowpared to other families. With the support of their talisman seeds, Li Xuanfeng was on the path to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"As for the Purple Mansion Realm..." Li Tongya sighed. After meeting so many people, only his fourth brother Li Chejing and An Jingming showed potential to reach the Purple Mansion Realm. Adding those with mere passing encounters, perhaps Ning Wan could be included.
"Xuanxuan and Xuanlingck spiritual orifices and rely on talisman seeds... Reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm was already a huge feat for them. Xuanfeng is too fierce and wild. He is good at killing men and demons, but likely will not reach the Purple Mansion Realm. Yuanjiao and Qinghong have better talents, but not to a monstrous level. With talisman seeds, they might have a chance at the Foundation Establishment Realm, but Purple Mansion Realm is still a long shot... Who knows how many generations it will take for the Li Family to produce someone like that?"
He then sighed into the open sky, chastising himself for being too impatient.
Then he muttered, "One or two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators should be enough to maintain the family legacy while slowly umting more... The Xiao Family needed three hundred years for a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator to emerge. The Li Family is not even a hundred years old yet, so demanding more is pointless!"
Refocusing his thoughts on the spirit medicine, he considered the ns he could approach.
"The Xiao and Yu families are out of the question, and the Fei Family is as poor as ours... The Yuan Family has not had much contact with us. However..."
An idea suddenly struck him, and he thought to himself, There''s one ce worth checking out... I should speak to that person! Since we''re neighbors, this is the perfect opportunity to form good rtions.
Having made up his mind, Li Tongya rose into the air and headed west.
"Li Yuanjiao!" Li Qinghong called out as she approached with a big smile. Her clear voice snapped Li Yuanjiao out of his thoughts.
He grunted angrily and scolded, "Li Qinghong! It has been three years, and you cannot even bring yourself to call me big brother?"
"Heh."
Li Qinghong nted her long spear on the ground. The red tassel fluttered in the air as her crimson robe swayed gently in the breeze. "Are you thinking about my future sister-inw?" she teased.
Li Yuanjiao blushed, letting out a humph. He smiled and drew his sword, feigning anger.
"Still so cheeky. Call me big brother!"
With that, he raised his sword to fend off Li Qinghong''s sharp spear. Theyughed as they sparred for dozens of exchanges. Li Qinghong''s spear skills had improved significantly, causing Li Yuanjiao to raise an eyebrow in surprise. Despite this, he did not shy away from taunting her relentlessly.
"You spent all those years with a n and only learned this much?" He chuckled.
Li Qinghong didn''t respond but swung her spear even more fiercely. They both employed the River Crossing Torrential Step, though neither was very skilled at it. Each one would execute half a move for every full one of the other, each taking turns gaining and losing the upper hand.
After reaching a stalemate, they burst intoughter and stopped their sparring, sitting down to chat.
"Qinghong, your spear skills have greatly improved, and your cultivation has also increased. Those three years with the Fei Family were not wasted!" Li Yuanjiao praised, speaking earnestly this time.
"Brother, you do not know this, but the spiritual qi concentration on the Fei Family''s cial Cloud Peak greatly surpasses ours. Moreover, they have a vast territory and many peaks, so it is no wonder they produce so many Qi Cultivators," Li Qinghong replied with a smile.
Li Yuanjiao wiped his brow and sheathed his sword. With augh, he said, "Is that not the truth? If our family did not have Mount Huaqian and Mount Yue to support us, where would our steady supply of Spirit Ricee from? We would not even be able to pay the family''s tributes! Our elders and we juniors alike would probably dy our breakthroughs by three or four years."
The two locked eyes. Li Qinghong said softly, "Brother, you are absolutely right. From my perspective, without the family''s expansion and prosperity, how could the branches and ns be aspliant as they are now? People are motivated by profit and fear death. The ancestor uses intimidation, and the elders cate with benefits... This is the way to achievesting stability."
"I never thought you would have such insight," Li Yuanjiao teased her before saying seriously, "You have indeed hit the nail on the head. With our eldest brother gone, it is up to you and I to lead our generation... We must n carefully to maintain control over the various ns and branches."
Li Qinghong''s sincere nod showed her agreement, and Li Yuanjiao appreciated her understanding, feeling the mutual trust between them deepening.
Suddenly, he recalled something, his expression changing as he asked in a grave tone, "I heard from the elders that you intend to practice the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique? Father asked me to dissuade you... Qinghong, if you have something on your mind, why not share it with me?"
Li Qinghong nodded slowly and spoke softly.
"That''s right... The technique is exceptionally powerful and perfectly matches a dharma artifact in the family. I love the spear, so how could I not be tempted by such a technique? My branch already has Yuanyun to carry on the lineage, so I am free from such a burden... Not being able to bear an heir is no problem."
Li Yuanjiao could only nod. After three years apart, both siblings had made great progress. They exchanged thoughts and judged people, appreciating each other''s growth.
Looking up, Li Yuanjiao noticed a streak of lighting from the east. "Uncle is back from his hunt! His Golden Age Longbow is truly dazzling," he remarked with awe.
Li Qinghong''s mood dimmed as she responded softly, "Do notugh at me, brother... I am ambitious, so I understand him well. Uncle is skilled in the art of killing but is constrained within the small world of Mount Liqing. I fear he is not content. People like him are meant to roam the world like the heroes in novels, settling scores freely, but he is confined to this mountain. Naturally, he is frustrated, though he never expresses it."
Li Yuanjiao froze for a moment, realizing this for the first time. He raised an eyebrow and asked quietly, "Do the elders know...?"
Li Qinghong pursed her lips before replying, "How could they not know? They see it but are wary of the circumstances and say nothing. Every elder carries their burdens, all for the family."
Li Yuanjiao remained silent, gripping his sword tightly. After a long pause, he sighed.
"With our family''s strength currently, it will take several generations to build an immortal n."
Chapter 243: Meeting Fei Luoya
Chapter 243: Meeting Fei Luoya
Li Tongya rode the winds westward, crossing the Big Fish Creek that marked the boundary between Eastern Mount Yue and the Li Family''s territory. He flew over Shamoli''s pces, venturing deeper into Mount Yue territory.
As he journeyed west, the jungle thickened. The viges appeared more deste and dpidated now, their dirt roads strewn with abandoned skeletons.
The living¡ªemaciated to the point where their skin was tightly stretched over bones¡ªcrawled on the ground, boiling the white bones in broken pots to make a grayish soup. They were surrounded by howling and hungry jackals, waiting for the people to fall.
Li Tongya observed silently as he flew over the vibrant Lijing Town, the nicely renovated homes of thousands of households in Eastern Mount Yue, then to thends of Mount Yue where bones littered the ground and where beasts devoured humans.
He nced briefly at the skeletal, emaciated people who looked up as he passed, then continued westward on the wind.
Several dozen li westward, where human settlements became slightly more frequent but equally dpidated, he finally caught sight of a dark mountain with what seemed like a temple built atop it.
Li Tongyanded before the mountain, noticing many ckened heads impaled on stakes. As soon as his feet touched the ground, the eyes of the mounted heads snapped open, and those that still had their mouths intact began wailing.
"Living people! Living people!"
Li Tongya waited quietly until a man in simple robes, his hair disheveled and eyes pale, approached. The man, a Qi Cultivator at the sixth heavenlyyer, squinted at Li Tongya. Then, with rtive politeness, he cupped his fist and greeted him before saying, "Please follow me up the mountain."
Li Tongya shook his head, smiling, "Your master''s curse is truly bizarre... I dare not ascend. Please have hime down."
The man with pale gray eyes removed a head from a stake with a grin before heading up the mountain. The remaining heads closed their eyes, dead once more.
After a few moments, a figure dressed in borate clothes with a storage pouch tied at his waist descended from the mountain. He wore the attire of a cultivator but bore the features of a Mount Yue native, and he was holding a dark gourd.
ncing at Li Tongya, he eximed in surprise, "Li Tongya? You have achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm?!"
"Greetings to you, Senior Fei Luoya!" Li Tongya greeted as he recognized the man in front of him.
This person was indeed the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from Mount Yue who, years ago during the division of Mount Wu, had beenpelled by the Xiao Family to cede parts of Eastern Mount Yue to the Li Family.
Upon seeing Li Tongya''s sessful advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm, Fei Luoya became significantly more polite.
"I expected no less of a sword immortal n. To establish your foundation in just a few years is indeed enviable."
While he spoke courteously, it was evident that Fei Luoya was still preupied with the old grievances between their families, his expression somewhat strained. However, given Li Tongya''s background and newfound strength, he dared not show open displeasure but instead forced a smile.
"You tter me, Senior," Li Tongya said as he cupped his fist, adding, "It has been many years... I deeply regret any offenses from the past, and I am grateful that you bear no grudges, for which the Li Family is thankful."
"Haha." Fei Luoyaughed dryly. Li Tongya continued with a few more pleasantries, easing the atmosphere significantly, making Fei Luoya continue politely, "So... What brings Brother Tongya here?"
Li Tongya nodded and replied, "Living next to each other, our families should have had a better rtionship... However, we have not interacted due to long-standing issues, and I deeply regret this. Senior''s capabilities are formidable, and I, Li Tongya, hold deep respect for you and wish to ease the tensions between us."
"Oh, you''re ttering me," Fei Luoya replied as he raised an eyebrow, his expression having improved significantly.
Li Tongya then continued, "I have a good friend who needs a spirit herb to collect its properties... Despite offering a hefty reward, I have yet to find the desired item. Considering the spiritual richness within the Mount Yue territory, Senior, you must possess many such precious spirit herbs, which could earn you a handsome profit."
Fei Luoyaughed heartily, believing that he understood Li Tongya''s intent. "I see Brother Tongya is eyeing that substantial reward, nning to mediate and take a cut for yourself."
Li Tongya smiled faintly and nodded in response. "Senior is insightful. Indeed, it is a way for us both to make money. With the abundance of precious spirit herbs in Mount Dali and Mushroom Forest in, I sought out the Senior rather than others... Is this not also a gesture of goodwill?"
Upon reflection, Fei Luoya found Li Tongya''s words rather sensible. He indeed had several precious spirit herbs lying around, unused.
Li Tongya then added, "This is a long-term deal, not just an affair of a day or two. If Senior wishes to mend ties with my family and earn this money, then let us coborate."
Fei Luoyaughed loudly and replied, "Since Brother Tongya has put it this way, where is there any reason for me to refuse?"
Li Tongya, having previously forced Fei Luoya back, had already noticed that this man spent his days cultivating in Mount Wu, not mingling with the secr world. He was someone fierce on the outside but tender-hearted, and having been frightened by the joint efforts of the Xiao and Fei families, he was actually terrified of Li Tongya.
From creating something out of nothing, inverting right and wrong, Li Tongya had turned a situation where he had no choice but to ask for help into a mutually beneficial, rtionship-smoothing opportunity.
He thought to himself, This man is skilled in curses and is a Mount Yue native; he probably doesn''t even know the prices of most spirit herbs. However, he is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and it wouldn''t be right to deceive him. Spirit herbs are priceless; purchasing them at market price and nning for the future to use as favors or for disciples to consume is indeed a good strategy!
Acting briskly, Fei Luoya pulled out five or six wooden boxes and disyed them for Li Tongya to see. Li Tongya picked one up to examine closely. Each exuded a strong aura and sparkled colorfully.
Upon closer inspection, he recognized none of them but remainedposed, using a spell to carefully examine the smallest fruit.
Fei Luoya was momentarily embarrassed and whispered, "I am afraid to say this for fear of beingughed at, but brother... I do not know what this is either. Thus, I have never used it and have stored it here for many years. The medicinal power is about to dissipate. If Brother Tongya had note, I would have no trustworthy acquaintances in this area to turn to. You''re truly solving my urgent dilemma!"
Li Tongya cupped his fist and said with a smile, "Since brother is being so honest, I will not mince words. The fruit matches the specifications required by my friend, and although the size is a bit small, it will just about do."
Fei Luoya nodded before gritting his teeth. "Brother Tongya... do you think this fruit is worth a hundred Spirit Stones?" he asked rather awkwardly.
"A hundred Spirit Stones?!"
Li Tongya let out augh, and although he didn''t know much about it, he was aware that spirit herbs couldn''t be bought for merely a hundred Spirit Stones.
He replied in a straightforward manner, "I will give you two hundred Spirit Stones for now. I will take this item, and if I find out its price, I will return for the excess orpensate for the shortfall and bring it to you!"
"Two hundred Spirit Stones?!" Fei Luoya was instantly shocked.
Li Tongya''s honest way of speaking gave him a new perception of Li Tongya, earning much of his trust. Meanwhile, Li Tongya thought to himself with glee, As for when I''ll find out the price, and when I''ll return orpensate, that''s all up to me to say. Fei Luoya is truly an honest man!
Fei Luoya nodded repeatedly as Li Tongya counted out two hundred Spirit Stones. Watching him joyfully ept them, Li Tongya then took out the jade box he had retrieved from the ruins of the Moongaze Lake market to store the brightly colored spirit fruit.
Fei Luoya nced reluctantly at it, but then suddenly became startled, greatly rmed. Far more knowledgeable about formations and curses than Li Tongya, he found himself transfixed by the intricate patterns on the jade box, continuously scrutinizing its exquisite details.
Li Tongya, ever so sharp, quickly thought of a witty response and casually said, "This jade box was a gift from that friend of mine so that I can collect the precious medicine!"
The more Fei Luoya looked, the more amazed he felt, murmuring, "This could easily hold treasures of the Purple Mansion Realm... This friend of yours..."
Li Tongyaughed heartily and replied, "He was introduced by the Sword Immortal, a Daoist Master of the Purple Mansion Realm!"
Chapter 244: Demoted to a Minor Sect
Chapter 244: Demoted to a Minor Sect
"A Daoist Master of the Purple Mansion Realm?!"
Fei Luoya was startled by the revtion. Previously he had only heard that the ancestor of the Li Family held a prestigious position within the Azure Pond Sect and showed potential of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm, but he had never imagined that a Daoist Master of the Purple Mansion Realm would humbly address the Li Family as brothers. The gap between them was vast, not measurable by ordinary standards, and for a moment, he didn''t know what to say.
Although Fei Luoya had spent many years in seclusion on Mount Wu and didn''t quite grasp the art of social interaction and speech, he was no fool. His mind quickly turned, and he thought to himself, This is not just potential for the Purple Mansion Realm; their starting point is the Purple Mansion Realm, with prospects for the Golden Core Realm. To have a Daoist Master of the Purple Mansion Realm lower himself to address Li Tongya as a brother is truly unbelievable.
Observing Li Tongya''s calm andposed demeanor, Fei Luoya suddenly had an epiphany, and internally eximed in shock, This is probably not about a hefty reward! It''s clear that some Purple Mansion Realm cultivator is using his influence for personal gain, leveraging the Azure Pond Sect''s procurement channels to profit the Li Family, aiming to please that Li Che... Sword Immortal. Li Tongya is not only making a friendly gesture but also issuing a warning!
This thought lingered in his mind for a while, and as Fei Luoya grew more convinced of his spections, he couldn''t help but praise his own clear and sharp mind. He marveled at how capable he was of deducing conclusions from a single instance, and thought to himself, The world of mortals truly hides mysteries in every phrase... We people of Mount Yue are as pure as white jade. Fortunately, I was born astute, able to deduce the deeper truths from slight hints!
Fei Luoya''s smile grew even warmer and he praised, "Your n is truly remarkable, I admire it."
Li Tongya chuckled softly, knowing that this man had likely understood his hint. After chatting briefly with Fei Luoya, he said with a smile, "The Daoist Master of the Xiao Family has made a breakthrough, and I must attend the ceremony, so I will not stay long. I will visit you again soon, brother!"
"Go ahead, Brother Tongya... do not mind me! From now on, you are wee toe and go freely in my mountain, no need for formalities!" Fei Luoya said warmly, now calling him ''brother'', and he dared not dy matters concerning a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.
He saw Li Tongya off with a beaming smile and breathed a sigh of relief once the man was gone, murmuring, "What a relief! The grudge between the Li Family and me has been resolved! Li Tongya is unassuming and keeps a low profile, but he is a man of deep thoughts! After this conversation, I now realize that I was easily led by the nose!"
Reflecting on the conversation, Fei Luoya gritted his teeth slightly and muttered softly to himself, "Never mind him now. Fu Daimu has already made a breakthrough to thete Foundation Establishment Realm... If I were to offend the Li Family now, I would be walking toward my own demise. This arrangement now is for the best!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya had finally resolved the issue with the spirit herb, and he was feeling great. He flew eastward for a while, crossing numerous forests and finallynding on Mount Lijing.
Li Xuanxuan was in the courtyard, drawing talismans. Seeing Li Tongyand, he quickly left his seat and cupped his fist, greeting him.
"Second Uncle!"
"Mm," Li Tongya responded with a smile, twirling his beard. "The matter of the spirit herb has been resolved... now I just need to go and offer my congrattions," he added after a brief pause.
Li Tongya had been running around east and west for the past two weeks, inquiring everywhere until he had finally resolved the matter.
Seeing him covered in dust, Li Xuanxuan smiled. "Second Uncle is indeed amazing," he praised earnestly.
However, Li Tongya simply sighed in response and waved his hand dismissively. "I also resolved the old grudge with Fei Luoya along the way. As a cultivator from Mount Yue in the Foundation Establishment Realm, he has no great demands from mortals or thend, so there are no deep-seated hatreds or fundamental conflicts of interest between our families, and hence support is possible!" he dered.
"Moreover, Fei Luoya''s shamanic spells are tricky and terrifying. This trip to the west not only removed apprehension but might also turn into a headache for our enemies in the future, which is not bad at all!" he continued as he lightly pped his hands.
Li Tongya took the main seat after sharing his thoughts, and then asked, "How have things been recently?"
Li Xuanxuan''s eyebrows lifted with joy as he nodded continuously and whispered, "Xuanfeng has gone into the mountains several times to y demons, and found an opportunity to break through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi cultivation Realm. He says that unaffiliated Qi Cultivation Realm demons in the mountains are bing rarer, so he has gone into seclusion to break through."
"Yuanyun has reached a suitable age, and Xuanling has selected a maiden with a spiritual orifice for him, set a good date for their wedding, and returned to the mountain to go into seclusion. Household affairs are still managed by me, but..." Li Xuanxuan paused, then continued, "Mount Lijing is not a famous mountain or major vein, and the spiritual qi is insufficient. With too many Qi Cultivators on the mountain, the concentration of spiritual qi keeps decreasing, which is really not conducive for our cultivation. This is still when Second Uncle is not cultivating on the mountain... and if another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator were to be added to the list, I fear we all won''t be able to cultivate at all."
Li Tongya frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "What about Mount Huaqian?"
"Donghe and An Zheyan are cultivating on Mount Huaqian, and Uncle Qiuyang is also in seclusion there trying to make a breakthrough. Mount Huaqian has a spirit spring and could still amodate two or three more cultivators, but its formations are iplete, and we have never sent a direct descendant there," Li Xuanxuan answered.
Li Tongya sighed softly, saying quietly, "Our family''s strength has grown significantly, but our territory has not kept pace. The Yu Family is powerful, with toorge a sphere of influence, leaving our family restrained. Yuanjiao and Qinghong are about to start Qi Cultivation and if we don''t suppress the Yu Family and weaken them, the days ahead will be even more difficult."
Li Xuanxuan nodded in agreement. A few years ago, they had made Eastern Mount Yue a vassal, but the Li Family had not yet fully assimted Eastern Mount Yue. To truly digest it, they needed to establish a mountain sect and station Qi Cultivators there.
With the Yu Family watching covetously, the Li Family had already suffered losses, not even daring to send a direct descendant to guard Mount Huaqian... How could they dare to openly establish a mountain sect now?
After careful consideration, Li Xuanxuan answered, "Eastern Mount Yue can support the upkeep and stationing of three to five cultivators, and Mount Huaqian can still support two more. If it were not for the suppression by the Yu Family, our cultivators could even double and still be supported."
Li Tongya nodded and waved his hand, saying, "I know. I will visit the Xiao Family to seek an audience with the Daoist Master and inquire about this matter."
Li Xuanxuan responded respectfully, then suddenly remembered something and smiled, saying, "Second Uncle, my several concubine-born sons have now established their own families, and together have three sons and four daughters. They are the first batch of the Xi and Yue generation, but they are all under seven years old, so their spiritual orifices are not yet discernible."
"Oh?" Li Tongya nodded gently and instructed, "If these childrenck spiritual orifices, they will be the first generation to be demoted from a major sect to a minor sect since our family''s rules were established... We must handle this properly to avoid any resentment."
ording to the rules set by Li Tongya years ago, even if Li Xuanxuan''s concubine-born childrencked spiritual orifices, they would still be considered part of the major sect, ssified as legitimate concubine-born offspring. However, should these offspring''s children alsock spiritual orifices, they would then be demoted to a minor sect.
The difference between the two statuses was vast, both in terms of treatment and the rules of the sect, not to mention the detailed yet significant rule that children of the minor sect could not be part of the generational ranks of the major sect.
"Understood!" Li Xuanxuan responded.
Li Tongya then continued warmly, "Once these children are over seven years old and their spiritual orifices have been identified, they must be sent up the mountain together. They must not be secretly raised at the foot of the mountain! Naturally, you will manage the finer details of this yourself."
"Yes!" Li Xuanxuan replied obediently as he cupped his fist and left.
After dismissing Li Xuanxuan, Li Tongya chose not topete with the younger generation for spiritual qi for cultivation and instead, took out a jade slip and began to read it intently.
Chapter 245: The Daoist Masters Ceremony
Chapter 245: The Daoist Master''s Ceremony
It was easy to lose track of time when one was cultivating. Li Tongya sat cross-legged on a rock atop the mountain, reading the Law of Celestial Moon.
Light and shadow mingled and danced around him as dewdrops fell, and in such moments of distraction, two months had fluttered by.
"The further I go, the more difficult it bes..." Li Tongya murmured to himself. He had read about a fifth of the Law of Celestial Moon and already felt it was bing increasingly challenging and confusing.
He shook his clothes and put away the jade slip, then nced at the dew all around him. He mused, Although Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators have lengthy lifespans and no longer need food, the time spent in cultivation really flies by like a fleeting horse.
He took a few steps down to a stone table where an emerald jade pot and a white jade cup were ced. The jade pot, a luxury item of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, was warm to the touch due to the piping hot tea inside it. Li Xuanxuan was considerate and had someone deliver fresh tea to him daily.
"Xuan''er is over forty now, and it seems he won''t make it to the Foundation Establishment Realm..." Li Tongya mumbled as he looked at the jade pot, thinking, The child is sensible, diving straight into the art of talisman... The family needs such people. If everyone aimed for Foundation Establishment Realm, hoping against hope and dying if they fail, what would be of our middle and upper echelon of martial power?
Collecting his thoughts, Li Tongya continued down the stone steps. A small hut appeared before him where an old woman, her hair white and face withered, sat quietly holding a leopard cat. She had several lettersid out in front of her.
Li Tongya paused and sighed, his face instantly aged as he wiped his hand across his face, transforming from a man in his forties to one nearing seventy. He then approached thedy and spoke softly.
"My dear..."
Liu Rouxuan turned her head, her eyes tired and old. She stood up in slight surprise when she caught his eyes.
"You''re out of seclusion already, my dear? That was quick," she said.
Seeing Li Tongya remain silent, Liu Rouxuan felt a bit guilty and softly said, "I have failed again and wasted your spirit herbs."
Now only at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing realm, Liu Rouxuan had failed twice to condense the fifth Jade Capital Chakra, her lifespan further reduced.
Li Tongya had found many spirit herbs for her, but cultivation was bing increasingly difficult, and even the status of an unrefined Qi Cultivator seemed out of her reach now.
Li Tongya ced two fingers together on Liu Rouxuan''s wrist, closed his eyes for a few breaths, then took out a jade bottle from his storage pouch. He then whispered instructions to her, saying, "Take this healing medicine over three days; I will condense talisman waterter. Take it twice every three days."
"My dear!" Liu Rouxuan coughed softly, interrupting Li Tongya, and smiled. "At this point, we should give up already... After losing lifespan twice now, I do not have many years left. It''d be too cruel to continue cultivating like this."
Li Tongya stiffened, feeling a pang in his heart. He stopped in his movements and took in Liu Rouxuan''s aged face.
"All right," he said gently.
After a brief conversation, Li Tongya helped her into the house, as she had grown tired due to her now reduced lifespan and mana. Then, turning around, he saw a middle-aged man in gray clothes standing on the stone steps, cupping his fist.
"Father."
"Take good care of your mother," Li Tongya quietly instructed, watching as Li Xuanling nodded and entered the house. He then soared into the air, flying eastward.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Xiao Chuting''s ceremony was set at Xianyou Peak, a majestic mountain with a robust earth vein and abundant spiritual qi. Its summit was shrouded in clouds and mist, and from time to time, figures shuttled through the air, alighting from the breeze. The Yue River flowed by, its clear waters carrying numerous boats.
Li Tongyanded at the foot of the mountain where a stone gateway stood. It was carved with many formation patterns, its surface shimmering with mana, substantial and thick. Two youths in brocade robes stood on either side of the gateway.
Upon seeing Li Tongya descend, they approached respectfully and greeted him.
"Greetings, Senior! May we ask which sect, which prefecture, or from which secluded immortal mountain does your immortal n hail?"
Li Tongya nodded lightly and answered, "I dare not im to be of the immortal ns, I am Li Tongya from the Li Family of Lijing."
The face of the youth on the right, adorned in brocade and silver boots, lit up immediately and responded respectfully, "Greetings, Senior Tongya! I am Xiao Guitu, Guiluan is my younger sister. Our families will soon be joined in marriage, and I hope for your continued favor!"
The youth on the left smiled politely, adding, "So, you are from a sword immortal n! Please ascend the mountain, Senior; my n''s elder has been waiting for a long time."
Li Tongya nodded, and the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators on either side stepped back, allowing a Qi Cultivator toe forward to lead the way. After all, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator should be given distinguished treatment.
As soon as they passed through the stone gateway, a winding staircase appeared before them.
"Greetings, Senior Tongya! It has been decades, and you have already be a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... That''s truly impressive!" said the Qi Cultivator as they ascended the stairs, smiling warmly.
"Oh?" Li Tongya was slightly startled and curious, seeing that the cultivator was only at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"You have seen me, yet I do not recognize you," Li Tongya continued, observing the man.
The cultivator smiled and replied, "I am from a branch of the Xiao Family, most closely rted to Brother Yongling. That year, I had just formed the Profound Scenery Chakra and served Brother Yongling, working near Cloud Crowned Peak. That year, the snow was heavy, and it was cold in spring... I apanied Elder Brother Yongling on a tour of our family properties, and we stopped at a tavern. We saw two men, dressed in simple attire belied their extraordinary demeanor. Elder Brother Yongling was delighted and drank with them. I was just one of many attendants, yet I listened to the inspiring conversation."
Li Tongya nodded in realization, and the Qi Cultivatorughed, "One of those men was called Wan Yuankai, and the other was you. It was a brief meeting at the tavern. After we left, I shared my impressions with Brother Yongling, especially about Wan Yuankai''s mastery of the Azure Essence Chakra at such a young age, and his refined discourse. I felt he was not ordinary indeed. Elder Brother Yongling simplyughed and remarked that Wan Yuankai, despite his talents, was overly straightforward and naive. He said that he was more suited as a friend than a partner, being only above average. He then spoke highly of you, noting your cautious and profound character. He was convinced that given time, you would aplish great things!"
Li Tongya couldn''t help but smile, truly moved by the man''s words. The Qi Cultivator chuckled softly and whispered, "Back then, I doubted his judgment... but seeing your achievements today, I realize Brother Yongling''s insight was indeed remarkable."
Li Tongya shook his head, amused, his lips curling up in appreciation of the man''s tactful ttery, which showed a keen and meticulous mind.
"It seems we were indeed destined to meet again!" Li Tongyaughed.
The Qi Cultivator nodded enthusiastically, and after a brief chat, he asked with some concern, "But I have not seen Wan Yuankai in many years; how is he now?"
Li Tongya paused and sighed deeply. "When the Golden Tang Gate moved south, the Wan Family was annihted, and Brother Yuankai died in that conflict... over thirty years ago now."
The Qi Cultivator''s expression faltered, his eyes dimming as he struggled to find words.
Chapter 246: The Golden Bamboo Fruit
Chapter 246: The Golden Bamboo Fruit
Li Tongya flicked his sleeves, his expression tinged with a hint of mncholy as the north wind rustled through the woods, the echo of their words lingering. The Qi Cultivator gently cupped his fist and responded, "That''s a pity..."
Li Tongya nodded and asked, "May I know your name?"
The man responded with a light gesture of respect and smiled as he replied, "Xiao Jiuqing."
As they were talking, a gust of wind whooshed down the path. The neer had sharp eyes and was d in a snow-white fox fur coat with a dharma sword tied at his waist. Despite appearing to be in his early forties, he maintained the handsome features that a middle-aged man would otherwise possess. Rxing his spell, he cupped his fist and greeted them.
"It has been many years Brother Tongya, but you still carry yourself with grace!"
Li Tongyaughed heartily and returned the gesture. "Likewise, Brother Yongling!"
The neer was none other than Xiao Yongling, possessing the ninth heavenly level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, a status he had polished over many years. He smiled warmly.
"Brother Tongya, your progress has been swift, putting me to shame!"
He waved to Xiao Jiuqing, who was standing quietly aside, waiting on them.
"Jiuqing, I have not seen Brother Tongya for many years, and we have much to catch up on. Go attend to the others; I''ll personally take care of Brother Tongya," he instructed.
Xiao Jiuqing quickly excused himself as Li Tongya and Xiao Yongling took to the air,ughing. "Xiao Jiuqing is indeed talented."
Li Tongya then recounted earlier events, and Xiao Yongling listened with amusement, yfully remarking, "My words from that day have indeede to pass."
Li Tongya chuckled and shook his head, while Xiao Yongling continued with a beguiling smile, "But Brother Tongya, you''ve really been keeping such a low profile... You didn''t even send out invitations or celebrate your breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm! I was thinking of sending a gift or two, but it seems there was no way to do that!"
They exchanged a knowing smile and Li Tongya chatted with him for a few more moments before theynded on a small peak within the mountain range.
A middle-aged man was sitting at a jade table, engrossed in reading an alchemy manual. Xiao Yonglingnded and said with a smile, "n Uncle, guess who''s here."
The middle-aged man looked up in surprise and quickly put away his manual. He cupped his fist and greeted, "Ah, you''vee, Tongya, my friend!"
"Greetings, Senior!"
This person was Xiao Yuansi, the senior brother of Li Chejing. As they took their seats and epted the tea served to them, Li Tongya weighed his next words carefully, then spoke earnestly.
"I have a favor to ask, Senior... For the Daoist Master''s ceremony, I put great effort into finding a spirit herb I thought to offer to the Daoist Master. However, I am unsure what spirit root it actually is or its quality, and I am afraid of making a fool of myself. Could you please take a look?"
"Sure," Xiao Yuansi agreed, and Xiao Yongling also turned his attention to him eagerly. Li Tongya then reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a jade box. Using his mana, he extracted the spirit herb.
It was a glowing, yellow, delicate fruit that seemed almost translucent, with a halo of light around it which made it quite captivating.
Xiao Yuansi examined the item carefully for a while and even pulled out several jade slips to verify his findings before he responded, "From what I can see, this appears to be a Golden Bamboo Fruit. It is known for enhancing cultivation and stabilizing vital essence. Among the Foundation Establishment Realm treasures, it is considered top-notch. It fears direct sunlight or mes and is rare in the Yue State... in fact, this is my first time seeing one."
As he spoke, Xiao Yuansi held the fruit in his left hand and flicked his right hand, igniting a burst of me. As the me came close to the fruit, it immediately started to tremble and split open like a mouth, emitting a loud and grating wailing noise.
Xiao Yuansi nodded slightly and extinguished the me, confirming his spections. "It is indeed a Golden Bamboo Fruit! The scripture states that when approached by fire, it cries incessantly and curses frequently... From this, one can discern its origin. If it is older, it might even attempt to flee. Consuming it at this stage benefits a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm."
Both listened intently, their faces showing surprise. Xiao Yuansiughed. "Right now, this fruit can only cry, but if it reaches the age when it can move, even Purple Mansion Realm cultivators would be greatly tempted by it!"
Even though Xiao Yuansi had already extinguished the me as he was speaking, the Golden Bamboo Fruit continued to fuss, babbling on and on. Xiao Yuansi, with a strange look on his face, whispered, "Be quiet!"
However, the fruit ignored him and kept on shouting. Xiao Yuansi, unable to hold back a chuckle, remarked, "My immortal foundation is Vermillion Sage, which enables me to understand thenguage of nts."
He formed a hand gesture, and suddenly Li Tongya''s hearing cleared. He listened as the fruit screamed profanities.
"Stupid motherfuckers! I was doing just fine on the vine but that damn barbarian had to pick me..!"
Li Tongya was astonished and listened for a while, but the fruit just repeated the same few phrases over and over. He eventually took out the jade box, forcefully stuffed the struggling Golden Bamboo Fruit back inside, and shut the lid. Just as he did so, a loud and final Motherfucker! was heard before everything went silent again.
Both the uncle and nephew of the Xiao Family burst outughing, while Li Tongya shook his head helplessly.
Xiao Yuansimented, "Once plucked, this fruit can speak within moments, then dies soon after. Although it can still speakter, it only repeats a few phrases. It is certainly quite peculiar!"
Li Tongya nodded slightly and asked about the most pressing issue on his mind in a low voice. "How much might it be worth...?"
Xiao Yuansi paused slightly before responding, "Ordinary spirit herbs are priced between two hundred and three hundred Spirit Stones. This one, being of superior quality, is roughly worth around two hundred fifty Spirit Stones. If someone urgently needs it, the price could go up by a dozen or so stones."
After saying this, he nced at Li Tongya and added softly, "If Brother Tongya uses this as a gift for the Daoist Master, it certainly conveys your sincerity even if it might not be considered precious to a man of his caliber."
Li Tongya nodded, feeling relieved. He then inquired quietly, "Do you have any updates on the Yu Family''s situation?"
Xiao Yuansi nodded gently and replied, "I have already presented the River Crossing Torrential Step to our ancestor. He was very pleased but is still deliberating on how to deal with the Yu Family. He might summon you to discuss this before or after the ceremony... Just wait a little longer."
Li Tongya quickly expressed his gratitude. Xiao Yuansi shifted aside, then pulled out another jade slip which was imbued with mana light¡ªit was the Wing Clipper Spear technique.
Li Tongya carefully took it, and as they chatted and waited, they saw the spiritual qi above the Xiao Residence interconnect with the earth veins and swirl up like a lotus flower. Xiao Yuansi smiled.
"Brother Tongya,e with me."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Following the jade stairs upwards, the Xiao Family had set up a formation at the summit. It was shrouded by clouds and mist, creating a scene akin to that of an otherworldly paradise.
At the very top, the main hall, which was constructed of gold and jade, housed exquisitely crafted tables with seventeen high seats.
This caused Li Tongya to furrow his brow slightly as he thought to himself, Three sects, seven gates, and seven other ns... I wonder if they are rogue cultivators or foreign cultivators.
The seventeen high seats were still conspicuously empty. The forces from the Purple Mansion Realm indeed had a grand presence. The tables were filled with spirit wine and fruits, and the jade vases and bowls emanated a soft glow¡ªthey were clearly not ordinary objects.
Below the high tform was a ring of tables for less formal seating, each set with utensils made of white jade. Li Tongya observed the setup carefully for a while until Xiao Yongling approached him, walking through the mist.
"Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators sit at the highest ces, as befits your esteemed n!" he said with a smile.
Li Tongya, not one to befortable with such distinction, quickly waved his hand and whispered urgently, "I''ll pass!"
He sighed softly and cupped his fist, saying, "Brother Yongling, you are putting me on the spot here. Let us do away with that seat... I would rather find a spot at the lower end to sit."
Chapter 247: Cultivation Techniques (I)
Chapter 247: Cultivation Techniques (I)
Upon hearing Li Tongya''s words, Xiao Yongling''s expression changed subtly. After a moment of hesitation, he whispered, "That''s... Would this not be seen as disrespecting your n? I fear it might not be appropriate!"
Li Tongya, fully understanding the implications of Xiao Yongling''s words which were merely formalities. He cupped his fist and responded, "Our families have not yet made our matters public, and my breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm has not been announced. To sit so prominently would be to prematurely reveal our hand. Brother Yongling, do not worry! The friendship between our families transcends such formalities."
Xiao Yongling nodded, understanding the significance. He was concerned that cing Li Tongya at a lower seat might foster resentment between the two families. Thus, he had sought out Li Tongya early to specifically point out the spot reserved for the Li Family, awaiting the very reassurance Li Tongya had just provided.
He then said with a respectful gesture, "Brother Tongya is wise. I have already arranged another seat for you on the other side, and I have spaced out the seats for those from the Moongaze Lake families to keep them away from the lower ranks. With the clouds and mists enveloping us, no one will scan around with their spiritual senses so rudely... All should be well."
Xiao Yongling handled the matter cleanly, and Li Tongya nodded in gratitude, smiling warmly. He then proceeded to the lower seats, with Xiao Yongling personally escorting him before he returned to the high seats.
The area was stillrgely empty, and Xiao Jiuqing, following behind, praised, "Seeing Brother interact with Senior Tongya is like mountain echoes responding to each other, or moonlight reflecting on a clear stream¡ªsubtle but clear. It''s truly amazing!"
Xiao Yongling chuckled and patted his shoulder, saying, "You have quite the way with words! If anyone could match your praise, I doubt they''d im to be the best."
Xiao Jiuqing apologized profusely, though he had a smile on his face. Xiao Yonglingughed softly before bing serious again, saying, "That''s an exaggeration. Li Tongya and I both tend to overthink and speak circumspectly, which is why we can understand each other so well. Had it been Li Xuanfeng today, I would have had to exin everything to him the night before arranging the seats, instead of risking a conversation at the venue only today."
Xiao Jiuqing nodded quickly and then added, "I have learned much, brother. However, I heard that the Azure Pond Sect on the southern border has encountered demonic disturbances and is recruiting aid for Yi Mountain City... How true is this?"
Xiao Yongling shook his head and replied, "The Demon King of the southern border and the Azure Pond Sect are in cahoots; it''s just a strategy by Chi Zhiyun. Fortunately, our family is not under Azure Pond''s jurisdiction anymore, so we need not worry."
While the Xiao brothers were talking, Li Tongya had already found a seat and sat down. After a while, people began to trickle into their seats. A white-haired old man took the seat next to him and, after ncing around and noticing Li Tongya, his expression turned to one of surprise as he respectfully greeted him.
"Greetings, Senior..."
Li Tongya was surrounded by seats designated for those in the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realm. As a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator sitting alone among them, those nearby were cautious and avoided him, fearing he might be some reclusive or entric rogue cultivator. The man greeted him but then turned away to drink his wine quietly.
Li Tongya was pleased with this arrangement, looking up as the tform gradually filled with guests. He then heard a name being announced, "Yue Cultivating Sect, Daoist Master Shangyuan arrives¡ª"
"The first to arrive from the three sects and seven gates is the Yue Cultivating Sect."
Whispers filled the air around him. Li Tongya looked up to see a figure in the high seat¡ªa Daoist Master dressed in loose white garments with a green jade pendant hanging in front of his chest, his face indistinguishable. A sword dangled at his waist as he sat on the high seat, quietly wrapping his pale fingers around a jade cup, appearing unassuming at first nce.
"The esteemed elder has troubled himself toe from afar! I am deeply grateful that you have epted my invitation and are here to grace my humble peak with your presence." Xiao Chuting''s voice echoed from the peak, making Li Tongya fall solemn.
The Daoist Master set his jade cup down and nodded slightly in response, prompting Li Tongya to muse silently, Xiao Chuting is putting on such a humble front... This person must be ate-stage or even peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivator! Although the Yue Cultivating Sect usually maintains a low profile, it is still one of the three major sects, with deep foundations.
At the lower seats, people were whispering among themselves. The Yue Cultivating Sect, despite being one of the three major sects, was the least conspicuous. Its gates were elusive and ethereal, and it uniquely allowed its vassal families considerable autonomy, maintaining a stance of detached observation. It was also the only sect among them that had a Purple Mansion Realm immortal n under its governance.
Li Tongya was still listening to the scattered conversations around him when a burst of red light suddenly appeared at the high seats, signaling the arrival of yet another Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.
This new arrival, an elder with white hair and a youthful face, held a jade ruler and his white beard fluttered in the air. His presence was apanied by another announcement.
"Profound Peak Gate, Daoist Master Changxi arrives..."
"Daoist Master Changxi greets the Senior!"
As soon as Daoist Master Changxi appeared, he hastily cupped his fist to the earlier guest. Daoist Master Shangyuan, dressed in white and wearing a green jade pendant in front of his chest, hummed in response. It was only then did Daoist Master Changxi dare to lift his head and turn around to offer his congrattions.
"Congrattions on your advancement to the Purple Mansion Realm, fellow Daoist!"
Li Tongya watched intently, feeling a sudden shock. He paid particr attention to the sword hanging at Daoist Master Shangyuan''s waist, then quickly bowed his head, not daring to look further.
He thought to himself, This Daoist Master Shangyuan must be a sword immortal... Otherwise, the other Daoists Masters wouldn''t be showing him such respect.
"Golden Tang Gate... Changxiao Gate..."
One by one, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators arrived and each cupped their fists to Daoist Master Shangyuan before taking their seats. Aside from Daoist Master Shangyuan of the Yue Cultivating Sect, the others brought along their Foundation Establishment Realm disciples.
Li Tongya carefully observed that, aside from the positions of the three sects and seven gates, there were a few other Purple Mansion Realm immortal ns present.
"Azure Pond Sect, Daoist Master Buzi arrives!"
With the arrival of the Azure Pond Sect''s Daoist Master, the seats on the tform were all filled. Xiao Chuting, smiling broadly, exchanged a few pleasantries before celestial music began to y, creating a tranquil and peaceful ambiance.
Li Tongya looked up for a while, and among the people at the seats of the Purple Smoke Gate, he recognized a familiar face. That person was leisurely sipping his wine and savoring his meal with a pair of jade chopsticks, all while humming a tune.
"That guy... he''s living the good life now!"
Li Tongya couldn''t help but smile ruefully to himself, shaking his head as he watched the guy seated in front of the Daoist Master of Purple Smoke Gate below the tform, likely reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm by now.
He thought to himself, It really is not convenient right now, but I will see if I can find a moment to ask him. Lingyanzi once promised to send the Spirit Stones to my home, but there has been no word for years, and here he is... enjoying himself!
This individual was none other than Lingyanzi, a cultivator from the Purple Smoke Gate who had once fled to Mount Lijing. Li Tongya had agreed to help him eliminate two cultivators from Changxiao Gate in the past but ended up with two enchanted storage pouches he couldn''t use. The guy had assured Li Tongya he would take them back and exchange them for spirit stones, promising to send the stones to him afterward.
Li Tongya had never expected him to deliver them personally, and indeed, after more than ten years, he had seen nothing of it. Now that he had seen him, he naturally nned to inquire on the matter.
"I suspect this old fellow might have welched on his debt, but I will ask. If it does not work out, I will consider it a loss!" he muttered to himself.
Chapter 248: Cultivation Techniques (II)
Chapter 248: Cultivation Techniques (II)
Xu Gongming rode his horse along the mountain path. It had just rained, so the ground was very muddy and his horse''s hooves were sshing mud around. The dripping sound of water in the woods and the oddly pitched wind made him frown slightly.
Now at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, Xu Gongming could even outrun the horse beneath him. However, people are inherentlyzy, and even immortals are no exception. He would rather stay indoors on a rainy day thane out and walk in the mud.
Xu Gongming, now in his thirties, had taken over family affairs after the death of Old Master Xust year. The mountain had sent someone to offer condolences, as Old Master Xu was, after all, the son of Xu San, and there were still ties of affection with Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng.
Xu Gongming had repeatedly thanked the messenger and sent him back. While grateful, he also felt a wave of mncholy, as this signified another step in the fading bond between the Xu Family and the main family. He had hastily arranged for the funeral and rushed to take up his post in the towns of Huaqian.
Upon arrival, he first visited the main family''s local representative. Xu Gongming then hurried to a small courtyard in the town to meet with Tian Zhongqing, the representative of the Tian Family''s interests in the towns of Huaqian.
Dismounting from his horse, a servant promptly came forward to take the reins. Xu Gongming knocked gently on the door and told the approaching servant, "Please inform your master that his old friend, Xu Gongming, hase to visit."
The Xu and Tian families were both venerable families of Lijing Town, living close to each other, with Xu Gongming and Tian Zhongqing having yed together as children. Although they had been apart for many years and barely recognized each other at first, they had seen each other a few years ago and had worked together since, establishing a good rtionship.
The door creaked open, and a handsome young man with a sword strapped to his waist stepped forward. "It has been months since west saw each other, Gongming!" he eximed gleefully.
Xu Gongmingughed heartily and entered the courtyard politely. Tian Zhongqing then closed the gate and had a servant bring tea as they exchanged pleasantries. Xu Gongming, seizing the moment, congratted him, "Congrattions, Brother Zhongqing! It seems the second Qi Cultivator outside the main family is likely to be from your family!"
Tian Zhongqingughed heartily as he heard this. A peak Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator from the Tian Family had recently ascended Mount Lijing to receive a medicinal pill from the main family before going into seclusion on Mount Huaqian.
Aware that Xu Gongming was congratting him on this, he replied, "This is all thanks to the main family''s generosity, and we are immensely grateful... Any congrattions should really go to the main family!"
Then, with a serious tone, he continued, "My n uncle is already over fifty, and he was identified from older peasants for his excellent root bones. It is a pity he started his cultivation toote, missing the best opportunity... Now, he can only strive for the Qi Cultivation Realm. If he seeds, then that''s wonderful; if not, he can only end up as an unrefined Qi Cultivator."
Xu Gongming nodded slightly. After Li Qiuyang''s breakthrough had failed, the Li Family recently announced new rules that made the public aware of the difference between pure qi and unrefined qi cultivation. He first congratted Tian Zhongqing a few more times and offered a few auspicious words.
Tian Zhongqing responded to each one politely before asking in a low voice, "Brother Gongming, has your family instructed you on this visit?"
Xu Gongming shook his head and replied quietly, "How could there be any instructions? I am merely appointed to Huaqian towns. After all, there are now more cultivators in Lijing Town, and the spiritual qi is not as abundant as before... Cultivation has be less favorable. Those old guys who have no hope for the Qi Cultivation Realm and just idle around do not care, but I cannot afford to waste my time there."
Xu Gongming took his tea and sipped it before continuing, "A few months ago, my father passed away. He still had ties with the mountain, so when people came down to mourn, I mentioned my situation and seized the opportunity to get out of there."
"I see," Tian Zhongqing nodded, his eyebrows lifting as he cupped his fist and added, "Please ept my condolences, brother."
"It''s all right." Xu Gongming waved his hand, his face clouding over with a hint of bitterness as he replied, "The legacy of my ancestors has been exhausted. I am now the only cultivator in the Xu Family. If I fail to achieve the Qi Cultivation Realm, I fear our family will decline to the level of ordinary peasants..."
Tian Zhongqing paused slightly, taken aback. His own family, under the governance of the Li Family, was at the height of its power and had never faced such worries. He sighed in sympathy and responded, "Brother Gongming, your talents are exceptional! Qi Cultivation Realm should surely be within your reach."
Mentioning his talent only added to the irony for Xu Gongming. Heughed bitterly and said in a low voice, "Brother Zhongqing, you may have be slightly out of touch after staying in Huaqian for such a long time. If you knew about the situation in the main family, you would not perceive me as an exceptional talent!"
"What do you mean by that?" Tian Zhongqing asked as he was momentarily stunned,pelled to ask further.
Xu Gongming raised an eyebrow before setting down his cup. With a wry smile, he teased, "Why not try guessing what cultivation realm those two from the main family have reached now?"
"Those two?" Tian Zhongqing repeated as he pondered briefly, realizing Xu Gongming was referring to Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong. He smiled and guessed, "I am not sure about the other, but having seen Master Yuanjiao''s pace, could it be the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm..?"
"The fourth stage?" Xu Gongming let out a coldugh and replied, "They have both condensed the Jade Capital Chakra, achieving the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm!"
"What?!" Tian Zhongqing eximed, suddenly tasting a bitterness in his mouth. He knew that among the Tian Family, he was considered the most talented, yet he was only at the fourth stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm. Meanwhile, Li Qinghong and Li Yuanjiao, only seventeen or eighteen years old, had already reached the fifth stage. He eximed in resignation, "I have truly wasted more than a decade!"
Xu Gongming sighed too, and both fell silent, leaving only the sounds of the autumn wind and raindrops in the courtyard. Xu Gongming took tworge sips of tea before saying, "Is the bloodline of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator really that noble? To have three generations all achieving the Qi Cultivation Realm... it is truly enviable."
"Qi Cultivation Realm?"
At this, Tian Zhongqing let out a coldugh, interrupting him and saying quietly, "Our ancestor has not emerged from seclusion for many years... Who knows, he may have alreadybined all six chakras and broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, reforming our family into a n!"
Xu Gongming was startled and calmed down to think carefully, realizing that this indeed could be possible, but he was not fully convinced. He simply responded, "It has only been three or four years... Foundation Establishment Realm is a life-and-death trial. Our ancestor is most likely still in seclusion for a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, currently at a critical juncture. Whether he seeds or not is still unknown."
As the topic met such an abrupt turn, both men simultaneously fell silent, using the excuse to drink tea in an effort to mask their difort and fear.
After more than a dozen breaths, Tian Zhongqing managed topose himself and expressed his doubts, "Their speed of cultivation is truly astonishing... The Yu and Fei families are also Foundation Establishment Realm families, but I have heard that from the Yu Family, only the prodigy Yu Muxian stands out. Excluding the disciples from the immortal sect, both Yu Mujian and Yu Mugao were approaching thirty when they entered the Qi Cultivation Realm..."
The Tian Family had produced three generations of individuals with spiritual orifices, and they collected extensive information from both the mountains and below.
Tian Zhongqing''s remarks indeed broadened Xu Gongming''s horizons. He nodded repeatedly and replied, "Starting cultivation at seven years old, and by seventeen, it has only been ten years of cultivation. To condense a chakra every two years...". His voice trailed off.
The two exchanged nces, and Tian Zhongqing spoke in a low voice, "I have also been to Mount Lijing, and its spirit veins are not even as good as those of Mount Huaqian. The gap between stages of the Embryonic Breathing Realm should not be sorge!"
Tian Zhongqing paused, then stretched out his left hand, his eyes growing brighter as he pressed down one finger at a time, speaking gravely.
"Talent... Medicinal pills... Spiritual qi..."
Both were momentarily stunned. Xu Gongming opened his mouth, then lowered his head. Meanwhile, Tian Zhongqing also slowly began to realize something.
In unison, they eximed, "Cultivation techniques!"
Chapter 249: Various Opinions
Chapter 249: Various Opinions
Bang!
As soon as their conversation ended, a loud sound resonated. It sounded like a strong wind battering against the woodshed door. Next door, a watchdog startled a nest of sparrows, causing a cacophony of bird chirps and barks from the dogs.
Xu Gongming and Tian Zhongqing both felt a chill down their spines and looked at each other, their eyes wide with fright. Xu Gongming gritted his teeth and whispered, "We shouldn''t have said that."
Tian Zhongqing''s face turned slightly pale. He nodded stiffly, trying to calm himself. They exchanged a few strained pleasantries, but their desire to converse had vanished.
Tian Zhongqing personally escorted Xu Gongming out of the courtyard and watched him ride away before he stamped his foot in frustration and muttered, "Loose lips bring unnecessary cmity!"
He went back inside his house, took tworge gulps of tea, and reassured himself, "It should be fine... It should be fine! The main family has not punished anyone just for speaking out..."
The neighbor''s dog barked again, this time quietly, but it still disturbed Tian Zhongqing''s peace of mind. He called out sharply, "Somebody!¡±
"Yes, my lord?" a servant responded, rushing over quickly.
Tian Zhongqing waved his sleeve and instructed in a low voice, "Take that dog and give it to a household further away... do not let it cause more noise."
"Yes," the servant quickly replied and soon the barking faded into the distance. However, Tian Zhongqing''s heart still simmered, he felt almost like there was a heavy stone pressing down on it.
He sat back at his desk, pondering whether the noise was just a coincidence or if it was caused by a spy from the main family. Sipping his tea silently, Tian Zhongqing thought, If Young Master Yuanxiu were in charge, this noise would most likely have been made by a spy. But now that the household is run more leniently, it seems more like an unintentional coincidence...
As he ruminated, Tian Zhongqing eventually med his own loose tongue, silently scolding himself, "It is easy to speak too freely with a good friend, andpses are inevitable... Who can be vignt every single day for ten years?"
Meanwhile, Xu Gongming rode his horse through the forest, ridden with regret and guilt. Old Master Xu had repeatedly warned him not to associate or speak too much with anyone from the prominent families, yet unconsciously, he had vited every taboo.
Overwhelmed with regret, Xu Gongming rode around the woods aimlessly, unable to think of a way to make amends.
"Old Master is gone now; no one is here to give me advice..." Xu Gongming muttered as he traveled for several li, recalling the words of histe uncle. He found a t spot in the fields and sat, staring nkly as the raindrops continued to fall.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya watched for a while and then took a few sips of wine. Seeing that he remained silent, and considering the presence of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators on the tform, those sitting nearby gradually began to converse more freely; emboldened by a few drinks of spirit wine.
The atmosphere at the event warmed up quickly and the cultivators toasted and joked around with each other, creating a lively and noisy scene. Observing that Li Tongya did not mind their behavior, the cultivators around him grew more rxed and began to boast and banter more freely.
The white-haired cultivator to Li Tongya¡¯s left raised his cup and asked with a smile, "Brother, from which prefecture are you from, and at which immortal mountain or spirit vein do you cultivate?"
Another cultivator cupped his fist in response, "I am under the Yue Cultivating Sect in the Northern Yue Prefecture, training at a small temple on a hilltop¡ªit can hardly be called an immortal mountain, it is just a small hill!"
"You are too modest." The white-haired elder chuckled with a hint of envy and sighed. "I am a few years older than you and know more about the affairs of Yue State. Those under the Yue Cultivating Sect live the most enviable lives, truly blessed, probably enjoying a carefree existence like the cranes in the clouds!"
The younger cultivator chuckled bitterly and shook his head repeatedly, taking a sip of his wine before whispering, "There is no such thing as a carefree immortal life! The mundane world is just needless strife... Even the small templespete for benefits, which is both tiring and taxing. Moreover, being close to Xu State, from time to time, there are followers of Buddhism persuading people to head north. It''s not as easy as you think. Ordinary people always envy cultivators, thinking that once one bes an immortal, they are above all worries and concerns... but we know what it''s truly like!"
The white-haired elderughed appreciatively and nodded, yet he had a slightly different view and added, "You seem to take it too lightly. The conflicts under the Yue Cultivating Sect are just about power and profit; if you lose, you just pack up your sect and leave, without iting to a fight for life... Now, turn your head and look at the other sects."
He paused slightly, lowering his voice considerably, "I will not even mention the Azure Pond Immortal Sect... Just look at the Golden Tang Gate¡ªhow many families and temples do they destroy each year?"
The young cultivator nodded softly in response, saying, "Not just in Yue State... but is it not the same in Wu State and Xu State? Without Purple Mansion Realm cultivators to protect them, they are just ythings and tools, easily ughtered. Once a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator appears in a sect, everyone celebrates, and that is when disciples under your sect are truly seen as human beings!"
The white-haired elder, seasoned by his experiences, felt a deep resonance with these words. The young cultivator seemed well-versed too, and his speech made even Li Tongya nod slightly in agreement.
Realizing that the current setting was not suitable for such discussions, they quickly changed the topic.
"You mentioned that Buddhists often appear in the Northern Yue Prefecture? "When I was younger, I had also visited Xu State... Even in the farthest north, there were no traces of them. How has ite to this?" the elderly cultivator expressed in surprise.
The young cultivator sighed deeply, replying somewhat resentfully, "Xu State has shallow spirit veins, weak national power, and a small territory... There are not any major sets or renowned mountains; just a few minor sects stationed in Xu, guarding it. How could they hold it? I have heard from the elders in the temple that a hundred years ago, these people were unseen, only increasing in number over the past fifty years."
The old cultivator fell silent for a moment before responding, "Those Purple Mansion Realm Daoist masters and exalted immortals of the Golden Core Realm... are they just watching as Xu State falls?"
The young cultivator hesitated for a moment before speaking in a hushed tone, "There have been battles... The powerful figures from the Buddhist sect have taken action. I heard they were called the Merciful Ones and Maha. It is said that their battles were so fierce that everyone in the seven mountains turned vegetarian, and many ferocious animals starved to death. The tales are truly terrifying!"
The old cultivator sighed repeatedly, as a nostalgic look appeared on his. "I have also encountered Buddhists; one was a Master Monk who was very insightful and wise. I thought about converting, but the master hit me with his staff. It was quite painful, so I had to give up," he said.
At these words, everyone wore strange expressions. Each wanted tough but felt it was impolite to do so¡ªexcept for the young cultivator whoughed heartily, "Senior, we cultivate for this life, while his teaching focuses on the next life... Conflicts are inevitable! If you are not fully enlightened, of course, it feels painful."
The old cultivator didn¡¯t take offense to this, and the others around them began to chuckle softly, easing the atmosphere.
Li Tongya listened with great interest. His family had risen to power too quickly and had a shallow foundation, so he was less knowledgeable about these matters. He remained silent, listening intently, feeling his horizons broadening.
Then, he heard the old cultivator say, "There are many paths in this world... Whether it is the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao or Buddhism, all is eptable. There are also those that involve dangerous curse arts and strange sutras, and the Diverse Mansion Unified Furnace that had long vanished from the world... Whichever path you find viable, that is the one to follow!"
This statement stirred up a whirlwind of responses among the cultivators, some approving and others disdainful, each voicing their opinions.
"My fellow Daoist, you err... If in cultivating one loses their true self, what is the point?"
"The practice ofbining different techniques is a path of devil cultivation; your words are too extreme..."
The discussion became noisy, causing Li Tongya to frown and lose interest. He opted to drink alone, but just then, a middle-aged man d in animal leather approached.
There was a smile on his face as he spoke, "Drinking alone, Senior? Do you have something troubling your mind?"
Chapter 250: Reencountering Lingyanzi (I)
Chapter 250: Reencountering Lingyanzi (I)
Li Tongya thought the man''s face was familiar, but could not immediately figure out where he had seen him before. Raising his eyebrows slightly, he set down his jade cup and spoke in a low voice, "I am naturally reclusive and not fond of many words. However, I find your face quite familiar... Where might I have seen you before?"
The cultivator, clothed in animal leather with long eyebrows and tanned skin, carrying a short bow on his back and a string of yellow gourds hanging at his waist, simply cupped his fist respectfully.
"I am Lingu Lie from Jiachuan Prefecture under the governance of the Azure Pond! I once sold you a few Wuzha Worms at the base of Cloud Crowned Peak. I was much younger then, and my appearance has changed considerably since. It''s no wonder you do not recognize me now," he said with a smile.
"Ah, it''s you!" Li Tongya eximed as realization dawned on him. Back then, this man had just been a boy with a timid appearance, easily outmatched by Li Tongya in their negotiations. Now, he appeared middle-aged and seemed to have experienced a lot in life.
"Your Wuzha Worms were indeed excellent, and they once helped me out," Li Tongya said, nodding approvingly in response.
He gestured for the man to sit at the other end of the table. Lingu Lie happily epted, cupping his fist respectfully and then taking his seat somewhat awkwardly. His face showed admiration as he spoke.
"Senior''s cultivation has truly been swift! In just over thirty years, you have already established your immortal foundation. I must admit that I''m envious!"
Li Tongya chuckled and nodded humbly. He had bought various items at the market on Cloud Crowned Peak, where this Lingu Lie was just one of his many encounters, including the Xu Yangping couple who ultimately died in the snake cave at the hands of Zhang Yun.
Remembering Zhang Yun brought to mind that audacious young man, a core disciple of the Golden Feather Sect¡ªone of the three major sects. He must have sessfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and mastered many of Golden Feather''s secret techniques by now.
Back when Li Tongya was still in the Qi Cultivation Realm, he couldpete with him using a sword technique left by Li Chejing, but now he doubted he was any match for him.
Bringing his attention back to the present, Li Tongya looked at the reserved middle-aged man and inquired, "Your Wuzha Worms are indeed good, but they breed too slowly. When my family was still at the Embryonic Breathing Realm, they were helpful... But over thirty years, only a few have been born. The original few eat more but breed less, making them somewhat of a white elephant."
Lingu Lie paused, his mouth opening as if searching for words.
"The Wuzha Worm''s queen is in my family''s possession. You received only the offspring, which may produce one or two offspring every decade or so when influenced by spiritual qi. However,rge-scale reproduction is not possible..." he said hesitantly.
"Oh? My apologies!" Li Tongya swiftly apologized for causing Lingu Lie some obvious difort. While he had suspected this might be the case, he hadn''t expected Wuzha Worms to be the Lingu Family''s livelihood.
Li Tongya then spoke seriously, "I wonder if you could sell a few more to my family... They are quite useful."
"That should be no problem at all!" Lingu Lie replied as he cupped his fist and untied a wooden gourd from his waist, adding, "I do not have livervae right now, but I do have these forty eggs in the gourd. If you wish, you may have them for ten Spirit Stones. Consider it a discount from me."
Now that he was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Li Tongya noticed that Lingu Lie''s demeanor was much humbler, even offering a price lower than before.
Li Tongya nodded and asked, "How should they be hatched?"
"Cover them with damp Spirit Paddies'' leaves or straws, and change them every three days. Make sure to keep them away from light and fire, and sprinkle clean water daily. They should hatch within fifteen days," Lingu Lie exined.
He cupped his fist, guaranteeing, "These Wuzha Worms are very resilient and easy to raise. If hatching fails, bring the deadrvae to the Lingu Family, and I will rece them for you."
Lingu Lie was no fool. While he guaranteed the quality of his product, he insisted on seeing the carcass of any dead worms as evidence, thus preventing people from hiding the eggs to make a profit.
Li Tongya nodded and handed over ten Spirit Stones with ease, which seemed to make Lingu Lie very happy. For an ordinary Qi Cultivation Realm rogue cultivator, ten Spirit Stones were their valuable liquid assets, and even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator would not give them away so readily.
Li Tongya could afford this because he had the support of his family, which allowed him to still have funds even after buying a gift from Fei Luoya with two hundred Spirit Stones.
Taking the gourd, Li Tongya asked, "So, your family is skilled in raising insects and snakes...? Could you enlighten me a bit more on the matter? There''ll be many opportunities for cooperation in the future."
"Certainly!" Lingu Lie nodded repeatedly and responded respectfully, "My family is also a prominent n in Jiachuan Prefecture, and our ancestors were great cultivators from the Mount Yue tribe. Later, when the Azure Pond Sect expanded south, our ancestors joined the sect. They were diligent and left behind many connections, which is why we have been able to remain a major n in Jiachuan Prefecture for hundreds of years."
Li Tongya nodded, this exnation having resolved a curiosity in his mind, and thought to himself, No wonder I''ve never heard of the surname Lingu! It turns out they were from Mount Yue... It''s no wonder then.
Noticing Lingu Lie''s hairy skin and dark eyes, which were typical of the Mount Yue appearance, he showed his pearly whites when he spoke and said solemnly, "Although my family descends from Mount Yue, we are still cultivators of the Purple Mansion and Golden Core Dao. We have merely inherited the ancestral techniques of insects and snakes, and are considered among the top in Yue State."
Lingu Lie looked proud as he continued, "There are also rules in our family. Each lineage must travel the world, collecting various types of poisonous snakes and insects. Thus, my uncle and I have spent decades traveling through Mushroom Forest in and Lixia Prefecture... which is how I came to meet you."
"Ah, a prominent n! No wonder you speak so eloquently and act so measuredly... You have quite a presence," Li Tongyaplimented, cupping his fist, to which Lingu Lieughed heartily.
Li Tongya then asked, "Are there many such enduring great ns in the Azure Pond Sect?"
"Not many," Lingu Lie replied honestly.
Havinge from such a family, he naturally knew of many secrets and exined, "The Azure Pond rose from the north, producing several peak Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Masters, who consolidated the forces of the south into thirty-six peaks. Hence, the north has many small scattered families, while the south has more prominent ns, shamanic temples, and rogue cultivators. These ns are deeply entwined with the Azure Pond Sect, moving together, standing for hundreds of years without falling."
"Oh," Li Tongya mulled over this information in his mind and quickly understood the intentions of the Azure Pond Sect. The south was full of Mount Yue tribes and shamanic curses, preferring tribes over ns. By absorbing these people and ceding some power, the Azure Pond Sect easily controlled the entirety of the south territory.
The Li Family was also employing this strategy in Eastern Mount Yue, although it was just beginning. Shamoli might bepliant, but he still harbored his own ambitions.
In a few decades, when descendants bearing Li Family''s blood took power, they would naturally be deeply loyal. By also involving members of the Li Family from the maternal side to help govern Eastern Mount Yue, this area would effectively be a securely controlled territory, deeply integrated with the Li Family''s influence.
Chapter 251: Reencountering Lingyanzi (II)
Chapter 251: Reencountering Lingyanzi (II)
Coming back to his senses, Li Tongya nodded lightly and transmitted his voice using his mana, "If you ever pass by Moongaze Lake, feel free to rest at Mount Lijing. You are most wee there."
Lingu Lie''s face lit up with joy. Although he was a scion of a prominent n, having been stationed abroad for many decades left him isted and far from the political center of his family.
Now, having the opportunity to connect with a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator greatly delighted him, and he thanked Li Tongya profusely.
Li Tongya picked up his cup and sipped his drink silently for several moments.
Understanding this cue, Lingu Lie cupped his fist and bade him farewell. As Li Tongya turned to observe the other cultivators at the gathering, he noticed they had already heatedly argued to the point of embarrassment.
He chuckled lightly, put down his cup, and almost immediately, the arguing cultivators quieted down and took their seats obediently, resuming their conversations in hushed tones.
While Li Tongya had been conversing with Lingu Lie, he kept an eye on the Daoist Masters on the tform. The sword-bearing Daoist Master Shangyuan merely raised his cup and then disappeared from his seat. The Yue Cultivating Sect was represented only by him, and with his departure, his seat was left conspicuously empty.
Once Daoist Master Shangyuan had left, the other Daoist Masters drank a couple of cups as a formality and then departed using their spells. Only two, who seemed to be from the Purple Mansion Realm immortal ns, stayed a bit longer to chat with Xiao Chuting before they too made their exit.
Xiao Chuting then vanished from sight, leaving the disciples of the three sects and seven gates feeling more at ease. Most left directly, while the rest engaged in lively discussions or sword sparring.
Li Tongya paid special attention to Lingyanzi, who had not stopped eating since he had sat down and was constantly stuffing his mouth, smacking his lips without engaging in conversation with those next to him. When he had cleared everything in front of him, he looked wistfully at his neighbor''s table.
A cultivator from the Purple Smoke Gate bluntly interrupted his actions, and Lingyanzi, embarrassed, could only sit there awkwardly and drink his wine, appearing quite lonely.
"Lingyanzi does not seem to be doing so well in the Purple Smoke Gate... looks like he is having a tough time," Li Tongya observed, shaking his head and doubting whether Lingyanzi still had a hundred Spirit Stones in his storage pouch.
After waiting a bit longer, Lingyanzi finally couldn''t sit still and took to the skies. Li Tongya quickly followed. Just outside the formation, Lingyanzi, quick as a whip, turned around and asked sternly, "Who dares to tail me?"
Li Tongya revealed himself with a lightugh, replying, "Senior Lingyanzi, it has been many years since west met... Do you still remember me? I''m rouge cultivator Wan."
"You..."
Lingyanzi''s expression shifted dramatically as he uttered that single word, quickly swallowing the rest of his sentence. He had lived over a hundred years and instantly understood that Li Tongya didn''t want to leave any trace of their past dealings, which was why he referred to himself as rogue cultivator Wan.
He thought to himself with awe, Li Tongya is really damn cautious!
Lingyanzi managed a bitter smile and said, "It has been many years, Brother Wan."
"Would you honor me by sharing a couple of drinks?" Li Tongya asked warmly, and Lingyanzi could only nod. He followed Li Tongya back into the gathering reluctantly, where they found a spot at the less prestigious end of the hall.
It was then that Lingyanzi suddenly realized something and eximed, "You have reached the Foundation Establishment Realm?!"
Li Tongya nodded. Lingyanzi gasped in astonishment and said in a low voice, "Congrattions, Brother Wan!"
Lingyanzi was also a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator now. Li Tongya acknowledged him with a smile and said, "Congrattions to us both! By the way, I have been eagerly awaiting news from you, Senior."
Lingyanzi felt extremely awkward and let out a dryugh, then exined quietly, "Those spoils of war, I turned them all into Spirit Stones. However, when I saw that I was on the verge of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, I could not resist spending them all on spirit medicines to attempt the breakthrough... To fail in returning this life-saving favor is truly... hard to express!"
"Oh." Li Tongya nodded, understanding Lingyanzi''s actions. Hardly anyone could resist such a temptation. If it had been him, Li Tongya, in such a situation, he would have used the Spirit Stones for his breakthrough without hesitation, thinking aboutpensating for them only after he seeded with the breakthrough.
He said gently, "Senior need not worry. Being in such a position, I would have chosen to make the breakthrough too... It''s a natural human reaction."
Lingyanzi sighed softly, his eyes slightly moist with a touch of emotion. He responded, "Brother Wan understands human nature so well... Lingyanzi admires you!"
After taking a slow sip of wine, he continued, "Over the years, I have lived frugally, managing the expenses of my peak while maintaining my own cultivation. I''ve saved up the rest and I-I..."
He pulled out the dharma sword from his waist, its surface gleaming with light, and ced it on the table with earnest intent.
"Until now, I still use this sword of the Qi Cultivation Realm to save up Spirit Stones for Brother Wan."
Li Tongya nodded, acknowledging Lingyanzi''s effort and reflecting inwardly with a mix of amusement and bitterness.
This is what defines the three sects and seven gates... The Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators in my Li Family still use mundane tools, while only those in the Qi Cultivation Realm can use Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts. As the only Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in my family, aside from the Qingche Sword I carry, I still use Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts... Yet to Lingyanzi, the struggle of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator using Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts seems a significant hardship.
Seeing Lingyanzi''s tearful look, Li Tongya could empathize with his feeling of injustice, although he could not rte to such a privileged hardship. He showed just the right amount ofpassion and said seriously, "Senior, there is no need to rush. You can hand me those Spirit Stones whenever; there is no need to be so hard on yourself."
Lingyanzi nodded deeply, visibly touched, and wiped his aged face. "My cultivation technique is unique; I often need to consume spirit wine and food to avoid dry mouth and stagnation in my cultivation. In severe cases, I could experience a Qi Deviation, leading to a regression in my skills. If it were not for this difficult condition, I would not have to struggle day by day..." he shared, a vulnerable expression crossing his face.
"Such a cultivation technique exists...?" Li Tongya asked, taken aback, secretly marveling that only the likes of the three sects and seven gates could afford such a demanding practice.
Looking at the sad look on Lingyanzi''s face, Li Tongya finally understood why he had been so unpopr at the Purple Smoke Gate. He gave an awkward smile and asked, "How many Spirit Stones have you managed to save up over these years, Senior?"
At this, Lingyanzi looked down, his demeanor like that of a chastened child. "Twenty Spirit Stones..." he finally confessed awkwardly.
Li Tongya was momentarily speechless but wasn''t ready to let Lingyanzi off so easily. He raised his hand without any reservation and took the reluctantly offered Spirit Stones, saying softly, "How about this... Do you have any items of equivalent value that you could trade for these stones, so you do not have to save up year after year?"
"This..." Lingyanzi seemed tempted by such an offer, pondering for a few moments before taking off his storage pouch and pouring out a collection of items. He then stated, "Aside from the secret techniques of my gate and the legacy treasure of my peak¡ªthe Purple Smoke Spirit Shield... feel free to pick anything, Brother Wan!"
Chapter 252: The Supreme Jade Meridian Nourishment Technique
Chapter 252: The Supreme Jade Meridian Nourishment Technique
Lingyanzi seemed genuinely earnest, and as Li Tongya scanned the array of itemsid out before him, his gazended on a small collection of diverse Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts. There were gourds, longswords, and jade tablets¡ªall likely spoils ofbat.
It''s not every day you catch a disciple from an immortal sect; I can''t settle these debts with just any items... Li Tongya pondered deeply to himself.
The three sects and seven gates possessed an array of cultivation methods, secret techniques, and precious forms. He definitely wasn''t going to let Lingyanzi offset his debt withmon items that could be found anywhere.
Noticing this, Lingyanzi smiled awkwardly and exined, "These Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts were reserved for new disciples that my sect ns to recruit. I saved them specifically for that purpose; otherwise, I would have exchanged them for Spirit Stones to pay you."
"Oh!" Li Tongya nodded, his mind suddenly racing, though he said nothing further. His attention turned to a few bottles of pills, the best among them being a Foundation Establishment Realm Rejuvenation Pill.
He held it briefly, contemting, It is impossible to progress beyond the Foundation Establishment Realm without at least twenty to thirty years of diligent cultivation; this pill could merely advance my progress by two or three years. The Foundation Establishment Realm is as high as I can achieve in this lifetime... so this won''t do much! I guess it would be better to find something beneficial for the younger members of my family.
Thus, he gently set the pill back down. This gesture surprised Lingyanzi, who thought to himself, Li Tongya is actually turning down the Rejuvenation Pill! He must be well taken care of by a sword immortal and is ustomed to using such pills, hence his disinterest. The items in my storage pouch might not catch his eye...
Li Tongya nced at the remaining Qi Cultivation Realm pills and rummaged through the rest of the items, frowning slightly, then asked softly, "Lingyanzi, is this all you have left? Do you perhaps have any valuable cultivation methods or secrets that could offset the debt?"
Lingyanzi grimaced and replied, "There are some, but they are for Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms, which you may find too elementary and costly... it might seem like I am taking advantage of you."
Unlike his experience in the sect, Li Tongya wasn''t just looking out for himself; he had a whole family to consider. Pleased, he urged, "No matter, please show me what you have."
Understanding his intent, Lingyanzi unfastened a red pouch from his waist and said, "Secrets from the sects are extremely valuable! This is a dharma storage pouch, linked to my life force; with just a single thought, I can destroy everything inside."
Li Tongya nodded as Lingyanziid out several jade slips. Picking one up, Li Tongya read, Supreme Jade Meridian Nourishment Technique, an Embryonic Breathing Realm Technique... Grade Three."
This piqued Li Tongya''s interest immediately, and he could not look away. The best Embryonic Breathing Realm technique in the Li Family was the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra, which couldn''t be written down, spoken of, or taught. Only those who received a talisman seed could practice it.
The next best were the Grade Two techniques collected over the years for the family''s major and minor branches. The remaining was the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique, a Grade One technique left by Si Yuanbai, which was only given to external cultivators¡ªmerely amon good within the family, which exined the generally lower cultivation realms of external members.
There was also an Embryonic Breathing Realm technique, Guardian of the Courtly Path, which allowed Embryonic Breath Realm cultivators to quickly reach the Qi Cultivation Realm. However, advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm would take much longer. Li Tongya nned to use it to train loyal n soldiers, but considering the scarcity of Qi Cultivators in the main family and theck of suitable candidates, he had not utilized it yet.
Li Tongya mused, Although there are no descendants from the main family without a talisman seed currently, as the family prospers, such descendants are bound to increase. Besides those who have received the talisman seed, the rest can only cultivate using Grade Two techniques, which are rather insufficient. It would be useful to acquire this Grade Three technique...
He then examined the other two jade slips presented by Lingyanzi, each containing a Grade Two Qi Cultivation Realm technique. Since simr techniques were already abundant in his family and these offered no advantage, they weren''t worth exchanging.
Li Tongya then picked up the Embryonic Breathing Realm technique and inquired softly, "How much is this technique priced at?"
"It is just an Embryonic Breathing technique," Lingyanzi responded, waving his hand solemnly. "Since you have chosen this technique, there are things I must mention. This Supreme Jade Meridian Nourishment Techniquees from the ancient immortal gate known as Heavenly Jade Terrace... It''s quite unique and ipatible with many other techniques. If cultivated to the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, switching to a different technique to break through the Qi Cultivation Realm might shorten your lifespan."
"Shorten lifespan?" Li Tongya repeated softly, pausing.
Lingyanzi nodded and replied, "Fortunately, it is not by much, only about three to five years. If you are lucky and the technique suits your constitution well, the loss might be as little as half a year!"
Li Tongya was reassured by this, as the Grade Three technique could potentially speed up cultivation by three years. Weighing the pros and cons, it didn''t really seem like a loss, especially since advancing earlier in life was more valuable thanter years. Sometimes, advancing a few years earlier could mean the difference between the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms, or even the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Realms.
Though internally convinced, Li Tongya feigned hesitation, scanning the various items before him with a look of displeasure. He then dered, "I guess there''s nothing better to choose... We''ll settle the debt with this item!"
"But..." Lingyanzi hesitated slightly. The items from the two Changxiao Gate cultivators he had organized for sale had been significantly more lucrative than those ofmon rogue cultivators, bringing in nearly two hundred Spirit Stones.
Yet, the technique at hand was Grade Three¡ªvaluable but not sought after, and two hundred Spirit Stones was about the price it was worth, especially considering he had already given Li Tongya twenty Spirit Stones earlier!
However, seeing Li Tongya''s displeased expression, Lingyanzi ultimately decided not to argue further and sighed softly, resigning himself to the agreement.
Li Tongya''s expression softened, and after a brief chat, he asked warmly, "I have heard that your peak is recruiting disciples. How is that going?"
Lingyanzi shook his head gently and replied, "My peak is in a particrly awkward position within the Purple Smoke Gate. Be it resources or techniques, status or power, we are at the lowest... Thus, there has been little progress."
With a look suggesting there was more he wished to say, Lingyanzi ultimately chose not to divulge the dirty secrets of the Purple Smoke Gate to Li Tongya. Instead, he fell deadly silent and simply drank his wine, clearly affected by painful memories.
Li Tongya offered someforting words and then suggested warmly, "Why don''t you leave me a note? If Ie across any opportunities or promising disciples, perhaps I can send them your way to assist you in your predicament."
Lingyanzi, having not considered this possibility, was visibly excited by the suggestion. After a moment of thought, he pped his hands in agreement, eximing, "That works too! Any help from Brother Tong-... Wan will help out my peak greatly...!"
As he swore solemnly to treat any disciples from the Li Family well, Li Tongya merely smiled, saying nothing. With the lessons learned from Li Chejing, he no longer took Lingyanzi''s empty promises at face value. Besides, he was also aware of the Purple Smoke Gate''s style now.
Li Tongya simply yed along as Lingyanzi praised the arrangementvishly, then added reluctantly, "Senior, please do not celebrate yet... I still have to consult the Sword Immortal."
"Of course, of course!" Lingyanzi chuckled. Given the weak position of the Purple Smoke Gate within the three sects and seven gates and his own peak''s declining state, having a disciple from a Sword Immortal''s family would indeed be a boon!
He then thought for a moment and pulled out a jade tablet from his storage pouch. It was inscribed with the words Purple Smoke on one side and Purple Gale Peak on the other.
Li Tongya nodded before epting the tablet with a flip of his hand. He then thanked Lingyanzi quietly.
"Thank you for your time."
Lingyanziughed heartily and after a bit more friendly chatter, took a sip of his drink and cupped his fist in farewell.
Li Tongya nodded as he watched the old man fly away with the wind. He sat silently at the table for a while more before finally picking up his chopsticks to taste the food, but just then, an old voice reached his ear.
"Come to Xianyou Peak."
Chapter 253: Tian Youdao
Chapter 253: Tian Youdao
Tian Zhongqing had not touched a drop of water for three whole days. He sat silently at the desk, his thoughts crawling through his mind like ants. His lips had long turned pale, and his sweat was unceasing.
Now over thirty years old, he had never made such a grave mistake before. The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became, and he murmured to himself, "Should I go and confess my fault? But such baseless rumors... would that not just show my guilt and make othersugh at me? Yet if I continue to ignore this, who knows what the main family might think? I am afraid this could sow the seeds of disaster..."
Full of anxiety, Tian Zhongqing was fortunate enough to not be the sole pir of his household like Xu Gongming, and there were elders above him. He quickly took out his writing brush, paper, and inkstone, and wrote, "My dear uncle, I am in trouble, pleasee quickly to save me at the back mountain courtyard behind Huaqian Town. Let no one know of this."
After signing his name, Zhongqing, with a determined stroke, he bit his lip nervously. He used his mana to evaporate the moisture, rolled up the letter carefully, and called out for a servant.
"Somebody!"
A servant hurried in, and after a moment''s thought, Tian Zhongqing gave his orders solemnly, "Prepare the finest wine and dishes right now! If they are not ready in an hour, you will face the consequences!"
Watching the servant hurry off, he then called his wife and instructed, "Keep an eye on the servants, do not let a single one leave, and do not let them disturb me."
His wife, puzzled by his instructions, said nothing and left. Watching her disappear behind the vermilion gates of the backyard, Tian Zhongqing then jumped from the window sill and ran wildly toward Mount Huaqian.
As a cultivator at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, his speed was astonishing. He raced through the dark night, cutting through the dense woods at the edge of the town swiftly, soon reaching Mount Huaqian. Without daring to rest, he checked the time and, panting rapidly, waited at the foot of the mountain for the time it took an incense stick to burn.
Sure enough, a young man sauntered up slowly. Tian Zhongqing nced around and whispered, "Cousin!"
The young man suddenly looked up and eximed, "Brother Zhongqing!"
Tian Zhongqing made several gestures to lower his voice and asked quietly, "Is uncle cultivating in seclusion?"
"Not yet." The young man quickly caught on and looked around cautiously, then replied in a low voice, "He is meditating, preparing to break through the Qi Cultivation Realm, likely during the convergence of spiritual qi in theing days."
"Ah, thank heavens he''s not in seclusion yet...!" Tian Zhongqing praised, overjoyed. He then bowed deeply, "My dear brother, you must deliver a message for me on this trip up the mountain."
He handed the rolled cloth to the young man. Fearing his carelessness, he said sternly, "This matter concerns the life and death of our entire family, handle it with utmost caution!"
The young man''s face turned grave, and he nodded vigorously, an expression of resolution and determination crossing his face.
"Rest assured, Brother Zhongqing!"
As he ascended the mountain in his usual manner, Tian Zhongqing dared not rx. He leaped on the spot and, like the wind, dashed through the dense forest. It wasn''t long before he returned to the courtyard, jumping in through a window. He smoothed out the wrinkles from his clothes and swept away the dewdrops on it, then pretended to read a book.
After waiting for an hour, Tian Zhongqing heard a crisp click at the window and immediately understood. He left the backyard, carefully locked the door, and instructed his wife to keep watch at the door before turning back to the house.
Crossing the neatlyid rocky path in the courtyard and stepping over the orderly stone steps, he pushed open the door to find a stern-faced, gray-haired middle-aged man with deep wrinkles seated inside.
This man was none other than Tian Zhongqing''s uncle, Tian Youdao¡ªthe eldest of the Tian family and the only one on the verge of breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"Uncle, Zhongqing is... ashamed!" Tian Zhongqing cried out finally, managing a bitter smile before falling to his knees, his voice filled with regret and sorrow.
Tian Youdao, known for his stern temperament, picked up a tea bowl from the table in front of him and took a slow sip before responding.
"I have scanned the surroundings with my spiritual sense. There are no eavesdroppers, so speak now."
Tian Zhongqing ryed his conversation with Xu Gongming word for word to his uncle. As Tian Youdao listened, his brow furrowed more and more. When he finally heard the end of the story, he spat out a mouthful of tea. Tian Zhongqing did not dare to evade, allowing the tea to drench his face and head.
Tian Youdao''s face turned ashen as he furiously flipped over the table in front of him, shattering it to pieces with a loud crash. His beard and hair bristled as he roared, "Foolish bastard!"
Tian Zhongqing trembled, not daring to move. Tian Youdao, still not appeased, grabbed him roughly and pped him hard across the face, backhanding him again which caused stars to appear before his eyes. He then turned and kicked over arge table, shattering it and scattering white porcin shards everywhere, his teeth grinding audibly.
"Uncle..." Tian Zhongqing copsed to the floor, calling out intively.
Tian Youdao then took a deep breath before helping him up, and with a sweep of his sleeve, cleared the debris instantly.
However, his teeth were still tightly clenched as he said, "It is one thing to gossip, but to discuss such matters with Xu Gongming, and even risk letting outsiders overhear your conversation is pure foolishness!"
"What can be done now...?" Tian Zhongqing asked in a low and weak voice.
Tian Youdao replied harshly, "Fortunately, it is Xuanxuan who is in charge now. If it had been Li Xiangping, even nine lives would not be enough for you!"
Seeing Tian Zhongqing''s submissive demeanor, Tian Youdao''s anger subsided slightly. He then lowered his voice further.
"You should know that the temperament of the main family is derived from Uncle Mutian. The younger generation might be untaught and better off, but the older ones, apart from Li Changhu, are all the same¡ªwhether gentle, stern, or radical... at their core, they are ruthless. Which of the esteemed families do not know of the main family''s powerful techniques? How dare you speak of such things?"
Tian Youdao paused for a moment, his expression grave as he continued, "The people of the main family seem amiable, unconcerned with trivialities, and remarkably tolerant of diverse people and situations. If this weren''t the case, you wouldn''t find so many external cultivators among the families by theke; their ancestors wouldn''t have allowed such diversity. However, crossing certain lines or breaking their taboos could lead to a massacre¡ªthe extermination of an entire family, carried out with such ruthlessness that they would seem like entirely different people."
Tian Youdao, the younger brother of Tian Yun and also the maternal uncle of Li Xuanfeng and Li Jingtian, not only held a terrifyingly high status but was also gifted. However, he had started cultivating toote and only reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in his fifties.
He continued coldly, recounting history, "Why do you think the Liu Family, despite being the old ancestor''s inws and holding arge spirit field in Jingyang Town, have ended up faring worse than our Tian Family, even though Liu Rouxuan is still alive now?
Tian Zhongqing, who was listening intently, asked, "Why?"
"Back when you and the others were not even born yet, and Xuanxuan was probably only four or five years old, the gate of Mount Lijing was newly established. A member of the Liu Family spied on the main family''s gate. At that time, Xiangping was in charge and tied up that man personally and beheaded him at the mountain gate to protect the family. Xuanxuan also knows of this situation, hence the longstanding lukewarm state of the Liu Family..."
As Tian Youdao spoke of this old event from such a current perspective, his voice was heavily tinged with emotion.
Though he did not intend to instill fear in him, his words deeply rmed Tian Zhongqing, who trembled with fear with tears in his eyes. He then squeezed out a question through his clenched teeth.
"Uncle... what do you mean?!"
Chapter 254: Meeting the Daoist Master
Chapter 254: Meeting the Daoist Master
Tian Youdao heard his question but merely looked at him, expressionless.
Tian Zhongqing was momentarily stunned, then suddenly understood the meaning behind his words. His hands stopped shaking as his tears ceased flowing, and he slowly pressed his forehead on the ground, murmuring dejectedly, "I understand now, uncle..."
Unexpectedly, Tian Youdao snorted coldly.
"It has note to that yet."
Tian Zhongqing was about to close his eyes and utter hisst words, but his eyes suddenly bulged upon hearing this. With great relief, he coughed twice, saying hoarsely, "Zhongqing is not one to cling to life out of fear of death!"
A hint of a smile finally appeared on Tian Youdao''s face, but it quickly vanished as he returned to his usual stern expression. "If only Rong''er were not such a disappointment..." he said tly.
Tian Zhongqing knew that the Rong''er his uncle spoke of was Tian Rong, Tian Youdao''s eldest son and only offspring. Unfortunately, he did not inherit his father''s talents and only indulged himself in cockfighting, dog racing, and other frivolous pleasures in life. This was a constant regret in Tian Youdao''s life.
"Looking at the disciples of the Tian Family, it would be bearable if they were merely mediocre, but their failure to restrain themselves truly makes me want to discipline each one I see. Tian Rong is the worst of them... utterly worthless! You are the only one with a spiritual orifice capable of preserving our family''s legacy," Tian Youdao said as he waved his hand dismissively, his expression somewhat somber.
"Anyway, this is not the time to discuss this. The only n now is to seek help from someone," he continued in a deep voice, changing the subject.
"Who?" Tian Zhongqing asked, quickly looking up.
Tian Youdao hesitated slightly before replying, "Li Jingtian."
"Come to Xianyou Peak."
This phrase, simple and calm yet carrying the resonance of ancient wisdom, exploded in Li Tongya''s ears like thunder. He recognized it as the voice of Xiao Chuting and felt a mixture of both joy and fear. His hand paused momentarily, still holding the jade chopsticks, before he quickly set them down again.
He responded respectfully, observing that those around him seemed oblivious to the exchange. The ceremony was nearing its end; the disciples of the immortal sect had already left, and only few members of the Foundation Establishment Realm families remained.
Li Tongya rose and swiftly exited the formation, heading up the mountain.
As he looked down at the swift Yue River and the pine and cypress trees peppering the mountainndscape, his naturally suspicious nature made him hesitate briefly. Despite showing no outward reaction, his heart was tumultuous like a raging sea.
Xiao Chuting''s Man On Creek and my Boundless Ocean are Dao Partners... He has always looked out for me, but these coincidences arouse suspicion.
However, the Xiao Family''s immense kindness toward the Li Family made Li Tongya feel guilty for his doubts. With no way back, he forcefully suppressed his doubts and made his way through the mountain paths silently until he reached the most prominent and distinguished peak.
The formation on the peak was isted, designed to allow Li Tongya entry halfway up the mountain, sparing him the climb from the foot¡ªa gesture that perfectly bnced respect and humility.
Li Tongya nodded slightly, stepping onto the mid-mountain path where the wind rustled through ancient, cold grass. A stairway of brown wood snaked upward. Xiao Yuansi was already there waiting and greeted Li Tongya with a lightugh and a cupped fist.
"Fellow Daoist, please..."
Since this was a formal asion, Xiao Yuansi addressed him as a fellow Daoist rather than the more familiar Brother Tongya. Li Tongya nodded in response and returned the gesture politely.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist."
Together, they ascended, almost floating above the ground. After the duration it took to burn an incense stick, they finally reached the summit of Xianyou Peak.
At the peak, the sound of trickling water filled the air. Between two broken peaksy a deep pool shrouded in a cold mist, surrounded by frost-resistant flora¡ªa truly celestial scene.
An elderly man in white robes, looking remarkably spirited, sat atop the cliff, smiling warmly at the two approaching men.
Xiao Yuansi cupped his fist and gestured for Li Tongya to approach the cliff while he waited below by himself.
Li Tongya tapped his feet lightly on the rocks a few times before floating up in front of Xiao Chuting, bowing deeply and saying respectfully, "Junior Tongya pays respects to the Daoist Master! Congrattions on your attainment of the Purple Mansion Realm and the creation of your immortal n!"
Xiao Chuting nodded in acknowledgment of his greeting. Li Tongya then patted his waist and produced a jade box, holding it out with both hands.
"Please ept my congrattory gift... a Golden Bamboo Fruit!"
The jade box had been switched; the one found in the ruins of the Moongaze Lake market was far too precious for Li Tongya to present as a gift to Xiao Chuting. Instead, he had swapped it for a simpler one beforehand, having stored the original away.
"Oh?" Xiao Chuting raised an eyebrow slightly as he took the jade box from his hands. He opened it gently, revealing a glowing, golden-yellow spirit fruit. The fruit''s delicate skin shimmered with a halo of light.
The fruit, which had previously been blustering arrogantly, now trembled uncontrobly and could not speak, only mouthing curses silently.
Xiao Chuting picked it up for inspection, and almost right away, the fruit shut its mouth tightly. Xiao Chuting nodded and said, "Indeed, it is a Golden Bamboo Fruit! But it is not very old¡ªjust over a hundred years... Nevertheless, it is a thoughtful gift."
Pleased by Xiao Chuting''spliment, Li Tongya''s expression grew even more respectful. Xiao Chuting continued, "Please rise, there''s no need for so much formality. Sit down and join me in conversation."
"Yes!"
Although Xiao Chuting''s words were gentle, Li Tongya did not dare to take such liberties. He still maintained the posture of a disciple, merely lifting his head slightly as if to listen more attentively.
Xiao Chuting nodded and spoke softly, "I must congratte you on your early breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. You have a boundless prospects ahead."
Li Tongya hurriedly expressed his thanks, but Xiao Chuting waved his hand to interrupt him,ughing. "Don''t worry, I''m not going to eat you, otherwise Yuansi would definitely give me a hard time."
This light joke eased Li Tongya''s nerves considerably, making the atmosphere much more rxed.
Xiao Chuting did not wait for Li Tongya''s reaction, but instead continued on his own, "Li Mutian truly knew how to raise his sons... Hearing Yuansi describe you and your youngest brother, it''s as if I can see your father''s face right before me. It''s a pity he passed away so early! I was busy breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm and never got to meet him."
Thisment was purely an attempt at a polite conversation. At the time, the Li Family was just a minor Embryonic Breathing Realm family, and Xiao Chuting couldn''t be bothered to engage much with Li Tongya, let alone take the time to meet Li Mutian at Mount Lijing.
It was onlyter, when Li Chejing''s talents became apparent, that Xiao Chuting began to take a more serious interest in the Li Family.
Li Tongya nodded, showing a hint of regret. Xiao Chuting then chuckled lightly, shifting the conversation, "I have also heard of the Yu Family from Milin. In my youth, I had crossed hands with Yu Yufeng... His palm technique was indeed impressive, and he was once famous in Lixia Prefecture. Heter lost to the younger Yu Yuxie, which served as a stepping stone to Yu Yuxie''s fame, much to his shame! After that, he quietly faded from the scene."
Seeing Li Tongya listening intently, Xiao Chuting continued, "Heter returned to the Yu Family as the ancestor and has not been heard from since. Unexpectedly, the Yu Family has produced another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, who has been stirring up trouble at Moongaze Lake in recent years."
He stroked the fishing rod in his hand and whispered softly, "To suppress the Yu Family, simply removing Yu Yufeng the White Jade Fist will suffice."
Chapter 255: Sent to Mount Yue (I)
Chapter 255: Sent to Mount Yue (I)
Xiao Chuting paused for a moment and then spoke softly, "Now that I have achieved the Purple Mansion Realm and mastered divine abilities, even having my name registered in the Underworld, there are many matters I must refrain from involving myself in now. Yuansi''s idea of having me take action is too naive... the four Daoists of Azure Pond Sect are all watching. Using my abilities to influence the situation subtly is still eptable, but personally taking action to kill Yu Yufeng would break the rules."
Li Tongya hastily cupped his fist in respect and replied, "We shall handle everything ording to the Daoist Master''s wishes... My family awaits your instructions."
Seeing his respectful attitude, Xiao Chuting nodded approvingly and continued, "I have reviewed the jade slip Yuansi brought back. It indeed contains the footwork technique of Daoist Master Xianyou, which is of great significance to us. Given the good rtions between our two families and the fact that your Li Family is currently being oppressed by the Yu Family, it is only right that we offer our help. Although I cannot personally take action, I can still easily handle them."
As a Daoist Master of the Purple Mansion Realm, Xiao Chuting''s mere words could make the Yu Family tremble with fear and apologize. Yu Xiaogui would personallye to apologize, not daring to secretly humiliate the Li Family. Such a statement was simply an excuse to suppress the Yu Family and support the Li Family at Moongaze Lake, hence, Li Tongya was naturally eager to hear it and listened respectfully.
"Our Xiao Family is now an independent immortal n, no longer under Azure Pond''s jurisdiction. We cannot arbitrarily send Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to kill Azure Pond''s n members. Fortunately, although our Xiao Family is not powerful, we have a few Foundation Establishment Realm guest cultivators. I will send them to deal with Yu Yufeng," Xiao Chuting said, speaking in a calm tone.
Li Tongya acknowledged this and then voiced his doubt. "However, Yu Yufeng is cautious and spends most of his time in seclusion within the mountain gate, rarely stepping outside. It will not be easy to encircle and kill him..."
"Indeed," Xiao Chuting agreed as he smiled faintly, gently lifting the white jade fishing rod in his hand. He pulled the baitless jade hook from the deep pool, causing ripples on the surface. A knowing smile crossed his face.
"Yu Yufeng wille out. Not only will hee out, but he will also follow the Guli Road eastward to a secluded, nameless hill in Mushroom Forest in and wait for us there."
Li Tongya felt a chill down his spine, his pores tingling as he thought to himself, The power of the Purple Mansion Realm''s divine abilities is truly formidable...
His face remained serious as he nodded. Xiao Chuting''s tone then shifted to one of earnest advice as he said, "As for your Li Family, you must carefully consider your future path. Once the Yu Family falls, there will be no prominent rivals at Moongaze Lake. You must think carefully about what your next steps would be."
"Understood!" Li Tongya nodded solemnly.
Xiao Chuting paused again and then spoke softly, "Someone from the Li Family must join the Azure Pond Sect."
Li Tongya''s expression remained unchanged, but his mind was in turmoil. Without hesitation, he asked, "Who do you think is suitable, Daoist Master?"
Li Tongya recognized that Xiao Chuting''s tone was not one of solicitation or discussion, but a calm instruction. Thus, he did not question or argue but responded directly.
Xiao Chuting paused for a moment because of Li Tongya''s decisiveness, then chuckled softly. "You are a smart man; you should understand this matter. The case of Li Chejing was only because he possessed the Moonlight Immortal Foundation and extraordinary talent. Ordinary disciples would not face such a fate. This strategy is not about sacrificing your family''s children for Azure Pond Sect...but rather, it is a threefold beneficial n."
"Firstly, since your family is still under Azure Pond''s jurisdiction, having disciples cultivating within the sect ensures a range of benefits for you¡ªsmoothmunication, ease in handling matters, and a life-saving backing... all of which are excellent!
"Secondly, the disciples sent to the immortal sect do not need to be exceptionally talented, they just need to be above average. That way, they would not fall victim to harm while still able to contribute to the family. As they progressed to higher cultivation realm, they could even gain some power within the sect."
Xiao Chuting''s tone remained polite as he continued, "Our family has separated from Azure Pond, our disciples have withdrawn and most of our informants have lost contact with us, this has left us unaware of their internal situation. If your family can send a disciple inside, it would greatly benefit both our families... As for who that may be, that decision is yours to make."
For a distinguished Purple Mansion Realm cultivator like Xiao Chuting to exin the matter in such detail surprised Li Tongya and left him feeling honored.
"But... it is not easy to be a disciple of Azure Pond..." he responded hesitantly after some time.
However, it seemed like Xiao Chuting had already arranged everything and answered simply, "The poption on Qingsui Peak is sparse. Si Yuanbai has left the sect, and our Yuansi has also departed from Qingsui Peak, leaving only his junior sister Yuan Tuan there. Now is the time for assistance; if you send someone to be her disciple, Yuan Tuan will surely not refuse."
"Understood," Li Tongya nodded.
Xiao Chuting stopped speaking, ncing at him before continuing, "You may go now... I hope you will not fail in your duty and lead the Li Family well."
Li Tongya cupped his fists in respect and descended from the cliff, walking down the mountain. When he reached the pond, Xiao Yuansi nodded to him politely in acknowledgment. After watching Li Tongya leave, Xiao Yuansi soared up andnded beside Xiao Chuting, speaking in a soft voice.
"Ancestor... you called for me?"
Xiao Chuting nodded and asked, "Is everything arranged for Guiluan? Does she have anyints or dissatisfaction?"
"Everything has been prepared. Guiluan has read the information about Li Yuanjiao''s achievements carefully and expressed her willingness to marry," Xiao Yuansi responded respectfully.
Xiao Chuting then lifted the white jade fishing rod gently with two fingers and said softly, "It''s about time she gets married. Back then, I had introduced her to many young talents in the prefecture, but she remained silent... I figured that she might be inclined to marry outside our family. Thankfully, the Li Family has enough standing."
Xiao Chuting''s words rified the intricacies. After all, the difference between marrying a rogue cultivator to live quietly on a small peak and marrying into another family as the principal wife with a grand dowry was significant.
Xiao Yuansi understood this well and replied softly, "Ancestor, you are wise. Knowing that the Li Family would not marry our direct daughter, you informed Yuansi in advance; otherwise, Yuansi would not know how to deal with Tongya."
Xiao Chuting shook his head and said softly, "Li Tongya is not foolish. The Li Family seeks an alliance, not subservience. Guiluan is sharp and intelligent, which is why she has this opportunity."
Xiao Yuansi, being straightforward and sincere, felt uneasy discussing these matters that stripped away the veneer of friendship. Thus, he remained silent. Xiao Chuting did the same, holding his white jade fishing rod silently.
For a moment, only the sound of the mountain wind howling through the trees was heard, causing Xiao Yuansi''s beard and hair to flutter.
Meanwhile, as Li Tongya descended the mountain, he saw two figures waiting at its foot. One wore a brown bamboo hat and had a short, neatly trimmed beard, with long eyebrows reaching his temples. He held a knife in his hand and had a sharp look in his eyes. He was at the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Upon seeing Li Tongya, he cupped his fists and said in a deep voice, "Greetings, fellow Daoist Tongya."
The other had white hair and a youthful face with a flowing beard, his eyes bright and prating. He cupped his fists in greeting as well andughed lightly before introducing himself.
"I am Nanshan Weng[1]... Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
Li Tongya cupped his fists hurriedly in return. The swordsman nodded and said in a deep voice, "I am Chen Taojing."
These two were, of course, the people Xiao Chuting had sent to deal with Yu Yufeng. After exchanging a few words with them, Li Tongya saw Xiao Chuchou approaching from afar on the wind, smiling.
"Thank you for waiting."
The others quickly responded, expressing how it was no bother at all.
Xiao Chuchou pointed to the swordsman, Chen Taojing, and introduced him, "This is Chen Taojing, who was once a guest cultivator at Moongaze Lake market. After the market was destroyed, he settled with my family. He practices the River One Qi Technique and has established the Boundless Ocean... just like Brother Tongya."
Li Tongya nodded immediately, and the swordsman''s eyes lit up. The two cupped their fists, and Li Tongya said with a smile, "I will need to seek much advice from you, Senior."
"We can learn from each other," the swordsman responded politely.
Xiao Chuchou then pointed to Nanshan Weng and introduced, "Nanshan Weng is an elder in our family."
With one at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm and two at the mid-stage, this was the force the Xiao Family had mobilized. Xiao Chuchou then introduced Li Tongya to the two, and with that, they all took to the wind and headed west.
1. Nanshan Weng actually means "Man from the southern mountain". So that guy is actually using a code name. ?
Chapter 256: Sent to Mount Yue (II)
Chapter 256: Sent to Mount Yue (II)
After seeing off Tian Youdao, Tian Zhongqing tidied up the room right away. Not daring to waste any time at all, he made his way west toward Lijing Town hurriedly. With the dazzling morning sun slowly rising, he was bathed in the brilliant golden light. An image of Xu Gongming suddenly popped into his mind.
"I have the guidance of my elder and must still rush about... Who knows if I can avert disaster? Brother Gongming is all alone, how will he manage?"
A faint sense of guilt mixed with deep relief surged within Tian Zhongqing, creating aplex blend of emotions in his heart. This mixture of worry and conflicting feelings made the otherwise tedious journey pass quickly.
Between Lijing Town and the various towns of Huaqiany Lidaokou Vige, the original dirt road had been reced by a beautifully paved stone path. Lidaokou Vige was also home to a family from Moongaze Lake surnamed Xu, whoter moved to Lijing Town.
Known for keeping a low profile, it was said that the ancestors of these families were refugees skilled in business dealings, and several of their descendants had even managed affairs with Mount Yue. Tian Zhongqing had never been to this ce, so he just nced around and continued west.
It was still early and Lijing Town was just waking up in the morning mist, with smoke rising from every household. Tian Zhongqing headed straight to the foot of Mount Lijing and spoke directly to the two n guards stationed there.
"Please deliver this letter to my cousin."
The guards took a good look at him and recognized Tian Zhongqing right away, knowing that his cousin was Li Jingtian. They quickly nodded and took the letter, and soon, a message came down in response. They then collected Tian Zhongqing''s storage pouch and dharma artifacts before leading him up the mountain.
Tian Zhongqing entered the mountain, walking along a small path for a while until he saw a small courtyard appear before him. He entered the courtyard respectfully, where there was only a small desk by the window where a woman in a pce dress, with a jade hairpin and a gentle demeanor, was seated. Beside her kneeled a young girl who stared at him curiously.
"Zhongqing greets elder sister!" Tian Zhongqing called out respectfully.
Li Jingtian, however, merely held the letter in her hand and said calmly, "Uncle sent you here. Is there something you need to ask?"
Tian Zhongqing was about to speak, but Li Jingtian waved her hand to interrupt him, gently patting Li Qingxiao''s head and sending her off to study. Only then did she focus her attention on listening to Tian Zhongqing''s exnation.
Raising her eyebrows slightly, she felt a mix of exasperation and amusement as she set down her tea bowl and criticized harshly, "How could you be this foolish!"
Li Jingtian frowned slightly. Though her temperament was gentle, she had a dignified presence when serious, startling Tian Zhongqing into a tirade of repetitive apologies.
"Indeed, I was foolish! I was foolish!"
Li Jingtian paused and then advised, "If you fear trouble, relinquish your position and take some of our n''s allied cultivators to Mount Yue to cultivate spirit fields."
Tian Zhongqing nodded repeatedly but hesitated before asking quietly, "When can I return...?"
Li Jingtian pondered for a moment and replied, "Focus on your cultivation. If all goes well, someone from our family will be sent to the Eastern Mount Yue to guard and establish a foothold. Your days may not be so difficult, but as for when you can return, that is not something I can predict."
Tian Zhongqing nodded continuously, seeing that Li Jingtian remained silent. Not daring to say more, he expressed his thanks and quickly left.
As Tian Zhongqing departed, the courtyard was left with only a gentle breeze. Li Jingtian waited quietly at the desk for a while, and soon enough, there was a knock on the door. She smiled warmly.
"Come in."
A young man wearing a ck robe and matching ck boots adorned with silver patterns stepped inside. He cupped his fists lightly and said with a softugh, "Auntie, what did you tell him?"
Li Jingtian smiled softly and replied, "I told him to go to Mount Yue."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, a hint of a smile appearing on his face as he said quietly, "Previously, people despised Mount Yue for its poverty and the fact that it was inhabited by uncivilized men with disheveled hair and tattoos... No one even wanted to go there to nt Spirit Paddies. Now, they havee knocking by themselves!"
Li Jingtian nodded silently and said softly, "They would rather engage in cockfighting and dog racing in the town than go to Mount Yue to manage spirit fields... This is the nature of these cultivators. In contrast, the impoverished cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm work tirelessly, taking on multiple jobs just to earn a few more jin of Spirit Paddies."
"It is indeed human nature..." Li Yuanjiao said,ughing heartily before adding, "The influential families live without worries, provided for by their elders. Besides their daily cultivation, they naturally indulge in entertainment. This Tian Zhongqing is actually one of the better ones...
"Most cultivators of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, knowing they have no hope of breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, start to behave recklessly, indulging themselves in pleasures and vices, making them an annoyance to others. With this excuse, we can send the Tian Family''s allied cultivators to Mount Yue to farm, preventing them from causing trouble under the pretense of residual favors."
Li Jingtian poured tea for Li Yuanjiao, startling the young man into repeatedly expressing his unworthiness. Li Jingtian then smiled and said, "My uncle Tian Youdao is loyal, but over the years, the Tian Family has grown increasingly arrogant, relying on his and my mother''s past favors. They have taken in several Mount Yue cultivators and have be somewhat overconfident... This matter serves as a good warning to several families."
Li Jingtian''s words were partly to absolve Tian Youdao, and Li Yuanjiao understood this clearly. He nodded, saying, "Granduncle and father have both noticed this, which is why they gave him the pill to help him break through. However, the Tian Family''s ethos is not right. Even without Tian Zhongqing''s incident, there would still be something to hold against them."
The two talked for a while before Li Yuanjiao asked, "How is Qingxiao doing now? Is she studying and practicing calligraphy?"
Li Jingtian replied softly, "Of course, she is studying and practicing calligraphy diligently. But... if she does not have a spiritual orifice, learning will not be of much use."
Li Yuanjiao fell silent as he heard this, picking up the tea bowl from the table and taking a small sip. He then said in a low voice, "Uncle Donghe is talented; Qingxiao will surely be fine."
Despite his reassuring words, Li Yuanjiao was anxious. The Li Family originally had no spiritual orifices, and Li Xiangping could cultivate only because he used a talisman seed. Besides, Li Jingtian alsocked a spiritual orifice. Whether Li Qingxiao possessed one was truly uncertain and unknown.
It was known that at that time, Li Xuanxuan had already reached the fourth or fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. The brothers Li Yuanxiu and Li Yuanjiao, one of whom had a mother with a spiritual orifice at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm and the other with the noble bloodline of the Mulu n, both had spiritual orifices.
However, even though Li Xuanling and his wife were both cultivators, they still gave birth to Li Yuanyun, whocked a spiritual orifice. Clearly, the intricacies of this matter were indeedplex and difficult to predict.
Chapter 257: Man on Creek, Fish in Cave (I)
Chapter 257: Man on Creek, Fish in Cave (I)
Milin Prefecture had t terrain and fertilend, with a poption of 560,000. For a prefecture established less than twenty years ago, this was indeed arge poption.
The Yu Family was thergest and the onlyndlord in Milin Prefecture. Thend was entirely privately owned by the mortal descendants of the Yu Family, including the tenant farmers and sharecroppers working on it. Even an ordinary concubine-born son of the Yu Family could own vast tracts ofnd and take numerous wives and concubines.
The only thriving area was Milin City, whichy beneath the main peak of the Milin Yu Family. However, it was still blood-soaked, like a man-eating beast lurking quietly on the surface of the earth.
Yu Mugao sat silently in the luxurious grand hall at the highest point, with a group of cultivators below him, waiting quietly for him to speak. However, Yu Mugao remained silent, simply gazing at them.
Yu Xiaogui had gone to Xianyou Peak to attend Xiao Chuting''s ceremony, causing unrest among the eastern families. Yu Mugao had been interrupted from his cultivation, and as he looked at the submissive brothers, sons, and nephews below him, he could feel his anger nearly bursting from his chest. However, he had to suppress his rage forcefully.
"Themon people are disced, even forced to eat their own children for survival while my family''s descendants are having fun¡ªdrinking wine, ying games, singing joyously, and whipping tenant farmers. The butchers bring out dog heads, with human fleshid out below them..."
Yu Mugao slowly stood up and walked out of the grand hall. Looking at Milin Prefecture under the night sky, countless recurring thoughts surged in his mind. He felt a chill down his spine and asked himself silently, "Is this an immortal n or a domain of demons and devils?"
A deep sense of powerlessness swirled within him. Yu Mugao was a ruthless and sinister figure, yet he never had the desire to torment the people or overindulge his n. Now, he had to watch this nightmare unfold before his very eyes.
However, Yu Mugao was not the main culprit and was not solely to me. The Yu Family was already like this when it came into his hands. Even if he wanted to change it a little, the forces of opposition would involve an entire group of interests, which were led by his father and even the ancestor in the cave dwelling.
He raised his head silently and looked toward the highest cave dwelling. His sharp gaze seemed to prate the wooden walls and stone barriers, seeing the old man sitting cross-legged.
"Last year, human flesh cost three coins per jin; now it is only two coins... Grandfather, what are you really trying to achieve?"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the eerie stone cave, droplets of blood trickled down, pooling into a small basin where Yu Yufeng''s hands were submerged. He silently raised his hands after the routine tempering.
Attempting to calm himself and enter a meditative state, Yu Yufeng found himself increasingly agitated, unable to achieve tranquility. His hands brushed against the walls, scraping off ayer of chalky limestone. His eyes reddened, and with raw fury in his voice, he muttered menacingly, "Xiao Chuting... how could this be?! How could you have already achieved the Purple Mansion Realm?!"
He was from the same era as Xiao Chuting and had sparred with him many times, with victories and defeats on both sides. In terms of cultivation, he had even surpassed Xiao Chuting. Yet, despite years of dedicated practice, Xiao Chuting had already overtaken him.
Yu Yufeng examined his palms carefully, each still bearing a faint sword scar. This realization only heightened his agitation, bringing tears to his eyes as he murmured, "Fine... fine! You are a genius! So arrogant... cutting off one''s cultivation path with a single sword! Why... why..?!"
After a bout of uncontrolled shouting and having vented his emotions, Yu Yufeng finally sat, cross-legged once more. Surprisingly, the outburst had cleared his mind, bringing him some newfound sense of calmness. For a moment, he heard celestial music, as if tiny figures were ying drums and gongs, creating a beautiful melody.
"A good opportunity!"
Unconsciously, Yu Yufeng became more absorbed in his trance-like state, his mind clear and joyful. A vision of a small hill, passing through numerous forests and roads, appeared before him.
"This is... this is the chance for my breakthrough!"
Two bursts of colorful light appeared briefly behind his head of white hair, but he waspletely unaware of this phenomenon. His eyes grew slightly cloudy as he was ovee with joy. Kicking open the stone door, he flew into the grand hall.
Yu Mugao, staring nkly at the night sky, was startled by the sudden appearance of a gaunt, white-haired old man before him. He quickly lowered his head to conceal his surprise and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Behind him, the uncles and nephews who were gathered exchanged bewildered nces before kneeling down as well, their voices echoing in unison.
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
"Hmm..." Yu Yufeng hummed in acknowledgment as he slowly squinted, his face showing a strange expression as he looked at the kneeling Yu Mugao. He asked in a low voice, "Has Yu Xiaogui not returned yet?"
"He has not, Ancestor..." Yu Mugao answered quietly, his tone respectful. The gathered uncles and nephews nced at each other, specting that Yu Yufeng must have made a significant breakthrough.
Yu Mugao, however, felt uneasy. Hesitantly, he raised his head and asked humbly, "Ancestor... did you have a breakthrough during your seclusion?"
"Yes and no."
Yu Yufeng visibly became very excited at the subject,ughing heartily as he replied, "While I was in seclusion, I had a sudden epiphany, feeling refreshed and understanding where my breakthrough opportunity lies! Ah... what joy!"
"Congrattions on your epiphany, Ancestor! The Purple Mansion Realm is within reach!"
Yu Mugao''s uncles and nephews immediately pressed their heads to the ground, shouting in unison, their voices full of respect and excitement. This extravagant disy made Yu Yufeng feel even more pleased with himself as he nodded slowly, taking it all in.
However, Yu Mugao, observing Yu Yufeng''s exaggerated expression, felt increasingly uneasy. He began to feel suspicion rising in him and chose his next words carefully.
"Congrattions on your divine insight, Ancestor... The Purple Mansion Realm is surely within your reach. Such enlightenment is only spoken of in ancient legends, attributed to the most extraordinary Daoist immortals. It has not been heard of for hundreds of years, and the fact that you have achieved such insight is truly earth-shattering!"
Yu Mugao had deliberately phrased his words so oddly to hint at his doubts, but Yu Yufeng, failing to catch the hint, thought he was being ttered. Instead, heughed heartily and dered proudly, "Indeed, it is so!"
This statement was something no Foundation Establishment Realm ancestor would dare utter, striking Yu Mugao''s mind like thunder. He knew Yu Yufeng well and such arrogance and restlessness was entirely uncharacteristic of him. rm bells rang in his mind, and he could not help the words of caution that left his mouth.
"Ancestor... beware of falling under someone''s spell!"
These words exploded next to Yu Yufeng''s ears. He paused momentarily, his eyes briefly clearing. However, a thousand li away, a white jade fishing rod was lifted lightly, and Yu Yufeng''s eyes dimmed again. He roared angrily, "You cowardly junior, trying to obstruct my path!"
With a powerful sweep of his gray sleeve, he struck Yu Mugao, causing him to see stars and spit blood instantly. Rolling three times on the ground, Yu Mugao spat out two teeth, his manapletely drained. Yu Yufeng''s voice was cold and harsh when he spoke again.
"A small punishment to serve as a big warning... Remember it well."
Yu Yufeng then flew eastward on the wind. Covered in dust and blood, Yu Mugaoy on the ground, weak. However, he still cried out persistently, tears streaming down his face as he ran and stumbled over his own feet.
"Don''t go, Ancestor! You must not go! Ancestor! Ancestor! You mustn''t¡ª"
Chapter 258: Man on Creek, Fish in Cave (II)
Chapter 258: Man on Creek, Fish in Cave (II)
However, Yu Yufeng had already flown away on the wind. Yu Mugao, his mouth filled with blood, found to his dismay that his mana flow had been halted by Yu Yufeng''s strike. He attempted a couple of spells but failed to lift off, calling out a few times in futility before giving up.
Yu Mugao spat out the blood in his mouth, spraying red droplets everywhere. Looking back, he found himself standing on the rock tform below the hall, disheveled, covered in dust, and the front of his clothes now stained with blood. His bare feet were nted on the ground, a far cry from the refined young master he once was.
However, he did not care as he stood dazedly in the open space, feeling utterly lost. He gazed at the gloomy sky, the dark night swirling between the mountain peaks. His heart felt empty as he stood there barefoot.
Slowly, his uncles and brothers caught up, buzzing like a swarm of bees.
"Mugao! This was a joyous asion; how could you speak like that!"
"The ancestor is merciful! It''s fortunate that Brother Mugao is unharmed!"
Yu Mugao, body hunched and heart burning with anger, could only grit his teeth and endure such embarrassment. With a long sigh, he let two streams of tears flow down his cheeks and cried out to the heavens, "This is beyond human control! What can we do? What can we do..."
The noise behind him continued. Furious, Yu Mugao drew his sword with a swift motion, ring at the Yu Family members like a tiger. They immediately fell silent, lowering their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
Yu Mugao''s lips trembled for several moments before he finally threw the sword to the ground with a ng and roared, "Get out!"
The Yu Family uncles and brothers scattered immediately, as though caught in a whirlwind. Some lifted their robes and ran while the others flew away. Yu Mugao stood there for a while more, still dazed, before finally covering his face and weeping loudly.
"Muyuan... I have lost you! Who else can I rely on to manage these fools..?"
Li Tongya and the othersnded on the small hill. Nanshan Weng took out twelve formation gs and several jade slips, distributing them with a smile, "Brother Taojing and I will ce the gs at the Qian, Kun, Kan, and Li positions. You two ce the gs at the Zhen, Xun, Gen, and Dui positions. The hand seals and incantations are in these jade slips."[1]
Xiao Chuchou and Li Tongya nodded, turning around to fly off in their respective directions. Li Tongya studied the jade slip for a moment, confirming the Zhen position, and ced the g there. Xiao Chuchou also arrived on the wind, and the two of them cast spells to fix the gs in ce.
While performing a series of hand seals, Xiao Chuchou nced at Li Tongya and said in a low voice, "Do you have any doubts, fellow Daoist Tongya?"
"Indeed, I do..." Li Tongya replied as he nodded, casting the spell before continuing, "In the presence of the ancestor, I dared not speak. I cannot understand why Yu Yufeng, who is known for his steadfast seclusion, woulde westward."
Li Tongya had his suspicions but continued with polite words in order to prompt Xiao Chuchou''s exnation.
Xiao Chuchouughed heartily and said, "The Daoist Master''s divine ability, derived from Man on Creek, is unique in Yue State and Jiangnan. His life divine ability possesses various wonders, one of which can arouse greed and anger, creating illusions to lure and tempt people... This is why Yu Yufeng could not resisting. He has been obsessed for years, deeply ensnared by the spell. Unless someone with great power can stop him for a moment and give him a hard p across the face, he will not wake up."
Li Tongya felt a chill down his spine. Such divine ability able to manipte others so easily, was merely one of its abilities. He sighed deeply and said quietly, "We are like dogs and horses beside a crumbling wall, or fish and shrimp in a cave... so insignificantpared to those in the Purple Mansion Realm."
Xiao Chuchou gently shook his head and replied, "To arouse greed and anger, creating illusions... it is all just a minor application of this divine ability. Yu Yufeng''s mind was already clouded and his spirit was muddled, hence making it easy for him to fall into the trap. Used in ordinary situations, it would only influence someone''s thoughts slightly or make them prone to rash and impulsive actions."
Li Tongya nodded slightly, his heart filled with great fear, growing more and more unsettled. He thought to himself, Guiding inclinations... Who but those in the Purple Mansion Realm can perceive it? Who knows how many big and small affairs Xiao Chuting has already secretly influenced over these past ten years?!
Arge cluster of doubts surfaced in his mind, and Li Tongya pondered silently, The Yu Family has been wasting time with the eastern families for twenty years, creating never-ending waves of trouble. Though the Fei Family frequently caused problems, how much more capable could Fei Wangbai bepared to Yu Mugao? Yet, they always managed to evade responsibility...
Lu Sisi spent his entire life preparing many contingency ns in the Ding, Li, and An families, even in the Mushroom Forest in. Why did all his ns turn to dust in one night when he died? The three families attacked the Lu Family simultaneously, with no regard for consequences, as if they had nned it together...
Li Tongya''s hand, which was hidden in his sleeve, trembled slightly. Even his facial expression distorted slightly, evidence of his fear. He quickly lowered his head to hide his emotions.
While these suspicions could be dismissed as mere paranoia, there was one inference he couldn''t shake away, one that convinced him Xiao Chuting was behind it all.
Years ago, the An Family upied the Lu Family''s old nest, Mount Tiaoyun. Without a second thought, An Jingming handed Mount Tiaoyun over to the Ding Family, leading Ding Xiding to enter Moongaze Lake...
Where was Mount Tiaoyun located? Right at the border between Moongaze Lake and Mushroom Forest in! The Ding Family upying this spot effectively blocked the An and Li families from moving east along the Guli Road to encroach on Mushroom Forest in and Lixia Prefecture, cutting off their path to the Xiao Family.
The Ding Family had long been the gatekeepers for the Yuan Family. The Yuan Family had numerous Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, and Yuan Tuan, a senior sister of Li Chejing, was now the head of Qingsui Peak, where the Li Family intended to send their disciples.
Unless the Li Family upied Mount Tiaoyun first, it was nearly impossible to start a conflict with the Yuan Family over that deste mountain. This left the Xiao Family free from geographical conflicts with the Li Family.
No wonder... No wonder they want my family to send disciples to the Azure Pond Sect; it all fits together...
The intricate connections made Li Tongya''s heart tremble with fear, deeply unsettling him and leaving him momentarily dazed.
Looking further back, the eastern invasion of Mount Yue, Jianixi''s suicide, the destruction of the Moongaze Lake market¡ªeach event has suspicious points... Xiao Chuting... Xiao Chuting... what a masterful Man on Creek! What a terrifying man Xiao Chuting is!
"Fellow Daoist? Fellow Daoist Tongya?" Xiao Chuchou''s voice called out twice, startling Li Tongya back to reality.
He quickly apologized, saying with a bitter tone, "I was lost in thoughts about the mysteries of the Purple Mansion Realm and its various divine abilities, and was momentarily distracted. I am truly sorry!"
Though he spoke these words, Li Tongya was inwardly struck by a realization, thinking, That day when I broke into the Lu Family and learned about Jianixi''s matter as a Purple Mansion ritual, I felt the sky darken and light vanish, leaving me at the mercy of the Purple Mansion Realm! Over the years, as my cultivation grew, I distanced myself from worldly matters... feeling a faint sense of freedom. Yet, I am still but a small shrimp in a cave, foolishly thinking otherwise!
Even though Xiao Chuting had subtly aided his family, it still left Li Tongya deeply uneasy. He suppressed these thoughts as Xiao Chuchouughed heartily and said, "The Purple Mansion Realm is naturally wondrous! In ancient times, it was called ''Divine Refinement,'' meaning to cultivate divine abilities, famed for its many marvels!"
"Divine Refinement..." Li Tongya echoed, quickly adjusting his mindset as he responded with a smile, "Such hidden truths exist!"
"That''s right," Xiao Chuchou infused the final incantation into the formation g,pleting the setup of this formation eye alongside Li Tongya. They then rode the wind to the next Gen position to ce another g.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity to gather more information, Li Tongya could not help but ask further as they continued soaring through the air, "Senior, with your extensive knowledge, could you tell me the names of the other realms?"
"Ah," Xiao Chuchou nodded slightly and replied, "In ancient times, the Embryonic Breathing Realm was called Chakra Nourishment, the Qi Cultivation Realm was known as Qi Ingestion, the Purple Mansion Realm was termed Divine Refinement, and the Golden Core Realm was referred to as Seeking Essence. These descriptions were more aligned with the cultivation processes. After the conflict between the immortals and devils, not only were there changes to prevent others from stealing their traditions, but the techniques also evolved to include many cryptic terms and jargon. Even the realms became different and much harder to understand."
As they talked, they finished setting up thest formation point and flew back to the small hill, where the swordsman, Chen Taojing, and Nanshan Weng were already waiting. The four of them concealed themselves and quietly awaited Yu Yufeng''s arrival.
1. Refer to trantor''s thoughts. ?
Chapter 259: Ambushed
Chapter 259: Ambushed
An Zheyan, havingpleted his meditation, slowly got down from the rock atop the mountain. Before him sat a middle-aged man with a head full of gray hair, appearing at least ten years older than An Zheyan.
The man was meditating silently, but as An Zheyan approached, he opened his eyes and greeted, "Senior."
An Zheyan merely nodded, his expression somewhat downcast. The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow, and his once stern face softened with a hint of a smile as he asked, "Could it be that you were driven out by your wife again?"
An Zheyan shook his head and sighed, replying with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "It is not something tough about, Brother Youdao! My wife, Feiruo, is perfect in every way, except for her domineering personality..."
Tian Youdao chuckled softly. He had a certain fondness for this former head of the An Family but kept his distance due to the presence of many prying eyes. He simply responded, "Feiruo is both capable and ambitious."
The Li Family had attempted to arrange a marriage for An Zheyan in the town several times. Many children with spiritual orifices were already betrothed; even Li Yuanyun almost could not marry one.
It was even more challenging for someone like An Zheyan, once infamous for his brutality, to find a match. Eventually, he ended up marrying Li Feiruo.
Li Feiruo had previously married westward to Mount Yue, aplished feats there, and also managed Lichuankou Vige. She was not only beautiful but also carried an aura of nobility.
An Zheyan, despite being a Qi Cultivator, had been through many ups and downs, which had softened his temperament. Li Feiruopletely dominated him, but despite hisints, their life together was fairly harmonious.
An Zheyan chuckled, avoiding the topic. "I see that Brother Tian is troubled... What worries you?" he asked politely.
Tian Youdao sighed deeply, his old face drooping as he replied, "At over fifty years old, I have enjoyed what pleasures I could and barely reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm before sixty. What troubles could I have... except for the fact that my children and grandchildren are disappointing."
Such a topic of conversation made An Zheyan''s slightly uneasy. He said softly, "Brother Youdao need not worry... Sometimes, there is a blessing in ignorance. Having children and grandchildren that are too outstanding might not always be a good thing..."
Tian Youdao remained silent. The two sat on the peak when a figure climbed up, dressed in a long robe with a sword at his waist and aposed expression¡ªit was Chen Donghe.
Chen Donghe appeared travel-worn, indicating that he had just returned from somewhere. The two men stood and cupped their fists in greeting. Chen Donghe returned the salute, and An Zheyanughed, "Donghe, where have you been?"
Chen Donghe shook off the dust from his robe, and then stood proudly, now clean and neat. He answered softly, "My wife and daughter are in Lijing Town... I always miss them and have to go back to see them."
Chen Donghe sat by the stone table and took a sip from a jade cup. Looking puzzled, he asked, "Upon my return, I heard that Tian Zhongqing volunteered to lead a group of Tian Family members to Eastern Mount Yue and epted a quota of six hundred jin of Spirit Paddies. Uncle, what is the meaning of this?"
Tian Youdao simply shook his head, muttering, "It''s a long story... the children are just disappointing."
Chen Donghe saw that Tian Youdao was reluctant to borate and paused before speaking gently, "Allow me to say something. The high-born children are indeed arrogant; perhaps this ordeal is a good thing for them..."
Tian Youdao raised his eyebrows, indicating for Chen Donghe to continue. Chen Donghe nodded and continued in a low voice, "Every day I see the children of the Tian Family in the town cockfighting, racing dogs, and acting arrogantly. I was always secretly worried for you, Uncle! Although today''s incident caused a setback for the Tian Family, it might have helped avert a greater disaster in the future; it is truly a fortunate event!"
Theseforting words eased Tian Youdao''s mind considerably, but he still frowned and sighed. "You are right, Donghe. Zhongqing is still decent enough, so I can rest assured about him... But those useless ones like Tian Rong, they can always stir up trouble!"
Tian Youdao then waved his sleeve and stood up, seeming to have made a decision. He then said in a deep voice, "I shall now enter seclusion for a breakthrough, no more preparations are necessary. Lingering on this mountain always leaves me uneasy. The sooner I break through and descend, the better I can oversee them!"
After saying this, he cupped his fists to Chen Donghe and An Zheyan and turned to head toward the spirit spring cave dwelling. As the stone door closed heavily, Chen Donghe set down his jade cup and looked at An Zheyan, who sat there dumbfounded. He chuckled lightly as he spoke warmly to the man.
"Feel free to resume your cultivation."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Yu Yufeng flew on the wind for a while. The speed of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was swift, and almost in an instant, he had left the territory of the Yu Family, passed over the long and t An Family''snds, and flew past the Li Family''s territory.
Below, the smoke from cooking fires rose slowly, and the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs made the early morning scene particrly lively.
Yu Yufeng felt greatly moved as he calcted, quietly formting a n. He muttered slowly, "The Li Family''s method of rearing mortals is truly excellent! Thend around Mount Dali is not particrly fertile, yet they manage to support so many mortals. If I used them for my consumption, it would not just heal the wounds on my hands, but it might even help me advance further!"
Yu Yufeng''s heart was filled with agitation, but he knew better than to act recklessly. He gritted his teeth and said harshly, "If it were not for that sword immortal''s protection, how could such delicacies slip away from me? For now, I should seize this opportunity... Once I break through to the Purple Mansion Realm, I will immediately join the Azure Pond Sect. Who cares about a mere one or two hundred thousand mortals?"
With these thoughts, Yu Yufeng felt a surge of joy within him, quickening his pace as he swiftly flew over the Li Family''s territory, heading west along the Guli Road. The mystical guidance in his heart became increasingly clear.
Yu Yufeng was greatly excited, and as his mana increased, the sword scars carved on his palms began to ache faintly, almost making him howl in pain.
Unaware of his abnormal reaction, Yu Yufeng descended upon the small hill. Suddenly, a buzzing noise exploded in his ears as beams of light shot up instantly, enveloping the sky in a pristine barrier.
Yu Yufeng''s mind went nk as he shouted out angrily, "Who dares block my way?! Who dares steal my opportunity?!"
"Hah!" A coldugh echoed from above him, a thunderous voice ringing in Yu Yufeng''s ears.
"Your death is imminent, and yet you are unaware that you''ve been ensnared... Yu Yufeng, you are truly worthless!"
These words exploded like thunder in Yu Yufeng''s ears, clearing his muddled eyes instantly. He felt as though he had just woken up from a long dream. Shivering coldly, the events of the past half-day flooded his mind.
Yu Yufeng murmured, a hint of anxiety creeping into his voice, "I am the ancestor of the Yu Family, connected with Yuanwu Peak. Yu Muxian from my n is cultivating there, and he''s grand disciple of a Daoist Master! You better consider your next actions carefully!"
However, no one in the formation responded. Three figures slowly rose, and Yu Yufeng, startled, quickly scanned them with his spiritual sense. Terror engulfed himpletely. He stepped back, realizing that the formation had enclosed him entirely.
Finally, realizing the magnitude of his foolish actions, he muttered, "Spell...? No, divine ability...! Which Purple Mansion Realm cultivator seeks my life?"
Chapter 260: Killing Yu Yufeng
Chapter 260: Killing Yu Yufeng
Li Tongya concealed himself outside the formation, listening to Yu Yufeng''s terrified shouts from within. He kept his head down, scanning the surroundings for any signs of intruders.
With Xiao Chuchou and his group¡ªone at the peak of Foundation Establishment Realm and two at the mid-stage¡ªdealing with Yu Yufeng, who was only at thete stage of Foundation Establishment Realm, they did not need Li Tongya''s help at all. They had just asked him to stand guard outside the formation.
"Take this!"
Nanshan Wengunched a pristine white jade seal toward Yu Yufeng, which burst forth with brilliant white light. Yu Yufeng''s face twisted in both rm and terror as he reached out to intercept it. The collision produced a violent and thunderous sound, locking them in a stalemate while in midair.
"Nanshan Weng! It''s you! It''s the Xiao Family... this is not good!" Yu Yufeng cried out. The collision of lights produced sparkling radiance which trickled down from Yu Yufeng''s palms as he withstood the jade seal. Nanshan Weng, eyes closed and focusing intently, pushed Yu Yufeng back step by step, his arms straining.
While dealing with the peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator Nanshan Weng, Yu Yufeng sensed a chilling breeze behind him. Dozens of sword beams surged like waves, producing a sound simr to the roar of raging oceans.
Turning, Yu Yufeng saw a middle-aged swordsman approaching him rapidly with a sword, his gray robe billowing in the wind. Yu Yufeng, forced to divert his attention, held Nanshan Weng''s jade seal with one hand and used his other to counter the sword beams.
Chen Taojing, practicing the River One Qi Technique, wielded robust mana. Dozens of sword beams poured down with unstoppable force, each radiant and powerful.
Unexpectedly, Yu Yufeng''s reverse palm strike halted the sword beams. He then grabbed and crushed them, causing a burst of clear droplets to rain down on them, dissipating the sword beams entirely.
"Yu Yufeng truly lives up to the name of White Jade Fist... his strength is formidable!"
Li Tongya, now a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator with years of experience, could easily gauge the strength of thebatants. Despite being at thete stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Yu Yufeng could simultaneously fend off the peak Foundation Establishment Realm Nanshan Weng and mid-stage Chen Taojing. Even though they weren''t using their full power, his ability to resist and defend himself was impressive.
Below, Xiao Chuchou, having wandered the world for years, showed no regard for honor with Yu Yufeng. He swung his patterned copper rod with lethal intent, aiming directly for Yu Yufeng''s head, his mana surging fiercely.
In a moment of desperation, Yu Yufeng quickly gathered his mana, pushing away the jade seal with one palm and turning to sh directly with Xiao Chuchou. He used the momentum to repel himself away.
These three together make it impossible for me to gauge their strength... I have no choice but to go all out!
He pped his palms together, releasing six beams of white light. Red lines soon emerged on his skin that extended from his elbows and earlobes, resembling dangling tassels and emitting a faint blood qi.
Yu Yufeng''s eyes shut and reopened, now glowing with the luster of jade, his tattered clothes revealing his sculpted muscles. He spat out a blood-red streak, his fierce and feral gaze fixed on Chen Taojing.
"What kind of immortal foundation is this?!" Chen Taojing asked in a low voice, stunned as everything happened in the space of a breath.
If Yu Yufeng revealed such an immortal foundation under normal circumstances, Xiao Chuchou would be on high alert, performing hand seals or summoning dharma artifacts to prepare for battle. But now, with Yu Yufeng like a bird in a cage or a fish in a, Xiao Chuchou wasn''t worried and even had the leisure to chat.
"Jade Court General," Xiao Chuchou answered with a smile. "Back then, it was the immortal foundation forged by the White Jade Court, subordinate to the Moonlight Origin Mansion. The Courtly Red Dust Qi required to cultivate it has long been lost... Seeing it today is quite rare indeed!"
"That''s right!" Nanshan Weng nodded in agreement, pushing his palms forward, continuing, "Back in the day, he made a name for himself in Lixia Prefecture with this Jade Court General. It has been many years since then, but seeing it again is still impressive."
While the two elders chatted happily, Chen Taojing was struggling. Yu Yufeng, spotting him as the youngest and weakest, closed the distance between them in two swift steps. Each of his palms struck down with force as heavy as Mount Tai, shing against Chen Taojing''s sword, producing a series of sharp, metallic sounds and bright red sparks.
Chen Taojing didn''t dare to hold back any longer. He activated Boundless Ocean, and clear, thick river water rose around him like two dragons, continuously dissolving the iing mana suppression. His sword techniques were adept, and though he was consuming a lot of mana, he managed to withstand Yu Yufeng''s attacks.
"Seniors! This old scoundrel has gone mad! Come quickly to assist!" Chen Taojing shouted out through gritted teeth.
Meanwhile, Yu Yufeng felt a deep sense of regret within him. He finally recognized the Boundless Ocean from the famous River One Qi Technique of the Lingyu Gate,mon around Moongaze Lake. Cursing his bad luck, he thought to himself dejectedly, I didn''t expect this guy''s immortal foundation to be the Boundless Ocean! What rotten luck... Now I''ve lost the advantage and can''t even take down one of them!
Xiao Chuchouughed heartily and said loudly, "Junior''s immortal foundation is extremely robust; you can easily hold on for another quarter of an hour. You are being too humble!"
As he spoke, wisps of cloud and fine frost, along with shes of lightning, appeared around him. Dark runes formed on his rod, and his already white temples turned frosty. He stepped forward, swinging his rod at Yu Yufeng.
Nanshan Weng also joined in, pping his hands and retrieving a pinewood staff from a pouch at his waist. The three of them surrounded Yu Yufeng.
Yu Yufeng, overwhelmed, struggled to defend against the sword and staff. Nanshan Weng''s jade seal and staff alternately struck him solidly, yet drew no blood. Instead, pieces of jade chipped off his body, falling to the ground and transforming into bloodstains.
"Hmm?"
After a few exchanges with Yu Yufeng, Xiao Chuchou sensed that something was off. He noticed that Yu Yufeng''s mana was strange, almost as if it had been corrupted. It was no wonder that Chen Taojing, known for his robust and enduring Boundless Ocean, had called for help within mere moments.
Observing the blood qi emanating from Yu Yufeng''s immortal foundation, he muttered, "Yu Yufeng, it seems you have consumed sacrificial offerings for your immortal foundation... No wonder you have been stuck at thete Foundation Establishment Realm for years! Such reckless consumption exins why you have not advanced."
Yu Yufeng remained silent, fighting the three for an hour. His strength waned, nearing exhaustion and the brink of bacsh from his own immortal foundation. Desperate, he threw dozens of talismans into the air which transformed into mes, green wood, and lightning, attacking his opponents. Taking the opportunity, he quickly flew westward.
However, the talismans only hindered them momentarily. Xiao Chuchou and the others immediately pursued him with renewed vigor. Yu Yufeng barely managed to strike at the formation a couple of times, causing a ripple before they closed in again. Forced to turn back and fight, more pieces of jade fell from his body, and Chen Taojing sliced off half a jade finger with his sword.
Yu Yufeng opened his mouth but couldn''t speak. Xiao Chuchou nodded slightly and continued, "Your family''s techniques are impressive, likely higher than Grade Three. If you had achieved the Purple Mansion Realm, your divine abilities would truly be formidable inbat."
Yu Yufeng remained silent, his tongue stiff in his mouth. Pills he had attempted to swallow rolled out from the corners of his mouth, his eyes unable to move. Xiao Chuchou seized this moment of his vulnerability, smashing Yu Yufeng''s head with his rod, scattering more jade fragments into the air. The now frail body swayed and finally copsed to the ground, breaking into four pieces, and scattering debris everywhere.
Chapter 261: Tides Have Turned
Chapter 261: Tides Have Turned
The three men descended in silence. Xiao Chuchou used his rod to crush the jade pieces, sweeping aside the fragments. They saw the shriveled remains of a heart and lungs, along with brain matter sttered on the ground; everything else had transformed into bright jade, appearing crystalline and translucent in the morning light.
Xiao Chuchou sighed as he picked up the storage pouch and poured out its contents with a tter. Most of the items in it were dharma artifacts, elixirs, and talismans. Although they had won the battle, their spirits were low as they sat among the items, carefully scanning through and selecting them.
After the space of a few breaths, Li Tongya descended from the sky, intending to offer congrattory words. He nced at the jade fragments on the ground and wisely remained silent upon seeing the other''s expressions.
Nanshan Weng sighed and murmured, "Yu Yufeng... In his youth, he was arrogant and domineering. Who would have thought he''d end up with his immortal foundation disintegrated like this; reduced to shattered jade...?"
Nanshan Weng, being the eldest and most experienced, had naturally witnessed many things. When Yu Yufeng first came to Lixia Prefecture, Nanshan Weng was already ate-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and having seen Yu Yufeng in his prime, he could not help but sigh. The elderly tend to be sentimental.
Xiao Chuchou, feeling deeply emotional, nodded and added, "He had established an immortal foundation and possessed formidablebat strength... It''s a pity he encountered Yu Yuxie, who ended his path. Who knows how many years he had wasted? The most precious years of cultivation were lost because the sword scars on his palms slowed his progress."
"It''s not anyone else''s fault though." Nanshan Weng shook his head, as if recalling that fateful day from years ago, and said softly, "Yu Yuxie had warned him repeatedly that this move was extraordinary and should not be taken head-on. He wielded dual swords with dazzling sword auras that were well-synchronized with each other. It was so impressive that I could not even sit still watching him! Yet... Yu Yufeng chose to catch them barehanded. His downfall was indeed due to his youthful arrogance and overconfidence! He couldn''t me others for it."
As the two discussed past events, Chen Taojing and Li Tongya listened quietly. Xiao Chuchou picked up a few dharma artifacts and talismans from the ground, ced them in his storage pouch, and took another portion of the Spirit Stones before gesturing for the others to help themselves to the rest.
After Chen Taojing and Nanshan Weng had taken their share as well, Xiao Chuchou then turned to Li Tongya.
"Pick a few items."
Li Tongya waved his hand hurriedly, declining his offer. "The siege of Yu Yufeng was at my request, and I did not contribute. I was merely watching... How could I take anything from the storage pouch?" he said hastily.
Xiao Chuchou shook his head and replied, "You have done your part by setting up the formation. That takes effort. Go ahead and take a few items."
Hearing this, Li Tongya picked up two Spirit Stones. Xiao Chuchou nodded and with a wave of his sleeve, collected the remaining items. He then cupped his fist and said, "Brother Tongya, do not disappoint the ancestor''s intentions... Now that the Yu Family is weakened, this is the perfect time for your n to rise. We have fulfilled our promise; the rest is up to your family."
"Indeed! Thank you, senior and the ancestor, for your great kindness!" Li Tongya said humbly, expressing his gratitude with a respectful cup of his fist.
Nanshan Weng and Chen Taojing had already tactfully turned away to give the two some privacy, one cleaning up traces left by the fight and the other retrieving the formation gs.
Xiao Chuchou saw Li Tongya nodding slightly in agreement. After hesitating for a few breaths, he finally spoke, "Moongaze Lake''s upperke area is vast and resource-rich, without any major fire or earth veins... nor any renowned alchemy or cksmith families."
Xiao Chuchou paused again and said softly, "The ancestor''s intention is that... there should be no marketce on Moongaze Lake."
Li Tongya understood his words immediately. This was the Xiao Family''s condition and one of the fundamental reasons for supporting their family at Moongaze Lake.
The Xiao Family boastedplete lineages and inheritances. Under Xiao Chuting''s suppression, they controlled a significant market share of dharma artifacts and elixirs in Lixia Prefecture and its surroundings.
In the past, when the three disciples from the Xiao Family were still part of the Azure Pond Sect, they converted vast amounts of raw materials and exportedrge quantities of dharma artifacts and elixirs annually. Most of the profits went to Azure Pond, but the remaining portion still brought substantial wealth to the Xiao Family.
Now, having separated from Azure Pond, the Xiao Family''s position has be awkward and rather disadvantageous. The Azure Pond Sect had not only cut off their supply of raw materials but also severely impacted their sales of dharma artifacts and elixirs.
Xiao Chuting had already anticipated this situation. The southern part of Moongaze Lake bordered the northern foothills of Mount Dali, where there were few families. The northern, eastern, and western shores, however, were rich in resources and densely popted with cultivators, meeting the Xiao Family''s needs perfectly.
Li Tongya paused slightly. "I understand. The Yu Family''s marketce will be wiped out within a few years..." he responded, cupping his fist respectfully.
Xiao Chuchou nodded approvingly, signaling that the matter was settled. He then added, "Yu Muxian is merely a Qi Cultivator, and with the Azure Pond Sect in turmoil, no one wille to investigate... and even if someone does, it will not affect you. Yu Yufeng''s death will likely be glossed over, so there is no need to worry."
"Understood!" Li Tongya responded, and the two ascended on the wind. The two others, who had been dawdling, finally finished their tasks and joined them.
Xiao Chuchou smiled and said, "This matter is settled then, Brother Tongya... you may return without worry!"
Li Tongya bowed in return, and the three from the Xiao Family departed on the wind. He then turned in the direction of Mount Lijing, feeling both relieved and pleased.
"Atst, one of my burdens had been lifted off my shoulders..." he murmured quietly to himself.
The forest below sped past him as he flew by. Soon, Li Tongya''s cautious nature made him suspicious once more, his mind racing with thoughts and spections.
"Why did Xiao Chuchou speak to me about the Daoist Master''s divine abilities? It seemed like he was intentionally mentioning it to me... Was it a warning? Or was it a gesture of goodwill? Or perhaps... another scheme of theirs?" he muttered with an anxious frown.
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow and turned his hand within his wide sleeve, revealing two glowing Spirit Stones. These were the very stones Xiao Chuchou had insisted he take.
Although he appeared to have put them away, he had actually kept them hidden in his sleeve, using mana to hold them instead of touching them directly. Shaking his head, he flicked his fingers, sending the two Spirit Stones shooting into arge tree below, quickly disappearing from his sight.
Li Tongya chuckled at his own thoughts and paranoia.
"Old age indeed brings overthinking..."
Mount Lijing soon appeared in the distance. Li Tongya gradually slowed his speed and descended into the formation, his spiritual sense scanning the area. A powerful voice reverberated in the mind of every direct descendant of the Li Family.
"Yu Yufeng is dead... Rest for six hours, then set off immediately for Mount Huazhong!"
Before the echoes of these words ended, the stone door of the cave dwelling behind him opened suddenly. A young man carrying a golden longbow strode out confidently. His sharp eyebrows arched proudly, and his face bore a slight, almost mischievous grin. Heughed heartily and bellowed, "Finally, we can get some revenge!"
Li Tongya shook his head with a smile and looked toward the Milin Prefecture in the distance. The rising sun painted the horizon, cutting through the forest. A surge of exhration and boldness rose in his heart. His next words were ferocious, his voice dangerously quiet.
"Yu Xiaogui... the tides have turned!"
Chapter 262: Breaking the Formation
Chapter 262: Breaking the Formation
An Zheyan was humming a tune on the mountain peak, gazing at the bright moon. On the small table before him were a dish of wine and two tes of food. He tasted them happily, letting out a long sigh as he savored the taste, and sat quietly.
Back when An Zheyan held great power in the An Family, he had lived a grand life. Exotic delicacies like bear paws and spirit fish tasted nd to him, and he muddled through each day.
After experiencing dramatic changes in his life, he found that even the simple food and wine of the mortal world tasted even better than before, and he lived a morefortable life.
Coming to such a realization, An Zheyan couldn''t help butugh at himself. Unexpectedly, a servant approached him hurriedly, carrying antern. He was panting heavily, and calling out repeatedly, "Old Master... Old Master...!"
"Huh?" An Zheyan couldn''t help but feel a bit fearful at the servant''s appearance and asked softly, "Is it the Madam...?"
"No!" The servant shook his head repeatedly and replied, "The main family sent word that Yu Yufeng of the Yu Family has fallen! The ancestor has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and is preparing to send troops to Mount Huazhong to reim the family estate!"
"What?!" An Zheyan raised his head in disbelief, utterly shocked. His legs went weak, and he looked around in a daze, not knowing what to say. The servant called out to him twice more before An Zheyan finally burst into tears andughed heartily.
"Damn it... Li Tongya is a genius, damn it...!"
In his excitement, he had forgotten to watch hisnguage. He jumped down from the rock and kicked open therge reddish-brown door, shouting, "Chen Donghe! Chen Donghe!"
Chen Donghe was deep in thought with his sword when An Zheyan barged in, full of force. Assuming that the rascal was trying to rebel, Chen Donghe prepared to defend himself. But unexpectedly, An Zheyanughed out loud like a maniac and cried, "You''re still ying sword here, huh?! We''re going to a real fight!"
Seeing Chen Donghe''s confused expression, An Zheyan quickly exined the news to him, and Chen Donghe''s expression quickly changed to one of sheer joy. He knew about Li Tongya breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm but hadn''t expected Yu Yufeng to die so swiftly.
Nodding quickly, they both took to the wind and flew upward. Below, they saw soldiers moving through the town, their des shing brightly in the firelight.
They paused slightly and saw a young man approaching with a golden bow. His sharp eyebrows and eyes, coupled with his concise and energetic attire, made the two quickly salute and address him respectfully.
"Xuanfeng!"
"Young Master..."
Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly in acknowledgment and said, "The An Family has two peaks. One is called Mount Yuting, the ancestral peak, and the other is Mount Huazhong, which was acquired from the Ji Family back then. You two will go with me to Mount Yuting and im it... The Ancestor and the others will handle Mount Huazhong."
An Zheyan, knowing this well, nodded hurriedly. Chen Donghe frowned slightly and whispered, "This is all well and good, but I have heard the Yu Family has stationed cultivators in the An Family... If we go, we might have to confront the Yu Family directly and make enemies with them."
Li Xuanfeng shook his head andughed. "Haha, we were invited by Brother Zheyan to remove his usurping concubine-born siblings upying the An Family''s position and restore order... We hold the moral high ground. As for the Yu Family''s cultivators, we have never seen them. They are just rogue cultivators hired by An Zheyu."
"Exactly."
A figure descended slowly from the sky, his robes fluttering in the wind. Bearing a great resemnce to Li Tongya and carrying a sword at his waist, he was none other than Li Xuanling.
He nodded slightly and continued, "In recent years, the families on the eastern shore have been restless... harboring both hatred and fear toward the Yu Family, who had been constantly exerting pressure on them. Yu Mugao, wary of provoking public outrage, refrained from outright annexation of the An Family, opting instead to maintain superficial control over them. With a legitimate reason, the Yu Family is powerless to do anything without Yu Yufeng now, as long as we act swiftly enough."
Chen Donghe nodded. After exchanging a few words, Li Xuanfeng led the two men and flew away. Li Xuanling paused mid-air, and his elder brother Li Xuanxuan followed suit, asking softly, "Brother Ling... do you think An Zheyan is trustworthy?"
"Outwardly obedient... but who knows what he thinks in his heart?" Li Xuanling replied.
Li Xuanxuan frowned and said, "We have already promised him Feiruo and granted him freedom of movement. He should not fear being discarded after being used."
"He''s at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He knows his value on theke," Li Xuanling said, shaking his head as they sped through the wind.
In the distance, Mount Huazhong came into view, its terrain undting and its formations emitting a faint white glow.
Above Mount Huazhong.
Li Tongya stood still, levitating in the sky. Below him, the formation was filled with desperate screams and cries. Flickering mes appeared and disappeared among the mountains.
Looking at the seemingly solid formation with flowing light below, he suddenly felt a bit dazed.
"How many times has this happened..."
These spirit veins on theke had witnessed countless killings and wars in less than a hundred years. The Wan Family was destroyed by the Ji Family, the Ji Family by the Lu Family, and the Lu Family was dismantled mercilessly. Finally, he, Li Tongya, stood above this mountain.
He sighed. Crystal-clear water dragons rose from beneath his feet, climbing from his waist to his chest, then up to his neck, dancing around him. His broad hand gripped the hilt of his sword, and the ordinary dharma sword slowly emerged from its sheath, revealing a snow-white de with intricate patterns.
Li Tongya was exceedingly cautious, never daring to be arrogant. Unlike others who yed games with Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators, besieging the enemy and Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators holding the rear, he went all out from the start.
Although he hadn''t studied the Law of Celestial Moon deeply, he had been practicing the Celestial Moon sh technique for forty years now. Since stepping into the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had never unleashed its full power. Now, eager to fight, he infused ten percent of his mana into this strike.
ng!
Li Tongya closed his eyes slowly, fully activating his Boundless Ocean. Sword qi and mana surged powerfully into his one single strike. After a long while, he suddenly drew the sword, unleashing a snow-white sword aura that was as enormous as a ship''s sail and as swift as lightning, disappearing in an instant.
BOOM!
The formation exploded below him, reverberating with powerful waves of energy and emitting a loud, creaking sound. A huge gap appeared which spanned the entire mountain, revealing high tforms and buildings within.
The gap flickered briefly before the entire formation disappearedpletely. The residual sword qi, controlled by Li Tongya''s thoughts, transformed into fragmented spring rain, scattering over the mountain.
"The power is quite impressive!" Li Tongya eximed. Having broken the formation, he felt rather exhrated. The sword qi on his dharma sword fluctuated, showing signs of transformation, which brought him great joy.
After being stuck at the sword qi stage for so many years, there''s finally a sign of breaking through to the sword essence stage!
Below, the Yu and An families'' cultivators dressed themselves hastily. They grabbed their swords and sabers, rushing out of their courtyards. The mountain''s grand formation had been shattered, dissolving into white light. Everyone stood quietly, staring dumbfounded at the radiant dharma sword in the sky.
As the cool spring rain fell through the forest andnded on their faces, someone finally dropped their dharma artifact with a resounding ng. He kneeled on the ground, crying out, "How the hell are we supposed to fight this..?"
"That''s a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator! Without Yu Xiaogui, how can we possibly resist such a force?!"
Not only were the An Family''s cultivators on the mountain in despair, but even the Li Family''s Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators below were momentarily stunned.
None of them expected the enemy''s formation to be obliterated so quickly. They looked at the figure in the sky with a mixture of awe and joy, shouting praises to their ancestor as they charged into the formation.
The cultivators on Mount Huazhong had lost their will to fight. The Yu Family''s cultivators tried to resist, shouting that they were under Yu Family rule, however, the Li Family''s cultivators had been instructed to treat them as rogue cultivators.
They engaged the Yu Family''s cultivators in battle with a chaotic onught of attacks. The An Family''s cultivators, on the other hand, threw down their dharma artifacts and fell to their knees, begging for mercy.
Chapter 263: Assault on Huazhong
Chapter 263: Assault on Huazhong
"Father''s swordsmanship has reached another level!" Li Xuanling eximed as he looked at Li Tongya, who was standing calmly, in awe.
Meanwhile, Li Xuanxuan murmured incredulously, "If I am not mistaken, that''s a Peak Qi Cultivation Realm formation!"
A formation of the Peak Qi Cultivation Realm wasparable to the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation on Mount Lijing. It required over a hundred Spirit Stones to set up, a price tag enough to leave even Peak Qi Cultivators helpless.
It was the pinnacle formation for a Qi Cultivation Realm family.
Although it was called a Peak Qi Cultivation Realm formation, it was not as fragile as paper in front of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. It could hold off an ordinary cultivator of the early Foundation Establishment Realm for the duration it takes to burn an incense stick.
If faced with a nonbative Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, it could hold up even longer. Hence, the fact that Li Tongya broke the formation so effortlessly highlighted the sheer offensive power of his swordsmanship.
"Indeed," Li Xuanling responded with a slight smile. He saw a Qi Cultivator rising from below, dressed in a gray robe with a jade crown. He appears to be at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
The man repelled the flying dharma artifacts controlled by the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators below with his saber, trying to find an opening to escape. Li Xuanling drew his sword and confronted him readily.
Li Xuanxuan snapped out of his daze and also approached with his sword, still marveling, "With Yu Yufeng now dead, there is no one left on theke who can firmly suppress Second Uncle!"
Below, Li Xuanling faced off against the man, his sword exuding the light gray aura of the Profound Water Sword Technique. They exchanged two moves, and Li Xuanxuan also joined in with his sword.
Li Xuanxuan had no real skill in swordsmanship, wielding the sword purely as a sharp tool. Li Xuanling took the lead in the fight while Li Xuanxuan maneuvered around, asionallyunching talismans as his attack tactic.
The man was quite skilled with his saber, and with his power as a fourth heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator, he handled the two second heavenlyyer Qi Cultivators with ease.
However, the fourth heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator did not want to linger any longer than he must. Seeing Li Tongya looking over to where they were, his anxiety grew incessantly.
"I am a guest cultivator from the Yu Family, not of the An Family! I merely reside here. You two are mistaken! Let me go, and I will repay you generously in the future!" he shouted desperately.
The man was clever, borrowing the Yu Family''s name while distancing himself and offering incentives. Most people might have been swayed.
Before Li Xuanling could respond, the man turned pale with fright. Li Tongya''s long sword made a sudden quick motion, sending a sword qi that was enveloped in water essence straight toward him. The sharp energy alone made him break into a cold sweat immediately. He barely managed to raise his sword in defense.
ng!
Even though Li Tongya''s strike was casual, it was not something a fourth heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator could easily block. The man had used all his strength and his mana was surging powerfully, yet he felt an overwhelming force against him. His long sword flew from his hand as he spat out blood and fell shakily to the ground. Before he could feel any form of relief, Li Xuanling''s sword had pierced through his chest.
This Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... does he not have any pride at all? To think that he''d ambush someone like me, a mere fourth heavenlyyer Qi Cultivator... he thought to himself, his limbs weakening.
As Li Xuanling retrieved his storage pouch and drew his sword, the man''s body fell into the forest. Li Xuanling simply shook off the blood and sheathed his sword.
As the limp body fell, a strong sword aura followed after him, circling the man''s neck lightly, causing his head to separate and his body to dissolve into clear water.
Only then did Li Tongya withdraw his gaze.
"Mount Huazhong was guarded by only a few men. Yu Mugao was too confident," Li Tongya remarked as he descended.
Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan quickly followed suit. Li Xuanxuanughed, "The Xiao Family had the upper hand... He never could have imagined this!"
Li Xuanling nodded and added, "Indeed, no matter how many Qi Cultivators he ces here, they would only die by Father''s hand! It was just a matter of when the news would reach him."
Li Tongya nodded silently,nding before the grand and splendid hall. He nced at the golden decorations and jade steps, murmuring, "Howvish!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Inside the grand and splendid hall, a middle-aged man with disheveled hair drew his sword and stood up, looking incredulously at the trembling servant below him.
"You damn fool! An Zheyan?! An Zheyan brought people back?! Are you crazy?" An Zheyu shouted angrily, kicking over the table in front of him. The ttering noise filled the room.
His lips trembled with fear, and he cursed to bolster his courage.
"Where did he get the nerve to offend the Yu Family? Yu Xiaogui or Yu Yufeng could kill him with a single p! Where did he get his guts?!"
Bang!
The servant who ryed the news kneeled and pressed his forehead to the ground desperately. The jade te in the center of the hall cracked suddenly with a loud noise, bursting into a series of mes. After a brief moment, it could no longer bear the strain and exploded into fragments, burning holes of various sizes into the carpet, the smell of fire and scorched material filling the air.
This was An Zheyu''s favorite animal hide carpet, but now he had no time to feel distressed over the ruins of his carpet. His mind went nk, and he copsed to the ground, muttering to himself, "So fast... how is this possible? How is this possible?"
Another servant called out frantically as he barged in, trembling and shouting, "Report! The grand formation... the grand formation was shattered by Li Tongya with a single sh!"
An Zheyu''s expression darkened even further as he muttered, "A single sh...? How is that possible...?!"
An Zheyu''s face twisted with rage. He grabbed the servant, spitting as he cursed, "Impossible... Who do you think he is? Yu Yufeng?!"
An Zheyu was even more brutal than An Zheyan had been. The servant, terrified, wet himself. An Zheyu, still caught in a daze, let him go and suddenly brightened up, shouting quickly, "Where is the Yu Family''s immortal master? Quickly, call for reinforcements! Hurry!"
An Zheyu, still maintaining a shred of sanity, knew that no Qi Cultivator could possibly withstand Li Tongya, who could so easily break the formation with one single sh. He hoped desperately that the Yu Family''s Qi Cultivator could bring reinforcements to aid them.
Standing up shakily, he saw the servant trembling as he said, "The immortal master flew away and has not been seen since..."
"No... no..." An Zheyu shook his head violently, muttering, "An Jingming''s body... I''ve already... An Zheyan and I are mortal enemies now, I cannot sit here and wait for death!"
He pushed aside the throne above hastily, pulling out a storage pouch from within and hurriedly stuffing it into his chest pocket. Taking a few steps forward, now scared witless, he stumbled down the stairs and kicked the helpless servant aside. Falling to the ground, he raised his head slowly and saw a pair of simple cloth shoes in front of him.
An Zheyu rolled over and backed away frantically. Before him was a broad-shouldered, gaunt middle-aged man with graying temples, his features apanied by dignified eyes. He stood calmly before him with his hands behind his back.
On either side stood a man. The one on the left appeared older, with a stern demeanor and a slightly square face, exuding an air of long-standing authority. The one on the right looked much younger but carried himself with equal steadiness.
An Zheyu kneeled with a thud, pressing his forehead on the ground frantically in terror as he desperately pleaded, "Mercy, my lords! Mercy! The Yu Family forced me... it was the Yu Family..."
Li Tongya simply shook his head and asked softly, "You just mentioned An Jingming... What happened to him?"
Now that Yu Yufeng had fallen, Li Tongya wasn''t concerned about the existing Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator Yu Xiaogui or Fei Wangbai at Moongaze Lake. His concern was the once brilliant talent¡ªAn Jingming.
An Jingming had been so dazzling that he overshadowed all his peers, including seniors like Li Tongya. Hearing his name made Li Tongya alert immediately, seizing any opportunity he could to gather information.
An Zheyu pressed his forehead on the ground repeatedly, stuttering, "A-An Jingming... An Jingming... I..."
He stammered so much that he was unable to speak coherently. Li Xuanling snorted coldly, making him jump, and pressed his forehead on the ground once more, his whole body trembling in fear.
"He ate him."
Li Tongya, curious, turned to see an armored soldier standing beside the steps. He spoke coldly with a deep look of hatred in his eyes as he stared right at An Zheyu.
His words stunned everyone.
"Ate... him?"
Chapter 264: Yuting Surrenders
Chapter 264: Yuting Surrenders
An Zheyu pressed his forehead on the ground repeatedly, his robes and hair disheveled at this point. Terrified, he whispered weakly, "I... I heard that geniuses possess mystical qualities, and consuming them can inherit some of their abilities... My greed got the better of me, and I..."
Seeing Li Tongya''s expressionless face, An Zheyu''s eyes lit up as he thought he understood the situation. He eximed hurriedly, "There''s still some left! There''s some left, my lord! I made it into preserved meat... If you''d give me a moment, I..."
He scrambled up eagerly and fumbled around the throne above him, quickly retrieving a gold-embellished jade box. Kneeling before the three, he opened the jade box to reveal dark red, translucent slices.
An Zheyu smiled obsequiously, "This..."
Before An Zheyu could finish his sentence, Li Xuanling had already drawn his long sword in fury and struck with the scabbard, hitting An Zheyu squarely on the jaw. The blow left An Zheyu dazed and bleeding from the mouth, silencing him immediately.
Li Tongya''s hand on the hilt of his sword had turned white from gripping it so tightly. Though his expression remained calm, his eyes narrowed with serpent-like menace. His lips trembled for a moment before he bellowed, "Absurd!"
As soon as the word left his mouth, a piercing, buzzing sound filled everyone''s ears. An Zheyu screamed in pain as blood trickled from his ears. The long sword, which had always remained sheathed on Li Tongya''s back, vibrated violently, causing the swords at Li Xuanling''s and Li Xuanxuan''s waists to tremble as well.
ng!
The exquisite jade box spun on the ground, one of its corners even breaking off, causing its dark red, greasy contents to spill out.
Li Tongya, visibly furious and uncharacteristically losing hisposure, kicked the jade box away. He then took the Qingche Sword from his back and cradled it, gripping it soothingly until the buzzing ceased. Only then did he speak softly, "Tie him up and wait for An Zheyan to deal with him."
"No, my lord! Please... no! Have mercy!"
An Zheyu knew that falling into An Zheyan''s hands would be a fate worse than death. Overwhelmed by fear, he started to shout frantically.
However, as a mere fifth stage Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, he was easily subdued when Li Xuanling struck him on his Shenyang Mansion, causing him to copse limply to the ground.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Huazhong fell in an instant. While Li Xuanfeng led his men through the air, Mount Yuting slowly came into view. Its formation glowed brightly, appearing quite sturdy.
Mount Yuting was narrow at the front and wide at the back with weak earth veins, unable to support many cultivators. Its steep and towering terrain was unsuitable for ordinary people. Hence, when the An Family captured Mount Huazhong, they migrated westward, leaving only a few Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators on the mountain. These few cultivators watched the outside world through the formation anxiously.
Li Xuanfeng and his group halted before the formation. He took his Golden Age Longbow, nocked an ebony arrow, and released it toward the formation.
Boom!
A dazzling golden light streaked through the air, striking the formation with a loud explosion, causing the whole forest to shake. The Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators below recoiled immediately in fear. The formation rippled but still managed to withstand the force.
Li Xuanfeng had not expected to break the formation with a single arrow. He nocked another arrow and fired a series of golden arrows that fell like meteors, bombarding the formation and causing constant explosions. The formation flickered slightly. The formation on Mount Huazhong had been reinforced by the Yu Family, whereas the one on Mount Yuting was built by the An Family and was much older and weaker. Inside, the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators were crying out in a panic.
After a round of intimidation, Li Xuanfeng lowered his bow and stood, ncing at An Zheyan, signaling him. Li Xuanfeng didn''t want to destroy the formation, as it was an above-average Qi Cultivation Realm formation that had cost seventy to eighty Spirit Stones to build. If An Zheyan could persuade the cultivators inside to surrender, the Li Family could continue using the formation.
An Zheyan, understanding the signal, stepped forward and shouted, "You blind fools! How dare you block my way?!"
The Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators below clearly recognized An Zheyan, which immediately caused an uproar and sparked disputes among themselves. After more than ten breaths, interrupted by Li Xuanfeng''s intimidating arrow, they pushed forward an old man with white hair who shakily approached the edge of the formation.
He then asked tentatively, "Are you... An Zheyan?"
In the past, if someone had dared to address An Zheyan like that, he would have been furious and attacked without hesitation. Now, however, he felt nothing but joy and called out through the formation, "Uncle, if you recognize me, open the formation and let us in."
The old man was indeed An Zheyan''s uncle. His talent was poor, and even after all these years, he was only at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Despite this, he was remarkably long-lived at his advanced age of over a hundred years old.
His old face remained calm as he stared directly into An Zheyan''s eyes and asked, "What is the Yu Family''s response?"
"Yu Yufeng is already dead! Li Tongya has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and Mount Huazhong has likely already fallen. Stop resisting!" An Zheyan shouted, his eyes wide.
The Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators below were both shocked and terrified, pushing and shoving as they eximed, "Yu Yufeng is dead?! Impossible! Ate-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... dead just like that?"
"Why would it be impossible? If Yu Yufeng were not dead, would the Li Family dare to be so bold? Damn it, the main family... it is all the main family''s fault..."
Some were already shouting for the old man to open the formation.
The old man listened to the news and let out a soft sigh. He nced at Li Xuanfeng in the sky, holding his bow readily, and said, "Think carefully... Once this formation is opened, there will be no more An Family. You and I will be at their mercy!"
His voice was stern, but it betrayed his anger and fear.
An Zheyan''s expression switched briefly to grief and anger before bing resolute. He gritted his teeth and said, "Uncle... There is no An Family anymore! An Zheyu is just Yu Mugao''spdog. Stop deceiving yourself... When Yu Mugao attacked Mount Huazhong, my son had no choice but tomit suicide. The moment An Zheyu took control, An Family was gone. All of it was only our wishful thinking. Aligning with the Li Family at least gives us a chance to live... If the Yu Family takes over, do you think Yu Mugao, that venomous snake, would dare to keep us as external cultivators?"
The white-haired cultivator sighed softly, finally understanding the harsh reality of their predicament. He lightly pressed the formation te in front of him, and the formation that shielded the mountain trembled slightly before dissolving into specks of white light that drifted away. Cheers erupted from below as the Li Family''s armored soldiers and n troops surged in, swarming the mountain paths like an army of ants.
An Zheyan was overjoyed at the sight, descending from the mountain and carefully retrieving the formation te. He smiled at the white-haired cultivator and said, "You have done a great job... I will surely report this to the main family on your behalf!"
The other An Family cultivators looked on with a mix of admiration and jealousy. However, the white-haired cultivator remained expressionless. Tears streamed down his face as he said sorrowfully, "I... I can''t bear to face our descendants again!"
With that, he drew his sword and said quietly, "I should have died when the Yu Family attacked us... I only stayed alive out of concern for the safety of our main bloodline. Now that you have surrendered to the Li Family, my life is pointless!"
An Zheyan was shocked by his words. Unprepared, he stepped forward quickly, but the white-haired cultivator was faster. In an instant, his white-haired head rolled to the ground, leaving An Zheyan stumbling backward as if he had been scalded.
"Why... why did it have toe to this...?!" he mumbled.
The head bounced twice on the ground, its eyes staring mournfully upward before stopping at the feet of a young man. Li Xuanfeng looked down with a conflicted expression, nodding slightly as he said quietly, "An Zheyan, you should give him a proper burial."
All the excitement An Zheyan had felt upon returning to Mount Yuting vanished, now reced by exhaustion. He continued to mutter, "Why did it have toe to this..."
Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow, his sharp eyes piercing like a sword as he said softly, "The consolidation of influential ns is never a peaceful affair. At your age, you have regained that naive, sheltered mindset! Do you not realize that the five immortal mountains on the southern shore..."
He paused, his mind shing back to the bloody scene of him when he was just seven years old, crawling through a pile of corpses with a small wooden bow after his father Li Xiangping had disappeared.
Gritting his teeth, his eyes zed as he continued, "These rugged mountains and whispering forests are watered with the tears of countless heroic talents... Flowing endlessly is the blood and flesh of the six ns!"
Chapter 265: The Yu Familys Response
Chapter 265: The Yu Family''s Response
"What?! Mount Huazhong has fallen..? An Zheyan, supported by the Li Family, has turned against us..."
Yu Mugao crushed the ink brush in his hand with a loud snap. He raised his head with a gloomy expression, the ferocity of his angerparable to that of a venomous snake as he red at the cultivator kneeling on the steps before him. He could barely suppress his rage, yet could not bring himself to curse out loud.
He coughed, tasting blood in his mouth, but forcefully swallowed it back down, unwilling to show weakness before his scheming rtives. He pressed his lips tightly together.
"The Li Family... have they gone mad? Where did they get the nerve to challenge the Yu Family under An Zheyan''s banner?"
Yu Mugao immediately grasped the underlying truth. He knew that it was the Li Family leading this assault, and his shock and anger at such a realization was immense.
The Yu Family''s dominance over theke had been maintained for many years, bolstered by disciples from the immortal sect. No other family on theke dared openly oppose the Yu Family. Though conflicts and covert schemes were rampant, on the surface at least, everyone was courteous enough. Even Fei Wangbai, despite secretly hating the Yu Family, still showed respect to Yu Xiaogui in public.
The An Family had been a vassal territory under the Yu Family. Officially, it remained the An Family, but in reality, it had be a tributary of the Yu Family, amon fact known to all the families that were around theke.
The Li Family attacking Mount Huazhong under An Zheyan''s banner was not just a deration of war; it was a public p in the face to the Yu Family, which shocked and infuriated Yu Mugao.
"Damn the Li Family! We could not act for a few years, and now they have grown bold!" Yu Mugao growled, putting on a show for the guest cultivators and his n members.
But internally, rms were ringing. He thought worriedly, Li Tongya isn''t reckless! He wouldn''t act unless he''s confident... Could it be Li Chejing..?
His face darkened further. Yu Mugao couldn''t help but specte such thoughts in his mind. Their family''s ancestor had disappeared, seemingly under the influence of some kind of spell, and now the Li Family, who used to keep a low profile, had boldly attacked Mount Huazhong.
A shiver of fear ran through him as he wondered, "Could it be... Li Chejing the Sword Immortal has returned?!"
If this guess was correct, Yu Yufeng''s fate had be clear. Yu Mugao didn''t know theparative strengths of Li Chejing and Yu Yufeng, but the thought left him in turmoil. He whispered, "Any news from the ancestor?"
"None..." The servant answered timidly.
Seeing the subordinates'' timid responses, Yu Mugao straightened up despite his weariness and then asked, "Any news from Yu Mujian?"
"None..." the servant responded, still providing the same answer.
Yu Mugao sighed, muttering, "Nonsense... All nonsense! Unbelievable..."
Yu Mujian had dered that he would pursue the way of the sword, heading north toward the Golden Tang Gate. However, in over ten years, he had only sent back three letters, and they were all filled with dismissive remarks.
Now, with Yu Yufeng heading south and Yu Xiaogui''s dyed return, Yu Mugao felt powerless. He could only write to Yu Muxian in the sect, begging for help, hoping to persuade the master of Yuanwu Peak to intervene.
In the past, Yu Mugao had never disturbed this younger brother of his unless Yu Muxian repeatedly sent letters demanding resources for cultivation. Nearly half of the Yu Family''s spirit items and stones had been sent to Yu Muxian to build connections and enhance his cultivation. Now, facing such a dire crisis, Yu Mugao had no choice but to write for help.
As he retracted his gaze, the ornate stone door of the hall suddenly creaked open. A middle-aged man in gray robes stepped in silently, his expression solemn. Yu Mugao''s face lit up with joy.
He stepped forward and eximed, "Father!"
Yu Xiaogui nodded slightly and waved his sleeve. Following closely behind him was another person, a pale-faced man with a long beard, holding a fan and exuding an air of frivolity. Yu Xiaogui introduced him to the pale-faced man with a smile.
"This is my son... Yu Mugao."
Yu Mugao had a lot to say but held back his words, greeting the man respectfully, "Mugao greets the senior."
The pale-faced cultivator waved his hand, the jade ornaments on his body jingling softly. He was also a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator and he replied softly, "Wu Shaoyun from the Wu Family of Southern Prefecture."
"So, you''re from an influential family in the Lixia Prefecture!" Yu Mugao responded perfunctorily, quickly using his mana to transmit all the news he had to his father.
Yu Xiaogui was slightly displeased by his son''sck of manners but was soon taken aback by the stream of information. Despite his shock, he maintained hisposure, restraining his anger as he said softly, "Please wait a moment, Brother Wu. I will return shortly."
Wu Shaoyun nodded lightly, his expression unreadable, and sat down before the jade tform in the hall as the crowd dispersed. Yu Xiaogui and Yu Mugao went to the rear courtyard, where Yu Xiaogui''s expression changed drastically.
He growled lowly, "I only attended a ceremony at the Xiao Family and visited a few old friends... How did this happen in just a few days?!"
Yu Mugao gritted his teeth and replied softly, "These people took advantage of Father''s absence to make their move!"
Seeing his eldest son''s tired and pale face, Yu Xiaogui realized that his son also had it rough during his absence. Holding back his urge to scold his son, he asked quietly, "What is the Li Family''s intention?"
"I''m guessing that Li Chejing the Sword Immortal has returned from the southern border and ns to deal with the ancestor..." Yu Mugao shared his suspicions, though something still felt off.
He was about to specte further before Yu Xiaogui waved his hand and said harshly, "Perhaps they used some special treasure to exploit the ancestor''s situation. The ancestor is powerful; Li Chejing is only an early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. He cannot hold him. At most... he can only dy him. The ancestor has always been cautious and would flee immediately if necessary. We need not worry. However, the matter of Mount Huazhong cannot be left unaddressed... If we ignore it, our family won''t be able to maintain its standing on theke. We must go to Mount Huazhong!"
Yu Mugao hesitated but nodded, anxiously saying, "Father, the ancestor''s disappearance is suspicious. I fear... there may be a trap at Mount Huazhong!"
"They would not dare harm me."
Yu Xiaogui''s expression was cold as he continued, "Aside from the many witnesses on the mountain, I am Muxian''s father and a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Even if the sect is in turmoil, Li Chejing won''t dare kill me; the same goes for the ancestor. If a rity Talisman is used, Li Chejing''s reputation will be good as gone!"
Yu Mugao''s thoughts were halted by his father''s swift and logical reasoning. He nodded and said in a serious tone, "Father, I cannot help but still sense that something is amiss! Do not engage Li Chejing! Confirm the news and return... We can n further then..."
Yu Xiaogui nodded nomittally, clearly not taking him seriously. He replied, "The ancestor has not returned, so Li Chejing cannot be at Mount Huazhong. Li Tongya is most likely leading the men. This is a great opportunity! He is just a Qi Cultivator; there is much we can do! We must make the Li Family pay!"
Yu Mugao wanted to say more, but Yu Xiaogui had already hurried out of the hall. He cupped his fist toward Wu Shaoyun, who unexpectedly folded his fan and smiled.
"Are you heading to the Li Family, Brother Yu?" he asked.
"Indeed..." Yu Xiaogui was startled.
Wu Shaoyun tossed his fan up and caught it steadily, saying with a smile, "The noise downstairs caught my attention as an outsider."
It turned out that the arguments among Yu Mugao''s uncles and brothers had reached Wu Shaoyun''s ears. Yu Xiaogui could only smile awkwardly and nod.
Wu Shaoyun stood up slowly, his eyes fierce as he spoke in a low voice.
"I intend to apany Brother Yu! My family has been investigating a matter for ten years and has finally found some clues... I have some questions for the Li Family in Lijing!"
Chapter 266: Killing
Chapter 266: Killing
"Excellent!" Yu Xiaogui eximed in delight, though he failed to see that Wu Shaoyun held a grudge against the Li family.
He nodded repeatedly and raised his hand, saying, "Let us be off then!"
With that, the two of them flew off together, disappearing into the sky.
Yu Mugao remained bowed for a long time before finally straightening up, his eyes still shifting with indecisiveness. He murmured, "If Li Chejing has returned... Why has there not been any news from Muxian? Muxian is clever and resourceful... I must ask him."
He stepped forward to the jade tform, dipped a brush in ink, and carefully wrote:
To my esteemed brother, today our father returned... Many doubts remain... Is it true that Li Chejing has returned from the southern border? Please investigate thoroughly. How many years has he been gone? How often did we receive news? If there is a technique in the world that can confuse the mind of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, what kind of spell is it?
After writing hundreds of words, Yu Mugao sealed the letter with wax and ced it on the desk. After a moment''s thought, he reopened it and added:
Also, it is rumored that the Li and Xiao families have old ties. Please also find out if Li Chejing has any fellow senior brothers from the Xiao Family. This matter is of utmost importance; please investigate thoroughly.
Sealing the letter again, Yu Mugao put it away carefully, proceeding to stare gloomily at the horizon as if sensing an impending storm.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Ha!" A cultivator in leather armor shouted angrily, his mana surging as he swung his de down.
The youth in ck before him remained unmoving, a grayish-white sword aura rising from his de. With a single strike, the cultivator felt a tremendous force, his long sword flying out of his hand. Blood sttered everywhere.
The ck-d youth stepped forward and shed once more. The cultivator, now terrified, retreated hastily, throwing talismans in a desperate attempt to block the attack. He narrowly avoided a fatal blow, but a massive gash appeared at his waist.
"I...!"
The cultivator regretted toote. He was about to beg for mercy, but the sword aura shed again, shing through his chest and abdomen this time. He screamed, his limbs twitching as he copsed, spitting out blood.
Li Yuanjiao withdrew his blood-stained sword, watching the man before him fall slowly. He shook off the blood, and there were no standing enemies left.
Looking around, he saw a field of bodies sprawled everywhere in puddles of red. They were either trembling soldiers who had already surrendered or corpses that were strewn messily about.
Li Yuanjiao, having already seen such sights during the Mount Yue campaign, remained unfazed. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where is Qinghong?"
Xu Gongming stepped forward quickly and replied softly, "Young master, thedy has already reached the top of Mount Huazhong with the ancestor. They are in the main hall."
"Oh." Li Yuanjiao nodded lightly and said, "With a spear, she moves freely in battle... much faster than us."
He stepped forward, followed by a squad of armored soldiers. They climbed to the highest tform where a grand pce stood, its ornate eaves reaching high toward the sky. The luxurious sight made Li Yuanjiao sneer coldly.
He turned and said, "This pce could not have been built in a few generations! It shows that the downfall of the Ji and An families was due to years of umted decay. Do not me the descendants; the forebears set a poor example!"
With a wave of his hand, the armored soldiers behind him filed in immediately, recing the An Family''s guards one by one. The guards, knowing that the situation was hopeless, did not resist.
Entering the pce, Li Yuanjiao saw Li Qinghong standing gracefully with her spear. Surrounding her were a pile of heads, each bearing a different expression, all lying at her feet with blood pooling around them.
Li Yuanjiao sheathed his sword and asked, puzzled, "What is happening here?"
"Oh!" Li Qinghong raised her delicate eyebrows nonchntly and replied, "Grandfather is killing the An Family."
She gracefully raised her long spear and pointed to the pile of heads, exining, "Those old fat pigs of the An Family are being weighed. The pce guards know best what they have done. They are kneeling on all fours in the hall, crying and wailing. ording to our family''s rules, those who seizend by force will be flogged, and those who do nothing will be sentenced tobor. The arrogant and overbearing will be stabbed. Those who, like An Zheyu, resorted to cannibalism, will be subjected to a thousand cuts. The hall is already filled with feces and urine by now. The stench is unbearable, so I came out for some fresh air!"
Li Qinghong''s face showed a hint of fear as she leaned close to Li Yuanjiao and whispered, "I do not know who angered Grandfather... He usually has a good temper, but today he is grim and murderous. You should be careful."
Li Yuanjiao nodded quickly. Li Qinghong smiled slightly and continued, "Uncle Xuanfeng has already persuaded the people on Mount Yuting to surrender. He brought back Uncle Donghe and the others; they just went inside."
"That''s great news!" Hearing that Mount Yuting had surrendered so easily made Li Yuanjiao quite happy.
Li Qinghong blinked mischievously and asked, "Do you want to go into the hall and see?"
Knowing that Li Tongya was in a foul mood, Li Yuanjiao had no desire to go inside. He quickly waved his hands, his reaction amusing Li Qinghong and causing her tough.
Li Yuanjiao gripped his sword hilt and thought, I wonder what those inside are thinking... But this is indeed an excellent opportunity to intimidate others.
He then signaled Xu Gongming and instructed, "There are many cultivators in the An Family that mortals cannot handle. Call some cultivators to assist inside so that the old master does not have to do everything himself."
Xu Gongming, still nervous from Li Qinghong''s warning, could only agree to the instruction with a troubled look on his face. As he retreated, he thought to himself, I must gather all the family cultivators so that I don''t have to brave this alone!
Watching Xu Gongming leave, Li Qinghong giggled and said to Li Yuanjiao, "Brother Jiao, you are so mean, scaring them like that for no reason!"
Li Yuanjiao waved his hand dismissively and said, "They should be scared!"
As they were talking, the sky above Mount Huazhong shook, and a loud, powerful voice boomed. It was cold as ice, and it echoed throughout the mountain.
"The An Family is a brotherly n to the Yu Family... How dare the Li Family attack Mount Huazhong?! Are you disrespecting the Yu Family?!"
Li Yuanjiao''s expression turned serious as he looked up at the figure in the sky and frowned. "It is the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Yu Xiaogui!"
Yu Xiaogui''s appearance was unremarkable, but his aura was imposing as he stood with his hands behind his back. His robe billowed in the wind, and he looked down at the scene arrogantly.
Everyone on Mount Huazhong paused as a golden light rose to meet the neer. A young man with a golden bow strapped onto his back appeared, his expression calm and his tone devoid of respect as he said indifferently, "Ah, Elder of the Yu Family. The An Family was overrun by bandits, and we came at the invitation of An Zheyan, the head of the An Family, to help him quell the trouble. What brotherly n do you speak of? We saw that the Yu Family did nothing. Yet now, youe to scold us... Could it be that these bandits are actually the Yu Family''s members in disguise?"
Li Xuanfeng''s sarcastic remarks left Yu Xiaogui speechless. After several moments of shock, he finally shouted, "Nonsense! How dare you?! You''re not even qualified to speak here!"
Li Xuanfeng simply crossed his arms and looked on at him disdainfully, making Yu Xiaogui hesitant to act rashly.
Li Xuanfeng continued, "Senior, are you worried that a sword intent mighte from the south and end your life in an instant? Knowing that we are protected by a Sword Immortal, why did you even bothering?"
"How dare you!" Yu Xiaogui growled, both shocked and enraged. He knew that if he did not act now, he would be aughing stock for his people.
With a fierce expression, he struck at Li Xuanfeng with a palm from afar, bellowing, "Such boldness and arrogance!"
Chapter 267: Questioning
Chapter 267: Questioning
Li Xuanfeng had taunted him openly, but he was secretly preparing himself for battle. He quickly produced five talismans, drew his bow, and gathered his qi. He released a dazzling golden aura toward Yu Xiaogui''s palm while using the River Crossing Torrential Step to rapidly create distance.
The gap between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Qi Cultivation Realm was immense. Yu Xiaogui''s palm shattered the golden aura with ease. Despite being at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and having made ample preparations, along with the enhancement of a Grade Three footwork technique, Li Xuanfeng barely managed to evade the strike.
The sharp gust from the palm strike brushed past him, turning his face pale. If it hadn''t been for the talisman qi''s protection, a typical Qi Cultivator would have been sent flying and coughing up blood.
Having narrowly avoided the strike, Li Xuanfeng regted his breath, feeling slightly regretful. He had hoped to gauge Yu Xiaogui''s immortal foundation for Li Tongya but had not expected Yu Xiaogui to be so cautious, even in his anger.
Yu Xiaogui, having lost face by failing to hit a mere Qi Cultivator, grew furious. Seeing Li Xuanfeng''s youth and advanced cultivation, he was filled with murderous intent. He unleashed yet another palm strike, white light surging from his hand, and roared, "I will teach you a lesson on behalf of Li Tongya!"
Yu Xiaogui''s palms glowed like white jade as he attacked. However, Li Xuanfeng stood his ground without fear. Yu Xiaogui grew wary suddenly, only to see a sword qi rising from below, bright andrge as a ship''s sail, heading directly for his palm.
Li Chejing is indeed here!
Yu Xiaogui''s rm bells rang out in his head, and he instantly felt a chill run down his spine. He immediately retracted his palm and summoned two talismans, forming twoyers of a thick white barrier around him. His body was enveloped in a powerful aura, intricate patterns appearing on his skin as he activated his immortal foundation.
He shouted, "Li Chejing! You better think carefully about what you are doing!"
The sword qi struck the barrier with a resounding ng, nearly shattering the outeryer before dissipating into a shower of clear water upon the trees below. Yu Xiaogui, eyes wide with fear now, instinctively touched his neck. After ensuring that it was still intact, he breathed a sigh of relief. However, he was still shaken.
For a moment, silence fell over the battlefield. Below, everyone was tense as a figure d in gray appeared in the sky. With broad shoulders and a gaunt face, he watched Yu Xiaogui calmly, his left hand resting on his sword.
He smiled and said, "This child lost his father early on and was raised by my own hand. He is somewhat unruly, but..."
His left hand lifted slightly, the sword at his waist to unsheathed by one cun, its brilliance dazzling. Li Tongya then continued softly, "It is not your ce to discipline him, fellow Daoist!"
Yu Xiaogui stood dumbfounded for a few breaths before eximing incredulously, "It''s not Li Chejing...?! How is this possible?! Li Tongya... you have reached the Foundation Establishment Realm?!"
Li Tongya''s powerful aura surged, and the soldiers and cultivators below erupted in cheers. They had suspected this when Li Tongya had broken the formation easily with a single sword strike, but now that it was confirmed, it left them all in awe and admiration.
"Just a stroke of luck," Li Tongya replied coldly.
Yu Xiaogui''s expression turned grim as he snarled, "Three years... less than three years...?! Did Li Chejing give you some sort of spirit pills or divine technique?!"
By now, the two families hadpletely fallen out, with no pretense of politeness remaining. Both sides were openly hostile.
Li Tongya smiled calmly, while Yu Xiaogui seethed. They stood in tense silence until a heartyugh echoed.
"Hahahahaha!"
A pale-faced man, slender and with flowing garments, flew up from below, holding a fan. He greeted both Yu Xiaogui and Li Tongya, introducing himself, "I am Wu Shaoyun from the Wu Family in the southern prefecture... Greetings to you both!"
Wu Shaoyun, also at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, cupped his fist respectfully. Li Tongya and Yu Xiaogui both eased their expressions and returned the greeting.
Wu Shaoyun then announced loudly, "I havee today with a question for Brother Tongya..."
As soon as he heard these words, Li Tongya instantly knew that this visitor hade with ill intentions. However, maintaining hisposure, he replied, "Go ahead, Brother Shaoyun!"
Wu Shaoyun let out a coldugh and responded, "My family''s ancestor has a great-great-granddaughter, my own daughter, who once traveled to Moongaze Lake. Over ten years ago, she disappeared and never returned. At that time, I was merely a Qi Cultivator, anxious and helpless. I made numerous trips to theke but found no trace of her."
He paused slightly, his expression sharp, and continued, "Later... I broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and sensed her whereabouts. Through repeated investigations, I discovered that she had died within the Li Family''s territory. Brother Tongya... are you aware of this?"
Li Tongya briefly recalled and remembered the incident. The person in question was a greedy female cultivator who had killed someone in the marketce for their treasure. Li Tongya had tried to stop her, but she resisted fiercely. Despite his superior strength, he had no choice but to kill her to prevent further harm.
Although Li Tongya knew who Wu Shaoyun was referring to, he narrowed his eyes and replied softly, "I am not aware. Brother Shaoyun, do you know when exactly did that happen?"
Using the special abilities of his unique immortal foundation and custom talismans, Wu Shaoyun knew that the person who killed his daughter was likely at the fourth or fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and bore the surname Wan. He concluded it couldn''t be Li Tongya, since he couldn''t have attained the Foundation Establishment Realm in just a little over a decade.
However, he pondered silently, I promised Xiaogui to assist, but I cannot easily abandon this matter. Yet, with the Li Family under the protection of a Sword Immortal... even as Xiaogui''s friend, I must be cautious not to entangle myself too deeply in their conflict.
Caught in a dilemma, Wu Shaoyun replied, "It was during the destruction of the Moongaze Lake''s marketce."
Li Tongya shook his head upon hearing this and responded, "If you know it was during the destruction of the Moongaze Lake marketce, then you should understand that the chaos that day led to widespread killing. It is normal for lives to be lost amidst such turmoil... Perhaps your daughter was too greedy and refused to let go of treasures, resulting in her death."
Wu Shaoyun became agitated and shouted, "Impossible! My daughter was a delicate and adorable girl. She would not even harm an ant, let alone get involved in such chaos and kill for treasures!"
Li Tongya was speechless. Others might be fooled, but he had seen the contents of that female cultivator''s storage pouch. It contained many blood-stained dharma artifacts and robes soaked with fresh blood taken from others. He even found a bloody alchemy furnace¡ªclear evidence that she was far from innocent.
Moreover, her skilled and lethal attacks indicated that she had taken countless lives before. She certainly was not the virtuous person Wu Shaoyun described.
Just as Li Tongya was about to respond, Yu Xiaogui interjected, "Brother Tongya speaks so confidently, as if he had witnessed it himself. Perhaps Brother Tongya was personally involved?"
Before Wu Shaoyun could react, Li Tongya turned his cold gaze toward Yu Xiaogui and said sternly, "Fellow Daoist, our families have had many disputes, both openly and covertly... We both know this well. Now that the timing is right, why not settle this once and for all?"
Chapter 268: Threefold Moonlight
Chapter 268: Threefold Moonlight
Above Mount Huazhong, the skies were turbulent, with tensions running high. Yet, on the ind in theke, everything remained calm.
A gray-robed cultivator with his sword at his waist, flew across the sky, his expression thoughtful. As his robe fluttered in the wind, he squinted at the scene over Mount Huazhong and recalled, If you see the dharma lights flowing and water serpent dragons rising, act immediately. If Mount Huazhong remains calm, report to Fei Wangbai, stir up the eastern shore families and provoke Yu Xiaogui...
Looking ahead, he indeed saw intense dharma lights shing, and two azure water serpent dragons soaring into the sky, their whiskers and fangs lifelike. Chen Donghe knew that Li Tongya had engaged Yu Xiaogui in battle and hastened his pace northward.
After flying north for the time it took to burn a stick of incense, he saw a steep cliff towering above him. Eagles and sparrows circled, and waterfalls crashed loudly.
A man stood quietly on the cliff, dressed in fine robes, elegant and suave. Chen Donghended on the cliff and respectfully cupped his fists, saying politely, "Chen Donghe of the Li Family in Lijing greets the senior."
Fei Wangbai nodded slightly, showing some respect before asking, "How is it going?"
Chen Donghe bowed deeply and replied urgently, "Yu Yufeng is being stalled right now and cannot return. We falsely imed Yu Yufeng''s death to attack Mount Huazhong. Yu Xiaogui came to stop us but was held off by our master in the south. The Yu Family can no longer resist. Please proceed as nned, Senior!"
"Very well!" Fei Wangbai was overjoyed and waved his hand dismissively, not speaking further to Chen Donghe before flying east in a hurry.
Chen Donghe straightened up only after Fei Wangbai had gone far. He carefully considered his words to ensure there were no ws and thought to himself, The ancestor said: To secure the full support of the Fei Family and to avoid their double-dealing, we must im that Yu Yufeng is not dead. By presenting it this way, even if Fei Wangbai hears something, it can be exined...
Chen Donghe shook his head. With Yu Yufeng gone, the Yu Family had lost their main support. Their widespread influence would now crumble, and they would be unable to manage their affairs.
Stamping his foot, he took to the air again, flying southward toward Mount Huazhong, his heart filled with hopeful anticipation. The shimmering golden reflections on theke¡¯s surface made Chen Donghe smile.
Looking up, he said, "Once this matter is settled, the Li Family will be one of the most prestigious families on theke! With a Sword Immortal''s protection, when Qingxiaoes of age, she can marry a distinguished young man and live a life of grandeur, supported by her family, without having to endure any hardships."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Above Mount Huazhong, Li Tongya stood with his hand on his sword, speaking harshly.
Yu Xiaogui responded with a cold smile. Having been at the early stage of Foundation Establishment Realm for over twenty or thirty years, he harbored great resentment seeing Li Tongya eager to make a name for himself by challenging him.
Viciously, he thought to himself, My Yu Family has already lost face and standing. Even if you didn''t provoke me, I would still make a move to teach you a hard lesson. There''s no way I''ll let you take Mount Huazhong so easily... Once I take down Li Tongya and reim both Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting, our prestige and status will be restored! The only trouble is Li Chejing... But now that our families have fallen out, seeking reconciliation is impossible. We must fight to the bitter end!
Yu Xiaogui exhaled sharply and roared, "Since you want to provoke me so recklessly, do not me me if you end up injured and with your foundation damaged!"
Yu Xiaogui''s hands turned white as jade, and white jade-like patterns appeared on his body. He pushed his palms forward, releasing a powerful surge of mana, creating a howling wind that was aimed directly at Li Tongya.
Wu Shaoyun hesitated, unsure whether to intervene or leave. After a moment of indecisiveness, he retreated to support Yu Xiaogui from a distance.
Li Tongya, remaining calm andposed, saw Yu Xiaogui indeeding for a full-on battle. He nodded slightly, having already prepared his sword. He drew it out, producing a sword aura asrge as a ship''s sail, pure and white, aiming it at Yu Xiaogui''s palms.
Yu Xiaogui had long heard of Li Tongya''s fierce sword techniques. Over the years, he had gathered information and learned much about Li Chejing''s reputation. Initially mistaking the sword qi for Li Chejing''s strike, he now saw Li Tongya''s attack firsthand and realized the sword style was likely taught by Li Chejing.
Not daring to take it head-on, Yu Xiaogui stepped back, pressed his palms together, and summoned a small jade mountain.
The jade mountain, initially the size of a fist, was intricately carved with cranes and ancient trees. As it caught the wind, however, it grew¡ªsurrounded by clouds and mist, with the cranes and trees appearing lifelike. It crashed into the sword qi with a grating sound, pressing it down steadily. Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Xiaogui advanced, closing in on Li Tongya.
"Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, Jade Smoke Mountain!"
The Yu Family, being an old and established n, had umted considerable resources through their dominance over Moongaze Lake for many years. This extravagant disy of power left Wu Shaoyun somewhat shocked. Yu Xiaogui, however, remained silent, focusing entirely on Li Tongya.
Jade Smoke Mountain had originally belonged to Yu Yufeng. Recently, Yu Xiaogui had gone to attend a ceremony at the Xiao Family, and Yu Yufeng, worried, had given him the dharma artifact for protection. Unexpectedly, Xiao Chuting''s divine ability had unsettled Yu Yufeng, and when he faced the Xiao Family''s siege, he couldn''t even bring out a decent artifact.
Seeing his well-prepared sword strike suppressed so easily, Li Tongya still remained calm. Having received the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, his mana reserve was extremely formidable. His immortal foundation, Boundless Ocean, was strong enough to withstand Yu Xiaogui.
Fei Wangbai was currently attacking the Yu Family''s marketce, and their Qi Cultivators were struggling to protect themselves, leaving them unable to spare any help.
Li Tongya skillfully wielded his sword, conjuring two azure water serpent dragons that coiled around him, flicking their tongues threateningly at Yu Xiaogui. With a sweep of his sword, they transformed into dozens of water swords, soaring toward Yu Xiaogui.
Boom...
Yu Xiaogui''s mana swirled around him as he pushed forward with his palms, meeting the water technique head-on. The relentless sword qi forced him to halt, but instead of anger, he felt a twisted delight within him, thinking to himself, Li Tongya indeedcksbat experience! Even with the formidable Boundless Ocean, he should not waste his mana like this.
As expected, Li Tongya''s water techniques that were mingled with sword aura, gradually weakened. Seizing the opportunity, Yu Xiaogui activated his immortal foundation, and the Jade Smoke Mountain crushed the remaining sword aura steadily, trembling slightly as it approached.
ng!
As the Jade Smoke Mountain drew nearer, Yu Xiaogui saw a sudden sh as dozens of sword auras surged forward. This was Li Tongya''s usual tactic of overwhelming his opponent. Yu Xiaogui sneered, using his Jade Smoke Mountain to swallow the sword auras while advancing forward with his jade-like palms.
Just as Yu Xiaogui''s palms were about to strike, Li Tongya smiled softly. The sword aura in his hand flowed like water, splitting into three pure white streams of light. These beams were sharp and agile, moving with a life of their own, unlike the previous ethereal sword qi. They were solid, substantial, and moved with an inherent intelligence, trailing light as they darted through the air.
"Threefold Moonlight!"
Li Tongya''s years of studying the Law of Celestial Moon had not been in vain. Although his talent was not on par with Li Chejing''s, he had mastered a technique called Threefold Moonlight. This technique was treacherously elusive, and difficult to defend against due to its unpredictable movements.
ng...
Yu Xiaogui did not understand what he was facing. With Jade Smoke Mountain still dealing with the earlier sword qi, he had no choice but to intercept with his hands. The streams of light sparked brilliantly as they struck his palms. Caught off guard, Yu Xiaogui managed to grasp one of the streams, but the remaining two darted straight toward his neck.
Chapter 269: Heqian
Chapter 269: Heqian
"Oh no!"
Yu Xiaogui was startled, realizing that it was a mistake to confront Li Tongya directly without waiting for the return of the Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, Jade Smoke Mountain.
He cursed inwardly, They say the Li Family has Grade Three sword techniques...! There''s no way this is a Grade Three sword technique! Damn it!
Despite his inner curses, Yu Xiaogui still had his trump cards. Unfazed, he activated his spiritual sense, summoning gray cloud qi around his neck to block the two streams of light. He quickly pushed away the sword qi in his hand and reached out to catch the remaining streams.
Li Tongya was not going to let him off so easily. With a flick of his sword, he conjured a flurry of sword qi, pure white and flowing like water, all directed at Yu Xiaogui. Ignoring the approaching sword qi, Yu Xiaogui simply watched coldly as the sword qi neared his body. Just as it was about to strike, a loud ng resounded.
The Jade Smoke Mountain had returned, surrounded by a white mist, and had managed to firmly block Li Tongya''s sword qi.
"What a wonderful treasure! Such a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact... it is truly extraordinary!" Li Tongya sighed.
In just the space of two breaths, the Jade Smoke Mountain had easily neutralized two of his attacks. He had lured Yu Xiaogui in with a show of weakness, but the artifact had thwarted his n, leaving no injuries to his opponent. Now that Yu Xiaogui was on guard, the situation has be more difficult!
"Go!"
Seizing the moment while the Jade Smoke Mountain blocked Li Tongya, Yu Xiaogui quickly shattered the two streams of light, and with a p of his hands, shattered the one he had previously deflected as well, regaining his footing. With a serious expression, he gathered energy in his palms and advanced once more.
Having reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, Yu Xiaogui''sbat experience was top-notch. Earlier, he had underestimated Li Tongya. Now, as he faced the sharp sword qi, he skillfully dismantled each strike without summoning Jade Smoke Mountain, meeting each attack head-on.
Yu Xiaogui''s strength was slightly superior to Li Tongya''s, and his steady approach increased the pressure on Li Tongya. After a brief stalemate, Li Tongya felt the strain as the palm winds grew more intense around him. His immortal foundation trembled, forcing him to unleash three streams of light to buy time for recovery.
"Come!"
Yu Xiaogui had been waiting for this. With a pinch of his fingers, the Jade Smoke Mountain soared, absorbing and suppressing the three streams of light. He pressed on unrelentingly with his advantage, not allowing Li Tongya any time to recuperate.
Li Tongya managed to step back twice. In one breath, the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman within him glowed brightly, dissipating his difort. Feeling clear-headed again, he thought to himself, Yu Xiaogui relies on his deeper cultivation to overpower me, not realizing my Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman makes such efforts futile.
Aware of his advantage, Li Tongya concealed his confidence, feigning a strained expression, which only boosted Yu Xiaogui''s morale. Yu Xiaogui pressed on harder, unaware that Li Tongya was merely buying time for Fei Wangbai and his men.
Only Li Tongya knew the terrifying extent of his Boundless Ocean and Deep Ocean Long Whale Talismanbined. His mana and recovery were formidable, equating his one-tenth to two or three-tenths of an average Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator''s mana. He could recover mana with each breath, making a battle of attrition futile for Yu Xiaogui.
Calcting the time, Li Tongya realized that despite the artifact¡¯s support, Yu Xiaogui would be exhausted before even consuming more than sixty percent of his mana.
I hope Fei Wangbai seeds. If he fails to breach the marketce and the Yu Family''s Qi Cultivators get here, things will getplicated.
Always cautious, Li Tongya had agreed to the Xiao Family''s n to disrupt Milin Prefecture''s marketce, forcing him to provoke Yu Xiaogui. If Yu Xiaogui returned and found Yu Yufeng still missing, he would quickly realize that something was amiss. And once Yu Xiaogui and Yu Mugao sat down to analyze the situation, they would not let Yu Xiaogui out again and restrategize.
As the situation became clearer, Li Tongya felt confident that he would be able to hold Yu Xiaogui. He then continued to consider the worst-case scenario. His Qingche Sword hummed behind him, and he thought, The Qingche Sword still holds the sword intent of Jing''er. If ites to that, I will have to draw it to force the Yu Family back. Being suspected afterward is unavoidable, but Fei Wangbai is reliable. It shouldn''te to that.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Fei Wangbai bid farewell to Chen Donghe and took to the sky from the cliff, feeling both joy and doubt. He was d to finally have a chance to suppress the Yu Family, but he was puzzled about how Yu Yufeng had ended up trapped outside.
"Yu Yufeng, a prominentte-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator with exceptional strength and the Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact Jade Smoke Mountain, always stayed within his cave dwelling... How could he have been trapped outside?"
As Fei Wangbai pondered this, he flew for a while beforending on cial Cloud Peak, where his eldest son, Fei Yihe, came to greet him. Fei Wangbai said sternly, "Summon the guest cultivators. We are going to the Yu Family''s marketce!"
Such matters naturally couldn''t involve his own descendants. Fei Wangbai called for his usual guest cultivators, nning to seek out his Foundation Establishment Realm friends.
Fei Yihe, realizing the gravity of the situation, trembled and quickly left to carry out the orders. Left alone, Fei Wangbai stood on the peak, growing increasingly uneasy. He thought to himself, Could it be Li Chejing? But Li Chejing is a Sword Immortal, not some shaman... How could he make Yu Yufeng leave his cave dwelling and get trapped? And how would anyone know where Yu Yufeng was going? Is Yu Mugao out of his mind to divulge this?
The more he thought about it, the more Fei Wangbai sensed that something was amiss, making him shiver all over. Just then, the guest cultivators arrived, leaving him no room for hesitation. He gave a few instructions and took to the air instantly.
The arrow is already on the string; it has to be released!
Fei Wangbai gritted his teeth, leading his group toward the eastern marketce. His mind raced, analyzing the situation logically and concluding, The Yu Family is too strong. With so many peak Qi Cultivators, as long as thete-stage Foundation Establishment Realm Yu Yufeng is alive, the Li and Fei families will remain united against amon enemy. No one can afford to have second thoughts!
With his resolve strengthened, Fei Wangbai acted decisively, flying over theke and hiding his group as theynded on a small hill next to Milin Prefecture. Using mana to transmit his voice, he called out, "Brother Heqian, Wangbai hase to visit!"
After a brief wait, the ground trembled slightly, and a dark cave entrance slowly appeared. A heartyugh echoed all around as a middle-aged man d in jade armor emerged. His features were dignified and exuded a sense of grandeur.
This man, also at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, was Fei Wangbai¡¯s long-time friend who had been at odds with the Yu Family for years. Seeing Fei Wangbai, he cupped his fist and smiled.
"What brings you here, Brother Wangbai?"
Fei Wangbai wasted no time on pleasantries. His expression turned serious as he said, "Heqian, Yu Yufeng has been trapped by the Li Family, and Yu Xiaogui is being held off by Li Tongya at Mount Huazhong! The Yu Family is without Foundation Establishment Realmbat power... now is the perfect time to strike Milin Prefecture and their marketce!"
"What?!"
The man Fei Wangbai called Heqian was shocked, his face lighting up immediately with ecstatic joy. His eyes gleamed with vicious hatred as his previouslyposed and dignified demeanor vanished.
With a venomous tone, he eximed, "This is wonderful news! Wonderful indeed! I have long grown tired of the minor skirmishes with the eastern shore families. This time... this time... we will make that Yu scum bleed! Hahahahaha!"
Chapter 270: Raze to the Ground (I)
Chapter 270: Raze to the Ground (I)
Jiang Heqian sneered malevolently. His expression was so sinister and venomous that it even caused a slight change in the expressions of the guest cultivators present.
"Brother Heqian, our deep-seated hatred will finally be avenged today. Let us set off quickly! This is no minor skirmish on the eastern coast... we must be cautious," said Fei Wangbai.
It turned out that Jiang Heqian was an old acquaintance of Fei Wangbai, arranged to stir trouble among the families on the eastern coast. Despite many searches carried out by the Yu Family, they never found him, as he lived on a small hill near the Milin Prefecture.
Jiang Heqian, barely able to contain himself, growled viciously, "Let''s go!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Milin Prefecture was a t region with lush forests, where the rich, dark, and moist soil could be squeezed to produce oil, making it an excellent ce for nurturing life. Despite the numerous disturbances caused by the tens of thousands of Yu Family members, thend could still sustain hundreds of thousands ofmon people.
As roosters crowed and dogs barked, signaling the start of a new day, sunlight shone across the five immortal mountains of Milin Prefecture. Shadows rose from the mountains, and Yu Family''s cultivators soared with the wind toward the central in of the prefecture.
At this convergence point of the five immortal mountains, the spirit veins intertwined, nurturing vast stretches of spirit fields. The marketce of Milin Prefecture was situated here, its formation hidden by the convergence of the five ground veins.
This grand formation had been meticulously crafted by the Yu Family, utilizing the family''s ancestral Jade Court Guarding Formation, which not only defended against attacks from Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators but also empowered those within the formation. It had cost Yu Xiaogui a significant amount of Spirit Stones.
Yu Xiao''ou sat leisurely on a redwood chair, twirling his gray beard as he reached for an ancient book. As the eldest brother of the Xiao generation in the Yu Family, he was a peak Qi Cultivator at over 120 years old. Having long abandoned the idea of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, he took up a position in the marketce, no longer cultivating but spending his days reading and watching ys, enjoying a ratherfortable life.
He had only read two or three pages of the book when he caught sight of a person approaching him hurriedly with a group of nsmen, calling out repeatedly, "Eldest Master! We have heard that the Li Family has attacked Mount Huazhong! The ancestor went there alone! The family head has sent people over, saying that we need to mobilize the family''s cultivators."
"What?!"
Yu Xiao''ou sprang to his feet instantly, pping the table in anger and panic, eximing, "Old Fifth is always so impatient and reckless! How could he go alone?! Li Tongya is notoriously cunning and malicious... What if the Li Family has set a trap? Li Chejing is now a Sword Immortal, how can we underestimate him?!"
The group was immediately struck dumb, falling silent right away. Yu Xiaogui was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and only a few dared to address him as "Old Fifth" so casually. Given Yu Xiaogui''s sullen nature, no one dared provoke him. Yu Xiao''ou''s words caused them all to tremble with fear.
Yu Xiao''ou, having cultivated for over a hundred years, immediately saw through the overconfidence of Yu Xiaogui and Yu Mugao. The old man''s jaw trembled and his beard quivered. "Where is n Uncle Yufeng?" he demanded anxiously.
"We do not know!"
A flurry of panic spread among the elders instantly. Yu Xiao''ou attempted to stabilize the situation hurriedly, shouting, "Silence!"
As the elders looked over at him, Yu Xiao''ou scolded them, saying, "You are all so old, yet you panic like this? Grab your weapons and follow me to Mount Huazhong to find Yu Xiaogui!"
The group nodded repeatedly and was about to take off when a loud voice called out to them, stopping them in their tracks.
"Wait!"
A young man in ck clothes leaped out from the crowd, his voice stern, holding a letter up high.
"By order of the family head, we are not to go to Mount Huazhong!"
The elders immediately halted, looking around in hesitation. Yu Xiao''ou grew even more frustrated. He wanted to curse but then remembered his nephew Yu Mugao''s intelligence. He held back his temper and huffed, "If the family head has a n, just say it straight! Stop dilly-dallying!"
The young man hesitated given Yu Xiao''ou''s seniority, and hurriedly apologized. Seeing him dy things even further, Yu Xiao''ou red and cursed again, "Useless fool! Speak!"
The man stopped and shouted, "The family head''s intention is... for all of us to head to the southern coast and attack Mount Lijing!"
Upon hearing these words, everyone held their breath and pondered. Yu Xiao''ou immediately understood that Yu Xiaogui was likely not in grave danger at Mount Huazhong, but merely entangled. He then pped his hands, which caused his grizzly beard to flutter.
With his vast experience, he could infer the situation from the instructions alone. He quickly regained hisposure, nodding repeatedly. "Mugao is truly vicious! It''s no wonder he''s Xiaogui''s son. Like father, like son¡ªthe wicked produce the wicked! Listen up, everyone! We''ll attack Mount Lijing!" he eximed.
As soon as Yu Xiao''ou had finished speaking, there was a scattered cheer from the crowd. Some looked at him in a daze, while others suddenly understood his intention. Seeing the varied reactions of the Yu Family''s members, Yu Xiao''ou felt a burning anger rising within him. He kicked the man in front of him to the ground and cursed, "You idiot! Make sure to cover up the Yu Family name on your clothes and artifacts! Who attacks and leaves their name behind?! Idiot! Even a mortal shopkeeper would have more sense than you lotbined!"
The man, plump and hefty, rolled three times before getting up, nodding repeatedly.
Only then did the Yu Family cultivatorse to their senses. They hurriedly tore their cors or used illusions to conceal their identities. Yu Xiao''ou''s eyes turned red with rage as he cursed them all, saying, "These useless fools, all they do is eat and drink! What else can they do?!"
His heart felt like it was being scorched, and he shivered with cold anger. Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted, causing dust to fall from the entire hall and the ground to shake violently.
Yu Xiao''ou felt a sudden chill in his heart and stepped back in dismay, his lips quickly losing their color. He clutched his robe tightly and muttered in a daze, "The Fei family... It is the Fei family... Uncle Yufeng... What has happened to Uncle Yufeng?"
Yu Xiao''ou felt dizzy. The few people below looked at him in confusion, whispering, "Is the grand formation being activated? Who dares to strike at this moment... Where is the ancestor? We must wait for the ancestor to arrive!"
Yu Xiao''ou steadied himself, feeling utterly exhausted. With a deep sigh, he ordered, "Maintain the formation gs and prepare to face the enemy!"
The Yu Family''s cultivators entered the formation to hold their positions, while Yu Xiao''ou tookmand of the Jade Court Guarding Formation''s diagram. The formation immediately brightened considerably.
In the sky, Fei Wangbai was d in gray, his face indistinct.
"Fellow Daoist... I will leave this Jade Court Guarding Formation to you."
His voice was hoarse and raspy.
Jiang Heqian had also concealed his face, but neither his voice nor attire was disguised, and the mist covering his face was barely effective. His features were vaguely discernible, as if he didn''t fear the Yu Family recognizing him
He replied coldly, "Rest assured, my friend! This Jade Court Guarding Formation was passed down personally by my grandfather... The Yu traitors only know that it can harness the power of the earth veins andbine multiple formations, but they are unaware of its true secrets!"
Chapter 271: Raze to the Ground (II)
Chapter 271: Raze to the Ground (II)
A milky white light screen rose from the formation below, and Yu Xiao''ou''s face appeared faintly on the formation as a thunderous noise sounded.
"Why have you attacked our Yu Family''s marketce without reason? Please reconsider your actions; our ancestor is..." Yu Xiao''ou said, attempting to buy some time.
However, Fei Wangbai''s sleeve swept across the formation, instantly producing a massive explosion from the formation that forcibly interrupted Yu Xiao''ou''s words. His robe and cloak fluttered silently behind him. Fei Wangbai, fearing recognition, did not take out his spear. The power of his immortal foundation surged secretly, quietly activated.
Jiang Heqian sneered coldly, his expression twisting with rage while he clenched his teeth. Alone and unafraid, jade-like patterns emerged in his eyes. As he pressed his palms together, six jade-like beams of white light burst forth from his body, and the jade patterns extended from his elbows and his earlobes, floating in the air like white silk ribbons.
As soon as his immortal foundation had manifested, the Yu Family members below were visibly stunned, some even losing control of their formation points, which caused them to flicker slightly. The shock came from seeing Jiang Heqian''s immortal foundation, which was identical to that of the Yu Family''s old ancestor, Yu Yufeng, from many years ago. Such a sight caused them to specte wildly amongst themselves.
Yu Xiao''ou was utterly horrified, looking as if he had seen a ghost.
"Jade Court General...! How is this possible?!"
Jiang Heqian had cultivated the immortal foundation, Jade Court General, from the Aged Courtly Path Scripture. This scripture had long lost its crucial essence¡ªthe Celestial Dust Qi. The Yu Family had only managed to preserve a portion of this spiritual qi, which was used on Yu Yufeng. Since then, no one had seeded in cultivating it.
Now, seeing this cultivator activate his immortal foundation, the Jade Court General, Yu Xiao''ou''s mind went nk, filled with countless conjectures.
He was so distracted that he ignored the two people attacking the formation, murmuring in a daze, "It is you..."
The two outside the formation did not give him a chance. Fei Wangbai did not use his spear, only suppressing the Jade Court Guarding Formation with spells and physical attacks.
Jiang Heqian leaped forward, cing his palms on the formation. The jade-like patterns extended from it and seemed toe alive, drilling into the milky-white formation and quickly spreading across its surface.
"What is this..."
Yu Xiao''ou''s mind was in turmoil, and he noticed the formation growing increasingly unstable. His control over it, maintained through the formation diagram, weakened. His heart raced, feeling a mix of disbelief and inevitability. He murmured hoarsely, "It''s the Jiang Family..."
The formation continued to shake, visible cracks now appearing on the Jade Court Guarding Formation as it flickered even more. Yu Xiao''ou heard terrified screams and faint sobbing outside the hall, and his grip slowly loosened.
CRACK!
The Jade Court Guarding Formation, painstakingly set up by the Yu Family and connected through the spirit veins of the five immortal mountains, shattered like fragile paper under Jiang Heqian''s spell. The milky-white barrier faded, turning into countless streaks of light that disappeared into Milin Prefecture.
The dense cluster of buildings below was finally revealed. The Milin Prefecture marketce was not yet open, and it was mostly upied by Yu Family''s cultivators and guest cultivators. With two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators among the invaders, the Yu Family''s cultivators who had lost their formation''s support fled in all directions.
Fei Wangbai''s guest cultivators descended upon various formation points. Jiang Heqian, without hesitation, moved to the tallest pce, smashing its dome with a single step andnding swiftly inside.
BOOM...!
Yu Xiao''ou, struck by the bacsh from the shattered Jade Court Guarding Formation, felt his organs ache and his mana drainedpletely. His body felt hollow, making an escape by flying an impossible task. He could only watch as tiles and rubble fell from the dome, retreating futilely.
"Are you... from the Jiang Family?"
Yu Xiao''ou no longer thought of fleeing, his expressionplex due to the flurry of emotions he was feeling. Recognizing Jiang Heqian''s cultivation of the Jade Court General, his targeting of the Yu Family and his method of breaking the Jade Court Guarding Formation,bined with Jiang Heqian''s resemnce to histe wife, Yu Xiao''ou was convinced of his suspicions.
The Yu Family and the An Family had originally been external cultivators under the Jiang Family. After the Jiang family declined, the Yu and An families slowly carved away at them, piece by piece. Both families had Jiang Family''s blood, and now, seeing a member of their former main family standing before them, Yu Xiao''ou''s emotions were exceedinglyplex.
Jiang Heqian''s eyes barely opened, his pupils possessing the same jade-like rity that Yu Yufeng had once had. His terrifying gaze bore straight into Yu Xiao''ou.
Jiang Heqian did not speak, using only his jade-like eyes to stare pratingly into Yu Xiao''ou which caused him to stumble backward pathetically. Although Yu Xiao''ou was from the Xiao generation, his age surpassed that of Yu Yufeng due to umted years. His mother was from the Jiang Family, his grandmother was from the Jiang Family, he had married into the Jiang Family, and in the end... he was the one who murdered those in the Jiang Family.
Yu Xiao''ou''s mind was flooded with chaotic visions¡ªhis mother, his grandmother... their eyes ovepped in this moment, like lightning shing through his aged mind. Even without making a move, Jiang Heqian had already driven Yu Xiao''ou backward in retreat, one step at a time.
Poof!
Yu Xiao''ou figured that the middle-aged man before him might be his wife''s younger brother, or even his cousin, or perhaps a distant rtive. But before he could reach a conclusion, the jade-like hand had already pierced through Yu Xiao''ou''s chest, extracting his still-beating heart.
A surge of intense satisfaction washed over Jiang Heqian, but the old man''s sorrowful and shocked eyes made him feel a pang of remorse¡ªa difort akin to swallowing a fly. He could not bear to look directly at him, and the ferocity in his gaze slowly faded into a wet, painful expression. Jiang Heqian soon got lost in his own thoughts.
Perhaps this old man is my brother-inw, or even my uncle... or perhaps a distant rtive.
Lowering his head, Jiang Heqian slowly withdrew his arm, causing Yu Xiao''ou to spit out a mouthful of blood, staining his gray beard with streaks of red. Yu Xiao''ou strained to see the middle-aged man''s face, noticing his distinct upright and decent features. Despite the fierce and venomous eyes, they still bore a striking resemnce to histe wife¡ªfull of vitality with a subtle mncholic look.
His mind shed back to the dim candlelight on their wedding night, when the woman''s sorrowful gaze fixed on Yu Xiao''ou. At fifteen, Yu Xiao''ou had been utterly entranced, stroking her long hair and calling her Heqing lovingly.
As the world spun, Yu Xiao''ou felt the cruel irony of fate. His chest heaved like bellows as saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth due to the agonizing pain, falling drop by drop. Uncontrobly, urine seeped out, and the pitiable old man shuddered as he uttered two words weakly from his lips.
"Qing''er..."
Jiang Heqianughed coldly, seemingly mocking him. Yu Xiao''ou only lowered his head to look at the white arm piercing through his chest. His wrinkled old hand gently, tenderly patted the arm, as if infort.
Thest breath that had sustained his aged body finally left his body. Yu Xiao''ou''s life force dissipated, and he slowly bowed his head, slipping into darkness.
Chapter 272: Wangbais Resolve
Chapter 272: Wangbai''s Resolve
Crackle, crackle...
A crimson fire zed in the marketce of Milin Prefecture, its mes dancing along the eaves, emitting the smell of burning wood. Blood flowed and dripped all over the ground and bodiesy strewn haphazardly at the street corners.
Fei Wangbai stood quietly with his hands sped behind his back.
Among the guest cultivators he had brought, one had perished, and they had already taken care of the body. However, Fei Wangbai felt no sorrow. This assault on Milin Prefecture''s marketce had resulted in an abundance of spirit items and dharma artifacts for him, so much so that his storage pouches could not even contain them all. In fact, Fei Wangbai was so overjoyed that he almostughed out loud. While the Li and Yu families fought, it was the Fei Family that reaped the greatest benefits.
Fei Wangbai scuffed his boots against the ground, feeling immensely proud of himself. Even the bright red blood staining the ground seemed celebratory. As he took a few steps forward, he saw a middle-aged man standing mid-air, arranging the bodies in a way to prevent them from being consumed by the fire.
"Brother Jiang," Fei Wangbai called out, seeing Jiang Heqian''s somber expression.
Jiang Heqian then turned and responded slowly, "They are still rtives... Let not the fire burn them. The Yu Family will handle the burial."
Fei Wangbai remained silent. Jiang Heqian, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, took only a few breaths to handle these minor tasks. Fei Wangbai then cupped his fist after some time and said, "Brother Heqian, you have done a great service. We should share the spoils from this marketce."
Jiang Heqian''s mind was upied with the memory of Yu Xiao''ou''s final gentle pats on his wrist. The old man''s hand had been scorching, making Jiang Heqian''s limbs tingle and his soul feel disjointed.
He had lost interest in everything else. Perhaps the massacre had exhausted much of his umted hatred, for his expression no longer seemed as fierce as before.
He replied softly, "Brother Wangbai, I no longer have any desire for this. My only thought in this life was to exact revenge. You can take these items back and distribute them among your n... I have no use for them."
"I can''t possibly..."
Fei Wangbai understood the value of these items, but his shrewd mind still saw an opportunity in this situation. He hoped to recruit Jiang Heqian, now alone, as a guest elder for the Fei Family. Jiang Heqian''s cultivation technique was exceptional, and hisbat prowess was top-notch.
Fei Wangbai insisted on sharing the loot. Jiang Heqian, unable to refuse, cupped his fist and said, "We can discuss this another day. You can sort out the items and convert them to Spirit Stones for me, Brother."
Fei Wangbai nodded, his robe fluttering lightly in the northern wind. "Now that this matter is settled, we must leave quickly. If Yu Yufeng returns, it could ruin everything!" he replied.
Seeing Jiang Heqian nod, Fei Wangbai suddenly remembered Li Tongya, thinking to himself, Li Tongya is still holding off Yu Xiaogui... I wonder what the situation over there is like. Does he need our help?
As Fei Wangbai pondered this, a sudden sinister thought shed in his mind, The Yu Family has suffered a great loss and will likely be in a decline for decades or even centuries. The Li Family, with Li Chejing and Li Tongya, has be too strong... It might be best to leave now and let Li Tongya suffer a setback at Mount Huazhong to bnce the two families'' power...
This thought took hold of him like a demon, swirling madly in Fei Wangbai''s mind. His blood surged as he imagined the solemn face of Li Tongya and the heroic, radiant face of Li Qinghong.
Finally, he gritted his teeth and thought, The Yu Family still has thete-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator Yu Yufeng, who alone can suppress three families... In the end, I must join forces with Li Tongya. To sour rtions with the Li Family over this small profit would be foolish, especially if Yu Yufeng picks us off one by one. Furthermore, the Li Family is on the southern shore, and my family is on the northern shore. With Moongaze Lake between us, we are natural geopolitical allies. Neither side will harbor ill intentions...
Fei Wangbai exhaled deeply, suppressing the sinister thought stirring within him. A suave, handsome smile returned to his face as he cupped his fist toward Jiang Heqian.
"Li Tongya is still struggling in the south... I must go to his aid. Fellow Daoist, please return to your cave dwelling. Once this is over, I wille to thank you personally."
This was no problem for Jiang Heqian as he had no desire to stay, and was feeling increasingly uneasy. Grateful for the reprieve, he cupped his fist, exchanged a few polite words, and rode the wind away swiftly. Fei Wangbai directed his guest cultivators to return home while he flew toward the Li Family''s direction.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
ng!
Li Tongya dodged the Foundation Establishment Realm artifact, Jade Smoke Mountain, then drew his sword, and turned around. His expression was still terrifyingly calm.
Before him, Yu Xiaogui took a deep breath, staring at Li Tongya in disbelief, his heart in turmoil.
The Boundless Ocean is this difficult to deal with?! This is too astonishing!
For four full hours, Yu Xiaogui had relentlessly been on the offensive to Li Tongya, from the break of dawn until the sun was high in the sky. Initially, the Li Family members had looked up in fear, worrying for Li Tongya silently. Now, however, they had long returned to their tasks, ignoring the two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in the sky. This infuriated Yu Xiaogui even more.
Li Tongya gently deflected the iing Jade Smoke Mountain and, seeing Yu Xiaogui finally pause, already felt his mana recovering rapidly. His expression was unreadable as he finally smiled and asked, "Brother Xiaogui... do you wish to continue?"
Watching Yu Xiaogui''s grim expression, Li Tongya silently but gleefully added in his mind, If you don''t... the 40% of mana I''ve expended will soon be replenished.
Yu Xiaogui red at him, looking down at the numerous Li Family members below them. He realized with sudden shock that he had been away from home for over four hours now, without any Yu Family members arriving to assist.
Panic flickered in his heart.
"Fei Wangbai... you have truly colluded with them!" Yu Xiaogui narrowed his eyes, knowing that it was likely the Fei Family who had acted. Fortunately, the Jade Court Guarding Formation was incredibly strong.
Even if Fei Wangbai had called for help from his early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm allies, they could not possibly have breached it in just four hours. Relieved, he waved his sleeve coldly and sneered.
"You have impressive skills, fellow Daoist."
Li Tongya merely cupped his fist without replying. Nearby, Wu Shaoyun had endured four hours of torment, nervously watching the two of them. Atst, he saw a streak of light in the sky. A handsome, middle-aged man in elegant white robes descended, cupping his fist.
"Wangbai greets fellow Daoists!"
Li Tongya responded by cupping his fist. Fei Wangbai nced at the situation andughed. "I heard the Yu Family was bullying the weak, so I hurried over to assist... But it seems I have no need to worry about Brother Tongya."
Fei Wangbai''s words nowpletely favored the Li Family, no longer showing even a facade of respect for the Yu Family. After Jiang Heqian had killed so many at the Yu Family''s marketce, there was no longer any room for reconciliation between the Fei and Yu families. Fei Wangbai no longer saw any reason to y games with them.
Yu Xiaogui''s heart sank at these words, a sense of foreboding rising within him. He shouted, "Fei Wangbai! What despicable acts have youmitted?!"
Feigning surprise, Fei Wangbai turned his head and replied, "Brother Xiaogui, what do you mean by that?"
Chapter 273: Matters Concluded
Chapter 273: Matters Concluded
Yu Xiaogui and Fei Wangbai had struggled against each other both openly and secretly on theke for many years, so Yu Xiaogui was well aware of Fei Wangbai''s true character. He knew that Fei Wangbai was a smiling tiger, one who spoke honeyed words but hid a sword behind his back.
Seeing Fei Wangbai''s attitude now, he was greatly rmed. Without another word, he swiftly rode the wind away, not even bothering to leave a harsh word behind, leaving behind only his hastily retreating silhouette for the two to see.
The two did not stop him, standing in the air as the members of the Li Family cheered below. Fei Wangbai cupped his fist and smiled, saying, "Congrattions, Brother Tongya! And of course... Many thanks to you!"
Li Tongya understood the implication of his words, knowing that the Fei Family must have made a substantial profit from the Milin Prefecture marketce. He cupped his fist in return and replied, "Brother Wangbai, your timely arrival was most appreciated. Thank you!"
Wu Shaoyun, who had been standing awkwardly as a spectator, had watched Yu Xiaogui leave without a word and now finally saw his chance to speak. He approached with a somewhat embarrassed smile and introduced himself, saying, "I am Wu Shaoyun from the Wu Family in the southern prefecture. Greetings to you both, fellow Daoists!"
Wu Shaoyun had hesitated earlier, not daring to assist Yu Xiaogui out of fear of Li Chejing''s might. Although he had not helped, he had shown deference, so Li Tongya responded courteously, speaking softly.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist!"
Wu Shaoyun''s awkwardness had eased slightly seeing Li Tongya''s politeness. Unsure of what to say next, he finally spoke, somewhat dejectedly.
"To seize opportunities and spirit items, one must engage inbat... If it results in death, that is fate, and no one can be med. I came here upon receiving news and had to inquire to set my mind at ease. I bear no ill will toward you..."
His words were clever, subtly exining and expressing a desire to resolve grievances. Li Tongya, not wishing to make enemies, only nodded gently. He rarely acted out of greed, mostly responding only to threats, but sixty years of cultivation had asionally seen him ovee by such desires. Wu Shaoyun''s words relieved him, and he returned the courtesy with a cupped fist.
The two said no more. Wu Shaoyun offered a few polite remarks and also invited them to visit the Wu Family in the future, and then rode the wind away. Fei Wangbai also cupped his fist, and Li Tongya, after a deep look at him, finally spoke, "Though your family has gained much from the Yu Family''s umted wealth, you have destroyed the marketce and killed many members of the Yu Family, making a bitter enemy of Yu Xiaogui. Be cautious of revenge."
Fei Wangbai, unaware of Yu Yufeng''s death, nodded deeply in agreement with Li Tongya''s words. "Yu Yufeng is indeed formidable, unmatched on thiske. It is truly terrifying. I will restrain my disciples. However..." his voice trailed off.
Fei Wangbai''s expression turned resolute as he solemnly cupped his fist and said, "The enmity between our families and the Yu Family is now as deep as the sea. There is also Yu Muxian within their ranks. I must ask the Sword Immortal for his continued protection..."
Li Tongya''s heart skipped a beat.
"I understand, Brother Wangbai. Take care of your n," he said simply.
Fei Wangbai still feared Yu Yufeng''s retaliation, but Li Tongya knew the Yu Family''s loss was immense. It would take decades for them to recover, making it difficult for them to even maintain pressure on the eastern coastal families, let alone seek revenge. Outwardly, he nodded in agreement, apanying Fei Wangbai a bit further before riding the wind back to Mount Huazhong.
The soldiers on the mountain stood in silence, forming two orderly rows. As Li Tongya stood before the hall, they kneeled with a ng. Li Xuanxuan, smiling, hurried to greet him, saying respectfully, "Second Uncle has repelled the strong enemies and protected the n. Your divine might is awe-inspiring! We are deeply grateful."
Li Tongya burst intoughter, waving his sleeve to interrupt Li Xuanxuan''s words. "You rascal, always so formal!"
Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling, standing behind him, bothughed at his words. Li Xuanxuan then straightened up, unable to hide the joy on his face. Li Xuanling stepped forward and said, "We have collected the An Family''s treasures. ording to An Zheyan''s ount, there are thirty-seven Spirit Stones, six Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts, and five spirit items, all at the Embryonic Breathing Realm. We also obtained a Qi Cultivation Realm formation te known as the Five Qi Return Formation. Though not top-tier, it can be used as a protective formation for the mountains."
"Excellent!" Li Tongya nodded and instructed, "The terrain of Mount Yuting is steep and lofty, with weak spirit veins. There is no need to prioritize it; just set up a basic formation there. ce this formation on the spiritual qi-abundant tnd on Mount Huazhong. As for Mount Huaqian..."
He waved his hand and gestured to Li Xuanfeng below, speaking warmly. "Xuanfeng, go to Lixia Prefecture and invite Liu Changdie over to examine the earth vein and terrain of Mount Huaqian. Have him prepare the formation."
"Understood!" Li Xuanfeng nodded obediently before slinging his longbow over his shoulder, quickly riding the wind away.
Li Tongya stroked his beard and instructed, "The news of the attack on Mount Huazhong has not yet spread. Send someone to Eastern Mount Yue to order Shamoli toe to Mount Lijing... I want to take a good look at the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique for Qinghong."
"As for An Zheyan..." Li Tongya paused, stepping onto the stone steps and into the spacious hall. It was deste and quiet, the stone pirs intricately carved, the air filled with the pungent smell of blood. The flickering lights cast a dim glow around him, apanied by faint, mournful wails.
Drip... Drip...
Thick blood slowly dripped down. An Zheyan held a knife-shaped dharma artifact, gently slicing a piece of flesh as thin as a cicada''s wing, nearly transparent. He lifted it with the small knife, ced it in his mouth, and swallowed it in two bites.
"Ah..."
An Zheyu was beyond recognition at this point, his thin membrane of muscle clinging to his white bones, hanging like a sculpture from the beam. His heart and other organs, still faintly pulsating, covered by a translucent membrane, hanging downward. They were all dripping blood that reached Li Tongya''s feet, only to be repelled by the water-repelling ability of his Boundless Ocean immortal foundation.
Li Tongya stared nkly at the suspended An Zheyu, his serpent-like brows revealing chilling malice, as if the person hanging before him was someone he loathed deeply.
For a moment, he was speechless.
Everyone fell silent. Several younger disciples looked ufortable while Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan frowned at the sight. Only Li Yuanjiao''s eyes shone brightly, staring intently at An Zheyu.
An Zheyan, oblivious to the others, grabbed An Zheyu''s hair and carefully cut it. An Zheyu could only whimper pitifully, his sculpted body trembling slightly. His eyelids and cheeks were now gone, and his blood-red eyes seemed ready to fall out of their sockets at any moment.
Li Xuanxuan''s face was grim, but seeing Li Tongya''s thoughtful expression, he dared not reprimand An Zheyan. Suddenly remembering something, he whispered in Li Tongya''s ear.
"We paired An Zheyan with Li Feiruo, who is now pregnant. We must inform him immediately... An Zheyan likely doesn''t know this yet."
Li Tongya, snapped out of his daze by Li Xuanxuan''s somber reminder, shook his head as if waking from a dream. He sighed deeply, and with a sweep of his long sleeve, sent a burst of mana striking An Zheyan''s abdomen.
An Zheyan was immediately thrown sideways, rolling three times on the ground before vomiting a mouthful of bloody filth. It was a disgusting and horrifying mix of pieces of flesh and skin, and the sight of it caused everyone''s eyelids to twitch.
An Zheyan''s mouth was full of blood and he had on a dazed expression, seeming to be slipping into deep delirium.
"He is far gone..." Li Xuanling muttered softly. However, he saw his father, Li Tongya, shake his head.
Li Tongya stepped forward, lifted An Zheyan by the cor, and roared like thunder in his ear, "An Zheyan! Li Feiruo is pregant!"
These words, which had been infused with mana, made An Zheyan tremble, blood trickling from his ears. Li Tongya released his grip, and An Zheyan copsed to his knees with a thud. The Qi Cultivator of the sixth heavenlyyer began vomiting once more while crying andughing all at once, tumbling about on the ground until he was covered in blood and filth.
Li Tongya flicked his fingers, sending forward a force that killed An Zheyu instantly. The agonized head fell limp before arge blot of ck-red blood flowed from his nasal cavity, sttering on the ground.
The hall fell into a profound silence, the eerie stillness entuated by the autumn wind, leaving everyone engulfed in an unspeakable sense of suffocation.
Chapter 274: Congratulations From All Clans
Chapter 274: Congrattions From All ns
Yu Xiaogui rode the wind back to Milin Prefecture hurriedly. As soon as he crossed the mountain, he saw the entire area filled with smoke and blood. Various buildings had copsed, and his heart skipped a beat at the sight.
He descended and stood still in shock.
The entire marketce had been reduced to ruins, with severed limbs scattered everywhere. Only a few flickering mes remained. The ground was strewn with bodies, stacked haphazardly, with semi-dried blood glistening on the surface.
For a moment, Yu Xiaogui''s mind went nk, before he exploded with grief and rage. His heart ached as countless questions shed through his mind.
How did Fei Wangbai break through the Jade Court Guarding Formation?! How is this possible...
This question lingered in his mind for only a second before a more terrifying and heartbreaking thought entered his head. Yu Xiaogui cried out in shock, "Big Brother!"
Without hesitation, he soared into the air, flying toward the grand pce which was situated at the highest point.
The magnificent pce had mostly copsed, with rubble strewn everywhere. Yu Xiaoguinded hastily in front of the hall and, before he could push the door open, his Foundation Establishment Realm spiritual sense had already shown him a kneeling corpse on the ground.
"Big Brother..."
Yu Xiaogui ced his hand on the door, letting out a cry of pain before he shattered the door with a single palm strike. Stumbling, he kneeled before Yu Xiao''ou, his heart filled with boundless regret and sorrow. His usually expressionless face now showed a myriad of emotions.
"T-This... this..."
The destruction of the entire marketce was nothingpared to the pain of Yu Xiao''ou''s death for Yu Xiaogui. The blood on Yu Xiao''ou''s body had long dried, and the old man''s face still wore a gentle smile.
Yu Xiaogui''s mind turned nk. Tears streamed down his face as he gritted his teeth and hissed, "Fei Wangbai...!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya rode the wind away, leaving Li Xuanxuan to handle the affairs and organize the tasks. Mount Yuting did not have vast spirit fields, but Mount Huazhong was a valuable treasure. Once the grand formation was established, the problem of the Li Family''s insufficient spirit veins for cultivation would be greatly alleviated, with even some surplus.
An Zheyan and the others rode the wind back to Mount Huaqian. The blood on Mount Huazhong was again cleaned away, returning to its picturesque state once more. The autumn wind blew gently as leaves fluttered down, exuding a sense of tranquility and harmony.
"Congrattions, fellow Daoist! Congrattions to your esteemed family!"
Li Xuanxuan hurried forward. The man before him was an elder with thick eyebrows and a rough face, holding a staff. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Despite a hint of sorrow in his expression, he endeavored to maintain a facade of calm and joy as he extended his congrattions.
"Senior Xiding, it is very kind of you toe all this way personally."
Li Xuanxuan cupped his fist in greeting. The man before him was Ding Xiding, the head of the Ding Family in the west. Years ago, when they had divided the Lu Family''s territory, they had be part of the Moongaze Lake.
At that time, Li Tongya had personally received him. Now, with Li Xuanxuan achieving the Qi Cultivation Realm and Li Tongya reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm but absent in the mountain, Li Xuanxuan''s reception was a mark of respect.
"Senior Tongya''s breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Realm fills us with admiration... I havee to present a gift in celebration. Our families have been friends for over a decade, and I wish for our friendship tost forever," Ding Xiding said.
But as he said these words, his face was somewhat pale. When he first visited the Li Family, he was at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm while Li Tongya was only at the fifth heavenlyyer. Now, Li Tongya had broken through to Foundation Establishment Realm, while he remained at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm. It was impossible not to feel jealous, but he maintained a polite smile and spoke graciously, presenting a jade box.
"This is too much!" Li Xuanxuan protested as he waved his hands repeatedly, but a quick scan with his spiritual sense revealed that it contained a Qi Cultivation Realm spirit item. Though not exceptionally valuable, it was a sufficient gift. After some polite refusals, he finally epted it graciously.
Now that the Li Family had gained control of both Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting, they hadpletely blocked the Ding Family''s ess to deeper parts of the Moongaze Lake. The Li Family''s strength was truly formidable, and Ding Xiding dared not say much, portraying only a friendly demeanor.
The Ding Family had once had two peak Qi Cultivators, one being Ding Xiding and the other his son, who had reached the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm at fifty-eight, showing good potential.
Over the years, the Ding Family had managed to produce a promising candidate for the Foundation Establishment Realm. Ding Xiding was naturally overjoyed and had been gathering spirit items and treasures to help him break through, hoping to nurture a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator amidst the mutual conflicts of the An, Li, and Yu families.
The Ding Family had kept to themselves in silence all these years, focusing all their efforts on helping their heir''s breakthrough. However, things did not go as nned.
His son had been in seclusion for many years, but there had been no progress. A few months ago, Ding Xiding had finally broken into the retreat, only to find a skeleton and dried bloodstains.
Ding Xiding was heartbroken and could not make a public scene about it. Instead, he buried his eldest son quietly. Afterying his son to rest, Ding Xiding heard that the Li Family had advanced northward,pletely cutting off the Ding Family''s escape route. The Ding Family was now wedged between the powerful Li and Yuan families with a bleak future ahead of them, leaving them unable to pursue other ns.
Suppressing his grief, Ding Xiding hurried to pay his respects. The elder''s face was naturally pale, and his brow was furrowed with worry. He exchanged a few words with Li Xuanxuan before hearing a loud voice outside the formation.
"Yuan Huyuan from the Yuan Family hase to visit Senior Tongya! Please open the mountain gate!"
"Ah!"
The expression on Ding Xiding''s old face changed slightly, and he bowed his head even lower, as if trying to bury it in his chest. The Ding Family was a vassal of the Yuan Family, and meeting them in this situation was not a good thing.
Xuanxuan noticed his plight and said gently, "It would be best if you wait in the side hall..."
"Yes, indeed!" Ding Xiding eximed as he left hurriedly. Li Xuanxuan then controlled the formation.
An honest and sincere-looking man in a long robe descended. He stepped forward and cupped his fist, smiling gently as he recognized Li Xuanxuan.
"Are you Daoist Xuanxuan?"
"You can just call me Xuanxuan!"
The Yuan Family was powerful, so Li Xuanxuan regarded the man with even more respect. Besides, he appeared rather old, so Li Xuanxuan spoke politely to him.
Yuan Huyuan smiled and reintroduced himself. "I am Yuan Huyuan from Mushroom Forest in. Greetings, Daoist! Congrattions to Senior Tongya on establishing his immortal foundation and achieving great advancement in cultivation!"
The news of Li Tongya''s achievement had just reached the Yuan Family, who promptly sent Yuan Huyuan to congratte them, showing their goodwill. Li Xuanxuan cupped his fist in return and replied, "My second uncle is currently away on business, Senior. I regret that you''ve missed him. Please ept my apologies for any inconvenience caused."
Yuan Huyuan waved his hand repeatedly and smiled. "No problem at all! I share a special connection with your esteemed family. Years ago, when the Sword Immortal returned home, he hadnded at Mushroom Forest in, and I escorted him back to Lijing personally. Time has flown by, and now the Sword Immortal is renowned in the four realms, while I remain a Qi Cultivator. When the Sword Immortal achieves the Purple Mansion Realm, I will be able to brag about this story to everyone!"
Yuan Huyuan''s words were meant to beplimentary, but they made Li Xuanxuan feel a pang of sadness. However, he could not show it and simplyughed along with him. Seeing that his ttery had little effect, Yuan Huyuan patted his brocade pouch and retrieved a long, t jade box.
"Our ancestor remembers the close rtionship between the Sword Immortal and Yuan Tuan as fellow disciples of the same sect, and he specifically asked me to present this congrattory gift!"
Chapter 275: The Coiling Dragon Pillar
Chapter 275: The Coiling Dragon Pir
"Oh?"
Li Xuanxuan nced at the jade box, noticing the brilliant and glowing light emanating from it, suggesting the object in it was no ordinary item. Heughed and said, "Senior, you are too kind..."
"Ah."
Yuan Huyuan opened the jade lock and lifted the lid of the jade box. Insidey a gleaming, cold green de, appearing to be just under four chi long. The sword''s de was smooth and bright, and it was decorated with fine, scale-like patterns that ran along its surface, exuding a chilling light. Li Xuanxuan immediately recognized that this was an extraordinary sword and said hoarsely, "This is..."
"This sword is called the Coiling Dragon Pir, three chi seven cun long, forged from Frostmire Stone and supplemented with serpent dragon blood. It is a top-tier item among Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts," Yuan Huyuan exined as he held the box with one hand and introduced the sword further, "This sword once belonged to the Chen Family of the Linyu Gate. After the Linyu Gate''s demise, it passed into the hands of a rogue cultivator who waster killed by our ancestor, thusing into our family''s possession."
Li Xuanxuan, though not skilled in swordsmanship, was captivated by the sword. Yuan Huyuan continued, "Our ancestor heard that Senior Tongya''s sword was barely at the Qi Cultivation Realm. Since our family does not specialize in swordsmanship, we felt it a shame for such a treasure to be wasted, so our ancestor asked me to deliver it to you on his behalf."
Li Xuanxuan repeatedly refused, expressing how he could not possibly ept such a valuable gift, finding it difficult to justify epting it. However, Yuan Huyuan warmly insisted, pushing the jade box towards him and saying, "My n sister manages Qingsui Peak alone, and our ancestor fears she may be oppressed. We hope she can rely on the Sword Immortal''s reputation for some protection..."
Hearing this, Li Xuanxuan understood the intention behind the gift, thinking, This sword is not given for the sake of our Li Family or my second uncle, but purely for the sake of our fourth uncle. The Yuan Family, having dominated Mushroom Forest in for so many years, has deep foundations. Investing in a potential future Purple Mansion immortal n is no trouble for them.
Seeing Li Xuanxuan still hesitant, Yuan Huyuan ced the jade box in his arms and said warmly, "Our ancestor also heard about the marriage between the Li and Xiao families. The Xiao Family and our Yuan Family have supported each other for years. With your family gradually establishing a foothold on theke, we''ll gain another ally. If things go well in the future, our families can strengthen our ties andmunicate more closely."
For prestigious immortal ns like the Yuan and Xiao families, establishing a foothold meant more than just dominating an area¡ªit meant being the strongest in the region with the n and family maintaining extensive connections. Li Xuanxuan nodded, taking note of these words.
Li Xuanxuan and Yuan Huyuan chatted amiably before sitting down in the courtyard, enjoying tea. Li Xuanxuan, suddenly feeling a sense of doubt, hesitated for a moment before asking, "When I was young, I heard that the Golden Tang Gate invaded Mushroom Forest in, causing many deaths, but I never heard of any casualties among your esteemed family..."
"Ah, that matter..." Yuan Huyuan paused, seemingly contemting how he could exin the matter before finally saying, "Our Yuan Family did suffer few casualties. Those who died were from minor families and among themoners... Your n must be aware of some of the secrets involved. I came here today to speak frankly."
Yuan Huyuan took a sip of tea and continued, "Every year, our Yuan Family nts arge quantity of spirit herbs and mines spirit ores for the Azure Pond Sect. The invasion was a way for the Azure Pond Sect and Golden Tang Gate to divide the blood and resentment. Killing minor families andmoners sufficed; there was no need to kill diligent ves like us, was there?"
He wore a mocking smile on his face and made a self-deprecating remark, saying in a low voice, "The Azure Pond Sect has ruled for five hundred years. They have clearly divided among which small ns shall grow people, which ns would grow herbs, which tribes are to be controlled, and where devil cultivators are to refine pills. In five hundred years, only the Xiao Family has been an exception, perhaps because Chi Wei intentionally allowed it. Never underestimate those few Purple Mansion Realm cultivators on Azure Pond Peak. After five hundred years, even the dumbest demons have be extremely cunning!"
Li Xuanxuan felt a silent fear in his heart, finding it hard to speak. Yuan Huyuan nced at him and smiled. "While the Azure Pond Sect feasts on the table, we are merely the small servants kneeling on the ground, enjoying the spiritual qi of heaven and earth and the blood and sweat of themon people. To be honest..."
Yuan Huyuan''s expression turned serious, and his tone carried a hint of admonishment as he spoke.
"This is also our ancestor''s sentiment. He is nearly three hundred years old and has seen many things. Since your family has a Sword Immortal, why not send more disciples into the sect? Your family''s goal should be to secure a seat at the foot of Azure Pond, not to be just another item in their bowl. Reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm is only the first step..."
Li Xuanxuan pondered for a moment before finally letting out a deep sigh.
"I understand, Senior..."
Yuan Huyuan finally nodded slowly as he finished his tea, saying, "That is good. In the future, our Yuan Family will be in the east, the Li Family in the west, and the Ding Family, a long-standing branch of ours, will remain untouched by us, as will the Xiao Family."
He dipped his finger in the tea, casually drew a line on the table, then stood up. He cupped his fist and smiled.
"Today''s conversation has been very pleasant... Please ry my words to Senior Tongya. I must visit the Xiao Family next, so I will take my leave now."
Li Xuanxuan quickly stood up and escorted him out of the formation. He returned to the courtyard, deep in thought, only to find someone already seated there quietly. His clothes were neat, and he was sitting upright, carefully examining the gleaming Coiling Dragon Pir sword on the table.
Li Xuanxuan bowed respectfully and greeted the man.
"Second Uncle!"
Li Tongya hummed absentmindedly in response as he continued gazing at the fine scale-like patterns on the sword, running his fingers over them. A bright white sword qi glowed from the de.
Li Tongya nodded andmented, "It is indeed a good sword."
Li Xuanxuan saw Li Tongya''s expression and guessed that Li Tongya had heard his entire conversation with Yuan Huyuan. Standing with his fist cupped, he saw Li Tongya ce the Coiling Dragon Pir back into the jade box.
Li Xuanxuan said in a low voice, "Second Uncle, the Yuan Family''s advice to us is... to align ourselves with the various peaks to truly maintain asting presence at the foot of the Azure Pond Sect. Even if we do not have a peak master in the sect, we must have a few insiders who can speak and hear for us. Our family must produce something valued by the Azure Pond Sect so that we will not be easily manipted at any time..."
Li Tongya responded with a nomittal hum and said, "Officially, Chejing is still at the southern border. Few except those in the Purple Mansion Realm know otherwise. In a few years, choose a moderately qualified disciple from the generation of Xi and Yue to send to the sect first."
"Yes!" Li Xuanxuan responded promptly.
Li Tongya then took two steps down and stopped at the table where Yuan Huyuan had been. He nced at the faint water stain on the table and instructed, "Ding Xiding meant well. Send some return gifts with him when he leaves. While our family will not move against him, we should not get too close either. In situations like these, we must avoid giving others cause for suspicion."
Li Tongya nced at Li Xuanxuan and shook his head, saying, "The Yuan Family is indeed cautious. They feared I might be unaware of the situation, so they came specifically to remind us."
Li Xuanxuan nodded, saying, "It also seems the Yuan Family is still unaware of the situation on the southern border. They think Fourth Uncle has the potential to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm and are somewhat wary of us. The Ding Family controls the entry point and acts as a buffer between our three families. I will ensure we do not disturb this bnce."
"Good that you are aware," Li Tongya nodded. As a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, he could be in seclusion for years at a time. If these matters were not handled properly and left to the younger generation to mishandle, it could result in enemies on all sides upon his emergence, which would be disastrous.
Being ever cautious, he added a few more words of advice, "The news of my breakthrough will spread. In a few years, when we pay tribute, our Li Family will be recognized as a prestigious n. ording to the Yuan Family''s implications, the Azure Pond Sect''s exploitation of prestigious ns is likely more severe than that of smaller ns. Use these years wisely to measure the spirit fields and allocate our manpower appropriately."
"Understood!" Li Xuanxuan responded, then added, "There is one matter I must report to Second Uncle. At the top of Mount Yuting, there is a jade well, perfectly round like the sun andrge enough that it takes nine people to encircle it. The well water is icy cold, and several sets of copper armor are submerged in it. ording to An Zheyan, this was how their ancestors had tempered cold armor to gather Courtly Frost Armor Qi throughout the ages!"
Chapter 276: Jade Court Guard
Chapter 276: Jade Court Guard
Li Xuanxuan paused, letting Li Tongya absorb the good news, and then continued, "With this jade well, there is no need forrge-scale construction. Although Second Uncle has achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm, our family''s roots are shallow, and we have too few Qi Cultivators to guard our territory adequately. Could the Guardian of the Courtly Path be distributed to cultivate some reliable cultivators?"
"That''s a good suggestion!" Li Tongya''s eyes lit up instantly. The jade well for refining Courtly Frost Armor Qi was not something easily made, requiring extensive research and knowledge of runes. Having this jade well on Mount Yuting would save him considerable effort.
After a moment of thought, Li Tongya replied, "Select some loyal disciples with spiritual orifices that have a clear background. This technique can help quickly condense six chakras and cultivate Qi Cultivators. Do not distribute it lightly, else we risk losing control."
Li Xuanxuan nodded and said, "I n to select six loyal individuals to begin training, and they will be assigned to the n Affairs Courtyard forw enforcement duties. However, I have yet to decide on a name for this division."
Having held authority for decades, Li Xuanxuan naturally understood such intricacies. He smiled and stepped forward, presenting a brush and ink with both hands.
Li Tongya chuckled and took up the brush, saying, "You certainly have thought of a name! You are just waiting for me to write it down."
After a moment''s contemtion, he wrote three words with decisive strokes and exined, "I have read both the Aged Courtly Path Scripture and the Guardian of the Courtly Path. The Dao foundation of the former is called Jade Court General, while thetter''s Dao foundation is called Court Guard. Let us call them the Jade Court Guards!"
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Meanwhile in Eastern Mount Yue...
The rays of the morning sun rose gently from the east, illuminating the many thatched cottages and fences. Themon folk were just waking from their dreams, some preparing to hunt, others to farm. In recent years, Eastern Mount Yue had been ravaged by war, with corpses littering thend.
The members of the Li Family, along with Shamoli, had worked hard to restore order, bringing many Easterners and rted systems and regtions to restrain officials and nobles. It was only in these recent years that things began to improve.
A creaky carriage rumbled along the muddy road, drawing the attention of Mount Yue''s inhabitants. Shamoli sat steadily in the carriage with a songstress on each leg, both leaning against his chest. He stroked the shoulders of the women absentmindedly, his thoughts drifting far away.
"Serpent dragon, such a grand spectacle..."
Although the Li Family controlled Eastern Mount Yue thoroughly, Shamoli, being a Qi Cultivator, was well aware of the disturbance from the previous night. He had seen the light from the east and witnessed the two serpent-shaped spells rising and falling, making him rather uneasy.
"Could it be a fight with the An Family? Li Tongya is a peak Qi Cultivation Realm swordsman; defeating An Zheyan should not be a problem, as long as it does not involve the Yu Family..."
Shamoli knew that both the Yu and Li families had affiliations to the sect, but the Yu Family had two more Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, making them far stronger than the Li Family. If they fought, the Li Family might not be able to withstand it.
"If the Li Family falls, how can I... the king of Mount Yue...stay safe?! Even preserving my life would be difficult!"
Though oppressed by the Li Family, Shamoli livedfortably. His greatest hope was for the Li Family to weaken, not perish. He had heard of the Yu Family''s ruthless actions; and if they attacked, Shamoli would have no choice but to pack up and be a rogue cultivator.
"Shamoli! Shamoli!"
As Shamoli was lost in his thoughts inside the carriage, the curtain was suddenly lifted, and a young man with short eyebrows and narrow eyes climbed in.
Shamoli''s face briefly showed displeasure but he forced a smile, saying, "Ah, it is Brother Tian Rong. What brings you here?"
Tian Rong''s lingering gaze on the songstresses displeased Shamoli. But Tian Rong caught himself and averted his gaze, saying, "This Mount Yue region is quite dull, except for the entertainment you have here."
Tian Rong, the son of Tian Youdao, was among those sent to Mount Yue. As a profligate son, he naturally gravitated toward Shamoli. Initially, Shamoli believed he had established a connection with the Tian Family and was overjoyed, treating Tian Rong with great hospitality.
After only three days, Shamoli realized that Tian Rong was an utter piece of trash, with a foul temperament and equally bad behavior. The words that came out of his mouth were so outrageous that even Shamoli, a man of modest education from Mount Yue, found them unbelievable. He wished he could chase Tian Rong out of the pce.
Despite Tian Rong''s uselessness, he was the only son of Tian Youdao, so Shamoli didn''t want to make an enemy of him. He tried to avoid Tian Rong by leaving on a carriage, but Tian Rong was oblivious and followed him all the way here, leaving Shamoli at a loss.
Shamoli could only sigh to himself, listening to Tian Rong''s nonsensical and vulgar talk, thinking to himself, I''ve heard that Tian Youdao is quite formidable, and is even an elder in the Li Family. How did he end up with a son like this? The world is indeed unpredictable...
As Shamoli was dozing off to Tian Rong''s drivel, his ears suddenly perked up when he heard a loud voice outside.
"Tian Zhongqing pays respects to the Great King."
An opportunity to finally interrupt Tian Rong had presented itself, Shamoli straightened up immediately. Overjoyed, he unceremoniously cut off Tian Rong.
"Pleasee in!"
Tian Zhongqing, though not as outstanding as the main family''s cultivators, was considered a fairly talented individual among the external cultivators in the Li Family.
Whoosh!
The thick curtain was lifted, revealing the bright sunlight outside. Tian Zhongqing, with his upright features andposed demeanor, did not think highly of this barbarian but still gave him due respect, politely greeting him.
"Great King!"
With a quick nce, he noticed the sneaky-looking Tian Rong in the corner. Tian Zhongqing was taken aback at the sight of him, and a wave of burning anger surged in his heart as he eximed, "What are you doing here?!"
Tian Rong quickly shrank back, remaining silent. Shamoli''s expression quickly turned awkward, and since he despised Tian Rong deeply, he did not bother to create an excuse for him.
Seeing the expressions on their faces, Tian Zhongqing immediately understood the situation, thinking angrily to himself, I told him not to get too close to Shamoli... He haspletely ignored my words!
Tian Zhongqing''s heart pounded in fury, wishing he could p Tian Rong to death right then and there. However, Tian Rong was Tian Youdao''s only son, and Tian Youdao had not only been a great benefactor to Tian Zhongqing, but was also the pir of the Tian Family. Tian Zhongqing had no choice but to suppress his anger.
He cupped his fist to Shamoli and said, "The family head summons you. Pleasee to Mount Lijing for an audience!"
Shamoli was immediately rmed, trembling as he asked, "May I ask... what is this about?"
Tian Zhongqing shook his head and replied, "Just an audience."
With that, he cupped his fist again, waved his sleeve, and jumped out of the carriage, walking away. The more Tian Zhongqing thought about it, the angrier he became, but his anger soon turned to fear as he thought, My mistake led to our n being sent west, but it might not be a bad thing... However, this Tian Rong is going to get us into trouble sooner orter.
Tian Zhongqing waited for a moment, but Tian Rong did note out. Listening closely, he could still hear Tian Rong''sints and Shamoli''s impatient responses inside the carriage. Tian Zhongqing''s anger red up again, and he muttered harshly, "This brat will surely bring about nothing but disaster in the future!"
Chapter 277: An Audience
Chapter 277: An Audience
Tian Zhongqing had left with a wave of his sleeve, but Shamoli''s heart was clouded with dark thoughts and wild spections. Meanwhile, Tian Rong, oblivious to the situation, continued his incessant chatter, which only served to make Shamoli even more anxious.
He emptied his mind and pondered, What does Li Xuanxuan mean by this? I have been minding my own business in Mount Yue year after year, not touching the Li Family''s spirit fields or items. Surely, they don''t have a problem with me... Could this be a form of intimidation?
While Shamoli was still lost in his own thoughts, the carriage came to a sudden stop. Tian Rong, startled, thought Tian Zhongqing had returned and quickly fell silent.
However, he then heard the raspy voice of an elderly man shouting, "The main family''s orders have arrived. Great King, how much longer will you wait? Do not miss the appointed time!"
"High Shaman! Please,e in!" Shamoli responded quickly.
An old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles entered. Despite his aged appearance, his eyes remained sharp and focused. This was the old Mount Yue shaman, Ahuici, who had surrendered to the Li Family years ago. Now at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, he was too old to make any further breakthroughs.
Shamoli nced at Tian Rong. Ahuici, with a raised eyebrow, understood immediately. He unceremoniously grabbed Tian Rong like a chicken and threw him out of the carriage, ignoring Tian Rong''s incredulous protests. Tian Rong fell to the ground with a loud thud and continued to curse obscenely.
Ahuici frowned deeply, leaned out, and scolded, "Even your father has to address me politely! What the hell are you shouting about? How did Tian Youdao even create such a useless son? He should have pulled it out of his wife and shot you on the ground back then to spare us all this trouble!"
These words not only left Tian Rong trembling with anger but also made Shamoli''s eyes widen in surprise. However, he pretended not to have heard hisstment. Ahuici ended his insult by spitting on the ground before turning back, saying, "Great King!"
Ahuici was an old retainer of the Li Family. He had apanied Li Xiangping in the westward invasion, and Tian Youdao had only been a lowly soldier at the time, saved by Ahuici on several asions.
Tian Youdao had always referred to him as "big brother," hence Ahuici spared no mercy in berating and reprimanding Tian Rong.
Shamoli hurriedly responded, "Yes, High Shaman?"
"Get ready and go!"
Ahuici''s demanding words made Shamoli curse silently in his heart, but he could only nod in agreement.
When he stepped out of the carriage, he saw that all the tributes and ceremonial items had already been prepared. Even without hismand, the national treasury had been emptied. He nodded awkwardly before joining the procession, muttering grumpily under his breath.
"Damn it!"
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"An Zheyan is quite perceptive!" a young man said.
The ck-d youth sat cross-legged as he listened to the words of the person below him, nodding and smiling as he said, "He quietly settled the remaining members of the An Family in Lijing Town, spreading the old vow of offering two mountains far and wide. Over the years, he has made some progress and has learned a lot."
Now that Li Xuanxuan was managing the family, Li Yuanjiao had been sent to oversee the n Affairs Courtyard. His fierce temperament made him well-suited for the job.
"Indeed, he has made significant progress!"
The youth below nodded in agreement. His demeanor strongly resembled Li Xuanling, exuding a sense of steadiness. This was his son, Li Yuanyun, who was a few years younger than Li Yuanjiao. Li Yuanyuncked a spiritual orifice and had always stayed on the mountain.
Now that Li Yuanyun had married a woman with a spiritual orifice, he could no longer remain on the mountain. He had moved down, established his own residence, and spent his days reading, investigating past matters, and asionally visiting Li Yuanjiao''s residence.
Perhaps due to hisck of spiritual orifice and not cultivating, Li Yuanyun did not possess a sharp presence. Instead, he had a gentle and peaceful aura.
After a pause, he continued, "Shamoli''s eldest son has begun his cultivation. He was born to a woman from our branch family and has been learning the eastern customs since childhood. He begged the family for the Li surname and is now called Li Jiman. He appears quite loyal."
Li Yuanjiao smiled and nodded. This news was indeed pleasing. He paused and then said softly, "I received an internal report that the cave dwelling with spirit spring on Mount Huaqian is rich in spiritual qi. I''ll be going there to cultivate in seclusion soon. We don''t have many opportunities to talk as brothers, so I want to have a chat with you before I leave."
"That''s good news," Li Yuanyun responded warmly and smiled as he continued, "Too bad Sister Qinghong went to Mount Huazhong a few days ago. Now that you are leaving too, it''ll be just me idling around in Lijing Town."
Li Yuanjiao shook his head and reminded, "Hey, Qingxiao and Yuanping are only four or five years old. There are only a few of us in the generation of Yuan and Qing. Since Qinghong will also be cultivating in seclusion soon, you''ll have to keep an eye on those kids when you can."
Li Yuanyun nodded and said, "I''ll be going to Mount Yue in a few days to investigate some matters. I can bring a few toys for the two kids."
Li Yuanjiao was about to ask him more questions when someone hurriedly approached, interrupting their conversation.
"Report! Shamoli is here to see you, my lord!"
"Shamoli?! It seems he hase to pay his respects and sound me out... Let him in then!" Li Yuanjiao instructed.
Li Yuanyun, understanding the situation, tactfully prepared to leave, but Li Yuanjiao frowned and stopped him.
"You can stay and listen. We are family; there''s nothing you can''t hear. Just record what Shamoli says truthfully without any reservations," he said.
"It is widely rumored that you''re Shamoli''s main supporter, so I do need to listen carefully," Li Yuanyun teased yfully before sitting down again.
A tall Mount Yue man walked up from below. His attire was proper, resembling the easterners. With a wide smile on his face, he called out, "Brother Jiao, it has been so long!"
"I have missed you greatly, brother!" Li Yuanjiao replied with a smile. Noticing Shamoli''s gaze lingering on Li Yuanyun, he exined, "This is Brother Yuanyun, one of our own. He will be heading to your territory in a few days, so please take good care of him!"
"Y-Yes! Of course..." Shamoli responded cautiously, his mindpletely preupied as he hade straight to see Li Yuanjiao, and was not expecting to meet anyone else.
He said carefully, "Why have the family head summoned me in such a hurry...? I feel very anxious and uneasy."
"Oh!" Li Yuanjiao waved his hand and replied, "You have done well over these years. My elders want to see you, and perhaps even the ancestor will meet you personally. It''s nothing serious, so rx!"
Hearing this, Shamoli breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to say more but noticed that Li Yuanjiao seemed rather distracted. Realizing his sudden visit might have interrupted a conversation, he smiled and said, "With your reassurance, I am relieved. The family head''s summons is important and should not be dyed. I will go up the mountain first ande back to see you when I have time."
He then left hurriedly. Li Yuanyun watched Shamoli depart and, after a moment of thought, said, "Since we have his son, Li Jiman, Shamoli has pretty much served his purpose... Besides, Li Jiman might even be more loyal than he is. However, Qi Cultivators have a lifespan of two hundred years... I wonder how the n ns to deal with him."
Li Yuanjiao set his cup down and replied, "No rush. Shamoli''s cultivation technique is excellent, and his strength is decent. When Li Jiman reaches the Qi Cultivation Realm, we can still use Shamoli as a guest elder."
Li Yuanyun nodded slightly but noticed a peculiar look on Li Yuanjiao''s face. He continued, "The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique is truly extraordinary! It was once a Grade Four technique... Despite absorbing unrefined qi, Shamoli has reached the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm in just four years! That''s fascinating indeed!"
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While the two were chatting in the courtyard, Shamoli hurried up the mountain, not daring to fly directly. He walked along the stone path for a while before the small courtyard came into view.
Two n guards stood silently in front of the courtyard. Shamoli, towering in stature, bowed his head as he entered and saw a middle-aged man dressed in gray standing at the top.
The middle-aged man had broad shoulders and was carefully wiping a sword with a rag. The sword had intricate scale-like patterns, reflecting a cold light. Shamoli stared at it in a daze for a moment before kneeling with a thud and bowing deeply.
"Shamoli greets the ancestor!"
Shamoli finally understood why serpent dragons had flown in the sky that night and why the Li Family had made such amotion. With his forehead pressed firmly on the ground, he did not dare move, thinking in shock, Foundation Establishment Realm...! H-He... has achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm!
Li Tongya responded with a soft hum before ncing at him, slowly sheathing his sword. He began gently, "Shamoli, it has been a while. It seems you have been behaving in Mount Yue, and you''ve made significant progress in your cultivation as well!"
Chapter 278: Reunion With An Old Friend
Chapter 278: Reunion With An Old Friend
The turmoil caused by the Li Family had settled after half a month. Autumn took its hold on theke, rendering the waters dark and mysterious. The banks were covered in red and yellow leaves, and a creeping coldness gradually set in.
The Fei Family, having gained benefits, kept quiet on the northern shore. Jiang Heqian, fearing ambush and revenge from Yu Xiaogui and Yu Yufeng, refrained from appearing on the eastern shore. The Yu Family silently licked their wounds, and for a while, there was an unexpected calm. Apart from the ruins of the Yu Family''s market, which had fallen silent, the scene was peaceful.
"How are things progressing?"
Yu Mugao sat at the head of the hall, his face weary and gloomy, but his tone held a subtle note of relief. He rested one hand on his forehead, while the other tapped a brush on the table lightly. A recently opened lettery on the desk as he addressed the person below him.
"Elder Xiao''ou is indeed dead. We have confiscated the properties of those used of colluding with the enemy without much opposition."
A faint trace of grief crossed Yu Mugao''s face. Yu Xiao''ou had watched him grow up. Yu Mugao had hoped that more of those useless members would die at Mount Lijing, however, he had not expected the Fei Family to break through the Jade Court Guarding Formation, leading to the loss of Yu Xiao''ou.
The Yu Family has lost many direct descendants and cultivators in the market, causing significant turmoil both locally and within the n. Taking advantage of Yu Xiao''ou''s death, who had been a leader of the old family, Yu Mugao took decisive action against his uncles and brothers, cleaning up the n. With these parasites gone, the Yu Family exhibited unprecedented vitality.
"In a way... it is better. At least I don''t need to persuade Father to give up the market anymore."
Losing the market left Yu Mugao feeling unexpectedly relieved. The words that read Azure Pond on the letter were extremely eye-catching, and he thought, The old ancestor probably won''t return, and Father has gone into seclusion again. The family is finally in my hands, and without those fools around, it''s so much better.
Previously, the family''s resources had flowed into the hands of his uncles and brothers, and most of it was used for tributes and to support Yu Yufeng. Now, with these demands reduced, Yu Mugao found himself managing things with much ease. He doubted Yu Yufeng would survive but felt no significant sorrow in his heart.
"If we had rid ourselves of these people forty years earlier, and if Father and the ancestor had listened to me instead of wasting time with blood sacrifices and theke meetings, we wouldn''t have suffered such losses!"
Looking at the young cultivators he had promoted, Yu Mugao felt a surge of confidence. The Yu Family which was previously powerful had been divided, with resources drained by Yu Yufeng. Yu Mugao had no choice but to bow to authority then. Now, though weakened, the Yu Family belonged solely to him.
"After two years of consolidation... As long as Muxian remains on Yuanwu Peak, I can toy with Li Xuanxuan and Fei Yihe."
Yu Mugao slowly set down the letter, his eyes still fixated on the words in it that had been written with a brush dipped in red ink. The autumn sunlight bathed the paper in a warm light, seeming to cause the red words to gleam like blood.
The contents of the letter read¡ª"Decades have passed without returning, nor have I sent any letters... Master once said that the demon king of the southern border feasts on moonlight; he is likely not at ease. Senior Brother ising to theke and I will enter seclusion... Foundation Establishment Realm is within reach."
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"Brother Xuanfeng! I heard that a senior member of your esteemed family has recently reached Foundation Establishment Realm... Congrattions!"
Liu Changdie soared leisurely through the air, his eyes fixed on the golden glow of the longbow on Li Xuanfeng''s back. While offering his congrattions, his eyes lit up as he thought to himself, That bow must be the Golden Age! In my previous life, I only saw its golden aura during a demonic attack while reinforcing the Azure Pond Sect''s formation... Now, I can finally see it up close!
Li Xuanfengughed heartily and replied, "Brother Changdie, you are always well-informed. Thank you."
Liu Changdie observed Li Xuanfeng''s aura, noticing that he had reached the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Envy filled his heart as he congratted Li Xuanfeng, saying, "Brother Xuanfeng, you are not even thirty-five yet you''ve already reached the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. You might be able to attempt the Foundation Establishment Realm breakthrough by the time you are forty or fifty!"
Li Xuanfeng smiled wordlessly as he raised an eyebrow and responded, "Brother Changdie, you are also progressing well, already at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... The Foundation Establishment Realm is within reach for you too."
The two exchangedpliments as Mount Huaqian came into view below. Li Xuanfeng led Liu Changdie into the courtyard, where they were greeted by a nimble-footed youth in ck robes who cupped his fist respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior!"
The youth''s sharp features and slightly narrow eyes exuded an air of fierceness.
It was Li Yuanjiao.
Liu Changdie immediately recognized him and swallowed back the Brother Jiao that almost slipped past his lips, finding the situation rather awkward. Li Xuanfeng quickly introduced them.
"This is Li Yuanjiao, the son of my eldest brother Li Xuanxuan. He is currently cultivating on Mount Huaqian."
Seeing the young man before him, Liu Changdie felt strange. Nevertheless, he was
delighted to see an old friend. He smiled hastily and said, "Please don''t call me a senior! I admire Yuanjiao''s outstanding demeanor and wish to consider us equals..."
Li Xuanfeng gave him a strange look. While he considered Liu Changdie a peer, Liu Changdie wanted to treat Li Yuanjiao as an equal, which would naturally disrupt the generational hierarchy.
Li Yuanjiao, having just arrived at Mount Huaqian, was equally puzzled and insisted he was not worthy of such a status repeatedly.
Unable to refuse, Liu Changdie finally said, "It''s fine when Brother Xuanfeng is present. Privately, Yuanjiao and I can address each other as equals."
Li Xuanfeng nodded, transmitting a message to Li Yuanjiao using his mana, "Liu Changdie is a good-natured person and an expert in formations. Though he can be entric, he is harmless... Just let him be."
They all took their seats as servants served tea. Li Xuanfeng didn''t waste any time and asked directly, "Daoist Changdie, if we want to set up a formation on Mount Huaqian, what kind of power can we expect given the local spirit veins and spiritual qi? Also, how many Spirit Stones would it require?"
Liu Changdie nodded and replied, "Years ago, when I set up the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation on Mount Lijing, I also observed Mount Huaqian''s spirit veins. The mountaincks several key points and is rtively low and narrow... Even the legendary Wan Huaqian could only set up a formation to withstand a peak Qi Cultivator here."
He smiled wryly and continued, "I once believed I could match Wan Huaqian''s prowess. But standing before Mount Huaqian, I see now that his skills in formation far exceed my own. My best effort might withstand the strength of ate-stage Qi Cultivator. However, if faced with an attack from a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, the formation would likely falter in less time than it takes for a stick of incense to burn."
Li Xuanfeng calcted the distance from Mount Lijing to Mount Huaqian and concluded that a stick of incense''s time was more than sufficient. "That''s long enough. But... how many Spirit Stones would it require?" he asked.
Liu Changdie saw Li Xuanfeng''s approval and nodded. "If your esteemed familycks spare formation gs, we will need to use a formation te. With Wan Huaqian''s legacy as a reference, I can set up the formation for about fifty to sixty Spirit Stones."
Li Xuanfeng, no longer the inexperienced youth he once was, knew that this price was remarkably low. He frowned slightly and asked, "At fifty to sixty Spirit Stones, would there still be any profit for you, Brother Changdie?"
Chapter 279: Guest Elder
Chapter 279: Guest Elder
Liu Changdie simply waved his hand andughed.
"To be frank with you, those fifty to sixty Spirit Stones would be just the cost. I am not after the Spirit Stones... but I do have a request!"
Li Xuanfeng quickly realized what Liu Changdie meant, and nodded as he replied, "Brother Changdie, feel free to speak. If it is within our family''s capability, we will certainly not refuse!"
Liu Changdie paused to organize his thoughts before speaking softly.
"I have devoted many years to the study of formations. The deeper I delve into the principles and patterns, the more difficult they be. Acquiring a perception technique would double my effectiveness and allow for further progress. Unfortunately, despite years of searching in this region, the immortal cultivators guard their techniques closely... I have been unable to obtain one. If your esteemed family possesses such a technique and could lend it to me, I don''t mind setting up another formation for you afterpleting this Earth Locking Huaqian Formation..."
Liu Changdie knew the Li Family possessed a perception technique called Spirit Eye Perception. He had long coveted it in his previous life but had never managed to obtain it. Since he had a good rtionship with the Li Family now, he thought it was the right time to request it.
"Oh?"
Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow, causing Liu Changdie to feel a bit uneasy. Li Xuanfeng put down his tea bowl and thought silently, Could this be a coincidence? Liu Changdie is strange but has shown kindness toward our family. Not knowing his background, we did not dare invite him to join our family as a guest elder when we only had a few Qi Cultivators. I even recently discussed this with Brother Xuan... Maybe we should take this opportunity...
Li Xuanfeng purposely feigned hesitation, furrowing his brow. "I see. It so happens that our family does have a perception technique, but we have never taught it to outsiders," he responded slowly.
"It was presumptuous of me!" Liu Changdie immediately eximed, lowering his head in disappointment as he apologized.
Li Xuanfeng couldn''t hold back hisughter and chuckled as he continued, "If Brother Changdie is willing to be our family''s guest elder, we can lend it to you without breaking the family''s rules!"
"Are you serious?" Liu Changdie asked eagerly, clearly overjoyed. He had consistently demonstrated goodwill toward the Li family, yet had refrained from requesting to be a guest cultivator, fearing that his excessive enthusiasm might be misinterpreted as having ulterior motives.
Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod, he grinned and pped his hands in delight. "That''s wonderful! Wonderful indeed!"
ted by the good news, Liu Changdie felt revitalized. In his previous life, he had never been a significant figure and spent most of his life humbly trying to make breakthroughs, often being scolded and ordered around.
Now that he was about to be a guest elder for the Li Family, his voice took on a more eager tone as he asked, "I heard that the main family had moved the formation te from Mount Yuting to Mount Huazhong. How well is it working?"
"Ah... I was going to ask you about that," Li Xuanfeng said as he shook his head and continued, "The grand formation on Mount Yuting was operating at mid-tote-stage Qi Cultivation Realm, but on Mount Huazhong, its power has been reduced to early-stage Qi Cultivation Realm. Do you know why?"
"The formation te is not effective just anywhere. If I am not mistaken, the formation te on Mount Yuting was specifically arranged to match the spirit veins there. Therefore, simply moving it to Mount Huazhong would naturally reduce its power!" Liu Changdie replied matter-of-factly.
He waved his hand and confidently said, "I''ll go to Mount Huazhong in a few days and adjust the formation te. You can count on me!"
Li Xuanfeng thanked him profusely. After some more conversation andughter, Li Xuanfeng said, "I''ll report this to the ancestor. As for the matter of Mount Huaqian, you can discuss it with my nephew, Yuanjiao, who is usually there."
Liu Changdie and Li Yuanjiao both acknowledged their tasks. After Li Xuanfeng left, Li Yuanjiao turned to Liu Changdie and asked, "Senior, what kind of spirit materials and how muchbor will you need? I will start preparing right away."
Liu Changdie''s mouth twitched with embarrassment as he awkwardly said, "Please, don''t call me that... I''ll write down the requirementster so you make the necessary preparations, Brother Yuanjiao!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"I- I dare not be careless..."
Shamoli broke out in a cold sweat, lowering his head and staring intently at the ground. His mind was in a jumble, and he was mumbling a few vague responses.
Li Tongya, who was sitting at the head, nced at him andmanded, "Come forward!"
Shamoli quickly got up and took two steps forward. Li Tongya nced at him twice over and frowned slightly, thinking to himself, Although the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique is indeed powerful, it also causes infertility. Shamoli indulges in wine and often engages in nightly revelries in his quest for offspring. It seems he also enjoys consuming various spirit materials in Mount Yue. His vitality is waning... If he continues like this, he won''tst another hundred years!
Seeing Shamoli''s timid appearance, Li Tongya thought of how diligent he had been over the years and advised, "You need to nourish and conserve your vitality. Do not overexert yourself."
Shamoli nodded repeatedly, though Li Tongya was unsure if the man fully understood his words. Having said all he could, Li Tongya''s thought drifted back to the juniors in the family and mused, Now that I see what''s happening to Shamoli, I should start finding some spirit herbs and elixirs to strengthen Qinghong''s vitality...
Li Tongya was always considerate of his juniors, often prioritizing his own children after his brothers'' offspring. He made a mental note of this and said, "Your eldest son has begun cultivating. He ascended the mountain and begged Xuanxuan to grant him the Li surname... He shows great potential. When he reaches the Qi Cultivation Realm, you should abdicate and focus on your cultivation in the mountains."
Li Tongya''s words left no room for negotiation. Yet Shamoli felt neither resentment nor displeasure; instead, he was slightly moved and grateful. The gap between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Qi Cultivation Realm was immense, and Li Tongya''s politeness was already a sign of great generosity.
In the past, the high shamans on Mount Wu viewed Qi Cultivators merely as sources of nourishment. The people of Mount Yue had long learned the necessity of submission, and Shamoli was no exception.
"Thank you! Thank you, Ancestor!" he eximed repeatedly.
Li Tongya smiled upon seeing his obedience and submissiveness, saying, "I''m sorry that, as the ruler of Mount Yue, you will have to sit in a small chamber to cultivate when that timees."
"I harbor no such thoughts!" eximed Shamoli, who had governed Mount Yue for four or five years. Knowing this was the moment to demonstrate his loyalty, he kneeled down with a resounding thud.
In a trembling voice, he dered, "If not for the main family, I would have perished in some forgotten corner of Mount Yue long ago! Now, I have reached the Qi Cultivation Realm and rule Mount Yue. What more could I possibly desire? I have no issue with my son inheriting the throne, that''ll allow me to dedicate myself to my cultivation and revel in the spiritual qi of the immortal mountains. For this, I am eternally grateful!"
Upon hearing this, Li Tongya nodded in satisfaction, though his gaze remained on the sword in his hands.
"Good, you have grown. Stay on the mountain for a few months. In a few months, the family will need to catch a few demons... You wille along and contribute," Li Tongya said simply.
"I understand," Shamoli answered readily.
"You may leave," Li Tongya said as he dismissed Shamoli.
Only then did Shamoli slowly leave the courtyard, feeling his back drenched in sweat. He descended the mountain in a daze, his mind still fixated on the gleaming sword.
It took him a long time to regain hisposure. He muttered to himself, "The Li Family now has a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... That is excellent news! I can feel at ease, and the main family will not fear my rebellion. I no longer have to worry about being discarded after use."
As Shamoli walked along the stone path, the faces of the Li Family members shed through his mind¡ªfrom Li Xiangping and Li Tongya to Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling, then from Li Xuanxuan and Li Yuanxiu to Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong.
He felt both fortunate and contemtive.
"Years ago, joining the main family was a spur-of-the-moment decision... Yet, it put me on this great ship! That single choice could have turned me into another''s ve, left me as a corpse in the forest, or elevated me to the ruler of a state, soaring through the skies as a Qi Cultivator... Endless hardships and countless strategies pale inparison to that one pivotal moment. The rise and fall of fate in this world are utterly absurd!"
At just over forty years old, Shamoli had experienced more ups and downs than most people could in ten lifetimes. As he walked along the mountain path, his steps became lighter and lighter, feeling an immense weight taken off his shoulders.
Chapter 280: Changes in the North
Chapter 280: Changes in the North
Li Tongya watched as Shamoli retreated respectfully. After reading the jade slip for a while, he heard footsteps approaching as Li Xuanxuan hurried into the courtyard.
"Second Uncle, you called for me?"
"Yes," Li Tongya responded, putting down the jade slip before continuing, "I asked you to gather information about the nearby Foundation Establishment Realm demonic cultivators... How is it going?"
Having dealt with the An Family, Li Tongya now intended to find a few talisman qi for the generation of Yuan and Qing. Once these matters were settled, he nned to cultivate in seclusion.
He had asked the fox in the mountains about the matter a few days ago, but Mount Dali was demon territory. Even the early Foundation Establishment Realm demons were well-known in the demon den, backed byte or peak Foundation Establishment Realm demons.
It would be a different matter entirely if one of them was killed by a disciple from the three sects and seven gates; however, the Li Family was simply a n. Killing a demon could bring trouble to their doorstep overnight, especially if the demon were the descendant of a Purple Mansion Realm creature¡ªbeing that even ordinary disciples from the immortal sects must treat with respect.
Li Tongya had thus asked Li Xuanxuan to send people out to investigate and it had been some time now, so he called him in for a follow-up inquiry. The southern Mount Dali and the eastern Lixia Prefecture seemed hopeless, so he hoped there might be opportunities in the territories of the Golden Tang Gate to the north or the Golden Feather Sect to the west.
Li Xuanxuan cupped his fist and replied, "I have some findings. To the west of Moongaze Lake is the Golden Feather Sect''s territory, separated by a small wilderness and several minor families. No demons have been reported there. Going further west would be too far and inconvenient."
"As for the Golden Tang Gate''s territory in the north..." Li Xuanxuan paused, lowering his voice as he continued, "It''s currently in chaos. Demons run rampant while the prestigious ns are trying to annex each other. I believe there are Foundation Establishment Realm demons to be captured there. I have already dispatched additional people to investigate further."
"Oh?"
Li Tongya, intrigued by the situation at Golden Tang Gate, asked, "Have you found out the cause of it?"
Li Xuanxuan nodded and replied, "Over ten years ago, the Purple Mansion Realm ancestor of the Golden Tang Gate passed away, greatly weakening their strength. They had to rely on Azure Pond Sect for support. After a few years of stability, thest Purple Mansion Realm cultivator vanished, and many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators within the sect also disappeared mysteriously. They could not even suppress the families and demons under their control, and this became particrly severe after Chi Wei''s death. There are even rumors of devil cultivators appearing!"
Li Tongya remained silent, pondering for a moment before asking, "How have the other sects responded?"
Li Xuanxuan shook his head and answered, "Our information is limited. We only know that Azure Pond Sect has turned a blind eye to the situation, not sending a single person over. As for the other sects, we do not have much information."
Li Tongya sipped his tea and said softly, "Judging by Golden Tang Gate''s state, the other sects likely have not taken any significant action as well. The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator at Golden Tang Gate probably is not dead. At Senior Xiao Chuting''s ceremony, I heard that Great Xu State, where the Golden Tang Gate is located, is now teeming with Buddhists, and many great powers are in conflict... Golden Tang Gate may have been caught up in this turmoil."
Li Xuanxuan acknowledged this with a nod and sighed, "With no one in the sect, information is scarce. We, the older generation, still have to rely on the generations of Xi and Yue to try their luck..."
Li Xuanxuan didn''t have any strong objections to sending the younger generation to Azure Pond Sect, but Li Tongya felt uneasy. However, since having their disciples join Azure Pond was highly beneficial for the family, he had no choice but to ept it.
To change the subject, he nced at Li Xuanxuan and instructed, "Keep investigating, and if necessary, write a letter to the Fei Family. Fei Wangbai is on the northern shore, close to the Golden Tang Gate, and his family used to be associated with it... He might have information."
"Understood!" Li Xuanxuan acknowledged.
There were two knocks at the door, and Li Xuanfeng entered quickly with a golden bow strapped onto his back. He cupped his fist and said, "Second Uncle, Liu Changdie has arrived at Mount Huaqian to set up the formation. It will cost fifty-eight Spirit Stones."
Seeing the confusion on Li Tongya''s face, Li Xuanfeng continued, "I have also discussed this with Brother Xuan earlier. Liu Changdie is highly skilled in formation techniques, and it would be best if we could have him join the family. I previously tested the waters, and Liu Changdie wishes to be our family''s guest elder in exchange for a perception technique as payment for setting up the formation."
Li Tongya pressed his hand against the table, contemting for a moment. He was slightly hesitant, but he could not me the younger generation for making their own decisions. He gave them an out, saying, "Liu Changdie has many secrets... It is hard to tell if that is good or bad. However, his skill in formations is indeed impressive. We still need him to set up the grand formation."
Li Xuanfeng paused slightly and replied slowly, "It is just a nominal position. It should be harmless..."
Li Tongya, being cautious by nature, was reluctant to take such a risk. He hesitated and then revealed some confidential information, shaking his head, "It is fine. As long as he takes the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath not to disclose it, we can lend him our perception technique. As for making him a guest elder... I have discussed this man with Xiao Yongling. ording to him, Liu Changdie seems to have divination abilities, often predicting opportunities and gaining advantages. He seems to know a lot about various fortunes, which makes him... quite unusual.
"This man is so mysterious that even Ancestor Chuting keeps an eye on him. Although Liu Changdie believes his actions are discreet, he was quite conspicuous even when he was just a minor Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator. His exceptional talent in formations and his frequent travels made him stand out. There''s no way he can escape the eyes of someone as astute as Xiao Chuting. On top of that, Liu Changdie is also involved in many strange urrences and might bring trouble... It is not the right time to bring him into the family."
Hearing that Liu Changdie was so dangerous and had even caught the attention of the Xiao Family''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, the two younger men felt a pang of regret. Li Xuanxuan was taken aback while Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow.
In the end, Li Xuanxuan sighed deeply and said, "Thank you for the advice, Second Uncle. I have almost caused trouble with my presumptuous decision!"
"That''s an exaggeration..." Li Tongya waved his hand dismissively.
An awkward expression crossed Li Xuanfeng''s as he remarked, "But... I have already agreed to his request and do not know how to refuse him now."
Li Xuanfeng, not as experienced in managing family affairs as Li Xuanxuan, had forged a friendship with Liu Changdie and felt awkward about directly refusing him.
Li Tongya, smiling, shook his head and replied reassuringly, "Give the perception technique to him, be generous and courteous, and tell him he can practice it. As for the matter of bing a guest elder, just say that I am in seclusion and cannot give a reply at this moment, but you have decided to let him practice the technique first. He will be grateful and have noints."
Li Xuanfeng nodded in understanding, and Li Xuanxuan, stroking his beard, also nodded with a smile. "Everyone says that Second Uncle isposed and reserved, but they often overlooked your astute mind¡ªsteady yet decisive, truly a talent beyond the ordinary!" he praised.
Li Tongya clicked his tongue and waved his hand, chuckling.
"Stop ttering me, it makes me ufortable. Go and get the job done!" he scolded teasingly.
The two brothersughed heartily and took their leaves respectfully.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Thest formation point!"
Thanks to the traces of the former Earth-Locked Huaqian Formation, the grand formation on Mount Huaqian was rapidly set up. If it weren''t for the death of Wan Tianchou, thest orphan of the Wan Family in Lixia Prefecture, the formation could have beenpleted even faster.
Liu Changdie, directing a group of Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators to carve the formation diagram, appeared quite pleased with himself. He was thrilled by the prospect of soon acquiring the Spirit Eye Perception, a skill that could significantly elevate his formation abilities.
He sighed inwardly with glee, thinking, Ah, this is the life! In my previous life, I was constantly hiding and wandering, gaining good Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivation techniques toote because I was already cultivating with various unrefined qi! I remember how lost and dissatisfied I was in that life. I was barely living!
Now, relying on the cultivation methods and experiences from his previous life, he had significantly enhanced his qualifications. Although he could not gain any major opportunities, he managed to secure a wealth of cultivation resources by assisting others with formation diagrams. Naturally, his progress was rapid, and he was rather satisfied with his current state.
Chapter 281: Guiluan (I)
Chapter 281: Guiluan (I)
Liu Changdie was feeling quite pleased with himself as the grand formation was nearlyplete. He could already sense the subtle connections of spiritual energy forming within the formation and thought to himself, This formation is almost ready. With the help of the Li Family, once I master the Spirit Eye Perception, I can head north. The Xu State is in chaos right now, and going there might provide me with some opportunities.
As he was contemting, he saw someonend nearby with a golden bow on their back and a jade slip in his hand. The man said with a smile, "Brother Changdie, I have brought you the Spirit Eye Perception!"
Liu Changdie was overjoyed and expressed his thanks repeatedly. He stepped forward, but noticed that Li Xuanfeng looked somewhat regretful as he continued exining, "Unfortunately, the ancestor is in seclusion, and I could not find him. We have never had a guest elder in the family before, so I cannot make that decision without consulting him first."
"I see..."
Liu Changdie understood that Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators often secluded themselves for years, but he could not understand why Li Xuanfeng still brought the Spirit Eye Perception to him.
Feeling both disappointed and puzzled, he looked at the jade slip and asked, "And this is..."
"Oh," Li Xuanfeng seemed to realize something and raised his head, saying, "No one knows when the ancestor will emerge from his seclusion. I can''t keep you waiting until then, so I brought you the Spirit Eye Perception jade slip to practice for now."
"How could I possibly ept this?!" Liu Changdie eximed, feeling both touched and uneasy.
However, before he could refuse, Li Xuanfeng grabbed his hand and ced the jade slip in it forcefully.
"Brother Changdie, you have worked tirelessly on our formation. How could I possibly dy giving this to you? This matter is settled, go ahead and practice!" he said with a heartyugh.
Li Xuanfeng''s words were firm, and he had, after all, handed over the jade slip forcefully. Liu Changdie, naturally cautious, instinctively wanted to withdraw but found that Li Xuanfeng''s grip was like an iron vise. He could not pull away until Li Xuanfeng finally released his hand.
Liu Changdie was greatly shocked by his strength, thinking to himself, I used my mana unconsciously, yet I couldn''t break free. It is no wonder that in my previous life, everyone in the city feared Li Xuanfeng. His strength is truly terrifying! In my previous life, Li Yuanjiao once said, ''Li Xuanfeng likes to kill demons with arrows. One demon general thought he couldn''t fight in closebat and switched to attack him at close range, but Li Xuanfeng had merelyughed and grabbed it with his bare hands, killing it with two strikes!'' I guess Li Yuanjiao wasn''t exaggerating!
Li Xuanfeng noticed Liu Changdie''s fear and quickly apologized, though there was a grin on his face.
"I have had great strength since childhood, and it seems I have startled you. My apologies!"
Li Xuanfeng''s extraordinary strength was due to talisman qi, but of course, he was not going to say that to Liu Changdie. Seeing Liu Changdie repeatedly say "It is fine," Li Xuanfeng added, "Once you have taken the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, you can start practicing."
"Of course... Thank you," Liu Changdie said gratefully.
After Liu Changdie had taken the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, Li Xuanfeng handed over the jade slip and continued, "This perception technique is difficult to master. No one in our family has seeded in practicing it so far, so please do read the content carefully."
Liu Changdie, full of joy, epted the jade slip eagerly.
"No problem... no problem at all!"
Li Xuanfeng had also practiced this perception technique. Lacking a crucial heavenly material called Pure Essence Spirit Water made it exceedingly difficult to master. Seeing Liu Changdie''s confident demeanor, his thoughts stirred, thinking to himself, The ancestor said that this man is shrouded in mystery and harbors many secrets... Perhaps he also knows the source of the Pure Essence Spirit Water. I must remain vignt!
He cupped his fist and said, "Brother Changdie, if you discover any insights during your practice of this perception technique, please share them with my family. You will be generously rewarded!"
"Of course! Of course!" Liu Changdie agreed readily. Li Xuanfeng wasn''t sure if he had thoroughly examined the content but could only cup his fist in return and left on the wind.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Within a month, the grand formation on Mount Huaqian waspleted. Liu Changdie managed to restore seventy percent of the original power of the Earth-Locked Huaqian Formation set up by Wan Huaqian. It was more than enough to fend offte-stage Qi Cultivators. It also drew power from the spirit spring within the Mount Huaqian cave dwelling which circted endlessly. This made it particrly effective against groups of low-level Qi Cultivators and could even hold off a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator for the duration it took to burn a stick of incense. Li Xuanfeng was very pleased with this.
With this matter settled, Liu Changdie eagerly went to Mount Huazhong to modify the formation te. Li Yuanjiao saw off the formation master with mixed feelings of both amusement and relief.
"That man is overly enthusiastic, always dragging me into long conversations! Although he means well, it makes me very uneasy..." Li Yuanjiaoined. He was d in ck and was seated casually on the high seat, sipping spirit wine and exhaling warm air.
Hearing this, Li Qinghong, who was smiling brightly, blinked yfully. Her voice, light and pleasant, teased, "I rarely visit Mount Huaqian, and Brother Jiao has me listen toints. Maybe this person isn''t the one making you uneasy. Now that I think about it, your big day is drawing near. It''s quite amusing to see you so restless!"
Li Yuanjiao gave an embarrassed smile, realizing how easily Li Qinghong had seen through him. He stammered, "I wonder what kind of woman she is..."
Li Qinghong giggled, holding her wine cup to her red lips but not drinking. She mimicked a middle-aged man''s voice, sounding gruff and hearty as she said, "In that case, we do have a direct concubine-born daughter named Xiao Guiluan¡ªwho is excellent in character and appearance. She is surely a perfect match for Yuanjiao!"
Li Yuanjiao red at her and, seeing herughing to herself, said irritably, "You seem to enjoy this! Do you know how tormented I feel?!"
Li Qinghong''s expression turned serious but she was still smiling softly. "I heard that Xiao Guiluan has already reached the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... She is definitely very talented. Since they say her character and appearance are exceptional, what is there to worry about? You can''t possibly ask for more when your wife has already met all these three criteria!"
Li Yuanjiao sighed deeply and replied, "No cultivator could possibly look bad. Besides, even the most beautiful face will wither after a century. To me, appearance is the least valuable attribute¡ªit''s hardly worth mentioning."
Li Yuanjiao drank some wine and began to speak his mind. He raised one finger and continued, "As for talent, being too exceptional or toocking creates divisions among people... Being evenly matched is the best."
Lowering his finger, Li Yuanjiao''s face showed a trace of concern as he said, "What worries me most is character. Senior Xiao Yuansi is an honest person, but when he says someone has excellent character, who knows what that truly means..."
Li Qinghong nodded thoughtfully and asked carefully, "Are you worried that Xiao Guiluan might be too kind? Or perhaps too weak?"
Li Yuanjiao sneered and replied, "Whether kind or ruthless, if she cannot read people''s expressions, understand situations, or tolerate human nature... possessing any one of these ws could bring disaster."
Chapter 282: Guiluan (II)
Chapter 282: Guiluan (II)
Li Qinghong fell silent for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Brother, you have a point... but I still have one more question," she said solemnly.
Seeing Li Yuanjiao raise his eyebrows, Li Qinghong''s expression turned sorrowful as she said softly, "But our eldest brother... he excelled in every way, yet he met such a tragic end..."
Li Yuanjiao closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, answering, "Excelling in everything only means you have barely managed to get on the chessboard to be a pawn in this great contest¡ªa ything for the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators."
Li Qinghong was momentarily speechless. She harbored dreams of pursuing immortality and longevity, but despised the behavior of the Purple Mansion Realm and Golden Core Realm cultivators. She remained silent, watching Li Yuanjiao drink his wine before heughed and said, "Regardless, the future depends on us."
Li Qinghong nodded and smiled, "Alright, let me tell you, brother... I am about to condense the final chakra."
Li Yuanjiao froze, then mmed his cup down heavily and said angrily, "Damn it! Why are you still drinking here...? Go back to your cultivation!"
Li Qinghongughed lightly before excusing herself and then left the courtyard. As she walked a few steps in the clear breeze, seeing the bustling scene at the foot of the mountain, she gripped her spear tightly and thought, Among all my siblings, I''m the most talented. In the future, I must be the shield for our family. I cannot afford to ck even one bit!
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The Xiao Family was now a Purple Mansion Immortal n. The Azure Pond Sect had gifted them nearly half of Lixia Prefecture, and the northern Golden Tang Gate had ceded six towns to them.
Although the territory was not small, the poption had significantly decreased due to the Azure Pond Sect''s past practices of overexploitation. However, it was still sufficient to support the mundane members of the Xiao Family.
The terrain of Mount Xianyou was gentle and its spiritual energy was abundant. Since Xiao Chuting''s breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Realm, the highest peak, Xianyou Peak, had been designated for his exclusive use.
The Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had moved to other peaks, yet the spiritual energy of Mount Xianyou remained ample, easily sustaining the cultivators of this region.
Amidst the undting mountains, a low peak was illuminated by the moonlight, casting a bright glow over the courtyard. The surroundings were intricately decorated with glimmering lights, giving an air of opulence.
In the main courtyard sat a young woman in green. She was without makeup, her brows like willow leaves and her phoenix eyes sparkling with life. Her slender, white hand held an ink brush, gently sketching on the cloth in front of her. In a soft voice, she asked, "All the gifts for my husband''s family are prepared... Is there any portion left from the family''s allocation?"
A servant nearby bowed and replied, "Aside from the nine chests of dowry, there are just over ten Spirit Stones left, mydy. I am not sure if that will be enough."
The young woman in green, Xiao Guiluan, brushed her hair back and counted, "The Li Family heavily utilizes external ns... Tian, Liu, Ren, Xu, Chen, and even Madam Dou¡ªthese minor ns all need to be properly attended to. Just over ten Spirit Stones are indeed insufficient..."
The dowry provided by the Xiao Family was actually quite generous, but after all the necessary preparations for the wedding, there wasn''t much remaining. Xiao Gun furrowed her delicate eyebrows as she asked gently, "Have you asked my father about this? Is he really unwilling to provide more?"
The servant hesitated before nodding, then shook her head with a hint of frustration. She lowered her voice as she answered, "No, mydy. There have been several asions now where the people sent to the foot of the mountain could not even get past the front gate."
"I guess I can''t me him..." Xiao Guiluan mumbled softly. After all, she was about to be married to the west. She simply shook her head quietly and said, "A married daughter is like spilled water; he is naturally displeased."
"But... the Li Family is, after all, a prestigious n... It is not a poor match at all! The old master''s action is rather harsh," the servant said, visibly upset.
Xiao Guiluan smiled gently, exining, "If I followed his wishes obediently and brought in a cultivator as a live-in son-inw, it would add significant support to him. Now that I am marrying into another family, I might be flourishing, but considering how he has no affection for me, he would only feel that he is losing out greatly and is naturally unhappy."
The servant quickly fell silent, not daring to speak further. Xiao Guiluan ced her brush down and removed a jade bracelet from her wrist that glimmered with mana light.
She instructed, "This jade bracelet, which I have used since condensing my Profound Scenery Chakra, helps to calm the mind and absorb spiritual energy. It is a fine treasure. Take it down the mountain, find someone trustworthy to pawn it, and we can make up for the shortfall in Spirit Stones."
The servant was visibly uneasy and responded, "Mydy... is this really necessary? It is just a few minor ns, they should be the ones ttering you instead of the other way round..."
cing the jade bracelet into the servant''s hand, Xiao Guiluan exined, "The Li Family has four branches, but there is only one family head. This requires long-term nning. You need not doubt my decision."
She paused for a moment after speaking and nced at the cloth on the table, then added, "Make sure not to let anyone in the family know about this! The dowry that the family provides should indeed include a portion from Father, hence this shortfall. If he is unwilling to contribute, then so be it. But if the family finds out, he will be med, and it will stir up unnecessary trouble."
She squeezed the servant''s hand and whispered, "The opportunity to marry into a prestigious n is rare. We are at a critical juncture now, so let us avoid any incidents that could embarrass me."
Although Xiao Guiluan was of legitimate descent, she was born of a concubine. If she were to marry an external cultivator chosen by the family, the best she could hope for would be a Qi Cultivator, who would most likely be over fifty years old. At only seventeen or eighteen, Xiao Guiluan found that prospect unbearable.
She had seen the portrait of Li Yuanjiao. He was quite handsome, young, and at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, with the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. Moreover, marrying into the Li Family as a daughter of the Xiao Family meant that she would be treated with utmost respect. The differences were stark, and Xiao Guiluan cherished this opportunity.
"Yes..." the servant responded softly.
Xiao Guiluan nodded, picking up the brush to record this amount of Spirit Stones as her father''s contribution. Just then, there was a light knock on the door of the courtyard. Xiao Guiluan frowned and called out, "Who is it?"
"A servant of Master Xiao Jiuqing, delivering gifts from Mount Yu!" came the answer from beyond the door.
"Xiao Jiuqing..." Xiao Guiluan signaled to the servant, who quickly went to open the door.
A young servant kneeled outside the courtyard, not daring to enter, holding up a small embroidered pouch.
"A gift for the youngdy!"
The servant took it and handed it over to Xiao Guiluan. She weighed the small pouch and estimated it to contain about five or six Spirit Stones to her delight. She responded, "Tell your master that I appreciate the generous gift. His contribution is very much appreciated!"
The young servant repeatedly acknowledged her, not daring to look up at Xiao Guiluan, and then retreated. The servant girl closed the door and asked curiously, "Mydy, we have never had any dealings with Xiao Jiuqing from Mount Yu... Why is he being so kind?"
Xiao Guiluan covered her mouth with a smile and drew a circle on the cloth, answering, "He is trying to curry favor! He sees potential in the Li Family... or specifically, in Li Yuanjiao."
Despite her intelligence and wit, Xiao Guiluan was ultimately just a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl. Seeing her future husband being so highly regarded brought her a bit of joy.
She picked up the brush again and wrote the letter Jiao on the cloth, murmuring, "Whether he is gentle or fierce, let us hope he is not a fool."
Chapter 283: The Wolf Demon
Chapter 283: The Wolf Demon
"A newly ascended Foundation Establishment Realm wolf demon at Mount Bianyan on the border of Xu State..." Li Xuanxuan muttered as he read the small note in his hand, feeling somewhat uneasy. He did not know the strength of this wolf demon, and if it had any backing.
The five sects of Xu State were constantly at war with each other,pounded by rampant devil cultivators and roaming monks, creating utter chaos. These sects could only protect a few towns under their respective mountain gates while demons ran amok elsewhere.
This wolf demon upied the remote Mount Bianyan in Xu State, proiming itself the Bianyan Demon General and living quite happily.
After all, being a Foundation Establishment Realm demon and cultivating alone in the mountains, no one bothered it most of the time. Only asionally did ite out to cause some trouble and devour a few cultivators, which then made its existence known.
Li Xuanling pondered for a moment and clicked his tongue. He hesitated, saying, "We need to ask that fox about the affairs among these demons... Let us first send this up for Second Uncle to see."
One of the subordinates stepped forward and took the note before heading up the mountain. Li Xuanxuan then bowed his head and began drawing talismans.
The Yu Family was currently in chaos, and the Li Family had just annexed two mountains, which required him to oversee the allocation of manpower and distribution of spirit fields. Li Xuanxuan himself was not of exceptional talent, so he often stayed at the foot of the mountain drawing talismans and managing affairs.
"The wedding of Jiao''er is also within these months... Doing it well is no easy task."
People from the Xiao Family had alreadye several times, led by Xiao Jiuqing. He was a very articte man, handling many matters thoroughly and efficiently, saving Li Xuanxuan quite a bit of effort.
Looking at the congrattory message handed over to him, Li Xuanxuan couldn''t help but praise, "This man is eloquent and capable. If our family had someone like him, it would save us a lot of trouble!"
As soon as he said this, Li Xuanxuan couldn''t help but think of Li Yuanxiu, feeling a pang of sorrow as he thought to himself, We should have arranged a marriage for that boy earlier...
"Family Head."
Just as Li Xuanxuan was lost in his thoughts, Li Xiewen hurried up to him, interrupting his mind. "Master Liu Changdie has already repaired the formation. He bade farewell to the Second Master and has left northward on the wind," he reported respectfully.
"Oh, I see. How is the selection of the Jade Court Guards?" Li Xuanxuan responded.
"Three are of the Li Family, one is of Chen, and one is of Xu. All are close and trusted," Li Xiewen answered readily.
Li Xuanxuan nodded and replied, "Make sure to select carefully. The ancestor will meet them personally in a few days."
Watching Li Xiewen nod and leave, Li Xuanxuan put down his brush and suddenly thought of Li Xuanfeng, feeling quite troubled. Cultivators who advanced in their cultivation too quickly often resulted in fewer descendants. Li Xuanfeng had no children and now shunned women. This was concerning to Li Xuanxuan.
"Although Donghe was married into our family, Jingtian only bore one daughter. Qingxiao might marry into the Xiao Family in the future. Given Xuanfeng''s current state, does that mean he will be left without descendants?" Li Xuanxuan wondered out loud as he sighed softly.
Though he was the eldest among their generation, he was not dominant and knew he could not persuade Li Xuanfeng. He could only think of finding a day to discuss with Li Tongya about this matter.
The brush in his hand lightly moved across the paper, and the talisman under the tip of the brush shone brightly before finally converging into a brilliant light, flowing onto the smooth talisman paper. Li Xuanxuan chuckled softly.
"Done!"
This Qi Cultivation Realm talisman was a Shield Essence Talisman. The Li Family possessed two talisman manuals¡ªSpiritual Talisman Method and Autumn Talisman Notes. The former, brought back by Li Chejing, included three Qi Cultivation Realm talisman techniques, one of which Li Xuanxuan had just drawn. Thetter also primarily involved Qi Cultivation Realm talismans but were more difficult, and Li Xuanxuan had yet to master them.
"Drawing one or two out of ten talismans sessfully is not bad at all," Li Xuanxuan said as he put away the talisman. Though his talent in the art of talisman was the highest in the Li Family, it was not particrly outstanding.
Being able to draw Qi Cultivation Realm talismans relied solely on his hard work. Feeling satisfied, he smiled and said, "With these talismans, the younger generation in the family will have better protection."
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Li Tongya was the only remaining cultivator on Mount Lijing now. Li Yuanjiao and Li Xuanfeng had been sent to Mount Huaqian, while Li Qinghong and her father, Li Xuanling, had gone to Mount Huazhong. Several external Qi Cultivators were busy below, ying demons and overseeing spirit fields so that the main family members had time to cultivate.
Thebined spiritual qi of Meiche Peak and Lijing Peak finally allowed Li Tongya to freely cultivate. The spiritual energy of Mount Lijing was not dense, and Li Tongya, having received the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman, needed to breathe and circte qi like a whale. This made his cultivation more challenging than that of ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
Li Tongya sat beside a bed, carefully reading a purple jade slip, while Liu Rouxuan, with her head full of white hair, slept soundly beside him.
Li Tongya was now sixty-three years old, and Liu Rouxuan was only a few years younger than him. However, repeated failed breakthroughs had shortened her lifespan, leaving her vitality low. The Li Family could not provide any life-extending spirit items and could only watch as she neared her death.
Liu Rouxuan had little time left and, with her damaged essence, slept more often than she was awake. Thus, Li Tongya no longer secluded himself for cultivation and instead stayed by her bed reading, apanying her in her final days.
"Ancestor." Li Xiewen tiptoed to Li Tongya''s side, offering a small note.
Li Tongya took it and nced at it, then nodded, putting it away. He covered the bed curtains before stepping out of the courtyard, saying in a low voice, "I understand."
With that, he rode the wind and left the formation. The speed of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was astounding; in just a moment, he had already crossed the dense forest below andnded under a massive white banyan tree.
It was silent all around, with not even a fox''s fur in sight. However, Li Tongya was not in a hurry. He sat cross-legged under the tree, meditating. Soon, a fiery red figure flew hurriedly from the horizon andnded in front of Li Tongya.
"You have finallye to find me." The fox looked dejected, letting out a disheartened cry.
"You have caused quite a stir on theke! We all know about it. Two more feeding grounds are gone, making the demons of the northern foothills quite unhappy..." the fox grumbled.
"What do you mean by that?" Li Tongya asked, puzzled.
The fox exined, "Those demons eat people. As long as they change form and enter the city quietly, cast a few spells, eat a few people, and leave immediately, no cultivators ever interfere. As long as they do not provoke the prominent families, eating a fewmoners is easy."
The fox sat on the ground, spreading its paws expressively, and continued, "Since your Li Family rose to prominence, things have changed... Even going to a feeding ground to eat a fewmoners is met with relentless pursuit. All sorts of tracking and illusion-breaking spells are used, and any careless demon staying in the city for a few days gets caught and killed. The more cautious ones eat and run, but even minor demons in the Embryonic Breathing Realm are pursued into the mountains by Qi Cultivators. It is utterly unreasonable!"
Li Tongya was left speechless. The fox continued its ramble, saying, "With your Li Family''s rise, human flesh and blood have be increasingly precious in the northern foothills. Many demons are unwilling to take risks and have turned to eating other demons instead. With dogs biting dogs and wolves biting wolves, life has been chaotic. In the past six months, as your Li Family expanded again, these demons have lost two more feeding grounds, naturally causing dissatisfaction."
Li Tongya could only shake his head. The fox added, "I heard this from a pig demon in the demon den that it wanted to teach your family a lesson. I tried to dissuade it, but that stupid pig demon threw me out of the den..."
"I''m sorry to hear that, my friend," Li Tongya said, but he could not help butugh. Nevertheless, the mention of the pig demon puzzled him. He asked, "The demon den and the Azure Pond Sect are from different factions. What can that pig demon possibly do? Lead demon soldiers to attack us, or use some cunning scheme to harm my family?"
Chapter 284: News from Xu State
Chapter 284: News from Xu State
The fox burst outughing, clutching its belly and rolling on the ground as it answered, "He is just a pig-brained fool. What kind of scheme could hee up with?! He feasted with a bunch of demons for three days, cursing loudly, then got drunk and passed out. When he woke up, he continued cursing, and after they had eaten everything in the den, they all went back to their ownirs."
Li Tongya was momentarily stunned, unsure of whether tough. He chuckled a couple of times, then saw the fox straighten up and say earnestly, "Your family is too righteous and too close to themon people. It always confuses me. They are justmoners... What harm is there if these demons eat a few of them? Themon people are raised to be used, aren''t they? If you do not use them, they will keep multiplying, eventually running out ofnd and livelihood, and then they will curse and hate you...
"I have lived by the shore for hundreds of years and have seen many things. Newly risen families treat themoners well when they are weak. But once they reach the Qi Cultivation or Foundation Establishment Realm, they no longer care about the lives of these people. Your family, however, has never changed... You, of all people, should understand this isn''t how it should be."
The fox rambled on, only to look up and see Li Tongya''s face darken with a hint of anger. The fox fell silent, somewhat fearful, and shook its head hesitantly. It wanted to apologize, yet felt it shouldn''t, so it merely watched him in silence.
Li Tongya sighed, suppressing his difort, and said wearily, "You speak too much, my friend. My youngest brother was made into someone else''s food, and Ie from a farming background, so I cannot listen to this. Our family raisesmoners for our own purposes. You do not need to worry about it."
The white banyan fox, being a demon, valued Li Tongya as a close friend, but ultimately cared only for him. Seeing Li Tongya unmoved by its advice, the fox flicked its tail and said, "That stupid pig will probablye looking for you to ask about this matter... Deal with it yourself!"
Li Tongya nodded and thanked the fox. Allowing the demons to prey on the townspeople was out of the question, and Li Tongya already despised the actions of the Purple Mansion Realm and Golden Core Realm cultivators above him. If he let the townsfolk be devoured, how would he be any different from those cultivators?
Moreover, the formation of talisman qi required the support of incense and offerings¡ªthe greater the number of people under his rule, the better. ording to the standards of the Sacrificial Ritual Method, Li Tongya already felt that the talisman pills condensed from the incense provided by his people were too little, so he could not afford to lose them.
Seeing Li Tongya''s firm stance, the fox could only nod. Li Tongya then asked, "Do you know about the situation of the demons in Xu State?"
"Xu State..." A sh of fear crossed the fox''s eyes, and it said in a low voice, "How could I not know! The expansion of Buddhism to the south terrifies us demons more than you cultivators!"
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, and the fox, flicking its tail, continued, "Buddhism has these spells and techniques they call destinies or something. At first sight, they''ll want to capture you! Once captured, they''ll force you to be a vegetarian, and if that isn''t enough, they make you theirckey, calling you a spirit beast... Who wouldn''t be terrified?!"
The fox shook its head and stood up, saying, "Do not be fooled just because we demons in Jiangnan seem to be doing well¡ªwe gain spiritual wisdom and refine our bones, and we can call the immortal cultivators our brothers and friends, establishing the sixteen demon dens to stand alongside the three sects and seven gates. Purple Mansion Realm demon cultivators can roam the world and make friends everywhere..."
The fox paused and continued, "But in the north, there''s no ce for demons. As demons, we either die or be ves to humans... There is no third path. We are all subjected to spells, made into spirit beasts, and spend our lives being trampled underfoot! If a demon dares to fly, regardless of its intentions, they will pull it down to indoctrinate it!"
Li Tongya was greatly enlightened by these words and,ing to a sudden realization, responded, "If that is the case, it means the demons in Xu State currently have no backing or protection. My family wants to capture a demon from Xu State, and we feared the risk of offending someone."
The foxughed heartily, waving its paws repeatedly. "Nowadays, any demon with some background or knowledge has fled Xu State. Only the ignorant and naive ones remain in that ce. Buddhism has already swallowed most of Xu State... Who would want to stay there?" The fox sneered.
"I see," Li Tongya now had a n in mind, and felt relieved that the matter of the sacrificial demon had been sorted. His mood improved considerably, and he could not help but ask another question, "Why have no powerful forces stepped forward to stop Buddhism''s southward advance? It is a scramble between different teachings, after all."
The fox shook its head and answered, "How would I know about you humans? Probably because you lost."
Li Tongya fell silent. His family had not even ventured beyond Moongaze Lake
and had no right to think about such grand matters. He took out some Spirit Paddies as a token of gratitude.
The fox, delighted, epted therge bag and sat down to eat right away. Li Tongya then took his leave and rode the wind back north.
The fox, sitting there for a while, eventually hummed and climbed up. It dug out two spirit ores from a tree hole, moistened them with saliva, and mixed them with the Spirit Paddies to eat.
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Li Tongyanded hastily on Mount Lijing, his heart troubled, thinking to himself, This trip must remain unknown to the Yu Family. Without a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator currently on guard, who knows what mischief Yu Mugao might cause? A quick trip with a swift return would minimize such danger.
That Foundation Establishment Realm wolf demon was able to conquer a mountain, so its strength must be considerable. I am confident I can kill this demon, but capturing it alive by myself... I''m not sure if that''s possible...
Li Tongya pondered for a while. The idea of capturing a demon alive was indeed strange, and he could not ask for the help of another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. After some thought, he decided, "Perhaps I should ask for the help of the mirror to suppress the demon..."
He then stepped through the central courtyard into the backyard. A white protective barrier appeared. Li Tongya performed a hand seal, and a small passageway, just enough for one person, opened up in the barrier.
This internal formation was linked to the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation on Mount Lijing and could only be unlocked with a secret method known to only a few within the Li family.
Li Tongya stepped into the backyard where the stone bs were covered in moss, and the autumn wind had scattered fallen leaves all over the ground.
With a sweep of his sleeve, the leaves were piled up neatly. Li Tongya took a few steps forward and entered the ancestral hall. After offering more incense, he then entered the secret chamber.
There, on a stone tform glowing with mana light,y a small, palm-sized bluish-gray mirror that was floating quietly. Soft white moonlight streamed down, filling the stone chamber with cloud-like mist, making it look like a celestial realm.
Li Tongya waved his hand gently, lighting up several mana-powered candles in the chamber. He kneeled and bowed deeply, then stood up. After organizing his thoughts, he respectfully addressed the mirror with a slightlyplex expression.
"Li Tongya, the descendant of the Li Family, humbly requests the mirror to exterminate demons and eliminate evil, in return for a blood offering..."
Chapter 285: Requesting Protection
Chapter 285: Requesting Protection
In the world within the mirror, gray and white mist floated between heaven and earth. Below, the moon-white buildings were mostly repaired, with pavilions, bridges, high tforms, and pces stretching endlessly. The rising moonlight from them created a rather ethereal scenery.
Lu Jiangxian leaned on a stone table, dozing off against its white jade-like edge. The jade pot in his hand shook slightly as a steady voice reached his ear.
"Li Tongya, the descendant of the Li Family, humbly requests the mirror to exterminate demons and eliminate evil, in return for a blood offering..."
Lu Jiangxian was startled awake. He stretched his body before straightening himself up. His divine sense emerged from the mirror''s surface. Before him stood a man in gray, standing respectfully.
"Li Tongya..."
Having lingered in the Li Residence for so many years, Lu Jiangxian had watched on as the four brothers dwindled to just this one. Even though he had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, Li Tongya still respectfully recited the prayer while bowing below the tform, causing Lu Jiangxian to fall silent.
Of the four Li brothers, Li Tongya is the most cautious and suspicious. I have been with the Li Family for decades... There''s no way he never harbored any suspicions! Lu Jiangxian thought quietly to himself.
Lu Jiangxian knew that the help he had provided during the Li Family''s rise was full of loopholes. Initially, none of the family members were familiar with the path of immortal cultivation. Even if they had their suspicions, they kept their doubts to themselves.
Now, after half a century of mingling in the cultivation world, Li Tongya had seen plenty. Even Li Mutian, a mortal man, had suspicions about the mirror in his final years. Lu Jiangxian simply could not believe that a man like Li Tongya would have no doubts at all.
"He''s already a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, yet he treats the mirror like a deity rather than a dharma artifact... The implications are obvious. Even those actions that seemed too deliberate back then have been beautified when Li Tongya recounted them to the younger generations. It''s as if he''s deliberately preserving the current rtionship between the mirror and the family... He''s truly a farsighted one!"
Although Lu Jiangxian was not particrly a deep thinker, his mental age over thirty years of waking and sleeping made him realize he could not outwit these cultivators.
He thought to himself, I have a long lifespan... As long as I stay hidden in this mirror, I fear no disasters. I only wish to nt and harvest talisman seeds, helping out as much as I can. If things go well, that''s great. If not, so be it.
Li Tongya waited below quietly for a quarter of an hour before carefully stepping forward to take the mirror. Lu Jiangxian thought, Going to Xu State should be fine. When Zhi Wei and other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators had passed by back then, they did not even discover my presence. There shouldn''t be any issues.
He then withdrew his light, leaving the object in Li Tongya''s hand appearing as nothing more than an ordinary, worn bronze mirror. Li Tongya studied it for a moment, detecting no traces of spiritual energy or light. With a sigh, he tucked the mirror into his robe and drifted out of the courtyard.
As Lu Jiangxian reflected atop the stone tform earlier, Li Tongya was simrly lost in thought. Ever since Xiangping had found the mirror in the riverbed, the Li Family had risen steadily to prominence.
Recalling the lines from the Reception Method¡ª"When the timees, I will remain true to my oath. With this talisman burned, I express my gratitude to Supreme Yin"¡ªLi Tongya felt uneasy.
The Li Family had benefited so much from the mirror that it made him anxious. He thought to himself, I don''t mind nurturing the mirror after my death. But what must I aplish to stay true to my oath...?
As he pondered, he had reached the foot of the mountain and saw Li Xuanxuan drawing talismans in the courtyard silently. He stepped into the courtyard and called out warmly, "Xuan''er!"
Li Xuanxuan raised his eyebrows and looked up, replying quickly, "Second Uncle, did you find out something from the fox demon?"
"Yes," Li Tongya nodded and replied, "I have a direction already, but we need to send someone to the Xiao Family."
"The Xiao Family?" Li Xuanxuan echoed.
Li Tongya continued, "I am going out to capture the demons, but I cannot leave you all unprotected. Go and ask Senior Xiao Yuansi toe over if he has time."
Li Tongya''s journey to Mount Bianyan was not far, but it would still take him several days. Although the Yu Family was likely tending to their wounds and unaware of Li Tongya''s location¡ªhence eliminating immediate concern¡ªLi Tongya remained vignt. After some deliberation, he decided to involve Xiao Yuansi.
He instructed, "Use Yuanjiao''s wedding as a pretext to invite him here."
Li Tongya paused and exined, "Yuanjiao is adopted by Chejing, making him your Fourth Uncle''s nominal grandson. As long as you exin this to Xiao Yuansi, he will naturally agree toe. This is also an opportunity to ask Xiao Yuansi about the current great turmoil in Xu State."
Li Xuanxuan nodded repeatedly, always trusting his Second Uncle unconditionally. He agreed readily before Li Tongya rode the wind into the sky, then instructed a servant nearby, "Get Donghe toe here."
Chen Donghe was at Mount Huaqian at the time, but he promptly epted the order and headed east.
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Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan chatted in the courtyard for a while before they heard a lightugh. Xiao Yuansi stepped in, smiling at the two as he said, "Congrattions, your esteemed family has imed two more mountains!"
"Greetings, Senior!" Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan responded in unison.
Xiao Yuansi waved his hand, indicating for them to sit, and began, "Fortunately, I was not away or in seclusion; otherwise, you would not have found me so quickly. What is it? Do you need pills refined, or do you need some help with other matters?"
Li Tongya returned the greeting and exined, "Senior, the wedding date is approaching, and I am concerned there might be trouble. I should stay to guard the family, but I have urgent business in Xu State. That''s why I have invited you here to oversee things, and also, I would like to inquire about the situation in Xu State."
Xiao Yuansi waved his hand generously and replied, "Sure, it''s no big deal for me. It''s just a few days of cultivating in a different ce! As for Xu State..."
Xiao Yuansi paused. Noticing that Li Tongya did not mention the reason for his trip, he did not pry further and continued, "I have also consulted the ancestor about Xu State. If you are going there to gain some benefit or for an opportunity, you should make haste and keep your visit brief. In about six months, an immortal will intervene to rectify the situation in Xu State. After that, anyone visiting will be under close scrutiny. It will not only be restrictive but could also easily lead to trouble."
Li Tongya nodded gratefully. Li Xuanxuan could not help but ask, "Is this immortal intervening out of goodwill and because he is unable to bear the chaos?"
"There is no goodwill involved."
Xiao Yuansi shook his head and continued, "They are not stepping in because of the chaos and the people''s suffering... It is because Buddhism is growing steadily. If they lose Xu State today, they will lose Wu State tomorrow. They fear their Dao lineage will be suppressed."
Li Tongya nodded silently and asked in a low voice, "Is it a Golden Core Realm cultivator taking action?"
"I do not know, but the situation has not deteriorated to that extent. There should not be a need for a Golden Core Realm cultivator," Xiao Yuansi replied as he shook his head and took a sip of his tea.
"The ancestor was secretive about it and did not go into detail. Most likely, they will sendte-stage or peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, with Golden Core Realm cultivators overseeing the matter. If Golden Core Realm cultivators were to fight, the entire Xu State and even Wu and Yue States would be affected. Xu State might lose its spiritual energy for six or seven hundred years, with the earth veins destroyed. Even if they win, what use is it? They would be left with devastated, unusablend. Nowadays, it''s rare for Golden Core Realm cultivators to intervene directly," he exined.
Li Tongya, thinking that the difference between Purple Mansion Realm and Foundation Establishment Realm was already significant, did not realize that Golden Core Realm cultivators were in fact this powerful.
Curious for more information, he continued, "If the Golden Core Realm cultivators are so formidable... can they not fight in the sky to avoid damaging the earth veins and disrupting the spiritual energies...?"
Chapter 286: Mount Bianyan
Chapter 286: Mount Bianyan
Xiao Yuansiughed heartily, shaking his head repeatedly as he heard this. "Everyone says that the spiritual energy which connects the heavens and the earth exists in the sky as various spiritual qi, and in the earth as the earth veins and fiery abysses. How could fighting in the sky solve this problem? The spiritual energy is intertwined with the earth veins, and any disturbance would undoubtedly affect the whole system. If you studied the path of formations, you would know that it is not that simple."
Xiao Yuansi paused briefly before continuing, "Years ago, when the three sects and seven gates besieged Li Jiangqun, they fought for three days and nights. Li Jiangqun was merely a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who wielded a sword with unparalleled skill. Despite facing numerous foes, he managed to sever the earth veins and spiritual energy of the northern shores of Moongaze Lake. It took nearly a hundred years for the area to recover... This shows the formidable power of Li Jiangqun. Imagine, then, the impact if the Golden Core Realm cultivators were to get involved¡ªwould it not shake the heavens and the earth?"
Li Tongya nodded in realization and could not help but sigh. "Golden Core Realm... who knows how many people, how many corpses, and how many years it takes to achieve it..."
Xiao Yuansiughed sarcastically, seeming to want to say something, but he swallowed his words and merely replied, "Golden Core Realm is beyond our reach. As for the Dao Embryo Realm above it... it exists only in imagination."
"Dao Embryo...?"
Li Tongya was slightly puzzled. His cultivation method, the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra, mentioned only six realms¡ªEmbryonic Breathing, Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul. There was no mention of the Dao Embryo Realm, so he was naturally confused.
Xiao Yuansi nodded and exined, "It is the realm above the Golden Core. It has been so long since anyone has been able to reach it that the current cultivation world rarely mentions it. Not only in Jiangnan but also in Mobei, Lingbei, and Jizhong... there has been no talk of the Dao Embryo Realm at all. ording to the ancestor, no cultivators has been seen attaining this realm in this world for five hundred years."
Hearing this, Li Tongya thought to himself,
Perhaps the Nascent Soul Realm is the ancient term for Dao Embryo Realm... The Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra must be very old, so the discrepancies in names are understandable.
"Thank you, Senior. That''s very enlightening!" Li Tongya responded respectfully.
Xiao Yuansi waved his hand with a smile, declining Li Tongya''s gratitude. "You''re exaggerating, it''s just some trivial news!"
He then stood up and said, "If you are going to Xu State, you should leave soon. No need to stay and entertain me. I will just stay on this mountain and read alchemy books. Time always flies when one is immersed in those profound mysteries."
Li Tongya thanked Xiao Yuansi again and took his leave, riding the wind. Li Xuanfeng was already waiting in the air with his golden bow, apanied by Li Xuanling. Several external cultivators, such as Shamoli and An Zheyan, were present as well. Li Tongya nced at them and gave them a singlemand.
"Follow me north."
Everyone quickly responded and ascended to ride the wind northward. After a moment of thought, Li Tongya said, "I wonder how many subordinates the demon general at Mount Bianyan has... You all should find a mountain toy low on first. I''ll scout ahead to see how many Qi Cultivation Realm demons are with him. It would be best if we could capture them all in one fell swoop."
Everyone agreed and rode the wind through the mountains for a day. They crossed dark greenkes and dense forests, passing beyond Yue State''s borders and entering Xu State.
The scenery immediately changed, with scattered white bones littering the ground. The roads were overgrown with wild grass, and there were no signs of human inhabitation. asionally, a sh of mana light would appear briefly, only to quickly retreat and make a wide detour upon spotting the group.
The members of the Li Family wanted to find someone to inquire about the situation but found no opportunity to do so, so they continued their flight.
There were many signs of past battles on the ground, with swirling mana light, chilling auras, or multicolored lights across thendscape. asionally, they saw the remnants of white bones and flesh alongside starved wolves and tigers, which was eye-opening to them.
The Li Family did not want trouble, so they avoided ces with strange phenomena. Mount Bianyan was not far off, and soon the terrain rose, and the mountain came into view.
Li Tongya observed carefully along the way, finally finding a small formation in the mountains. He stopped in front of it and said softly, "I am passing by and have some questions. I kindly ask for this formation to be opened."
The formation was merely of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. When Li Tongya unleashed his aura, the person inside was immediately scared out of their wits. The formation melted away like ice and snow instantly, revealing a grand shrine with acquered gold que inscribed with the words¡ªZhenhui Temple.
An old man with a head full of white hair emerged hastily, followed by arge group of young boys and girls. The old man quickly kneeled down, saying respectfully, "A humble cultivator from the mountains greets the exalted immortal!"
Li Tongya noticed the young boys and girls all bore marks of ritualistic refinement on them and were kneeling silently like mute statues. He snorted coldly and remarked sternly, "You seem to be enjoying a good life. What sort of demonic arts have you been practicing?"
The old man shook his head bitterly, pressing his forehead on the ground repeatedly, and replied, "You have misunderstood me, exalted immortal! These children are prepared for the great king of Mount Bianyan... If I do not do this, he will consume even more people! It is merely a measure to bnce the harm; to appease the beast''s appetite..."
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow and replied, "It seems I have indeed misunderstood you. What divine abilities does this king possess, and what kind of demon soldiers does hemand? Do you know?"
The old man lifted his head abruptly, a look of realization on his face. He then stared intently at the group, saying repeatedly, "Thank you... Thank you for believing me... That demon has three Qi Cultivation Realm subordinates, all at the third or fourth heavenlyyer. The stronger ones were either killed by passing cultivators or captured and turned into spirit beasts. These three have just recently grown. The demon itself, at the Foundation Establishment Realm, rarely shows itself, hiding within a natural illusionary formation in the mountains. It sends its subordinates to gather food and has long been a source of trouble... Yet, no one has dealt with it."
"I see. You do not need to worry about this anymore," Li Tongya replied expressionlessly, waving his hand.
The group immediately rode the wind away, leaving the old man staring nkly at the children, unsure of what to do next.
A young cultivator approached joyfully and asked, "Old Master, does that mean we can release them now?"
The old man shook his head and said, "We still need to prepare for this year''s offering... If those people cannot defeat the demon and the wolf demon eats them all, we will suffer without tribute to offer. Besides, these children have already been prepared and are crippled."
The old man picked up one of the vacant-eyed children from the ground, his expression indifferent as he said matter-of-factly, "If the wolf demon dies, we''ll enjoy this batch of offerings ourselves so we won''t waste them."
"Understood!" the young cultivator replied nonchntly as if it was the most normal thing, and turned to leave.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Bianyan was grand and imposing, surrounded by peaks that formed arge formation. It was shrouded in a thick and dense mist that could affect even spiritual senses. The lush greenery below seemed eerie and ominous.
Holding the mirror, Li Tongya could naturally see through the illusions. As soon as he closed his eyes, he sensed the wolf demon''sir, filled with chilling qi and scattered bones. He instructed the Qi Cultivators to hide and proceeded deeper into the mountain alone.
As Li Tongya slowly departed, Li Xuanling exchanged a look with the group and, having thought of an excuse, instructed, "Everyone, observe the battle. If it is evenly matched, do not hold back. It would be ideal if we could capture a few Qi Cultivation Realm demons alive. We have connections in Mount Dali to sell these monsters to a demon den and make a hefty profit, which we will share with you."
Hearing this, everyone immediately nodded in agreement. Chen Donghe, being steady by nature, remained calm, but Shamoli¡ªgreedy by nature anding from the poor regions of Mount Yue¡ªnodded eagerly, his thoughts already wandering into the mountain mist.
Chapter 287: Slaying Demons and Receiving Talismans (I)
Chapter 287: ying Demons and Receiving Talismans (I)
Li Tongyanded in the mountains as low wolf howls echoed through the forest. Clouds and mist shrouded everything inplete darkness. Sweeping his spiritual sense across the cave entrance, he felt a strong wave of demonic and bloody qi.
Resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, he advanced, quickly conjuring a me with his left hand and flicking it into the cave.
The me rose in the thick demonic qi for two breaths before flickering out. Li Tongya gazed at the giant creature in the cave expressionlessly, gripping his sword silently.
"Why must you press me so hard, Fellow Daoist..."
A raspy voice echoed in Li Tongya''s ears. The demon had long sensed Li Tongya''s approach but had relied on therge formation to remain hidden in the cave without making a sound.
The dense fog of Mount Bianyan obscured everything, creating a deste and uninhabited atmosphere that rendered spiritual senses ineffective.
Assuming that a proud Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator would dislike the trouble of a tedious search, the demon retreated to its cave, waiting for Li Tongya to leave the area.
To the demon''s surprise, Li Tongya decided to descend into this area instead. Aware only that Li Tongya possessed some powerful dharma treasure, the demon dared not confront him directly.
The demon''s voice turned harsh as it snarled, "I am a general under a demon king named Sanjun... I advise you to retreat quickly to avoid angering the demon king!"
"A demon king? If you had that kind of backing, you would not have dared to stay in Xu State!" Li Tongya countered, having gained this information from his secret meeting with the banyan fox.
The demon hesitated, realizing Li Tongya was not one to fall for bluffs. "You''re a cultivator of the Purple Mansion and Golden Core Dao, not a demon-taming master. Besides, we demons often have dealings with cultivators... Why must you corner me so?" it asked.
Seeing Li Tongya unmoved, the demon''s voice grew shrill as it pleaded tearfully, "I do not prey on cultivators or cause trouble... I live a solitary life on Mount Bianyan and only consume a few mortals when hungerpels me. It''s the natural order of things! Why must you persecute me so, Exalted Immortal? Both your cultivation along with my demon power and intelligence have been hard-earned; why must we fight to the death?"
The wolf demon had cultivated in Mount Bianyan for many years where the practices from the north and south of Xu State intersected, hence it had learned much from both sides.
"I fled from the north and was fortunate enough to encounter a Maha or Dharma Master. He predicted my destiny, saying that if I cultivated in Mount Bianyan for a hundred years, a man woulde to save me, bringing me great opportunities...! Now, the time is near. Please spare my life, Exalted Immortal..." it continued pleading.
Li Tongya ignored its pleas, silently umting sword qi. The wolf demon, realizing its pleas were futile, finally gave up hope and shot out of the cave like the wind.
A huge gray wolf, the size of a small house, appeared before Li Tongya, radiating intense demonic qi. Its ferocious green eyes burned brightly, and its thick, fluffy fur bristled. The demon spun around a few times frantically, trying to escape.
Li Tongya had anticipated this, drawing his sword instantly to unleash a brilliant sword aura that locked onto the wolf demon and descended forcefully. The wolf demon had no choice but to turn and face him directly.
Its expression was one of both shock and anger as it howled angrily, "Immortal, you are destroying my Dao!"
"...Not just your Dao."
Deep blue-colored serpent dragons appeared behind Li Tongya, which was different from the dark green water of Moongaze Lake. The waters of Mount Bianyan were colder, lending the serpent dragons their vivid deep blue hue.
The two serpent dragons snarled, moving menacingly as Li Tongya bellowed fiercely, "I want your life too!"
The wolf demon red at Li Tongya, gritting its teeth as it remarked, "The Jing Dragon King, huh?"
It then spat a beam of green light which split into nine streams, shattering and dissipating Li Tongya''s sword qi.
The wolf demon''s Dao foundation was the Earth Shaman''s Blessing, and it was powerful as it knew many secret techniques and nurtured a beam of green light in its chest.
When Li Tongya''s sword qi was instantly dissipated, he was forced to summon two serpent dragons for aid. Despite the setback, his sword continued striking the wolf demon relentlessly.
Although the wolf demon was stronger, it had no intention of fighting Li Tongya as it thought to itself, This person doesn''t seem to be a powerful sword immortal. He''s just an ordinary cultivator, and these cultivators always group together. Killing one brings more trouble... I must find a chance to escape. I am just a small forest demon and cannot afford to provoke these immortal sect disciples!
With a long howl, four ck shadows appeared from the forest below like a gust of wind. These were the Qi Cultivation Realm subordinates of the demon, who rushed up the mountain in response to the demon''s call. Unexpectedly, several beams of mana light surrounded them almost immediately, revealing the members of the Li Family who now have them surrounded.
"I knew it! You''vee prepared!"
The demon grew more frightened with its focus still solely on escaping. However, it was prevented from doing so due to Li Tongya''s continuous sword qi.
It realized that while this cultivator was not an overwhelming threat, he was tenacious and difficult to deal with; clearly not someone who could be defeated quickly.
"Please, Exalted Immortal... Spare my life!"
The massive demon continued fighting Li Tongya with its green light, but was anxious and kept begging for mercy. It kept a wary eye on Li Tongya, afraid he might pull out some talisman or treasure to finish it off in one blow.
Li Tongya remained expressionless, his sword qi flowing continuously. He thought to himself, This demon is not easy to deal with. I could use the Qingche Sword or the mirror... but the mirror''s power is too great. If it turns the wolf demon into minced meat in one blow, this trip would be in vain.
Li Tongya''s spiritual sense touched the mirror, faintly feeling the power of the Supreme Yin Profound Light within it. He knew that if he were hit directly by one of the mirror''s beams, he would not survive. Although the wolf demon was stronger, it might not be able to withstand its might either.
The wolf demon made a decisive move, realizing that its situation was unfavorable. It was not sure if there were any other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators among the beams of mana light below.
With a long howl, it fired out another two brilliant beams of green light from its throat, but this time they were mixed with blood which made them stronger than the one before. The two serpent dragons summoned by Li Tongya were dispersed, and two beams of green light flew toward Li Tongya.
"Good!" Li Tongya praised, drifting back as he sheathed his sword. With his left hand, he gripped a tightly wrapped long sword behind him, unsheathing a cun of the green and white de.
Buzz...
The swords in the hands of Li Xuanling and the others below vibrated uncontrobly, and the rusted sword fragments among the corpses in the mountains shook.
The wolf demon, terrified, gathered its demonic power and quickly erected a shield as it shrank back in silence.
"This cultivator indeed has some treasure!" it muttered softly and fearfully.
With the mere draw of the Qingche Sword, Li Tongya had managed to halt the two beams of green light. The sword arc from the Celestial Moon sh shone brightly, shing with a loud ng, knocking the beams askew and back to the ground where they dissipated into green sparks.
"Awoo...!"
The wolf demon''s green light, a power it nurtured daily, was far superior to the two serpent dragons Li Tongya summoned with his Boundless Ocean. The broken spell caused the demon to spit out blood, staining the ground a bright crimson. Its demonic qi fluctuated wildly, clearly indicating severe injury.
Li Tongya twirled his sword, not giving the wolf demon a chance to catch its breath. The sword''s glow split into three beams of white light this time.
"Threefold Moonlight!"
Chapter 288: Slaying Demons and Receiving Talismans (II)
Chapter 288: ying Demons and Receiving Talismans (II)
The Qingche Sword still contained a sword intent that had been nurtured by Li Chejing. Li Tongya didn''t need to use a cow cleaver to kill a chicken; he only needed to use the sword to execute his sword technique. The Celestial Moon Sword Intent was fleeting but grand, making the demon feel like it was indeed facing a formidable foe.
The three beams of moonlight circled the wolf demon which were followed by Li Tongya''s sword qi, forcing the demon to retreat step by step. The sword qi made its fur stand on end, and amidst the relentless assault, the demon repeatedly begged for mercy.
In a duel, the role of a Foundation Establishment Realm artifact was significant, especially an immortal sword that seemed to have gained sentience.
The wolf demon unleashed several spells, trying to ride the wind with its demonic qi, but the Qingche Sword struck it down each time, gradually leading it toplete despair.
Li Tongya, with his abundant mana, used the Qingche Sword to disperse the wolf demon''s spells and suppress it. The demon, now exhausted and out of power, growled dangerously, "Why do you insist on destroying my Dao and taking my life today, fellow Daoist? I just cannot understand why I must suffer such a deadly fate!"
Its voice was no longer pleading, but instead was now dripping with hatred.
Li Tongya merely waved his hand in response. The Qingche Sword suppressed the exhausted wolf demon, who could no longer resist. The sharp de hovered over its brow.
Li Tongya smiled and said, "You want to eat humans, so I will eat you. It is as simple as that."
With that, he struck the wolf demon with his palm, sealing its Dao foundation, then proceeding to seal its Qihai Acupoint and Shenyang Mansion as well. Just to be safe, he took out a few talismans and pped them on the demon before dragging its massive body down the mountain.
Once out of the misty mountain, radiant sunlight flooded the surroundings, casting the scenery in a bright and cheerful light. Li Tongyanded at the foot of the mountain where several small demons were tightly bound¡ªa pair of early Qi Cultivation Realm wolf demons, an old mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm wolf, and a peak Qi Cultivation Realm bear demon.
The members of the Li Family were in good condition. Li Xuanfeng engaged the bear demon inbat while the others handled the three smaller demons, eventually subduing the bear together.
All of them were seasoned in demon extermination, except for Shamoli, who, in his eagerness, sustained a heavy blow that left him somewhat dispirited. Fortunately, the rest of the group seemed unscathed.
Seeing Li Tongya descend with the wolf demon in tow, everyone instantly felt relieved. Li Xuanling said, "Brother Feng was about to go up the mountain to find you, but we stopped him."
Li Tongya nodded. With the presence of the external cultivators, he did not say much and only gave a simple instruction to the group.
"Let us return home."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Back at home, Li Xuanxuan had already made the necessary arrangements for the sacrificial ritual. The external cultivators were given Spirit Stones and dismissed. Shamoli returned to Eastern Mount Yue. Since Li Feiruo was pregnant, An Zheyan had paused his cultivation to keep her apanied at the foot of the mountain.
The Li Family had not held a sacrificial ceremony for several years, making this year''s ceremony particrly grand. The altar was divided into two¡ªone at the foot of the mountain, holding a Qi Cultivation Realm demon, and one on the mountain, where the wolf demon and other demons were ced.
With so many eyes watching eagerly, the sacrificial ceremony could be understood as a local custom. Bringing a Qi Cultivation Realm demon to be killed could be seen as a way to intimidate and reassure the people. However, having the ancestor painstakingly capture a Foundation Establishment Realm demon general to ughter on the altar would certainly arouse suspicion.
The atmosphere at the foot of the mountain was lively while the mountain top was much quieter, with only the direct members of the Li Family present. The round altar was polished to a reflective shine, and was engraved with intricate patterns.
The wolf demon, with its six senses now sealed and cultivation suppressed, was immobile, kneeling like a puppet on the tform.
Among their own, there was no need for any disguises. The altar disyed the gleaming bluish-gray mirror prominently, reflecting the moonlight and drawing attention.
"The Li Family of Lijing offers respect along with fine delicacies and wine with unwavering devotion year upon year. We exterminate demons to safeguard the fields, observe the three yuan festivals and six regr festivals, and maintain reverence, ensuring to pay timely respects... Through the smoke of our offerings and the blood of our sacrifice, we call upon the gods, seeking their blessings."
Despite its unwillingness, the wolf demon sumbed easily under the jade knife. The rising blood qi, mingling with the light-colored incense smoke, flowed onto the surface of the mirror.
Lu Jiangxian gently swept his sleeve, condensing the incense and essence qi before him into colorful clusters of light. He picked one up and murmured, "This is the first time it has been so plentiful..."
Almost like harvesting cotton, he lifted a strand of the colorful light, bundled it up, and condensed it into a nk Foundation Establishment Realm talisman.
"Li Yuanjiao... or Li Qinghong..."
Foundation Establishment Realm demons were rare, and those that could be easily captured without any backing were even rarer. This nk talisman would determine the harvest for a long time toe...
"Li Yuanjiao... logically, he should be the future sessor to Li Tongya''s position, suppressing external families. His cultivation talent is quite excellent, only slightly inferior to Li Qinghong''s... Li Qinghong has a strong desire for the Dao, is diligent in cultivation, and has the highestpatibility with talisman seeds since the founding of the Li Family. It truly is a difficult choice..." Lu Jiangxian mumbled as he pinched another wisp from the cloud, extracting a gray talisman at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Gathering the remaining cloud, Lu Jiangxian thought to himself, Let''s use the power of deduction to decide.
Lu Jiangxian, now far more skilled, had mastered many techniques in shamanic spell and talisman arts. He had used most of the power of deduction taken from Liu Changdie, and now drew another strand, using the remaining cloud as a propent. Closing his eyes, he deduced for a moment and received only one word before him.
"Jiao."
Lu Jiangxian shrugged, flicked his finger, and the white talisman floated toward Li Yuanjiao''s forehead. His vision darkened as he saw a jade-colored brush stroke sketch out the words¡ªFlowing Qi Swallowing Spirit.
The bearer of this talisman could absorb qi swiftly,mand clouds, disperse spirit mist, and ascend freely between heaven and earth.
The thin writing in the second line exuded a chilling aura¡ªIce Bones Frosty Flesh.
This talisman qi could also enhance the efficiency of qi absorption, allowing one tomand snow and ice, greatly benefiting the cultivation of frost-rted techniques.
"The Li Family does not have any frost techniques..."
Lu Jiangxian nced at the options, then picked the Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit talisman before sending the gray talisman into Li Qinghong''s Shenyang Mansion.
After a pause, a dark red seal script[1] appeared before his eyes, looking extremely fierce and bearing the words¡ªVast Sky Fierce Sparrow.
The bearer of this talisman could move with exceptional agility, adept in both evasion andbat. Their bravery would be intensified at the sight of blood, enhancing their blood qi... making them formidable in battle and masters of wind maniption.
"Not bad."
Lu Jiangxian flicked his finger once more, embedding the talisman qi into Li Qinghong''s Shenyang Mansion.
A sense of curiosity stirred in his heart as he mused, This talisman qi is indeed peculiar, varying so distinctly in each person... This Vast Sky Fierce Sparrow talisman seems simr to Li Tongya''s Deep Ocean Long Whale talisman. When Li Xiangping received his talisman, the offering was merely an early-stage Qi Cultivation Realm demon, yet he acquired the Evade Death, Prolong Life divine ability. While the quality of the talisman qi is significant, it seems like its recipient matters too...
1. Seal script is a type of Chinese calligraphy adopted as the formal script across all of China during the Qin dynasty. ?
Chapter 289: The Wedding
Chapter 289: The Wedding
Lu Jiangxian had just imparted the two talisman qi, and the auras of Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong surged almost immediately. Both of them were delighted, quickly sitting cross-legged to stabilize their cultivation.
The surrounding members of the Li Family were overjoyed as Li Xuanxuan eximed in surprise, "Two talisman qi!"
"These young ones have really made us proud!" Li Tongya nodded with a smile. The grouppleted the remaining rituals before descending the tform, waiting for the two juniors to fully absorb the talisman qi.
Soon, Li Qinghong was the first to open her eyes. Her lively gaze swept around her surroundings, and seeing that Li Yuanjiao was still meditating beside her, she quietly stepped down from the tform.
She cupped her fist to the elders and said with a smile, "Qinghong has received the Vast Sky Fierce Sparrow talisman. Now, my cultivation has reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and I can begin to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm!"
"Excellent!" Li Xuanling responded with a smile, hugging his daughter tightly. Li Qinghong then exined the various effects of the Vast Sky Fierce Sparrow talisman.
After listening carefully, Li Tongyaughed heartily and said, "This talisman qi is excellent forbat. Our Li Family already has a formidable archer, and now with your spear, we need not fear any battle!"
Everyoneughed and praised her, and only then did Li Yuanjiao slowly open his eyes. He stepped down from the tform and announced joyfully, "I have received a white talisman called Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit."
"A white Foundation Establishment Realm talisman!"
The group had sacrificed a Foundation Establishment Realm demon, so a white talisman should be granted. However, it was not umon for the mirror to consume the offering and grant a talisman pill instead of talisman qi. Hearing this, they were overjoyed.
Li Yuanjiao continued, "My cultivation has reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and I just need a specific spiritual qi of heaven and earth to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. I believe that the talisman qi still has some remaining power that will further enhance my cultivation once I be a Qi Cultivator!"
"This talisman qi is excellent for enhancing cultivation, controlling clouds, summoning rain, and can ease the process of gathering qi..." Li Yuanjiao said as he exined the benefits he had received from the talisman qi.
Li Tongya nodded and instructed, "Once Xiao Guiluan is married into our family and the wedding ceremony ispleted, you should enter seclusion to break through."
"Understood!"
Seeing Li Yuanjiao agree so obediently, Li Tongya nodded and asked somewhat anxiously, "Have you decided which cultivation technique to pursue?"
"I intend to cultivate the River One Qi Technique," Li Yuanjiao answered readily.
"Good... Good!"
Hearing Li Yuanjiao''s answer, Li Tongya felt greatly relieved. He had feared that Li Yuanjiao, like Li Qinghong, would pursue the powerful Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique, potentially risking their lineage.
Seeing that Li Yuanjiao had no such intention, Li Tongya was spared the need for further dissuasion and nodded repeatedly, beaming from ear to ear.
"Excellent... Excellent indeed!" he praised once more.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Xiao Family.
The small peak was adorned in red, creating an exceptionally festive atmosphere. Figures constantly descended from it as the bustling crowd exchanged their congrattions.
Xiao Guiluan''s courtyard wasvishly decorated and was absolutely beautiful. From outside, someone called out, "Congrattions! The Li Family is a sword immortal n... Young Lady is truly fortunate!"
A deep male voice answered, "Thank you, n Uncle!"
Xiao Guiluan immediately recognized it as her elder brother, Xiao Guitu.
She furrowed her brow slightly as she asked, "Is Father really unwilling toe?"
The attendants around her shivered in silence.
Xiao Guiluan sighed softly, her exasperation clear on her face. "He''s beyond redemption!" she murmured in disappointment.
Since childhood, Xiao Guiluan had already been sent to the mountain and received no care or concern from her father, who only wanted her to break through the Qi Cultivation Realm quickly and serve the family.
Xiao Guiluan saw him only as a figurehead in the family. To her dismay, the man was heartless, leaving her to fend for herself. She gave up impressing him and instead demonstrated her intelligence and shrewdness before the elders in the main family.
Fortune had finally smiled upon her, and after many years of no outside marriages from the Xiao Family, Xiao Guiluan was finally chosen as a bride to be married off. Her father, in his foolish rage upon hearing the news, seemed ready to sever ties with his own daughter.
However, Xiao Guiluan felt no anger, only deep sorrow in her heart. Without support from her natal family, her life in the Li Family would be challenging.
Composing herself, Xiao Guiluan quickly adjusted her red dress, its golden edges shimmering in the bright sunlight. She gazed into the bronze mirror, lightly pressing her red lips together and applying some rouge. Her already outstanding appearance became even more striking with this added touch.
"Mydy, there are only very few in the prefecture who can match your beauty!" the servant beside her praised proudly.
Xiao Guiluan simply shook her head gently and said softly, "Stop with the ttery..."
"Sister..."
Xiao Guitu walked slowly into the courtyard. Although he was a legitimate son, he treated his younger siblings well and hade today to see Xiao Guiluan off.
"Thank you, brother!" Xiao Guiluan said as she expressed her gratitude earnestly.
Xiao Guitu understood what she meant by this and shook his head, replying, "Do not worry about the family. The marriage has been personally arranged by a Daoist Master, and so I will be here to support you."
"A Daoist Master arranged this?" Xiao Guiluan repeated, taken aback, and her heart filled with joy. Her mind raced and she felt reassured instantly, saying happily, "Thank you for telling me this, brother!"
As they talked, a boy of about ten years old, dressed in red which was embroidered with gold thread, approached them while holding a white jade disk with a hole in the center.
In a childish voice, he said, "Madam, it is time to depart!"
The jade disk symbolized the joyous union, a tradition in the Lixia region. It required a boy from the bride''s family to carry the jade disk and apany the bridal sedan, personally handing it to the groom. In return, the groom would give gifts and money, or in the case of cultivators, spirit items and dharma artifacts.
The boy, named Xiao Xian, was chosen by Xiao Guiluan herself. He was the eldest son of Xiao Jiuqing, who had provided Spirit Stones for Xiao Guiluan''s dowry. Not wanting to be indebted to Xiao Jiuqing, Xiao Guiluan picked Xiao Xian to ensure the gifts from the Li Family would repay the favor.
"All right," Xiao Guiluan replied with a sweet smile. Knowing that a Daoist Master had arranged the marriage gave her newfound confidence, and her expression brightened. Her phoenix eyes sparkled with hope as she took Xiao Xian''s hand and left the courtyard, only to find someone standing in front of the bridal sedan.
This person exuded a gentle aura, with a series of medicine pouches hanging from his waist as he held a scroll on alchemy in his hand. He nced at Xiao Guiluan''s appearance and smiled, saying, "You look well-dressed. Time to get on the sedan!"
"Greetings, n Uncle!"
"Greetings, Senior!"
Immediately, everyone around them kneeled, bowing deeply.
Xiao Guiluan''s mind went nk for a moment, then filled with joy as she thought to herself, A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator escorting the sedan... such grand honor!
Seeing everyone trembling around him, Xiao Yuansi cocked an eyebrow and shook his head. Having learned from the Li Family that Li Yuanjiao had been secretly adopted by his junior brother, he was even more interested in this marriage. Since he was already at the Li Family''s ce, he had decided toe and escort her himself.
Xiao Guiluan nodded repeatedly, quickly lifting Xiao Xian and settling into the sedan, her heart filled with anticipation and anxiety.
Chapter 290: Receiving the Bride (I)
Chapter 290: Receiving the Bride (I)
Meanwhile on Mount Lijing...
The side courtyard was meticulously cleaned, and Li Jingtian set up a wooden frame to air out the wooden tablets under the clear weather. As she carefully arranged them, a little girl of about seven or eight years old, dressed in a festive red dress with gold patterns, hurried into the inner courtyard. She held a brocade pouch in her hand and asked cheerfully, "Mother! When is Brother Jiao going to pick up the bride?"
Li Jingtian lifted Li Qingxiao into her arms as she looked at the sky. "It''s almost time. Get ready and we''ll go down the mountain together," she replied with a gentle smile.
"Oh..."
Li Qingxiao was already eight years old. Earlier in the year, it was discovered that she possessed a spiritual orifice, much to Li Jingtian''s delight. They quickly had her begin cultivating and many people hade to congratte them. Even Chen Donghe was quite pleased. The couple closed the courtyard and watched Li Qingxiao cultivate for a while, but quickly noticed that something was off.
Given Chen Donghe''s talent and the fact that the Li Family descended from Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, Li Qingxiao''s talent should be rather remarkable. However, after observing her for a while, they found her aptitude to becking.
The Profound Scenery Chakra required the condensation of eighty-one wisps of spiritual qi, but it took Li Qingxiao nearly half a month to condense just a wisp.
At this rate, it would take Li Qingxiao over three years to even have a chance at forming the Profound Scenery Chakra, simr to the descendants of external cultivators from the foot of the mountain.
Moreover, Li Qingxiao was cultivating the Supreme Jade Meridian Nourishment Technique that Li Tongya had brought back from Lingyanzi. It was specifically reserved for their own cultivators who did not receive a talisman seed, which was better than what those external cultivators practiced. Otherwise, it would be even slower.
The couple sat facing each other, pondering for a long time. Looking at the other members of the Yuan and Qing generation, Chen Donghe began to feel guilty. He was convinced that his Chen Family''s inferior lineage had hindered Qingxiao''s progress.
Hearing Li Qingxiao''s acknowledgment, Li Jingtian reminded her, "When the Xiao Family''s boy hands the jade ring to Brother Jiao, give him the brocade pouch and say something nice. It''s just a custom, but remember what you need to do so you don''t embarrass yourself."
Li Qingxiao nodded obediently. Li Jingtian picked up a wooden box beside her and exined, "The journey will be long, so I prepared some pastries for you to eat in the carriage so you will not be hungry."
Li Qingxiao took the wooden box in her hands and blinked her eyes innocently.
"Mother, I heard that I will have to marry into the Xiao Family like sister-inw someday..." she said suddenly.
Li Jingtian paused, her expressionplex and rather strained. She gave a vague and simple response to her daughter.
"It''s still too early to talk about this... There''s still over ten years until that happens, who can say for sure?"
Li Qingxiao nodded with a smile. "If I have to be married into the Xiao Family, you must choose someone who will treat me well, Mother..."
Li Jingtian merely held her daughter''s hand in response, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Go on now... Don''t keep your brother waiting."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The foot of the Li Family''s mountain was bustling with activity. Lanterns and festive decorations were everywhere, creating a spectacle grander than the Lu Family''s wedding years ago.
Red silk was hung all around, and the sound of suona music echoed joyfully along the roads. The mountain and its base brimmed with a festive atmosphere of joyful celebration.
After conquering Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting for over half a year, the Li Family''s territory had nearly doubled. Li Xuanxuan nned to establish seven towns below Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting, adding to the four towns under Lijing and the three under Huaqian, making a total of fourteen towns.
This expansion would bring about a surge of bothnd andbor, providing ample opportunities for the previously crowded townsfolk, and rejuvenating the Li Family.
Simr to the golden era brought on by the conquest of Huaqian, the Li Family''s lower-ranking members once again found opportunities to rise. The seven towns were teeming with ambition and progress.
As long as one was not azy idler, hard work would always yieldnd or a fortune. The people didn''t ask for much; they simply longed for survival. Hence, these opportunities were great luxuries to them.
The stagnation and deadlock caused by the increasing number of Li Family descendants and prominent families had been thrown into oblivion. The wealth and military merits brought by external conquests allowed more talents and prominent families to emerge.
"The wind is rising, and changes are bound toe... Five prominent ns have emerged from the seven towns, and another seven towns have sprung up in the north. Many are striving to make a name for themselves..."
Li Yuanjiao, at the center of it all, adjusted the gold patterns on his red sleeves. As the head of the n Affairs Courtyard, he was well aware of the Li Family''s movements. Adjusting his wedding robes, he smiled contentedly.
"Good times are ahead."
Since Li Tongya had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and the marriage alliance with the Xiao Family was confirmed, defeating the An Family in the north had be inevitable. From the Foundation Establishment Realm ancestor and Qi Cultivators to the prominent families andmon folk, everyone eagerly anticipated this.
With all levels of society benefiting and the Xiao Family personally marrying off their daughter, support and reverence for the Li Family grew. Li Yuanjiao noticed this and felt delighted. The n uncles around him assumed he was happy about the wedding and offered their congrattions, while only his half-brothers exchanged silent smiles.
As the time approached, Li Yuanjiao and his group mounted their horses, following tradition to wee the Xiao Family. Fortunately, the Xiao and Li families were not too far apart, and the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators had remarkable stamina. If the distance had been greater, they would have had to send someone to fly Xiao Guiluan over.
The Guli Road had been renovated twice, with the Xiao Family preparing ry stations and smooth roads along the way. Due to him being at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, Li Yuanjiao did not need to rest, however, many of the Li Family men were ordinary mortals, so they had to take several days to reach Lixia Prefecture.
Xiao Guiluan had descended the mountain and was waiting in the prefecture, sitting in her sedan until word came that the groom had arrived.
The group arrived to receive Xiao Guiluan, waiting at the foot of the mountain. The Xiao Family''s procession finally appeared in the distance. Red flower petals were scattered everywhere. Li Yuanjiao waited patiently, watching as thevish bridal sedan approached.
A boy of about ten, also dressed festively, jumped down, holding a round jade disk as he announced, "The phoenix sings, thriving through five generations with radiant peach blossoms, a perfect union for a thousand years... May your home be prosperous, your union harmonious."
After the boy had finished speaking, Li Yuanjiao thanked him before taking the jade disk. A little girl then emerged from the group behind him.
It was Li Qingxiao.
The child seemed a bit weary from the long carriage ride but remained well-behaved, not crying or fussing at all. She smiled and handed a brocade pouch to Xiao Xian before leading him into the carriage, leaving Xiao Guiluan alone in the wedding sedan.
Li Yuanjiao dismounted, offering incense and wine, performing all the Xiao Family''s rituals meticulously for two hours. Finally, with a nod, he mounted his horse and rode beside the bridal sedan leisurely toward the Li Family.
Finally having a moment to himself, Li Yuanjiao nced briefly at the sedan, refraining from using his spiritual sense. He carefully observed the graceful silhouette projected on the curtain and spoke in a soft voice.
"Fortunate to meet you."
The silhouette paused as the figure raised a round fan. A clear, bright voice came from behind the curtain, light and gentle.
"I have been waiting."
Chapter 291: Receiving the Bride (II)
Chapter 291: Receiving the Bride (II)
Li Qingxiao pulled Xiao Xian into the carriage, and then finally let go of his hand. She slumped into the seat, her small face showing signs of difort as she muttered quietly to herself.
Xiao Xian, his palms still sweaty from being held all the way to the carriage, asked awkwardly, "What else do I need to do?"
"My mother said we just need to return on this carriage," Li Qingxiao replied with a frown. The bumpy ride had made her feel unwell, so shey down and endured it silently with her lips pressed tightly together.
Xiao Xian could only sit next to her quietly as well, leaning against the carriage wall. After having been up since early in the morning and kept busy for hours, he felt hungry. He reached for the pastries he had brought, but to his dismay, found that they had been crushed and scattered during themotion. Sighing, the boy leaned back and closed his eyes, soon drifting asleep.
When he awoke, it was dusk. Xiao Xian noticed that Li Qingxiao seemed much better now, and was peering out the window. Seeing him awake, she nudged him and said in a childish voice, "My name is Li Qingxiao."
"I am Xiao Xian from Mount Yu," Xiao Xian replied. The girl nodded andy back down as the boy''s face twisted in difort from his hunger.
"Lady... do you have anything to eat?" he asked shyly, a flush creeping up his neck.
Li Qingxiao was momentarily stunned but then nodded. She retrieved a wooden box from under the carriage seat and handed it to Xiao Xian. He gratefully took it, unfastened the woodentch, and opened the lid to find neatly arranged pastries. All of them bore small red flower marks on them, making them look extra appetizing.
Xiao Xian, feeling famished, quickly ate three pieces, savoring their fragrant sweetness. "Delicious!" he mumbled in sheer delight.
He continued to eat, but after three more pieces, the lid of the box snapped shut. Li Qingxiao''s small, fair hand rested on the box, her brow furrowed. She said in a childish voice, "The road to Mount Lijing will get bumpier. If you eat too much now, you might throw upter. There are still several hours to go, so save some."
Since it was someone else''s food, Xiao Xian could only nod obediently. Li Qingxiao giggled and then asked in a low voice, "I heard that our families are rted by marriage... Brother Xian, tell me, do you have any good brothers in the Xiao Family? I would like to hear about them."
Xiao Xian looked at her, feeling a strange stir in his heart. "Brother Guitu is the oldest in my generation. He is exceptional in everything... and condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra at just eight years old," he replied thoughtfully.
Li Qingxiao''s expression darkened slightly as she responded, "My cultivation is very slow... I have not even condensed the Profound Scenery Chakra yet."
Xiao Xian, whose talent was also not exceptional, felt a sense of camaraderie. He sighed as he said, "I am the same. All the elders focus on those born prodigies... everyone wants to be a genius. They were just lucky! Life is really unfair... Doesn''t help the fact that I''m dumb. Unlike my older brothers who can get things right on their first try, I need to hear the same instructions twice, sometimes even three times, only to barely understand them."
After he finished, Li Qingxiao simply snorted and said, "We are born into prestigious ns, with many people below us. How can we possiblyin about unfairness? Likewise, I was born to marry into your Xiao Family; there''s nothing I can do about it either."
Xiao Xian was momentarily stunned before heughed awkwardly, scratching his head. After this exchange, the two began chatting, discussing everything from sword immortals to the Purple Mansion Realm, and from the Purple Mansion Realm to Wu and Yue States.
Xiao Xian grew more familiar with Li Qingxiao, calling her "little sister" at every turn which made herugh joyously.
As the mountain road became increasingly bumpy, Li Qingxiao fell silent from difort, and Xiao Xian had nothing more to say. They both endured the ride quietly, both eventually falling into a deep sleep.
Half-asleep, Xiao Xian found himself holding Li Qingxiao who was swaying back and forth with the carriage. He could not help but grumble, "Your Li Family really doesn''t know how to enjoy a good life... I don''t expect having fabric cushion on this carriage to block the summer heat, but how is there not even a formation to absorb the shocks? We are supposed to be cultivators, yet we are being tossed around like mortals..."
Li Qingxiao cleared her throat and replied through gritted teeth, "Our family does not go for that sort of thing. Seekingfort is considered a crime and will get you dragged to the n Affairs Courtyard for a whipping!"
Xiao Xian was taken aback and simply responded, "Being born into your family is truly unfortunate..."
"Hmph!" Li Qingxiao snorted, and they both fell silent. After about two hours, Xiao Xian, still drowsy, felt his palm grow warm. Li Qingxiao hadid her head on his hand. Before he could react, he felt a sudden wetness on his palms¡ªshe had vomited... on him.
"Damn it..." Xiao Xian swore groggily, opening his eyes to see Li Qingxiao''s face heavily flushed as she tried to clean up hastily.
He looked at her and teased, "How old are you to still be drinking milk?"
"Shut up!" Li Qingxiao grumbled, though her voice was as soft as a mosquito''s buzz.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The carriage moved leisurely along the path. Li Yuanjiao, unaware of the difort Li Qingxiao and Xiao Xian were experiencing inside, rode his horse beside Xiao Guiluan''s bridal sedan.
ncing at the woman inside, he asked softly, "Are you familiar with the situation within my family, my dear?"
"I know a bit about it," Xiao Guiluan, conversing with her husband for the very first time, answered earnestly. She continued, "I have just one question for you, dear husband."
Li Yuanjiao, catching a glimpse of sharp, intelligent eyes, felt a slight stir in his heart as he replied, "What is it?"
"Do you have any intentions of vying for the position of the family head?" Xiao Guiluan asked.
Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes slightly, his left hand tugging at the reins in irritation as replied, "I have no such intentions."
Xiao Guiluan paused for a moment before simply saying, "I see."
Li Yuanjiao reyed the earlier rituals at the Xiao Residence in his mind and caught on to many subtle details. He then asked gently, "Why wasn''t your father present?"
He was naturally asking why Xiao Guiluan''s father was not there to see her off. This caused her to pause again before she answered finally, "My father and I have no affection for each other. He resents that I did not marry locally and bring a son-inw into the family, but instead, sought connections through marriage in the west. In his fury, he refused to see me off."
Li Yuanjiao was secretly pleased by this news. Nodding, he smiled as he continued testing the waters, saying, "What a fool."
Xiao Guiluan chuckled softly and replied without hesitation, "He is indeed... a fool."
Then, in a gentle tone, she added, "Only my older brothers care for me. With this marriage, I have severed ties with my family. If anything happens in the future, I fear I will not be able to seek their help."
Li Yuanjiao understood her clearly.
As long as Xiao Yuansi was alive, with the connection through his fourth uncle, Li Chejing, there would be no need for Xiao Guiluan to seek aid from her family.
Her words indicated that she had no paternal backing, preventing interference from her maternal family. Mentioning her brothers was likely to make it clear to Li Yuanjiao that she was not without support and should not be mistreated after marriage.
He smirked, thinking to himself, What a clever woman!
He then reined in his horse and gently reassured her, "Don''t worry. As long as I am here, no one will dare to bully you."
"Hmm," came the warm response from inside.
The girl was in the carriage, and the boy was on horseback. As night fell, illuminated by the gentle moonlight, Li Yuanjiao couldn''t help butugh quietly to himself.
Chapter 292: Beacon light
Chapter 292: Beacon light
The carriage swayed along the road, finally arriving at Lijing Town. Xiao Xian was groggily awakened by the sound of suona music. He took out the wooden box and saw that apart from the few pieces he had eaten earlier, the rest were still neatly arranged and untouched.
"Qingxiao... Qingxiao!" Xiao Xian quickly woke the girl.
Li Qingxiao, still groggy from her slumber, stumbled off the seat. Below, the joyful and piercing sound of the suona could be heard before arge hand lifted the curtain, letting in the sunlight.
"Xiao''er," the man called out as he lifted the curtain.
"Father!" Li Qingxiao cried out in joy.
The man had a solemn demeanor. It was Chen Donghe, who had been waiting patiently in the town, eager to see his daughter. He used his mana to ease Li Qingxiao''s difort.
Xiao Xian quickly greeted, "Xiao Family of Lixia, Xiao Xian of Mount Yu greets Senior!"
"Hmm," Chen Donghe responded politely in acknowledgment, his voice gentle as he added, "The guest courtyard is ahead... someone wille to receive you. Please wait a moment."
With that, he released the curtain and walked away with Li Qingxiao in his arms, leaving Xiao Xian alone in the carriage, feeling lonely and awkward as he did not know anyone.
"Hey!"
The curtain was suddenly pulled open again, and Li Qingxiao, bathed in golden sunlight, dashed back inside. She looked tired but was smiling as she said, "I will be on the mountain! Come find me when you are free."
She did not forget to pick up the wooden box of pastries from the floor, stuffing two pieces into Xiao Xian''s hands before hopping out of the carriage.
Xiao Xian stood there while holding the two pastries, dazed for a dozen breaths. Then, he carefully put the pastries into his sleeve which had a pocket sewn into it, and sat in ce obediently, waiting.
Meanwhile, Chen Donghe took Li Qingxiao up the mountain. She was exhausted, so he first took her to rest in the courtyard. While Li Jingtian was organizing wooden slips in the courtyard, Chen Donghe stepped forward and embraced his wife. Upon seeing her dazed expression, he asked gently, "Why do you look so dejected today?"
Li Jingtian paused, holding up a wooden slip from the table as she responded, "Decades of records are finallyplete. Yuanyun has taken over the documentation, and I suddenly find myself with so much free time that I do not know what to do."
Chen Donghe remained silent. Li Jingtian put down what she was holding and said softly, "Time truly flies. Even Yuanjiao is now married. Half of my life has passed, but I''ve been confined to this mountain. It''s quite sad... Not being able to soar with the wind is one thing, but I have not even left little Mount Lijing more than a few times..."
She looked up. Time had been merciful enough to leave only faint marks on her face, which still retained the beauty of her youth. Li Jingtian, slightly anxious, said softly, "My responsibilities on the mountain are done. When Qingxiao gets married, I want to ask the elders for permission for us to go north and see different sights for the rest of our lives."
Chen Donghe, who loved his wife deeply, could not bear the eager look on her face. He nodded tenderly and said, "In a few more years, when Qingxiao is married and the n has more Qi Cultivators, I will make the request."
The couple exchanged a look before Li Jingtian nodded with a smile and leaned against Chen Donghe''s chest.
"That should be the way... We have served the family for over ten years. When the n is stable and the borders are peaceful, we can think about ourselves," she murmured.
She paused for a moment before continuing, "Qinghong and Yuanjiao both have their own ideas. The family is not as close-knit as it was when we were siblings growing up on the mountain, but the children are sensible and get along well. Qinghong wants to practice the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique, and Second Uncle lets her... I wonder where will her enthusiasm lead her in the future. I have read many historical records. Every family is united when they rise, but they fall apart when they seed. The road ahead might be rough."
Li Jingtian has read many historical books and seen much, hence her worry.
Chen Donghe kissed her forehead and said, "Each generation has its own challenges... Only someone like Old Master Li is capable of nning for the next five generations. We do not need to worry about this; let us see what Yuanjiao and Qinghong will do."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"An alliance with the Xiao Family, with a Purple Mansion Realm Immortal n personally marrying off their daughter... What is Xiao Chuting thinking?!"
Yu Mugao stood on the wind in the sky, his face dreadfully grim. Behind him stood a group of people, all watching the procession below from behind the cover of clouds and mist. Yu Mugao had been watching for a long time, still finding it hard to believe.
He said, "Li Chejing has been silent for decades, and the Xiao Family still believes that the Li Family will seed?!"
Everyone remained silent. Yu Mugao gritted his teeth, unable to tell how many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were in the procession below. No matter how many schemes he had, he could only keep them to himself, staring nkly at the procession wordlessly.
"Xiao Chuting is a man of deep foresight. To marry off a daughter like this, Li Chejing must still be alive and on the verge of achieving the Purple Mansion Realm. It seems like all the scheming by theke pales inparison to the influence of a single word from someone at the Purple Mansion Realm."
Yu Mugao had managed the Yu Family for many years, contending with the restless Fei Family and the rising Li Family externally, while internally dealing with the elders and uncles of the n. Every year, Yu Yufeng performed blood sacrifices. Just when he was ready to make significant moves after experiencing so much and finally gaining control of the Yu Family, the Li Family allied with a Purple Mansion Realm Immortal n, thus shattering his ambitions.
Despair filled him as he sighed exasperatedly. "What is the use of scheming and struggling...? The Yu Family''s misfortune isn''t something that human effort can remedy. Despite years of nning and exhausting both my heart and mind, what good has it done? Our luck has run out. Any further scheming is just prolonging the inevitable, wasting thirty years of careful calctions only to end up at a dead end."
Those behind him were shocked into silence. Several stepped forward tofort him, but Yu Mugao remained silent for a long time before saying, "What is the point of talking? It would be best for the whole family to move north, over the mountains and away to Xu and Qi States, never to return. There is still a glimmer of hope there. As things stand now, we are just waiting to die."
"Mugao... we still hold the eastern shore, and Muxian is in the sect. At worst, we can hang on for a few hundred years. The Li Family''s momentum will pass; there is no need to be so despondent..." the nsmen said, trying to persuade him otherwise.
Yu Mugao only shook his head and sighed, saying, "You cannot see the situation clearly. Li Tongya is like a serpent dragon, slippery and cunning. Even when he was a Qi Cultivator, we could not handle him. What can we still possibly do, now that he has reached the Foundation Establishment Realm...?"
"Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong are exceptionally talented. They will likely reach the Qi Cultivation Realm in their twenties. Once they grow, how will wepete with the Li Family? Li Yuanxiu, with his deep thoughts and extraordinary demeanor, was a threat. If we had not killed him, would we be standing here? We would be in a dire situation, facing crises from all sides!" Yu Mugao eximed in wearily.
Gazing into the distance, he continued, "I understand now... The current state of the Li Family is the result of our relentless suppression. If Jianixi had moved north, Yu Muyuan hesitated, or Li Chejing returned... the Li Family would not be what it is today."
The group''s hearts filled with unease as they stood with Yu Mugao. After a while, another cultivator from the Yu Family flew over,nding before Yu Mugao with joy on his face.
"Family Head! The Immortal Master is arriving! The beacon light on the Dawn Cloudliner has lit up. Within three days, the Immortal Master from the Azure Pond Sect will be here!"
The members of the Yu Family were instantly filled with joy, their faces lighting up as they rejoiced with one another. Yu Mugao''s face also brightened considerably. He replied, "Finally! Some good news. Let us see what the Immortal Master has to say... Muxian is confident; perhaps there is some news."
Chapter 293: Jiang Yan
Chapter 293: Jiang Yan
Linghai Prefecture had originally been the domain of the Yu Family.
After the Azure Pond Sect regained control of the area, the Yu Family quickly changed their allegiance. With several of their ancestors serving in the Azure Pond Sect, they managed to retain most of their territory and continued to dominate Linghai Prefecture.
However, after the deaths of several ancestors, the Yu Family''s influence slowly waned year after year. Despite the emergence of a genius, Yu Yuxie, he quickly perished at the southern border, leading to the decline of the main branch of the Yu Family.
Several branches united with external families and established their own bases. Although the vast territory still nominally belonged to the Yu Family, they were fragmented and operated independently.
Fortunately, Linghai Prefecture was located in the southeast, surrounded by no external enemies, and the Azure Pond Sect did not allow ns to span prefectures. Thus, the fragmented Yu Family managed to maintain a status quo, preserving a rigid social structure that hadsted for nearly two centuries.
The wide road was bustling with people. From time to time, small traders and vendors passed by on donkeys and horses. By the roadside, a raggedly dressed boy sat, his face pale and lips blood-red, his gaze lightly scanning the passersby. Suddenly, he spoke, "Master, what exactly are the cultivators of the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivating?"
From among the passersby emerged an old farmer, who was sweating profusely. He sat down next to the boy, his stench overwhelming. With a mouth full of yellow teeth, he replied, "The Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao... The cultivation method involves consuming people, ying with spells, refining pills, gathering qi, and manipting the lives of others... None of their cultivators are good people."
The boy raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Does this path not cultivate the metallic essence? To seek longevity, one will naturally use all means possible."
The old farmer spat and scoffed. "Heh! The Maha and Dharma Masters who cultivate destinies aren''t any better. You will serve the Mahas for generations, year after year under their rule. Encountering a Maha or Dharma Master brings about despair and injustice that is even worse than dealing with Golden Core Daoists!"
The old farmer ranted agitatedly, his spit flying everywhere. The boy covered his nose and protested, "Old man, maybe you should change your skin... This one is too stinky!"
The old farmer paused, as if realizing something. He looked around in confusion, pped his thigh, and cursed, "What the hell, how did I end up in this state? I am getting muddle-headed over the years..."
He jumped up and walked down the road, ignoring the boy who was traveling with him. Shortly after, a female farmer, rtively clean in appearance, came by, cursing with a smile, "Having practiced spells for over ten years, and yet you still care about appearances!"
The boy curled his lip and remarked, "You sure have it easy... avoiding the emissaries of death and wandering the world carefreely!"
"Damn it," the female farmer cursed before she continued ranting, "I have given most of my metallic essence and fate to them. What I have left is neither enough to form a Golden Core nor to be a Maha. Instead, I am just barely surviving. What is so carefree about that? Luckily, the heavenly fate has changed. If there were still cmities now, I would not even be able to survive. To end up like this is trulyughable!"
The boy sneered indifferently as he replied, "You mentioned that Duanmu Kui from Mount Yue was extraordinary and talented, but he still ended up being reduced to ashes without even a chance for reincarnation. At least, you can try again. What''s soughable about that?"
The female farmerughed, showing her yellowed teeth. With her hands on her hips, her strong arms revealed, she exined, "Duamu Kui was violent and obsessed with reaching the Golden Core Realm. He fully believed that he could reach the Golden Core Realm just because of a promise from an immortal. It was no surprise he met his end. It wasn''t that he couldn''t endure humiliation; he simply refused to. Had ite to a fight, those two emissaries might not have been his match. Even as a monster after his death, he almost escaped them. Duanmu Kui was indeed a formidable man in his time... far beyond my reach."
The boy nodded thoughtfully, and the female farmer said seriously, "Yan¡¯er, let us not talk about this. You and I will join forces to give the Azure Pond Sect a show of strength. You can avenge your mother''s death, and I will seek a good Dao foundation. Once we finish these tasks, we''ll hide away and cultivate."
The young man nodded silently, then asked, "What kind of Dao foundation are you looking for?"
The female farmer paused for a moment before speaking, "Forget about Man On Creek and Boundless Ocean... Xiao Chuting wants to cultivate the Sexagenary Pit Water Thousand Slow Essence. If I were to find either of those, a sinister man like him will surely eat me when the timees. The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of Changxiao Gate and Great Xiukui Temple also show potential for a breakthrough, so we definitely cannot pick either of those... As for Daoist Master Shangyuan, there are not many paths he can cultivate."
After a moment of thought, she replied, "There are many thunder cultivators in this Yue State, but none have achieved the Purple Mansion Realm. That''s a viable path. Go find me a Dao foundation like Winter Thunderp or Spring Awakening!"
The young man nodded, tapped his foot on the ground, and rose lightly into the air. The female farmer on the ground hurriedly raised her wrinkled, calloused hands, pinched her fingers, and calcted, shouting loudly, "Thirty-two li to the north, there is a market town operated by the Azure Pond Sect!"
The young man heard her words, and in the blink of an eye, reached the illusion formation in front of the market town. The grand formation of the Azure Pond Sect''s market town had already been shattered, revealingyers uponyers of buildings and densely packed spirit fields.
Shouts and exmations rose and fell in waves. Someone eximed, "Why did you deactivate the grand formation, Senior Brother Chi?! What are you doing? Hurry up and re-activate it! Are you not afraid of being punished by the sect?!"
In the air stood a cultivator dressed in green robes, his face attractive but tarnished with a crazed expression. His robes were stained with blood as he cackled wildly with a bloodthirsty grin. He was clearly in a trance-like state.
The cultivator flew forward to subdue Senior Brother Chi, but he drew his de in a frenzy, shing at the man. The man then hastily activated his dharma artifact to block the oing attack.
ng!
The artifact was repelled and sent flying out like a bird. Fresh, red blood sttered around violently.
Both of them were usually evenly matched, but Senior Brother Chi was unnaturally strong today. He easily deflected the man¡¯s dharma artifact and severed his arm with a single sh.
The pain and shock were unbearable for the man, but to everyone¡¯s horror, his severed arm stretched out like a lump of mud, leaping and writhing like a frenzied mule, wing at her own face.
"What kind of spell is this?!" Senior Brother Chi eximed in shock.
"Senior Brother! Let us help you!"
The remaining Azure Pond Sect cultivators flew up to assist immediately, but they were toote. The man, pped hard by his own hand, spun like a top for about four or five revolutions before finally losing all signs of life.
"What?!"
The rescuing cultivators were stunned into silence. The lifeless body of the man trembled momentarily in mid-air before his other hand reached up toward his neck.
Without warning, he ripped out a bloody white spine, swinging it like a sword at the approaching cultivators.
Realizing the impending danger, the cultivators quickly shot out over a dozen talismans, their faces pale with fear as they shouted, "Devil cultivator! A Purple Mansion Realm devil cultivator..."
Crack.
Before he could finish, he was smacked hard on the head, spinning like a top before falling silent. His limbs were separated from his body, yanking out his heart, spleen, stomach, and lungs, which then moved independently, each seeking out other cultivators.
"Devil cultivator... A devil cultivator!"
The entire market turned into a bloody massacre, with screams echoing everywhere.
The young man stood quietly in the air, with flesh and blood swirling around him like obedient beasts, sticking close to his side. He smiled maniacally as he watched the fleeing cultivators and called out loudly to the distant figures, "Tell the Azure Pond Sect that Jiang Yan hase to avenge the massacre of the prefecture!"
His voice echoed through the air icily, and the Azure Pond Sect cultivators fled even faster. Jiang Yan savored the moment, while the head of a man, with his hair now disheveled, flew past him, spitting blood andughing as it spoke, "The Azure Pond Sect is so arrogant... This whole market does not even have a single Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Hurry and leave; the Yu Family is already on their way!"
Chapter 294: Summons From The Upper Sect
Chapter 294: Summons From The Upper Sect
The marriage arrangements of the Li Family were sudden, but invitations were sent out to all the families with Qi Cultivators and above on theke. All the families, except the Yu Family, attended. Even the Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivators on the western shore sent representatives to observe the ceremony. Fei Wangbai did not attend personally but sent his grandson, Fei Tongyu, in his stead.
Fei Tongyu, always the elegant gentleman of the Fei Family, held a fan in his hand as he stood among the guests. His words were polite and courteous, but his demeanor showed little joy. He observed the various proceedings of the Li Family, particrly at Li Yuanjiao who was holding a cup at the head of the table, and felt a sense of unease stirring within him.
Li Yuanjiao at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... such rapid progress. Although I have not seen Li Qinghong here, with her talent, she must at least be at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm! The rise of the Li Family is too swift; this could spell trouble.
Fei Tongyu set down his cup and nced at a young man sitting quietly, drinking alone. Despite having no apparent cultivation, he was seated in a prominent position, indicating his importance within the family.
Fei Tongyu inquired, "May I know how to address you, brother?"
Li Yuanyun, lost in thought, was startled by Fei Tongyu''s voice. Although Fei Tongyu did not know him, Yuanyun recognized him as the direct descendant of the Fei Family.
He replied politely, "You tter me, but I am just amoner. My name is Li Yuanyun, a direct descendant of the Li Family, but I do not deserve such respect from an immortal like you."
After spending several years mingling among themon folk, Li Yuanyun had long shed his youthful innocence and put on some weight. He had tried countless folk remedies and rituals to nurture a spiritual orifice¡ªfrom praying to gods and Buddhas to distributing wealth and seeking the blessing of paper talismans, all of which had worn him down to a weary semnce of a middle-aged man.
Fei Tongyu, upon seeing him, then asked, "May I inquire about your rtionship with Lady Qinghong?"
"Li Qinghong is my elder sister, born of the same mother," Li Yuanyun answered.
Fei Tongyu immediately perked up. Before he left, his younger brother Fei Tongxiao had begged him multiple times to bring along several letters for Li Qinghong. Seeing no sign of her at the banquet, Fei Tongyu quickly asked, "Is Lady Qinghong in seclusion on the mountain?"
"Indeed," Li Yuanyun nodded.
Fei Tongyu hesitated for a moment before continuing, "My younger brother..."
Seeing Fei Tongyu''s hesitant expression, Li Yuanyun shook his head and interrupted, "My elder sister asked me to mention that her current cultivation method precludes descendants. That is all I can say on the matter."
Fei Tongyu, not at all a fool, paused momentarily before calming down. He simply responded, "Thank you, Brother Yuanyun."
Fei Tongyu had some admiration for Li Qinghong, but his feelings were more about the alliance''s benefits and appreciation for her talent and conduct. Being older than Fei Tongxiao, he was less driven by romantic ideals. Upon hearing that Li Qinghong could not bear children, he easily dismissed any thoughts of pursuing her.
In those few moments, Fei Tongyu''s mind raced through various considerations, now focusing on how to dissuade his stubborn younger brother, as he engaged in light conversation with Li Yuanyun.
"On my way here, I noticed the abundance of external cultivators in your family. I am afraid even if the Fei and Yu familiesbined, we would not match your numbers," Fei Tongyu said, smiling as he nced around.
Li Yuanyun only chuckled dryly, not giving a response. Given the scarcity of descendants in the main and side families, most of the vast spirit fields were inevitably tended by external cultivators.
Seeing that Li Yuanyun did not wish to borate on this topic, Fei Tongyu changed the subject,menting on the well-behaved members of the Li Family in their seats.
"Nevertheless, your family''s strict discipline is well-known. I have heard that the Li Family''sws are strict, and with ancestor Tongya in his prime, there is no fear of losing control," he praised.
Li Yuanyunughed heartily and joked, "Strict is an understatement. In our n, the n Affairs Courtyard is rumored to be like the Underworld''s pce of judgment. The n rules are truly roasting the children over an open fire!"
Both men chuckled, exchanging a few bawdy jokes. Fei Tongyu, still preupied with thoughts of his younger brother, half-heartedly joined the conversation while his eyes roved over the banquet guests.
After a few rounds of wine, Fei Tongyu made up his mind. He left the banquet, standing in the woods to get some fresh air. As the setting sun disappeared behind the mountains, Fei Tongyu took out the letters from his sleeve and conjured a bright red me with a spell.
With a bitter smile, he burned the letters that were meticulously written and rewritten by Fei Tongxiao countless times. Watching the letters turn to ash, he murmured, "Xiao''er, the celestial maiden has gone to the heavens. Forget your earthly feelings... let go of your feelings... let it go..."
Fei Tongyu resolved to tell his brother that the letters had been given to Li Qinghong, who had not responded. This way, Fei Tongxiao would have to move on. As he watched the tender words burn to ash, he sighed. "What a mess. Perhaps many men in the Fei Family are womanizers, and now we''re suffering the karma..."
Having finished his task, Fei Tongyu sat on the steps, drinking silently. The faint red glow from the mes illuminated his face. He looked up, trying to identify the object in the sky before eximing in disbelief, "How is this possible?"
In the sky, brilliant rays of light began to appear. They were colorful and radiant, shining vividly against the dusk as light waves rolled in from the southeast like ocean waves. At the forefront, a massive ship resembling a giant bird with phoenix-like wings glided gracefully yet swiftly.
The banquet fell silent as everyone stared in awe at the sky. The magnificent aura of the ship left them speechless and dumbfounded.
Shortly after, various exmations could be heard from the crowds.
"The Dawn Cloudliner... people from the upper sect! What is going on?!"
"It is not even time to pay our tributes yet..."
"It''s the Dawn Cloudliner!"
Fei Tongyu''s heart was filled with dread and anxiety, sensing impending doom. Among the three families by theke, only his Fei Family had no backing within the sect so they could only bribe a few managers for information.
The sudden arrival of the Dawn Cloudliner could only mean something significant was happening, either instigated by Li Chejing or Yu Muxian. If it was Yu Muxian, both the Fei and Li families would be in trouble. If it was the Li Family, and they knew nothing about it, it could not be good news either.
Fei Tongyu''s face turned pale as he watched the Dawn Cloudliner fly past Mount Lijing, heading toward Milin Prefecture. He felt slightly relieved and then rose into the air to find Li Xuanxuan.
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"The Dawn Cloudliner..." Yu Mugao mumbled as he stared, mesmerized by the descending lights. The ship slowly docked on the mountain peak, its intricate patterns glowing brightly. The oppressive aura of the formation eased as a young man descended from the ship.
The young man who was dressed in green, was handsome, but there was a perpetual frown on his face. From his hair to his boots, he was bathed in radiant light. The Yu Family members kneeled down hurriedly, lowering themselves to the ground. The young man scanned them with disdain.
"Where is Yu Xiaogui? It is one thing for Yu Yufeng to be absent... but where is Yu Xiaogui?"
Yu Mugao quickly exined, "Yu Mugao greets the envoy! My father is in seclusion, and the ancestor has not yet returned!"
The young man scowled, looking down at the group with contempt.
"For Muxian''s sake, I will not hold it against you... My name is Chi Zhiyan, the head disciple of Yuanwu Peak. Today, I am here to summon the families around Moongaze Lake to send people to Yi Mountain City. I hope the head of the Yu Family can assist."
Chapter 295: Consuming
Chapter 295: Consuming
"I am willing to serve Your Highness unto death!" Yu Mugao dered respectfully.
Chi Zhiyan waved dismissively and replied, "There is no need for that. It is just a small matter. A few ns cannot stir up much trouble! If it were not for the sect master not wanting to move against these Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, I would not be here. We could order them, and both Li Tongya and Fei Wangbai would obediently go to Yi Mountain City... But now, we only need a few Qi Cultivators. They would not dare refuse, would they?"
Yu Mugao''s eyes flickered briefly. "The Li Family has a sword immortal within the sect. I am afraid that you may need to approach with caution, Senior..." he advised humbly.
Chi Zhiyan paused, letting out a strangeugh from his throat. As a direct descendant of the Chi Family, he was well-informed about the matters at the southern border. It was just that Chi Wei had not acted honorably, avoiding mentioning it altogether.
Chi Zhiyan sneered, "Sword immortal..? The southern border is fraught with dangers; they may not even return. Such titles are useless here! Things will proceed as they must."
Yu Mugao was a shrewd man. Hearing these words, he felt reassured. He immediately put on a sorrowful expression andmented, "My lord, you may not fear them, but the Li Family relies on the sword immortal''s reputation to act arrogantly around theke, oppressing us. One of my blood rtives has been captured by the Li Family, serving as a ve. We are terrified and dare not speak out."
Chi Zhiyan nced at Yu Mugao and sneered, "My junior has already told me about this. There is no need to exaggerate. Your Yu Family, after all, is a n and should not be so easily oppressed by the Li Family. Listen carefully."
Chi Zhiyan paused and continued, "Li Chejing will most likely not return. Muxian is renowned within the sect and has a solid background, even more than that sword immortal. There is no need to be afraid. The rivalries between ns are not something the sect interferes with. Li Tongya only has some rapport with Yuan Tuan; unless it is a matter of life and death for the entire family, Yuan Tuan will not intervene."
Yu Mugao repeatedly nodded, his heart filled with joy. He lowered himself even further, almost groveling at this point. Chi Zhiyan nced at him with a smile as he said, "Remember this well, regardless of the chaos you create on theke..."
Chi Zhiyan bent down close to Yu Mugao''s face, and lightly patted his cheek with one hand while holding up two fingers with the other.
"There are two people who must not die... One is Li Tongya, whom you cannot kill anyway. The other, whom you may not know, is named Jiang Heqian."
Yu Mugao immediately broke out in a cold sweat, trembling as if he wished he could bury his head in the ground. Chi Zhiyanughed and straightened up, adding, "If either of them dies, not even Muxian can save you. As for Fei Wangbai... his Patterned Brocade is useless, he is nothing but a corpse awaiting death."
Yu Mugao''s eyes widened, with bloodshot veins beginning to appear as he quivered and stammered hispliance, his sweat now pooling on the ground. Chi Zhiyan, with a cocky demeanor, kicked Yu Mugao''s shoulder andughed heartily.
Several people flew down from the flying boat, all dressed in the gray robes of the Azure Pond Sect''s Yuanwu Peak. One of them, a man with a sneaky appearance, rushed eagerly to Chi Zhiyan''s side and said respectfully, "My lord, please give your orders..."
Chi Zhiyan simply snorted and stood with his hands behind his back.
"For the Fei Family, that so-called young master will do. For the minor Qi Cultivation Realm families, take their strongest cultivators. As for the Li Family... take Li Xuanfeng. He is of no use after the massacre at Lixia Prefecture."
"Yes, yes!" the sneaky-looking cultivator responded as he nodded repeatedly.
Chi Zhiyan nced at the dazed Yu Mugao and smiled, "Cultivate well. Your Yu Family has the qualifications to dine at the table. As for the Li and Fei families, they are just dogs circling beneath it. If it were not for the ban on blood sacrifices at Moongaze Lake, they would have been eliminated long ago."
Yu Mugao forced a smile, though his heart was gripped with fear. His legs trembled uncontrobly. Chi Zhiyan, seeing his pitiful state, grew even more excited as he added, "As for your family''s ancestor, Yu Yufeng..."
Yu Mugao had a premonition and quickly looked up. Chi Zhiyanughed with a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"He has been dead for a long time."
Yu Mugao was stunned and whispered, "What...? I do not understand. Which force''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator took his life?"
"I guess there''s no harm in telling you!" Chi Zhiyan chuckled. He took great pleasure in trampling on geniuses and strategists.
Seeing Yu Mugao so subservient, he felt immense satisfaction and replied, "Yu Mugao, Yu Yufeng was killed by our Azure Pond Sect in coboration with Xiao Chuting! This was also agreed upon by your own younger brother!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile on Xianyou Peak in Lixia Prefecture...
Whoosh...
An old man struggled to reel in a gleaming jade stone from theke. With a strong flick of his jade fishing rod, he freed the stone from the clutches of theke water and pulled it ashore.
Xiao Chuting squinted his eyes as he remarked, "Hmm... Not bad."
"Chuting, the Dawn Cloudliner has headed to Moongaze Lake."
Xiao Chuchou, who was also sitting cross-legged nearby, muttered this quietly, casting aplex look toward Xiao Chuting.
Xiao Chuting, however, remained indifferent. He examined the jade stone and asked, "Xiao Chuchou, do you resent me?"
Xiao Chuchou''s face, wrinkled with extreme age, twitched slightly as he replied, "There is nothing to resent. It was a matter of necessity. When I left the family back then, I suppose you must have hated me even more."
Xiao Chuting chuckled softly, his expression nostalgic as he responded warmly, "At first, I did. But when the Azure Pond Sect sent Yu Yuxie specifically to suppress Yu Yufeng, I suddenly realized that the decision you made back then may not have entirely been your own."
Xiao Chuting''s white eyebrows and beard twitched as if reflected in rippling water. He spoke with a sense of loss in his voice. "The shadows in the great void were too thick. Since then, I have been both terrified and confused, questioning myself in countless painful nights... Xiao Chuting, are you really you today, or are you merely a puppet of some Purple Mansion Golden Core Daoists or the Mahas and Dharma Masters?"
"It might have been better not to know, to avoid this madness..." Xiao Chuting replied.
However, his voice seemed to emerge from the void rather than his mouth. He spoke softly, "Yu Yufeng did not believe in fate and resorted to blood sacrifices to heal his hands. He was indeed a genius, forcibly advancing a few more steps on his interrupted Dao, almost breaking through to thete-stage Foundation Establishment Realm after decades. Even so, he met his end. How could he have survived against two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators who had Heavy Murk and Man On Creek aiding them? The Jade True Unified Void Essence is an untrainable state, incapable of forming an immortal foundation. From the moment he practiced the Aged Courtly Path Scripture, he was already a dead man."
Xiao Chuchou was not surprised. Having journeyed extensively, he knew just as much as Xiao Chuting. His deeply wrinkled face twisted into a cold smile as he responded, "Yes... have you ever wondered why you, Xiao Chuting, cultivated Man On Creek, while I, Xiao Chuchou, cultivated Darkening Clouds? A remarkable coincidence isn''t it...? For them to be perfectlyplementary Dao Partners..."
Xiao Chuting nodded and slowly stood up. A deadly aura emanated from him, causing snowkes to rise and dance across Xianyou Peak. The sound of crashing sea waves rumbled overhead, with faint hisses of serpent dragons.
Xiao Chuchou''s body grew increasingly frail, shrinking into a skeletal figure. He let out a few raspyughs, and wisps of smoke drifted from his body, tiny eyes, mouth, and ears.
The old man murmured, "Xiao Xianyou... it was Xiao Xianyou all along. He had calcted everything from the beginning. He cultivated Boundless Ocean, also known as Jing Dragon King! What a marvel!"
Standing amidst the swirling smoke in the sky, Xiao Chuting radiated a divine aura. His expression was sorrowful yet solemn, almost sacred.
"Brother, we have no path forward, no retreat."
Dong...!
The bell on Xianyou Peak tolled ethereally like thunder echoing through the mountains. The inexplicable, flying snowfall continued falling as though it was trying to cover up all impurities. The members of the Xiao Family fell to their knees, looking up in bewilderment.
"It is the aura of the Foundation Establishment Realm... An ancestor has passed away!"
Chapter 296: Yuzhi
Chapter 296: Yuzhi
"The Dawn Cloudliner..."
Li Xuanxuan looked at the colorful glow in the sky, feeling uneasy. His second uncle, Li Tongya, had disappeared after the sacrificial ritual. Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators often meditated for years, so Li Xuanxuan could not find him immediately and could only wait.
Fortunately, a figure dressed in gray soon appeared before him. Li Tongya descended with a frown. He had nned to enter seclusion, but his wife Liu Rouxuan''s health was deteriorating, forcing him to postpone his ns. Hence, he happened to witness this scene.
"It seems they are summoning people to Yi Mountain City at the southern border," Li Tongyamented as he stood midair with his sword. He had heard some information at Xiao Chuting''s ceremony and now deduced the purpose of the Dawn Cloudliner.
After waiting in the air for a while, he saw someone approaching on a flying shuttle. The neer was dressed elegantly but had a rat-like face and shifty eyes that made him he look like he was up to no good.
The mannded at the formation entrance and shouted, "Juniors from the Li Family, Imand you to open the formation right away!"
The crowd below was visibly enraged, but Li Tongya seemed thoughtful and calmly opened the formation, personally stepping forward to greet him. He said respectfully, "Li Family of Lijing wees the envoy!"
Seeing a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator personally greeting him, the man held back his arrogance and begrudgingly replied, "At least you have some sense."
He swaggered into the courtyard, nced at the indignant members of the Li Family, and impatiently waved his sleeve, scolding, "You lot, get out! How can juniors be allowed to listen to our conversation?"
"You!" Li Xuanxuan looked rather upset, but Li Xuanling gave the man a sidelong nce like a serpent before leading his brothers away.
The man entered the courtyard with Li Tongya and cast a spell to seal their surroundings. He then straightened up, his demeanor changing abruptly, showing a hint of guilt as he bowed and said, "I am Deng Yuzhi. My earlier behavior was unavoidable. Please forgive me, Senior."
Li Tongya was taken aback by the sudden change but courteously replied, "Brother Deng, please rise. There is no need for such formalities. We did not take it to heart."
Deng Yuzhi spoke quickly and urgently, without giving Li Tongya a chance to respond.
"I am a member of the Deng Family, a subordinate family of the Azure Pond Peak. My elder brother Deng Qiuzhi and the Sword Immortal were close friends. They both perished at the southern border, devoured by a demon king. Do you know this, Senior?"
"I do."
Seeing Deng Yuzhi''s anxiety, Li Tongya responded in a straightforward manner.
Deng Yuzhi nodded and said solemnly, "I''m d you do, Senior. The sect disciple who came this time is Chi Zhiyan from the Chi Family. He is sinister and cruel. He already knows of the Sword Immortal''s death... The Yu Family has also heard the news. Please be prepared, Senior."
Without waiting for Li Tongya''s reply, Deng Yuzhi continued quickly, "Although my family''s ancestor has never met you, he has heard many stories about you and holds you in high regard. Our families share simr circumstances. If you are willing, we can support each other in the future."
Li Tongya, resting his hand on his sword hilt, had an inscrutable expression. He asked softly, "I have a question for you. In the power struggles among the Purple Mansion Realm and Golden Core Realm cultivators in Jiangnan, what is the rtionship between the Xiao Family and Azure Pond Sect?"
"They have amon enemy. Xiao Chuting wants to cultivate the Sexagenary Pit Water Thousand Slow Essence..." Deng Yuzhi said as he started his exnation.
However, Li Tongya waved his hand to interrupt him.
"I understand."
Deng Yuzhi nodded and continued, "Our Deng Family also has properties in Lixia Prefecture. If you have any further matters to discuss, feel free to send someone there. You are a prudent and steady person, I believe you understand the intricacies involved."
He handed over a small letter. Li Tongya scanned it with his spiritual sense and saw that it contained records of several alleys in Lixia Prefecture.
Seeing Li Tongya ept the letter, Deng Yuzhi exhaled deeply and said in a solemn voice, "There are people in the four prefectures spreading the word about your formidable Dao foundation and exceptional swordsmanship. It is likely done with intent. It is best for you to keep a low profile and not reveal your whereabouts."
This news surprised Li Tongya, causing him to ponder deeply. He nodded slightly, and Deng Yuzhi continued, "This time, the summons to Yi Mountain City includes Li Xuanfeng. We have no choice but to take your n members... I hope you understand."
Li Tongya slowly closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. Li Xuanfeng was the only son of Li Xiangping and had no heirs. If something happened to him in Yi Mountain City, it would mean the end of that line. He was naturally unwilling and asked with a frown, "Xuanfeng is my brother''s orphan. I am willing to go in his ce. Is that possible...?"
Deng Yuzhi waved his hand, clearly and firmly refusing. He said bitterly, "I am merely surviving by doing others'' bidding. Chi Zhiyan deeply envies the sword immortal. I have to put on a pretense just to be here. Naturally, I''m powerless to make any decisions..."
Li Tongya could only cover his face and sigh, replying, "I understand."
Deng Yuzhi did not linger and continued, "I must leave immediately with the person. If there is any offense, I ask for your forgiveness."
With that, he flung open his sleeves and kicked open the door. He called out in the courtyard, "Where is Li Xuanfeng?!"
In the lower courtyard, a group of anxious people stood. Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan looked up at him with unreadable expressions.
Li Xuanfeng, carrying his golden bow, stared directly at Deng Yuzhi and replied steadily, "Here!"
Deng Yuzhi sneered and said, "The Azure Pond Sectmands you to go to Yi Mountain City at the southern border to resist the demons. You are to leave immediately without dy."
Li Xuanfeng secured the golden bow on his back, and a smile formed on his scruffy chin as if he had heard something amusing. Heughed heartily and simply replied, "Very well."
Deng Yuzhi just tugged at him, saying, "Follow me."
Li Xuanfeng looked back at Li Tongya, who had walked out of the courtyard and bowed deeply. He then said to his brothers, Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling, "Please take care of the family affairs. No need to miss me."
This man, who had lost his parents in childhood and his wife in his youth, only uttered these few words. His eyes sparkled as if the years since the massacre of Lixia Prefecture had been dull, and now, facing the imminent battle and ughter, he seemed excited and eager.
"Brother..." Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan began as they were still processing the news. However, Li Xuanfeng had already ridden the wind and followed Deng Yuzhi northward.
Li Xuanxuan finally came to his senses and called out hurriedly, "Second Uncle! This...!"
Li Tongya waved his sleeve, his face showing a painful expression as he said softly, "Resume your cultivation..."
The few of them exchanged nces, then lowered their heads and dispersed. The wedding was already nearing its end, and with the disruption of the Dawn Cloudliner, no one was in the mood to stay any longer. Guests began bidding their farewells and left.
After sending Li Yuanjiao and Xiao Guiluan to their bridal chamber, Mount Lijing returned to its usual quiet state, with only the mess left from the celebration hinting at the recent festivities.
It was not until the Dawn Cloudliner had flown past the horizon and its splendid glow faded away that the entire Moongaze Lake fell back into darkness and silence.
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"Report to the envoy, everyone is here!"
Deng Yuzhi kneeled obsequiously before Chi Zhiyan, while Yu Mugao looked dazed as if lost in a nightmare. Chi Zhiyan''s words still echoed in his mind.
"Yu Mugao, Yu Yufeng was killed by our Azure Pond Sect in coboration with Xiao Chuting! This was also agreed upon by your own younger brother!"
"Muxian... personally agreed to it...?"
Yu Mugao''s expression was one of pure bewilderment. He had exchanged dozens of letters with Yu Muxian, yet his brother had never mentioned this. Was it to avoid rming anyone or because he did not trust Yu Mugao?
Suddenly, Yu Mugao felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity toward his own brother in the sect. He mumbled something indistinctly, and Chi Zhiyan, noticing his state, impatiently spat, "Stop practicing the Aged Courtly Path Scripture from now on!"
The group rode the wind back to the Dawn Cloudliner. The members of the Yu Family all kneeled, loudly bidding farewell. The intricate patterns on the ship brightened as it extended its radiant wings, flying toward the southeast.
Yu Mugao watched as the ship disappeared into the horizon. Only then did he slowly stand up, looking around at the silent crowd. He felt no shame for his earlier submissive behavior.
After a moment of silence, he said, "Jiang Heqian... It turns out to be an old grudge. Call back all our people from the eastern shore."
Chapter 297: Five Years
Chapter 297: Five Years
Li Xuanfeng was transferred to the southern border. Li Tongya''s wife, Liu Rouxuan, onlysted a few months before she died on the mountain. Li Tongya stayed by her bedside the entire time.
With tears in her eyes, Liu Rouxuan had managed to stammer out a final sentence before she passed away.
"My dear, you still have over two hundred years to live... I hope you will marry again after I am gone. Do not overly favor the Liu Family, as too much kindness could lead to disaster."
Li Tongya sat quietly by the bed, speaking gently, but Liu Rouxuan had already stopped breathing. Their son, Li Xuanling, wept bitterly at her side. Li Yuanyun, who was in Eastern Mount Yue, and Li Qinghong, stationed at Mount Yuting, managed to rush back in time to shed silent tears at her bedside.
Liu Rouxuan''s face bore little resemnce to the one that had once asked Li Tongya, "Do you love me?" in the small courtyard. Her eyes were lifeless, her mouth stiff, and her face marked by deep wrinkles. Yet her withered hands clung to Li Tongya''s, holding on tightly, even in death.
The entire Li Family of Lijing mourned deeply, draping white cloth throughout their residence. Meanwhile, the Liu Family was engulfed in terror. For decades, they had produced no notable talents; their courtyard was dominated by yboys who only cared about the pleasures of life.
The death of Liu Rouxuan sent the Liu Family into a spiral of panic and fear, with members crying out "Grandmother is gone" throughout their estate. When herst words were spread down the mountain, everyone became even more anxious, and resentful murmurs filled the air.
Li Tongya buried Liu Rouxuan, looked at the gathered members of the Li Family who had rushed back, and removed the Dragon Coiling Pir sword, which was glowing with mana light, from his waist.
He announced softly, "I will now go into seclusion for cultivation and may note out for several years, or even decades... This dharma sword will only gather dust with me, so I will leave it with all of you."
"Yuanjiao!" he called out.
Li Yuanjiao quickly raised his head and stepped forward, receiving the dharma sword with both hands. Li Tongya then said softly, "Among all the disciples, you are the most talented swordsman. Take this with you and use it well."
Li Yuanjiao was deeply moved, not expecting Li Tongya to give the sword to him instead of his own son, Li Xuanling. He wanted to decline, but Li Tongya waved his hand and pushed him back to his seat, continuing, "Now, you are the eldest brother here. Take good care of your younger siblings and do not disappoint me."
He then turned to Li Xuanxuan, paused thoughtfully, and handed him a storage pouch tied at his waist. "I have reviewed the tributes that prestigious ns are expected to pay... The amount far exceeds what the current Li Family can afford. We need to pay the next five years'' tribute by next year. Inside this pouch, you''ll find dharma artifacts and spirit items I''ve collected over the years. Take them to the market and sell them to cover this gap."
Li Xuanxuan nodded obediently as Li Tongya continued, "This is not a sustainable solution. I''ve made some preliminary arrangements at the Cloud Crowned Peak market. There''s a small shop there looking to form an alliance with our Li Family. Go there immediately, finalize the arrangements, and forge a new path for our family to earn Spirit Stones. Take the talismans you''ve crafted over the years to sell. Since you are not inclined toward cultivation, you will stay there to draw talismans. Leave family matters to the younger generation."
Li Xuanxuan had no objections and nodded in agreement. Li Tongya then instructed Li Xuanling, "Try your best to assist your brother as much as possible when you''re not cultivating."
Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Li Tongya straightened up and said gently, "Work hard in your cultivation and take good care of each other."
"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison, and before the echoes faded, Li Tongya''s figure had already disappeared. Li Xuanling wiped away his tears and exchanged a nce with Li Xuanxuan. Without further dy, they rode the wind toward Cloud Crowned Peak together.
The few members of the Yuan and Qing generation gathered together, encouraging each other before heading down the mountain.
The lights on Mount Lijing flickered.
The brilliant dawn rose from the horizon, illuminating the Li Family''s territory. Smoke rose from the houses at the foot of the mountain, marking the arrival of a new day.
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Eastern Mount Yue was characterized by many mountains and few fields, making it unsuitable for sustaining a poption. There were, however, numerous small hills and earth veins. Li Yuanjiao had been surveying the area for several months, from west to east, probing each vein of spiritual energy. Finally, he found a suitable small mountain.
"Mount Wutu."
Li Yuanjiao rose into the wind, lightly circling the location on the map in his hand. He estimated the distance, examined the veins and spiritual energy, nodded slowly, and descended to the foot of the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain stood a woman of noble bearing, her phoenix eyes radiating brilliance. She wore a graceful dress and held a boy, about five or six years old, who looked smart and handsome. He was peering around curiously. As soon as Li Yuanjiaonded, the boy jumped and shouted, "Dad! This mountain looks like a bird!"
This boy was Li Yuanjiao''s son, named Li Xizhi, now over four years old. He was well-behaved and adorable, greatly loved by Li Yuanjiao and his wife.
"Hahahaha!" Li Yuanjiaoughed heartily.
Beside him, Xiao Guiluan gently asked, "How is it?"
"The veins and spiritual energy are sufficient. It is not inferior to Mount Lijing, and it is one of the best in Eastern Mount Yue," Li Yuanjiao replied, then continued, "ording to the ancient texts, the spirit fields on Mount Wutu are fertile and intact... There is no better ce within Eastern Mount Yue."
"Then let us settle here..." Xiao Guiluan''s eyebrows showed a trace of worry as she whispered, "The n''s tribute is too heavy. We have been running at a loss every year... We cannot afford to waste any more time."
Li Yuanjiao fell silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Indeed."
Five years had passed in the blink of an eye. Theke remained rtively peaceful during this time. The Yu Family had rxed their control and tribute demands on the eastern shore families, retreating into Milin Prefecture and bing quiet. The Li Family quietly digested the territories of Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting, enjoying a period of calmness.
During these five years, Li Qinghong and Li Yuanjiao had both broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. Most of the Yuan generation had children, and even Li Yuanjiao''s several half-brothers had children who were now seven years old. Unfortunately, their talents were disappointing. Even those with spiritual orifices showed little promise, causing Li Yuanjiao to shake his head in dismay.
Li Xuanxuan had been stationed at the market for years now, rarely returning. Despite his reluctance, Li Yuanjiao had to take over family affairs, temporarily acting as the head of the family.
Xiao Guiluan, holding Li Xizhi, watched Li Yuanjiao rise with the wind. They exchanged a nce, and Xiao Guiluan said, "There is one thing I have to tell you, my dear. The people from Mount Yu told me that they needed to craft dharma artifacts and should be able to use our ebony ore. If we can supply enough, we could get a premium rate of ten to twenty percent."
Li Yuanjiao''s eyes immediately lit up with joy.
"Good! If this works out, we can replenish our funds and reduce the need to draw from the family treasury."
With the Yu Family''s decline on theke, a tripartite bnce of power had emerged. For the Li Family, their greatest challenge had be the tribute payments to the Azure Pond Sect. The tribute demanded of a n was now more than ten times what it had been during the Qi Cultivation Realm period, far exceeding the Li Family''s current ie.
Unlike other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators like Yu Yufeng, Li Tongya never demanded resources, otherwise Li Yuanjiao would have had to sell off the entire Li Family to support him in his cultivation.
Despite this, Li Yuanjiao was still constantly burdened with worries about the family''s financial deficit. Hearing that Xiao Guiluan had found a way to earn Spirit Stones, he could not help but praise her.
Seeing Xiao Guiluan smile silently, Li Yuanjiao suddenly paused, a smile tugging at his lips as he said, "That Xiao Xian is from the Mount Yu branch of the Xiao Family, isn''t he?"
"Heh." Xiao Guiluan, who had been managing the family with Li Yuanjiao for five years, responded with a softugh, her phoenix eyes twinkling as she said gently, "That boy''s intention is quite obvious! He runs to our Lijing Town every month just to find an excuse to see Qingxiao. Now that the Mount Yu branch has sent him to handle this matter, he is overjoyed."
Chapter 298: The Dou Family (I)
Chapter 298: The Dou Family (I)
"Xiao Xian..."
Li Yuanjiao stroked the Dragon Coiling Pir sword at his waist, his brows furrowing. Unlike Li Tongya or Li Xuanxuan, who, despite their unassuming appearances, were deep thinkers, the narrow gap between his eyebrows lent him an untrustworthy appearance. Now, with his brows furrowed, he looked even more like a serpent dragon.
"The Mount Yu branch of the Xiao Family... Qingxiao''s marriage into their family is somewhat of a slight, but Xiao Jiuqing is quite adept and has a promising future. If Xiao Xian is sincere and my little sister is willing, he might be a good match."
"The Mount Yu branch is one of the most prominent branches in the Xiao Family," Xiao Guiluan remarked, holding onto Li Yuanjiao''s arm.
"Xiao Xian''s talent is not great, but he has the potential to achieve the Qi Cultivation Realm. Qingxiao''s talent is poor, but with the resources of the Mount Yu branch, Xiao Xian could help her reach the Qi Cultivation Realm with unrefined qi which is a good thing," she continued.
As they chatted andughed, Mount Lijing appeared beneath them. The couple descended into the courtyard where the n guards immediately approached, greeting them respectfully.
"Family Head, Madam... Young Master Yuanping is already waiting in the house."
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly and pushed the door open. Inside, a young boy dressed in white clothes was admiring the calligraphy and paintings on the wall, holding a fan. He appeared to be about twelve or thirteen years old, with a slightly pale face that gave him a sickly look.
Hearing the door open, he turned his head, his eyes lighting up as he smiled, "Brother, you are back!"
"Yes."
Li Yuanping was born to Li Xuanxuan and his wife, Madam Dou. He was the younger brother of Li Yuanxiu from the same mother. Unfortunately, Li Yuanxiu passed away when Madam Dou was pregnant with Li Yuanping. This loss deeply affected Madam Dou and had a profound impact on the unborn child, leaving Li Yuanping with a congenital deficiency.
Fortunately, both his parents were cultivators, and Li Yuanping possessed a spiritual orifice. Although not very talented, he was considered average. After five years of cultivation, he has condensed the Radiant Lure Chakra and reached the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Li Yuanjiao responded and saw Li Yuanping smile as he said, "I heard that you broke through to the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Congrattions!"
In truth, Li Yuanjiao had not been burdened with many mundane affairs over the years. Most of the family''s affairs, whether rted to Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators or worldly matters, were handled by Xiao Guiluan. She managed things efficiently, with fair rewards and punishments, earning the respect of the entire household.
With Xiao Guiluan''s assistance, Li Yuanjiao''s cultivation progressed rapidly. He had received the Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit Talisman, and his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. Within five years, he has already reached the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, surpassing even his father, Li Xuanxuan.
Li Yuanjiao nodded lightly, took two steps to the main seat, and sat down. Looking at his still youthful half-brother, he asked gently, "How is it? Are you able to handle the n Affairs Courtyard?"
"It is going well," Li Yuanping replied as he nodded, smiling, "The Jade Court Guards have already reached the fourth or fifth stages of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. The five of them together can suppress any disturbances... though they usually only deal with petty thieves."
Li Yuanjiao had no interest in managing affairs. Seeing Li Yuanping grow up day by day, he hurriedly handed over the n Affairs Courtyard to him. Now, seeing that he managed well, Li Yuanjiao nodded in satisfaction and said warmly, "Uphold the familyws strictly. Ensure there are no arrogant individuals among the family''s disciples."
As the two brothers were chatting, someone approached hurriedly from below. He bowed in the courtyard, and reported respectfully, "Family Head, there is a letter from Cloud Crowned Peak."
"Present it."
The person below, d in armor, with a square face and thick eyebrows, had an honest appearance. He quickly handed the letter over to the men. However, Li Yuanjiao took the envelope but did not open it. Instead, he stared at the armored man.
The messenger from the hall had always been someone from the Liu Family, whom Li Yuanjiao was ustomed to seeing. However, this person seemed unfamiliar. After a moment of scrutiny, he asked in confusion, "Are you from the Dou Family?"
With a thud, the armored man kneeled in front of him instantly, slightly fearful as he replied, "Family Head, my name is Dou Yi. Madam Dou is my paternal aunt... The regr messenger fell ill, so I took his ce."
"I see... you are someone from my mother''s family."
Since Madam Dou was the wife of Li Xuanxuan and the mother of Li Yuanping, Li Yuanjiao should technically call her mother as well. Instead, Li Yuanjiao feigned sudden realization and smiled at Li Yuanping as he said, "I guess he can be considered your cousin."
Li Yuanping, sitting nearby, merely nodded upon hearing this. He did not look at Dou Yi but continued to pour himself tea. Li Yuanjiao understood the situation immediately. He waved his hand casually to dismiss him, and said with indifference, "In that case, you may serve by Yuanping''s side and find a position in the n Affairs Courtyard."
Dou Yi nodded repeatedly and retreated slowly. Li Yuanping smiled wryly and said, "This is certainly not my mother''s doing. It is probably the Dou Family''s initiative..."
"I know," Li Yuanjiao nodded as he sighed.
"As they say, when the wall is about to fall, everyone pushes. The Liu Family is, after all, the family of the ancestor''s wife so we still need to keep a Liu Family member in the hall. As long as news reaches us, the public will have some fear and will not go overboard with their actions."
Li Yuanping nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Thank you for the guidance, brother."
Li Yuanjiaoughed heartily. The brothers spoke candidly, and Li Yuanjiao''s expression was slightly tinged with sadness as he said, "This advice actually came from our eldest brother. I never have any desire for power. Now that you have it in your hands, I believe you won''t let it go to waste."
Naturally, he was referring to Li Yuanxiu. Li Yuanping had heard many stories about this elder brother he had never met. He simply nodded, and Li Yuanjiao began to read the letter. After scanning it for a few moments, he smiled.
"It is a letter from father."
Li Yuanping looked up in confusion as Li Yuanjiao exined, "The devil gue is bing more rampant. Not only Jiang Yan but dozens of others have joined the Devil Dao,mitting widespread ughters. As a result, talismans and dharma artifacts are in high demand within and outside the sect. This has significantly increased our ie this year. Father has suggested we send the family''s cloud bamboo harvest to be made into talisman papers, which would greatly reduce the costs of crafting talismans."
Li Yuanping, upon hearing the news, lowered his head and said, "The devil gue has been going on for more than five years, yet the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of the Azure Pond Sect have never intervened. I wonder what Chi Zhiyun is thinking..."
Li Yuanjiao paused, and set down his tea bowl before replying, "The devil gue is not simple... As for Jiang Yan, no one knows who he is or whose pawn he might be. You''ve studied the family history and should be aware of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s power. If they are letting Jiang Yan run amok, it must be a deliberate act."
Li Yuanping pondered silently to himself. After exchanging a few more words, he nced at the time and, not wanting to disturb Li Yuanjiao further, took his leave.
Once Li Yuanping had left, a dignified woman in a luxurious flowing dress walked out from the back of the hall. She greeted him with a slight bow, her brow furrowed slightly, and said in a serious tone, "My dear, the decline of the Liu Family has been rmingly rapid. In just five short years, they have gone from a prestigious family to one with members scattered everywhere... There must be something unusual going on."
"That''s true. How could that Liu Family member fall ill at this time? They''ve tried every trick to push someone in front of me, just to test how much affection we still have for the Liu Family."
Li Yuanjiao carefully stored the letter under a pile of scrolls and continued listing out everything. "The Tian Family was sent to the Mount Yue region. The remaining Ren, Chen, Xu, and Dou families must have been plotting to push the Liu Family out of prominence for years... The Liu Family descendants were still indulging themselves. Once the news spread from the mountain, the other families began to act. The Liu Family never had many capable members. They only managed tost five years due to the caution of the other prominent families."
Xiao Guiluan nodded, smiling. "Times have changed. Many things that belonged to the Liu Family should now bear the Dou name. I have met Mother several times; she is tough and has a temper."
Li Yuanjiaoughed heartily, catching the underlying meaning in Xiao Guiluan''s words, and responded gently, "I have known Mother for many years. To her, the entire Dou Family holds less value than Yuanping''s little finger. The Dou Family is merely the next Liu Family... there''s nothing to worry about."
He paused and continued, "Yuanping''s temperament mirrors that of Madam Dou; he is not one to be easily deceived. In a couple of years, we''ll hand over the family affairs to him. Then, you and I can retire to Mount Wutu to cultivate and live as an immortal couple... Wouldn''t that be wonderful?"
Xiao Guiluan nodded slightly. However, she was from the Xiao Family, a centuries-old prestigious n rife with fierce internal power struggles, unlike the newly established and harmonious Li Family. She had seen too many instances of kin turning against each other. Holding no power made her uneasy¡ªnot for herself, but for fear that their son, Li Xizhi, might suffer the consequences.
This intelligent woman had also figured out her husband''s temperament well, and refrained from immediately disagreeing with him. Instead, she nodded with a smile, gazing at the flickering candle me as she pondered how she could secure more support for Li Xizhi.
Chapter 299: The Dou Family (II)
Chapter 299: The Dou Family (II)
Li Yuanping left the courtyard, snapped his fan shut with a swish, and walked on with a displeased expression. Dou Yi followed closely behind, feeling as though he had caused trouble and dared not speak.
Li Yuanping suddenly stopped. Caught off guard, Dou Yi nearly stumbled into him. "Young Master! Young Master!" he called out hurriedly.
"Shut up!" Li Yuanping hissed, using his fan to steady the man, frowning slightly. He then said softly, "Which idiot from the Dou Family took it upon themselves to rece that Liu Family member? You nearly made me lose face in front of my elder brother... If Mother finds out, she will surely have you all punished!"
Dou Yi knew he would have to stay by Li Yuanping''s side from now on, but could not bear to me his father, so he merely stammered in response, "Y-yes...Yes..."
Li Yuanping waved his hand gently and turned his head as he walked, saying, "You do not need to tell me... I know it was probably Old Master Dou. When people get old and gain power, they start scheming more."
Dou Yi quickly followed, replying respectfully, "This was also for your benefit, Young Master. The n Affairs Courtyard has always been the stepping stone to bing the family head... Young Master Yuanjiao has often expressed his desire to relinquish his authority. Now that you are in charge of the n Affairs Courtyard, it''s only a matter of time before you ascend to the family head! Father simply wanted to ce more people to help you."
"Heh," Li Yuanping chuckled, amused. "You speak with such certainty. Your father isn''t trying to help me; he''s trying to sabotage me! If he truly wanted to help, he would patiently wait three years. There''s no need for him to meddle now."
He frowned and looked at the guilt-ridden Dou Yi before saying, "Your father is merely using this as an excuse to expand his influence... Why does he need to do so under the guise of helping me? Your family is my maternal family. When I assume leadership, you will naturally have your ce. There''s no need for all this... Don''t assume I am young and easily deceived."
Dou Yi quickly broke out into a cold sweat. Li Yuanping, waving his fan, continued calmly, "Let us set that aside. I do not care who sent you. Since my elder brother has assigned you to me, you will work for me from now on. Forget about your Dou Family."
Dou Yi was stunned. What Li Yuanping said waspletely different from what his father had instructed. Old Master Dou had always told him, "Young Master Yuanping and Madam Dou are the pirs of our Dou Family. Rely on them to secure more power for our family... In the future, our Dou Family will rise to prominence."
Hearing Li Yuanping''s tone now, it was clear that neither he nor Madam Dou regarded the Dou Family as supporters. Instead, they were guarded against them, fearing that the Dou Family might drag them down! Dou Yi felt a pang of bitterness and said mournfully, "Young Master, the Dou Family is entirely at yourmand and only listens to you... Back then, the Tian and Liu families rose with the tide. Distant rtives are also your arms... Why push them away?"
Unexpectedly, Li Yuanping stopped and looked back at him with interest sparkling in his eyes as he smiled and said, "Cousin... My surname is Li! I am a legitimate son of the main family."
With that, he turned and walked away. Dou Yi, startled, dared not speak further and just followed him closely.
The two walked through the mountains for a while and entered a brightly litrge courtyard. Li Yuanping waited at the courtyard entrance for a moment until a female servant hurried out carrying a basin of water. He asked gently, "Has Mother gone to sleep?"
"Madam has washed her feet and is waiting for you in her room!" the female servant answered hastily.
Dou Yi immediately understood that this was Madam Dou''s courtyard. Remembering his father''s foolish actions and his aunt''s tough nature, his legs trembled, and hemented silently.
My foolish father has caused trouble, yet I have to pay for it. What a plight!
Li Yuanping paid no heed to him and led him into the courtyard. They were greeted by a scene ofyers uponyers of pale yellow drapery, with flickering lights and a faint scent of incense wafting through the air. Two female servants stood obediently by the bed.
Li Yuanping kneeled respectfully and greeted softly, "I''ve arrived, Mother. Congrattions on your breakthrough... The Qi Cultivation Realm is certainly within your reach!"
Madam Dou, sitting upright at the head, was dressed in luxurious clothing, her appearance youthful. Her aura had reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and she was now just a step away from the Qi Cultivation Realm, making her one of the most formidable among the external cultivators.
Over the years, Madam Dou had skillfully managed to keep Li Xuanxuan''s numerous wives and concubines in check, while also elevating her own family''s status in agriculture. Simultaneously, she continued to advance her own cultivation.
"No need for formalities, Ping''er."
Though Madam Dou was known for her stern demeanor, she was unreservedly affectionate toward her child. She immediately invited him to sit. Li Yuanping nodded and recounted the evening''s events, including the details of Li Xuanxuan''s letter.
Madam Dou listened intently, and by the end, Dou Yi felt his scalp tingle. He nced up timidly, only to meet a pair of eyes that were as cold and piercing as starlight.
"Come here." Madam Dou''s voice was gentle. Dou Yi quickly stood before his aunt. A delicate hand with long nails stained with balsam flowers emerged from behind the drapery. Dou Yi stared nkly at the hand, and with a light flick, Madam Dou beckoned him closer.
SLAP!
Dou Yi received a solid p across his face, leaving half of it bright red. He dared not show any anger, only bowing repeatedly and pleading, "Mercy, Auntie! Mercy!"
Madam Dou''s words drifted gently to his ears. "Go back and deliver this p to your father. Tell him this..."
She parted her red lips and slowly uttered the words: "Try something funny again and his life will be as good as gone."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile on Mount Yuting...
Li Qinghong exhaled deeply, her breath visible as a stream of white in the air. The long spear resting on her knees shimmered with mana light. Opening her eyes, which had been nurtured by mana, they sparkled brightly in the dark chamber.
"Second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm..." she mumbled softly.
For the past five years, Li Qinghong had mostly stayed on the mountain to cultivate. She had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm in the first three years and then reached the second heavenlyyer in the subsequent two.
Now in her early twenties, her cultivation speed was notably swiftpared to the usual three to five years typically needed for each heavenlyyer. Only Li Yuanjiao had progressed slightly faster than her, aided by the Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit talisman.
Rising with her spear, a faint purple hue coursed through her eyes, enhancing her already captivating appearance. As a former Grade Four thunder technique, the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique,
made Li Qinghong''s aura exceptionally strong, far surpassing the usual Qi Cultivation Realm of the second heavenlyyer.
"n Sister..."
A man stood cautiously outside the stone chamber. He was one of Li Xuanxuan''s concubine-born sons,cking a spiritual orifice. Among Li Xuanxuan''s numerous offspring, he had little presence and had been sent to manage a town on Mount Yuting.
Li Qinghong''s red lips parted slightly,manding curtly, "Speak."
The man respectfully replied, "Recently, men have been disappearing. For three months, n cultivators have investigated but found nothing. Three days ago, nine families perished suddenly... We''ve reported to the main family and were granted permission to seek your aid, n Sister."
Li Qinghong nodded slightly and asked in confusion, "What about Uncle?"
The man understood she was referring to Chen Donghe and answered hurriedly, "He has gone to the market with Elder An, to send the furs and spirit items. The Family Head is searching for mountains within the Mount Yue region. We are unsure if he has returned, so..."
"All right." Li Qinghong nodded before taking him up with her in the wind and began asking for more details about the situation.
For the first time in his life, the man experienced the thrill of riding the wind. Looking down at the small town and the passing clouds and birds, a sense of envy overwhelmed him. He eagerly answered Li Qinghong''s questions, pointing out directions while feeling a rush of exhration.
Following his directions, Li Qinghong descended to find several empty houses with traces of blood left on the ground. With a swift nce, her dharma eyes detected many peculiarities beneath her feet. She set down her n brother, then with a graceful movement, sketched several runes in the air before casting a talisman.
Chapter 300: Immortals and Devils (I)
Chapter 300: Immortals and Devils (I)
The talisman floated gently in the air, emitting a pale white light that illuminated the surroundings. Bloodstains and severed limbs appeared before them, glowing faintly in the darkness.
Li Qinghong nced around her, a sh of anger in her eyes. The man beside her bowed his head respectfully and reported, "Twenty-seven families, one hundred and ten people... not a single survivor."
Li Qinghong narrowed her eyes as she pressed her spear to the ground, and then cast a spell to investigate, murmuring, "No demonic qi... It was not the work of a demon. It must have been a bloodthirsty cultivator."
Swoosh...
As Li Qinghong was still carefully observing the scene before her, a ck dart suddenly shot toward her, imbued with mana light and tied with a dark thread. It traveled in her direction quickly before disappearing into the darkness.
Li Qinghong had been on guard. She flicked her ck hair, and with a thrust of her spear, a purple light exploded. The ck dart was struck and fell to the ground crookedly.
Li Qinghong called out loudly, "Who dares to seek blood in the Li Family''s territory?! You are quite bold to be lurking here, fellow Daoist!"
A ck mist surged from the darkness, revealing a withered old man with an unpleasant expression, dragging the ck thread on the ground with a clinking sound. The old man nced at Li Qinghong, frowned, and said, "Why make a big deal out of this, youngdy? I have not harmed any of your n. I am merely passing through your immortal n''s territory, resting here and feeding on some two-legged sheep. You are being overly aggressive... Shouldn''t a prestigious n be more generous?"
Li Qinghong scrutinized him, her eyes brightening. The purple hue in her eyes grew more intense with more ferocity. Hearing the old man refer to "immortal n''s territory" and "two-legged sheep," which were terms used only in the northern Zhao and Yan States, she realized he was from the north and eximed joyfully, "So, you are from Jiangbei! Judging by your appearance, you must be a devil cultivator... Let us have a duel and broaden our horizons!"
Without waiting for the old man''s reaction, she had already swung her spear at him. The old man had no choice but to roll up his sleeves, puffing out a cloud of ck smoke.
Within the smoke, men and women of all ages that were shabbily dressed appeared out of thin air, all with expressions of joy.
Li Qinghong was unfazed. As her spear struck its target, thunder erupted. Thunder was inherently effective against evil, and it quickly dispersed the smoke. The men and women within screamed in agony. The old man, now terrified, cursed loudly, "Damn it, you are a thunder cultivator!"
This was Li Qinghong''s first time fighting a non-Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivator. She remained cautious, avoiding closebat. Her spear gathered thunder, which she then hurled at the old man. He took two hits before he could no longer contain his rage and cursed, "How dare a mere Qi Cultivator bully me!"
With that, his robes exploded, revealing a thin and decayed body. He let out a loud roar, and from his abdomen emerged a mass of flesh which quickly transformed into a giant, bald green head with two bloodshot red eyes the size of heads, staring straight ahead. The eyes were dreadfully bloodshot and teary, and his sharp, white teeth gleamed brilliantly.
"So, this is a devil cultivator... Truly a monstrous sight to behold!"
Li Qinghong thrust her spear once more, with thunder rippling out like water.
The monstrous creature spat out a bloody mist, nullifying her attack, and cursed, "Damn it, watch your mouth! I cultivate the Path of Benevolent Devil, which is more humane than your Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao!"
At this moment, the aura around the monstrous creature had risen to the sixth or seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Although he was cursing harshly, he showed no real intent to fight.
He was, after all, a devil cultivator who had attained the status of a Master Monk, equivalent to the Foundation Establishment Realm in the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao. He had been consuming humans along the way without any issues, until today. He simply could not restrain his gluttony and had eaten a bit too much. Now, he regretted it.
Most prestigious nswould not trouble him unnecessarily, considering the reputation of both sides. However, if he encountered a n who brought the matter to light, he would be at a disadvantage. Hence, he could not afford to injure Li Qinghong.
"I have heard the Li Family is a sword immortal family. Since this girl is proficient in thunder techniques... Her background must be extraordinary."
The devil cultivator found himself in a difficult position¡ªunable to retaliate against Li Qinghong''s relentless thunder attacks or escape withoutpromising his dignity as a Master Monk. His only choice was to endure, hoping that an elder from the Li Family would arrive soon to defuse the situation.
Li Qinghong, after two strikes, realized that this old man was definitely stronger than her, likely at the sixth or seventh heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm. Despite his strength, he seemed reluctant to fight, leading to a stalemate. She took out a jade pendant and silently crushed it, thinking, I haven''t even used my talisman qi yet... If this old devil decides to kill, I should be able hold out until reinforcements arrive.
Lightning crackled at the foot of Mount Yuting. Despite the devil cultivator''s superior strength, he struggled against Li Qinghong''s forceful and aggressive thunder attacks. His cultivation appeared to be waning, driving him into a state of panic. He shouted, "Stop, youngdy! Your technique is damaging my cultivation. If this continues, I will be forced to retaliate seriously!"
Li Qinghong paused slightly, noticing two beams of mana light approaching from both sides. One person arrived with a sword, looking anxious and fierce, while the other, appearing in his forties or fifties, looked solemn and stern, shouting, "Who dares to cause trouble in the Li Family''s territory?"
It was Li Yuanjiao and Tian Youdao. Tian Youdao had also sessfully broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, bing the third external Qi Cultivator of the Li Family. He cultivated a Grade Two technique provided to external families and had broken through using the Minor Pure Spiritual Qi.
The twonded beside Li Qinghong with Li Yuanjiao remaining vignt, thinking to himself, This person arrived at a convenient time, just as An Zheyan and Uncle Donghe were away... Only a few of us are left at home. We might not be able to handle him without rming the ancestor.
The devil cultivator, seeing more people arriving, quickly undid his bloody devilish form and returned to his human appearance. With a hint of bitterness, he introduced himself, "I am Murong Xia. I came to the south for a journey, passing through the immortal n''s territories. Indeed.... I consumed some two-legged sheep. If I have caused offense, I seek your forgiveness. They were merely mortals, not worth making enemies over."
Li Yuanjiao frowned upon hearing this. Li Qinghong whispered, "Twenty-seven families, one hundred and ten people."
Murong Xia was stunned. Though old, he understood from Li Qinghong''s words that these people did not resent him for taking without asking, but genuinely despised him for eating humans.
He immediately cupped his fist and responded sincerely, "You have lived in Jiangnan for a long time and may not be familiar with our devil sect''s teachings. The immortal sects often said that we devil cultivators are inherently evil and revel in eating humans, but this is a big misunderstanding."
Li Yuanjiao and the others found his words rather amusing and exchanged quick nces with each other. They watched Murong Xia continue earnestly, "Even those facing death are allowed theirst words. Please hear me out and do not condemn all devil cultivators."
Li Yuanjiao, seeing more and more townspeople gathering with uneasy looks on their faces, frowned and said, "This is not the ce to talk. Pleasee with us to the mountain."
"Fine!" Murong Xia agreed surprisingly without fear, nodding.
Li Yuanjiao gestured politely, and the group headed up the mountain together despite the tension earlier. Li Qinghong sneered and transmitted her voice. "Eating humans is eating humans... Can he really talk his way out of this?"
Li Yuanjiao silently shook his head and replied through mana voice transmission, "The mountain has a grand formation and the ancestor''s suppression. Once he enters the formation, we can handle him as we please."
Chapter 301: Immortals and Devils (II)
Chapter 301: Immortals and Devils (II)
Murong Xia sat casually on a wooden chair on the mountain, smiling at the crowd. His gaze lingered on Li Qinghong for a moment before he spoke.
"My Murong Family cultivates orthodox devil Dao that has ancient roots. Cultivators nurture a Euphoria Head within their stomach for cultivation. This is the most orthodox form of devil cultivation, even a Maha or Dharma Master would find no fault with it."
He paused, observing Li Qinghong''s shaking of her head, and continued softly, "You all know the state of this world. Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivators grow people for consumption, and the Maha and Dharma Masters cycle through endless reincarnations. For mortals, life is nothing but suffering... something that is worse than death. It would be better for them to be consumed by me."
Li Qinghong sneered and retorted bluntly, "It is precisely because of people like you, who consume humans, that mortals endure a fate worse than death. It''s not that life is so unbearable that being devoured would be a preferable option. Fellow Daoist, isn''t it rather excessive to twist reality for the sake of self-deception?"
Murong Xia raised his eyebrows and said earnestly, "Not at all. Devil cultivation is about saving all beings. My Murong Family cultivates the Euphoria Realm precisely for this reason... Without it, we would not consume humans."
He paused again, looked at the crowd, and continued calmly, "Within the Euphoria Head lies the Euphoria Realm. There are fine wines, exquisite delicacies, luxurious clothing, and untold riches, where men and women indulge without the burdens of life and death, free from the worries of conflict and torment... Endless pleasure and happiness await within. Those consumed by me enter this realm, shedding their mortal flesh to be immortal souls. As long as I, Murong Xia, continue my cultivation, they will revel in eternal delights. Isn''t that wonderful?"
His words were like a stone thrown into ake, causing everyone to look at each other in astonishment and rendering Li Qinghong momentarily speechless.
Murong Xia sighed and shook his head, continuing, "We arepassionate. The devil sect is benevolent. When devil cultivators fight, the victor gathers the souls of the defeated into their realm, where they enjoy eternal pleasures. If everyone practiced devil cultivation, only cultivators would suffer while mortals would enjoy eternal bliss in this sacrednd of eternal joy!"
Murong Xia''s face showedpassion, and a faint halo of light appeared behind his head.
Li Yuanjiao frowned and said, "This is just your im. Who knows if you consume people or gather their souls? If it is truly a virtuous deed, why does your devil form take on such a grotesque and gory appearance, and why does the world detest cultivators like you?"
Murong Xiaughed and waved his hand dismissively. The sound of the breeze, apanied by the sounds of music and theughter of men, women, and children, came from his stomach.
Before them appeared a green soul, bowing respectfully and saying, "Greetings immortal masters, I am Cao Yangxuan, a resident of the town at the base of Mount Yuting."
Li Yuanjiao and the others were taken aback. The town''s head, who was Li Yuanjiao''s concubine-born younger brother, stepped forward and conversed briefly with the soul. Shortly after, he returned, saying, "Family Head, I know that person. His voice and appearance are exactly as they were when he was still alive."
Murong Xiaughed heartily. The devil soul kneeled with a thud and said, "We are grateful for all that the n has done for us. It''s a great kindness that we could never repay, not even in ten lifetimes. Now that I have been enlightened by the Master Monk and achieved eternal bliss, Ie with one request..."
Li Yuanjiao felt a sense of foreboding and asked, "Speak."
The devil soul bowed respectfully and replied, "At the entrance of the vige is an old farmer named Cao Ye, my father. We lived in hardship. Now that I have received this great opportunity, I hope the Family Head can bring my father here, cleanse him thoroughly, and let this Master Monk consume him so that we can reunite in bliss and enjoy eternal happiness together..."
"Absurd!"
Before Li Yuanjiao could even respond, Li Qinghong, unable to listen any longer, frowned and spat out a bolt of thunder, interrupting the spell. The devil soul, already a remnant soul, was instantly destroyed by the thunder.
Murong Xia was furious and cursed, "What a cruel woman! What a vicious heart!"
Li Qinghong, feeling a tinge of guilt as she watched the soul dissipate, raised her eyebrows and retorted sharply, "Your entire cultivation is based on falsehood. Your so-callednd of bliss is just an illusion!"
"Illusion?" Murong Xia sneered and replied, "What right do you have to decide for others? Go ask the mortals if they prefer to continue struggling in this world or enter my so-called illusory Euphoria Realm?"
Turning away from Li Qinghong, Murong Xia addressed Li Yuanjiao, "As for the Family Head''s im that our devil Dao is grotesque and detestable, it is because we conceal our utmost kindness and beauty within our bellies, using our outward appearance to bear the me. The elders of my family are all good people who could discuss Dao with the Mahas and Dharma Masters."
Murong Xia''s voice echoed through the courtyard, and he continued through gritted teeth, "In my humble opinion, it is the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivators who are truly selfish and self-serving! They appear ethereal and transcendent, but seek only personal transcendence... regarding all other beings as mere ants. That, I argue, is the true essence of the devil Dao! We may appear hideous and act outrageously, but at our core, we are the genuine immortal cultivators!"
"Heh!" Li Qinghong was both amused and angered. Many of the one hundred and fifteen corpses had not yet cooled, and the dismembered limbs and blood still painted the town red. Yet, this devil cultivator had the gall to use them of such atrocities. She coldly replied, "Our Daos are fundamentally different!"
The old monk shook his head and patted his belly as heughed. "Either we fight it out, or you let me go. Family Head, you must decide wisely!"
The tension in the courtyard rose. Li Yuanjiao stroked the hilt of his sword quietly, listening intently to something. After a moment, he exhaled deeply and waved his hand.
"Please leave, fellow Daoist. Do note to our territory to consume humans again. If this happens again, you won''t escape so easily."
"Thank you, Family Head!" Murong Xia cupped his fists and strode out of the courtyard, flying away on the wind.
Tian Youdao and the others nced at the siblings and wisely withdrew. Li Qinghong smoothed her hair and sat down to the side,ughing.
"That old fellow, iming that his family elders are cultured and that they are true immortal cultivators inside, is clearly afraid!"
Li Yuanjiao still held the Dragon Coiling Pir sword and replied, "Who would not be? It is like poking a wolf with a stick; both sides are scared. He fears our reputation as sword immortals, but we have never fought devil cultivators and are just as nervous. That old fellow appears to be only at the seventh or eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, but he has cultivated something so sinister that his strength must be at the Foundation Establishment Realm. This is the first time such a powerful cultivator hase to our territory."
The two exchanged a nce, avoiding the topic of the hundred-odd innocent deaths. Li Yuanjiao sighed softly and said, "We can only do what we can. Driving him away is the best oue. There are more and more devil cultivators in Jiangnan these days... Peaceful days will be hard toe by."
Li Qinghong nodded slightly and asked, "The devil gue in Yue State... Did Sister-In-Law get any news from the Xiao Family?"
Chapter 302: Immortals and Devils (III)
Chapter 302: Immortals and Devils (III)
Li Yuanjiao shook his head and replied, "No news yet. But... there is some news from the Yuan Family."
Li Qinghong raised an eyebrow as Li Yuanjiao continued with concern, "Yuan Tuan from Qingsui Peak has gone into seclusion to prepare for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. ording to the Yuan Family, Yuan Tuan has a great chance of seeding within four or five years. If she does, the legacy of Qingsui Peak will fall to her, and she will undoubtedly take on disciples and pass on her teachings. Our Li Family cannot miss this opportunity to establish influence within the sect!"
Li Qinghong immediately understood Li Yuanjiao''s implication and furrowed her delicate brows, responding, "Brother, you have... Xizhi in mind, right?"
To send someone to Qingsui Peak, they must be at least seven years old, preferably between ten and twelve. Li Yuanping was not yet married. Li Yuanyun had two children, but one was too young, and the older one, though possessing a spiritual orifice, would be too old by then. They were not suitable candidates.
Currently, the only one in the generation of Xi and Yue was Li Yuanjiao''s son, Li Xizhi, who was four or five years old. In four or five years, he would meet Qingsui Peak''s requirements. Seeing Li Qinghong pondering this, Li Yuanjiao nodded and said, "If Xizhi has the talent, we''ll have to send him there."
Li Qinghong pursed her lips together and asked, "Will Sister-In-Law agree?"
Li Yuanjiao drank his tea, recalling the moment when Li Tongya had personally handed him the gleaming Dragon Coiling Pir sword and remained silent.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
While Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong were deep in discussion on Mount Lijing, the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain was brightly lit. Several tables had been set up in the courtyard, adorned with tes of rare mountain delicacies and various dipping sauces on the side.
A young man, appearing to be seventeen or eighteen at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, sat reclined in a chair.
"Come,e!"
The young man at the head of the table had a slightly pale face and colorless lips. He looked at the person seated below and smiled. "Brother Xiao Xian, are youfortable here?"
"Oh yes... Comfortable! Veryfortable!" Xiao Xian replied quickly. Having visited the Li Family frequently over the years, he was quite familiar with Li Yuanping. Despite their age difference, Xiao Xian always felt somewhat restrained in Li Yuanping''s presence, never quite able to rxpletely or let his guard down. Perhaps this was due to the domineering aura Li Yuanping had inherited from Madam Dou.
Li Yuanping smiled. His appearance leaned more toward Madam Dou¡ªdignified and strong, with an air of grandeur. He adjusted the cup on the table and brought up a topic, asking, "Why does your n suddenly need ebony ore?"
Xiao Xian cupped his fists and replied, "The devil gue is rampant, and the price of dharma artifacts is rising daily... My family happens to have a fire vein and a tradition of smithing, so my father thought of taking this opportunity to make some profit."
"I see!" Li Yuanping said as he nodded slightly and nced at Xiao Xian, then brought up a couple of topics rted to Li Qingxiao. Xiao Xian listened attentively, and as the conversation flowed, they began to open up. Li Yuanping then asked, "Brother Xiao Xian, how much do you know about the situation in the Great Xu State to the north?"
Xiao Xian, slightly tipsy by now, noticed Li Yuanping''sposed expression and inwardly praised his remarkable tolerance. He replied, "A few years ago, you asked me to investigate... I''ve learned a bit more since then."
He paused and continued, "For nearly a hundred years, the immortal Dao in Xu State has been declining, with demonic and devil cultivators emerging everywhere... It was not until four years ago that the three sects and seven gates united with the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of Jiangnan, advancing northward and driving back many of the devil sects. The main forces in this war were the Golden Feather Sect and the Yue Cultivating Sect, led by the peak Purple Mansion Realm sword immortal, Daoist Master Shangyuan. He killed two Merciful Ones and three other demons before finally bringing stability back to Xu State."
At this point, Xiao Xian hesitated briefly, but then continued, "As for the Dao foundations of these Purple Mansion Realms that you asked me to investigate... it was challenging! I managed to gather some information from various sources. The Daoist Maser from the Azure Pond Sect practices Heavy Murk, while the one from the Profound Peak Gate practices Fool''s Mountain Chase. The Golden Tang Gate, whose Daoist Master rarely shows up, practices Engraved Stone. Lastly, the Daoist Master from the Purple Smoke Gate practices East Mountain Loop."
Xiao Xian took a sip of wine and continued exining, "These Daoist Masters had left many traces during their training before achieving the Purple Mansion Realm. I searched through my family''s library for a long time to piece together their immortal foundations."
"Thank you, brother!" Li Yuanping responded, silently noting down the information. Xiao Xian did not understand why Li Yuanping was gathering this information but wisely refrained from asking.
"Brother, you have great tolerance, I can barely keep up..."
After exchanging a few more cups of spirit wine, Xiao Xian, with his lower cultivation, began to feel dizzy and smiled in defeat as he announced his intention to depart.
Li Yuanping, having obtained the information he needed, did not detain Xiao Xian any longer. He watched as Xiao Xian was escorted out by the Xiao family servants. Throughout their lengthy drinking session, Li Yuanping discreetly filled his cup with clear tea, ensuring his sobriety while maintaining the appearance of indulgence.
He cleared the table,id out the brush and ink, and carefully recorded the information before folding it neatly and handing it to a trusted aide. "Give this to my brother," he instructed gently.
Li Yuanping and Li Yuanxiu were both born of Madam Dou and under her influence, they had shed much of the ruthless cunning that came from the Li Family''s grassroots origins, recing it with a grand, authoritative demeanor.
Dou Yi, seated below, took the letter. Li Yuanping nced at him, and Dou Yi could not help but recall the long nails that were always stained with balsam flowers. Li Yuanping chuckled and asked, "Did you deliver that p from my mother to your father?"
Dou Yi nodded hastily, stammering, "Yes, young master... I did! Father kneeled in the courtyard himself... I conveyed every word exactly as it was, even replicating the strength. The red mark is still on his face..."
"Hahaha!" Li Yuanpingughed heartily and shook his head, saying boldly, "You people fear power butck respect. My brother has shown leniency repeatedly out of respect for Mother, but he shows no restraint. Now he has lost face and damaged our rtionship, and he has only himself to me!"
Dou Yi dared not say anything, simply responding timidly. Li Yuanping nced at the letter in Dou Yi''s hand, and this action scared him enough to send him scurrying off. Only then did Li Yuanping turn back to his desk, muttering, "However, I still do not know what the Dao Partner of this immortal foundation called Spring''s Echo that uses the Cave Spring Clear Qi is..."
He flipped through the wooden slips on his desk, a deep frown forming on his face.
"The three sects and seven gates control information too tightly... If our family is to find a way out, we need information within the sect. We cannot dy any longer!"
Li Yuanping stared at the flickering candle, recalling the secret conversations he had with his brother Li Yuanjiao by the bed when they were younger, and the glittering Dragon Coiling Pir sword that Li Tongya had personally handed over to his brother.
His face grew paler, and he muttered, "The Xiao Family is ultimately an external family... Xiao Chuting is cunning and is surely plotting something. He is not easy to deal with. But... our family has no choice but to rely on him for now. We can only take one step at a time..."
Chapter 303: Minghui
Chapter 303: Minghui
Xiao Xian left the courtyard quietly. The cold wind sobered him up instantly. He walked a few steps up the stone stairs, gusts of wind blowing all around him. In an attempt to curry favor, a servant stepped forward, saying, "You are truly devoted to Lady Qingxiao, Young Master Xiao. You even allow Li Yuanping to boss you around, all for her sake... Everyone can see it. Lady Qingxiao must be deeply moved!"
Xiao Xian nodded with indifference, inhaling the scent of incense wafting through the air in Lijing Town. He was a kind-hearted person, so he did not mind the servant speaking casually and using phrases like "boss around."
The servant, seeing him silent, could only follow quietly. He had indeed hit the nail on the head. Preupied with his own thoughts, Xiao Xian rubbed the jade ring on his finger absentmindedly.
Although he was indeed fond of Li Qingxiao, he did not feel that he was as devoted as everyone said he was. His actions were not solely driven by self-interest but were also in the best interest of the entire Mount Yu branch.
"Ancestor Chuchou was always kind toward our branch, but he died of old agest year. Our family lost its support, and my father has be increasingly worried... These years have be more and more difficult..."
Xiao Jiuqing was a charming man with many offspring, many of whom possessed spiritual orifices. Xiao Xian''s talent was not particrly good, so he never mattered much to Xiao Jiuqing.
Apanying Xiao Guiluan to the Li Family that year had changed Xiao Xian''s fate. He returned home with two pieces of pastry, wet and sticky, and told his mother everything. Her sharp instincts, honed from years of fighting and scheming in the mansion, quickly identified key points to leverage.
She called Xiao Jiuqing and exaggerated the story to him, delighting him in the process. Caught between fear and uncertainty, Xiao Xian suddenly found himself unable to avoid the Li Family. Rumors began to spread about a fated connection between the two, and Xiao Xian feltpelled to visit the Li Family.
"What kind of fate is this..."
For the past few years, Xiao Xian had been diligent, unable to tell if it was due to family pressure or his feelings for Li Qingxiao. He smiled wryly. Without Xiao Jiuqing''s many resources and connections, Xiao Xian, with his limited cultivation, would never have been able to obtain such secretive information to share with Li Yuanping.
As the evening breeze brushed past his face, Xiao Xian sobered up even more. He had not actually drunk much spirit wine, but being around Li Yuanping always made him uneasy, causing him to find an excuse to leave the courtyard after a few cups.
In the darkness, Mount Lijingy silently. Xiao Xian turned to look at the mountain, which was coiled like a serpent dragon. A faint sense of fear rose in his heart.
The Li Family has the appearance of wolf leaders. They are probably crouching and hiding now, but they would never be content living under our Xiao Family or even the Azure Pond Sect... Our family''s alliance with the Li Family might bring disaster in the end...
The servant, bending over to serve, noticed Xiao Xian''s gaze fixed on Mount Lijing and said softly, "Young Master, this mountain''s earth veins are shallow, and its spiritual energy is thin. It cannot be considered a famous mountain."
"Famous mountain?" Xiao Xian chuckled, shook his head, and regained hisposure. He slowly walked away, uttering another simple statement to his servant.
"You never know."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Lijing was illuminated from top to bottom with golden candlelight flickering throughout the mountain, making the darkness of the mountain less frightening.
High above in the clouds, Li Tongya stood in mid-air, holding a tightly wrapped long sword on his back. He stared expressionlessly at the person in front of him.
This person had a kind face but was plump withrge ears. He wore a brownish-yellow robe and held a golden glowing monk staff in his hand. The golden rings on the staff nged together, emitting a faint tinkling sound. He stared calmly at Li Tongya, a halo of colorful light swirling behind his head.
"Murong Xia has already left our territory. Even if you use your spiritual sense to search, you will not find him. Master Monk, you have been confronting me for a long time; you should be satisfied now!" Li Tongya spoke slowly, his tone still calm, although his heart was boiling with anger.
He had instructed Li Yuanjiao to let Murong Xia go out of sheer necessity. This Buddhist monk had been holding him back, and without using the mirror, he could not deal with them and was even at a disadvantage.
"Your generosity is greatly appreciated, Benefactor. Minghui is deeply grateful!" the Buddhist monk said as he nodded slightly, the golden light suppressing Li Tongya gradually fading. Li Tongya also retracted his mana, feeling a slight sense of relief.
Li Tongya had been cultivating on the mountain when Li Qinghong shattered the jade talisman for help, startling him. Although Murong Xia only disyed the power of roughly the sixth to seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Tongya genuinely felt threatened and was prepared to act. However, this unknown Buddhist monk had intercepted him.
Without another word, the monk raised his staff and emitted golden light, forcibly suppressing Li Tongya. After exchanging dozens of blows, Li Tongya felt his internal organs burning like fire and realized that he was not the monk''s match. He had no choice but to hold the monk off until Murong Xia left the territory, at which point the tension eased.
"To think a Buddhist monk would protect a devil cultivator who eats humans... Master Monk, you have quite the heart!" Li Tongya mocked ndly.
Minghui, the monk, smiled softly and replied, "You are mistaken, Benefactor... Murong Xia merely removed these people''s physical forms to bring them salvation. It is a great fortune for these two-legged sheep to enter the Euphoria Realm, a grand blessing that can only be achieved over nine lifetimes!"
Li Tongya sneered without responding. Minghui formed a hand seal and exined, "I am the top disciple of the Lotus Temple, ordered to escort Murong Xia south. If there has been any offense, please forgive me. There will be blessings in return.
"Murong Xia follows the Virtuous Benevolence Devil Dao, which is also part of my Virtuous Benevolence Zen Dao. He was ordered to go south and consume 106,756 people. Afterward, he will meditate in Linghai Prefecture to achieve enlightenment, be a Maha, and reform into the Virtuous Benevolence Zen Dao, bringing these 106,756 people into thend of blessings. It is a meritorious deed."
Li Tongya has heard of the eloquence of Buddhist monks and now experienced it firsthand. He avoided engaging further and replied directly, "The south is the domain of my immortal sect. Have your Buddhist sect obtained permission?"
Minghui nodded slightly and answered, "The immortal sect reimed Xu State and killed our Merciful Ones... This allowed Murong Xia to go south as an exchange. The Sword Immortal should be aware of this. If there has been any offense, I will personally go to the southern border to apologize."
Li Tongya, understanding why the monk was being so polite, realized it was due to Li Chejing''s influence. While the immortal sect appeared mighty by reiming Xu State, it was merely an exchange of interests behind the scenes.
Despite his disdain for their methods, Li Tongya had to acquiesce.
"I see."
Minghui retracted his staff. Seeing that Li Tongya was a reasonable man, he smiled warmly. "I see that your n governs benevolently, akin to our teachings. It must be fate! Why not let me stay here and spread our teachings...?"
Li Tongya immediately shook his head, wanting nothing to do with the Buddhist sect and hoping the monk would leave as soon as possible. He replied, "Your duty is to escort Murong Xia. Do not tarry."
His refusal was evident, but Minghui feigned ignorance and asked again with a smile, "Murong Xia has multiple monks escorting him; they do not need me. Your n and our teachings are fated..."
"We are just a small n, unworthy of hosting a great monk like you," Li Tongya had to refuse bluntly.
Minghui did not take offense, and instead replied, "Very well, then. However, I have one more question for you, Benefactor."
Chapter 304: Backlash
Chapter 304: Bacsh
Li Tongya frowned and nodded, while Minghui''s expression was serious. He carefully observed Li Tongya''s face and warmly exined, "My master is a Maha. Once, there was a demon under his tutge, who was merely a demon soldier at the time. My master calcted its fate and discovered that its opportunity to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realmy in the Xu State. He spent much mana and destiny to determine that the opportunity would arise in Mount Bianyan within the Xu State. Thus, he sent the demon there to cultivate and await the right moment."
Minghui waved the staff in his hand, producing a series of clinking sounds that echoed in the air like an eagle''s cry. He continued, "Later, I became a Master Monk. Knowing that the time hade, my master sent me to Mount Bianyan to capture the demon as a spirit beast mount. Who would have thought that after walking for over three years, I ended up empty-handed!"
Realization immediately struck Li Tongya. The wolf demon he had hunted on Mount Bianyan years ago had spoken of a destined opportunity¡ªthis must have been what it referred to. At the time, however, Li Tongya had dismissed its baseless ims and had captured and killed the creature.
Knowing this in his heart, Li Tongya''s expression remained unchanged. He smiled and said, "If your master had calcted its fate, then it was destined to be so. Now that things have gone awry, either your master miscalcted or the demon was restless and lost its life on its own. Even if it was rted to us, it was fate. How can you question me, an immortal cultivator?"
Minghui forced a smile, despite suspecting that the Li Family was involved. He felt rather helpless in this situation.
The many battles between Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in Mount Bianyan had already made it difficult to maintain the fabricated fate. Minghui had hoped to see if he could extort Li Tongya, but this man was eloquent and skillfully turned his arguments around, leaving Minghui speechless.
Feeling frustrated, he could only smile and say, "Your fate is set, and I will not interfere. Moongaze Lake is a serene ce. If one of my sect''s great masters reincarnates there, I hope you will take care of them, Benefactor."
Li Tongya had heard of many Buddhist methods. Once one became a Maha or Dharma Master, they could preserve a bit of their true spirit, seeking vessels to reincarnate into generation after generation. Buddhists called this the Dao of Reincarnation. Even in their infancy, they would realize they were a Maha and resume their cultivation across lifetimes, which was indeed quite sinister.
Despite his patience, Li Tongya did not expect Minghui to be so shameless as to target his descendants. Coldly, he replied, "Your Buddhist sect may y with reincarnation in the north, but do not even think about targeting my descendants! If any Mahas dare to seize the body of my kin, I, Li Tongya, will personally strangle the reincarnated child and never allow you to use my family as you please!"
Minghuiughed, waving his hands repeatedly, and responded, "Why so angry, Benefactor? It was just a joke. Our sect rarely reincarnates in the south. Even if we do, we do not take the bodies of immortal ns. It is an unwritten rule. Moreover, your family is a sword immortal n... We would not dare offend you."
Despite Minghui''s respectful words, his tone and actions were condescending. Li Tongya, unwilling to engage further, cupped his fist and said curtly, "Then, I bid you farewell!"
After saying this, he then rode the wind back to the mountains, not wishing to speak with the man any further.
Minghui nodded slightly, watching Li Tongya descend into the mountains. He squinted for a moment, his eyes shing with colorful light, staring at the people below him. His eyes lingered on Li Qinghong for a moment, mumbling to himself, "Thunder techniques... seem closely rted to our Buddhist teachings! This girl is beautiful; she would make a fine servant to tend to the artifacts."
Minghui had his own dharma artifact¡ªa golden pce filled with handsome men and beautiful women, where he cultivated alone. Seeing Li Qinghong''s heroic appearance, he was tempted even more, pondering to himself, The south is in chaos now, and that sword immortal is far away in the southern border... If I cast my spell properly and abduct this girl, who could say anything..?
As his desire grew, Minghui began performing a series of hand seals to change his form and attempt to capture the girl. However, a sense of unease made him hesitate. Thinking it over, he decided, I feel uneasy. The Li Family is protected by a sword immortal... I better calcte her fate to avoid any possible mishaps, even if it costs considerable time and mana.
Minghui raised his finger, a colorful light shing in his hand. He stood with his eyes closed, calcting for a while, and then murmured, "I see... She''s Li Tongya''s legitimate granddaughter... This could be troublesome. He might fight me to death... s! Her cultivation is at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and she is skilled in spear techniques..."
Minghui was deep in his calctions when he suddenly froze, still in mid-air like an immovable statue. His plump face immediately became rigid and expressionless. Though he had cultivated a wless body, which theoretically meant he could not shed tears or sweat, he began to tremble violently. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on hisrge face, growingrger and rolling over his smooth skin.
Minghui''s eyes widened, the colorful light in his hand growing brighter, floating like a star. Yet, he wore a sorrowful expression, not daring to move. He felt an overwhelming sense of danger suffocating him as his legs grew weak, and he was about to cough up blood.
Merciful Buddha! If my finger moves even a fraction more and I continue this calction, I will perish! There will be no chance of survival!
A premonition echoed in his mind, making Minghui''s limbs tremble. He gritted his teeth, cursing inwardly, This must be connected to some powerful being, at least a Golden Core Realm cultivator! Damn it... How could such a powerful entity be involved in such a deste ce? This is a disaster... Being annihted is no joke!
Minghui had not yet attained the status of a Maha, but as a Buddhist cultivator, he was proficient in matters of past and future. Under normal circumstances, he could retain his true spirit and reincarnate after death.
However, he deeply understood that if he continued to calcte this fate, he would be utterly destroyed, leaving no trace of his true spirit. Not even Maha would be able to survive, let alone a Master Monk like himself.
Sweating profusely, Minghui struggled to suppress the spell in his hand. However, the spell was already halfway formed, and it would be difficult to stop it now. He could only watch helplessly as the colorful light in his hand grew brighter, causing his eyelids to twitch uncontrobly.
POOF!
Minghui had no choice but to reverse the spell, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he attempted to suppress the spell. He freed one hand to form a seal and conjured a golden, glittering pce. It was exquisitely crafted, with pavilions and towers, filled with handsome men and beautiful women walking barefoot.
"Go!"
Minghui painfully activated the dharma artifact, using his palm as a de to sever the hand that was holding the colorful spell. His body, strangely devoid of blood and flesh, resembled sticky dough, with a thin trail of dough trailing from the severed hand.
Although detached from his body, the hand remained under his control, which still held the spell. Minghui then directed the golden pce toward it, opening all its doors and windows to absorb the golden light and mist. The severed hand then floated into the pce.
"Phew..."
It was only then did Minghui breathe a sigh of relief. He looked at the colorful light and severed hand suppressed within the dharma artifact. With a forceful pull, a new hand extended from his stump, white and clean like dough.
"What a mess!" Minghui cried out in grief and indignation.
Chapter 305: Branch Line (I)
Chapter 305: Branch Line (I)
Minghui had barely managed to shout out his curses when the golden temple began to sway and tremble all over, emanating waves of mana light. His expression immediately turned to one of terror, knowing that the Golden Core Realm cultivator he had connected with must have been able to hear him.
He hurriedly cried out, "Spare me, Senior! Spare me! Minghui is the disciple of Maha Jinlian from the Lotus Sect, which upholds the Dharma Characteristics Dao lineage! Please spare my life and I promise never to set foot on theke again!"
The golden temple shook for a moment before gradually stabilizing. Minghui performed a deep bow in the air for a long time before he even dared to rise, then flew away.
Minghui tested his newly grown arm and nced into the golden pce artifact. He saw a dazzling ball of colorful light still floating within, while the severed arm had already turned into a pool of white liquid. The pce rumbled under the strain, and the handsome men and beautiful dancers within were screaming and shouting like ants on a hot pan.
"What a pity!"
These people had been collected by Minghui from all over the northern regions, each with outstanding appearances. He had invested much effort in them, and now they were about to be scorched to death by the colorful light.
Minghui cursed under his breath and said, "Abandon your physical forms ande to my temple! Maha is within reach, once I establish my paradise, there will be plenty of pleasure for you all!"
He then raised the golden pce above his head, opening his mouth wide to reveal his white teeth and pink tongue. His saliva glistened like dewdrops, exuding a faintly exotic fragrance.
He gave a forceful shake, causing fingernail-sized figures to tumble right into his mouth. Minghui''s pristine teeth bit down, sending severed limbs and flesh flying everywhere, with crimson trails flowing over his tender lips. The attendants in the temple were overjoyed, however, dly leaping into his mouth.
After several dozen breaths, Minghui licked his lips, saying in great contentment, "First, I will replenish my vital qi, then return to ask the Maha if I can preserve my golden pce!"
Minghui cast a wary nce in the direction of Mount Lijing, not daring to even think about Li Qinghong. Having narrowly escaped death, he was utterly terrified, thinking to himself, This Li Family must be backed by some venerable figure I''ve never heard of... I''ll have to ask my master about it when I return. I should leave now!
Not until Minghui left, like a defeated dog, did the turmoil finally settle. However, the area beneath Mount Yuting remained blood-stained, with filth all the way from the threshold to the steps. The neighbors worked together to clean up the mess, shivering as they returned to their homes.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Yuting had long been under the An Family''s rule, only to fall into the Li Family''s hands in recent years. Themon people had been ustomed to hard days, and even when the devil cultivator, Murong Xia caused a stir, the deaths of over a hundred people seemed insignificantpared to the better days under the Li Family''s rule.
When people encountered each other, they would merely ask who had passed andment briefly, "Such a pity... we''re finally living good days."
Li Yuanjiao threw himself into the various affairs of Mount Wutu while Li Yuanping took over the family matters, gradually bing busier. He held a vermilion brush and lightly marked the wooden slips on the desk before him.
Innate illness made Li Yuanping appear frail and weak, his eyebrows constantly furrowed as if weighed down by countless heavy burdens that he could not relieve from his shoulders. Even when sitting in the most honored position in the courtyard, he still exuded an air of anxiety.
"This year''s harvest is somewhat better, reducing some losses," Li Yuanping mumbled to himself. He nced at the middle-aged man serving by his side and spoke gently. "n Uncle, you have been working in the n Affairs Courtyard for many years... As I am new to managing the family, I hope you can guide me."
The elderly man beside him, with sunken eyes and graying temples, looked gaunt and haggard though his clothes were meticulously tidy. This was Li Xiewen, an old man who had managed the household during Li Xuanxuan''s rule. He was the son of Li Yesheng and was now nearly fifty years old.
The people from the northern slopes of Mount Dali matured early, marrying and having children by the age of twelve or thirteen, and lived only to their forties or fifties. Li Xiewen, devoid of any cultivation, was at the age where he should have been bedridden, just waiting by the death''s door. Years of hard work and dedication had earned him several spirit items to nourish himself, allowing him to maintain a rtively healthy appearance.
However, Li Pingyi''s suicide had struck this old man hard, causing him to wither. Although the main family sent people to console him, it symbolized that his lineage hadpletely faded from the center of power. Li Xiewen, clinging to his position, sought to salvage whatever he could.
Upon hearing Li Yuanping''s inquiry, Li Xiewen quickly responded modestly, "I have worked in the n Affairs Courtyard for many years and merely have a keen ear... I wouldn''t dare to give guidance."
Li Yuanping waved his hand, and the old man began, "Currently, there are only three among the non-main lineage Qi Cultivators in the family practicing authentic techniques¡ªAn Zheyan at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Chen Donghe at the fourth heavenlyyer, and Tian Youdao at the first heavenlyyer. As for the unrefined Qi Cultivators, there are Li Qiuyang and Old Master Ren. Unrefined Qi Cultivators merely hold the title of Qi Cultivators and are not worth consideration. Additionally, there are two at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, three at the fifth stage, ten at the fourth stage, and a hundred and fifteen minor cultivators below that stage... mostly useless old fellows."
Li Yuanping nodded slightly. Li Xiewen continued, "The n Affairs Courtyard has two Embryonic Breathing Realms cultivators at the fifth stage and three at the fourth stage, with countless scouts below the fourth stage and among mortals. Though the family has many external cultivators, only a few are worth noting."
Li Yuanping offered him a seat and had the servants serve tea, then said, "I appreciate your advice, n Uncle."
Li Xiewen thanked him, his expression calm. His voice still held deep respect when he continued on.
"The most powerful is Madam Dou of the Dou Family, at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, with many followers. Though the Dou Familycks a prestigious name, it possesses substantial influence, owning private spirit fields and forming connections, exhibiting great power."
Li Yuanping moved the tea on the desk, staring quietly at Li Xiewen who was oblivious to his gaze. Li Xiewen simply shook his head and pointed to Dou Yi who sat below, who immediately shrank back and looked as if he wanted to crawl into the ground right then and there.
"As you can see, the Dou Family has already ced people around the young master."
Li Yuanpingughed, then replied, "I am already aware of the Dou Family."
Dou Yi, who was sitting below, possessed cultivation himself. However, when in front of Madam Dou and Li Yuanping, he cowered. Now, being pointed at and criticized by an old mortal man, he felt a surge of anger in his heart. He raised his head cautiously, only to meet Li Yuanping''s direct gaze, and lowered his head hastily again.
Li Xiewen nodded silently and cupped his fist, saying, "The Chen Family relies on Chen Donghe, who has always been the foremost among the prestigious families and respected by all. Old Master Chen keeps a low profile and never unts his influence. However, the Chen Family has a young disciple named Chen Mufeng, who is seventeen years old and already at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He is a disciple of Li Qiuyang, with excellent talent and great potential for promotion."
"I see," Li Yuanping responded with a broad smile and nodded.
The old man with a face full of wrinkles continued softly, "As for the other families, the Tian Family is scattered, the Liu Family is in decline, the Xu Family has few offspring, and the Ren Family''s various branches are not in harmony. Only a few people, like Tian Zhongqing and Xu Gongming, are worth noticing; the rest are mediocre and of little use."
Li Yuanping, suddenlying to an understanding of the matter, nodded again and asked a few more questions about the family''s affairs. He then grasped Li Xiewen''s hand and said earnestly, "I am young and inexperienced. I truly hope that n Uncle can guide me more in family matters."
Li Xiewen naturally agreed repeatedly and soon took his leave. Li Yuanping sat back down, his pale fingers picking up the jade cup on the desk. He looked at Dou Yi below and smiled. "Uncle Xiewen managed the household under my father for many years. It is a pity his health is declining, or I would have entrusted him with significant responsibilities."
He then picked up the wooden slips to read carefully, having just sent off Li Xiewen, when a n soldier interrupted him with a report.
"Young Master, Madam has arrived."
Chapter 306: Branch Line (II)
Chapter 306: Branch Line (II)
Madam Dou was now in her forties, but having cultivated for many years and taken good care of herself, she looked to be just in her thirties. Her jade-like nails were dyed with balsam, exuding an air of elegance and dignity. She walked gracefully into the hall as Li Yuanping quickly came down to greet her with a smile.
"Mother, how rare of you to visit."
Madam Dou nodded gently and sat down beside him. She nced at Dou Yi, who was trying hard to minimize his presence, and then said to Li Yuanping, "Managing the household is not an easy task. Have you met with the branch family members?"
"Of course I have," Li Yuanping responded. "Li Qiuyang is out, so I sought out Li Xiewen. He just left before you arrived, Mother," he added.
Madam Dou picked up a teacup and, upon hearing Li Xiewen''s name, sneered.
"When Li Xiewen served under your father, he was loyal and never interacted with the branch families. After Li Pingyi died, the old man knew he had no way out and immediately aligned himself with the branch families. Over the past few years, he has be a representative of their interests... It seems that Li Yesheng has taught him well. His ability to switch sides and y both ends against the middle is impressive!"
Madam Dou was known for her harsh methods and sharp tongue. With just a few words, she had thoroughly criticized the man. Li Yuanping, naturally aware of the intricacies involved, had specifically sought out Li Xiewen to understand the opinions of the family elders from the branch families.
He replied, "Li Xiewen has offended many people with all he has done. He does not want to rely on us remembering old ties, so he naturally needs to change his position and find a way to survive..."
Madam Dou, however, was much tougher and more stubborn. She simplymented, "I just cannot stand that old scoundrel!"
Both mother and son exchanged a nce. Li Yuanping took a sip of tea and replied, "The Liu Family used to be friendly with our branch families, but they were undermined by the Dou Family, and most of the n''s businesses and properties have been taken over by the Dou Family. ording to the branch families, the rise of the Dou Family has threatened their interests, which has caused much dissatisfaction. Li Xiewen''s words were barbed, and his insinuations were clear."
"The Ye and Li branch families now number in the thousands, with many cultivators among them. They are rted by marriage, making it difficult to manage. Mother, you might need to rein in the Dou Family a little," he added.
Madam Dou rubbed the jade cup in her hand and red fiercely at Dou Yi, scaring him into silence. She replied, "I have always kept them in check. Otherwise, the Dou Family''s arrogance would have soared to the heavens by now. I just fear that with your father away, these family elders will bully us."
Li Yuanping chuckled softly and replied, "Eldest brother is still at Mount Wutu, and the old ancestor is at Mount Lijing. Where would they get the courage to act out? They are just using him to make some noise. Thest words of the old ancestor''s wife were for us to not shelter the Liu Family. They cannot figure out what the old ancestor is thinking and do not dare to speak out."
He paused, then continued, "From Li Xiewen''s words, it seems the Chen Family is friendly with the branch families... Chen Mufeng, a disciple of Li Qiuyang, is exceptionally talented and has been engaged since childhood. He is a rare genius, reaching the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm at seventeen; perhaps we could recall him from Mount Huaqian for use."
Madam Dou nodded absentmindedly, then looked up with some confusion and said, "The Chen Family... Are they really from a farming background? It is already remarkable that Chen Donghe reached the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and now there is Chen Mufeng, who is not even directly rted to Chen Donghe, yet managed to cultivate to the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm with such a poor cultivation technique!"
Li Yuanping shook his head and replied, "I have investigated. The Chen Family''s founder, named Chen Erniu, was originally our tenant, having fled from the Lichuankou Vige during a disaster. Their background is indeed that of a farming family, but judging by the family historical records, this person was quite shrewd..."
Madam Dou nodded, scrutinizing Li Yuanping''s paleplexion, her brows furrowing with worry. She spoke gently, "Ping''er, there is one matter that needs to be addressed promptly."
Li Yuanping frowned and looked at his mother in confusion. Madam Dou then continued softly, "You should marry early and have children... This is not just my idea. I have written to Cloud Crowned Peak, and your father shares this sentiment."
The death of Li Yuanxiu had been a profound lesson for Li Xuanxuan and his wife. Considering Li Yuanping''s frail health, Madam Dou and Li Xuanxuan began nning early. However, upon hearing this, Li Yuanping was taken aback, his expression turning somewhat sour as he responded, "Brother was engaged at eighteen, and I am only twelve. Why such urgency?!"
Madam Dou''s thoughts were harsh and she could not voice them out loud, so she forced a smile. Seeing his mother''s expression, Li Yuanping immediately understood and continued saying glumly, "Is it because you''re worried that I might die young due to myck of cultivation talent and weak root bone...?"
Madam Dou fell silent upon hearing this. She had a strong personality and could not bring herself to utterforting words. The mother and son exchanged a nce once more. Li Yuanping suppressed his emotions and said, "There are many family affairs to handle, including dealing with deficits and external rtions. Let us postpone this matter for now."
Madam Dou did not wish to press on too hard and agreed, sitting in the hall for a while longer before finally finding an excuse to leave. Li Yuanping escorted her out of the hall respectfully and then returned to his seat in silence.
The hall was cold and quiet, with guards standing silently on either side. Dou Yi kept his head down and did not speak. Li Yuanping raised his head and lifted the jade cup, looking into the clear tea water. He saw a pale, bloodless face with lips of a grayish-red hue. He squinted his eyes and remained silent for a long time.
Though Li Yuanping had been diligent since childhood and often had long talks with Li Yuanjiao, making him more mature than other boys his age, he was still only twelve or thirteen at the end of the day. Being born with a shortened lifespan and weakened root bone, how could he not feel that life was unfair? Usually, he pretended not to care, but Madam Dou''s words earlier had stirred up his suppressed anger now that he was alone.
He put down the jade cup and looked at his wrists that were as slender as a woman''s, feeling a surge of rage burning in his chest. He extended his delicate fingers and pinched his wrist hard.
His skin, as pale and lifeless as a corpse''s, took a long time to turn red before quickly turning purple and ck. It was not long until it finally tore, blood slowly seeping out and staining the desk red. Li Yuanping shook his hand gloomily, gradually calming down.
Li Yuanping had heard that when he was born, the ancestor, Li Tongya, had predicted his cognital deficiencies, slow cultivation progress, and that his lifespan would be barely half that of others.
Calcting the days, a quarter of his life has already passed. He dared not waste any more time and quickly wiped away the blood on the desk before picking up the vermilion brush, and silently wrote:
"Dear brother... I am of age to marry and bear children. Are there any suitable matches among the prominent families or towns with a spiritual orifice? If there are, please inform me..."
Folding the letter, Li Yuanping called out, "Someone,e!"
A person came forward hurriedly and looked up at Li Yuanping expectantly¡ªit was a member of the Liu Family. He had been squeezed out of his position by the Dou Family but was personally reinstated by Li Yuanping, so his eyes were full of gratitude.
"Deliver this to my elder brother at Mount Wutu," Li Yuanping ordered.
Chapter 307: Maha Jinlian
Chapter 307: Maha Jinlian
The Lotus Temple, located in the Zhao State, was the legacy of a Dharma Master. The Zhao State revered Buddhism, with numerous temples, and among the 461 temples, the Lotus Temple ranked in the top ten. It had annexed a vast amount ofnd and supported over ten thousand monks.
Minghui rode the wind, flying over the expansive farnds at the foot of the mountain. The emaciated tenants below dropped their farming tools hastily and bowed fervently.
"Blessings be upon you, Master Monk... Blessings be upon you!"
Minghui acted as if he had not heard them and descended toward the grand golden hall on the mountain. The magnificent hall was filled with countless golden candles and incense, with smoke billowing like a white waterfall flowing softly from the gaps in the steps and windows. This very hall consumed an astonishing amount of oil and wood every year, a feat that only such arge temple could possibly afford.
At the end of the hall were several naked women. Some were seated, some were kneeling, and some were even lying down. Luxurious garments were scattered all around on the floor. Among them was a small child who looked to be about five or six years old.
The child appeared charming and delicate and was suckling milk from a woman''s breast. Around them, teenage girls bustled about, carrying oil jugs and refilling themps hurriedly.
The air was thick with the scent of oil and incense. Minghui quickly bowed and greeted respectfully, "Minghui greets Master! May Master be blessed with a hundred lifetimes of joy andpassion, achieve an indestructible body, and be a true immortal!"
The child, who was suckling milk, cast a sidelong nce at him and spoke in a gentle and pleasant voice that echoed through the hall. The teenage girls on either side kneeled down as he said, "Minghui, didn''t I send you to escort Lord Murong? Why have you returned so soon?"
"Innocent, I am innocent!" Minghui eximed as immediately he kneeled and bowed deeply, knocking his forehead to the ground repeatedly as he exined the whole story.
The child opened his eyes as he released the nipple he had been suckling from, his mouth still full of milk residue as he cursed fiercely, "Useless fool... Whenever trouble arises, you run back here. Present the golden pce at once!"
Minghui quickly summoned the golden pce. Floating out from his sleeve, it was initially palm-sized but soon expanded to the stature of an average person. It looked like a small table, though it was shaky and full of cracks.
The child examined it for a while, his expression somewhat peculiar. After a while, he spoke once more in his childish voice, saying, "How strange, its inherent rank is very high, yetcks any ferocious aura... It must belong to some unfamiliar immortal Daoist."
This child was naturally Minghui''s master, Maha Jinlian, the ancestor of the Lotus Sect. He had been cultivating as a Maha for three hundred years and has already reincarnated seven times, with profound mastery of Buddhist doctrines. He was only a step away from bing a Dharma Master. In the Zhao State, he was one of the strongest figures.
Buddhism cultivation differed greatly from immortal cultivation. The immortal cultivation began with the Profound Scenery Chakra, and upon condensing it, one could perform immortal arts.
In contrast, Buddhist monks spanned the realms of Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation as mere mortals with iron-like bodies. Upon breaking through to be a Master Monk, they slightly surpassed Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of the immortal Dao. However, when they became a Merciful One, they were slightly weaker than a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. A Maha was weaker than a Golden Core Realm cultivator, but slightly stronger than the Purple Mansion Realm, creating a sense of asymmetrical power.
Seeing the colorful light in the hall, Maha Jinlian felt a profound and subtle spiritual energy and was overjoyed.
Despite being a mere Master Monk, Minghui actually glimpsed at a Golden Core Realm cultivator and survived... Could it be that this Golden Core Realm immortal cultivator is on the verge of death? I, having cultivated through seven lifetimes as a Maha, am only a step away from bing a Dharma Master. It seems my destiny has arrived! Hahahaha!
Maha Jinlian, having cultivated seven lifetimes as a Maha, was alreadyparable to a cultivator at the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm. His desires surged and he made up his mind, speaking bluntly, "Even if it is a Golden Core Realm cultivator, so what? Though I may not be able to defeat them, dissolving one of their threads of fate should be no problem. Present that artifact!"
He calcted his moves carefully. The Golden Core Realm cultivator''s condition was abnormal, and merely peeking at it shouldn''t cause any issues. With the backing of a Dharma Master, he felt confident.
Minghui was overjoyed upon hearing this and presented the golden pce as Maha Jinlian performed hand seals and closed his eyes slowly. The child''s face was full of contempt as the colorful light within the golden pce gradually dimmed and transferred into his hands.
After several dozen breaths, the contempt on the Maha''s face slowly faded, and he began to perform more hand seals seriously. Minghui waited for a long time, but there was no sound from above.
He peeked carefully and saw Maha Jinlian covered in sweat, muttering incessantly. Minghui was terrified and he immediately kneeled, praying in his heart.
This is not my fault... This is not my fault... You great cultivators can fight amongst yourselves, but please spare my life... Please spare my life!
Minghui remained silent with his head lowered, while Maha Jinlian began to tremble. The colorful light within the golden pce hadpletely disappeared, the hand seals in his hands glowing with a crystalline light.
Before his eyes were endless darkness, his mana flowing uncontrobly into his hands and his aura weakening in waves, until finally... there was a sh of light.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"This is..."
Beneath the drifting dark clouds, thendy in darkness. Lu Jiangxian sat feeling somewhat troubled beside a stone table, holding a shimmering golden light in his hand.
"I have seen those unafraid of death, but never anyone so eager to rush toward it..." Lu Jiangxian muttered to himself, as he had been aware of Minghui spying on him earlier.
Although he failed to probe into this mirror, Minghui had used his fate thread to draw himself into this predicament. If it had been when Lu Jiangxian had just awakened, he might not have been able to deal with him. Now, however, after decades of cultivating shamanic and immortal arts, Lu Jiangxian had utilized the mirror''s inherent rank to keep Minghui firmly in grasp.
"I was afraid of inviting trouble and spared your life, yet you continue to provoke me..."
Lu Jiangxian''s current Supreme Yin Profound Light had only the power of the peak Foundation Establishment Realm, but its inherent rank was likely frighteningly high. As long as he did not reveal the mirror, no one could calcte it. As for those who relied on talisman qi for their calctions, he could easily reverse the bacsh upon them.
But... Maha Jinlian probably has someone even more powerful backing him. If I kill this fellow and attract the attention of a Dharma Master or a Revered One, it will be troublesome indeed!
He frowned, and an idea struck him. With a tap on the desk, he conjured an endless hall made of white jade, intricately engraved withplex incantations. It was the same hall from Li Jiangqun''s memories, the Moonlight Origin Mansion. Lu Jiangxian sat high above, looking down.
"With my current power, I can pull this guy''s spirit into the mirror for the duration of one incense stick. I might as well use this opportunity to gather some information and then cut off this strand of spirit, making him forget everything.
After some consideration, Lu Jiangxian made up his mind, grasped the golden light, and threw it before him. Instantly, moonlight was condensed, which transformed into a five or six-year-old child. He looked well-behaved and cute and was draped in a robe, kneeling on the white jade floor of the hall.
"Who are you..?" Maha Jinlian asked as he opened his eyes groggily, ncing around. He immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong. He quickly tried to activate his power but found his body empty, devoid of mana, and was instantly terrified.
Looking up again, he saw a man sitting high above him, his face radiating with a blinding light that hurt his eyes, his attire exuding an immortal aura. Maha Jinlian shrank back, lowering his head in fear.
This...! To capture me with just a fate thread, this is no mere Golden Core Realm immortal cultivator! This is a true immortal... Damn it, how could there still be an immortal lingering in the world? Damn Minghui... for making me provoke such an old monster!
Despite his thoughts, Maha Jinlian dared not be neglectful. He pleaded mournfully, "This humble monk is a Maha who cultivates the Great Compassion and Joyous Lotus Manifestation. I did not know an immortal was present... Please, Immortal, show mercy and spare my life..."
Chapter 308: Golden Palace Radiant Origin Manual
Chapter 308: Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual
Hearing him mention something the way of Great Compassion and Joyous Lotus, Lu Jiangxian immediately understood that this person was a Buddhist cultivator, potentially a Dharma Master who was as powerful as a Golden Core Realm immortal cultivator. He was secretly shocked but knew nothing much of the rtionships between these Revered Ones and Dao Embryos.
Wanting to coax this Maha into revealing more information, he merely sneered and snorted coldly, "Heh!"
Maha Jinlian was greatly rmed, thinking to himself, Indeed... this is an immortal. Even a Revered Oneparable to a Dao Embryo is just a junior in front of him... This spells trouble...
He knocked his head to the ground repeatedly, begging loudly for mercy. Lu Jiangxian nced at him and sneered. "I have been out of the world for a long time... Now, even such riffraff dares to spy on me!"
Lu Jiangxian originally intended to boast about being away for millennia, but realizing that too many words could cause mistakes, he decided to speak vaguely. Maha Jinlian observed the ancient patterns on the ground, feeling a sense of age, and thought to himself, I have never seen this... it must be at least a thousand years old! No wonder... No wonder!
In his heart, he cursed, How long did this old monster seclude himself to miss such cataclysmic events? No wonder he is still in the world... It''s my misfortune to encounter such an old monster...
Maha Jinlian fawningly smiled, pped his own face twice, and bowed, saying, "Please forgive me, Exalted Immortal... Since the upheaval sixteen hundred years ago, even Revered Ones and Dao Embryos have disappeared. This humble monk meant no offense... Please have mercy, Exalted Immortal!"
Lu Jiangxian reclined at the top as he listened, slowly furrowing his brows. He had heard that a war between the immortals and devils had taken ce fifteen or sixteen hundred years ago. His heart was stirred, and he thought, There is indeed a problem. Given the nature of these Purple Mansion Golden Core Daoists and Mahas Dharma Masters, there must be an issue behind this Immortal-Devil War...
He shook his head slightly, feigning confusion as he said, "Upheaval? I have been out of the world for a long time and sensed vaguely that something was amiss..."
Maha Jinlian nodded repeatedly, answering, "The Heavenly Dao encountered problems, and the Three Disasters and Nine Tribtions dissipated... You should have felt it too, Exalted Immortal. Since then, there have been no restrictions, no disasters or difficulties. We, who were imprisoned by Heaven and Earth for millions of years, finally gained great freedom and great enlightenment..."
Great freedom... Great enlightenment...
These words thundered in Lu Jiangxian''s mind, stirring waves of thoughts within him. He kept his face calm and nodded subtly, his face blurring.
The time of one incense stick is almost up... Lu Jiangxian thought as he felt slightly anxious, knowing that he did not have enough time to delve into these matters further.
He seized this opportunity to search for a way to break through and asked in a low voice, "Which Metallic Essences remain unpracticed in Jiangnan?"
Maha Jinlian was stunned, unable to grasp why an immortal would ask such a question. Still, he thought for a moment and replied, "The Xu State has no significant Dao lineages... The three sects and seven gates of Yue State and the four sects and nine families of Wu State have lost the Supreme Yang and Supreme Yin. Only some thunder techniques and one or two types of water and metal essences are missing..."
Lu Jiangxian could no longer wait for him to prattle on, he needed to prompt him to think about these things. The fragment of Maha Jinlian''s spirit was at his mercy in the mirror. Lu Jiangxian gathered moonlight in his hand, stirring Maha Jinlian''s thoughts while he was deep in contemtion, trying to retain as much information as possible.
Lu Jiangxian was not adept at soul-capturing techniques, and his efforts caused Maha Jinlian to tremble as his eyes bulged and he cried out, "Exalted Immortal, spare me! Spare me!"
Lu Jiangxian''s spell could not be sustained for long, and Maha Jinlian could not endure such torment any longer. The fragment of his spirit burst with a bang, leaving nothing behind.
Lu Jiangxian waved his hand to dismiss the illusion, then looked at the cluster of golden light in his hand. With a stir of his divine sense, he gained an understanding of most of the Purple Mansion Realm divine abilities in Jiangnan.
So that''s how it is... The Azure Pond Sect and the Golden Feather Sect are backed by early-stage Golden Core Realm cultivators who cultivated the Clear Water Origin Talisman Core and the Golden Supreme Origin Green Core... The Yue Cultivating Sect has a mid-stage Golden Core Realm cultivator...
Lu Jiangxian then understood why these three sects were known as the three sects. It was because all three were following the Golden Core Dao lineage.
Even if these Golden Core Realm cultivators and Dharma Masters did not care about secr Dao lineages, it did not change the fact that the Azure Pond Sect and the Lotus Temple were formidable.
"Difficult... Too difficult..."
Lu Jiangxian could not help but click his tongue in admiration. Growing up within such a colossal entity as the Azure Pond Sect, lying low for a century to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm, and finally bing independent while making peace with the Azure Pond Sect¡ªXiao Chuting''s means were extraordinary. Although Xiao Chuting remained silent andcked a resounding reputation, his character and talent were top-notch.
While marveling at Xiao Chuting''s impressive methods, Lu Jiangxian was deeply worried about the dire situation in Jiangnan. He mumbled, "I thought I could let the Li Family develop on their own, but as soon as a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator emerges in Jiangnan, it immediately blocks the five pathways rted to immortal foundations. Purple Mansion Realm cultivators have a lifespan of five hundred years... If I cannot find a path for the Li Family in time, who knows how much time will need to be wasted."
Lu Jiangxian sorted through the memories of Maha Jinlian, finding mostly Buddhist cultivation methods, which were all rather sinister. Naturally, Lu Jiangxian did not want to use them. After flipping through them, he finally found a suitable cultivation method.
"Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual, a Grade Four cultivation technique... The immortal foundation it forms is called the Radiant Origin Pass. Although the required Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth is somewhat difficult to gather, ites with a corresponding method for gathering qi. This immortal foundation was once cultivated by the northern immortal sects, and there is no inheritance of it in Jiangnan. This is perfect! The only problem is..."
Lu Jiangxian sighed softly, feeling somewhat helpless.
This technique only reaches the Foundation Establishment Realm and stops at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, with no further path to the Purple Mansion Realm.
With a light flick of his sleeve, he conjured a golden book in his hand. Lu Jiangxian took up his brush and transcribed the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual, flipping through a few pages.
He then ced it alongside the shamanic spell book and murmured, "I will bestow this upon the generation of Xi and Yue. No matter what, this is still a better choice than those Grade Three techniques or any technique that has already produced a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Li Tongya has already been targeted by one... continuing to cultivate the River One Qi Technique is a bad move."
Lu Jiangxian understood well that if a Li Family cultivator achieved an immortal foundation and died, regardless of the distance, all their cultivation would be absorbed by him. This was verified by Li Chejing, which directly led to Chi Wei''s failure to break through.
"In other words, no matter who is targeting Li Tongya, they will eventually fail. They will not be able to refine divine abilities for that Purple Mansion Realm and will have to find another Boundless Ocean to devour. If the disciples from the Li Family continue to cultivate this technique, they will just die prematurely... one after another. After three or five cases, a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator will definitely grow suspicious, and that would be troublesome..."
Having made so much progress in nning the future of the Li Family after a long period of idleness, Lu Jiangxian felt exhausted. He was inherently azy and unmotivated person. cing the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual before him to avoid forgetting it, he then drifted back into his dreams.
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Minghui had been waiting on the ground for the duration of one incense stick. Seeing Maha Jinlian''s small face covered in cold sweat and asionally trembling, it was clear he was under a spell.
Minghui''s face turned mournful, and hemented in his heart, It''s over... It''s over... That immortal cultivator must be more than just a Golden Core Realm cultivator! Now even Master might lose his life...
Raised by Maha Jinlian from a young age, despite his Master''s vtile temper and frequent beatings, he had taught him many things and personally awakened his wisdom. Minghui held this kindness deeply in his heart. At this moment, he was filled with both sorrow and self-me, crying out in anguish.
Unexpectedly, Maha Jinlian, with a vacant expression, opened his eyes, looking as if he had just awoken from a long dream. He frowned upon seeing him and said, "Minghui, didn''t I send you to escort Lord Murong? Why have you returned so soon?"
Chapter 309: Bold And Ambitious
Chapter 309: Bold And Ambitious
Minghui looked at the dazed and out-of-this-world expression on Maha Jinlian''s face and immediately made an assumption in his heart.
It seems that the immortal has spared him... Otherwise, how could Master escape so easily? This immortal most likely does not want anyone to know he is at Moongaze Lake and has thus erased his memory. If I am not sensible and speak out, I might put our lives in danger again!
Seeing Maha Jinlian''s confused expression before him, Minghui pointed to his shabby Golden Pce and said respectfully, "Master, I damaged my dharma artifact outside, so I came back to see if it can be repaired."
The Golden Pce at the foot of the stairs was already on the verge of copse after the repeated torments it had been put through. Maha Jinlian nced at it and scolded, "I am not a cksmith. What is the use of showing it to me? Get back to the south and keep watch!"
Minghui nodded repeatedly, put away the dharma artifact, and retreated as if escaping. Maha Jinlian then continued to suckle for milk, squinting his eyes. After a few breaths, he felt that something was wrong.
"What is this kid hiding from me...?" he wondered.
Maha Jinlian could not remember the previous events at all, as if he had taken a nap. But he was already a Maha; how could he still take naps? He froze briefly, feeling increasingly frightened the more he thought about it.
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Meanwhile in Yi Mountain City...
Li Xuanfeng leaned against the city wall, wiping the golden bow in his hands silently. His gray clothes were stained with various demon beasts'' blood, tattered and foul-smelling. He did not seem to notice this, however, and simply stared nkly northward.
"Brother Xuanfeng..."
Everyone nearby nced at him as a handsome middle-aged man stepped forward. His elegant white clothes were spotted with bloodstains, making him look rather disheveled. He cupped his fist to Li Xuanfeng and said respectfully, "Thank you for your assistance!"
Li Xuanfeng had now reached the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and his strength was promising among the n cultivators. The group both respected and feared this quiet man. When Fei Yihe spoke, everyone else echoed in agreement.
"Indeed... such a divine bow and remarkable strength! He entered and exited the beast horde nine times; only Brother Xuanfeng could do that!"
Li Xuanfeng nodded silently. These five years had made him appear even more haggard. His beard was unkempt, and his eyes were sunken, giving him the true appearance of a dispirited man. He ignored the ttery and focused on gazing northward until the crowd eventually dispersed, including Fei Yihe. Only then did he move his lips and look at the wound on his hand.
"One hundred and twenty scars in five years, none fatal."
Since the fall of Lixia Prefecture, where Jiang Yunu and her son had perished, Li Xuanfeng had woken up countless nights, asking himself, "Why did I not meet them even once during those five years?"
Those five years, he had been in seclusion writing bow techniques, not in any long-term seclusion. Qi Cultivators could go without food but needed water. In his cultivation, inspiration had surged, and he hadpletely forgotten about everything else.
Regret and self-me haunted him for ten years, constantly waking him up countless nights, filling his heart with unease and pain. He sighed deeply, hating himself for neglecting what should have been his priorities.
It was not until Xiao Chuting used the Man On Creek divine ability to fish out Yu Yufeng and killed him on the Mushroom Forest ins that Li Xuanfeng was rmed and became suspicious. But he kept it to himself and never breathed a word of it to anyone.
If a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator covets something and uses divine ability to mislead me...
He picked up a cloth and continued wiping his golden bow, his expression growing darker. He stared silently at the rising moon, thinking to himself, Then the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s gaze must be on me. The family''s mirror is too important. Coming to Yi Mountain City will reduce the risk of exposure.
He had eagerly epted the summons to Yi Mountain City, partly longing for a life on the edge and partly hoping the Purple Mansion Realm would shift their focus from Mount Lijing. Over five years and countless battles, many were injured, harming their foundations. Yet, Li Xuanfeng had never been seriously wounded, making him feel increasingly gloomy.
"Brother Xuanfeng!"
Li Xuanfeng heard a clear voice call out. Turning to look, he saw Fei Yihe returning. He had changed into a moon-white long robe and was carrying a pot of spirit wine. He approached with a cheerful smile and said, "Brother Xuanfeng, are you admiring the moon alone? I hope you won''t mind me joining in."
Fei Yihe was the son of Fei Wangbai and the next head of the Fei Family. He had been summoned to the southern border by Chi Zhiyan as well. Over the past five years in Yi Mountain City, Li Xuanfeng and Fei Yihe had developed a deep friendship.
Fei Yihe pulled out a small table from his storage pouch, ced it on the city wall, and sat cross-legged before it. As soon as the table was set, a white light rose, faintly sealing off the surrounding wind and isting the inside from the outside.
Fei Yihe sighed softly. With the formation isting them, a look of sorrow appeared on his face. He poured himself a drink and took a slow sip, saying, "Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. Tongyu and Tongxiao should be getting married now... I wonder how things are at theke."
In Yi Mountain City, they could notmunicate with the outside world. They could only learn some news from people who came in from the back, so they had pretty much lost touch with their families.
"Good wine!" Li Xuanfengmented as he took a cup and downed several drinks in one go before exhaling deeply and saying softly, "Yu Yufeng is dead. With the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators from our two families, Yu Mugao cannot stir up much trouble."
Fei Yihe nodded silently. The two drank in silence, pushing cups back and forth until the moon set and the sky began to brighten. Fei Yihe glumly said, "I thought I was born to lead and expand my family... From a young age, I studied history, cultivated, observed human nature, learned right from wrong, and established checks and bnces among the branches... Yet a single transfer order rendered the rest of my life meaningless."
Li Xuanfeng took a drink and stepped forward, looking down from the city wall. The ground was littered with the corpses of demon beasts. asionally, one could see the remains of cultivators, but most were the bodies of mortal soldiers used as cannon fodder. Like ants, the mortals dragged the bodies silently while the ground was stained with blood, flies buzzing all around the havoc.
The scene before him was all too familiar to him, causing Li Xuanfeng to ponder deeply.
"Was it forty years ago or thirty years ago?"
Back then, Li Xiangping was being hunted by rogue cultivators and fled north. Li Xuanxuan had just taken charge of the family, and Li Xuanfeng was a young boy who had just received the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed. He stumbled into the Wan Family, which had been ughtered by Ji Dengqi, with corpses lying everywhere in a sea of blood.
Terrified, he was fortunate to find Li Tongya upon his return. Seething with anger, he silently vowed, "That Golden Tang Gate and their young master are truly trash... When I grow up, I will destroy the Golden Tang Gate and shoot down that young master''s head to kick it like a ball!"
His childish voice echoed in his mind, filling Li Xuanfeng with shame. Gripping the golden bow tightly until his fingers turned white, he whispered into the night, "In my youth, I was bold and ambitious, never letting go of the bowstring or bending my knees. I spoke lightly of shattering immortal mountains and shooting down Golden Tang Gate''s master. Now, forty years have slipped by like a swift river, and those grand dreams have dissolved into the mist. My wife and child are gone, and I am but a pawn, living a mediocre life within the confines of this city, serving the Azure Pond Sect as nothing more than a dog. I leave my house at midnight, weeping softly into the darkness, too frightened to let my voice be heard, lest I draw suspicion..."
As Li Xuanfeng spoke, his sharp eyebrows furrowed, the natural arch ttening in a disy of profound sorrow. Tears welled up in his eyes, trailing down his cheeks. The innate arrogance and wild spirit that had been part of Li Xuanfeng since childhood had eroded over forty years, turning into a long sigh that escaped through his nose and mouth, dissipating into the silent night air like a vanishing mist.
Li Xuanfeng coughed harshly, flecks of blood staining his lips. Fei Yihe rushed to his side, offering support with a steadying hand. He couldn''t help but notice how much Li Xuanfeng hade to resemble his elder brother Li Xuanxuan with the weary look on his face.
Chapter 310: Duanchen Village
Chapter 310: Duanchen Vige
The Xiao Family had risen to prominence in recent years, and Cloud Crowned Peak was no longer a ce for paying tribute. As a result, the foot traffic had decreased significantly. Fortunately, with the destruction of the Yu Family''s market and the northern Xu State still in a state of disrepair, the majority of visitors from Moongaze Lake and half of Xu State flocked to the Cloud Crowned Peak market, preventing it from bing too deste.
Deep within the market, Li Qiuyang squatted in front of a store, holding a few pelts and arguing with a rogue cultivator. The man''s face turned red as he eximed, "This is the hide of a first heavenlyyer Qi Cultivation Realm beast,pletely intact! How can it not be worth seven Spirit Stones?"
Li Qiuyang had be a unrefined Qi cultivator, so his Dao cultivation had essentially reached the ceiling. Obtaining nearly a century of extended life was already fortunate. Cultivators of various unrefined qi had poorbat abilities, merely possessing the name of Qi Cultivator and the ability to ride the wind. The Li Family''s market stores needed staff, and Li Xuanxuan thought it better for family members to earn Spirit Stones rather than outsiders, so he had called Li Qiuyang to the market to find work.
Seeing the rogue cultivator causing a scene, Li Qiuyang simply smiled wryly and replied, "Fellow Daoist, although this hide is from a Qi Cultivation Realm beast, itcks luster and is quite shabby. It is clearly from a young demon beast who had just attained the Qi Cultivation Realm. While the pelt isplete, it is just a small animal, no bigger than a child..."
"Stop spouting nonsense and ndering me, Third Li!"
The man saw Li Qiuyang demeaning the hide and immediately started scolding him, his face contorted in anger. Li Qiuyang was nicknamed Third Li because he worked under Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling in the store.
Li Qiuyang remained unbothered and cupped his fist. "Fellow Daoist, no other shop will give you seven Spirit Stones for this!"
The man red at him, then threw the gray pelt onto the table and huffed, "Fine, six Spirit Stones it is."
Li Qiuyang nodded, took six Spirit Stones and handed them over. The man snorted as he snatched the stones and left in a huff. As he exited the courtyard, an ordinary-looking young boy with slightly arched eyebrows peeked out from a corner.
"That guy has quite a temper!" hemented.
Li Qiuyang shook his head, ustomed to the attitudes of rogue cultivators. Though he was an unrefined Qi cultivator, the mortals called him an Immortal Master. However, in the market, he ranked lower than an outstanding Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators.
He shook his head and replied, "Mufeng, the family intends to bring you back to theke. Perform well, get close to the n members, and strive to obtain that Grade Three legacy!"
Chen Mufeng nodded vigorously, his voice tinged with yearning as he said, "The n''s Grade Three technique is usually reserved for the main family. External cultivators from lesser branches only receive them for great merits. I have heard that Uncle Donghe was rewarded only after risking his life following Lord Xiangping to the west. Getting this technique will not be easy for me..."
Li Qiuyang remained silent, thinking to himself, I wonder how Xuanfeng is doing in Yi Mountain City... I''ve heard the southern border is full of demons and monsters. Fortunately, the sword immortal is also in the south; this should provide him with some protection.
"Shopkeeper!"
Li Qiuyang was deep in thought when Chen Mufeng called out to him, snapping him back to reality. He saw someone descending the stairs, all dressed in gray. The man had meticulouslybed gray hair and beard, with his hands sped behind his back.
"n Head!" Li Qiuyang greeted, and Li Xuanxuan nodded. He was nearly fifty years old now and preferred not to move around much, choosing to oversee the store instead.
The market was fiercelypetitive. Although the Li Family had Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to back them and marital ties with the Xiao Family, most of the market belonged to the Xiao Family, who were considered insiders. Li Xuanxuan had to bnce maintaining rtionships and earning sufficient profits, which was mentally taxing.
He stroked his gray beard, calcted the days, and said anxiously, "Xuanling has been gone for months, has he not? Why has he not returned yet...?"
Li Xuanxuan''s talent was limited, and was still stuck at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. However, Li Xuanling¡ªLi Tongya''s son¡ªwas doing much better, and was already at the third heavenlyyer. He also cultivated in the market, frequently traveling north to Xu State and the Great Jiang to gain knowledge. It wasmon for him to be away for more than half a month, but it had now been over two months, making Li Xuanxuan very anxious.
"Seventy-one days¡ªThat''s more than two months..." Li Qiuyang mumbled.
Li Xuanxuan gritted his teeth andmanded, "Fetch the ink and brush. I will write a letter home and send Donghe to check on him!"
Whilst that was his intention, the Xu State and the Great Jiang were vast, and Li Xuanling''s whereabouts were unknown. Searching for him would be very difficult and a waste of manpower. Li Xuanxuan wrote a few words on the small letter and then sighed dejectedly, putting down the brush.
"Fortunately, the jade talisman is intact..."
Li Xuanxuan took a small jade pendant from his chest, and upon seeing its crystal-clear and warm appearance, he let out a slight sigh of relief.
The Li Family was now considered a prestigious n, though not on par with the three sects and seven gates. They had some means, withyers of protections on their storage pouches and mana imprints. As long as the jade talisman was not crushed, the others couldmunicate and share their location to each other.
"I better consult the ancestor..."
Li Xuanxuan pondered for a moment before picking up the brush and ink, writing on the small letter again.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Zhao State, Duanchen Vige.
Duanchen Vige was located at the southernmost part of Zhao State, on the border of Xu State and Zhao State. It was said to be the resting ce for northern prestigious ns who crossed the river during their southern migration. However, for hundreds of years, it had been upied by Buddhist cultivators.
Duanchen Vige had a small temple called Duanchen Temple. ording to northern customs, all thend in Duanchen Vige belonged to the temple. Beneath the monks were tenant farmers, though they were euphemistically called "monastic households." There were also a few foreign nobles who lived and practiced Buddhist cultivation in the temple.
Li Xuanling had stayed in this godforsaken ce for a whole month and had deeply experienced the troublesome nature of Buddhism. When he first arrived, dressed in his Daoist robes, the emaciated tenant farmers looked at him as if he were a cmity. Some children even showed obvious and unbridled hatred, secretly spitting at him. If he had not been a Qi Cultivator, they might have tied him up and sent him up the mountain!
"The Central in, after hundreds of years under Buddhism cultivation, haspletely lost their roots..." Li Xuanling muttered as he gazed at the densely packed temples on the mountain, feeling a surge of emotion stirring within him.
ording to the immortal cultivators, after the Immortal-Devil War, the immortal Dao weakened and lost the north. The remaining ns and sects had migrated south. Now, upon returning to the north, there was no trace of immortal cultivation any longer. Although he had little regard for Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, he could not help but sigh at the sight.
Looking at the busy, emaciated tenant farmers below, Li Xuanling felt deeply moved. In the north, there were no songs, dances, operas, theater houses, or merchants. There was only an endless expanse of yellownd and tenant farmers with shaved heads and small braids¡ªa depressing scene of lifelessness.
"In this appearance, I am not suited to travel in the north."
He performed a quick spell, changing his appearance. Wearing brown robes and now sporting a shiny bald head, he used an illusion technique to transform his sword into a long staff before descending to ask for directions.
As soon as hended in the field, a tenant farmer shouted, and all the tenant farmers prostrated themselves uniformly, their small braids pointing upward like ck-stemmed pumpkins spread out on the ground.
"Greetings, Master Monk!"
The one at the front seemed to be their leader, his face withered but his expression fanatical. His voice was high-pitched and crazed. Li Xuanling looked up and saw a few frail women and children in the distance fainting from excitement, copsing onto the ground with no one turning to check on them.
"You all..." Li Xuanling began as he opened his mouth, an inexplicable sadness rising in his heart, rendering him momentarily speechless.
Chapter 311: Fahui (I)
Chapter 311: Fahui (I)
Li Xuanling had traversed the Xu State for the past five years. After the battles between the Purple Mansion Realms and the Merciful Ones, the various powers were greatly weakened and focused on recuperation.
With the intervention of the Yue Cultivating Sect in Xu State after the war, rules were established to restrict rogue cultivators, resulting in a period of peace. Themon people''s lives were rtively decent, though not as prosperous as those under the Li Family''s governance, but they were still livable.
Li Xuanling had made connections and recorded various methods of qi gathering in the Xu State. This year, he crossed over to Zhao State to assess the situation there. He saw the destend of Duanchen Vige and expected the people to be full ofints, but instead, the tenant farmers were ecstatic. This surprised him, and he asked softly, "How do I get to Mount Luoxia?"
Although the north had fallen under Buddhist control, there were still some Dao lineages and immortal cultivators who lived in seclusion in the mountains, avoiding worldly affairs. They usually had some background, so no one disturbed them.
Mount Luoxia was one such ce, where many northern immortal cultivators were still active. Li Xuanling intended to see how the northern Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao differed from the southern ones.
"Mount Luoxia?" The people below exchanged nces with each other upon hearing this, looking puzzled. Li Xuanling shook his head and was about to ride away on the wind when he suddenly looked up, sensing something.
Standing on the ridge of a rice field was a shirtless man with well-defined muscles, his hands sped together. He stared intently at Li Xuanling and said in a deep voice, "I do not know which path you follow, but you look unfamiliar. Greetings, I am Fahui of Duanchen Temple!"
"Ran into the real deal..." Li Xuanling muttered to himself, feeling awkward now. He wanted to speak but feared revealing his identity. He nodded and was about to ride away on the wind when the monk shouted loudly, "Ha! I knew there was something wrong with you, heretic."
Fahui leaped from the ridge like a soaring eagle, aiming a punch at Li Xuanling. Li Xuanling quickly rode the wind, rmed, thinking to himself, Is this man crazy?! Why is he attacking me out of nowhere?
Without considering the consequences, he quickly performed a spell to create a mana shield around him while simultaneously grabbing the sword at his waist. His true essence flowed like water as he spoke, "We have no enmity. Why are you attacking, monk?"
The monk''s eyes were wide with rage, and his fists, which were like iron, pounded on the shield loudly. Li Xuanling drew his sword, preparing to strike. Fahui kicked the shield, using the force to leap and dodge the sword, then descended like an eagle.
Li Xuanling felt a sharp pain from the cutting wind and raised his sword to block the attack. The sword emitted grayish light, but Fahui, with his steel-like body, grabbed the de with his bare hands, trying to seize Li Xuanling''s wrist.
"Hey!"
Seeing the monk''s physical strength, Li Xuanling dared not let him grab hold. He did not want to abandon his sword either, so he thought quickly and cast a spell, aiming it at Fahui''s hand while fully activating the sword, emitting waves of gray-ck light to force him back.
Fahui was momentarily halted by the spell. He crushed it with his palm, but his other hand was hurt, and the golden light on it showed cracks. Fahui thought, For some reason, I find this person loathsome. My anger is uncontroble! But this sword is sharp, and holding it will break my Dharma body. I must let go!
He threw a final strong punch at the shield, causing it to shatter with a loud boom, then released the sword and leaped away.
Li Xuanling had gained much experience from killing demons and people in Xu State. This was his first encounter with a Buddhist cultivator and had taken a beating. With a moment to catch his breath, he quickly realized, This person probably can''t fly and is only staying aloft by leveraging my power. I don''t need to fight him!
He did not pursue but immediately pulled back, leaving Fahui shouting angrily at him. Fahui struggled to stay in the air but eventually fell back to the ground like a heavy bear with a loud crash.
"Hmph! Heretics who lead people astray must be killed!"
Fahui was just a monk who could not ride the wind. Li Xuanling ascended even higher, leaving Fahui ring angrily from below.
Li Xuanling, both startled and furious after the unexpected attack, cursed, "I only asked for directions. How am I leading them astray?"
Before achieving the status of a true monk, Buddhist cultivators were still ordinary mortals. Despite this, Fahui was highly skilled, breaking Li Xuanling''s mana shield with only two punches. Li Xuanling, from his elevated position, could have attacked with his sword but hesitated due to Duanchen Temple''s local influence.
The monk below continued cursing, shouting, "You''re using illusion technique! How is that not leading people astray? Have you ever led anyone to and of bliss with your heretical ways? All you seek is to..."
Fahui was still shouting, but Li Xuanling ignored him. He saw figures emerging from the distant mountain temples and knew he could not linger any longer. He sneered and said, "Nonsense! Whatnd of bliss? It is just a pretense to eat people... a self-deceiving concept!"
Fahui''s eyes widened in fury as Li Xuanling floated away in the wind. The monk roared in ce until other monks arrived where the scene slowly quieted down, but they all red in the direction Li Xuanling had left.
A monk beside Fahui spoke kindly, trying to calm him down. After a while, an old monk appeared, wearing a gray robe and holding a string of crystal-clear beads. He smiled and said, "Fahui, your destiny has arrived!"
"Abbot," Fahui responded, looking surprised. He asked, "Why do you say that?"
The old monk nodded, looking delighted, and quickly said, "You have been intelligent since young, progressing rapidly in your cultivation. You have the deepest roots of wisdom in our temple and are only a step away from bing a master monk... I went to the great temple to inquire about you, and now it seems that the opportunity hase!"
"What do you mean?" Fahui asked in a low voice, and upon realizing this concerned his path of cultivation, he immediately shifted his attention, feeling overjoyed.
The old monk stroked his white beard and replied, "I crossed three mountains to seek enlightenment. The Merciful One sat at the head, and I detailed the situation. He said, This person was a fisherman in his past life, fond of snake soup. He fished year after year until he encountered a storm and was swallowed by a great whale. In this life, he''s fortunate to be human. A Daoist riding the wind will appear, with mana and true essence like rivers. He is the reincarnation of a serpent dragon. If he can convert this person and thus eliminate evil, he will cultivate and of bliss within his stomach and be a master monk."
Fahui pped his hands repeatedly, his eyes shining with divine light. Heughed and said, "I see... this must be it! No wonder I felt uncontroble anger at the sight of this person... It was destiny and fate!"
The old monkughed heartily and continued, "I then asked, is there a chance for him to be The Merciful One?"
Fahui''s eyes widened at this and he licked his lips, staring intently at the old monk. "What was the answer?" he asked eagerly, his eyes gleaming in anticipation.
Chapter 312: Fahui (II)
Chapter 312: Fahui (II)
The old monk deliberately paused. Fahui, already hot-tempered, grew impatient and shouted, "Abbot! Do not keep me in suspense. Tell me quickly!"
"Hahahaha!"
The old monkughed loudly and said, "The Merciful One calcted, listening intently, and after a long while answered, He must seek the great whale. If he does not survive this ordeal, he will still perish in the belly of the whale dragon."
Everyone exchanged nces, deep in thought, discussing among themselves. Fahui hesitated, then took an artifact handed to him by a fellow monk and said fiercely, "No matter the ordeal, I will convert this heretic and be a master monk!"
With that, Fahui bowed deeply to the old monk, then cupped his fist to the other monks and said loudly, "Fortunately, he mentioned going to Mount Luoxia, so he should not be hard to track. I''ll be off now!"
With that, he took off swiftly, leaving a trail of dust behind him. The remaining disciples gathered around the abbot, and one of them said, "Senior Brother Fahui practices the Wrathful Eye technique and is on the verge of a breakthrough. If he can catch that person by surprise, he can still kill him!"
"Indeed!"
They discussed it eagerly among themselves while the old monk''s smile faded.
He trembled as he turned away, muttering, "Opportunity is also an ordeal... There is no such thing as a perfect situation..."
Fahui of Duanchen Temple had set his sights on Li Xuanling. Meanwhile, Li Xuanling flew on, crossing field after field, his heart filled with concern. He thought to himself, This Zhao State is full of Buddhist cultivators, and if they are all as crazy as this one... it''s too dangerous here! I don''t even know where Mount Luoxia is, and it''s not a ce I must visit. I''ve been out for a few months; perhaps it''s best to return now.
He then changed direction and flew south. It was alreadyte, and as he looked down at the gray-yellownd beneath him in the twilight, he saw tenant farmers sitting around fires. They were listening to monks talking about the suffering of this life and the promise of bing Maha or Dharma Master in the next. Li Xuanling concealed himself quietly, listening to the ordinary monks speaking with great longing.
Although the tenant farmers were emaciated and covered in scars and dirt, their eyes were bright with hope and yearning. Li Xuanling stood silently in the darkness for a while, listening to their joyful cheers and devout prayers, his heart filled withplex emotions.
"Whether the talk ofnds of bliss and reincarnation is true or false, who among the immortals, devils, and Buddhists is right or wrong... The world is filled with deceit and darkness beyond words."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Time on theke passed as smoothly as the water, the deep blue waves gradually growing colder. Xiao Xian once again brought several family servants to Lijing Town, sitting nervously under the main hall.
"Brother Xiao!" Li Yuanping called out, his face pale. He smiled as he sat at the head of the hall, looking down at Xiao Xian. "We have not seen each other for a few months, and your cultivation has improved greatly!" hemended with a smile.
Xiao Xian''s talent was mediocre, having just broken through to the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Li Yuanping''s words were naturally ttery, and Xiao Xian simply smiled and let it pass. After sitting for a while, not knowing how to start the conversation, Li Yuanping decided to take the initiative and asked, "What brings you here today, Brother Xiao?"
Xiao Xian nodded, organizing his thoughts before replying respectfully, "I am now eighteen, and my family is preparing to find a wife for me..."
Hearing this, Li Yuanping immediately understood his intentions. He stroked his chin and thought, Qingxiao is now thirteen or fourteen... Mount Yu''s branch probably wants to settle this matter early, fearing problemster.
Xiao Xian paused and then continued sincerely, "You probably already know, but I have admired Lady Qingxiao for a long time and sincerely wish to marry her. Could you convey my feelings to the elders and thedy herself? If it is agreeable, my family will send a proposal."
Li Yuanping rubbed the jade cup in his hand. Marriage proposals between ns were not made rashly. Typically, someone would first sound out the other party to ensure a positive response before formally proposing. Xiao Xian was now bringing this matter forward formally.
After all, for a n, a direct rejection would be a tant insult. Giving prior notice prevented awkwardness and enmity from forming if the proposal was unsessful.
Li Yuanping nodded, put down his teacup, and said solemnly, "Brother Xiao has helped me greatly... I will not stand idly by. I will inquire and speak well of you. You can expect good news."
Xiao Xian had gone through all this trouble for this assurance. Seeing Li Yuanping agree without asking for anything in return, he felt deeply relieved and grateful. "Thank you very much, Young Master!" he expressed sincerely.
Li Yuanping smiled, and the two chatted about various topics. Suddenly, Li Yuanping remembered something and asked, "Earlier this year, a devil cultivator named Murong Xia passed through our territory... He was quite domineering. Do you know what became of him?"
"Murong Xia?" Xiao Xian repeated as he thought for a moment and replied, "Does he cultivate the Virtuous Benevolence Devil Dao? The one who nurtures a human head in his belly? I have heard some things about him."
"Indeed," Li Yuanping confirmed.
Seeing his affirmation, Xiao Xian became more spirited and replied, "This person went south after passing through your family''s territory. In ournd, he devoured hundreds of people, acting as if everyone were treated equally. He imed that they all went to enjoy themselves in his belly."
Li Yuanping remained silent, feeling a stir in his heart, and asked, "I heard my brother mention this person. From your perspective, is this so-callednd of bliss real?"
Xiao Xian sneered and answered, "Whether it is real or not, I do not know. I would rather die than enter it! Even if it is true, what good is pleasure when you''re under someone else''s control?"
He paused and smirked sarcastically before continuing, "As for this Murong Xia, it is said that after devouring 16,756 people, he will be a Maha. He must have some incredible background, with many Master Monks and Merciful Ones escorting him. Even our family had to respectfully send him off."
He took a sip from his tea bowl and continued, "I thought he was some great Dharma Master, but he deliberately avoided the territory of the Yue Cultivating Sect... I guess he was scared."
Li Yuanping suddenly understood and, after a moment of thought, replied, "Could it be the Sword Immortal Daoist Master Shangyuan? Being both a Sword Immortal and at the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm, even Murong Xia would not dare provoke him."
Xiao Xian nodded and said, "Exactly. Excluding the Golden Core Realm cultivators, Daoist Master Shangyuan is the strongest in this region. The vastnd of Xu State belonging to the Yue Cultivating Sect proves this. Daoist Master Shangyuan cares for themon people and ns. If Murong Xia dared to unt his ways there, not even a few Merciful Ones could save him."
The two chatted in detail for a while, but Xiao Xian seemed restless. Seeing this, Li Yuanpingughed and said softly, "Please wait a moment, brother. I will go up the mountain and inquire for you."
Chapter 313: Ping And Xiao
Chapter 313: Ping And Xiao
Li Yuanping performed a hand seal before passing through the golden barrier of the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation and ascending Mount Lijing alone.
Since Li Tongya had gone into seclusion for cultivation and Li Yuanjiao had gone to Mount Wutu, Li Yuanping took over the responsibilities of the Li Family. He often stayed at the foot of the mountain for several months, leaving Mount Lijingrgely deserted. The weeds between the stones had grown wildly, giving the ce an overgrown look.
Li Yuanping climbed the mountain and pushed open the wooden gate of the side courtyard, where he saw a round-faced girl spreading out books and wooden slips to dry in the courtyard. Her attire was simple and her sleeves were tightly sewn, making her look more like a busy servant rather than a daughter of a prestigious n.
"Qingxiao!"
A faint smile appeared on Li Yuanping''s pale face as he called out to the girl.
The girl looked up in surprise and eximed with joy, "Brother?! What brings you up here on the mountain?"
The children of the Li Family had grown up together on the mountain and were close. Li Yuanpingughed heartily and replied, "I havee to see you."
Li Qingxiao smiled sweetly and teased, "I heard you recently married a lovely wife. I thought it was her pillow talk that brought you here!"
Li Yuanping''s face turned red with embarrassment, and he quickly changed the subject, saying awkwardly, "How can you stand staying on the mountain? It is eerily quiet here."
Li Qingxiao''s lips curled up as she shook her head and replied, "It is not too bad. Big Sister[1] oftenes up to visit me. Besides, I have a lot of books to keep me busy!"
Li Qingxiao''s resembled Chen Donghe more than her mother. Her features were not remarkable, and if not for the gentle temperament that showed in her eyes, she would have looked quite in. She grinned, further disrupting the harmony of her facial features, causing her to look less elegant.
"Though I stay on the mountain, I have heard many rumors about the Dou Family being overbearing and possessing private spirit fields," she said bluntly.
Li Yuanping nodded, his eyes widening with interest as he was sensitive to these matters. Although these words came from Li Qingxiao, they immediately made him think of the Chen Family and other branches. Smiling, he asked, "What''s your opinion about that?"
Li Qingxiao blinked and answered without hesitation, "I suspect the Dou Family has offended our family''s branches!"
"How so?" Li Yuanping asked, intrigued.
Li Qingxiao answered, "I have met Madam Dou. She''s a shrewd and capable woman. There''s no way she couldn''t control her n. The so-called overbearing behavior of the Dou Family likely touches on the interests of many. Old Master Dou is shortsighted and not worth worrying about.
"As for private spirit fields... This matter is neither big nor small. Which of the prominent families does not secretly open some spirit fields? It is an unspoken rule, but bringing it up suggests arger issue involving more than just the Dou Family. If pursued, many prominent families would be implicated."
Li Qingxiao blinked and smiled, continuing, "Such direct targeting of the Dou Family without fear of offending other prominent families muste from our own elders and uncles! They must be testing you since you have just taken charge."
The Li Family had specific standards for dividing spirit fields, and the ones with thin spiritual qi were dismissed by the Li Family but eagerly sought after by prominent families.
Li Qingxiao did not need to investigate to know that these people likely had private spirit fields. Li Yuanpingughed heartily and nodded repeatedly, remarking, "You are right, but you missed the Chen Family."
Seeing Li Qingxiao frown in confusion, Li Yuanping exined, "You live alone on the mountain... For you to hear these rumors, they must havee from your father who heard it from the Chen Family. These negative rumors have shown the Chen Family''s stance."
Li Qingxiao suddenly understood, pping her hands in realization. Li Yuanping then continued seriously, "In the past five years, our family has taken over Mount Yuting and Mount Huazhong. The spiritual energy in Huazhong is especially abundant, even richer than in several towns in Lijing. The bustling world thrives on profit, and the chaos is driven by it. Do not think the prominent families and branches are fighting without reason; it is all for the benefit of these two ces."
Seeing Li Qingxiao nod thoughtfully, Li Yuanping continued, "For decades, the branches have been suppressed by us, unable to bendlords or wealthy merchants, even enjoying themselves in secret. How can they be content? Naturally, they seek opportunities to specte in these two ces."
"I have just started managing the family and I have not used any harsh methods, so naturally, these people are getting restless. The Dou Family seems arrogant and overbearing, but they are actually good dogs. They do not get along with the other branches, making them handy to use," Li Yuanping exined as he picked up a wooden slip from the desk and gently flipped it over before continuing, "When our Jade Court Guards all break through to the Jade Capital Stage and gain spiritual senses, they will easily be able to monitor the activities in Huazhong and Yuting. Once I have control over the entire n, these branches will have no room to maneuver, and the time will be right."
Li Qingxiao nodded silently and said, "The families on theke have always been wary of outsiders and relied heavily on the branches. Yet, Brother, you do the opposite and seem to be most cautious of the branches."
Li Yuanping smiled and replied, "There are loyal cultivators among the branches who naturally need to be promoted. However, most are parasites and wastrels. But at the end of the day, they are still rted to us. If I do not handle this well, the next generation will have an even harder time dealing with them due to theirck of seniority. The Lu and Yu Families serve as clear warnings; we must be cautious."
They exchanged a knowing smile with each other. Li Yuanping then remembered his true purpose for the visit and asked abruptly, "By the way, what do you think of Xiao Xian from Mount Yu?"
They had been discussing important family matters, and the sudden change of topic caught Li Qingxiao off guard.
"Ah!" She eximed in surprise before lowering her head.
Li Yuanping looked at her carefully and teased, "I guess words aren''t needed when ites to matters between a man and a woman."
Li Qingxiao quickly raised her head, her cheeks slightly red, and retorted, "Brother, what are you saying? This man is frivolous, running to our ce every day. Everyone knows how much he admires me, and it is quite embarrassing!"
"Hahaha!" Li Yuanpingughed heartily in amusement andmented, "He is sincere. Given his status in the Mount Yu branch, he has already humbled himself greatly."
"True..." Li Qingxiao smiled as she calmed herself down, and then said seriously, "He appears deeply affectionate, but I am not a naive girl who does not know anything. A few acts of kindness do not make a good man. We have only shared a few encounters; I know his face, but not his heart. We still need to consult the elders."
Li Yuanping nodded lightly and replied, "He has a gentle nature,es from a prestigious family, and has both good looks and intelligence. He is honest and sincere; it is hard to find someone better. I have already sent for Uncle Donghe and our big brother."
"Good," Li Qingxiao responded softly, tying up her long hair as she softly said, "I have also looked into the children from other families within the n. None of them seem capable, and their characters are worse. If we can find someone from a prestigious n outside, it would definitely be better than a prominent family within."
Li Yuanping, his face pale, nodded and smiled, saying, "Brother Yuanyun''s children are also on the mountain. How do you find living with them?"
Hearing this, Li Qingxiao hesitated, organizing her thoughts but found herself unable to express them. She shook her head in response, looking regretful and mncholic.
Li Yuanping paused, his expression puzzled. He opened his mouth slightly and said in a low voice, "The ancestor and Uncle Ling both have such excellent temperaments. How could it be that in theter generations..."
Li Qingxiao gave him a look, signaling him to stop, and hinted, "Brother Yuanyun left the mountain years ago and went to Eastern Mount Yue, saying that he was looking for a shamanic method to open up spiritual orifices. He has not returned for several years..."
Both fell silent. Everyone knew that Li Yuanyun had no spiritual orifice but no one dared to mention it, treating it like a taboo. Among the direct descendants, he lived the most aimless life.
However, they all understood that if there were truly a method to open spiritual orifices, it would not be found in a small region like Eastern Mount Yue, nor would it be easily essible.
Li Yuanping sighed and said, "Uncle Xuanling has gone to travel in Xu State, and Big Sister is cultivating in seclusion. The elders feel guilty toward him and never impose any restrictions on him; they always let him do as he pleases. There''s nothing we can do too... I also discussed this with Big Brother, but he suggested we just let him be. As long as he doesn''t do anything bad or harm people by performing blood sacrifices while he collects shamanic spells in Eastern Mount Yue, and if it can alleviate his frustration and resentment, it might actually be a good thing."
Li Qingxiao sighed softly and murmured, "I guess that''s true..."
1. Li Qingxiao''s Big Sister is Li Qinghong. ?
Chapter 314: Black Serpent
Chapter 314: ck Serpent
The crimson fire zed fiercely in the fields, the piled-up straw crackling in the mes. Under the pitch-ck night, the burning blood-red mes illuminated the eerily silent, deserted vige. Dark blood flowed quietly on the ground.
In the center stood a dark stone tform covered in dark red runes. Many men and women, dressed in Daoist robes, kneeled upon it. Sharp dharma weapons had pierced through their throats, and theyy copsed on the sacrificial altar.
A chilling wind blew, creating a mournful wail. Nine piles of bones, varying in size, were neatly arranged around the area, most of them fragmented. In the middle, a cultivator d in ck sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in deep concentration.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes, mana light flickering within its depths. His skin was slightly tanned, his hair disheveled, revealing him to be a man of Mount Yue. He stood up, humming a song, and picked up a ck gourd, ncing at the moon. He murmured softly, "The moon is at its zenith, the yin energy is at its peak... Perfect!"
He then gently lifted the ck gourd, which was covered in numerous runes that began to glow with a blood-red light. He shook it lightly as his mana flowed freely, and shouted, "Collect!"
Immediately, ck and blood-red qi rose from the piles of bones, emitting a cacophony of sharp, mournful screams. The qi interwove in the air like threads, like homing swallows, all of it wafting toward the sacrificial altar and into the small opening of the gourd.
"Good... good!"
The ck-robed cultivator waited for an hour until the resentment qi and blood qi were fully collected into his gourd. The piles of bones had now withered, crackling as they disintegrated. The blood-red light on the gourd grew increasingly intense.
He finally stopped in satisfaction and said, "Over three thousand people, six Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators. This batch should please the sect master!"
Smiling contentedly, he looked at the ground and, after some thought, cast a spell. The blood on the ground began to move as it seemed toe to life, quickly formingrge characters on the ground¡ªThe killer is Jiang Yan.
He examined his work closely, squeezing out augh from his throat. His ck robe fluttered though there was no wind, and he cackled, "The sect master''s method is indeed wless!"
As he marveled, an indistinct voice emerged from beside him.
"It truly is a good method!"
"Who''s there?" he asked as he looked up abruptly and in shock, seeing a young face appear beside him, smirking and staring intently right at him with vermillion lips.
The youth sneered, "Chi Zhiyun has indeed made a good n... The Azure Pond Sect collects the resentment qi and blood qi while I, Jiang Yan, take the me..?"
"Jiang Yan?!"
The man was terrified, eximing, "You... Are you not in Linghai Prefecture?!"
Realizing the situation, his eyes filled with mana light, blood qi rising from his body. He tried to fly away, turning to escape.
"And here I am, wondering why there are so many devil cultivators around... It seems that it is your Azure Chi Devil Gate stealing from itself!" Jiang Yan sneered, reaching out.
The man had just taken to the air but fell heavily to the ground with a loud thud. As a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, this barely fazed him. He stomped his foot on the ground and reached for the whip at his waist.
Jiang Yan performed a hand seal with his left hand and pointed at the man with his right. The man''s robes twisted together and deformed, the runes on the whip transforming into scales that stood up menacingly. The whip came alive, turning into a ck, ugly serpent, hissing and lunging at the man''s hand.
"What kind of spell is this?!"
The man was horrified as he screamed, quickly casting a spell and striking the serpent away. But before he could react, the nine piles of bones around him stirred, each connecting and forming a massive skeletal hand that reached for him, covering the sky.
"How could a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator still use a Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifact?" Jiang Yan mocked coldly, a smirk appearing on his face.
The cultivator dressed in ck conjured a blood-red spell and punched arge hole through the massive skeletal hand, leaping out amidst the raining bones to strike Jiang Yan on the head.
The young man looked up, exhaled a deep ck mist, and caught the cultivator''s spell. He even had the time to smile as he asked, "Master, what kind of immortal foundation does this person have?"
From within the ck mist emerged the sinister ck serpent, flicking its tongue and speaking in a gravelly voice, "He drinks the blood of the people... He must be originally from Mount Wu under Duanmu Kui andter joined the Azure Pond Sect..."
When the ck-robed cultivator saw Jiang Yan refer to the transformed ck serpent as his master, his heart went cold, and he mumbled, "J-Jiang Boqing... How is this possible?! You did not get captured by the Emissaries of Death?! How is this possible..."
The ck serpent chuckled, and the blood and bones around them swirled like a whirlwind, violently splitting into numerous small hands that reached for the cultivator. The serpent hissed and cackled, "I do not cultivate the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao... my name is not on their lists! How could they possibly catch me?"
The cultivator who was dressed in ck was rendered speechless. As Jiang Yan chanted spells, the attacks from the blood and bones grew more intense. Forced into a corner, he thought to himself with relief, Fortunately, I collected the blood qi and resentment qi first, otherwise, this spell would have been much stronger!
Looking up again, the ck serpent had vanished. The ck-robed cultivator''s heart skipped a beat, his spiritual sense searching all around him as he said respectfully, "Master Jiang, our Dao lineage are simr, both derived from the immortal talisman and curse... I have long admired you..."
But before he could finish begging for mercy, a sinister voice hissed in his ear, "Where is the Answers to a Beggar¡¯s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree?"
"I... I do not know!"
Hearing the name of the secret technique, Answers to a Beggar¡¯s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree, terror almost overflowed from the cultivator''s face. He stammered, "N-Not only the Purple Mansion Realms of the three sects and seven gates... but even the Pristine Water is..."
"Silence!"
The ck serpent''s scales bristled, its eyes bulging as it scolded, "How dare you speak that name out loud? Are you mad? This is not Duanmu Kui''s territory... You dare utter that name in Azure Chi Devil Gate''s territory?"
"Y-Y-Yes!" the ck-robed cultivator stammered, continuing, "E-Even... the True Monarch personally went to Mount Wu. There truly is nothing there! If I''m lying I''ll be struck by five thunders and never reincarnate!"
"Hahahahaha... you are quite clever."
The ck serpent''s voice carried a snake-like hiss, sinister and eerie. "In this day and age, what good are oaths? Since the True Monarch himself came, could he not have divined the truth, or perhaps searched souls and seized spirits?" the snake hissed.
The ck-robed cultivator''s immortal foundation was operating at full capacity, barely holding off the skeletal attacks. His eyes were bloodshot, blood vessels clearly visible as he stammered, "S-Senior, do not deceive me... Duanmu Kui met the immortals. His fate is so chaotic that even if there were an opportunity, who would dare to calcte it?! The grace of immortals is vast, and their might is like a prison. Even the True Monarch would not dare to probe! As for searching souls and seizing spirits... Duanmu Kui failed his breakthrough and has be a Locust Shade Ghost. Where could you search for his soul!"
The ck serpent fell silent, its voice full of resentment as it hissed, "You have cultivated on Mount Wu for many years. Have you ever seen this secret technique?"
"Never..."
The ck serpent said nothing more. The cultivator knew this meant trouble, sensing Jiang Boqing''s murderous intent. Trapped by Jiang Yan''s skeletal spell, he knew he could not escape. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "I beseech the profound light true talisman, this wicked ghost and demon, disrupting my path... I humbly request the profound light to..."
Before he could finish reciting the shamanic incantation, the ck serpentughed wildly and darted like lightning toward his neck. Its voice hissed and echoed in their surroundings.
"What do you think you are doing?!"
Chapter 315: Betrothal
Chapter 315: Betrothal
The flesh and bones in the air swiftly condensed into chains, binding the limbs of the ck-robed cultivator. Below, Jiang Yanpleted the final hand seals of his spell. The cultivator was already in a state of shock and despair, watching as the ck serpent slithered around his neck.
"Senior, since you know I am from Mount Wu and are aware of many secrets, you should also know that even if I cannot defeat you, I have plenty of ways to take you down with me!" he yelled threateningly.
With a resolute expression, the cultivator red at the approaching ck serpent. The serpent flicked its tongue and let out a coldugh, taunting, "Why not give it a try?"
The ck-robed cultivator''s eyes widened in sudden realization, and he eximed, "This is... Blood Drinker! How is this possible?!... You!"
Strange, dark red mana lights began to rise from his body, obediently flowing toward Jiang Boqing, dancing and swirling around the serpent.
"Why is it impossible?" Jiang Boqing continued taunting as he flicked his tongue, his hissing voice calming down as he said lightly, "I, too, once sought the Supreme Shaman''s Three Nine Blood Essence. Though Iter abandoned that cultivation path to focus on other methods, I am still far stronger than a half-baked cultivator like you."
The ck-robed cultivator could only make incoherent sounds, while Jiang Boqing''s voice was filled with satisfaction as he eximed, "The Blood Drinker still recognizes me, but it holds you in utter contempt!"
Below, Jiang Yan watched the drama unfoldzily, saying, "Master! Did you not want that thunder attribute immortal foundation? What kind of metallic essence does this Blood Drinker have?"
The ck serpent straightened its body, finally transforming into a long ck whip that slowly fell to the ground. A dark cloud rose on the face of the ck-robed cultivator, who began to babble nonsensically.
"Let''s use this body for now and look for a better one to rece it! Although Duanmu Kui is dead, no one practices the Supreme Shaman''s Three Nine Blood Essence anymore. Answers to a Beggar''s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree is nowhere to be found... Where can I find the remaining immortal foundations? There is no way forward with this Blood Drinker."
Jiang Yan nodded, and then heard Jiang Boqing''s sinister voice from above, "It is still a Foundation Establishment Realm body, and it is not easy to take over. Guard me while I upy it."
The ck-robed cultivator sat down heavily, the dark cloud swirling on his face. Jiang Yan walked a few steps forward and took the ck gourd from the cultivator''s waist, saying with a light smile, "Baleful blood and resentment qi... how convenient, exactly what I needed!"
Though Jiang Yan''s tone was casual, his eyes were filled with suspicion. He weighed the gourd in his hand, removed the lid, and nced at the bright red baleful qi within it. He sat down cross-legged, ced his fingers together at his brow, and drew out a bright golden talisman.
This talisman was entirely golden, glowing with mana light. Jiang Yan poured out the crimson baleful and resentment qi and began to silently refine it.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Wutu was close to Mount Lijing. It only took Li Yuanjiao the time to burn half a stick of incense to arrive by riding the wind. When hended on the mountain, both Li Yuanping and Li Qingxiao stood up and greeted him respectfully.
"Big Brother!"
"Brother Jiao!"
Li Yuanjiao''s eyes shone brightly, and his aura was vigorous. It seemed that under the support of the Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit Talisman and his diligent cultivation on Mount Wutu, his strength had significantly improved over the past year or two. He nodded at his younger siblings.
Chen Donghe and his wife had been nearby and quickly returned to Mount Lijing. Li Jingtian looked worried, while Chen Donghe remained calm and thoughtful.
As they chatted, it was clear their minds were elsewhere, waiting for their sister, Li Qinghong, to arrive. However, no matter how long they waited, her heroic figure was nowhere in sight. After an hour, someone finally reported, standing respectfully at the courtyard entrance, "Reporting from Yuting Peak, the immortal master entered seclusion yesterday to attempt a breakthrough to the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and has not yet emerged. I thought she might be at a critical point in her breakthrough and dared not knock on the door, so I came back to report."
"Qinghong is in the midst of a breakthrough..."
The group exchanged nces. Li Jingtian, unable to contain herself since Qingxiao was her daughter, spoke up softly.
"Xiao''er,e with me inside."
With a gentle nod to the others, she smiled and said, "We have some private matters to discuss, please wait a moment."
The group nodded in agreement, and the mother and daughter entered the room. Li Yuanjiao cupped his fist and asked, "Uncle, what do you think?"
Chen Donghe shook his head and replied gently, "I have heard about Xiao Xian... He seems sincere enough. Qingxiao is my only daughter. I do not expect Xiao Xian to be a Foundation Establishment Realm immortal cultivator. As long as he treats my daughter well, that is enough."
Chen Donghe''s voice was gentle but firm. Over the years, he had broken through to the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, bing a mainstay of the Li Family. His dignified presence exuded authority as he continued, "If Qingxiao is willing, I have no objections to this marriage."
Yuanping and Yuanjiao exchanged nces, and Li Yuanjiao spoke, "Uncle, rest assured. The Mount Yu branch would not dare mistreat Qingxiao. If this marriage goes through, it will be a grand affair with betrothal gifts lining up as long as ten li!"
While the group outside discussed matters, Li Qingxiao followed her mother Li Jingtian into the room. Li Jingtian held her daughter''s hand, her tone urgent and concerned. "This is a significant matter... Have you thought it through?"
Li Qingxiao lowered her head and quietly replied, "If I refuse Xiao Xian, not only will it be awkward for the family, but Mother... would you be able to find someone better for me?"
Li Jingtian frowned and was about to open her mouth to speak, but then shook her head and said, "Matters of love should always be about mutual willingness. It is not about whether he is good or not, but whether you want to... The family has never forced marriage upon anyone. Even if you want to marry a mortal without a spiritual orifice, your father and I will support you unconditionally."
Li Qingxiao blinked and suddenlyughed lightly, her smile radiant as she said, "Leaving the mortals aside, I have not even considered the prominent families in our household. Mother, you must be joking! This is not some fictional story. Naturally, our spouses must match us in social status. As for whether there is mutual affection... Given our family''s current status, how many families can we even marry into? How many would dare to marry into ours? There are only a few families, scattered across a thousand li. Seeing each other once before marriage is rare enough, let alone discussing feelings. We should only consider their appearance and character."
Li Jingtian, who was well aware of this, sighed softly, her concern making her lose perspective. Li Qingxiao lowered her head, her voice calm and rational as she said, "Xiao Xian has shown enough respect... We shouldn''t be too overcritical and pursue perfection in life."
After a private conversation, the mother and daughter emerged from the room, and Li Qingxiao agreed to the matter with a smile. Li Yuanjiao nodded and said, "Then I will report to the ancestor and write to Cloud Crowned Peak to finalize this matter."
Everyone nodded in agreement, but just then, a person hurriedly approached. ncing at the group in the courtyard, he hesitated for a moment before bowing respectfully in front of Li Yuanjiao and said, "Young masters, someone from the Xiao Family has arrived, saying there has been a change within their sect."
"Who hase?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
The n guard replied, "The eldest son of the Xiao Family, Xiao Guitu."
"Xiao Guitu?!"
Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping exchanged a look, then cupped their fists toward Li Jingtian and Chen Donghe before leaving in haste.
After seeing them off, Chen Donghe sat down in the room. Li Jingtian nudged her husband, ncing at Li Qingxiao who had gone out to collect the books, and said softly, "Xiao Xian is good, but hecks ambition. He is clever but not decisive. I fear he will not achieve great things..."
"Great things..." Chen Donghe repeated as he shook his head, putting his sword into its embroidered pouch, and replied gently, "As long as he can live an honest life, what more can we ask for? Soaring eagles and sparrows that fly too high are soon shot down by hunters, leaving our daughter a widow."
Li Jingtian shook her head, her voice filled with worry as she said, "That''s not necessarily true. Even if he does not soar, that doesn''t guarantee that she won''t suffer."
Chapter 316: Molten Metal Cave
Chapter 316: Molten Metal Cave
Xiao Xian waited anxiously in the hall, unable to calm his nerves. He fidgeted with the jade cup on the table, constantly changing his posture.
After a long while, a mor of footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard. Xiao Xian, who had been slumping in his seat, immediately straightened up, his anxiety increasing even more. He heard a ttering voice from outside.
"Young Master Guitu, my master is currently on the mountain discussing important matters with his n brothers... Please, wait a moment..."
"No problem."
The voice was mature and steady, but it struck Xiao Xian like a bolt of lightning. His mind went nk, with only one thought reverberating in his mind.
Xiao Guitu... what is he doing here?
In just an instant, a young man entered the courtyard. He had broad shoulders and a robust build, exuding a majestic aura. The intricate runes on his armor glowed with mana light, indicating his status as an important figure in the immortal n.
Xiao Xian dared not be negligent. He quickly adjusted his robes and bowed deeply, greeting respectfully, "Xiao Xian of Mount Yu branch greets the young master!"
This man was indeed Xiao Guitu, now at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, the elder brother of Xiao Guiluan and the most outstanding figure of his generation in the Xiao Family. As the head of the main branch of the Xiao Family, Xiao Guitu''s presencemanded great respect. Xiao Xian did not dare to be negligent and immediately showed the proper deference.
"Xiao Xian of Mount Yu..." Xiao Guitu nced at him with a curious expression and smiled. "I have heard of you. The Mount Yu branch has done well these past few years. I have also heard you have some connection with the second youngdy of the Li Family."
Xiao Xian forced a smile, uncertain of Xiao Guitu''s intentions. He hesitated but then invited him to sit. Xiao Guitu strode forward confidently before taking his seat. He stared at Xiao Xian and remarked, "Not bad."
Xiao Xian secretly breathed a sigh of relief as Xiao Guitu continued, "I have important matters to discuss with the Li Family. You may listen."
As soon as he had finished speaking, several people entered the hall, led by a man in ck with a sword at his waist¡ª it was Li Yuanjiao. He stepped forward with a smile and said, "I am Li Yuanjiao, pleased to meet you, Young Master Xiao."
Xiao Guitu looked up and their gazes met in mid-air, each feeling a sense of awe. Xiao Guituughed heartily and replied, "So it is my brother-inw! I am Xiao Guitu. I have heard much about you."
Li Yuanjiao nodded and took the main seat. With Xiao Guitu seated, Xiao Xian had no ce to sit and stood respectfully beside him. When Li Yuanping enteredter, he dismissed the others with a nod.
As the people left the courtyard and carefully closed the courtyard gates, an isting barrier was activated. Xiao Guitu sipped his tea and got straight to the point, speaking in a serious tone.
"I came here for two matters. First, our n uncle, Xiao Yongling, has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, achieving the Dao Foundation of Eastern Feather Mountain. He will take over guarding the north and will not return to Cloud Crowned Peak for several decades."
"Congrattions! It is a pity our ancestor is in seclusion; otherwise, he would have personally seen him off," Li Yuanjiao responded respectfully. Xiao Yongling, being of the same generation as Li Tongya, was referred to with great respect.
Xiao Guitu epted Li Yuanjiao''s congrattions on behalf of Xiao Yongling and continued, "Second, ording to the Yuan Family, Yu Muxian hase out of seclusion and has also broken through to Foundation Establishment Realm, achieving the immortal foundation Molten Metal Cave... This immortal foundation has not been achieved for over a century and has even drawn the attention of Daoist Masters."
After these words were spoken, everyone present fell silent. Li Yuanjiao yed with his jade cup, his expression somber as he replied, "Thank you, Young Master."
Xiao Guitu paused, giving him some time to think, and then continued, "Molten Metal Cave specializes in smithing but is extremely difficult to cultivate. Firstly, it requires exceptional talent. Secondly, during cultivation, one must constantly endure the pain of skin peeling off... Yuanwu Peak once had a disciple who practiced this method, but he wailed day and night, and eventually abandoned it. Yu Muxian''s ability to master this Dao shows great perseverance and should not be underestimated."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, his expression unchanged, and sincerely said, "Our family also heard that Yu Muxian is rumored to be well-connected within the sect, quick-witted, and eloquent. I have one more question... Is this Molten Metal Cave... a certain Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s Dao Partner?"
This question was too sensitive, causing Xiao Xian to lower his head. Xiao Guitu paused, his eyes bright, and answered, "I considered this as well. Before leaving home, I specifically asked the ancestor this. There is no Metallic Essence in Jiangnan that aligns with the Molten Metal Cave."
The two men exchanged a nce, both realizing the underlying issue. Li Yuanjiao lowered his voice and sneered. "Chi Zhiyun really thinks highly of him!"
Xiao Guitu drank his tea unhurriedly and replied, "Chi Zhiyun wants to support the Yu Family at Moongaze Lake to keep our family in check. Yu Muxian is just the lucky one. However, this lucky person is ruthless, which is concerning."
Li Yuanjiao looked up, carefully observing Xiao Guitu''s expression, and asked softly, "What do you mean, Young Master...?"
Xiao Guitu shook his head silently and replied, "It''s aplicated matter... The divine abilities of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators are extraordinary. The higher their cultivation, the more divine abilities they possess, and be increasingly inhuman. It is impossible for those below Purple Mansion Realm to interfere. The fact that the Daoist Master personally received Yu Muxian makes the intention clear."
Li Yuanjiao tactfully stopped pressing. Xiao Guitu cupped his fist and continued, "After Yu Muxian came out of seclusion, there were rumors within the sect about a sword immortal being unwell. Your n should be cautious."
He paused and exined, "There are very few sword immortals in the world. The Qingsui Sword Immortal was famous throughout Jiangnan and Jiangbei during his years. Now, he has not appeared for decades, causing widespread suspicion and rampant rumors."
Li Yuanjiao sighed silently. He had only recently learned the truth¡ªthat his nominal grandfather had perished at the southern border. Judging from Xiao Guitu''s tone, the entire Xiao Family was likely aware of this.
He nodded in agreement, discussed some matters concerning Xiao Guiluan, and then had Li Xizhi brought up. The child obediently called him uncle, bringing a genuine smile to Xiao Guitu''s face.
Xiao Guituughed and remarked, "Seeing this nephew of mine reminds me of Guiluan when she was just a kid. I still vividly remember how she was always rowdy and full ofughter. Guiluan came back to visit these past two years, and I''ve heard about your marriage... It''s indeed good news."
Li Yuanjiaoughed heartily. Xiao Guitu yed with Li Xizhi for a bit before sending the child away then cupped his fist and took his leave.
Xiao Xian followed behind, managing only a quick cup of his fist to Li Yuanping before saying hastily, "Please inform me if there is any news."
He then quickly chased after Xiao Guitu. Li Yuanjiao saw them off at the edge of the Li Family''s territory and then flew back to the courtyard. By then, the sky had already darkened.
Li Yuanjiao settled before his desk, where Li Yuanping had been waiting for some time. The brothers exchanged nces, and Li Yuanping pondered for a moment before asking, "Brother, how credible do you think Xiao Guitu''s words are?"
Li Yuanjiao frowned, tapping his jade cup on the desk in frustration. "It is hard to say. Xiao Guitu is no fool. His words seemed sincere, and his demeanor was measured. It is difficult to discern the truth... The Xiao Family is indeed full of talent. Xiao Chuting, Xiao Yongling... and now Xiao Guitu. None of them are easy to deal with.
"The ancestor once said that although the Xiao Family and the Azure Pond Sect appear to be at odds on the surface, they are quite aligned in private. We cannot be sure what these Purple Mansion Realm cultivators are nning. While the Xiao Family has done us favors, they would not deceive us about such things. But if we follow their lead too blindly, we will eventually be stepping stones for their cultivation."
Li Yuanping nodded silently, his pale face showing signs of unease.
"Yu Muxian''s recent breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm means he will surely interfere with matters on theke."
Li Yuanjiao deliberated for a moment, then decisively said, "Open the cave dwelling at Meichi Peak and inform the ancestor!"
Chapter 317: Forbidden To Return South
Chapter 317: Forbidden To Return South
"Save me, fellow Daoist..."
"Hand over the panacea!"
............
Since Li Xuanling had decided to return south, he naturally flew straight toward the south. Along the way, he witnessed chaotic scenes¡ªbattles between immortal and devil cultivators over treasures, and Buddhist cultivators subduing demons with both sides suffering losses. Despite opportunities to take advantage of such situations, Li Xuanling was determined to return home and flew southward without stopping.
Among the members of the Li Family, Li Xuanling had the deepest mastery of the River Crossing Torrential Step. Thus, he navigated through his journey effortlessly, avoiding any trouble as he flew along. Soon, he reached the border of Xu State where a great river surged. The waves crashed against the shore, formingyers of snow-white spray, presenting a magnificent and captivating scene before him.
Known as the ancestor of southern water veins, this great river divided the north and south, its turbulent waters being one of the most abundant sources of water qi in thend. The upper reaches extended deep into Zhao State, winding around Mount Luoxia before flowing into Wu State. Any cultivator attuned to the energies ofrge rivers and streams, like Li Xuanling, who practiced the River One Qi Technique, would inevitably pause to admire such magnificent scenery.
"The vastness of the river..."
When Li Xuanling first traveled north, he had passed by this great river. He spent several days there to cultivate, as it rxed his mind and greatly improved his cultivation. Now, seeing it again upon his return, he felt an uncontroble surge of emotions,pelling him tond by the riverbank and gaze at the pale green waters flowing east, feeling an overwhelming sense of his own insignificance.
"The momentum of life is like the flow of this great river¡ªbeyond one''s control."
Reflecting on his northern journey, Li Xuanling realized that his initial aimless wandering in Xu State had inexplicably turned into a determination to visit Mount Luoxia. This thought, like andslide or tsunami, had driven him north to Zhao State.
If not for being interrupted by Fahui, I would still be ensnared by this idea, unable to escape... Was it truly my desire to go, or was it the will of some Purple Mansion Realm or Maha?
A chill ran down Li Xuanling''s spine as he pondered the possibility of being manipted by unseen hands, making the chaotic events along the way even more frightening.
All these urrences¡ªlike the emergence of precious panacea and Buddhist cultivators subduing demons, could have been illusions crafted to lure me further north!
Deeply disturbed, Li Xuanling walked along the riverbank until he saw arge reef. On the reef sat an old man in a straw raincoat who was dripping wet, patiently disentangling a messy fishing.
The old man''s sharp eyes fixed on Li Xuanling who had just approached, causing him to halt abruptly. As a sense of foreboding overwhelmed him, Li Xuanling''s mind echoed with realization, I have been ensnared by a spell!
He immediately activated his mana, but before he could take flight, the old man spoke loudly. "Boy! There is no need to head further south!"
Li Xuanling had barely lifted off the ground before being forced back down, finding himself unable to move save for his lips.
"A Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master!" he eximed.
"You truly had strong willpower. We used beautiful women, demons, treasures, and wealth along the way, yet none of it could sway you even a little..."
The fisherman lowered his head again, focusing on the tangled fishing in his hands, and said gently, "I had to step in personally to intercept you."
Li Xuanling, still unable to move, could only open his mouth slightly and murmur, "I am just a Qi Cultivator, and you are a great immortal. Why go to such lengths to ensnare a lowly cultivator like me..."
The fishermanughed heartily, staring intently at Li Xuanling and replied, "This n has been in the works for decades, and it cannot fail. It was no easy task to lure you north, and who knew you would be this cautious... It should not have required such trouble."
Li Xuanling suddenly felt the constraints around him loosen as the Daoist Master removed the bindings. Realizing there was no escape, he simply sat cross-legged, looking defeated. "If I am not mistaken, you are after my father. I am merely bait, right?" he asked.
The Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master shook his head and shot a nce at him, smiling once more.
"Incorrect. Your father is the bait."
A chill ran down Li Xuanling''s spine. He opened his mouth and said in a hoarse voice, "But my father is always cautious. I am afraid he will not satisfy your expectations."
The Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master shook his head again and said softly, "Li Tongya has no choice but toe. He already has a premonition; otherwise, he would not be sitting quietly on Mount Lijing."
With a sigh of respect, the Daoist Master continued, "We Purple Mansion Realm cultivators have observed the changing world for hundreds of years and seen all kinds of people. I must say, Li Tongya is remarkable but not ruthless enough. He cannot let go of his family and principles, so he must sit and wait for his fate."
Li Xuanling was silent, clutching the long sword at his waist, tears welling up in his eyes as his face turned red. He asked, "If my father and I both go to our deaths, can the Li Family have a night of peace?"
The fisherman gave him a deep look, pped his hands, and replied, "The demon den of Mount Dali and Xiao Chuting will protect your family. The Li Family will be fine."
Li Xuanling exhaled deeply, intending to ask more, but the Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master waved his hand and said, "Enough! I answered out of respect for your father, but you keep asking questions. Go, head to Mount Luoxia!"
Li Xuanling pressed his lips together, and sighed deeply in his heart. He had no choice but to cup his fist to the Daoist Master before flying northward.
The Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master stayed behind, tidying up the fishing, grumbling, "What a mess, unable to control even the fate of a Qi Cultivator! To think that I had to intervene myself..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The cold winter gradually swept in, and the news of Xiao Yongling''s breakthrough reached the market. Li Xuanxuan prepared a modest yet substantial gift and personally delivered it to Cloud Crowned Peak to congratte Xiao Yongling.
Xiao Yongling, having sessfully reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, was in high spirits. He looked at Li Xuanxuan with aplex expression as he received the jade box on the table. With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he recognized the spirit pill inside as the finest among the Qi Cultivation Realm and nodded.
"You are too thoughtful."
"Thank you for your care over the past few years, Senior..."
Li Xuanxuan had been managing the market for these years, and Xiao Yongling''s presence had indeed been a significant help. He was naturally full of gratitude and responded respectfully.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yongling hesitated slightly. He rubbed the jade cup before him with some restraint, wanting to speak but holding himself back. After pausing for over ten breaths, he waved his hand somewhat disheartened and pointed to the white-robed man beside him who was holding a long staff. He said, "After I leave, Ruyu will be in charge of the market. If your family has any important matters, you can go to him."
"Greetings, my lord!" Li Xuanxuan greeted as he cupped his fist immediately.
The white-robed Xiao Ruyu smiled lightly. Now at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, he said softly, "I have a good rtionship with Brother Xuanfeng... There is no need to be so formal. Just call me Ruyu."
After exchanging a few words, Li Xuanxuan cupped his fist and took his leave. Xiao Yongling frowned, his expression showing some guilt as he watched Li Xuanxuan''s departing figure. Weary, he said, "Li Xuanling has most likely reached the north. With the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators'' maneuvers... I cannot speak inly. The ancestor did his best to be subtle, but this is the result, leaving me feeling ashamed toward Li Tongya."
"It is something beyond our control."
Xiao Ruyu appeared more mature, his eyes firmer, and his voice heavier as he spoke, "Our Xiao Family... has done all we could."
Xiao Yongling gave a bitter smile and replied, "Who knows... This is the best oue. No family can dominate Moongaze Lake. Once this matter passes, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators will hopefully settle down, sparing us from living in constant fear."
Chapter 318: Devouring Life
Chapter 318: Devouring Life
As one of the top five peaks of Azure Pond Sect, Yuanwu Peak towered twice as high as the nearby Qingsui Peak, overlooking various other immortal peaks below. Misty clouds swirled all around, and being the first peak for weapon forging, fire veins surged intermittently. asionally, cultivators ascended and descended, creating a lively scene.
In a hidden cave on Yuanwu Peak, the spiritual qi was dense, and a spirit spring gushed forth. The dark stones stood out vividly against the white spiritual mist while a crystal jade table sparkled with brilliance, holding a pot of wine and two jade cups.
On the left was a person dressed in white and wearing a jade crown. He had a handsome appearance and an ethereal demeanor, exuding an otherworldly aura. He held a jade cup, portraying a celestial elegance, and said with a beaming smile, "This Foundation Establishment Realm is indeed different. From now on, it will nourish life and extend my lifespan by three hundred years, granting me some divine abilities!"
The person on the right had an ordinary appearance. He nodded contentedly as he heard those words, paused, and said, "Muxian, you endured the pain of flesh and blood falling away for these twenty years, and finally, you have made it through."
"It was just a small ordeal..." Yu Muxian chuckled as he waved his hand dismissively, his expression resolute with a faint smile. "Senior Brother Tang, I only wish to cultivate divine abilities and seek the metallic essence. No matter how many hardships I face, I am willing to endure all of them. Although cultivating the Molten Metal Cave is painful, it directly points to the Dao of the Purple Mansion Realm... Nothing can rece it."
Senior Brother Tang nodded respectfully and spoke softly, "Since you have achieved Foundation Establishment Realm, should you send a letter home? I have not seen you contact the Yu Family for some time."
"No need!"
Yu Muxian''s expression was cold, his aura of immortality imposing as he said sternly, "Chi Zhiyan deliberately told Yu Mugao some things to scare him. It has been years since he wrote to me. My big brother is always cunning and has probably seen through my words, no longer trusting me. Yu Yufeng is already dead, and the Yu Family has lost its influence on theke. They can''t provide me with Foundation Establishment Realm elixirs, and even daily supplies are bing scarcer. The Yu Family has lost its usefulness... I just hope they do not drag me down."
Senior Brother Tang did not feel surprised at these words and only furrowed his brow, asking, "Why not uplift the Yu Family and scour theke''s resources for yourself?"
"No." Yu Muxian shook his head and replied, "Xiao Chuting is the best at scheming, and his immortal foundation is bizarre. I do not want to confront him. Supporting the Yu Family would only bring more trouble than benefits; it is something wise people would not do."
Senior Brother Tang suddenly understood as he took a sip of the spirit tea, and asked, "I see that you are thinking things through carefully. How do you n to proceed? Just give the orders, and though I may not have a strong cultivation, I do have some connections."
Yu Muxian pondered for a few breaths and replied, "The situation on theke must not change... This is the result of multiplepromises. The fate that Wrathful Maha wants to take is getting closer, and the eyes of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators are all focused on it. We should not make any moves. When Li Tongya crosses the river and the major matters of the Purple Mansion Realms are settled, I will stabilize theke''s affairs without major changes."
Senior Brother Tang fell silent for a moment and replied, "You mean we should bide our time for now..."
"Exactly."
Yu Muxian nodded slowly and continued softly, "The current Jiangnan appears bright, but hidden currents run deep. To the north is the Maha Reincarnate, and to the south is the shaman. Though the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators are respected, they are only small pieces on the chessboard in this great storm. We must keep our heads down and wait quietly."
Senior Brother Tang sighed. He took another sip of tea and shook his head. "It is a pity Yu Yufeng cultivated the Jade Court General and conflicted with that sword immortal. If this person had not died, he could still be of some use."
"He brought it upon himself!"
Yu Muxian''s expression finally changed, showing some resentment as he said, "Daoist Master Shangyuan wanted to im the Jade True Unified Void Essence. As soon as I heard the news after joining the sect, I specifically informed him. He still clung to luck, secretly conducting some blood sacrifice in the Yu Family! In the end, the truth came out. If I had not cleared myself quickly, I would have been dragged down by him!"
"After all, it is a matter of obstructing the Dao," Senior Brother Tang said as he sighed deeply.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao and the others kneeled quietly before the stone door of the cave dwelling. After a moment, a broad-shouldered man with a stern expression, carrying a sword on his back and appearing to be around sixty years old, stepped out of the cave. All the younger members of the Li Family immediately greeted him respectfully.
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
"Hmm," Li Tongya responded, holding two small letters in his hand. He nced at Li Yuanjiao, who was kneeling below, and said warmly, "Not bad, you have already reached the fourth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm."
Li Yuanjiao had always been gifted. Since receiving the talisman, he continuously umted power within his body which increased with every passing moment. While Li Qinghong was still in seclusion trying to break through the third heavenlyyer, he had naturally broken through to the fourth. He bowed his head slightly and replied respectfully, "All thanks to the power of the talisman qi."
Li Tongya sat down at the jade table inside the cave dwelling and took out two small letters from his sleeve. One of them was written by Li Yuanjiao, concerning Yu Muxian, which both of them were aware of and therefore skipped. The other letter came from Cloud Crowned Peak.
"Reporting to Second Uncle, Brother Ling has gone north for three months and has not returned. His jade talisman remains bright and intact."
"Uncle Xuanling... has gone missing?!" Li Yuanjiao cried out in concern.
Li Tongya nodded slowly, his face showing no surprise. He simply stared at Li Yuanjiao, asking in a low voice, "Indeed. What do you think?"
Li Yuanjiao hesitated slightly, pondering in his heart. He bit his lip and said solemnly, "Uncle Xuanling is missing, his safety unknown. I should not say this, but to speak honestly... there is likely a scheme involved!"
"Oh?" Li Tongya nodded, seemingly unaffected by his son''s disappearance, and asked steadily, "Why do you think so?"
Li Yuanjiao cupped his fist and replied, "Uncle Xuanling has always been steady and reliable. It is unlike him to be gone for months without any news... If there has been no news for this long, yet the jade talisman remains undimmed and unbroken, it must be that he is intentionally being held. The intent is likely not about him but to lure the tiger away from the mountain or draw the snake out of its hole... It is either aimed at you, ancestor, or at Mount Lijing."
Li Tongya nodded approvingly and said gently, "If I continue to stay on this mountain and do not go north, within a few months, someone will bring a letter from Xuanling seeking rescue, forcing me to go there anyway."
Li Yuanjiao said hesitantly, "What if ancestor still refuses to go?"
"Then they will send his head."
Li Tongya shook his head and smiled. "The prominent figures have coveted my fate for many years. I have fought with them repeatedly, and now we are at the final move. If Iply, it will mean the deaths of both my son and myself. If I refuse, fearing death, it will be far more than just our deaths."
"So, it is the prominent figures of the Purple Mansion Realm or Maha..." Li Yuanjiao murmured, perplexed and frustrated.
"I just do not understand why they are after you, Ancestor."
"At first, I didn''t understand either. I thought some member of the Purple Mansion Realm wanted to use my immortal foundation." Li Tongya chuckled and, staring into Li Yuanjiao''s eyes, said seriously, "Later, when Murong Xia came and Minghui intervened to stop me, they hinted at the truth. After inquiring from multiple sources, I finally understood. The one who wants my life is not someone of the Purple Mansion Realm... but a Maha."
Li Yuanjiao frowned deeply, unable to hide his pain. Running his thumb along the Dragon Coiling Pir sword at his waist, he asked in a low voice, "B-But... the Maha does not need an immortal foundation. What good does it do him to harm you, ancestor?"
Li Tongya took off the Qingche Sword, unwrapping theyers of cloth covering it. With a flick of his finger, the long sword extended a cun, its translucent green-white de gleaming brightly, illuminating his eyes. His eyebrows arched, and his originally calm demeanor transformed, revealing a sinister, serpent dragon-like aura.
Gently gazing at the immortal sword of peak Foundation Establishment Realm, Li Tongya said, "Immortal cultivators consume qi, while Buddhist cultivators devour life. The Maha covets my Deep Ocean Whale Dragon Fate."
Chapter 319: Leaving The Cave
Chapter 319: Leaving The Cave
"Fate..." Li Yuanjiao muttered to himself as Li Tongya sheathed his sword, fastening the Qingche Sword to his waist for the first time. With a serious expression, he said, "Yuanjiao... the family will need your care from now on. If I go and do not return, you must lower your head and endure for a while. With the Xiao Family supporting us, at worst, we can cede Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting; it is of no great consequence."
Li Yuanjiao felt as though the sky was darkening and the world was copsing around him. He said hoarsely, "Ancestor... the family... the family cannot do without you!"
Li Tongya slowly shook his head and spoke gently, "Xuanling is likely beyond saving, and Xuanfeng is stuck at the southern border. Let your father manage the marketce; he should note back andplicate matters..."
"You, Yuanxiu, and Yuanping are all capable of managing the family. You must be cautious... Qinghong is still in seclusion and does not need to be called out. She acts too hastily, pursuing immortality single-mindedly, which could lead to her downfall. Make sure she acts with caution!"
Seeing that Li Yuanjiao was listening attentively, Li Tongya nodded and advised, "Once this matter is settled, there should be many peaceful days ahead. After the death of the Yu Family''s ancestor and the copse of their marketce, Yu Muxian, despite having many connections within the sect, remained passive and did not even utter a word. He doesn''t seem to care much for his n and is unlikely to offend the Xiao Family. You needn''t worry about him."
"Yes... Jiao''er will keep your words in mind," Li Yuanjiao replied. His eyes shone brightly as he asked, "Ancestor, what about the Azure Pond Sect?"
At the mention of this name, Li Tongya''s expression turnedplex. He said softly, "The Azure Pond Sect has entrenched itself in Jiangnan for hundreds of years. Its background is far deeper than we can see, with intricate interests and ruthless methods of suppression and ughter. It is not something that can be opposed in a single lifetime. Yuan Huyuan was right; we must climb onto the Azure Pond''s table rather than fall into its bowl. However, my generation has an unresolvable blood feud with Azure Pond, making reconciliation impossible. After I am gone, you must send our descendants into the sect. Even if they be servants or sacrifices, it is the only way for the family to secure a future!"
Tears fell silently as Li Yuanjiao nodded. Li Tongya grasped his hand, his gray hair fluttering lightly in the wind. Then, with a somber tone, he continued, "Remember, do not perform blood sacrifices, do not massacre innocents, and do not indulge in evil desires..."
Beside him, Li Yuanping''s eyes were already red, unable to control himself any longer. Li Tongya took his thin arm, and a glow of mana appeared in his hand, erasing the bruises on Li Yuanping''s arm. Feeling somewhat guilty, he said, "If our family had any precious elixirs to mend your root bones, you would not have to suffer this way..."
"Waaah..." Li Yuanping could not hold back anymore and began to cry hoarsely. Li Yuanjiao bit his lip, holding back his tears as he stood.
Li Tongya looked into his eyes and said softly, "If Yuanyun proves to be useless, do not indulge him. If he dares to engage in any murderous blood sacrifices, kill him."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, a glimmer of understanding shing across his eyes. Despite never having left the mountain, his granduncle seemed to know everything about the world below. Li Yuanping, stifling his sobs and looking up with a flush of excitement on his pale face, said solemnly, "Rest assured, Granduncle. As long as Yuanjiao and I are here, the family will not fall into chaos!"
Li Tongya nodded approvingly then stood up, and with a heartyugh, said, "Do not be too pessimistic. Though this journey is fraught with danger, there is also a chance of survival."
Adjusting the storage pouch at his waist, Li Tongya took out a pale blue jade box and handed it to Li Yuanjiao solemnly. Li Yuanjiao received it with both hands, and Li Tongya instructed, "This is the Sword Immortal''s legacy¡ªthe Law of Celestial Moon, a Grade Five sword technique."
"The Sword Immortal''s legacy?!"
Both brothers were astonished. Li Yuanjiao''s legs went weak, holding the jade box carefully, as if fearing it might melt in his hands. He bowed respectfully and said in a deep voice, "Yuanjiao epts the task!"
Li Yuanjiao understood that by entrusting him with this legacy, Li Tongya was passing on the responsibility of the Li Family to him. Feeling both terrified and uneasy, he watched as Li Tongya pointed at the jade box, flicked his finger, and retrieved two jade slips¡ªone pale purple and one pure white.
Li Tongya exined, "The pale purple one is the Law of Celestial Moon. The pure white one contains my sixty years of swordsmanship notes on this manual, called the Law of Sexagenary Cycle Sword Manual. Keep them well and do not take them outside the mountain."
Li Yuanjiao nodded repeatedly. Li Tongya continued, "This jade box is also no ordinary item. It contains great space within and can store Purple Mansion Realm treasures."
Without saying any more, he took out most of the items from his storage pouch, leaving only a few healing and qi-replenishing pills. He nodded and finally said, "I''ll be off now."
The two brothers quickly stood up and bowed in unison, saying respectfully, "Take care, Ancestor!"
A gentle breeze passed by, and when the two brothers straightened up, Li Tongya''s figure was already gone from the courtyard. Li Yuanjiao hurriedly collected the items on the table, wiped his eyes, and walked back to the desk. Picking up a brush, he said solemnly, "I''ll quickly write a letter to notify Father! If anything happens to the ancestor, we must keep a low profile in the marketce!"
While the two brothers were busily making arrangements at the top of Mount Lijing, Li Tongya descended the mountain but did not immediately leave. He concealed his presence and descended the steps, making his way to the mountain''s cemetery. Early morning dew covered everything in sight, moss on the stones was lush and green, and a light mist lingered, creating a tranquil and picturesque scene.
He wiped the tombstones of his brothers and then picked up a piece of rock. Using his finger as a chisel, he carved a stone tablet in just a few breaths. Li Tongya ced this tablet in a reserved spot and let sword aura flow from his fingers, delicately engraving patterns on the stone.
All of his brothers'' tombstones had been erected by him. He initially intended to carve his own as well but, after thinking it over, waved off the sword aura andughed self-deprecatingly.
"Erecting a tombstone for myself is quite a gloomy task... Better leave it for future generations..." he said.
With that, he took to the wind again, drifting northward.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
On the banks of the great river...
An old man quietly untangled a mass ofs on arge rock. Li Xuanling had headed north several days ago, but the old man was not worried about him secretly fleeing. He continued to silently pull at his fishing by the riverbank.
"The serpent dragon has emerged from its cave."
A man dressed in hemp clothes leisurely approached from below, carrying a white jade fishing rod on his shoulder. He stopped beside the old man and said gently, "Senior Si, it is time for us to leave as well!"
The old man nced at him but did not respond to his words. Instead, he smiled and said, "The dark clouds are gathering... Xiao Xianyou is quite the meticulous nner. Everything has been prepared for you, and even the timing is impable. One cannot help but be impressed!"
Xiao Chuting looked at him deeply without speaking, then silently sat down to wait. The old man sighed and said, "If Xiao Xianyou had not been harmed by Chi Wei, he would have been a Golden Core seed."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chuting finally spoke. "Senior, you jest. I heard that a Molten Metal Cave has emerged within your sect. That''s quite rare. What made you decide to meddle with the Dao lineage of the Central ins?"
"Nothing of the sort, just an external disciple." The Purple Mansion Realm elder surnamed Si shook his head nonchntly and said, "A young fellow in the sect managed to cultivate it. The Dao Partners of Molten Metal Cave have beenpletely lost. Even if he seeded, he would only reach early-stage Purple Mansion Realm, cut off from further progress. You need not be concerned."
Before long, radiant lights began to emerge by the riverbank. Various Purple Mansion Realm cultivators appeared one by one, some elegant and ethereal, others with sharp gazes and shimmering with divine light. A total of seven beams of light descended. Only then did the old man stand up shakily and say softly, "Since everyone is here, let us proceed together!"
Chapter 320: Meeting In The Temple
Chapter 320: Meeting In The Temple
The evening wind swirled through the courtyard, causing leaves and grass to flutter around. The dim candlelight flickered unsteadily. In the courtyard sat a middle-aged woman, not particrly striking in appearance but exuding a sense of grace. She leaned against the stone table.
The servant below her bowed and kneeled, trembling as he said, "We asked the young master... He said the climate in Eastern Mount Yue is pleasant and he does not wish to return."
Lu Wanrong shook her head helplessly and sighed softly, saying gently, "I know what he''s thinking... He''s seeking shamanic spells in Eastern Mount Yue... trying to open his spiritual orifice. With his father still not returned, I cannot persuade him."
Li Xuanling had only one wife and never took concubines. She bore him two children, each with a different personality. The elder daughter, Li Qinghong, was bright and high-spirited and had reached the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. In contrast, his younger son, Li Yuanyun, whocked a spiritual orifice, was unremarkable and increasingly sullen.
Lu Wanrong had noticed the changes in Li Yuanyun with growing anxiety, and she had even mentioned it to Li Xuanling several times. Each time the subject of their son was raised, Li Xuanling would just say to let him be, as long as he did not harm anyone...
She had always been a perceptive woman and sensed an inexplicable guilt in her husband who was always lenient with Li Yuanyun, leaving her at a loss on what to do.
Even when she had carried Yuanyun up the mountain years ago, she had trembled, unable to lift her head in Li Tongya''s imposing presence. However, the children of the Xuan generation¡ªwhether it was Li Xuanfeng or Li Xuanxuan¡ªhad always treated Li Yuanyun exceptionally well.
"Perhaps I am overthinking it," Lu Wanrong said as she shook her head to dispel the thought and asked solemnly, "Any news from the marketce?"
"Yes, Madam... They said that there''s still no word of the Third Master," the servant reported.
Lu Wanrong, now nearly forty, had limited talent, only reaching the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Unable to match her husband''s progress and constrained by her surname, she had always kept a low profile and refrained from asserting authority. However, with Li Xuanling missing for three months, herposure was beginning to wane.
She tightened her grip on the jade cup, her brow furrowed with worry, and said solemnly, "Three full months without any news... My husband has always been cautious; something must have happened... What is the response from the mountain?"
The servant fell to her knees with a thud and said in a low voice, "Madam, Mount Lijing has beenpletely sealed off. We humble servants are not allowed to meet the young master."
Lu Wanrong''s heart skipped a beat as a deep sense of unease rose within her. She quickly fetched brush and ink, writing urgently while murmuring, "No, something is definitely wrong. I must ask Qinghong about this."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanling crossed the river again, weaving through the sea of clouds. After asking several people for directions, he confirmed the direction of Mount Luoxia and leisurely rode the wind, asionally descending to walk. The journey was peaceful and uneventful.
This route followed the borders of the Xu State, where Daoist temples were still predominant. Li Xuanling checked his bearings, meandering along, and eventually found himself near Mount Bianyan. This area now marked the border between the Yue Cultivating Sect and the Golden Tang Gate. The once destend now sprouted green vegetable shoots, looking quite pleasant in the misty rain. There were even travelers on the road, adding a lively touch to the scene.
"The Yue Cultivating Sect is indeed the most righteous among the three sects, which is truly rare..."
The Yue Cultivating Sect was one of the few among the three sects and seven gates that upheld the immortal mansion''s original philosophy of seclusion and ascension. Most of its disciples cultivated on the mountain and rarely ventured into the secr world, resulting in few renowned cultivators. Aside from the highly esteemed Daoist Master Shangyuan, reputed to be the strongest below the Golden Core Realm, the rest of the Yue Cultivating Sect''s members were virtually unknown.
"Mount Bianyan... There seems to be a Daoist temple here. Back then, the temple was forced by a demon to collect children for sacrifice. I wonder how it is now..."
Under the Yue Cultivating Sect''s governance, conflicts between Dao lineages were strictly forbidden. Numerous small Daoist temples and ns were established, and though there were still conspiracies, secret betrayals, annexations, and murders,petition here was much milderpared to other regions.
Li Xuanling wandered around for a while. Watching the mountain mist and drizzle, he recalled the Daoist temple he had stumbled upon when he came to exterminate the demon years ago. He thought to himself, The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator asked me to go to Mount Luoxia but didn''t give a specific time...
Li Xuanling was not afraid of death and had long epted this arrangement. However, he still wished to live a few more days and see more of the world. He pondered, After traveling by wind, my mana is somewhat depleted. I might as well check out this small temple and rest for a while before continuing north.
Thus, he descended. The world was peaceful now. The small temple, once hidden by an illusion formation, was now openly visible. The stone statues on either side were imposing, dripping with rainwater that ran down their faces. Li Xuanling performed a hand seal, then knocked gently on the grayish-red wooden door adorned with peachwood talismans. With a smile, he said, "A wandering rogue cultivator is here to visit. May I request the host to open the door?"
Li Xuanling called out twice but received no response. Feeling a bit uneasy, he hesitated before raising his hand to knock again. Just then, the gray-red door creaked open slowly.
It opened on its own, allowing the morning breeze, fresh with rain, to flow into the hall. Li Xuanling stood silently, staring nkly at the scene inside.
The drizzle dampened the courtyard, apanied by the cries of white cranes. Inside, the hall was dark, illuminated only by dim candles, and a strange mixture of incense and the scent of blood filled the air.
Dark blood flowed on the floor, reflecting specks of golden light. The solemn y statues stood watch, but below themy scattered bones. An old Daoist priest''s headless corpse kneeled at the front, his white hair scattered and gently scattering in the wind.
In the center, the meditation cushion was buried under a pile of Daoist corpses, all stacked inyers. The eyes of the dead were wide open, yet there was no trace of resentment¡ªonly an odd sense of peacefulness.
Atop the mountain of corpses sat a monk, shirtless, who had defined, blood-red muscles. With his hands sped in meditation and eyes closed, a golden mark glowed on his forehead.
The floor was covered in dismembered limbs and blood, hiding the gilded runes. Blood dripped from the soaked Daoist cloth, a dripping sound echoing as each drop fell onto the monk''s near-perfect muscles. However, he remained still, unaware.
"Fahui..."
This was the monk who had fought Li Xuanling in Zhao State''s Duanchen Vige ten days ago for no reason. Now, drenched in blood, his aura fluctuated as he sat cross-legged atop the corpse mountain.
Fahui''s ears twitched, his determined face covered in dried blood. His eyelids fluttered before slowly opening, his pupils aze with a golden-red fire. He stared silently at Li Xuanling below.
"Vile serpent! I have waited long for you!"
Chapter 321: Struggle
Chapter 321: Struggle
Fahui stood up, looking down at Li Xuanling with a cold smile. His sharp white teeth gleamed and blood dripped from the intestines hanging from his body. He sneered coldly.
"Wretched beast, I chased you all the way and gradually awakened memories of my past life. I knew you woulde to this small temple, so I waited here..."
"Wretched beast...?"
Li Xuanling, already frustrated from being forced north by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, was further offended by the monk''s insult. All these emotions turned into a zing fury, burning within him as he spat, "You keep calling me a wretched beast, a sinner... Look at the corpses under your feet! Why don''t you open your eyes and take a good look at the blood on your body? You''ll see who the real beast is!"
"Hahaha!"
Fahuiughed in a crazed rage as golden intricate patterns appeared on his body. He sped his hands together, causing the blood and flesh on the ground to melt like red wax, transforming into a thin golden mist that spread throughout the courtyard.
"You were the ck serpent I caught in my left hand. If you are not the wretched beast, then who is? I never thought you would escape to the south for decades, acting all high and mighty... Now that I am about to reim my Maha status, you shallplete my path."
Before he had even finished speaking, his body shot forward like a cannonball, his fist aimed directly at Li Xuanling''s face. Li Xuanling ced his left hand on his sword. The Celestial Moon sh technique had been gathering power for a long time, and he drew it out, unleashing a white sword light that illuminated the hall brilliantly.
ng!
Fahui caught the sword light with his bare hands, which glowed with a golden radiance, and crushed it into fragments between his palms. His inhuman eyes, shimmering with a golden hue, followed Li Xuanling as he pulled back. Laughing, he said, "As for the Daoists in this temple... the fact that they got killed by me is proof that their sins were indeed too great."
"You!" Li Xuanling was momentarily stunned by his words, then sneered, dismissing them.
Fahui raised an eyebrow and said angrily, "You do not believe me?"
His strong arm slowly rose, causing the golden mist on the ground to swirl like serpent dragons and converge into a radiant golden light in his palm. Within this light, various scenes materialized.
A wolf demon of the Foundation Establishment Realm appeared, riding the wind and enveloped in ck mist, with demonic qi swirling around it. The wolf demon devoured the temple master, forcing the old Daoist to gather infants for its consumption. The light revealed a harrowing sequence of crying infants and grieving Daoists, one scene after another.
Li Xuanling knew these Daoists hadmitted misdeeds, but he understood the circumstances and was not easily swayed. He sneered, "Offering infants was a desperate measure. If they hadn''t done it, the wolf demon would have devoured all the vigers. It was a lesser evil. How can you judge so easily?"
"Judge?"
The temple roof had been pierced through, allowing the drizzle to fall through. The dim sunlight filtered through the thick rain clouds, casting a pale light on half of Fahui''s face. His eyes shone gold as he solemnly said, "Evil is evil. Evil must be punished, no matter the excuse. Everyone in this world faces difficulties, but that cannot be used to justify evil deeds. This group deserves to be killed!"
"Once I have eradicated all evil, the world shall be pure again."
With that, he leaped forward, his palms glowing with golden light. Li Xuanling was momentarily speechless, and the golden light in the temple grew even more intense. He felt dizzy, his mind overwhelmed with anger and irritation. As he shed with Fahui several times, his hand ached from the impact, leaving him in a difficult position.
"Hah!"
Fahui''s fists were powerful and relentless, each strike fiercer than thest, far beyond what an ordinary monk without mana should possess.
Li Xuanling felt increasingly desperate, thinking to himself, They must want me to die by his hands toplete this person''s destiny. A Maha reincarnate, huh...? My death shouldn''t be a huge impact but the Li Family must rely on Father to survive...
At that moment, the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in Li Xuanling''s Shenyang Mansion suddenly activated, releasing a stream of cool energy that swirled through his mind.
His mind cleared instantly as if he had eaten arge piece of ice on a scorching summer day. His previously faltering defense stabilized, and Li Xuanling''s spirits lifted. He heard a calm, gentle voice in his ear. "Remain calm and hold out for the duration of an incense stick."
Li Xuanling now realized that the previous illusions were all due to Fahui''s spell, which was strange and hard to defend against. Someone had intervened to dispel his spell, filling him with both joy and doubt as he thought quietly to himself, Who could it be... Xiao Chuting? But it doesn''t sound like him...
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Under the dark and somber mist, the mountain was deste, with moon-white buildings scattered throughout. On the uppermost tform, fallen leavesnded on the jade-like table.
"Fate..."
Lu Jiangxian sat before the jade-like table, holding a thin, pure white thread in his hand that extended into the boundless void, swaying gently. In his other hand, he held a silver glow that floated up and down as if it was alive, exuding a mystical aura.
"When I bestowed the Deep Ocean Long Whale Talisman on Li Tongya, this Maha has long locked onto Li Tongya from afar and began his ns... The Wrathful Maha has cultivated for nine lifetimes, gathering various fates, and in this life, he intends to kill Li Tongya to achieve enlightenment... The southern Purple Mansion Realm and Golden Core Realm cultivators are scheming against each other, using divine abilities to protect Li Tongya, using him as bait to kill this Maha..."
Lu Jiangxian frowned slowly, feeling puzzled, "What exactly is the rtionship between talisman qi and fate? Everyone receives different talismans. Is it because the talisman qi manifests their fate, or does it bestow a certain fate?"
As he pondered this, Lu Jiangxian suddenly had a moment of rity.
"Li Tongya is bait, not a sacrifice. If managed properly, he may not necessarily die... As long as he can hold out until the Wrathful Maha fully awakens in Fahui, and the Purple Mansion Realms intervene, he can survive..."
Lu Jiangxian had not yet recovered his strength to the point of contending with Purple Mansion Realms or Mahas, nor the Golden Core Realms or Dharma Masters, but he was no longer the confused and powerless novice he once was. Though cautious, he refused to sit idly by and watch Li Tongya be used as a pawn.
"Even if I cannot intervene directly, I will not let others manipte us..."
He carefully considered, "Back then, both Minghui and Maha Jinlian were powerless against the mirror. This proves that the mirror has a high inherent rank, likely at the level of an immortal... As long as this matter does not involve an immortal, I can make a move without risking being detected."
Lu Jiangxian activated the power of deduction he had obtained from Liu Changdie. The silver light shrank by a third and then formed a single word¡ªAuspicious.
"Not bad."
Although it was already a scheme among the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and Mahas, Lu Jiangxian felt more at ease now that he had done a reading. The thread in his hand shimmered with white light as he set a limit for himself.
"I will only act through the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed as a medium. This way, even if those Purple Mansion Realm cultivators go crazy and capture Li Xuanling or Li Tongya, they won''t detect anything!"
The Profound Pearl Talisman Seed was one of the roots of the mirror. Even an immortal might not notice it. If not for this, Li Chejing and Li Tongya would have been captured long ago by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
After considering every detail, Lu Jiangxian was confident that nothing could go wrong. A slight smile appeared on his lips as he murmured, "I will y along with these people for now, treating it as gaining experience! After all, I have been benefiting from their incense and sacrifices year after year, so it is time to repay them!"
Chapter 322: A Stick Of Incense
Chapter 322: A Stick Of Incense
Having now made up his mind, Lu Jiangxian gently tugged at the thin thread in the void, which reflected dazzling white light. He murmured, "Li Xuanling is at Mount Bianyan... Li Tongya is on his way north..."
He performed a hand seal, and Li Tongya, though far away, immediately sensed something. Without a word, he changed direction and flew swiftly toward Mount Bianyan. Lu Jiangxian watched the father and son silently, feeling inexplicably conflicted.
Li Xuanling is destined to die. Only by killing Li Xuanling and bing a Master Monk can the Wrathful Maha begin to merge with Fahui''s body. ording to the ns of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, Fahui is supposed to head north after Li Xuanling''s death, with Li Tongya in pursuit...
However, the longer this drags on, the more Fahui and the Wrathful Maha will merge, and with his full strength, Li Tongya''s chances of survival will decrease. The further north they go, the more they will slip out of my sight... It is best if Li Xuanling can hold out a bit longer. If Fahui breaks through before then, Li Tongya will have a better chance of confronting him at Mount Bianyan.
As he pondered deeply, the void suddenly flickered. Lu Jiangxian quickly raised his hand, staring intently into the void where he saw an intertwined web of threads. He gently touched one with his finger and said softly, "Remain calm and hold out for the duration of an incense stick."
With that, he fully activated his mana, focusing on the thin threads in the void, deducing silently.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
ng!
Li Xuanling drew his sword to block Fahui''s iron fist, producing a screeching metallic sound. He retreated a few steps, the sword qi scattering and leaving therge pir beside him riddled with holes. Drenched in sweat, Li Xuanling felt a searing pain in his internal organs and was unable to suppress a mouthful of blood that spilled from his lips.
Sss... sss...
The blood didn''t even reach the ground before it turned into a cloud of golden mist, merging with the golden haze drifting in the courtyard. Fahui raised his muscr arm and unleashed a barrage of punches against Li Xuanling''s mana shield.
With the cool stream enhancing his rity, Li Xuanling''s mind was no longer clouded by Fahui''s spell. He immediately prepared to ride the wind, thinking to himself, Although I cannot escape, I can hold out longer from a higher position...
However, the golden mist clung to his shield like maggots to a bone, weighing him down. He felt as if his body was burdened with heavy iron, making him unable to rise more than a chi off the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Fahui leaped forward and struck him down with a single, powerful palm strike.
Boom!
Li Xuanling crashed into the temple wall, his body covered in dust. Fahui chuckled darkly as he stepped forward, sneering. "Once I''ve killed you, I will break through to be a Master Monk. Then I''ll seek out your Deep Ocean Whale Dragon father and kill him to be a Merciful One... With that, I''llplete my path to Maha!"
"Path to Maha..."
Struck down and with his internal organs impacted, Li Xuanling felt his condensed mana scatter. Though exhausted, he gritted his teeth upon hearing Fahui''s words, mustering newfound strength. He reached into his storage pouch at his waist and flicked out five talismans.
Thanks to Li Xuanxuan''s tireless work on talismans, Li Xuanling had several at his disposal. Two were of the peak Embryonic Breathing Realm and three of the early-stage Qi Cultivation Realm. They transformed into mes, icy rain, lightning, and poisonous fog, all exploding onto Fahui''s body.
Though his memories were awakening, Fahui only recalled fragments and had little experience in fighting cultivators. He raised a golden light shield hastily to block the iing attack.
The two peak Embryonic Breathing Realm talismans were manageable, but the early-stage Qi Cultivation Realm talismans hit him squarely, exploding on his gold-patterned body and forcing him back a step.
Li Xuanling was also shaken by the residual energy. His face paled even more as he spat out a mouthful of blood again.
Fortunately, Fahui had been momentarily forced back. Seizing the opportunity, Li Xuanling rolled to his feet, pulling away and gaining a few precious seconds.
Fahui brushed off the dust from his body, staring straight at Li Xuanling with a smile. "You are much stronger than these Daoists. I guess this is the difference between Unrefined Qi Cultivators and true Qi Cultivators... Even among us Buddhist cultivators, such distinctions exist. A simple exchange of blows reveals whether one possesses the true path."
Li Xuanling paid no attention to the monk''s rambling, his mind racing only with the thought of dying the monk as long as possible. He shouted, "I do know something! The true path of Buddhist cultivators lies in thend of bliss... As for someone like you, who kills indiscriminately, you are not following the true path!"
As expected, these words stunned the monk for several seconds. He stared at Li Xuanling with a smirk, performing a hand seal as he replied coldly, "I see, you''ve already met Murong Xia!"
Without waiting for an answer, Fahui nodded to himself, the intricate golden patterns on his body now glowing with more intensity. With a single step, he crossed a big distance and grabbed Li Xuanling by the neck.
"Good! Let me ask you, why should everyone, regardless of age, sin, or virtue, enjoy his paradise? The wicked should suffer all kinds of punishments and die in agony... Only the virtuous deserve to be consumed by us. Do you agree or not?!" he roared.
His eyes glowed fiercely with golden light, and his skin emitted a bronze-yellow radiance. His hands, brimming with destructive mana and a hint of confinement, produced golden runes that bound Li Xuanling tightly.
Li Xuanling''s face turned red, but as a Qi Cultivator, he would not suffocate immediately. He managed to open his mouth slightly and mock, "What a notion... only the virtuous deserve to be consumed by you?"
Fahui''s rage intensified, finding Li Xuanling''s answer uneptable. He gritted his teeth and roared, "You ingrate!"
Fahui suddenly lifted his hand and threw Li Xuanling with all his might. Li Xuanling shot out like a cannonball, smashing into the roof of the great hall. The structure, already damaged from their fierce battle, gave way instantly, copsing in on itself.
Boom¡ª!
Gray-white dust rose abruptly, and broken tiles and wood fragments fell like torrential rain. The dimly-lit hall finally crumbled. Debris was scattered everywhere, and Li Xuanlingy on the steps leading to the hall, his bones shattered and his body limp like a noodle.
One of the two imposing statues at the entrance was shattered into pieces, while the other had its limbs broken, leaving only a solitary head. Rainwater dripped from the smooth stone face, mixing into the faintly blood-red puddles below.
The signboard, which had been precariously hanging from the roof covered by tattered cloth, finally fell with a tter,nding before him. The cloth fluttered away in the wind, revealing gilded characters¡ªZhenhui Temple.
The golden characters zed like the sun, ring into his eyes. Li Xuanling''s cheek split open, and his ragged mouth twisted into an ugly smile as he whispered weakly into nothingness.
"It''s been... a stick of incense."
Chapter 323: Arrival
Chapter 323: Arrival
The cold wind was fierce, and the rain poured down relentlessly. Between heaven and earth, the rain and mist were oppressive, and the thunder hidden within the dark clouds rumbled deeply.
Li Tongya traveled through the wind like a meteor streaking across the sky. Below him, the mountains and forests swayed incessantly in the heavy rain, leaves scattering everywhere. His expression was impassive as he moved through the rain, which gathered around him and transformed into a dozen pale green small serpent dragons that swirled around him, drawn by his Boundless Ocean immortal foundation.
"Mount Bianyan."
He gazed into the distance, his narrowed eyes filled with a gloomy light. The scenery before him flickered and the undting mountains resembled a cunning viper, twisting and turning. Li Tongya, who had achieved Foundation Establishment Realm over a decade ago, was always calm and clear-headed. However, after flying for just half a day, he now felt muddle-headed and drowsy.
Although he was only a few hundred li away from Mount Bianyan, Li Tongya''s speed began slowing. The path before him split into dozens of trails, and he suppressed his anger, thinking to himself, I wonder how many Purple Mansion Realm divine abilities have shed over the hundreds of li I''ve flown...
As he struggled to maintain his focus, the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in his qihai acupoint suddenly shone brightly, and a cool stream of energy flowed from his Shenyang Mansion, clearing his mind.
"This is..."
Li Tongya''s drowsiness and distractions were instantly swept away, filling him with joy instead. He sensed the direction of Mount Bianyan and decisively closed his eyes, withdrawing his spiritual sense as he flew straight on ahead.
The mists of Mount Bianyan, perpetually present throughout the year, interwove in the mountains. Now, with the rain clearing the heavens and earth, the scene appeared even more deste. Trusting his instincts, Li Tongyanded in the mountains. He slowly opened his eyes, then extended his spiritual sense.
Before himy ruins, the rain sshing recklessly and stirring up droplets of pale red blood. A signboard hung in front of him, broken into three pieces. Despite this, its gilded characters remained ringly visible.
Zhenhui Temple.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the void beyond Li Tongya''s sight, nine beams of light stood suspended in mid-air, each with its own distinct characteristics¡ªsome as heavy as mountains, some fluctuating, and others full of vitality. The light of their divine abilities interwove, each pulling the situation in different directions. As these divine abilities shed together, distortions were created in the void.
As Li Tongya neared Mount Bianyan, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators continuously performed hand seals, until finally, one of them could no longer take it. He stood with hands behind his back and sneered. "It''s understandable that everyone wants a share of the metallic essence and fate. However, if something goes wrong and that little snake survives, and the Wrathful Maha realizes something is amiss and reincarnates elsewhere, none of us can bear the consequences!"
As soon as he spoke, another Purple Mansion Realm cultivatorughed mockingly. "Ha, Changxi, it seems you have not managed to cultivate your Life Divine Ability and can only watch on enviously... Do not let it frustrate you into speaking nonsense!"
"You!"
Daoist Master Changxi clearly did not get along with this Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. However, having reached the Purple Mansion Realm, none were fools, and he was not easily angered.[1]
He feigned mild anger and fell silent, but the other Purple Mansion Realm cultivator persisted,ughing. "Daoist Chuting attained the Dao through his Life Divine Ability and began developing a second immortal foundation in less than fifty years after his breakthrough... You, having cultivated for a hundred years at the early stage of the Purple Mansion Realm, cannot evenpare to a junior. How pathetic."
Daoist Master Changxi merelyughed, replying, "Daoist Chuting is indeed exceptionally talented. I naturally cannotpare. But with important matters at hand, I will not argue with you. Keep an eye on your Guoling Peak so it doesn''t end up sinking into the sea."
"Ha... When Duanmu Kui was alive, he was as docile as a quail. Now that he is gone, you havee out to stir trouble..." the other Purple Mansion Realm cultivator mocked.
Daoist Master Changxi merely nced at him coldly and replied, "If you practiced Fool''s Mountain Chase
and heard that the Emperor''s Mandate
was destroyed, you''d be terrified enough to disperse your cultivation and start over too."
"Haha." The Purple Mansion Realm cultivatorughed, seemingly agreeing, and finally fell silent.
The others watched silently until a clear voice suddenly said, "Fellow Daoists, he is flying too fast."
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators continued performing hand seals silently, but some nodded and released their spells. To their surprise, Li Tongya was not only unaffected but paused, closing his eyes for a moment before flying straight toward Mount Bianyan. The clear voice appeared again. "Daoist Chuting! Withdraw your divine ability!"
These cultivators, having attained the Purple Mansion Realm, were all exceptionally perceptive. They immediately understood who would benefit from this and thus who was responsible.
All eyes turned to Xiao Chuting.
Dressed in a white robe and carrying a white jade fishing rod, surrounded by pale blue divine light, he stood motionless, though inwardly rmed.
I have already withdrawn my divine ability... It was not me! It must be someone else... Could it be the one from Mount Dali or the Yue Cultivating Sect..?
Xiao Chuting scanned his surroundings, his deep thoughts racing. Finding himself inexplicably the target of suspicion, he remained calm and immediately saw an opportunity to im greater influence. He said gently, "It was a senior who acted, not me."
The other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators were momentarily stunned, exchanging looks of surprise and doubt. Someone murmured, "Who in Jiangnan could be so domineering to render our efforts useless? It cannot possibly be Daoist Shangyuan, can it?"
"Shangyuan is a sword immortal, not a shaman immortal. How could it be him? Besides, the Yue Cultivating Sect has always been proudly aloof, why would they intervene in such matters?"
Watching Li Tongya fly straight toward Mount Bianyan, one Purple Mansion Realm cultivator quickly deduced with his fingers and murmured, "At this speed, the timing seems just right. As soon as the Wrathful Maha devours the little snake, the big snake will arrive just in time at this temple."
"So, we will have to fight him in this temple?"
While the two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators were talking, the clear voice, evidently of higher status, interrupted and asked softly, "Daoist Chuting... can you tell us which senior acted?"
Xiao Chuting smiled faintly and replied, "Daoist Tianyuan... I really cannot say."
Xiao Chuting''s ambiguous answer caused a moment of awkward silence among the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. Then, someone spoke to ease the tension, saying with augh, "As long as the Wrathful Maha possesses the body, it is enough. We do not need to hope for more... After all, moving through the void to manipte fate is exhausting. It is fine if it is in this temple. We need not wait any longer. Let us eliminate the Maha quickly and return to our duties..."
"Agreed."
With this, several Purple Mansion Realm cultivators voiced their agreement.
One even smiled wryly, saying, "We who have just reached the Purple Mansion Realm cannot roam the void as long as the senior cultivators... We risk losing our divine abilities and cultivation if the Wrathful Maha escapes."
Upon hearing this, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators looked silently toward Daoist Master Tianyuan. After a brief pause, the clear voice replied, "Very well."
The void fell silent. The clear voice spoke no more, and the nine beams of light quietly watched Mount Bianyan below, waiting for the right moment.
1. Changxi is from the Profound Peak Gate, one of the Daoist Masters of the Azure Pond Sect. He had briefly appeared in C247 to attend a banquet at Xiao Residence. ?
Chapter 324: Subduing the Serpent
Chapter 324: Subduing the Serpent
Li Xuanling was dead.
The torrential rain continued to pour on heavily, washing away the blood that flowed everywhere. Crows cawed mournfully in the downpour, and the signboard of Zhenhui Templey shattered in three pieces on the ground, scattered haphazardly.
Fahui kneeled on the ground, his muscles sleek and defined like a tiger''s under the rain. He propped Li Xuanling up, inhaling deeply about three cun away from him. The golden runes in his palm lit up one by one, while Li Xuanlingy motionless in his arm.
Fahui exhaled deeply, invoking his secret technique. His eyes glowed with golden light, ready to devour Li Xuanling''s fate.
"The ninth... the ninth... the ninth Maha Reincarnate."
As Fahui inhaled, Li Xuanling''s fate and cultivation surged forth. However, the domineering Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in Li Xuanling''s qihai acupoint was ready to siphon away his fate and cultivation, unwilling to yield them.
The Profound Pearl Talisman Seed resisted fiercely, fighting to take Li Xuanling''s fate and cultivation away. Fahui, being merely a Maha Reincarnate, naturally could notpete with it. Despite his spell, it seemed he would end up empty-handed.
"This is bad!"
Fortunately, Lu Jiangxian had been closely monitoring the situation. From thousands of li away, he formed a hand seal, controlling the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed which buzzed loudly, dispersing the cultivation and fate into the void.
If Fahui could not extract Li Xuanling''s fate under the watchful eyes of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, it would be a ring w. Lu Jiangxian quickly took control of the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed, allowing it to release Li Xuanling''s fate and cultivation. He also erased any memory of the mirror from Li Xuanling to prevent any mishaps before retreating back into the mirror.
"Damn it..." Lu Jiangxian cursed, upset about losing the talisman seed he had nurtured for decades. Though the Qi Cultivation Realm seed was no longer of much use to him, it was still a small loss.
"You guys can have the Qi Cultivation but don''t even think about taking Li Tongya''s...!" he muttered inwardly.
Fahui cheered triumphantly as fresh, invigorating white ribbons finally appeared in the void. He inhaled all of them deeply, like mist and smoke. A sweet, spring-like taste lingered on his tongue, and warmth began to spread through his limbs.
"I have attained the Dharma!"
Brilliant rays of light appeared behind his head, and the bronze markings on his body deepened. His eyes shone brightly like two lone pearls in the dim rain.
Plop.
As Fahui rode the wind, he released his grip, letting Li Xuanling''s body fall back to the ground with a dull thud. His eyes were wide open, staring at the sky. A gray-robed figure slowly grewrger in their reflection, descending quickly in front of the temple.
Swoosh...
Gray, ordinary cloth shoes stepped into the rain puddles. The pale red water receded quickly to make way. The dark gray robe fluttered lightly in the wind as Li Tongya stopped in his tracks.
"Ling''er..."
With interventions from various Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and Lu Jiangxian guiding from afar,promises and restraints aligned perfectly for Li Tongya to arrive just in time to see his eldest son die before his eyes.
Li Tongya''s gray beard fluttered gently in the wind, his expression slightly dazed. His right hand pressed down on the hilt of his sword. The rainwater at his feet surged continuously, climbing up his robe.
"Whale Dragon? You arrived so quickly."
Fahui nced at him with his golden eyes, feeling an itch in his throat. He could not help but cough violently, the world spinning around him as he coughed andughed, eventually spitting out two sharp, white teeth.
Before the teeth hit the ground, they rapidly darkened to amber gold and transformed into two short rods, each covered in intricate patterns. They struck the ground with a resounding thud, creating tworge, cracked pits.
"Hahaha!"
Fahui picked up the two short rods, wiped the blood off them, and held one in each hand. Heughed and said, "I wonder why you even bother toe... Was it not you who made sure he died at my hands?"
Li Tongya remained silent, the torrential rain forming two pale blue serpent dragons beside him. The old man stared silently at the monk before him, but Fahui did not flinch and met his gaze calmly.
"You know I am going to devour you. You also knew that I would use your kin to lure you out..."
Anger rose in Fahui''s golden eyes as the patterns on the short rods began to glow. His voice turned boundless like the ocean waves as he said, "But you did not know who I would use to lure you... So, you deliberately sent Li Xuanling north, sacrificing your own son... It is fate that I let me devour him, allowing me to break through to a Master Monk. But I should thank you too!"
Fahui saw a sh of anger and guilt cross Li Tongya''s face, which dispelled his lingering doubts. Heughed and continued, "I do not know where you got your information to arrive so quickly. Fortunately, I had prepared for this in my previous life and set up a divine ability to dy you. Otherwise, you would have interrupted my achievement in this life..."
He added, "You are quite bold indeed, knowing a Maha has targeted you, yet using your own son to bait me. But caught in my divine ability, you arrived toote. The regret must be unbearable!"
As Fahui and the Wrathful Maha merged more closely, his eyes shone with brilliant golden light. He continued to speak, trying to buy more time, when suddenly a white light illuminated the mountains.
Li Tongya drew his sword.
The green and white Qingche Sword shot out, releasing a massive white sword aura asrge as a sail which roared through the air. The surroundings were instantly bathed in white¡ªshattered statues, temple ruins, and rain puddles on the stone bs, they were all enveloped by the brilliant light.
"Good!" Fahui shouted angrily, rushing forward with weapons in hand. The golden patterns on his body glowed intensely, intertwining along the lines of his well-defined muscles. A burst of golden light shed with the white light between the heavens and earth.
Unexpectedly, the white sword light was extraordinarily agile. It pulsated, feinting under Fahui and then weaving up his arm,nding lightly.
ng!
The Law of Celestial Moon was known for its ferocity from the outset, and unleashed by the Qingche Sword, it shone brilliantly. Another burst of gold light appeared as Fahui''s left arm was swiftly severed. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "So, this is a sword essence... Good!"
Despite his words, Fahui''s remaining right hand reached for the severed left arm. Suddenly, three streams of white light emerged, floating up and down, aiming for his heart, brow, and abdomen.
St...!
Fahui had only just broken through to a Master Monk. Li Tongya''s Qingche Sword unleashed the Celestial Moon Sword Essence. Each sword light was imbued with its own consciousness. Unable to contend, Fahui was pierced by the three streams of light, leaving small holes in his heart, brow, and abdomen.
"Strike!" Li Tongya yelled.
Before Fahui''s body could fall, the overwhelming sword essence swept over him like a tsunami, cutting him up to pieces within moments.
"Li Tongya."
For a moment, the entire ruin was covered in white flesh. Fahui''s face, now reduced to half,y on the fallen puppet y figure. His crimson lips moved up and down as he smiled and said, "Since I have taken Li Xuanling''s fate, I must ask you a question."
Li Tongya''s expression remained unchanged. The long sword in his hand shone with a crystalline pale green light. The scattered limbs on the ground did not bleed nor showed any internal organs. They were like dough, sticky and wriggling, growing hands and feet, all running around and sticking together.
The mouth, still lying between the puppet¡¯s y hands, continued to shout, "Why? When Jianixi advanced eastward, it was I who rescued Li Jingtian... I brought her deep into enemy territory among the Mount Yue tribes, serving as a ve andborer. It was I who brought her out, preserving her purity and my own life, so that neither of us would be used as leverage or hostage..."
The half-face trembled, the red mouth opening and closing, revealing sharp white teeth as it emitted mournful cries. "In terms of intellect, how am I inferior to Li Xuanxuan? I am far superior to him! In talent and cultivation, Li Xuanxuan could not evenpare to me!! So why?!"
The mouth moved up and down, not casting any divine abilities, nor using any curses or shamanic spells, yet it made Li Tongya''s usually unmoved expression crack like an avnche on a snowy mountain.
"Father! Why did he get to be the family head for twenty-eight years? Why did I have to marry the enemy''s daughter, live in obscurity, and be sent to my death?"
Chapter 325: Wrathful Form
Chapter 325: Wrathful Form
Li Tongya held the sword in his left hand, pointing it diagonally toward the ground. The puddles on the stone bricks reflected the green and white glow, while the white flesh on the stones and broken tiles moved toward the center. The words from that mouth changed Li Tongya''s previously calm expression into one of uneasy resentment.
The wriggling flesh had already formed Fahui''s head. As the Wrathful Maha slowly possessed him, his features became more refined and handsome, his eyes deepening to a striking gold. His face smoothed out, and those intense golden eyes locked directly with Li Tongya''s as he angrily said, "Avoidance! You are avoiding your guilt toward your father and brothers. You honored your deceased brother and elevated his orphan, but the cost falls on me to bear. Li Tongya! How am I at fault?"
"Silence!!"
Li Tongya''s voice roared like thunder, his lips turning white and trembling slightly. The sword in his hand emitted a sharp, whistling sound, like the cry of a serpent dragon, causing all the insects and birds in Mount Bianyan to fall silent.
Buzz¡ª
The azure-white sword light surged out, crystalline and transparent. Hundreds of sword qi leaped from Li Tongya''s Qingche Sword, crashing down like a waterfall. The puppet y figure instantly turned to ashes and the entire mountaintop shook violently.
Boom...!
The dazzling green and white sword aura shed for five full breaths. The sweeping sword qi transformed the ruins into a mess of holes and further wreckage. The rainwater on the tform flowed backward, turning into a misty, pale white vapor, creating an ethereal scene.
"Hahahahaha!"
The rain continued pouring heavily, quickly filling the central pit with gray water. Fahui''s white head was covered with numerous fresh red wounds, exposing dark golden bones beneath. His deep golden eyes, almost falling out of their sockets, still zed with anger as he red at Li Tongya.
"It is useless. The Wrathful Subduer of the Four Demon Emperors is returning from the void. You could shatter me before, but now you can only see my bones. Soon, you will not even be able to harm my flesh!"
Fahui''s arms had already regrown, picking up his shoulders and head from the ground. He took a few tentative steps forward, looking quite horrifying indeed. The wounds on his face healed rapidly. He turned his head and smiled maniacally.
"Father... do you agree or not?"
Li Tongya watched him intently, the sword in his hand glowing with mana light, his eyes simmering with anger. Fahui saw that his spell had affected Li Tongya''s mind, yet he showed no intention of fleeing.
With an angry smile, tears streamed from his eyes as he gritted his teeth, "You wanted me to watch over the younger generation, so I abandoned my cultivation to protect them. You wanted me to oversee the mines, so I left the immortal mountain for that barren ce. After I finally achieved the Qi Cultivation Realm, you made me escort spirit goods, and in the end, you sent me to die! Mother cultivated for many years, and you never gave her extra resources. You gave them all to Li Xuanfeng and those from the generation of Yuan and Qing. The few pills and elixirs she used were provided by me and the Liu Family. When she was dying, you simply said that it was all right..."
Fahui''s face had morphed into that of Li Xuanling, and his voice matched perfectly. His angry gazepelled Li Tongya to avert his eyes slightly. The old man appeared dazed, the sword in his hand flickering as his once sharp gaze grew weak, yet he remained silent.
Seeing him silent, Fahui pulled his legs out of the ground, and picked up the two intricately patterned bronze rods. He boldly took a step forward, swinging them at Li Tongya.
ng...!
The dark golden short rods that were covered inplex patterns lit up brilliantly with golden light. The green and white sword light collided with them, sparking fiercely. The halo behind Fahui''s head grew more intense as they fought on. Li Tongya''s sword shed with him for a few moves, forcing Fahui to retreat half a step.
"Heh..."
The golden hue in Fahui''s eyes intensified. His facial features constantly changed¡ªfrom Li Xuanling to a bearded man, then to a young child, a middle-aged woman, and a naive girl. His face cycled through these nine visages continuously. Li Tongya, unsettled by the disy, drew his sword defensively, his expression reflecting his mounting confusion.
Golden light reappeared all around him, wrapping around Fahui''s body like long and thick ribbons. A resonant chant filled the air, solemn and majestic.
"Ha!"
Fahui''s body was covered in dense golden patterns and his bronze-colored skin reflected the rainwater falling from the sky. His face kept shifting among nine visages, each marked by an expression of anger. The short rods in his hands radiated golden light as he swung them down fiercely at Li Tongya.
A Buddhist Master Monk was inherently stronger than a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Furthermore, Fahui was a Maha Reincarnate. Now, awakened to his wrathful form, his aura wasparable to that of the Merciful One. When the short rods collided with the Qingche Sword, a harsh screeching sound filled the air. Li Tongya grunted as the impact sent him flying backward like an arrow through the rain,ing to a stop far away.
"Perfect timing, consuming you will restore my Maha status!"
The Wrathful Maha feared Li Tongya might escape, so he stamped heavily on the ground, instantly closing the distance between them. His golden arm swung out like a statue''s, reaching out to grasp Li Tongya with five fingers.
Naturally, Li Tongya swung his Qingche Sword to block him while performing hand seals with his other hand. The Boundless Ocean within him surged, gathering the rainwater and forming blue serpent dragons that pounced on Fahui.
Screeeeech...!
The Wrathful Maha''s fingers closed around Li Tongya''s sword, emitting a piercing noise. The Qingche Sword, a top-quality Foundation Establishment Realm weapon, zed with dazzlingly bright light.
"Jing Dragon King."
The Wrathful Maha, having lived for nine lives, recognized the Boundless Ocean by its ancient name. He chuckled, his deep golden eyes fixed on Li Tongya as he spoke in an otherworldly voice that resonated like the ocean waves.
"Your swordsmanship is passable, but your immortal spells are severelycking!"
The Li Family, having only ascended to prominence over the past sixty years, relied solely on their mastery of swordsmanship and possessed no powerful spells. The Wrathful Maha released the sword and tore the serpent dragons apart. His golden ribbons sprang forth like snakes, swiftly wrapping around Li Tongya''s body. With Li Tongya thus ensnared, the Wrathful Maha rained punches down on him relentlessly.
Bang, bang, bang...!
In just a few breaths, the Wrathful Maha had thrown a hundred punches. Li Tongya tried to defend and create distance, but the golden ribbons had already wrapped around his feet unforgivingly, binding him tightly.
Pfft.
Li Tongya endured a hundred punches delivered with the force of a Merciful One, his skin bursting open as his internal organs sustained severe damage. He spat out blood, drenching his entire body crimson, before copsing limply to the ground.
"Your fate is sealed! I return to my ce!" The Wrathful Mahaughed, his body radiating golden light. He punched Li Tongya''s abdomen, his eyes zing with light.
Grasping Li Tongya, he brought his face close to his and inhaled deeply. The golden runes in his palms lit up. The remaining whites of his eyes turnedpletely deep gold, and he burst intoughter, cackling wildly in a crazed manner.
"Gwaa... Hahaha... Hahaha."
The Wrathful Maha''sughter boomed, echoing between heaven and earth. In front of him, Li Tongya coughed, his face smeared with blood, yet a faint smile curled his lips as he let out a weakugh in response.
The Wrathful Maha froze, the handsome smile stiffening on his face. Shock and anger surged within him. He slowly lifted his head and looked into the distance.
The torrential rain continued pouring down heavily, the world was dim and lightless. The puddles on the ground reflected the sky, where one by one, beams of light began to appear.
"One, two, three... seven, eight, nine."
Chapter 326: Dharma Relic
Chapter 326: Dharma Relic
Drip, drip.
The colorful lights of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators rose through the rain. Each Daoist Master held their dharma artifact, their expressions varied¡ªsome calm, some filled with pity, othersplex. Their divine abilities interconnected seamlessly, leaving no gaps between them.
"Nine Daoist Masters..."
The Wrathful Maha red with his golden eyes, attempting to activate his metallic essence discreetly, only to find that the void was intricately linked, with a grand formation already set up to prevent his escape. His heart was instantly filled with a mix of shock and fury.
"You... you all... plotted against me?"
The Wrathful Maha''s handsome face twisted, his body heating up, steam rising from his being. His well-defined back glistened with sweat as his deep golden eyes stared angrily at the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
With a twisted smile, he shouted in rage, "I see... I was too preupied to notice that something was amiss. You must have been nning this for a long time... No wonder... No wonder!"
The nine beams of colorful light each disyed different forms but stood firm, blocking his way without the slightest concession.
"Azure Pond Sect... Golden Feather Sect... Changxiao Gate... Purple Smoke Gate... Golden Tang Gate... Excellent! You are all here!" The Wrathful Maha roared maniacally, his voice causing the surrounding forest to bend and animals to bow. The oppressive aura thickened, his presence growing ever more powerful.
As the Wrathful Maha faced off against the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, Li Tongya kneeled on the ground. The overwhelming pressure forced him to stay low, crawling carefully and painfully slowly. Blood continued to pour from the wound in his abdomen, dripping steadily into the rainwater.
Hiss...
Li Tongya took a deep breath, performing a hand seal and using thest of his mana to form a water membrane, covering the gaping hole in his abdomen. Using the Qingche Sword for support, he inched toward Li Xuanling''s remains.
"Ling''er..."
After the fierce battle, Li Xuanling''s body was now in pieces with only his head remaining¡ªeyes open. Li Tongya curled his body and cradled his son''s head.
With blood-soaked hands, he reached for his waist, only to realize that his storage pouch had been lost in the fight. Throughout his frugal life, he had only used the most basic storage pouch, with no protective enchantments. Without his mana to shield it, the pouch had been torn to shreds by the immense power around them.
Fortunately, the pouch had contained only items of little value. Li Tongya struggled on the ground for a moment, taking deep breaths to restore his strength. He removed his long robe and wrapped it around Li Xuanling''s head, tying it carefully to his waist.
Removed from Li Tongya''s body, the robe quickly turned a reddish-brown, soaked by blood and rain. ncing at the colorful lights above, a constant warning echoed in his mind¡ªIf you stay any longer, you will die!
He gritted his teeth, his entire body feeling as if it would tear apart at any moment now. Fortunately, the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in his qihai acupoint provided a continuous stream of cool energy, keeping him conscious. Li Tongya performed a hand seal and shakily rose into the wind, flying only half a li before crashing into the forest like a falling star.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The situation in the sky grew increasingly tense as the colorful radiance of divine abilities shone brightly. The Wrathful Maha roared, his body expanding like an inting balloon. His face became asrge as a house and his eyes were like twonterns, emitting a zing golden light in the sky.
"Zhang Tianyuan! It is you, as I suspected... You are the one leading this. I have not seen you in nearly a hundred years. Let us see what divine abilities you have mastered!"
The central beam of light revealed a figure¡ªa young man in a Daoist robe decorated with the eight trigrams. Handsome and exceptional in demeanor, he was the Daoist Master Tianyuan who had been leading the others. He nced sideways at the wrathful golden figure above, and said calmly, "Wrathful Subduer of the Four Demon Emperors... Monk, you have already been consumed by the Wrathful Form and lost sight of yourself."
"Hmph!"
The Wrathful Maha''s patterned short rods expanded along with him, transforming into tworge bronze pirs. He swung them vigorously, deflecting two probing artifacts, and sneered defiantly. "As long as I can exorcize evil, what does it matter if I am consumed by the Wrathful Form? You all conspired with traitors from my sect to harm me, yet you underestimate my resolve... A ninth Maha Reincarnate is beyond your understanding!"
The extremelyplicated golden patterns on the rods shone brightly. Daoist Master Tianyuan raised his hand, and a small ck tortoise shell flew out from his sleeve, growing rapidly in the wind until it was asrge as a house. Radiant with mana light, it met the bronze rods head-on.
Thud¡ª!
Daoist Master Tianyuan''s artifact blocked the Wrathful Maha''s attack easily. He said gently, "Monk, you are just one step away from bing a Dharma Master. Under normal circumstances, we could not defeat you... But now that you have been possessed by a reincarnate and lost your thread of fate, you are much weaker!"
"Weaker..?"
The Wrathful Maha''s eyes gleamed even more brilliantly with gold, showing no fear as he looked around at the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. His immense voice thundered through the air.
"Ridiculous! Do you know what the Wrathful Subduer of the Four Demon Emperors truly is?"
The Wrathful Maha stomped heavily, making a swallowing motion. His teeth,rge as human heads, gleamed sharply. Golden light spewed from his throat, scattering in the torrential rain, and transforming into various shapes uponnding.
They turned into monks wielding short rods, arhats entwined with serpent dragons, children, tigers, wolves, foxes, and snakes¡ªall flying through the air and forming formations. The sky was filled with figures, all ring angrily.
"So, you have mastered the Wrathful Form of Subduing Evil of the Heaven and Earth... It seems you are the closest to bing a Dharma Master among the Buddhist cultivators. No wonder you are so confident!" Daoist Master Tianyuan praised, yet remained unafraid.
He smiled and continued, "In these centuries, I have not seen a more talented Buddhist cultivator than yourself. It is a pity your mind is filled with twisted ideas of purging worldly filth with wrathful fire, making you mad and wasting your talent. If only you were more reasonable and cooperative with the Seven Dao of Buddhism in the north, you would not have ended up like this..."
The Wrathful Maha, sensing Daoist Master Tianyuan''s calm demeanor, felt a growing sense of unease. Spection began forming in his heart. Daoist Master Tianyuanughed as he sped his hands together and performed a hand seal, saying, "I respectfully invite the dharma relic to appear!"
ng...
As Diaost Master Tianyuan spoke, the clear and unmistakable sound of metal chains echoed through the sky. ck chains emerged from the void, stretching across the heavens, descending upon the Wrathful Maha. They interlinked and branched out, creating hundreds of offshoots, darkening the sky.
The Wrathful Maha finally showed fear, his golden patterns glowing brightly as he tried to evade the chains.
But the dharma relic was inescapable, binding him tightly. The Wrathful Maha screamed wildly, shouting in rage, "A dharma relic... It is a dharma relic... Which True Monarch is it?"
Chapter 327: The Fall of Wrathful Maha
Chapter 327: The Fall of Wrathful Maha
At the northernmost point of Yue State, there was a towering peak that pierced the clouds. The mountain range stretched endlessly, grand and majestic. However, the highest point of the mountain had been cleaved by a sword, leaving a smooth and t surface, creating an inexplicable sense of difort.
On the t surface of the peak, a man in a white robe lounged with his feet up, half-reclined in the mist, holding a sword in his arms. The sword had a wooden scabbard which was unremarkable in appearance. The man''s face was shrouded in fog, making his features indistinguishable.
The piercing cold wind at the mountain summit was bone-chilling, yet he wore a simple white robe, idly toying with the jade pendant on his sword. He murmured to himself, "Wrathful Maha..."
From below, a woman in flowing robes ascended, her hair neatlybed and styled. Mana light shimmered around her, and her crystal hair ornaments sparkled with extraordinary brilliance. She descended with a radiant glow and greeted gently, "Shangyuan."
"Hmm," Daoist Master Shangyuan responded, staring into the distance as if he could see through theyers of mist to the situation at Mount Bianyan.
"The Wrathful Form is about to die... This grand feast shoulde to an end. Pity the millions who perished in Xu State, not even causing a ripple," hemented nonchntly.
The woman''s brows furrowed slightly, and she sighed. "Indeed... From the Buddhist cultivators advancing east to the great battle in Xu State and now to the siege of the Wrathful Maha, it has been a grand feast. Three Mahas from the Seven Dao have journeyed through fate and gathered their mounts. Two members of the demon n have be great demons. We have reimed our territory, eliminated the unstable Wrathful Form, and everyone benefited. Things should settle down now."
As the woman spoke, a golden light shone in the distance. Chains emerged from the void, binding the Wrathful Maha''s golden body. As the Wrathful Maha roared to the heavens, Daoist Master Shangyuan raised an eyebrow and said softly, "Golden Bridge Lock."
The woman focused her gaze and replied, "Indeed. The dharma relic bestowed by the immortal mansion to that Qingyuan Pristine Water True Monarch for his past meritorious service... It seems the True Monarch intends to annihte himpletely, leaving no trace of his true spirit."
Upon hearing this, the mist on Daoist Master Shangyuan''s face swirled, as if he were struggling to contain something. Suddenly, he spoke with deep hatred in his voice, saying, "Old scoundrel, one day I will tear apart his immortal body, shatter his golden core, and make him taste..."
"Shangyuan!"
The woman''s face turned pale with shock. She hurriedly grabbed his sleeve and whispered, "No matter what... he is still a Golden Core Realm cultivator! You cannot speak so recklessly."
"Hmm," Daoist Master Shangyuanposed himself, nodding as if nothing had happened. His dharma eyes watched the cultivator who had fallen into the forest until hended safely. It was only then did Daoist Master Shangyuan pat the sword in his arms and said, "I will go take a look."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Bianyan.
The sky was filled with dense chains and intertwining golden light. The dharma relic zed with the intensity of a thousand suns, exuding an invincible aura. It effortlessly cut through the golden ribbons on the Wrathful Maha, coiling around his bronze skin and producing sizzling noises.
"Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh...!"
The golden chains of the dharma relic seared the Wrathful Maha as if they were imbued with a unique power, leaving charred marks on his once beautiful skin. The excruciating pain caused the Maha to howl in agony.
"Fellow Daoist... is this a dharma relic?" Daoist Master Changxi asked as he stared dumbfoundedly, his face flushed from the relic''s power. Beside him, Xiao Chuting secretly marveled.
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who had previously quarreled with Changxi in the void sneered and replied, "Small factions are always so ignorant! A dharma relic naturally possesses boundless power. This is merely a Golden Bridge Lock. If you saw the dharma relic of the immortal mansion, the Sun-Moon Profound Light, you might faint on the spot."
Daoist Master Tianyuan nodded slightly. Seeing Changxi''s embarrassed expression, he quickly stepped in to smooth things over, smiling as he said, "My master gave me explicit instructions for this mission, saying that the Azure Pond Sect ces great importance on this matter and has even deployed a dharma relic. Honestly, even I didn''t expect it to be this formidable."
Changxi''s expression eased, and Tianyuan turned to the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, agreeing, "Daoist Master Xianyao, you are indeed knowledgeable. I have heard that the dharma relic of the immortal mansion can emit the sun''s essence during the day and the moon''s essence at night. Naturally, this Golden Bridge Lock is iparable."
Daoist Master Xianyao was also surprised, clearly just learning about this, and he admired the marvel of the relic. Xiao Chuting nodded, adding, "Perhaps it should be called an immortal artifact rather than a dharma relic."
As the Daoist Masters conversed, the Wrathful Maha''s suffering intensified. His deep golden eyes widened with rage. The more he suffered, the angrier he became, his aura surging and straining against the Golden Bridge Lock, causing loud creaking noises.
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators unleashed their divine abilities, bombarding his golden body. The heaven and earth were filled with the radiance of their mana, causing the ground to shake and the spiritual energy of Mount Bianyan to wane.
"Stop."
Amidst their disy of power, a faint voice drifted from the sky. It was not particrly harsh, yet it flowed past the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators'' ears, causing them to stop and look up silently.
"Who dares to interrupt..." Zhang Tianyuan''s expression darkened, but his gaze was quickly drawn to a figure holding a sword in the sky. He halted abruptly, smiling apologetically as he said, "Fellow Daoist Shangyuan, this matter has been agreed upon by the three sects..."
"Hmm," Daoist Master Shangyuan nodded, nonchntly saying, "I am aware. However, if you continue to recklessly use your divine abilities, you will destroy this entire mountain range. Once you leave, the spiritual energy here will be unusable for three to five hundred years."
"This..." Daoist Master Tianyuan hesitated. He had not considered this and quickly offered, "How about I present apensation gift..."
"No need." Daoist Master Shangyuan responded softly, his hand resting on his sword as he continued softly, "I will just kill him with one strike."
This statement caused a brief silence.
Though the Wrathful Maha was reincarnated and weakened, suppressed by the Golden Bridge Lock and battered by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators until he seemed near death, Buddhist cultivators were renowned for their survival skills. Ending him with a single strike would not be an easy task.
"Please, go ahead."
Daoist Master Tianyuan''s smile became more sincere though he secretly scoffed, thinking to himself, Arrogant fool!
Daoist Master Shangyuan fixed his gaze on the golden body of the Wrathful Maha before him, remaining silent for several breaths. The monk, panting heavily, red with eyes wide in fury, his voice cracking as he spat, "Cowardly scoundrel, you..."
Daoist Master Shangyuan continued to stare at him. In the monk''s dimming vision, the mist on Shangyuan''s face began to clear. The monk''s rage suddenly ceased, and he stared in stunned disbelief at the figure before him.
"It''s you..." The Wrathful Maha gazed at him in disbelief, hisntern-sized eyes fixed straight ahead. As his anger dissipated, his overwhelming aura diminished to a little stream. Daoist Master Shangyuan slowly drew his sword.
ng!
The long sword was unsheathed. The falling leaves stopped mid-air, and the birds fell from the sky. The world was enveloped in a single, brilliant sh of white light.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
BOOM!
In Duanchen Temple, far away in the Zhao State, an old abbot was silently striking the wooden bell under the statue of the Wrathful Vajra. Suddenly, a series of ear-piercing sounds echoed through the temple. The old abbot was stunned, raising his head shakily.
Cracks appeared all over the statue of the Wrathful Vajra before him, starting from the neck. With a thunderous crash, the statue shattered into pieces, falling to the ground in a chaotic scatter.
"The Maha... has fallen..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
On Yunmo Cliff in Zhao State, the brownish-yellow wind howled. A group of monks walked in a line below the cliff. Countless statues of the Wrathful Vajra, each with a different form¡ªsome holding short rods, others riding tigers, leopards, or dragons¡ªstretched for hundreds of li, presenting a spectacr sight.
The lead monk held a torch, illuminating each statue and wiping them down. Suddenly, he looked up in confusion.
Crack, crack, crack...
The eyes of the highest Wrathful Vajra statue shattered with a loud bang. Tiny stone fragments rained down, covering the monk''s head and face.
"How... is this possible... How is this possible?!"
The monks scattered like headless chickens, pushing and crying as if the sky itself were copsing. The sound of the breaking statues resonated through the air, turning into a sea of shattered limbs and debris amidst the cries.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Simr events were happening in Xu State''s underground cave and Beiliang''s Buddhist Grotto.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Wrathful Subduer of the Four Demon Emperors Form, the Ninth Maha Reincarnate, fell at Zhenhui Temple on Mount Bianyan.
Chapter 328: Renowned Throughout Yue State
Chapter 328: Renowned Throughout Yue State
When Li Tongya finally regained consciousness, the world was a dusky yellow. He had fallen by a small river on Mount Bianyan, half of his body submerged in the water. Several blue river crabs scuttled around his feet, lingering due to the influence of his Boundless Ocean immortal foundation.
Cough, cough...
Li Tongya slowly stood up. Orange-red clouds floated in the sky, and the colorful lights and the golden figure on Mount Bianyan had disappeared. Only a few carrion crows stood on the ruins, cawing mournfully.
"It is over..."
Resentment, guilt, and helplessness surged within him. Barefoot, Li Tongya stepped by the riverbank, staring nkly at the clouds on the horizon, gradually closing his eyes.
The water membrane on his abdomen slowly dissipated, and his flesh wriggled to cover the gaping wound, making it look less horrific.
Only Li Tongya knew that none of his internal organs were intact. He was barely clinging to life with his immortal foundation. From now on, he feared he could no longer progress in cultivation, and even maintaining his current cultivation level would prove to be a challenge.
Immortal cultivation differed from Buddhism cultivation. Buddhist cultivators believed the body was a vessel of suffering, and once they achieved the realm of Master Monk, their internal organs turned to white y. In higher realms, they could freely change their bodies.
In contrast, immortal cultivators seek personal transcendence. At least until they attained the metallic essence, the body was fundamental to their cultivation. Yu Yufeng''s progress stalled after being struck by a single sword from Yu Yuxie, even though his internal organs weren''t damaged like Li Tongya.
The pain surging in Li Tongya''s heart had not yet subsided when he felt a weight at his waist. He btedly untied the long robe from his waist, and a round head rolled out.
"Ling''er..."
Li Xuanling''s nose had been broken, likely during the battle in the temple. It looked crooked on his serene face. Li Tongya reached out to straighten it, but it flopped back down. He tried again and again, blood oozing from the fractured face, dripping downward.
"Ling''er!"
Li Tongya did not cry when he saw Li Xuanling die before him, nor when tortured and cursed by the Maha. But now, the broken nose of his eldest son easily made this old man, who had borne family and n grudges for sixty years, wail in sorrow. A stream of tears rolled down his cheeks, falling into the lifeless eyes of Li Xuanling.
"It is my fault... I failed you and your mother..." Li Tongya cried as he managed to choke out these few words. The old man trembled, filled with shame and helplessness, and cried out in a mix of self-justification and despair, "Our family... Our family rose from humble farmers, born into this chaotic world of great strife, killing demons and exorcising evil, navigating through power struggles... Your father never had a moment of peace, never rxed for a second... Your father did his best, Ling''er... Your father did his best!"
His originally white inner robe was now covered in mud and water, turning gray and yellow. Holding Li Xuanling''s head, he alternated between murmuring to himself and crying out loud. With the brilliant sunset behind him, he staggered forward, one step at a time.
"The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and the Maha''s hundred-year n... It is beyond the power of one family, one generation... Human effort has its limits!"
Li Tongya, dressed in his thin white robe with his hair disheveled and his gray eyes full of tears, shone brilliantly in the reflection of the setting sun.
"Xuanling... Xuanling... One day¡ª" Li Tongya''s lips trembled as he spoke. Gradually, he moved deeper into the dark forest. The pitch-ck shadows of the trees slowly covered his robe. As his figure was swallowed by the darkness, his voice faded into the sounds of chirping insects and birds.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lijing Town.
"Congrattions! Congrattions to the family head!" a middle-aged cultivator praised.
Li Yuanping sat at the seat of honor, all dressed in white, his face pale. He was continually sketching with a brush on the desk, not even ncing at the person below him. He replied with a tone of indifference, "What is there to be happy about?"
Li Tongya had been missing for several days. The scouts sent to gather information only reported that there had been earthquakes and roars of a giant golden figure in the southern part of Xu State. Beyond that, nothing else could be found. Li Yuanping, coordinating with various parties, was worried about this matter and had not slept for several days.
The middle-aged cultivator below, with a fawning smile, repeatedly cupped his fist and replied, "I am a rogue cultivator under the rule of the Golden Tang Gate. A few days ago, I crossed south to thiske and unexpectedly encountered the renowned Li Family of Lijing. I hurried to offer my congrattions."
With a thud, he kneeled down and presented a wooden box with both hands, saying respectfully, "This is a gift¡ªCloud Floral Fruit, a specialty of Xu State. It is a spirit fruit of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, gentle in its medicinal properties, able to stabilize cultivation and enhance mana..."
The Li Family, now a prestigious n, often received visits from rogue cultivators who might offer medicinal recipes, spirit herbs, or artifacts, all in hopes of finding a ce to stay.
Li Yuanping had seen many of these. Seeing that the man was still holding back information, he said warmly, "Put the gift aside for now. Please share the good news... If the information is valuable, we will not be stingy."
The cultivator nodded repeatedly, responding respectfully, "Your esteemed ancestor slew the Maha Reincarnate, Fahui of Duanchen Temple, at Zhenhui Temple. The green and white sword light was earth-shattering, shaking Xu State. Now, the three sects and seven gates all speak of his name, calling him the Celestial Moon Sword!"
"What?!"
Li Yuanping was stunned, his face flushing with excitement. He quickly dropped his brush and hurried down in two steps, his face full of joy and disbelief. Grabbing the cultivator''s hand, he asked urgently, "Which ancestor? Which ancestor?!"
Seeing Li Yuanping''s huge reaction, the cultivator also looked pleased. Not daring to mention Li Tongya''s name directly, he replied respectfully, "The ancestor from the Tong generation, named Ya, skilled in swordsmanship, and rides a serpent dragon..."
"It is him!"
The cultivator was unaware of the Li Family''s generational names and just assumed Li Tongya was of the Tong generation. But Li Yuanping understood him immediately, his face flushing with joy. He looked up andughed heartily, his excitement causing him to cough. He had to lower his head andugh quietly.
"Hahaha!"
Dou Yi, sensing the change in atmosphere, stepped forward cheerfully and asked, "Young Master, should we go to Mount Wutu to report this news?"
Hearing this, Li Yuanping coughed twice and suddenly straightened up, startling the two people beside him into lowering their heads quickly. He looked at the cultivator and smiled, "Where did you get this information?"
The cultivator quickly cupped his fist and began to speak in a rambling manner.
It turned out that this person was a humble servant in the market under the Golden Tang Gate. Overhearing a conversation between two disciples of the Golden Tang Gate and hearing that the Li Family was inquiring about the matter of Mount Bianyan, he immediately sensed an opportunity.
He decisively abandoned his job in the market, sold everything he owned to buy the spirit fruit, and rushed overnight to Moongaze Lake to try his luck. Upon arriving at Moongaze Lake, he indeed found that the Li Family was still unaware of this news, so he loudly came forward to report it.
"It does seem somewhat credible..." Li Yuanping mumbled as he listened carefully and nodded secretly. He patted the man''s shoulder kindly and said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist. Please wait a moment while I verify the authenticity of this news. There will be a generous reward if it proves true."
The cultivator repeatedly nodded and thanked him, then hurriedly left. Only then did Li Yuanping beckon Dou Yi toe closer and whispered, "Please ask Brother Jiao to return."
Chapter 329: Return (I)
Chapter 329: Return (I)
On Wutu Peak, clouds and mist enveloped the surroundings entirely. Sunlight pierced through the pale white fog as a young man dressed in ck exhaled slowly. Spiritual energy and qi flowed into his mouth like mist,peting to enter, creating a rather mystical scene.
"Whew..."
A beautiful young woman sat on arge rock nearby, dressed in jade armor. With a spearid across herp, absentmindedly reading the light-colored jade slip she held in her delicate hands. Tiny characters were finely engraved on the edge of the jade slip¡ªWing Clipper Spear technique.
The woman mimicked movements with her hands silently. The young man beside her let out a long breath, exhaling white mist. When he finally opened his eyes, the morning glow was slowly rising on the horizon. His face was full of worry as he said, "The ancestor has been gone for several days, and we have not heard any news."
Li Qinghong, who was beside him, put down the jade slip in her hand and picked up the spear on herp. She then jumped down from the stone, saying sullenly, "Maybe I should go out and look for him!"
"No!" Li Yuanjiao eximed as he quickly shook his head, getting up to stop her and saying solemnly, "When the ancestor left home, he specifically instructed me to take good care of you. I called you to Mount Wutu to guard you personally, precisely to prevent you from going out alone to look for him..."
Li Qinghong flipped her hand to put away the jade slip and shook her head with some frustration.
"Who can calm down like this?! I have read this spear technique from the Xiao Family over and over again, but I cannot help worrying about him. When you cultivate, you keep ncing at the sky, making no progress either!" she eximed in exasperation.
Li Yuanjiao shook his head and took out a warm jade from his bosom, which was dim and had faint cracks. Li Qinghong leaned over to look and opened her mouth, but no words came.
After the Li Family became a prestigious n, Li Tongya had specially sought someone to craft this item. He initially wanted to use items like soul wood or soulmps, which could indicate life or death, but was deterred by the high cost and could only opt for the rtively cheaper life jade.
As long as the life jade was nourished with a drop of blood for a certain period of time, it could show the life and death status of the blood donor. It was already quite expensive and required at least the power level of the Qi Cultivation Realm to use. Hence, only a few Qi Cultivators of the Xuan generation and Li Tongya had one made.
This item should have been in the ancestral hall. Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan took theirs to the market, and Li Xuanfeng''s life jade had lost its effectiveness due to long neglect. Only Li Tongya''s remained at home, and Li Yuanjiao had specifically taken it out and checked it from time to time.
Seeing the life jade dim and lifeless, the siblings exchanged a nce, seeing the worry in each other''s eyes. Li Qinghong sighed deeply, her delicate brows furrowing as she said softly, "In the past, with Father and Grandfather guiding us, I always felt secure... Now that you and I must support the family, the path ahead seems dark and perilous, filling me with dread."
"Indeed!" Li Yuanjiao felt this most deeply among the children, as Li Tongya had personally entrusted the Li Family into his hands. When he took the jade box, it felt unbearably heavy, almost suffocating him.
After pondering for a moment, he said softly, "The effect of the Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit Talisman is excellent. I am now at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm! Within twenty years, I might hope to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm..."
Li Qinghong had just broken through to the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and hearing this, she was somewhat envious.
"No wonder it is a Foundation Establishment Realm talisman qi... It is truly remarkable. You used to cultivate slower than I did, but now you have surpassed me!" shemended.
As they were chatting, a young man who resembled Chen Donghe approached them. He looked to be about twenty years old but was already at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He was Chen Mufeng, Li Qiuyang''s disciple, now transferred from the market to assist Li Yuanjiao.
"Young Master, Young Lady."
Chen Mufeng respectfully saluted and reported, "Young Master Yuanping requests your presence. He says there is news!"
"What?!"
The siblings were overjoyed, exchanging a nce before immediately taking flight toward Lijing Town, without saying another word.
Mount Wutu was not far from Lijing Town. Li Yuanjiao''s Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit had the effect of manipting clouds and mist, while Li Qinghong''s Vast Sky Fierce Sparrow enhanced her flying speed. Hence, their flight was significantly faster than that of ordinary Qi Cultivators. Theynded one after the other in the courtyard, where Li Yuanping had been waiting for some time and quickly came forward to greet them.
"Brother! Sister Hong! I have received news about our ancestor!"
Li Yuanping did not wait for them to ask questions and immediately shared the news he had received.
Li Yuanjiao was initially overjoyed as he heard the news, eximing repeatedly, "Good! Good!"
After thinking for a moment, doubt crossed his mind and his brows furrowed slightly.
"Can this news be trusted?"
"It is about seventy percent reliable..." Li Yuanping began, aware of the many doubts, and continued, "The ancestor calcted that it was a nine-out-of-ten chance of his death before he left, and surviving would be difficult. Who knew the news would spread like this... It does not seem like something a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator could achieve; if it were a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, it would be more believable..."
"ying a Maha Reincarnate..." Li Yuanjiao smiled bitterly and said, "Just think about it, and you will know it is impossible. What about the massive difference between a Maha and a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator? Besides, the Maha maniptes fate; if they die, it is likely a deliberate act... they are probably eager to reincarnate into the next life!"
Li Yuanjiao made a small joke amidst his bitterness. Li Qinghong, who idolized her grandfather, believed in the news almostpletely, unable to suppress a smile as she said softly, "The Maha must have suffered a loss. Since the matter is settled and the life jade is not broken, we should wait quietly for the ancestor to return."
"That makes sense..." Li Yuanping nodded, seeing the life jade Li Yuanjiao held. With this, he gradually felt more at ease. After a few more quiet words, Li Qinghong spoke again.
"Now that the ancestor''s reputation has spread, it will not be long before everyone knows about this. There will be grand celebrations proiming the Sword Immortal n, and families around theke and nearby wille to congratte us and bring us small gifts..."
Despite her words, Li Qinghong did not look pleased. Her delicate brows furrowed and the two brothers, Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping, exchanged worried looks with each other. Li Yuanping nodded and said, "The ancestor has not returned yet. With such fame, there will inevitably be some trouble... We will just have to ept the congrattory gifts with stiff upper lips and adapt as we go along."
"That is a minor issue."
Li Yuanjiao rubbed the Dragon Coiling Pir sword at his waist and said rather grimly, "What worries me more is that the ancestor has killed the Maha Reincarnate... Who knows how many Buddhist cultivators we have offended?!"
Upon hearing this, both nodded with a look of dread on their faces, clearly having anticipated this oue. Li Yuanping sighed heavily and said in a muffled voice, "It will not be long before grandfather''s reputation echoes throughout both Jiangnan and Jiangbei... Along the river, there are countless sword cultivators, rogue cultivators, and small Buddhist temples. Many troubles will arise from this!"
Li Yuanjiao nced at his younger siblings and calmed the situation by saying, "Fortunately, the ancestor is safe. Let us wait and see how this turns out."
While they were talking, they saw a figure descending from the sky. Dressed in a gray robe with a solemn and dignified expression between his eyebrows, his face was full of sorrow. His sleeves were dotted with wet spots, and he looked weary.
"Father!"
"Family Head!"
The three siblings cried out in surprise.
The person was Li Xuanxuan, who had been stationed at the marketce. As soon as he descended from the sky, the three younger ones quickly kneeled in respect. Li Xuanxuan waved his hand and took out a few fragments of jade from his sleeve, his voice deep with emotion and sorrow as he spoke.
"Xuanling... has passed away."
Li Xuanxuan''s words struck the three like a thunderbolt. Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao turned pale, and Li Qinghong raised her head in shock, her face turning ashen. She stared at the piece of shattered jade in Li Xuanxuan''s hand and could only stutter out a few words that were barely audible.
"Passed... away..?"
Herplexion became deathly pale as if drained of all blood. Li Xuanling was her father, and upon hearing this news, her heart shattered. She sank to the ground, covering her face and remaining silent.
Chapter 330: Return (II)
Chapter 330: Return (II)
Yu n, Milin Prefecture.
"Li Tongya?"
Yu Xiaogui''s face was dark, and the stone door behind him closed slowly. His aura was imposing, indicating further progress in his cultivation. Kneeling before the stone door, Yu Mugao was dressed fully in ck with his head lowered, obscuring his expression.
"A Maha in the north was reincarnated at Duanchen Temple and had already ascended to Master Monk. Somehow... he killed Li Xuanling, but was eventually killed by Li Tongya..." Yu Mugao answered respectfully.
Yu Xiaogui frowned deeply, then sneered and waved his hand dismissively.
"Impossible! I have fought with Li Tongya... he''s only slightly stronger than me. What do you take a Maha Reincarnate for? Not even Li Chejing, the sword immortal himself, could handle one!"
Yu Mugao nodded in agreement and replied, "There must be more to this than meets the eye."
Seeing Yu Xiaogui''s furrowed brow, Yu Mugao cupped his fist and spoke warmly, "Father, Yu Muxian has already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and attained his immortal foundation. I heard that in a few years, he will personally visit theke during the next tribute collection."
"What? Xian''er has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?!"
Yu Xiaogui was overjoyed,ughing heartily. However, his expression soon shifted and he looked at Yu Mugao suspiciously and asked coldly, "We are all family... Why do you address your younger brother like that?"
"Brother?"
Yu Mugao raised his head and sneered coldly, "You may see him as a son, but he does not see you as a father! You do not know, Father, but Yu Muxian is now the treasured son-inw of Tang Yuanwu.[1] He could even betray our own ancestor to gain the trust of the Azure Pond Sect... why would he care about our little Yu Family?!"
Yu Xiaogui was stunned by his words, and he grabbed Yu Mugao''s cor in fury.
"What did you say?!"
"Yu Muxian has long seen our family as a stepping stone... He knew about our ancestor''s death long ago! We have nurtured him since childhood, spent great efforts to send him to the sect, supported him for decades, and let him build connections within the sect... Yet, when our market was destroyed and our family declined, he refused to say a word! He even conspired with the Azure Pond Sect to betray our ancestor and specifically had Chi Zhiyan warn me..."
Yu Mugao, always a schemer, had long noticed that his brother Yu Muxian was no longer the same. He recounted event after event, leaving Yu Xiaogui in a daze, unable to believe the words he was hearing.
"How... how could this be... Despite our sincere devotion to Muxian, how could he..."
Yu Xiaogui''s face was a mix of both disbelief and anguish, making his pain all the more evident in his expression.
Yu Mugao stared into his father''s eyes and said harshly, "Father... do not hold any more hope for him!"
Yu Xiaogui slowly released him and took a step back, seemingly still processing Yu Mugao''s words. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice final and decisive.
"Go get your Fourth Uncle."
"Fourth Uncle has passed away." Yu Mugao replied softly.
Yu Xiaogui''s expression changed dramatically, and he looked up in shock. "He is a Qi Cultivator barely over seventy years old... how did he die?!" he roared.
"He embezzled family funds... I killed him."
Yu Mugao answered matter-of-factly, his words leaving Yu Xiaogui feeling weak. His face turned pale, and he clenched his teeth. After a long pause, he finally said, "Go get your Sixth Granduncle."
"Sixth Granduncle colluded with rogue cultivators, selling spirit rice at a low price. I killed him too," Yu Mugao answered.
Yu Xiaogui looked up at him in disbelief, his lips trembling. Suddenly, he realized that something was wrong... deathly wrong. While he had been in seclusion, everything outside seemed to have been turned upside down. His face flushed red as he asked, "How many people have you killed?"
"Fifty-eight of our granduncles, sixty-seven uncles, and one hundred ny-four cousins, all with undeniable evidence of their heinous crimes."
Yu Mugao''s expression remained respectful, but his words were chilling, causing Yu Xiaogui to step back and stare at him in disbelief.
"You... you... wretched beast! You!"
Yu Xiaogui raised his hand high and pped Yu Mugao hard, sending him stumbling back a few steps. His anger was uncontroble and his eyes were red with fury.
"Beast! Beast! Is there anyone you dare not kill?!"
Yu Xiaogui''s face turned crimson, his imposing aura surging as he cried out hoarsely, "Your Fourth Uncle personally carried you to Milin Prefecture and sought a marriage alliance on your behalf. Your Sixth Granduncle raised me... yet you... you... They are your family! Mugao! How could you be so foolish?!"
"I know, Father."
Half of Yu Mugao''s face was bright red from the p, with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Yet his expression remained calm as he spoke softly, "In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. Without such actions, the Yu Family would not survive beyond three generations."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Tongya rested for a while in the forest. Using his finger as a sword, he cut a block of wood from a tree, hollowed it out with a wave of his hand, and ced Li Xuanling''s head inside carefully. He then carved another piece of wood as a cover, meticulously securing it.
His eldest son''s death was tragic, and Li Tongya spent half a day using his mana to mend and repair his son''s appearance as best as he could, making it somewhat presentable.
Carrying the wooden box, Li Tongya flew intermittently, finally reaching the Li Family territory. He cast a spell to clean the mud and dust from his body, concealed his presence, and entered Mount Lijing quietly.
The small courtyard on Mount Lijing was spotless, clearly having been cleaned regrly. Li Tongya ced the wooden box on the table, used his mana to send a message, and then went inside to change his clothes andpose himself. By the time he returned, the younger generation had already gathered outside to pay their respects.
Li Tongya sat high on the main seat and looked around. Li Qinghong was the most grief-stricken, weeping inconsbly with her face covered. Her beautiful almond eyes were now red and swollen as she sobbed quietly.
Li Xuanxuan had returned from the market. His years of business had given him a shrewd and calcting demeanor, and his hair was now streaked with white, showing signs of age. He stood silently, staring nkly at the wooden box, lost in thought, and said nothing.
Li Yuanping''s pale face looked even worse, his eyes filled with deep resentment. Standing between them, Li Yuanjiao''s face was sorrowful but he remained calm, gripping the Dragon Coiling Pir sword tightly in his left hand with his lips pressed together.
Li Tongya sighed and handed the wooden box to Li Qinghong. She wiped her tears and took it silently, not saying a word. Li Tongya, his voice slightly hoarse, asked, "Has Yuanyun arrived yet?"
Li Yuanjiao stepped forward and replied, "I have already sent someone to Eastern Mount Yue to bring him back."
Li Xuanling had a son and a daughter¡ªLi Yuanyun and Li Qinghong. However, Li Yuanyun,cking a spiritual orifice, had always been pretty much invisible in the family. This was the first time Li Tongya had summoned him back to Mount Lijing. Hearing this, he nodded and fell silent.
For a while, the courtyard was filled only with Li Qinghong''s sobs. The younger generation remained silent, watching Li Tongya''s weary and pale face with a sense of foreboding.
After the time it took to burn a stick of incense, footsteps approached from below. The courtyard door creaked open and a middle-aged man stumbled in. He was plump, with dark circles around his eyes, and his lips were trembling.
The middle-aged man fell to his knees in front of Li Tongya with a thud, his voice tinged with sorrow and muffled by tears as he spoke softly.
"Yuanyun, your unworthy grandson, greets Grandfather..."
1. Tang Yuanwu was briefly mentioned in Chapter 236 before, but not much is known about him at this point. ?
Chapter 331: Mutual Understanding (I)
Chapter 331: Mutual Understanding (I)
Li Yuanyun was now twenty-five years old. Despite being a mortal, he was d in brocade, enjoying afortable life thanks to his father and siblings. He was now a father of three sons and two daughters.
Although Li Yuanyun belonged to the younger Yuan generation, he looked older than his actual age. Unlike his siblings, who still looked fifteen or sixteen due to years of cultivation, he was aging faster than them and bore the appearance of a man in his thirties. This rapid aging had caused his subordinates to stop addressing him as "young master", instead referring to him as "Old Master".
Li Tongya watched silently with a pale face in his main seat as his eldest grandson kneeled dumbly before him, clutching a wooden box.
Though the old man''s vitality was waning, his sharp eyes gleamed with intensity. His gaze lingered on Li Yuanyun''s smooth and delicate hands for a while as he stayed silent.
Those hands were fair, short, and chubby. They had never wielded swords or spears; and even the calluses from gripping a brush in his youth had vanished, revealing a delicate smoothness akin to that of a carnivore.
A hint of disappointment shed in Li Tongya''s eyes as he spoke hoarsely.
"Yun''er,e here."
Li Yuanyun approached cautiously, his fear of his imposing grandfather palpable. He wiped tears from his face as he moved forward, still kneeling before Li Tongya.
Li Tongya studied him closely, noting only a trace of mncholy on his face, which was otherwise devoid of frustration or resentment.
Finally, he said, "After mourning your father, go to the marketce and take charge."
"Understood..." Li Yuanyun murmured in response, too apprehensive to say more. He clutched the wooden box tightly and retreated.
Li Tongya surveyed the faces of the younger generation warmly and assured them, "Though my injuries are severe, I can still hold on for a few more years... If I can obtain a spiritual item like Stctite Jade Liquid, it might extend my life further. There''s no need to worry. Carry on with your tasks."
"Ancestor... Take this."
Li Yuanjiao presented a jade box to him with both hands, but Li Tongya gently pushed it away.
Though exhausted, the old man managed a faint smile and replied, "Keep it for yourself."
He carefully rose to his feet, unsped the Qingche Sword from his waist, and hung the sword on the main seat. This sword, having been nurtured by him for many years, had developed a spirit of its own; and as soon as it left Li Tongya''s grasp, it buzzed reluctantly and swayed.
Li Tongya turned back to his descendants, his instructions tinged with uncertainty.
"Do not go out of your way to seek any medicine for me, and above all, do not think about any blood sacrifice. Focus on yourselves."
"Understood!"
The juniors responded in unison.
Li Tongya stood with his hands sped behind him, then slowly walked out of the courtyard. He made his way along the stone pathid down by Li Xiangping years ago, heading toward the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche.
In the courtyard, several juniors approached tofort Li Qinghong and discussed the arrangements for Li Xuanling''s funeral. Eventually, each went their separate ways down the mountain to attend to their own tasks.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Summer gave way to autumn, and rainfall became scarce.
Li Xuanling''s funeral on the mountain was conducted in a simple manner. White silk decorated the courtyard for just a few months before being taken down swiftly. Li Yuanyun went to the marketce, and Li Qinghong stood guard at Mount Yuting.
The first batch of Li Family elders also passed away in session, and funerals becamemonce. Within a matter of two weeks or a few months, they were concluded haphazardly. When the rice harvesting season arrived, everyone became far too upied to have time to grieve.
Meanwhile, in Eastern Mount Yue...
Birds chirped on Mount Wutu as newly polished stone benches and chairs were ced in the courtyard.
Li Yuanjiao, dressed in white, sat quietly by the stone table. Setting his jade cup down, he remarked softly, "It''s been quite some time since Ist saw you, cousin."
The middle-aged man seated opposite him chuckled. He had tan skin, wearing a jade crown and a long robe. His eyes were tinged faintly with violet.
"I heard a rumor recently about our ancestor ying a Maha with his sword on Mount Bianyan and attaining mastery of the Sword Essence. The tale has spread far and wide, and many pleaded I ask you about it..." he began.
Li Yuanjiao chuckled lightly, meeting his gaze with a smile. "Ah, that indeed happened..." he answered.
Shamoli had originally worn a rxed smile, but upon hearing Li Yuanjiao''s confirmation, he was stunned as if struck by lightning. He instantly sat upright and eximed incredulously, "But that''s...! That''s a Maha we''re talking about!"
"A Maha Incarnate," Li Yuanjiao corrected him.
"Even so, how could someone at the Foundation Establishment Realm challenge a Maha Reincarnation¡ªlet alone y him with a sword and send ripples through Mount Yue?! The Old Ancestor... he''s truly a divine figure!" Shamoli blurted out.
Shamoli, currently only at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, had consumed various unrefined qi, hence resulting in his slow cultivation progress. He had long been outpaced by Li Yuanjiao.
Any aspirations he might have harbored in the past had long been extinguished. Nevertheless, this news filled him with pride, and his eyes gleamed with joy as he eximed, "Amazing!"
Li Yuanjiao maintained hisposure, smiling as he raised his cup to drink. Shamoli was visibly excited and spoke with great enthusiasm.
"Since the destruction of Mount Wu and the divide of Mount Yue into Western Mount Yue, Mount Yue State, and others, our Eastern Mount Yue has been overlooked by the major families... These Foundation Establishment cultivators on Mount Yue clearly do not respect the main family! It really irked me."
Shamoli brought out several boxes, each containing wooden and jade items. He lined them up neatly on the table and said, "I brought all the congrattory gifts here. I dare not keep any single one of them for myself!"
"I never suspected you," Li Yuanjiao responded casually, sweeping his spiritual sense over the boxes swiftly. The spirit items in the box appeared in his mind''s eye immediately.
These Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of Mount Yue were all calctive men who would not let out the falcon if there was no rabbit in sight, and the spirit items they presented were only of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Nevertheless, Li Yuanjiao collected the insincere gifts.
Shamoli''s behavior was exactly as Li Yuanjiao had anticipated. Mount Yue was not alone in traveling to Lijing Town to congratte the Li Family; several cultivators, whether passing through or arriving specifically for the asion, did the same. Several prominent families under the Li Family''s rule were also joyous and honored, basking in unexpected happiness.
As Shamoli grew older, he grew even more naggy. He shared various tidbits about the Tian Family and the Mount Yue nobles. Li Yuanjiao listened attentively to everything, nodding as he escorted Shamoli down the mountain and bid him farewell.
Xiao Gun watched Shamoli descend the mountain and slowly depart with his entourage before she gracefully emerged from the house. Her sharp, narrow eyes blinked gently as sheughed.
"That Shamoli is not as bad as rumors might suggest!"
Xiao Guiluan had reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. She cultivated the Meridian Nourishment Technique of the Xiao Family, a Grade Four technique that was a grade superior to the Li Family''s. Naturally, her progress in cultivation was faster.
"He has been reigning for more than ten years," Li Yuanjiao remarked as he tidied up the jade cups on the table.
"Well, it''s a good thing that he''s keeping an eye on the Tian Family and the Mount Yue nobles all these years..." Li Yuanjiao said softly, treating his wife with great tenderness.
Xiao Guiluan chuckled lightly, then sat down beside him and said, "The Xiao Family has also sent representatives... My sisters who are familiar with the family are amazed. There are wild rumors circting, iming our family has an immortal sword and inherits the way of the sword. Supposedly, whoever draws this sword will be the head of the family! Although your cultivation realm is high, the sword did not acknowledge you, that''s why you have no choice but to remain a young master. Meanwhile, Yuanping, who is frail and sickly, happens to be an expert in sword techniques..."
Xiao Guiluan repeated what she heard to Li Yuanjiao, causing him to burst outughing.
"Do you believe the rumors spread by a bunch of rogue Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators who cultivate with various unrefined qi?" he asked, amused.
"Of course not!" Xiao Guiluan huffed. She lowered her head and voice as she continued, "Rumors concerning the Old Ancestor or our legacy have always been taboo, and the n Affairs Courtyard has enforced strict silence on such matters. But now that this rumor has gained considerable spread, it''s causing me to have doubts."
Li Yuanjiao''s smile faded as he looked at her, noticing her eyelids fluttering.
"Carry on," he encouraged.
Xiao Guiluan''s sharp, narrow eyes fixed on him. The two exchanged a few breaths of silence before Xiao Guiluan asked calmly, "Is the Old Ancestor... still in good health?"
Chapter 332: Mutual Understanding (II)
Chapter 332: Mutual Understanding (II)
Li Yuanjiao fell silent for several breaths, his gaze fixed on Xiao Guiluan. She looked down silently, as though trying to draw answers from the stone table itself.
Finally, after a long pause, Li Yuanjiao sighed and said, "If you already knew the answer, why did you need me to spell it out for you?"
Xiao Guiluan then looked up, taking his hand in hers. "Because I only wished you would treat me like family. Abandoned by my father in the mountains as a child, I endured cold eyes and indifference... There''s nothing left for me in the Xiao Family. The only things I hold dear in this life are you and Xizhi... Why would you keep such a significant secret from me?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.
Li Yuanjiao was deeply moved. He held her hand affectionately and said warmly, "I know you''ve always been sharp and perceptive, sometimes even surprising me. To think that you were even able to deduce this through the n Affairs Courtyard''s silence and inactivity..."
Instead of pride in her deduction, her face betrayed a touch of sorrow as she continued glumly, "The Ancestor has always been discreet and reserved... The only time he would make such a move is to intimidate. However, what could be more intimidating than the Ancestor himself?"
"We''ve been married for eight years, and Xizhi is already seven. Did you think you could hide this from me?" she chided.
"Of course not!" Li Yuanjiao said as he shook his head, feeling somewhat awkward. Heposed himself and replied earnestly, "This matter is incredibly sensitive. The fewer people know about it, the safer we all are."
Xiao Guiluan nodded in understanding, her expression serious as she asked softly, "How bad is his condition?"
Li Yuanjiao hesitated for a moment, before transmitting his answer through mana.
"All five organs are damaged... He may not have many years left."
"What?!"
Xiao Guiluan had initially believed the issue was limited to stalled cultivation and a drastically reduced lifespan. Now, the severity of the situation dawned on her, and she shook her head in fear as she muttered, "I see... a Maha Incarnate... such an opponent cannot be easily dealt with..."
Suddenly, she looked up as fear lingered in her slender and sharp eyes.
"We must not let Xiao Guitu find out about this!" she hissed.
Grasping Li Yuanjiao''s hand tightly, Xiao Guiluan''s eyes flickered with determination as she spoke in a serious voice.
"My elder brother is far-sighted and ambitious, supported by everyone in the family... His stance toward our family has always been ambiguous. The whereabouts of our Daoist Master have been unknown for a long time, leaving him in charge of family matters. If he learns of this, he will surely take action! I have studied my family''s history, and when my family first rose to power, they used these methods to gradually annex the ns in Lixia Prefecture..."
Xiao Guiluan appeared uneasy. How could she not be? ording to the records, none of the daughters married off from their family met a good end.
"How could he?!"
Li Yuanjiao was initially horrified. Upon reflection, he realized that the Li Family''s supposed advantages over the Xiao Family were either superficial or alreadypromised.
The rtionship between the Xiao and Li families was merely a transaction of interests centered around Moongaze Lake and Xiao Chuting''s appreciation for Li Tongya. However, these were nothing but fragile bonds that held families together amidst the constant threat of cmity...
As Li Yuanjiao pondered these thoughts, he suddenly realized that the Xiao Family was not just a distant ally but also a potential rival lurking beside the Li Family.
"I see. Although the Xiao Family is officially detached from Azure Pond and cannot act openly, they can still exert influence and covertly provide support..." he muttered softly.
Xiao Guiluan nodded slowly and whispered, "During my time in the Xiao Family, I heard that our family had initially intended to align with the Yu Family. However, Yu Muxian''s background was too formidable, and the Azure Pond Sect opposed such an alliance, forcing us to abandon the n..."
Li Yuanjiao listened intently, secretly feeling a mix of relief and amusement.
"I see... I suppose my family owes thanks to Yu Muxian. If the Xiao Family had secretly aligned with the Yu Family over the past few decades, what would have be of my family?" he wondered, deeply troubled.
Xiao Guiluan refilled her husband''s cup, her mind already formting a n.
"Don''t worry, my dear... I was only asking about the ancestor to be sure. I''ll take care of matters with the Xiao Family. Unless my brother intervenes personally, there won''t be any problems."
"Good!" Li Yuanjiao smiled and pondered for a moment before whispering, "Rumors at home should settle soon. I''ll instruct Yuanping to suppress this matter first."
"Mm-hmm."
The couple exchanged a smile, saying volumes in their silent mutual understanding.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile in Lijing Town...
Li Yuanping counted the boxes on his desk meticulously, his brush tracing over fabric pages.
Suddenly, he heard amotion outside his door. Dou Yi hurried in and whispered, "Young Master, Madam Ren has arrived."
Li Yuanping''s face lit up instantly. He quickly set down his brush and weed a young woman into the courtyard, holding the hand of a healthy one-year-old boy with bright eyes.
"Ming''er...!"
Li Yuanping''s pale face broke into a rare, wide smile as he reached for the child, causing Li Ximing to giggle in response.
Li Yuanping had married a year ago. His wife, chosen from the Ren Family, was a suitable match in age and possessed a spiritual orifice. Due to their modest cultivation realms, they were able to quickly conceive a child.
Li Yuanping was the one who named him, picking a name that had the character "Ming" in it, which was in ordance with the order of the generation names.
He had been worried about the child for a while but was eventually relieved to see that his own condition did not affect his son''s root bone. Li Ximing turned out to be a healthy and robust child.
Li Yuanping gazed into the child''s clear eyes and thought to himself, Brother Jiao''s son, Xizhi, already possesses a spiritual orifice at seven years old. Since he has just started cultivating, it''s still too early to gauge his potential. Ximing is only a little over a year old. In a few more years, he can pay his respects to the mirror...
Cradling little Ximing in his arms, Li Yuanping yed with his son, eliciting joyfulughter from the child. He set Ximing down on the table gently, where the boy pushed a jade box around with precision, stopping just short of the edge and ncing back at his father.
Li Yuanping was absorbed in watching his son when suddenly, amotion erupted outside the courtyard. A n soldier burst into the room,pletely knocking over Dou Yi who stood guard near the door with his head respectfully bowed.
"What''s going on?!"
Li Yuanping had always ruled the household with strict discipline, and such disruptions were unprecedented. Rather than scolding the soldier, his heart skipped a beat as he asked sternly once again, "What''s the matter?"
The soldier''s face was filled with fear, not bothering to even apologize for knocking over the young master from Dou Family before blurting out, "Young Master! A Qi Cultivation Realm demon of the seventh heavenlyyer has appeared in town! It''s taken on its true form and is causing a disturbance in the streets!"
"Seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi cultivation?" Li Yuanping breathed a sigh of relief, though his brow furrowed slightly.
"Where is Uncle Donghe... An Zheyan, and the rest?" he asked.
It had been over ten years since the Li Family had been elevated to a n and umted considerable resources.
An Zheyan was at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation, Chen Donghe at the fourth heavenlyyer, and there were also several early-stage Qi Cultivators. With their strategic advantage, dealing with a seventh heavenlyyer demon should be manageable.
"If necessary... the Old Ancestor has also prepared a contingency n."
Li Yuanping knew his brother Li Yuanjiao possessed a talisman of the Foundation Establishment Realm, acquired from the Xiao Family years ago in anticipation of such events.
With this knowledge, Li Yuanping was able to maintain hisposure and speak confidently, which greatly reassured the soldier.
"Master An and Uncle Donghe are currently handling the fox demon. It seems the creature isn''t aggressive... It had merely triggered the town''s formation, causing the formation to attack it and thus revealing its true form. From the sound of it, they haven''t started fighting the demon yet," the soldier informed.
"A fox demon..?"
Li Yuanping was greatly rmed upon hearing that it was a non-aggressive fox demon and quickly understood the situation. He hurriedly returned Ximing to his wife and swiftly descended from the tform where he had been seated, rushing out of the courtyard.
"It''s a friend... It''s a friend!" he urgently shouted.
Chapter 333: Choice (I)
Chapter 333: Choice (I)
By the time Li Yuanping arrived, the street had already been sealed off. Both ends stood empty, the road deserted except for two rows of n soldiers that were standing in formation.
The demon in the Qi Cultivation Realm emanated strong demonic qi that posed a danger to mortal humans. Even slight exposure to it could cause sickness, while severe contact could prove fatal. As a result, none of the townspeople dared to stay in its vicinity.
The fox sat cross-legged, anxiously waiting at a wonton stall by the roadside. The stall''s owner had long fled in a panic, leaving only a mess behind him.
Standing beside the fox was Chen Donghe, his sword held in silent vignce, his expression solemn. He had ascended to the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, cing him among the foremost in the family.
Sitting opposite the fox, An Zheyan grinned broadly, holding a bowl of wontons while he chewed enthusiastically. Despite nearing a hundred years old, his appetite was undiminished. The aroma of the grease from his meal made the fox gulp with envy.
Li Yuanping observed the fox from afar and confirmed that it matched the rumors.
"Yuanping greets Senior!"
He hurried forward and cupped his fist respectfully, prompting the fox to emit a high-pitched squeak.
"Where''s Li Tongya?"
Seeing Li Yuanping''s arrival, An Zheyan tossed aside his bowl immediately, rising to his feet. Chen Donghe nodded to him before they said in unison, "Greetings, Young Master."
Li Yuanping acknowledged them before addressing the fox politely, saying, "Senior, the Old Ancestor is currently meditating in his cave dwelling. You will have to ascend the mountain to speak with him."
The fox twitched its muzzle, casting a wary nce around it. Its narrow eyes then took in the pale golden formation on Mount Lijing and hesitated momentarily before glumly saying, "But first, let''s be clear... I am a close friend of your family''s Old Ancestor and the demon den knows about it. If this is a ploy to ensnare and kill me within the formation, Mount Dali surely won''t let this matter slide!"
"Oh, we would never dare to deceive you, Senior," Li Yuanping assured with a smile. He gestured to dismiss the n soldiers trailing him and An Zheyan, then led the fox away.
As they passed through the shimmering barriers and entered the mountain, the fox muttered with a hint of annoyance, "Is he really that badly injured that he can''t even descend the mountain to meet me?"
Li Yuanping knew that Li Tongya received about fifty percent of his information from this fox. Hence, the fox was likely aware of the Li Family''s situation.
In his heart, Li Yuanping could only muster a bitter smile and thought to himself, After all, foxes are known for being cunning and calcting.
However, he replied, ''You''ll see him soon and find out, Senior. Thest time I saw the Old Ancestor was when I ascended the mountain a few months ago to send him healing medicine... so I am unsure of his current condition.''
After they walked the winding mountain path for a bit, the cave dwelling''s entrance eventually came into view.
Li Yuanping hesitated before the sealed stone door and said respectfully, "Please wait here a moment, Senior. My elder brother will arrive shortly to unlock the door."
Despite the long friendship between the White Banyan Fox and Li Tongya, Li Yuanping could not dismiss his reservations¡ªafter all, the fox was still a demon, and Li Tongya was seriously injured. If the fox harbored ill intentions, it would be difficult for him to handle the situation.
Li Yuanjiao, at the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm and possessing talismans of the Foundation Establishment Realm, was the best candidate to escort this fox into the cave dwelling.
The fox nodded, seemingly oblivious to Li Yuanping''s thoughts, but just then, a loud, grating sound erupted as the stone door creaked open.
"Let it enter."
The hoarse voice of Li Tongya rang out. With no other option, Li Yuanping nodded and gestured for the fox to enter. It hurried into the cave without any further hesitation.
Inside, the cave was filled with abundant spiritual qi and illuminated white by a dharmamp on the wall. Li Tongya, seated cross-legged on the stone bed at the center, smiled warmly at the fox.
The stone table before him was piled with a variety of spirit elixirs and pills that glowed faintly, most of which remained untouched.
"Li Tongya!" the fox eximed when he saw Li Tongya, looking at him with gentle eyes. His white hair and withered face shocked the fox, who hurried forward a few steps and grasped his hand, sniffing anxiously before eximing, "T-This... This is..."
Li Tongya chuckled and responded, "Thanks to the information you gathered, I managed to survive the wrathful Maha!"
"Why the hell are you stillughing?!"
Li Tongya had no idea where the fox had learned to say that, but its face quickly fell as it squeaked, "Your Dao has been destroyed..."
"More than that."
Li Tongya rolled up his sleeve, revealing the cracks that covered his arm, oozing droplets of light green liquid. He dabbed the liquid away and continued softly, "My cultivation has been damaged too."
Pointing at the spirit items on the stone table, Li Tongya shook his head in resignation. "I had told them not to send these things.... I know the juniors mean well, but most are of little use. This is just a waste of resources," he said dejectedly.
The fox silently gulped but squeaked, "In my opinion... This is a manageable situation! Your five organs are damaged, hence leading to the imbnce of five qi. I have a technique that involves extracting organs from people to rece your heart, spleen, stomach, lungs, and liver. You can get your disciples and grandchildren to gradually gather qi over a few months... Within three years, you''ll be as good as new!"
The fox grew more animated with each word, gesturing eagerly as it continued, "As for your destroyed Dao, we can search for a horned flood dragon and feed it 6,600 people to create a blood pool. As long as we do this every three years..."
The fox''s voice trailed off as Li Tongya shook his head and interrupted, "Your proposed technique involves using the internal organs of a living human, right? By gathering qi, you''re essentially suggesting a blood sacrifice... And by creating that blood pool to renew my Dao... That''s nothing short of dark arts."
He chuckled wryly and continued, "I, Li Tongya, hail from humble peasant origins. My life is worth nothing. Though I have taken many lives, they were mostly evildoers or cultivators, individuals who posed a threat. I''ve never entertained thoughts of senseless ughter... All I seek is survival."
"This is a n rule passed down by my father... and the moral boundary of my family."
The moment Li Tongya said "moral boundary", memories of a shiny mirror shed through his mind.
After a brief pause, he concluded, "The Li Family may not be virtuous, but we won''t resort to such dark arts... Forget it."
"You...!"
The fox froze in irritation. "What''s wrong about eating people? It''s all just about the survival of the fittest! Isn''t it always like this? Just because you refuse to eat people doesn''t stop others from doing it!" the fox hissed.
Seeing Li Tongya''s silence, the fox grew even more frustrated. It rose from the stone bed and snarled, "Stubborn man! That old-fashioned thinking has prevented you from seeing my good intentions!"
Li Tongya remained seated calmly, watching the fox with a smile. It ranted on for a while, then let out a loud wail of frustration and cried.
"I still have over a hundred years to live... how am I going to continue living?!" the fox grumbled to itself for some time more before eventually falling silent.
Opening its mouth wide, he spat out a fruit the size of a jade bead that emitted a clear, cool light.
The fox cleaned its saliva off with its paws before exining, "This is my prized Huashang Fruit, it''s a precious medicine even among human cultivators. It enhances mana and vitality. If you ingest it, you might sustain yourself for a few more years and regain some strength."
Li Tongya was taken aback, unsure about how to refuse the fox. Before he could respond, the fox jumped off the bed, swinging its tail as it grumbled, "What a great loss... I thought we promised to keep ourselves safe. Now, you''re going to kick the bucket in a few years..."
Without waiting for Li Tongya''s response, the white banyan fox jumped and exited the cave.
Left alone in the cave, Li Tongya gazed silently at the Huashang Fruit glowing softly in his hand like a luminous pearl. A myriad of emotions flooded through him, but all were condensed into a single sigh.
Chapter 334: Choice (II)
Chapter 334: Choice (II)
Li Yuanping waited respectfully inside the cave, his heart pounding with apprehension until the fox finally emerged, looking dejected.
Rushing forward, Li Yuanping''s eyes burned with anxiety.
"Senior! How is my family''s ancestor?" he blurted out.
"Our family''s ancestor..?"
The fox nced at him, then straightened up suddenly. Its eyes darted around before it spoke, its voice heavy with sadness.
"There isn''t much time left for him..."
"What?!"
Li Yuanping was dismayed. Li Tongya had clearly spoken of several more years... How could time be running out for him when only less than a year had passed?
The fox seized the moment to continue, "I have a way that could save your ancestor."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanping''s eyes widened with hope.
"Please tell me, Senior!"
"We''ll need fresh human hearts, spleens, stomachs... totaling six thousand for each. Bring them here, and I will teach you the method to gather blood qi. In less than three years, we may heal Li Tongya''s injuries."
Li Yuanping stood there in shock as he listened to the fox. Thoughts raced through his mind as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white. His lips trembled for a few moments before he finally let out a sigh.
"Senior, my family forbids the practice of blood sacrifice..." he said softly, his face turning pale.
The fox was crestfallen and fell silent. Together, they descended the mountain in silence. As they reached the foot of the mountain, the fox deliberately paused and said with a slight smile, "I''m always on Mount White Banyan. Feel free toe visit if you need anything."
Li Yuanping nodded lightly. The White Banyan Fox clicked its tongue twice, then vanished into the wind.
Li Yuanping''s bottom lip nearly bled as he bit down on it, watching as the fox disappeared. Finally, after a long moment, he released his grip on his sword and left the mountain.
His mind was in turmoil. Not only Li Tongya''s injuries but even his own frail health and damaged root bone could also be remedied by these methods...
"Yuanping, send a hundred jin of Spirit Rice to the Elder White Banyan Fox every year."
Li Yuanping''s heart felt heavy and unsettled when Li Tongya gave him this instruction. It rang in his ears like a warning bell, momentarily clearing his mind. Nevertheless, he heeded it respectfully before quickly descending the mountain.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Quite an intriguing fox..." Lu Jiangxian remarked as he leaned against the jade table leisurely, watching the fox depart reluctantly.
In his sight, the fox shimmered with pure Dharma light from head to tail, exuding a calm and neutral aura. Such an aura was quite umon for a demon.
"This fox told Li Tongya that it was born in the wild, but its body radiated with mana light¡ªclearly indicating an inherited lineage and profound background."
Though Lu Jiangxian had yet to recover to the Purple Mansion Realm and could not predict the demon fox''s fate, he could already discern this fox''s extraordinary background.
He silently pondered to himself, Judging by its insight and knowledge, this fox might be backed by one of the top Purple Mansion demons from the demon den... I wonder what its purpose is in approaching the Li Family.
Even though the Wrathful Maha had perished and Lu Jiangxian had saved Li Tongya, the matter was far from over.
Wrathful Maha, who had dedicated years to his cultivation and amassed a wealth of golden essence, carried a formidable fate. Upon his death, his fate scattered and dispersed throughout the great void, wandering aimlessly.
Daoist Master Shangyuan, either disdainful or no longer finding these fates useful, sheathed his sword and departed. Meanwhile, the nine Purple Mansion Realm cultivators pursued them through the great void, creating a grand spectacle that Lu Jiangxian found interesting.
"The Golden Feather Sect and Azure Pond Sect seem to have gained the most from this affair. Xiao Chuting, if not for hisck ofbat prowess due to Man On Creek, could have benefited even more."
His intervention this time had thoroughly exhausted Lu Jiangxian. Yawning, he felt a weariness seep into his heart. He nced at Li Tongya, who held the night pearl-like Huashang Fruit in his hands, then condensed a talisman pill and sent it into the great void with a flick of his fingers.
"I can''t let you suffer too greatly either," he mumbled.
The pure talisman qi obtained through the ritual and condensed by the mirror could enhance the cultivation and the root bone of the demon fox once infused into its body.
Behind the demon fox likely lurked at most a Purple Mansion Realm demon cultivator.
Judging by the look of things, the fox had roamed freely for many years, so Lu Jiangxian had nothing to worry about the Purple Mansion Realm demon detecting something in it.
"I wonder if I''ve grown more cautious due to my prolonged stay with the Li Family..." Lu Jiangxian mused silently, a faint smile ying on his lips.
In the secret chamber of the Li Family''s ancestral hall, the bluish-gray mirror slowly floated into the air, releasing ethereal wisps of moonlight. Like mist, the wisps filled the dark room. From the surface of a shattered mirror emerged a brilliant, radiant stream of light.
This luminous stream seemed to be imbued with a life of its own, meandering through the air with purpose. It effortlessly traversed through thick stone walls, passed throughyers of dense formations, and prated the golden Sun Rite Profound Light Formation, finally catching up to the demon fox.
The stream of light pulsated with a rhythmic beat and then entered the back of the White Banyan Fox''s head. The fox remained oblivious to its presence, continuing on its silent flight toward Mount Dali.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile at the Yu Residence...
"So you''re saying that... Li Tongya has either perished alongside that Maha or suffered grave injuries?" Yu Xiaogui asked in a hushed tone, narrowing his eyes at Yu Mugao who was dressed in white.
Yu Mugao shook his head, gazing at the folding fan in his hand. Absent-mindedly, he traced his finger along its cool, smooth guard.
He replied casually, "It was just my spection. Who knows, maybe Li Tongya sustained irreversible damage during the process of ying the Maha?"
Yu Mugao''s face, once marked by a red palm print, had regained its usual paleplexion. Despite his middle-aged appearance, he spoke with a deliberate calmness.
"I heard that no one had seen him ever since he yed the Maha, so I dispatched someone to investigate the Li Family''s store in Cloud Crowned Peak''s marketce..."
"Store?" Yu Xiaogui frowned, pausing briefly before Yu Mugao chuckled and added, "Reports indicated a shortage of healing and invigorating spirit item supplies."
"Oh? You''re quite thorough!" Yu Xiaogui praised as he raised an eyebrow and delight filled his eyes.
Observing Yu Mugao leisurely sipping his tea, Yu Xiaogui continued thoughtfully, "Your attention to detail is impressive. Back in the day, the only one capable of managing every aspect of the household without a leak, and even capable of betrayal, was Li Yuanxiu. Even Fei Wangbai had his vulnerabilities."
Yu Mugao''s expression hardened slightly and muttered, "If not for our family''s constraints and internal strife, Fei Wangbai wouldn''t have managed to hold us back for so long... allowing the Li Family to flourish for naught."
Yu Xiaogui seemed uneasy, reminded of the lingering troubles from his tenure as family head. Each mention of these matters by his eldest son left him silent, prompting a quick change of subject.
"These are mere spections on healing spirit items... Li Tongya''s absence may simply be due to secluded cultivation."
"Agreed," Yu Mugao nodded gently, prompting Yu Xiaogui to inquire further, "What are your intentions?"
A faint smile yed on Yu Mugao''s lips, years of setbacks having sharpened rather than dulled his resolve.
"Test the waters."
The father and son exchanged nces as a servant hastily entered the room.
A fleeting look of surprise crossed the servant''s face upon seeing Yu Xiaogui. He quickly bowed his head and respectfully cupped his fist to Yu Mugao, reporting, "Family Head... The Fei Family has sealed their mountain!"
"What?!"
Chapter 335: Ning Heyuan
Chapter 335: Ning Heyuan
Mount Yuting was the most treacherous and steepest of the Li Family''s mountains, and it reached into the clouds.
The courtyard atop the mountain, while not huge, housed a jade well that was asrge as a pond. Despite looking like an ancient well, the water in it was crystal clear, shimmering with a mystical light.
Li Qinghong exhaled a puff of white breath, her almond eyes glowing dimly purple. With a forceful push of her palms, she unleashed a torrent of thunderous mana, her red lips parting in astonishment.
"The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique¡ªis it truly a secret technique modified by the descendants of its original creator...?"
She had devoted six years to mastering this technique and had studied numerous other Qi Cultivation methods. Yet, the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique''s ancient simplicity and uniqueness set it apart from the rest, containing elements unheard of in other methods which often amazed Li Qinghong.
Dreaming of the day she would master the Profound Thunderpool and wield its profound power, she dispersed the spell in her hand with a wave and nced around the courtyard before softly calling out.
"Li Xicheng!"
Footsteps came from behind the house as a twelve-year-old boy with straight eyebrows and a sweaty forehead rushed into view, stopping right in front of Li Qinghong with a smile.
"Auntie!"
The boy, Li Xicheng, was the son of Li Yuanyun and the oldest among the generation of Xi and Yue.
His fathercked a spiritual orifice and did not cultivate, hence he was the first to father a child among his generation. Li Xicheng, already thirteen, possessed a spiritual orifice. Unfortunately, his innate talent was influenced by his father''s lineage and could only be considered average.
With Li Yuanyun away at the market and Li Xicheng in need of supervision, Li Qinghong, his paternal aunt and Li Yuanyun''s elder sister, was naturally the best choice. Thus, Li Xicheng had been sent to train on Mount Yuting with her.
"Time for spear practice."
Li Qinghong handed a wooden spear to Li Xicheng, instructing the boy to hold it horizontally in his grasp. He stood alone, maintaining his stance as she observed him with a keen gaze.
"Are you practicing the Supreme Langyang Meridian Nourishment Technique?" she asked.
"Yes, Auntie!"
Li Qinghong nodded, her expression unreadable. The Supreme Langyang Meridian Nourishment Technique was a Grade Three technique, acquired by Li Tongya for those in the direct lineage.
As one of the recipients of the talisman seed in the family, she practiced the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra, which had to be kept a secret.
Xicheng, Xizhi, Ximing... I wonder who among them will receive the favor of the mirror...?
Brother Jiao ns to rmend Xizhi to the immortal sect, so he likely won''t be a candidate... That means it''ll be either Ximing or Xicheng...
While Li Qinghong was lost in thought, Li Xicheng gritted his teeth in silent determination. Sweat drenched his body as he held the spear up shakily.
Li Qinghong straightened his arms and was about to offer guidance when a voice thundered from beyond thepound.
"Rogue cultivator Ning Heyuan hase to pay his respects. I would like to meet the mountain master of the Li Family!"
Startled by the sudden voice, Li Xicheng dropped his spear with a tter. He wiped the sweat beading his brow while casting a nervous nce at his aunt.
Li Qinghong nced toward the source of the voice. Outside, a young man in green attire stood outside the formation, his waist adorned with a storage pouch and a dharma sword that glowed with mana light.
His clothes seemed to be woven from spirit yarn, his essoriesvish with top-quality jade¡ªa disy of extravagant luxury.
A rogue cultivator? Don''t make meugh!
With a scoff, Li Qinghong flew out of the formation to confront Ning Heyuan, who continued boldly, "I''ve long admired the renowned Li Family, known to be the master of swordsmanship. I''ve traveled far to challenge my peers in your family with my sword, seeking to validate my skills in swordsmanship..."
He was interrupted as a woman in a white dress emerged from the grand formation. Her presence wasmanding, her eyes electrifying. She pursed her vermillion lips, fixing her intense gaze directly on him.
"A female cultivator?!"
Expecting to see a young swordsman, Ning Heyuan was taken aback, his embarrassment evident.
Li Qinghong sneered coldly, drawing her spear and slicing it through the air. Her movements were apanied by a surge of purple thunder that crackled ominously.
Ning Heyuan had barely managed to draw his sword in defense.
"W-Wait...! Ancient technique...?! Hey, Lady!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Li Qinghong''s spear crashed down, emitting a loud thunderp. Ning Heyuan was thrown back by its sheer force.
However, Ning Heyuan was no mere novice. After the initial surprise, he swiftly recovered and employed his own technique as rain clouds appeared around his body, floating in the air. The strong sword qi emanated from his longsword, effectively blocking Li Qinghong''s assault.
"Nice technique, Ning," Li Qinghong remarked, noting the mana glow around him and deducing his cultivation at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. His technique was clearly from a major sect and of a notably high grade.
Internally, she spected, Azure Pond Sect...?
At that moment, still grappling with the loss of her father, Li Qinghong felt an overwhelming surge of emotion within her body. She channeled this intense grief into her strength, causing true essence to pour forth even more powerfully from her Qihai acupoint.
As she executed her Vast Sky Sparrow technique, she moved with increased speed and attack power.
Having only just blocked Li Qinghong''s attack, Ning Heyuan did not expect her to continue her assaults even more relentlessly. As they fought, thunder roared and shes of lightning illuminated the sky, flickering between brightness and darkness.
Facing a cultivator skilled with thunder technique for the first time, Ning Heyuan felt a numbing sensation creeping over his palms. Despite this, he managed a wry smile.
"Isn''t the Li Family a Sword Immortal n...? Why are you using a thunder technique? This technique is bizarre, capable of conjuring phenomena when employed. It doesn''t even look like a Qi Cultivation technique... It can easily pass off as a Foundation Establishment Ream technique!"
As the battle continued, Li Qinghong fought with even greater intensity. Her eyes were an electrifying purple by now.
Ning Heyuan found himself pushed back repeatedly, forced to defend against her spear. In desperation, his longsword burst into radiant light, splitting into two rainbow beams aimed directly at Li Qinghong''s face.
Li Qinghong''s spear danced so fast that its afterimages seemed to resemble several purple flowers floating in the air before colliding with rainbow lights. She freed one of her hands, sketching a thunder talisman in the air precisely before channeling dark, purple thunder true essence into it.
"HA!" she shouted.
This spell was recorded in the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique, written by a predecessor but was never given a grade, and Li Qinghong had practiced it for many years. Upon invocation, the talisman surged like a rising sun before crashing down toward Ning Heyuan.
"Fine!"
When Ning Heyuan saw Li Qinghong unleash her spell, he also quickly performed a series of hand seals with his single free hand, releasing a bright, clear mana that collided with the talisman.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion resounded through the clear sky as purple electricity and mes erupted. Smoke billowed and mana scattered in all directions, surging toward Ning Heyuan''s face.
He cursed under his breath, hastily performing another series of hand seals to summon a bright light.
Like a misty rain, the spell flew toward Li Qinghong, who attempted to block it with her spear. The dazzling lightning and sharp aura of her spear were repelled several zhang away as fire and smoke finally settled into silence.
Li Qinghong stumbled a dozen steps back as the spear in her hand cracked under the strain and its mana light dimmed.
"That''s a good spell!" she eximed, her gaze fixed on the mana light in Ning Heyuan''s hand. She recognized it instantly as a legacy from the main peaks of the Azure Pond Sect, likely a Grade Four or Grade Five spell.
Only the spells circting within the three sects and seven gates could truly be considered real spells, guarded closely and never shared beyond their circles.
In contrast, the spells known among rogue cultivators and various prominent ns were mere child''s y, typically subpar and rated merely as Grade One or Two.
The mana light flickered in Ning Heyuan''s hand. He cursed softly and waved his hand to disperse the spell.
"Your spearmanship and thunder technique are impressive, mydy. I was forced to use the Heavenly Serpent Celestial Light spell... It seems I have overdone it."
Li Qinghong, harboring no fondness for those with the surnames Ning or Chi in the Azure Pond Sect, simply registered the spell''s name in her mind.
She nodded coldly as she replied, "Please leave. I apologize for not seeing you off."
Ning Heyuan was taken aback by her coldness. He opened his mouth to speak, only to find his emotions caught in his throat as he watched Li Qinghong prepare to retreat back up the mountain.
"Can you at least tell me your name, fairy?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
Li Qinghong paused briefly and ultimately chose to answer his question.
"Li Qinghong from the Li Family of Lijing."
Chapter 336: Rogue Cultivator
Chapter 336: Rogue Cultivator
Li Qinghong retreated alone into the mountains, leaving Ning Heyuan standing awkwardly by himself, unsure of what to do. He could not bring himself to challenge the other mountains after losing this spar.
He wandered aimlessly by theke, where he spotted a figure walking on the surface.
The beautiful woman wore a blue dress and seemed to be in her early twenties, but was a cultivator at the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Her face was cool andposed as she frowned at Ning Heyuan and asked in a chilly tone, "Are you satisfied now?"
Ning Heyuan grimaced as he subconsciously took a step back, muttering reluctantly.
"Auntie..."
Ning Wan nced at him, her aura fluctuating from recent exertion with others. Sheposed herself before saying, "I told you to wait at theke while I checked on the Fei Family, but instead, you went and provoked the Li Family at their mountain gate!"
Ning Heyuan forced a smile and exined, "But Auntie... After hearing so much about the Sword Immortal, I just wanted to see what makes their swordsmanship so special! Besides, I told them I''m a rogue cultivator, so... no harm done, right?"
Ning Wan''s eyes betrayed a hint of guilt at the mention of the Sword Immortal but was quickly angered by Ning Heyuan''s stupid remark. Her beautiful eyebrows rxed a little as sheughed, albeit in anger.
"Rogue cultivator?! Idiot! Have you ever seen any rogue cultivators outside equipped with dharma artifacts from head to toe? Not to mention one that is surnamed Ning with a generation name ''He'' and even wielded the Heavenly Serpent Celestial Light spell? You''ve really spent too much time ying with those other idiots in the sect! Do you really think these outsiders are fools?!" she scolded fiercely.
Ning Heyuan waved her off indifferently, replying, "Who cares? I said my piece. Who dares to challenge me?"
Ning Wan, finding his behavior absurd, retorted angrily, "You''re just like Chi Zhiyan!"
Ning Heyuan fell silent, bowing his head.
Ning Wan let out a frustrated sigh, recalling the time she spent with Li Chejing on Moon Lake Peak. She was quite fond of him but never imagined things would turn out the way they did.
She let out a gentle sigh, her expression tinged with sadness as she said, "Li Family... Li Chejing has an elder brother, Li Tongya, who is also skilled in swordsmanship. The Azure Pond Sect owes them an apology, but Chi Wei''s words are absolute... A frail woman like myself couldn''t make a difference..."
"I suppose by now they already know that Li Chejing has perished. Chi Zhiyun is thorough in his work, so the Li Family likely only knows of his death but not the entire truth."
"The Qingsui Sword Immortal..." Ning Heyuan paused, his voice tinged with empathy for Li Chejing''s skill and fate. He sighed regretfully and said, "After everyone in Li Chejing''s generation passes away in a few decades, the sect will simply make up a reason for his death, send condolences to the Li Family, and likely ept another descendant of the Li Family into the sect to settle the matter. The living won''t let go of such an opportunity just because of one dead man."
He chuckled lightly, hisvish attire shimmering faintly with mana light as he added, "Isn''t that how they''ve managed their rule over the centuries? Nothing can rival the allure of shiny dharma artifacts and spirit items, especially not an elder from a few generations ago whom they barely know."
Ning Wan shook her head, her expression filled with concern as she said softly, "You, Chi Zhihe, Chi Zhiyan, along with the elders of both the Ning and Chi families, have be too arrogant... Such chaos has never appeared in the Azure Pond Sect for the past five centuries of its rule. You''re all too conceited."
Ning Heyuanughed heartily in response. "Our Azure Pond Sect boasts five Purple Mansion Realm legacies, thirty-six peaks, and strategies of domination, coercion, division, and enticements honed over five centuries... We also have a system of recruiting talents from around the world and monopolizing the cultivation of countless techniques. Our goal is not only to dominate the past five hundred years but also aspire to influence the next thousand!" he boasted confidently.
Ning Wan''sughter turned cold as he retorted, "The Moonlight Origin Mansion ruled over Jiangnan for twelve hundred years. Look at where it is now?"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
As Autumn set in, the letters on Li Yuanping''s desk began umting day by day as he grew busy with the family''s affairs, including organizing the wedding between Li Qingxiao and a son from Mount Yu of the Xiao Family which had left him sleep-deprived.
His slender frame, draped in a white robe, seemed weary, and his already pale face grew paler with worry as his gray-ck eyes fixated on the documents on his desk.
Dou Yi, who was standing nearby, cast a few nces at him. After hesitating for a moment, he finally stepped forward and said hesitantly, "Young Master... Madam hase over three times to remind you to rest. Perhaps you should take a break now..."
Li Yuanping shook his head dismissively and continued writing with his brush.
"As a cultivator of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, a few days without sleep is nothing to worry about. Please convey my gratitude to Mother."
Seeing his efforts to persuade Li Yuanping were futile, Dou Yi secretly clenched his teeth and bowed. "Madam means to say that she could assist with some household affairs... She hopes that you''ll take care of your health and resume your cultivation soon..." he continued, a look of worry on his expression.
Frowning, Li Yuanping replied curtly, "I know my limits. There''s no need to remind me about cultivation!"
Li Yuanping understood his mother meant well, yet he was determined to handle things himself. Setting his brush down, he sighed and asked, "It''s been two months since the Fei Family sealed their mountain... Any news about that?"
"Not yet," Dou Yi replied, stealing a nce at Li Yuanping''s expression before continuing, "All five immortal mountains of the Fei Family remain sealed. cial Cloud Peak has the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation activated every day, emitting steady streams of white light."
"In their secr territory, chaos reigns among the families. Order is barely maintained. Three groups have already approached our family, inquiring about any news regarding their main family..." he added.
Li Yuanping nodded. The Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation of the Fei Family had a long history, dating back several hundred years. It had saved their family from danger multiple times and was one of the prominent formations on theke. The continuous activation of it for a full month has surely consumed a significant amount of their resources.
"The Old Ancestor is also in seclusion..." Li Yuanping muttered to himself, recalling Ning Heyuan''s sudden appearance on theke half a month ago.
He pondered silently, Ning Heyuan is undoubtedly from the Azure Pond Sect... and the fact that he possesses such advanced spells and techniques indicates he''s likely from the direct lineage of the Ning Family... Could it be that cultivators from the Azure Pond Sect are involved in the Fei Family''s mountain closure?
Staring at the words Heavenly Serpent Celestial Light written on the paper, Li Yuanping fell silent. Suddenly, someone approached from below, cupping his fist respectfully.
"Young Master! There''s a group of rogue cultivators fighting on our territory!"
"Rogue cultivators?" Li Yuanping repeated as he set aside his brush, aware that the matter would not have been brought to his attention if only ordinary Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators were involved.
He asked urgently, "What are their cultivation realms? How many of them are there?"
"There are both Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators and unrefined Qi cultivators... I''m not sure of their exact cultivations, but there are about six or seven of them. They are fighting fiercely in the mountains and forests, rming Elder An who has gone to investigate!"
Li Yuanping descended from his seat, pacing in the courtyard as he murmured, "A few rogue unrefined Qi cultivators... An Zheyan is at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi cultivation, so he should be able to handle them."
As he spoke, the courtyard erupted inmotion. A bald man d in gray fur strode in, holding a frail old man by his cor who appeared close to his death.
"Young Master."
An Zheyan nodded respectfully, tossing the old rogue cultivator to the ground with a thud. The man groaned loudly in pain.
He then cupped his fist and dered, "This is the man!"
Chapter 337: Heavenly Pure Essence (I)
Chapter 337: Heavenly Pure Essence (I)
The old cultivator was an unrefined Qi Cultivator at the fifth heavenlyyer, but his cultivation had been sealed by An Zheyan. Blood covered his head and face, his beard and hair disheveled as he kneeled limply at the bottom of the stairs.
Dou Yi stood nearby, supporting him to keep him upright while reminding the man, "Rogue cultivator! You''re in the presence of the Li Family''s Young Master!"
The old cultivator remained silent, kneeling on his knees in a daze. Dou Yi raised his voice and called out to the old man again. Observing the furrowed brow of Li Yuanping, who remained seated, Dou Yi turned and called out to another person.
"Xu Gongming!"
Xu Gongming hurried forward, seizing the old cultivator by his cor and cing his other hand on the old man''s back. After adjusting the old man''s true essence, Gongming performed a series of hand seals and applied two Tranquil Mind spells. It was only then did the rogue cultivator stirred from his stupor, as if awakening from a dream.
"Gah!"
The old man coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the Li Family members. He whimpered, covering his face. Dou Yi moved to speak but was silenced by Li Yuanping''s gesture, allowing the old man to sob.
Li Yuanping continued reading the letters on his table in silence as the guests from various families gathered around to observe the rogue cultivator. After a while, the old cultivator''s sobbing subsided, and he opened his mouth to speak.
"Rogue cultivator Bi Huaxuan greets Young Master..." he said mournfully.
"Bi Huaxuan..."
Li Yuanping nodded, setting down his vermillion brush. He spoke warmly, "No need for such formalities, old man. Your name is familiar to me... You have traveled within our Li Family''s territories and camped on the Guli Road for many years."
Bi Huaxuan nodded sadly, replying, "Yes... I have been traveling and trading along the road for six years now."
Since the destruction of the Yu Family''s market, Moongaze Lake had lost another ce to trade. Cloud Crowned Peak in Lixia Prefecture was distant for those in the Embryonic Breathing Realm to reach, hence, Guli Road saw an increase in rogue cultivator traders like Bi Huaxuan, scraping together meager earnings in order to survive.
Li Yuanping, seeing the old cultivator now sober and capable of responding clearly, said, "All travelers on this road are weed by the Li Family. I apologize if there was any oversight on our part that led to conflict within our territory..."
His tone was mild and gentle, devoid of any threat. However, Bi Huaxuan, ustomed to the domineering behavior of noble families and immortal sects, trembled in fear.
He had fought over treasure within the Li Family''s territory and was already feeling guilty enough. His sadness had not yet dissipated, but fear crept in upon hearing Li Yuanping''s words.
Rogue cultivators held the lowest social standing, inferior even to the numerous small temples peppering the mountains. Knowing the Li Family was a Foundation Establishment Realm n and not just some minor family, Bi Huaxuan bowed deeply.
"Young Master, we are innocent! We were ambushed..."
Without pausing to consider the reactions around him, Bi Huaxuan hurriedly recounted his sequence of events.
Originally from humble origins and working at the Moongaze Lake market, Bi Huaxuan had painstakingly be an unrefined Qi cultivator. He led a small group of mortals and a few Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators in search of fortune, and while traveling along the road yesterday with his merchant group, one of his disciples went off to relieve himself but never returned.
Bi Huaxuan, whose life had been adrift and felt he had reached a ceiling in his cultivation, particrly valued his disciples. Distressed by one''s disappearance, he ventured into the Li Family''s territory to seek him, thinking that it was probably safe with no powerful demons present.
After searching everywhere and shouting for hours, he discovered tatters of his disciple''s clothes outside a cave. Casting a spell to investigate further, Bi Huaxuan came upon a vast expanse of sparkling water.
Looking up, he beheld an underground river that was flowing endlessly. Upon its surface floated a white object about the size of a fist, resembling water, but yet was not quite water. It bounced on the surface, crystal clear and glistening, rolling around in an oddly mesmerizing manner.
While everyone, including An Zheyan who listened intently, was captivated by Bi Huaxuan''s story, Li Yuanping sensed that something was amiss and quickly interrupted him.
"Hold on. Someone, get Brother Jiao here!" he quickly instructed.
An attendant hurried off, and Dou Yi, having caught Li Yuanping''s discrete signal, quickly followed up with another instruction.
"Everyone, you may attend to your own matters."
An Zheyan and the others nodded and withdrew from the room in an orderly manner. Bi Huaxuan, nervously scanning the room, found Li Yuanping''s gaze fixed on him, silently urging him to continue.
Experienced in the ways of the world, Bi Huaxuan suddenly realized the significance of his find. His earlier concerns about his missing disciple faded into the background as thoughts of personal gain took over.
He swiftly dismissed his disciples and recalled the scene carefully in his mind. He felt his saliva sliding down his throat like jade liquid and his cultivation surging within his entire body, realizing that a golden opportunity had presented itself before him.
Bi Huaxuan began, his voice trembling with excitement and his eyes burning with greed. "ording to the knowledge gained from my extensive journey, I think that substance I saw was likely known as the Heavenly Pure Essence¡ªa legendary spirit water of heaven and earth! I-It can... It can..."
Li Yuanping gripped the armrest of his seat tightly with a hint of agitation, and finished the old man''s sentence for him in impatience.
"Heavenly Pure Essence... This substance can strengthen spiritual sense, heal the wounds of one''s foundation, purify true essence impurities, and bestow divine effects to those in the Embryonic Breathing, Qi Cultivation, and Foundation Establishment Realms!"
Heavenly Pure Essence, a rare spirit water of heaven and earth renowned for its unparalleled healing properties, held immense value in the paths of talisman arts and alchemy.
Li Yuanping had learned about it while discussing wound-healing methods with Li Tongya.
Li Tongya''s immortal foundation was water-based, making Heavenly Pure Essence an extremely effective medicine for him. The prospect of speeding up Li Tongya''s healing process by a few years and potentially further advancing his cultivation left Li Yuanping visibly excited.
Overwhelmed with excitement, Bi Huaxuan struggled to articte his thoughts. Rushing into qi cultivation without acquiring a proper qi gathering technique had been his lifelong regret, haunting him to this very day.
Therefore, upon discovering the Heavenly Pure Essence, his heart surged like an unstoppable wave.
The spirit water could purify his unrefined qi, transforming it into pure qi. Although he would still pale inparison to those who cultivated authentic techniques, it offered him a chance to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Bi Huaxuan quickly performed a series of hand seals and carefully secured the spirit water. However, just as he finished, a sudden scream echoed from outside the cave, and a figure dressed in ck burst in.
"The man had pure, boundless true essence... My friends and I exchanged blows with him for over ten moves, but he overpowered us all, killing everyone else except me. I was left with no choice but to relinquish my storage pouch and flee, yet he continued to pursue me...If the guest cultivator of your esteemed n hadn''t arrived in time... this old man... would have been long dead...!" Bi Huaxuan wailed dramatically.
Upon hearing the rest of Bi Huaxuan''s story, Li Yuanping''s initial excitement turned into disappointment. He slumped back into his seat, angry yet unable to bring himself to vent his frustration.
He listened as Bi Huaxuan cried out, "My fate rests solely in your hands now! Please avenge me and im this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water for your n! I have lost my life-long savings and disciples because of this man... Now I''ve nothing left! I beg you, please punish that man for this old man! I''m willing to give up the spirit water to your esteemed n in exchange!"
Li Yuanping scoffed in response.
"Punish him? If that man has hidden in the forests, who could possibly find him? My family may be a prominent n, but we are not a Purple Mansion Immortal n!"
Bi Huaxuanposed himself and pulled up his sleeve, revealing a jade bracelet with subtle patterns glowing faintly.
In a subdued voice, he exined, "I picked up these two jade bracelets from a market stall, intending to gift them... One has already been worn, while the other was in the storage pouch I''ve lost to that man."
"These bracelets can sense each other as long as they are not too far apart. Since the man is only at the early stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm and we fought a few hours ago, he cannot have traveled too far. He''s likely recovering in the mountains... If we set out now, we may be able to catch him!"
Li Yuanping''s face immediately lit up, a smile breaking through his stoic expression. He moved to take the jade bracelet but then hesitated. Settling back into his seat, he thought, I better wait for Big Brother to arrive first!
Chapter 338: Heavenly Pure Essence (II)
Chapter 338: Heavenly Pure Essence (II)
Li Yuanjiao had devoted himself to cultivating on Mount Wutu for a long time and was barely involved in overseeing the n''s affairs now.
The Qi Flow Spirit Swallowing technique had significantly elerated his speed of cultivation and in just six months, he had already made remarkable progress.
Meanwhile, Xiao Guiluan had returned to her home. She had reached a critical juncture in her cultivation that necessitated her return to the Xiao Family to take the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath before she could learn the rest of her qi cultivation technique.
Li Xizhi, now eight years old, was ate bloomer and barely reached Li Yuanjiao''s waist. Clutching a wooden slip, his youthful appearance was evident, marked by a hint of innocence in his brows.
"Father..." Li Xizhi began as he gripped the wooden slip tightly, looking up at his father with puzzled eyes, "Why must I read the Record of Immortal Ascension in the Prefecture? Brother Xicheng has already started spear training, yet I still have to read these strange books all day long..."
Li Yuanjiao patted Li Xizhi''s head fondly. He opened his mouth but hesitated for a moment before replying, "Your mother borrowed this book because it details the rtionships among the thirty-six peaks of Azure Pond and all the prominent ns... It¡¯s important for you to understand these dynamics so that you can navigate the sect smoothly in the future and avoid unwittingly offending anyone."
Li Xizhi fiddled with the wooden slip, rolling and unrolling it repeatedly, seemingly agitated. After a moment of evident frustration, he looked up again and eximed, "Father... You¡¯re really sending me to the Azure Pond Sect...!"
Li Yuanjiao sighed inwardly as he met his child¡¯s mournful gaze.
"Zhi''er... my good boy, the teachings at Azure Pond are profound, and the spiritual qi there is much richer than here by theke. Your talent is exceptional. In the future, you must cultivate qi within the sect and establish an immortal foundation. You are our family¡¯s hope..."
Li Yuanjiao was never good atforting children and tears began welling up in Li Xizhi''s eyes as he listened to his father. He nodded vigorously, yet was unable to hold back his emotions.
Li Yuanjiao''s troubled expression was tinged with guilt. As he pondered on what to do next, a n soldier approached and respectfully announced, "Young Master, pleasee home. Young Master Yuanping needs to discuss something important with you!"
Relief washed over Li Yuanjiao. He wiped Li Xizhi¡¯s tears and instructed him in aforting tone, "Wait for me at the peak. Daddy will return soon."
With these words, he soared into the air, leaving Li Xizhi behind. The boy read his wooden slip for a while longer before tossing it aside in frustration and retreating to his room to sleep.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao flew all the way to Lijing Town and descended gracefully into the courtyard where his brother waited. Li Yuanping was examining the jade bracelet, scrutinizing the delicate pattern on its surface. Upon spotting Li Yuanjiao in his ck attire, he hurried over to greet him immediately.
"Big Brother! There''s news regarding the Heavenly Pure Essence!"
"What?!"
Li Yuanjiao''s face lit up with joy instantly as he eagerly pressed for details. However, as Li Yuanping ryed the news, the joy dissipated, his brows knitting together in concern. Taking the jade bracelet, he closed his eyes to concentrate.
His spiritual sense flowed along the pattern on the jade bracelet before entering it, and he could immediately feel a subtle pull from a distance.
After a few moments, he opened his eyes, his expression now filled with doubt.
"The person is still on a mountain nearby..."
Li Yuanping,cking the spiritual sense to utilize the bracelet, was stunned by Li Yuanjiao''s revtion and murmured softly, "It''s strange that he still dares to linger nearby after obtaining such precious spirit water..."
"As per the old rogue cultivator, this person was enveloped in mana light. Since he cultivates an authentic technique, he managed to defeat and kill many despite only being at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... It''s likely he''s a disciple from an immortal sect!"
Li Yuanping pondered carefully with an uneasy look on his face before responding cautiously, "I wonder what his background and identity is... If he can act this fearlessly, he likelyes from a formidable background and is not an easy opponent to deal with."
Li Yuanjiao remained silent, scrutinizing the jade bracelet in his hand thoughtfully.
"Have you sent someone to investigate that cave already?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
Li Yuanping nodded and confirmed, "I''ve already sent Uncle Donghe there. He should be returning soon."
As they spoke, Chen Donghe hurried in, his attire impable and his sword swaying slightly at his waist. He stopped before the brothers, cupped his fist in respect, and reported, "I''ve inspected the cave. It¡¯s a mess inside due to the fight. The walls are scarred and the ground is littered with stctite fragments... Besides that, there wasn''t much else to find."
"Thank you, Uncle Donghe," Li Yuanping responded. Chen Donghe nodded and cupped his fist once more, then exited the room.
Turning to his elder brother, Li Yuanping shared his thoughts.
"I was considering exploring the cave myself. With the Heavenly Pure Essence nurtured there, I believe the cave is anything but ordinary..."
Li Yuanjiao ascended a few steps, his gaze fixed on the jade bracelet as he traced the patterns with his thumb thoughtfully. Suddenly, he remarked, "This is too much of a coincidence."
Li Yuanping nced at his brother, then fell into deep thought.
Li Yuanjiao continued, "Our Old Ancestor always warned us to remain cautious in handling family affairs... This situation reeks of coincidence... This person suddenly came and left, yet he lingers nearby after seizing the spirit water..."
"Brot-..." Li Yuanping began, but Li Yuanjiao raised his hand to cut him off. He performed a series of hand seals and began channeling his true essence.
His River True Essence, clear as turquoiseke water, enveloped the jade bracelet. He then stowed it into his storage pouch, exining, "Guiluan mentioned numerous secret techniques that can manipte minds and provoke desires through dharma artifacts... This incident is highly suspicious; we must be cautious."
"Yes. The Heavenly Pure Essence is undeniably tempting... Even I almost acted recklessly. After hearing your exnation, I believe your caution is well-founded," Li Yuanping agreed thoughtfully.
Li Yuanjiao nodded solemnly.
"Our family has ruled this territory for generations. I can believe that we''ve overlooked the spirit water all this time, but the sudden emergence of this jade bracelet is too convenient to be a mere coincidence."
The brothers'' perspective had shifted significantly after the incident where Li Tongya was nearly turned into a sacrifice for the Maha Incarnate. They viewed the world much differently now than they did a year ago.
Li Yuanjiao chuckled wryly, remarking, "The so-called opportunities are often baits. They lure you in with promise, but the hidden traps that await are sharp and deadly..."
He continued, "Now that the old ancestor is gravely injured, I wouldn''t have suspected anything if this were any other spirit water... But this is the Heavenly Pure Essence we''re talking about."
The two brothers exchanged nces, and Li Yuanping sighed.
"The temptation is just too great... We don''t know its true nature. If this is truly an opportunity, it would be regrettable to let it slip by."
"It doesn¡¯t matter," Li Yuanjiao replied with a mysterious smile, then used mana to transmit his voice, "Have you forgotten we still possess an immortal item at home that can see a thousand li ahead, unhindered by any mountain or water body?"
"Ah, yes!"
Li Yuanping suddenly remembered the mirror, a family heirloom invaluable in times of crisis, yet he had momentarily forgotten its capability.
He pounded his fist in his palm excitedly and smiled.
"I''ll go retrieve it from the mountain now!"
Chapter 339: Checking On The Fei Family
Chapter 339: Checking On The Fei Family
Li Yuanjiao used a spell to clean the dust from his clothes and burned incense before entering the secret chamber to retrieve the mirror. Holding the cold bluish-gray artifact in his hands made his heart race and left him somewhat bewildered.
"To think that the destiny of our n is tied to this single mirror..." he murmured.
The general family''s historical records made no mention of this particr mirror. After Li Yuanjiao had received a talisman seed, Li Tongya retrieved another version titled Internal History from beneath the stone tform in this secret chamber. It was only after reading it with mixed emotions that Li Yuanjiao finally understood more about this mirror.
He read the jade slips repeatedly,mitting them to memory before leaving the ancestral hall.
Li Yuanjiao was puzzled that even the Internal History was vague and contradictory about the origins of the bluish-gray mirror.
Aunt Li Jingtian wrote this in the n''s biography¡ªThe ancestor obtained a dharma artifact. From it, he received a talisman seed and began to cultivate.
However, in Li Mutian''s biography, it was stated that¡ªThe old ancestor journeyed north with an immortal, and established the immortal foundation. With the profound mirror in his hands, he traveled across Wu and Yue states before ultimately returning home to establish his n 219 years ago.
"Obtained a dharma artifact...? What did they mean by ''obtained a dharma artifact''?"
Li Yuanjiao had heard from Li Xuanxuan that Li Mutian was a mere mortal. How could a mortal obtain such a dharma treasure in the first ce...?
Lost in thought, Li Yuanjiao descended the mountain, flying north for over ten li before snapping out of his reverie. He then retrieved the mirror from his chest pocket, ncing at it. Theplex patterns around its rim glowed faintly, lending the mirror an even more mystical aura.
Gently running his thumb over its patterns, he immersed his spiritual sense into the dharma artifact and whispered quietly but respectfully, "As a disciple of the Li Family, I, Li Yuanjiao, respectfully request the Profound Light to grant me the Supreme Yin Profound Light to vanquish evil, cleanse impurity, and subdue demons!"
As soon as Li Yuanjiao had finished speaking, a brilliant light burst before his eyes. He felt as if he were soaring into the sky, witnessing Lijing Town and the entire Li Residence sprawled below his eyes.
The bustling townsfolk, the clucking of chickens, and the barking of dogs echoed in his ears. From patrolling n soldiers to dense forests and the deep turquoise ripples of theke, everythingy vividly before his eyes.
"Whoa..."
Li Yuanjiao quickly realized that with a mere thought, the dazzling Supreme Yin Profound Light could strike anywhere at the mountain''s foot in an instant. He refocused his mind and zoomed in closer toward the direction provided by the jade bracelet.
As his mind traveled through the sky, forests, and dark mountain rocks, a cave finally appeared before his eyes. It was rugged and narrow, with walls marked by deep knife cuts, as if hastily excavated.
At the center of the cave sat a middle-aged man with a short beard in ck robes on a futon. He was clearly a Qi cultivator of the second heavenlyyer. He was ying with the other jade bracelet with a cold expression on his face, asionally ncing anxiously at the entrance with a hint of fear lingering in his eyes.
Seeing the jade bracelet in the man''s hands, Li Yuanjiao immediately sensed that something was amiss.
"This is indeed suspicious..."
The man''s attire was in, revealing nothing discernible. Li Yuanjiao secretlymitted his face to memory before scanning the mountain surroundings around him. However, he found no other signs of human presence.
Suppressing the urge to unleash the Supreme Yin Profound Light on the man, Li Yuanjiao slowly withdrew his hand and began to retreat into the mountain. However, just as he was about to leave, a thought struck him, causing him to halt his actions.
He lifted his head and gazed toward the cial Cloud Peak in the north where the Fei Family was, shrouded by the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation. An irresistible curiosity seized him.
"Maybe I should take this opportunity to explore what lies beneath the Fei Family''s grand formation!"
After pondering for a few moments, Li Yuanjiao ascended swiftly, concealing the mirror in his chest pocket since it couldn''t be stored in his storage pouch.
He flew over theke, causing ripples on its surface, and found a small ind near the northern shore where hended and sat cross-legged. Once again, he retrieved the mirror and closed his eyes in concentration.
Crossing theke''s shore, the earth''s veins loomed ahead on the northern shore, with terrain rising steeply. As Li Yuanjiao gazed upon the chaotic Fei Family territory, he witnessed several towns in disarray.
Fires zed amidst intertwining mana lights, demonic auras surged, and dark-colored energies flowed ominously. In the midst of the turmoil, cultivators shed, their dharma weapons colliding in the air.
The immortal mountain of the Fei Family remained sealed and most of the towns were popted by Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators. These cultivators were powerless against any rogue cultivators who passed through and might seek to cause trouble.
Fortunately, the longstanding reputation of the Fei Family had kept these rogue cultivators in check until now. Nheless, the towns did not get along with each other, and tension between them remained high.
The demons from Mount Dali and Xu State took advantage of this chaos like hungry wolves on the prowl, causing great havoc and capturing people. The Embryonic Breathing cultivators struggled to defend themselves against them, let alone eliminate these demons.
"The Fei Family has been a prestigious n for many years... At the very least, these rogue cultivators dare not act rashly. If they did, the situation would be far worse."
After a brief survey of the scene before him, Li Yuanjiao turned his attention to the grand formation radiating white light that enveloped the towering cial Cloud Peak. It appeared ancient andplex, rumored to withstand even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
Li Yuanjiao cautiously approached the formation and suddenly, his vision brightened, as if he had passed through it effortlessly, overlooking the entire Fei Family town''s formation.
cial Cloud Peak was shrouded in clouds and fog which was brimming with spiritual qi and covered by pines and cypresses. Snowkes and scattered paper money[1] fluttered down, covering the mountain like white flowers while courtyards were decorated with white ribbons that swayed gently in the wind.
At the foot of the mountainy copsed buildings devoid of people, save for deep sword marks that were etched into the ruins, emitting sharp sword qi that scattered the falling snowkes.
Li Yuanjiao silently adjusted his field of vision and spotted a handsome young man. He was kneeling in the highest part of the courtyard, all dressed in white and surrounded by elders from his n, their faces etched with sorrow.
"Tongyu... This grand formation has been running for over half a year. The family can''t sustain this anymore..."
"Yes, Tongyu... Although the family head had left behind a vast fortune, it can''t support your expenditures like this..."
"All you do is kneel at the ancestral hall all day, yet you don''t realize how quickly the Spirit Stones are depleting..."
As the snowkes continued to fall, Fei Tongyu''s handsome features remainedposed, masking the grief and worry within.
He clenched his teeth in silence.
Li Yuanjiao recognized him as Fei Tongyu, the young master of the Fei Family. They had met during Li Yuanjiao''s wedding and now, he was already a peak Fetal Breath cultivator.
Li Yuanjiao''s gaze moved beyond the group to the tablet in front of them.
Here lies the esteemed Ancestor of the Fei Family, whose birth name was Wangbai.
The candle me flickered, casting an intense glow on the lettering of the golden tablet. In the middle of the snow-covered courtyardy a ck coffin. As Li Yuanjiao peered closer, shock gripped his heart.
"Fei Wangbai... is dead?"
Fei Wangbai''s bodyy in the coffin, his face looking no different than how it was when he was still alive. His head, however, had been separated from his body. A white cloth covered his neck, concealing a grisly wound.
"Fei Wangbai... He''s truly dead."
Fei Wangbai, the only Foundation Establishment Realm Immortal Cultivator of the Fei Family in the recent century¡ªthe genius who had quietly elevated the Fei Family to prominence, leading them to stand at the pinnacle of Moongaze Lake¡ªhad unexpectedly perished on his own immortal mountain.
1. White colored paper money that is burned during Chinese funerals. ?
Chapter 340: Schemes
Chapter 340: Schemes
Meanwhile, at the Yu Residence in Milin Prefecture...
"Family Head, Lord Munian said that the Li Family isn''t making any moves and that he''s been waiting nearby for more than half a day already... so he''s wondering if he could withdraw for the time being..."
Yu Xiaogui''s expression darkened as he crumpled the letter in his hand in anger and cursed, "That useless fool!"
The attendant who had brought the report immediately quaked with fear and quickly pressed his forehead to the ground, not daring to meet Yu Xiaogui''s fiery gaze.
Through gritted teeth, Yu Xiaogui continued ranting, his voiceced with disdain.
"I told him to act ording to the n, yet he''s acting like a coward instead! He took so many dharma artifacts with him and killed randomly, but dawdles around on Li Family''s territory?! Does he think the Li Family is foolish?!" he roared.
His voice wasced with suppressed anger as he continued through clenched teeth, "It took us great effort to set up this situation, and now he''s screwing it up! Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping are no fools, they''ve likely detected that something is amiss!"
Yu Mugao, in his elegant white robe, stood at the side in aposed demeanor. He yed with his fan and said calmly, "Please calm your anger, Father. Many in our family are inept; such mishaps are to be expected. It would be a surprise to me if we actually seeded."
Having ruled for many years, Yu Mugao knew well the caliber of individuals within their own family. His anger had long been turned into disappointment, and from consequent disappointment to resignation.
His expression remained unchanged as he muttered, "The world attributes Li Family''s swift rise to rogue cultivator Li Mutian''s attainment of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Li Chejing''s status as the Sword Immortal, and Li Tongya''s steady leadership. All of these three are indispensable."
Yu Mugao went through the roster on the table, finding no sce in the avable options as he continued, "But in my opinion, the Li Family''s greatest strength lies not in their swordsmanship, nor Li Tongya or Li Chejing... but in the fact that for three generations, they have not produced a single useless fool!"
Upon hearing this from his eldest son, Yu Xiaogui sighed. Even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator like himself could not help but feel a twinge of powerlessness as he muttered, "Useless..."
Putting away his brush, Yu Mugao replied softly, "Not entirely."
"Yet the Li Family remains silent!"
Yu Xiaogui furrowed his brow and continued, "If Li Tongya has indeed been injured, there''s no way the Li Family will let this Heavenly Pure Essence slip by! Your calctions have fallen short."
"No," Yu Mugao chuckled lightly as he stood up, a smile ying on his lips.
"It''s precisely because Li Tongya is in a vulnerable state that they have to give up on the Heavenly Pure Essence."
"Li Tongya is cautious, not cowardly. If he had truly eliminated the Maha with his sword and withdrawn unscathed, he would never give up on a rare spirit water like the Heavenly Pure Essence. It''s likely that as soon as Bi Huaxuan was rescued, Li Tongya would have taken up his sword and hunted it down personally."
He nced at Yu Xiaogui who was listening intently, and added, "Think about it, this spirit water is in the Li Family''s territory... Even if it were a trap, Li Tongya would still go for it. After all, he''s a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Why would someone like him feel fearful in his own territory?"
"You have a point," Yu Xiaogui nodded in sudden realization.
Yu Mugao continued, "My intention isn''t solely to sessfullyy a trap. Even those considered useless have their uses. From this, we arrive at two possibilities¡ªLi Tongya is either gravely injured or is absent from the Li Residence altogether."
Yu Xiaogui was already convinced by his eldest son''s reasoning and quickly interjected, "Does that mean... this is the time to attack the Li Family? But they have the Xiao Family''s protection and we cannot afford to provoke a Purple Mansion Immortal n. At best, we can only reim Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting..."
"No, we''ll strike the Fei Family, using the old grudge from what happened to the marketce as justification."
Yu Mugao adjusted his cuffs, projecting a moremanding presence as he borated further, "Li Tongya may simply not have returned home yet. With the Li Family backed by an immortal n, seizing this opportunity to attack them will only allow us to reim Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting at most. Since this is the case... why not look further north? The Fei Family boasts five peaks and sixteen towns!"
"The Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation has been activated for so long... Fei Wangbai is either not around or attempting a breakthrough. Either way, it''s a good time to strike!" he added.
A slight smile yed on his lips as he closed his folding fan and continued, "Besides... I have a feeling that Fei Wangbai is very likely dead."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile in Lijing Town.
Li Yuanping waited anxiously in the courtyard for half a day before he finally saw Li Yuanjiao descend into the courtyard with a look of unease on his face. He hurriedly rushed forward, grasping Li Yuanjiao''s arms tightly. Staring into his eyes, he asked with great urgency in his tone, "What is it, Big Brother?"
Li Yuanjiao finally snapped back to his senses, looking at Li Yuanping worriedly before replying hoarsely, "I saw it. It''s indeed a trap... but..."
Realization dawned on Li Yuanping, and he quickly turned around and shouted to the n soldiers on either side, "You''re dismissed! Everyone, leave!"
Dou Yi promptly ushered everyone out before leaving himself and securely shut the courtyard gate tightly behind him. An istion formation hummed to life, enveloping the brothers in a protective shield.
Small beads of sweat formed on Li Yuanjiao''s forehead and his voice was strained as he divulged, "Fei Wangbai is dead!"
"Fei Wangbai... the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from the Fei Family..?!" Li Yuanping muttered in shock as he stared at his brother in disbelief.
Li Yuanjiao continued bitterly, "Yes, an esteemed Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, gone quietly on his own immortal mountain! Fei Tongyu had to activate the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation to prevent this news from leaking out... The Fei Family is in absolute chaos right now."
"I wonder if the Yu Family is aware of this. With our old ancestor gravely injured and Fei Wangbai dead... they are practically the only ones on theke with a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator that''s able to fight..." he murmured in concern.
His dark gray eyes then widened slightly as they fixed on his younger brother. "The Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation has been active for months now, and it seems it is more of a trap for those inside than a barrier against the outside world... Fei Tongyu must have suspected that there are Yu Family spies within the Fei Family, hence the necessity to activate such arge-scale formation to iste internal affairs from external scrutiny..."
Li Yuanping shivered involuntarily as he answered softly, "Yes... with their family''s Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator gone, the Fei Family likely dares not seek support from Fei Wangbai''s acquaintances of the Foundation Establishment Realm... Even our family isn''t informed of this. Fei Tongyu must be really scared. No wonder despite sending inquiries thrice, the Fei Family never responded to us!"
Fei Wangbai''s close rtionship with the other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators during his lifetime did not automatically extend to friendship with his insignificant descendants.
While these cultivators might be willing to assist under the guise of past favors, once they entered the Fei Family''s formation, there was no guarantee that the Fei Family members could still get to keep their own surname.
Li Yuanjiaoposed himself and said quietly, "Yu Mugao is such a cunning fox..."
The very mention of Yu Mugao stirred deep hatred in his eyes, memories of Li Yuanxiu''s tragic death still haunting him in his mind. He had to take a deep breath to steady his emotions.
"This whole Heavenly Pure Essence incident is most likely the work of the Yu Family to test our ancestor''s reaction... Yu Mugao is cunning and deceitful. Dealing with him will be a challenge for us. Fei Tongyu''s tactics surely won''t work on him," Li Yuanjiao said thoughtfully.
"Moreover, with Yu Muxian in the sect, the Yu Family''s grasp of current events is ahead of ours. Fei Wangbai''s death cannot be concealed for long! It''s probable that after testing our reaction, the Yu Family is already dispatching forces to cial Cloud Peak as we speak!" he eximed.
Li Yuanping paused briefly, then remembered something and continued, "Ning Heyuan appeared at Yuting Peak in the first lunar month... I bet his appearance is possibly rted to Fei Wangbai''s death. However..."
He pondered briefly before concluding, "The Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation has been active for several months; the timing doesn''t quite fit."
Shaking off the distracting thoughts, Li Yuanjiao instructed, "Don''t concern yourself with these, I''ll ascend the mountain and consult with the old ancestor. Keep watch over the Fei Family!"
With that, he swiftly exited the courtyard and took to the winds. It was only then did Dou Yi dare to enter the courtyard once more. Li Yuanping seemed lost in thought for a few moments before he finally spoke, breaking the tense silence.
"Send someone to theke and station him on a small continent near the northern shore. If there''s any change in the Fei Family''s grand formation, they must report back to me immediately."
"Understood," Dou Yi replied promptly, hurrying out.
Li Yuanping coughed, his mind''s eye fixated on the sinister eyes of Yu Mugao''s portrait as he mumbled softly to himself.
"Yu Mugao... is truly our family''s greatest adversary."
Chapter 341: Advancing North
Chapter 341: Advancing North
The white snow on cial Cloud Peak never melted, covering the eaves of the ancestral hallpletely. The flickering candlelight cast a dim glow around the hall, and for the first time since he began his cultivation, Fei Tongyu felt cold.
He was alone, shivering on the ground weakly.
Before himy the corpse of his grandfather, Fei Wangbai, in a coffin. As a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, his flesh did not decay, appearing just as he did in life, though slightly paler. His eyes were tightly shut, as if just in a slumber.
Fei Tongyu could hardly believe that his grandfather had passed away so abruptly. It felt unreal, almost like he was in a dream¡ªor a nightmare.
On the day news arrived that Li Tongya had in the Maha Reincarnate, the smile on Fei Wangbai''s face vanished. With his eldest son Fei Yihe away in the southern border, he could only hold his eldest grandson Fei Tongyu''s hand and say solemnly, "Yu Yufeng is likely dead... Li Chejing probably killed him. The Li Family''s power is growing too strong, which is not a good thing."
Fei Yihe''s departure disrupted Fei Wangbai''s ns, so he had to start over in grooming Fei Tongyu. Fortunately, Fei Tongyu was diligent and hardworking, and it still was not toote.
While they were talking, the door was gently pushed open and a man in white entered, his face covered with a veil. Fei Wangbai''s expression changed slightly as he asked, "Who are you?"
The white-d sword cultivator said nothing, simply ncing at the two men, then drew his sword and attacked.
Although the Fei Family''s Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation was not fully activated, it was not something anyone could easily prate. However, this person moved like a ghost, his sword techniques ethereal and transcendent... clearly at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Fei Wangbai, only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment Realm, was no match in terms of cultivation techniques and spearmanship. After dozens of moves, his dharma artifact was shattered, and he barely managed to escape to the foot of the mountain. In the ensuing struggle, a sword light severed his head.
The vitality of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was strong, and Fei Wangbai did not die immediately. He picked up his head and tried to reattach it desperately, but the wound spewed sword qi and it was no use. After two failed attempts, he finally dropped his head and copsed.
His head fell into the snow, still shedding tears as he cried out, "It hurts so much!"
Fei Wangbai, always graceful and meticulous about his appearance, died without any dignity. His previously spotless clothing was now soaked in blood from his neck downward, and his bodyy twisted grotesquely on the ground.
The wind and snow picked up, lifting a small corner of his fine robe which was soon covered by the falling snow. The Fei Family stood as if struck by lightning, staring in disbelief at the sword cultivator in the sky.
Some trembled in fear while others wept hysterically, and some attacked with their weapons. The sword cultivator in white simply stood there, dispersing dozens of spells with a single sword strike as he said softly but in amanding manner, "Listen well! For the next eighty years, do not cultivate the Long Brocade Heart Sutra to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm... Should anyone sessfully form the Patterned Brocade, they shall end up like this!"
His tone was calm as if he was not proud of crushing an ant.
With that, he flew away. The Fei Family''s ancient formation, the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation, was like a piece of tattered paper before this sword cultivator, yielding to him as if he were its true master.
The Long Brocade Heart Sutra was the core technique of the Fei Family, and Fei Wangbai had used it to cultivate his immortal foundation¡ªPatterned Brocade. The sword cultivator''s words meant severing the future path of the entire Fei Family.
Fei Tongyu broke down in tears, and the Fei Family quickly descended into chaos. When Fei Tongyu finally looked up again, Fei Tongxiao had fully reactivated the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation. The fastest cultivators among them could only reach the mountaintop and none could leave.
His gaze refocused on the ck coffin before him, and Fei Tongyu murmured, "Father has gone to the southern border... Grandfather... I am only at the peak of Embryonic Breathing Realm... What am I supposed to do...?"
Fei Tongyu kneeled quietly on the ground, staring at the flickering candles and incense sticks on the table. Fei Wangbai''s bodyy separated in the coffin, covered with a white cloth that barely concealed the gap between his neck and severed head.
"It would not reattach..." Fei Tongyu muttered weakly as he closed his eyes in pain. The sword qi left by the sword cultivator was surging from Fei Wangbai''s neck wound, breaking more than ten coffins already. As a result, they had to bury him with his body and head separated.
Fei Tongyu bowed his head and wept. Behind him, Fei Tongxiao, d in jade armor, remained calm. The childishness had vanished from his face overnight, now reced by a mature worry and unease.
Adversity couldpletely change a person. Fei Tongxiao''s gaze had be more focused and resilient, though dimmed with sorrow. He stared at the ancestral tablets above, speaking in a deep voice, "Big Brother! We cannot go on like this!"
"What solution do you have?!" Fei Tongyu roared as he red at him with hatred, sneering, "Notify the Li Family?! I would rather trust those Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators than those hungry wolves of the Li Family!"
Fei Tongxiao remained silent for a long time before saying quietly, "Yu Mugao will make a move sooner orter."
"So what if he does?!"
Fei Tongyu turned abruptly, his voice filled with venom as he snarled, "There is no one in the Fei Family who fears death! Let hime!"
Fei Tongxiao shook his head, speaking softly, "Brother... no more impulsive actions! No matter how much hatred you harbor... we must survive. As long as we live on, there is hope for revenge. Moreover... those Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators are elusive, secluding themselves for years at a time. We have kept our formation running for months; everyone around Moongaze Lake knows it, yet not one hase to our aid... Only the Li Family sent their people a few times. Right now, our only hope is the Li Family!"
Fei Tongyu copsed to the ground in despair. After a long time, he murmured in defeat, "Notify the Li Family then..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Milin Prefecture.
The Yu Family had improved greatly over the years due to Yu Mugao''s relentless purges. Themon people''s lives had improved significantly, as most of the Yu Family''s scoundrels had been beheaded, including three of Yu Mugao''s own illegitimate sons.
Yu Mugao''s purge andnd redistribution greatly slowed the Yu Family''snd consolidation, earning him the peak of his poprity among themon folk. Thus, raising an army now was effortless.
"These mortals..." Yu Mugao muttered as he looked down at the reverent faces below, feeling aplex mix of emotions. He was momentarily unsure of what to think.
Yu Xiaogui, who was standing beside him, snorted, "What use are mortals? They can only help with minor tasks; a single spell can solve most problems. The Fei Family''s territory is already in chaos, and a few Qi Cultivators could easily handle it."
Yu Mugao was jolted back to reality by his words as his eyes regained their cold and venomous rity. He said softly, "Maintaining order in upied towns requires these mortals... Give them a little profit, and they will form their own hierarchy, managing everything efficiently. No spell is more useful than these people!"
Yu Xiaogui flew alongside him, sneering, "You know that well enough! No need to upend things like the Li Family does!"
"The Li Family''s reliance on external cultivators is ying with fire; they are different from us," Yu Mugao said as he shook his head.
Yu Xiaogui turned away, as if the mention of "relying on external cultivators" had touched a sore spot in his memories. The two, along with a group of guest cultivators and Yu Family members, flew silently toward cial Cloud Peak.
The glistening white Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation appeared before them, with itsplex patterns emerging in the air. Yu Xiaogui nced at it with a sense of nostalgia, murmuring, "This formation has stood on cial Cloud Peak since my grandfather''s time, buried beneath the earth, only for Fei Tianxuan to take advantage and establish the Fei Family here..."
Yu Mugao stood with his hands behind his back, speaking softly, "At that time, the only family on the southeastern shore was the Jiang Family."
His words caused Yu Xiaogui to look at him sharply. As the eldest son managing the family for many years, Yu Mugao knowing this was not surprising. Yu Xiaogui then gazed at cial Cloud Peak and nodded with an unreadable expression in his eyes.
"Indeed..."
Seeing the Yu Family members descending before the
Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation, Yu Xiaogui said softly, "Before my grandfather killed his brother and mother, I was still part of the Jiang Family."
Chapter 342: Besieging the Mountain
Chapter 342: Besieging the Mountain
"Brother!"
Fei Tongxiao bent down, gripping his brother''s hand tightly. "Three hundred years ago, when our ancestor was killed while traveling, our family was in peril. But then, a disciple from the immortal mansion fought fiercely and subdued the Jiang Family, allowing all the families into seclusion for a hundred years. A little over a century ago, even when our family was in decline, there were still five families that divided the Jiang Family, giving us a respite..." he said in a deep voice.
"These events are precisely why our ancestors strove so hard, elevating our family to the status of a prominent n! We cannot speak of giving up lightly!" Fei Tongxiao said as he gritted his teeth, his eyes brimming with tears.
"We are not yet at a dead end. We must not give up! Have you forgotten, Brother..." he continued, his tone resolute this time.
"Go, seek out the Li Family."
Hearing these words, Fei Tongyu finally straightened up,posing himself. However, he suddenly felt a tremor. Being a cultivator at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, he managed to steady himself, but his expression turned grim.
"What is happening?!" Fei Tongxiao eximed. He was equally rmed and he was just about to speak when the doors of the ancestral hall burst open.
A middle-aged man in white robes entered, saying in a grave tone, "The Yu Family has surrounded cial Cloud Peak!"
"What?!"
Fei Tongyu froze, his expression changing dramatically as he said anxiously, "Notify the Li Family... No... I''m afraid that..."
"It''s toote." The middle-aged man, with a gentle demeanor and at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, was the only surviving brother of Fei Wangbai. His face still bore signs of grief as he continued softly, "The Yu Family haspletely encircled cial Cloud Peak... Not even a bug can get out!"
Fei Tongyu and Fei Tongxiao exchanged a nce with each other. Fei Tongxiao took a deep breath, calming his deep feelings of unease, and said firmly, "The Yu Family is making a hugemotion... The Li Family will surely notice. Our Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation is a top-tier formation; the Yu Family cannot break through easily! If the Li Family intends to save us, it''s not over for us."
Fei Tongyu, however, stared at his younger brother and whispered, "But... what if they have no intention to save us?"
Boom!
A massive jade mountain struck the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation on cial Cloud Peak, causing yet another powerful tremor. Fei Tongyu steadied himself, and with a look of madness in his eyes he yelled, "Yu Mugao is no ordinary person... Daring to attack our family like this, he must have prepared to stall the Li Family, even Li Tongya himself! It might already be toote!"
Tears welled in his eyes as hemented, "The wolves surround us on theke... Since Grandfather''s death, our fate has been sealed. This is not like a century or three centuries ago... We are besieged by wolves in front of us and tigers behind us!"
"It seems that Fei Wangbai is truly dead."
Yu Mugao gazed at the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation on cial Cloud Peak, watching the radiant light flowing within it. He had waited for the time it took for an entire incense stick to burn, yet Fei Wangbai had not appeared.
Beside him, Yu Xiaogui, the Yu Family''s ancestor, had aplex expression on his face as he murmured, "How could this be?!"
Yu Xiaogui had been in conflict with Fei Wangbai for decades before Yu Mugao took over the family. Their encounters had resulted in mixed oues, and Yu Xiaogui had always found Fei Wangbai both troublesome and formidable, relying on the strength of the Yu Family to gain a slight upper hand over them.
Now, with such a figure suddenly dered dead, it gave Yu Xiaogui a sense of disbelief. He stood with his hands sped behind his back, gazing intensely at cial Cloud Peak below.
"A free gift like this feels like a trap..." he muttered.
"Heh!"
Yu Mugao let out a coldugh, having anticipated this oue. He replied, "When Chi Zhiyan came to Moongaze Lake to recruit, he hinted that Fei Wangbai had blocked the path of some prodigy or Purple Mansion Realm cultivator within the sect. His ill fate was sealed, and it was only a matter of time before he met his end."
Yu Xiaogui felt a slight chill upon hearing this, a sense of shared fate and foreboding creeping into his bones. He muttered, "The Foundation Establishment Realm is already a path of extreme difficulty, with only one in a million achieving it... To discover at the end that you practiced the wrong method and formed the wrong immortal foundation, and end up as fodder facing death... Fei Wangbai was cultivating peacefully on theke. How... how did he end up blocking someone''s path?"
"Who knows?" Yu Mugao said as he shook his head slowly with a hint of destion.
"Divine abilities involving fate are intricate matters... Without being a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, one cannot see clearly. Like sparrows blind to the eagle''s vision, the various families are groping in the dark, being used by others unknowingly."
The Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven was an ancient formation, capable of withstanding Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Yu Xiaogui and his entourage surrounded cial Cloud Peak, observing the pristine white formation beneath their feet. Various spells from the Yu Family cultivators fell upon the formation, only to dissipate.
"The Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation is indeed a top-tier formation..." Yu Mugao praised, watching the mes and ice conjured by the Yu Family cultivators vanish into nothing upon contacting the formation.
"It surpasses our Jade Court Guarding Formation from back when our market was thriving. With such a grand formation, it is no wonder the Fei Family could dominate the northern shore for so many years," he remarked.
Yu Xiaogui struck the pristine white formation with both palms, but the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation remained unmoved. He snorted coldly then flicked his sleeve, from which a small jade mountain flew out.
"Jade Smoke Mountain!"
The Yu Family''s treasured artifact expanded in the wind, quickly growing to the height of a person. The lifelike cranes and ancient trees on it appeared vividly as it pressed down on the Fei Family''s formation, emitting a series of dull thuds.
However, the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation merely shimmered slightly as its intricate patterns glowed even brighter now. No matter how many times the Jade Smoke Mountain struck, the formation remained unmoved.
"Invoke!" Yu Xiaoguimanded as he nodded slightly, performing a hand seal. His Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation surged, and his immortal foundation activated immediately. The Jade Smoke Mountain in the air began to spin rapidly, growingrger andrger until it was the size of a small hill.
The cranes on it raised their heads and cried out as the ancient trees stretched vigorously. Mist swirled around, as if to descend.
"Ha!"
Yu Xiaogui''s face reddened slightly, and the Jade Smoke Mountain fell abruptly onto the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation, producing thunderous roars this time. The Fei Family members inside the formation looked terrified and at an utter loss while the Yu Family members outside cheered.
Boom...!
The Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation finally showed some weakness. The thick light shield fluctuated, rippling like waves in a pond before quickly calming down.
"A fine formation indeed!" Yu Xiaogui remarked as he exhaled deeply. The Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation was renowned, and he had not expected to break it by force, but merely to test its strength. He gently raised his hand, and the Jade Smoke Mountain shrank rapidly, spinning in the air before returning to the size of a fist. It obediently flew back into his sleeve.
"No rush..." Yu Mugao muttered, picking out a dozen people from the guest cultivators and Yu Family cultivators. They descended to the foot of the mountain, casting spells to control the earth veins.
"Although the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation is formidable, it consumes energy like a whale swallowing water... We only need to influence and affect the earth veins and attack in turns, increasing the Fei Family''s consumption of energy. If we hold out here for a while, the Fei Family will be exhausted within half a month."
"But dys may bring changes..." Yu Xiaogui said in concern as his expression turned gloomy, and he watched the busy Yu Family members below him. The northern wind over theke grew stronger, and the rolling sea of clouds receded, leaving the sky clear. He absentmindedly raised his head to look at the white dot on the horizon.
Chapter 343: One Strike
Chapter 343: One Strike
Yu Xiaogui squinted into the distance. The dark greenke water mirrored the cloudless sky while shes of lightning and rumbling thunder from the ind in theke asionally illuminatedrge swathes of the water. A white dot appeared in the distance, floating gently into view.
As the figure drew nearer, Yu Xiaogui could briefly make out a white-robed man who was holding a sword, and seemed to be walking on air. The water beneath his feet churned violently, transforming into serpent dragons and sea beasts of various forms, all surrounding him as he approached slowly and steadily.
"Father! Father!" Yu Mugao called out several times but saw that Yu Xiaogui remained still, staring at the horizon with a grim expression. His fists were clenched tightly together, and his lips were pressed together in solemn silence.
Yu Mugao felt a wave of intense foreboding wash over him instantly. He quickly followed his father''s gaze but saw nothing.
"Father!"
Yu Xiaogui''s aura surged, his sleeve pping wildly in the wind, emitting a faint glow of mana. He gritted his teeth.
"Li Tongya..." he mumbled, his voiceced with a trace of fear.
"Li Tongya?! He''s here?!"
Yu Mugao looked as though he had been struck by lightning, his face turning deathly pale. His eyes widened and he froze in midair. He opened his mouth but no words escaped his lips, and he was left mumbling to himself.
"How is this possible? How?! Absolutely impossible! Impossible... Something has happened to Li Tongya, it couldn''t be him!"
The sky gradually darkened as the scattered clouds from the north gathered. Fine drizzle began to fall, and Yu Mugao, still wide-eyed, finally caught sight of the white-robed figure approaching from across theke.
The man walked on air, apanied by serpent dragons and sea beasts. The waters of Moongaze Lake surged upward, and deep green serpent dragons with vivid expressions obediently crawled at his feet. He wore a simple white robe, with long eyebrows, a thin face, broad shoulders, and an imposing presence. He held a sword in his arms, its de hidden within its scabbard.
"It is raining... It should not be raining at this time... It never rains on the northern shore..."
The Yu Family cultivators all looked up at the sky. The cold rain struck their faces and the somber, oppressive atmosphere left them stunned, causing them to cease their actions and look toward the shore.
"Celestial Moon Sword Li Tongya!"
"Ancestor of the Li Family... Foundation Establishment Realm Sword Cultivator Li Tongya!"
All eyes from both families locked onto the man d in white. They whispered among themselves, full of fear. Thirty-six Qi Cultivators and over a hundred Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators were instantly cowed by his aura, finding themselves unable to move.
"It is raining..."
Li Tongya, holding his sword, stood on the shore, reaching out to catch the falling raindrops. The drops were cold and piercing but did not turn to frost. Instead, they fell one by one, steadily.
Li Tongya rarely wore white robes, but the effects of the Huashang Fruit in his stomach caused his true essence to surge, and his battle spirit was bing hard to contain. He had never felt this good before and, in his rare enthusiasm, chose to wear flowing white robes.
His immortal foundation was unstable, and his cultivation continuously leaked away. Relying on this precious medicinal fruit that had healed his meridians and sea of qi, he had temporarily pushed himself to an unprecedented peak, even influencing the natural phenomena with the aura of his Boundless Ocean, exhibiting the majesty of a peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
In the sky, Yu Xiaogui''s eyes were filled with fear. For a moment, he did not know what to say. He extended his spiritual sense cautiously toward Li Tongya, only to feel an endless vastness akin to the sea¡ªalmost overwhelming him.
"What kind of cultivation is this... mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm? Late-stage? How is that possible?!"
Just by merely standing by the shore, Li Tongya had already induced changes in the weather. Coupled with his reputation for ying the Maha, Yu Xiaogui''s heart wavered, and he almost considered retreating.
"Senior Yu," Li Tongya began as he looked up at him, his bright eyes filled with calmness. He gently stepped forward, ascending the sky step by step as he approached the Yu Family members. His tone remained as neutral and firm as when he had encountered Fei Wangbai and Yu Xiaogui at ake banquet while he was a Qi Cultivator at the seventh heavenlyyer.
"It has been a long time..."
The efficacy of the Huashang Fruit spread through his internal organs, causing the wrinkles on his face to fade. His white hair had turned ck, cascading down his back gracefully.
Li Tongya''s appearance gradually changed from that of a worried elderly man to the dignified demeanor of a middle-aged man, before slowly returning to that of a handsome and spirited look of a sixteen-year-old. This youthful visage had long been buried in the archives of his life... never shown to others.
Back then, he had not yet embarked on immortal cultivation. He worked from dawn to dusk, often harvesting wheat in the fields at sunrise, sweating in the morning mist with a cheerful smile. Li Xiangping chattered incessantly by his side while his elder brother Li Changhu sat on the ridge of the field,ughing cheerfully.
"G-Greetings, fellow Daoist..." Yu Xiaogui mumbled as he swallowed hard, feeling the overwhelming pressure emanating from Li Tongya. His fear was indescribable, and even speaking made him tremble in utter fear.
Looking at Li Tongya, now appearing as a sixteen-year-old youth, Yu Xiaogui seemed to see a dormant viper finally baring its fangs or a guarding eagle unburdened. Just standing silently in the air, Li Tongya was like a suspended white immortal sword, making Yu Xiaogui''s hair stand on end.
Li Tongya snapped back to the present, his gaze sweeping over the Yu Family members. He spoke gently, "The Fei Family is without fault. Please withdraw your forces."
These words, domineering and indisputable, came from Li Tongya''s mouth like a long sword''s cry, instilling fear and unease among the Yu Family instantly. Yu Xiaogui''s face turned red, yet he dared not utter a single word of defiance.
Hidden within his sleeves, Yu Xiaogui''s hands trembled uncontrobly. The air was so heavy it felt like it could drip water at any second. The Yu Family cultivators quietly stowed away their dharma artifacts, exchanging anxious nces, when suddenly a man''s voice roared, breaking the tense silence.
"He is bluffing! Attack!"
"Li Tongya! You are bluffing! You cannot possibly leave here unscathed! Cast your spells! What are you all staring at? Cast your spells!"
The voice was hysterical, cold, and impatient, erupting in the dead silence above cial Cloud Peak, jolting everyone. Yu Mugao''s bloodshot eyes widened in fury, his voice cracking with intensity as he screamed, "Li Tongya! It is impossible! Stop pretending!"
Li Tongya remained indifferent, quietly staring at him. Yu Xiaogui, jolted by his son''s outburst, also began to break free from the overwhelming pressure and trance. Greed surged in his eyes, along with a dangerous glint of hope. He gritted his teeth and sneered, "cial Cloud Peak is ours for the taking... Forgive me, fellow Daoist!"
With that, he flicked his sleeve, and the fist-sized Jade Smoke Mountain floated out lightly. In the wind, it expanded into a small mountain and came crashing down with all its might.
Whoosh!
Li Tongya''s white robe fluttered in the wind. Facing the looming Jade Smoke Mountain, his face broke into a gentle smile, and the Qingche Sword in his arms unsheathed by one chi.
ng!
A white-green light burst from the peak of cial Cloud Peak. The world grew dim and dark, and fine drizzle continued falling. The light was so intense that it was almost blinding.
A bright white-green moon appeared over the northern shore.
Boom¡ª¡ª!
The heavy Jade Smoke Mountain, meant to suppress spells, paused for just a moment before the rush of sword energy sent it spinning. It crashed heavily into the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation, shaking the entire cial Cloud Peak.
"What?!"
The Jade Smoke Mountain, now reduced to the size of a fist, spun in the air like a deted ball. Yu Xiaogui was struck by immense misfortune. Even before the sword qi arrived, the bacsh from the artifact had him spewing blood from his mouth. He cried out, "Mercy, fellow Daoist!!"
Yu Xiaogui quickly pped his storage pouch, releasing three Foundation Establishment Realm talismans he had umted over the years. They transformed into three shields of gold and white as sword qi shed through all three effortlessly before lightlynding on his waist, splitting him in two with frightful ease.
"FATHER!"
Chaos immediately erupted among the Yu Family members present. Yu Mugao was struck with horror, his vision filled with white-green sword light. It was not until Yu Xiaogui''s agonized screams brought him back to reality that he quickly caught his father''s two halves, using mana to stop the bleeding and rejoin them frantically.
"Spare me, fellow Daoist! Spare me!"
Yu Xiaogui''s vision was also filled with white-green light. He repeatedly begged for mercy, as if he had lost his soul. Li Tongya simply watched silently as the Yu Family members attempted to rescue him.
He lifted the sword in his hand gently, sending chills down the spines of everyone on cial Cloud Peak and making the backs of their necks feel cold.
Chapter 344: Retreat
Chapter 344: Retreat
Silence.
The only sounds left on cial Cloud Peak were the faint rustle of falling snowkes and the drip-drop of rain. Cyan-white light flowed over the scene, filling everyone''s eyes.
Yu Mugao was speechless, his face as white as paper.
The impact of the scene before him was overwhelming. The Yu Family''s treasured legacy, the Foundation Establishment Realm artifact Jade Smoke Mountain, hovered in the air, returning to its original form, spinning quietly and harmlessly.
Yu Xiaogui had ceased his wailing, his eyes tightly shut, his face ashen.
Between Yu Mugao''s trembling hands, mana glowed as he tried to mend the ghastly wound on his father''s waist in futility. The sword wound was smooth and clean, and Yu Mugao,pletely upied in maintaining his father''s life force, dared not lift his head.
In the sky, Li Tongya stood with his sword, his gaze sharp and silent. The Yu Family below remained muted in deadly silence. After a few breaths, the silence was broken by clear jingling sounds as the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators on the ground finally broke free from the sword light''s hold, dropping their artifacts in panic. The mortals were even worse off, throwing down their weapons and kneeling, chaos erupting once more.
Li Tongya''s gaze remained calm as he swallowed the blood rising to his throat, not daring to move. Though this strike had taken a toll on him, he stood still, dealing with the after-effects silently, refusing to show any signs of fatigue.
The suppressive force of the Jade Smoke Mountain roiled in his wrist while his qihai acupoint churned violently. His cultivation leaked away as if through a broken vessel, leaving his limbs stiff and immobile.
The mana from the Huashang Fruit shed fiercely with his true essence, causing the Boundless Ocean within him to rage wildly. Blood welled up in his mouth several times, and his vision grew hazy, his chest tight and breathless.
Just then, light beams emerged from the depths of his Sea of Qi¡ªa white orb glowing brilliantly, illuminating his entire qihai acupoint.
"The Profound Pearl Talisman Seed..."
The talisman seed''s light suppressed the turmoil within his Sea of Qi, allowing Li Tongya a moment''s respite. A glint of brilliance shed in his eyes as he sheathed his sword.
Ching!
The clear sound of the sword being sheathed brought relief to the cultivators around him. They exchanged nces, realizing they were all drenched in cold sweat, their nerves on edge.
Li Tongya, with his flowing ck hair and handsome features, seemed nonchnt, as if the strike had been effortless. Still holding his sword, he spoke politely and warmly, "Out of respect for Yuanwu Peak and Yu Muxian, I will overlook your transgressions."
His bright, clear eyes showed no hint of malice, but no one from the Yu Family dared to meet his gaze. Li Tongya repeated softly, "Please withdraw your forces."
Yu Mugao carefully lifted his unconscious father, his gaze sweeping over Li Tongya''s wind-whipped white robe and the white-green sword light shing in his mind. He ascended into the air slowly, stopping just before Li Tongya.
"Thank you for your mercy... Senior."
It seemed that Yu Mugao hade to terms with the shock now. Tears still streaked his face as he nced at Li Tongya onest time before whispering, "Retreat!"
The Yu Family members, feeling as though they had been granted a reprieve, hurriedly followed him southward, not daring to look back. Cheers erupted on cial Cloud Peak as men and women embraced, weeping with joy.
Yu Mugao kept his eyes on his pale father until they were out of Fei Family''s territory. Only then did Yu Xiaogui open his eyes, his voice hoarse as he said in a low voice, "This was your idea."
Yu Mugao looked at his weakened father, knowing his life was hanging by a thread and his cultivation path was likely severed. He lowered his head, silent.
Yu Xiaogui struggled to stand, shaking off his son''s support. Yu Mugao sighed deeply, "Li Tongya likely had only one strike left, but I dared not gamble anymore!"
His figure was deste and lonely, like a gambler who had lost everything. The Yu Family members nearby shivered at his words, exchanging nces and remaining silent.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"What a pity..."
Li Tongya''s internal state was already in chaos, barely maintaining a bnce. Fortunately, the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed shone brightly, forcefully helping him sustain his present condition.
Holding his sword, Li Tongya slowly descended, watching the retreating figures of the Yu Family members as he murmured to himself, "Yu Mugao is a great threat to my family... It is a pity that I no longer have the strength to strike; otherwise, I would definitely kill him, even if it meant giving Yuanwu Peak and Yu Muxian an excuse to act against us."
He had run out of strength, barely clinging to life in his cave dwelling. Li Yuanjiao had reported the situation, and Li Tongya understood that he had no choice but to act.
"If I ignore the Fei Family, our Li Family will be next. Once Yu Mugao has no more scruples,bined with his cunning and ruthless methods, there will be even greater disasters..."
Li Tongya had left his cave, deliberately building up his aura and riding on a sea beast conjured from his mana, hoping to intimidate the Yu Family and avoid a confrontation.
Originally, the timing and setting were perfect. The natural phenomena stirred by his cultivation had already intimidated everyone, even Yu Xiaogui, who was frightened by his reputation for having in a Maha.
But Yu Mugao''s loud shout woke everyone up, prompting Yu Xiaogui to test the waters. Li Tongya''s cultivation was powerful but once unleashed, it drained rapidly like a river bursting its banks.
Li Tongya continued to watch the Yu Family as they disappeared into the horizon, then finally shifted his gaze to the intricate patterns on the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation, admiring it silently.
The Yu Family fled in disarray, allowing the Fei Family to finally breathe a sigh of relief. However, when the man in the sky turned his gaze upon them, their anxiety returned, and they looked at each other in fear.
Fei Tongxiao was terrified, staring intently at the ck-haired youth holding a cyan-white longsword in the sky. Although the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation isted the inside from the outside, he vaguely heard some words but still could not believe his eyes.
"Did the Yu Family say... this is Li Tongya?"
The youth''s eyes were bright, his face handsome, his posture tall. The sword light from Li Tongya''s weapon hurt Fei Tongxiao''s eyes. He said with mixed emotions, "Who is he..?"
"Li Yuanyun?... No... Li Yuanyun has no spiritual orifice... This really is Li Tongya!"
Fei Tongyu had once seen Li Tongya from a distance at the Li Family. However, Li Tongya already sported a mature appearance when he had gained some fame, so now he could not recognize him at once, guessing to himself, "Perhaps Li Tongya gained some unknown benefits from ying the Maha, causing his cultivation to soar and making him youthful again... This is not unprecedented in Jiangnan."
While the brothers were at a loss for words, Li Tongya gathered his mana and said warmly, "Li Tongya is here to pay respects; please open the formation!"
The two brothers were stunned, exchanged nces for a few moments, and both saw the apprehension in each other''s eyes. The same doubt arose in their minds, and they spoke in unison.
"To open... Or not to open?"
Chapter 345: Reverent Welcome
Chapter 345: Reverent Wee
The snow and rain on cial Cloud Peak fell lightly upon the white-robed youth, whose bright eyes were fixed on the intricate patterns of the Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation.
The Fei brothers did not keep Li Tongya waiting for long. Within just a few breaths, the dazzling light of the formation began to fade, and a man emerged from within.
This man had a kind face that bore some resemnce to Fei Wangbai and was at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He rode the wind and approached Li Tongya, bowing deeply with a humble demeanor.
"Junior Fei Wangjiang greets Senior! Your act of repulsing Yu Xiaogui and saving our family is a great favor we will never forget..."
Li Tongya waved his hand in response and said, "Daoist Wangbai and I are good friends... It is only natural for our families to help each other."
Fei Wangjiang, though middle-aged, showed utmost respect to Li Tongya who looked sixteen or seventeen years old in appearance. He led Li Tongya respectfully to the mountaintop where numerous members of the Fei Family had already gathered.
From aged elders to young children, all kneeled tearfully and cried out in unison, "Wee, Ancestor..."
Li Tongya stepped aside, still holding his sword, and moved forward. Two young men approached. The older one in a gray robe appeared around twenty-five or twenty-six, with an anxious expression on his handsome face. He kneeled and bowed deeply, saying, "Junior Fei Tongyu greets the ancestor!"
Li Tongya''s gaze swept over the sorrowful faces of the Fei Family. Once a distinguished n in their elegant white robes, now they were filled with grief and devoid of spirit.
"Rise."
Only then did he notice that the traditionally white-d Fei Family had hastily changed into gray robes. The children''s clothes were carelessly wrapped, indicating that they had all changed quickly to avoid shing with his white robe.
"On my way here... I did not see Daoist Wangbai..." Li Tongya began, though he already knew the answer.
"The ancestor... he... he has passed away!"
At the mention of Fei Wangbai, the Fei Family began to sob hysterically. Fei Tongyu, fearing they might disturb Li Tongya, quickly led him into the courtyard.
Li Tongya stood holding his sword as Fei Tongyu exined the circumstances of Fei Wangbai''s death in detail. After he had exined, he respectfully bowed, took a step forward, and gently pushed open the dark coffin.
Creaaaak...
A soft light illuminated Fei Wangbai''s dignified face. Fei Tongyu had meticulously arranged his clothes, making him look as though he were merely sleeping. Li Tongya moved the white cloth aside carefully and stared at the horrific wound.
"What are the Patterned Brocade''s Dao Partners?" Li Tongya asked gently.
Fei Tongyu hesitated, as the n''s immortal foundation secrets were usually closely guarded. However, Li Tongya had just saved the family, and their lives were now in his hands.
Reluctantly, he replied, "Records mention Jade Court General, Green Jade Cliff, and True Dao Unification... As for the others, we do not know."
"Jade Court General..."
A realization dawned on Li Tongya. The immortal foundations of theke''s families were indeed of the same nature. It was no surprise that Yu Yufeng had been killed first, followed by Fei Wangbai a few yearster...
The deep, meaningful look in Fei Wangbai''s eyes during the banquet hosted by the Yu Family still lingered in his mind. Now, that same persony cold and lifeless.
Li Tongya felt a chill down his spine and thought to himself,
The Boundless Ocean from River One Qi Technique and the Jade Court General from Aged Courtly Path Scripture must be practiced sparingly. Even if sessfully cultivated, they should not be used to establish a Dao foundation...
Xiao Chuting, who has good rtions with our family, mentioned that many techniques from Lingyu Gate were spread around when it fell. Many practiced Boundless Ocean, which is rtively safe, but Jade Court General must be avoided!
Fei Tongyu, mistaking his silence for contemtion, stepped forward with tears in his eyes and said, "Our family has operated on the northern shore for many years, dealing with the three sects and seven gates, as well as several forces in Xu State... Yet, we cannot fathom the origin of the culprit!"
"Yue State has no major sect that uses swords! There are only a few sword cultivators within the three sects and seven gates... but Changxiao Gate is grand and magnificent, Golden Tang Gate is sharp and unparalleled, and Purple Smoke Gate moves like a long rainbow. None of them fit..."
Fei Tongyu felt anxious and hopeful as he looked at Li Tongya, his heart filled with hatred like a raging river but found no ce to release these strong emotions of his. All he hoped for at that moment was to get a definite answer from Li Tongya.
In private discussions with his brother, Fei Tongyu had gone through various possibilities, even suspecting Li Chejing from the southern border. However, he had heard that Li Chejing''s sword was bright like moonlight and gentle like the breeze, which did not match either.
"Could it be that our ancestor inadvertently offended some Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivator..."
Li Tongya listened to Fei Tongyu''s tearful recount and then gently raised his hand, brushing past the wound on Fei Wangbai''s neck. He then pinched out a faint white sword light, as if picking up a swimming fish.
This sword light had its own consciousness and constantly struggled in his hand, but was unable to escape. Li Tongyabined his two fingers and took two breaths to extinguish it.
"This person''s swordsmanship is superior to mine."
Li Tongya slowly closed his eyes, recalling the people from the three sects and seven gates he had seen at Xiao Chuting''s gathering, and murmured, "Ethereal and transcendent, yet full of life."
He suddenly paused, exhaled a long breath, then turned to Fei Tongyu and said gently, "This person believes your family absolutely cannot identify him, so he only killed Daoist Wangbai."
Fei Tongyu, although somewhat weak in character, was not a fool. Hearing Li Tongya''s words, his heart sank.
"I understand..." he croaked hoarsely.
As they conversed, Fei Wangbai''s body and head in the coffin, now no longer hindered by sword qi, slowly rejoined, and his dull eyes gradually opened.
Li Tongya and Fei Tongyu were not surprised by this. A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator''s body, nourished by immortal foundations, was extraordinary,parable to that of a spirit item. If left in the dark for a long time, it might even develop some unusual phenomena.
"How does your n n to handle Daoist Wangbai''s body?" Li Tongya asked softly.
Fei Tongyu respectfully raised his head and answered, "Our family has always practiced the Patterned Brocade. Three ancestors have sessively achieved Foundation Establishment Realm, so there are precedents. In the first three years, the Patterned Brocade causes the cultivator''s teeth, hair, and nails to fall off, turning into jade, while the eyes be cinnabar. In the next three years, the flesh turns into silk and brocade, and the internal organs turn into gold and silver... After another three years, everything else turns into mercury, leaving nothing behind."
Li Tongya nodded slightly, his handsome face thoughtful. He had heard of these transformations in his many years of cultivation. Fei Tongyu continued respectfully, "Then we follow the tradition of cing everything in a jade box to be worshiped by the n."
"It is fine as long as there is a precedent." Li Tongya nodded. After all, he had a friendship with Fei Wangbai. Knowing the Fei Family''s current predicament, he was worried they might misuse Fei Wangbai''s body for something unsavory. Hearing Fei Tongyu''s exnation, he felt greatly relieved.
He closed the coffin, took two steps down, bowed respectfully again, and said softly, "Come in."
As he spoke, the courtyard door creaked open automatically, and Fei Wangjiang and Fei Tongxiao entered together, both bowing respectfully.
"We are here!"
Fei Tongyu''s heart raced with anxiety, waiting for Li Tongya to speak. His hand clenched and unclenched a talisman in his sleeve, knowing it was a joke to Li Tongya but feeling a deep sense of despair in his heart.
If the Fei Family perishes today, there must be bloodshed. As the head of the family, I mustmit suicide to apologize to the n... My brother Tongxiao is far more talented than I am. With him protecting the family, they may have a chance to rise again in a hundred years...
Chapter 346: Long Whale Under the Waning Moon
Chapter 346: Long Whale Under the Waning Moon
Fei Tongyu crouched in deep thought, his heart racing. He was prepared for violence, but he had not expected Li Tongya to speak in such a warm voice.
"Brother Wangbai and I have been friends for many years... It''s a shame to see him go. Watch over your n well with your brother. If anyone from the minor sect dares to challenge you due to your youth and shallow cultivation, you can send someone to the southern shore to find me."
Although it sounded like advice from an elder, it also sounded like words deliberately spoken for Fei Wangjiang to hear. There was no demand or expectation of tributes. Instead, Li Tongya conveyed a genuine concern, leaving the two brothers momentarily stunned.
After saying that, Li Tongya rose gracefully from his seat.
"Now that this matter is settled, I''ll take my leave."
"I..."
Fei Tongyu was at an utter loss for words, and he could not believe his ears. He paused, then dropped to his knees as he watched Li Tongya soar into the air.
"Thank you, Ancestor! Your kindness will be remembered by the Fei Family for generations...!" he cried out with great emotion in his voice.
The young man in white departed with his sword, leaving Fei Tongyu kneeling in gratitude. He nced at his younger brother in relief and sighed deeply.
"I misjudged him with my narrow perspective," he said.
"Li Tongya... He remembers old favors and does not exploit others'' vulnerabilities... Our family owes him a great debt now!" Fei Tongxiao''s said as his voice quivered with emotion.
Fei Tongyu stood, dusting his knees. Hope flickered in his eyes again, and a smile spread across his face for the first time in months.
"Li Qinghong practiced spearmanship too... Back then, she never managed to learn a secret technique when she was training with our family. I guess I''ll send over the Dragon Reflection manual to the Li Family in a few days, as a gesture of gratitude for his unexpected kindness..."
Fei Tongxiao''s eyes flickered with a strange gleam as he nodded and said, "Yes. Unfortunately, our family is going through hardship now... We''ll have to repay this debt slowly."
Beside them, Fei Wangjiang stood silently like a sturdy pine tree. Fei Tongxiao turned to him and respectfully asked, "Granduncle, do you still have Cold Pine Snow Qi at home?"
Fei Wangjiang gazed at him and replied warmly, "There''s a portion left."
Sensing that Fei Tongxiao was up to something, Fei Tongyu quickly warned, "What are you up to? The Six White Jade Chakras you condensed through training the Long Brocade Heart Sutra during the Embryonic Breathing Realm stage are unique, you cannot just switch to another cultivation method!"
Fei Tongxiao''s shook his head slowly, his gaze unwavering, his lips forming into a firm line before he spoke.
"I''ll disperse my cultivation and start anew!"
©¤©¤©¤©¤
Li Tongya rode the wind back to Mount Lijing. The sky was dark, and he swept his eyes over scattered lights in the town at the foot of the mountain before turning toward his cave dwelling.
The stone door of the cave was ajar. A young man d in ck sat cross-legged on the steps, waiting silently.
Li Tongya cleared his throat softly, rousing him from his reverie. Li Yuanjiao opened his eyes abruptly, freezing as he beheld the young man dressed in white before him. He had a handsome face with angr features and a pair of eyes that gleamed like bright stars as he stared intently at Li Yuanjiao.
After a few moments of silence, Li Yuanjiao asked hesitantly, "You''re... the Old Ancestor?"
Li Tongya chuckled lightly and nodded.
"I have rescued the Fei Family and returned from the northern shore... Yu Xiaogui''s Dao has been severed by me and he''s in a critical condition. He''s no longer a concern to us anymore."
"Old Ancestor! You''ve... recovered?!"
Li Yuanjiao''s relief was evident in his eager gaze, but Li Tongya shook his head gently.
"With this victory, peace has returned to theke. Fei Tongyu, though not as talented as Fei Wangbai, deeply acknowledges their debt to my family..." he began.
"Although Yu Mugao is cunning and shrewd, his talent is mediocre. With his reputation severely damaged and his actions bing increasingly petty and unreasonable, the absence of Yu Xiaogui''s influence will surely give him headaches."
Li Tongya''s ck hair fluttered in the breeze, lending him a carefree aura.
"The Yu Familycks a capable sessor. With you and Qinghong showing great promise in reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, in less than sixty years, our family will dominate this region."
Li Tongya''s unusually talkative demeanor caused Li Yuanjiao to feel deeply uneasy. Nevertheless, Li Tongya gestured for him to join him, sitting together on the steps.
"Although Fei Wangbai has passed, the Fei Family still boasts nine Qi Cultivators. They are far stronger than our family and their Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation is extremely formidable. I fear that after my time, maintaining control may prove challenging, possibly reverting power back to the Yu Family... Hence, I did the Fei Family a favor, so that we can form alliances with them," Li Tongya exined patiently.
"The situation in this region fluctuates, determined not by immediate strength but by strategic maneuvers of multiple parties. If we seek to expand northward, we must navigate these dynamics carefully to avoid discord and unnecessary conflicts," he advised.
Li Yuanjiao understood this as he had the same discussion in detail with Li Tongya before. He nodded and replied, "Jiao''er understands..."
Li Tongya paused briefly before continuing, "To the north lies the Fei Family, to the east the Yu Family, and to the west a rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator named He. He may not meddle in worldly affairs and is focused solely on his cultivation, but we must remain vignt."
"Understood," Li Yuanjiao replied as he nodded.
Li Tongya stood up with his sword in his arms and slowly ascended the steps.
"I will enter seclusion now. The cave door will remain tightly shut for the next five years," he announced.
With that, the ancient formation in the cave dwelling activated almost right away, and the moss-covered stone door began to close slowly.
Creak...
Li Yuanjiao raised his head and watched as Li Tongya retreated back into his cave dwelling. The stone door closed with a loud rumble while Li Tongya''s warm voice echoed softly in the air.
"Do not forget the grievances of the n."
Li Yuanjiao swung his sleeves and quickly fell to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground three times in worship.
As the stone door finally mmed shut, only then did Li Yuanjiao slowly rise. With a solemn look on his face and slightly reddened eyes, he quietly swore, "Jiao dares not forget..."
Behind the closed door, Li Tongya paused briefly, listening to Li Yuanjiao''s solemn affirmation.
He surveyed the neat and orderly cave dwelling before settling into his usual seat. Preparing some ink and a brush, he left a few writings on the stone table before moving to his bed and sat down cross-legged.
"The fox has wasted its efforts... The injury has already scattered my immortal foundation and severed my vitality."
Li Tongya gazed northward with a smile spreading across his handsome face. It was as if the past sixty years had left no trace upon him.
He continued, murmuring warmly, "For over seventy years, I''ve strived to lead the n, quell external threats, and bring peace to Mount Yue... Now, I can die with dignity, feeling safe and content. My life has been one of profound contentment, with nothing more to desire."
He rested his chin on his hands and exhaled softly. His flowing ck hair cascaded down his back, and the sparkle in his eyes slowly faded. The Qingche Sword in his arms let out a faint cry while Astral Qi within the cave surged, apanied by gentle murmurs.
After the space of three breaths, a shiny white pill emerged before his body. It hovered briefly in the air before vanishing into the void.
His face retained its youthful appearance from when he was sixteen, his white clothes pristine without a single crease on it. He smiled with his eyes closed as if he were only deep in thought.
Rumble!
The sound of running rivers filled the void. Dewdrops seeped from the cave floor, creating a tinkling spring-like melody. The howling of the winter wind grew louder but the cave dwelling remained tightly sealed.
The energy of his Boundless Ocean caused a phenomenon atop Mount Lijing. The once clear sky quickly darkened with clouds as thunder rumbled, and light rain began to drizzle across the earth.
"It''s raining!"
Fine autumn drizzle nketed Lijing Town. Farmers raised their heads to wee the refreshing shower while vendors covered their carts with umbres, and the carriages of prominent families rolled leisurely through the streets.
The stone paths on the streets at the foot of the mountain grew slick with rain. Dogs barked softly, children yed andughed, and a newlywed woman deliberated over spending a copper coin to buy fabric for a new dress.
Li Tongya passed silently in the cave dwelling. His immortal foundation had crumbled, his vitality spent. Yet to the world outside the cave, the weather was merely a little cold today but the gentle rain was soothing and pleasant.
Such refreshing autumn rain was a rare delight indeed.
Chapter 347: Tributes On The Lake
Chapter 347: Tributes On The Lake
"Yu Mugao looked incredibly arrogant, d in fluttering ck attire and wielding a divine weapon. He taunted, "The phoenix resides in the parasol tree~ Do you dare to descend, little cultivator?"
The tavern buzzed with activity as the audience craned their necks to hear better. Throngs surrounded a man clothed in gray at the center of the room, who stroked his goatee as he performed.
"An Jingming, a top-notch immortal talent, scoffed and retorted loudly, I am blessed with the bones of an immortal; favored by the heavens! How dare you, an insignificant centipede, refer to yourself as a parasol tree in my presence~"
As soon as the gray-clothed man had finished speaking those words, the crowd erupted into shouts and apuse. He smirked, stroking his beard, evidently pleased with his own performance.
At the edge of the crowd stood a boy of about eleven or twelve, dressed in a leather coat with snow-white fur around the cuffs. It was easy to tell that he was the scion of a wealthy noble family.
Though everyone''s attention was not focused on him, they nheless were aware enough to leave a space enough for him to stand. The boy held the hand of a younger child, around five or six years old, who looked clever and beautiful.
"Brother Xizhi! An Jingming sure is popr," the boy chirped in his tender voice.
The noble-looking teenage boy beside him simply waved his sleeve and chuckled.
"An Jingming was a remarkable talent who had performed countless heroic deeds during his lifetime, though his end was tragic... It''s only natural that people remember him fondly."
The younger boy nodded, though he could hardly make out the distant apuse over the din.
"And then..?"
The boy nodded though with uncertainty. Being small in stature, he could not get a clear view of the stage. The crowd was cheering loudly and he could barely hear his voice over the performance.
"And then?" he repeated eagerly.
"And then... the tales recount how he fought against many foes alone, vanquishing them in swift session. From that moment, he roamed freely between heaven and earth, unfettered," Li Xizhi replied casually, his hands sped behind his back.
"The tales..?"
Li Xizhi tilted his head, unable to resist asking his next question with innocence in his voice.
"What about in reality?"
"He was killed by the Yu Family. They preserved his severed head and it''s probably disyed in the Yu Family''s vault now..." Li Xizhi said as his expression darkened.
Every teenager had the dream of practicing qi for three years and establishing the immortal foundation in ten, so he could not help but feel sorry for An Jingming''s tragic demise despite being such a talented man.
He held Li Ximing up and said gently, "If you spend less time watching ys and more time reading our family''s history... you''lle to understand the bloody realities beyond these tranquil towns."
Li Ximing rested his head against Li Xizhi''s chest and hummed in response.
All of a sudden, a figure appeared before them, carrying a sword at his waist. His face was solemn, but his voice was tinged with resignation as he said softly, "I looked everywhere for the both of you..."
Li Xizhi nced at the man and replied, "Congrattions, Uncle Gongming... I supposed Qi Cultivators are built differently! You actually found us quicker than the Jade Court Guards."
Xu Gongming was in a good mood since he had just recently emerged from seclusion after achieving his breakthrough in the Qi Cultivation Realm. The praise from Li Xizhi caused a smile to appear on his face as he humbly replied, "You tter me, Young Master."
The Li Family had enjoyed a period of peace over the past five years. News of Li Tongya single-handedly repelling the Yu Family and vanquishing a Maha had spread far and wide, earning him the reputation of the Celestial Moon Sword, garnering recognition even in the Wu and Xu States.
During these years, several members of the Li Family had attained the Qi Cultivation Realm. Madam Dou was among the first, cultivating with the Minor Pure Spiritual Qi. Her aplishment brought great honor and prestige to the Dou Family.
Next was Xiao Guiluan, who cultivated a Grade Three technique from the Xiao Family with Clear Dusk Origin Qi. Specializing in detoxification and employing soft techniques to subdue enemies, her prowess exceeded that of ordinary Qi cultivators like Madam Dou.
With Xu Gongming''s recent breakthrough and Li Xuanxuan who was currently working at the marketce, the Li Family now boasted five Qi Cultivators, which was already sufficient enough to safeguard the family''s interests.
"Why were you looking for me?" Li Xizhi, now at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, asked while holding Li Ximing in his arms.
Xu Gongming replied softly, "Second Old Master has returned from Wutu Peak and is speaking with the family head in town right now... He requests the both of your presence."
Upon hearing his father''s return from Wutu Peak, Li Xizhi''s demeanor grew serious.
"Understood. Thank you for informing me, Uncle Gongming!"
With that, he activated the Divine Movement Spell and hastened toward the foot of the mountain.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanping, nearing twenty years of age, possessed a gaze that could exert pressure on anyone due to his many years of managing household affairs. Despite his paleplexion and cultivation merely at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, his presencemanded respect.
Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao, d in his usual ck attire, sat next to Li Yuanping. He had recently attained the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Holding a pale purple jade slip, he asked in a deep voice, "Xizhi took Ming''er out again?"
"Yes..." Li Yuanping chuckled in response. "Xizhi will be leaving home soon, this is a good time for them to bond while they still can."
Li Yuanjiao nodded silently. A year earlier, Yuan Tuan of Qingsui Peak had emerged from her seclusion and broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm by sessfully forming her immortal foundation known as Azure Manifest Peak. She had assumed the position of peak master since then, initiating disciple recruitment.
Upon emerging from seclusion, Yuan Tuan immediately sent a response to the Li Family''s letter. She wrote warmly, first expressing condolences for Li Chejing''s passing and then announcing her uing visit to Moongaze Lake in a few months to assess Li Xizhi''s aptitude.
Although the Li Familycked the methods of the three sects and seven gates for assessing root bone, Li Xizhi''s rapid cultivation progress¡ªreaching the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm in just six years¡ªclearly qualified him to join the Azure Pond Sect.
Setting aside his brush, Li Yuanping noticed Li Yuanjiao''s somber expression and asked, "What brings you all the way back here, brother...?"
Li Yuanjiao frowned and replied, "It''s about time to submit tributes to the Azure Pond Sect."
"Don''t worry, despite the waning demonic gue, our businesses in the markets are still thriving. We''ve seen an increase in unrefined Qi Cultivators out there and a bountiful harvest of spirit resources. We have enough for this year''s tributes," Li Yuanping assured him.
"I''ve been busy with preparations for the past few days and have ensured everything is in order. Nothing will go wrong," Li Yuanping added confidently.
Li Yuanjiao nodded approvingly. "I''m relieved you''ve managed our affairs so capably these past years," he praised.
He then lowered his voice and continued, "However, I received word from Guiluan... Yu Muxian of Yuanwu Peak will oversee this year''s tributes. He''s already on his way to Moongaze Lake on the Dawn Cloudliner!"
"Yu Muxian?! That indeedplicates things..." Li Yuanping muttered as his expression darkened.
Li Yuanjiao exchanged a knowing nce with Li Yuanping, both aware of the delicate nature of the situation.
After all, Li Tongya had severed Yu Xiaogui''s cultivation. Rumors spected that Yu Xiaogui had been sustaining his life just by using spirit medicines and sacrificial rituals in recent years.
Yu Muxian enjoyed wide connections within the sect, with supporters on Yuanwu Peak who were ready to stand up for him.
However, Yu Muxian himself had yet to take any action, likely intimidated by the formidable reputation of the Li Family''s Sword Immortal that echoed throughout the region. As a result, no one dared to find trouble with them.
Now, a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivator, personally arriving at Lake Wang Yue, carried significant weight. However, Li Yuanjiao could not help but feel uneasy despite the reputation of the Li Family''s Sword Immortal heritage, linked with the Green Spike Sword Immortal and the Moon Que Sword, was indeed formidable.
Now, as a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivator, Yu Muxian was personallying to Moongaze Lake. Naturally, Li Yuanjiao was secretly uneasy about this, even though the Li Family was widely known as the legendary Sword Immortal n, where the Qingsui Sword Immortal and Celestial Moon Sword were recognized as formidable brothers.
"No one knows the hardships of their own family better than themselves..."
Only Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping knew about Li Tongya''s passing. Li Yuanjiao pondered silently for a moment before offering reassurance, "I once heard from myte uncle that Yu Muxian is self-serving and ungrateful. Moreover, our family enjoys the protection of an immortal n... Perhaps he won''t push matters too far!"
Li Yuanping nodded slightly as a semnce of relief crossed his pale face.
At that moment, a teenage boy draped in brocade strode into the courtyard, holding the hand of a little boy who was by his side.
Li Xizhi approached respectfully, cupped his fist, and greeted the men.
"Greetings Father, Uncle."
Chapter 348: Prying Eyes
Chapter 348: Prying Eyes
Before Li Yuanjiao could respond to Li Xizhi, Li Yuanping smiled cordially and said, "Come,e... have a seat first. We''ll wait for those two brothers from the second lineage. They''re still on the mountain and will arrive shortly."
"Yes," Li Xizhi nodded, releasing Li Ximing''s hand to sit beside Li Yuanjiao, who nodded at his greeting and then took a sip of tea.
The two brothers Li Yuanping referred to were naturally those from the generation of Xi and Yue from Li Tongya''s lineage¡ªLi Xicheng and Li Xijun.
Of Li Yuanyun''s many heirs, only these two sons born with his primary wife had spiritual orifices and were cultivating in the mountains.
As soon as Li Yuanping had finished speaking, two people entered the hall. The first to enter was a normal-looking young man who was about sixteen or seventeen. d in a gray robe and carrying a spear on his back, he cupped his fist respectfully and said, "Xicheng greets the two elders."
After Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao responded, Li Xizhi lit up with a smile and said, "Brother Cheng!"
Li Xicheng''s eyes lit up at the sight of Li Xizhi too, but in front of the elders, he hesitated to say more and merely nodded silently.
Beside him, a boy of six or seven with a handsome face raised an eyebrow and spoke softly, "Jun''er greets the elders and Brother Xiji."
Li Xijun was the youngest son of Li Yuanyun, recently confirmed to possess a spiritual orifice. He had spent only a little time with Li Yuanyun before he was sent to the marketce at the age of one. Growing up in the mountains, he had a much cheerier disposition.
His elder brother, Li Xicheng, who had grown up by Li Yuanyun''s side, was more reserved. He stood silently in the courtyard.
Li Yuanjiao observed them attentively, his eyes lingering a little longer on Li Xijun before saying, "Jun''er, you''re really good-looking!"
Li Xijun appeared to be ustomed to suchpliments. He merely smiled courteously and replied in a childish voice, "Thank you for thepliment, Second Uncle!"
Li Yuanping, who had also been staring at the boy, agreed with a chuckle.
"You''re right... This child has the looks of an immortal cultivator. They said he was destined for cultivation even before his spiritual orifice was even confirmed, and now that he has been assessed, it''s revealed that he indeed has a spiritual orifice."
Li Yuanjiao nodded with a smile as he observed the child''s demeanor, his spirits noticeably lifted.
"I''ve gathered you juniors here this time to discuss some important matters," he began.
Setting down his tea bowl, Li Yuanjiao continued solemnly, "For many years, rumors have circted about the demise of the Qingsui Sword Immortal. All the families on theke have known about it by now. As direct descendants of the Li Family, you must know about this."
At the mention of Qingsui Sword Immortal, the juniors looked up, their expressions grave. Clearly, they had heard simr rumors from their parents.
Li Yuanjiao nodded and confirmed, "The Sword Immortal has indeed passed away..."
The atmosphere grew somber as heads bowed in acknowledgment. Li Yuanjiao said softly, "News of the Sword Immortal''s passing has circted throughout the sect. With our loss of support within the sect andck of ess to information, we only fear vulnerability to exploitation. Hence, I''ve requested the Qingsui Peak Master toe... Li Xizhi!"
"I''m here," Li Xizhi responded respectfully, stepping forward.
Li Yuanjiao continued, "The n wishes for you to join the sect and train under Qingsui Peak. Be the pir of protection for our family, and establish your immortal foundation... Do you understand?"
Li Xizhi kneeled and pressed his forehead on the ground, replying, "Xizhi will not disappoint the trust ced in him."
Meanwhile, Li Xijun and Li Ximing, still too young to grasp the gravity of the situation, felt a tinge of sadness at the prospect of being separated from Li Xizhi for many years.
Li Xicheng, who had no ess to the Internal History of their n, only knew that Azure Pond was the upper sect. He smiled reassuringly at his younger brother.
"Good," Li Yuanjiao said with a glint in his eyes as he helped Li Xizhi to his feet before addressing the group softly, "There is another matter... With the growing number of juniors in the n, we must establish clearer distinctions among our descendants. In addition to using generation names, we need additional methods to differentiate everyone and avoid misunderstandings."
He continued exining, "Starting from your generation, those from Changhu''s lineage will bear names with either the roof (å²) or the sun (ÈÕ) radicals, while those of Tongya''s branch will use the mountain (ɽ) or the walk (åÁ) radicals. Xiangping''s branch will adopt the work (¹¤) or metal (îÄ) radicals, while Chejing''s branch will use the water (ãß) or grain (ºÌ) radicals.[Ref]Trantor''s Note: I was debating whether I should omit this part from the trantion or keep it. Ultimately, I kept it for additional information and tried my best to exin it in a way that made sense in English. Radicals are what we could think of as the baseponent of each Chinese character, and they are usually the leftmost part of the character. Sometimes, they could be at the top too.[/ref]
Li Yuanjiao stood, folding his arms, and added, "This was what our eldest brother had mentioned. We have all kept his word in mind and named all of you ordingly."
Being from Li Tongya''s lineage, the final character of Li Xicheng and Li Xijun''s names bore the mountain radical, while Li Ximing, as the eldest of the first lineage, used the sun radical.
Li Yuanjiao, having been adopted to Li Chejing''s lineage, picked a character with the water radical for Li Xizhi.
Now that the juniors finally understood the significance of thest characters in their names, they acknowledged the new naming rule.
Li Yuanjiao nodded in satisfaction then said, "One more thing, follow me up the mountain."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"The four brothers have perished..." Lu Jiangxian sighed deeply.
The white light in his hand gradually dissipated as he finished assimting the power of the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed.
Perhaps due to Li Tongya''s scattered cultivation, the feedback from the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed he received was not as potent as Li Chejing''s.
While it had satisfied Lu Jiangxian, he desired more.
"The power of the Supreme Yin Profound Light has grown, now capable of obliterating a peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... After being struck by this Profound Light, survival is impossible unless they possess a special immortal foundation."
He grabbed into the void and retrieved five white pills out of thin air.
"With Li Xuanling dead, the remaining four Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds currently outside the mirror now are in Li Xuanxuan, Li Xuanfeng, Li Yuanjiao, and Li Qinghong..."
The number of Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds did not increase. ording to Lu Jiangxian''s estimation, he could probably only generate three more when the mirror had recovered its strength to the Purple Mansion Realm.
"On the contrary, my perception has expanded significantly..."
Lu Jiangxian''s visual senses now epassed half of the Yue and Xu States. Apart from a few Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s mountain gates that he dared not probe, the secr world and small ns were within his view.
It was regrettable that his visual sense could not praterge formations like his divine sense. Otherwise, he would thoroughly examine the ancestral secrets of various ns.
The coverage of his divine sense now extended across the entire Moongaze Lake, including the Yu and Fei families, among others...
"Well, it''s not stealing if it''s presented right before my eyes!" he mumbled to himself.
He closed the Long Brocade Heart Sutra in his hand and looked at the other glowing points on the jade table¡ªJade True Dao Unification Technique Manual, Aged Courtly Path Scripture, Refining Basic Dharma Artifacts On Lake, Talisman Essence Decree, and Introduction to Alchemy...
"That''s a lot of legacies!"
The Yu Family had once seized the Jiang Family''s legacies years ago, inheriting numerous books, records, as well as alchemy and dharma artifact recipes.
Unfortunately, there were not many high-grade cultivation techniques. The Li Family already had the Grade Four Aged Courtly Path Scripture, which could serve even a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator well if in their possession.
As outer disciples of the immortal mansion, the Jiang Family only possessed a few high-grade cultivation techniques. Aside from the Grade Three technique manual known as Gazing Sea Chasing Mountains, which could build an immortal foundation known as Fool''s Mountain Chase, the rest were mostly Grade Three cultivation techniques of simr metallic essence.
It was clear that the Moonlight Origin Mansion had left the cultivation paths of the Purple Mansion Realm for its outer disciples, and the families around theke had five or six cultivation techniques that could be useful up to the Foundational Establishment Realm.
Compared to the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators in the Mushroom Forest in who were forced to usemon Grade One cultivation techniques, these families were indeed lucky.
"Seems like I, Lu Jiangxian, was a nice man in my previous life..." He chuckled self-deprecatingly as he organized the Dao lineages.
"Jade Court General, Azure Jade Cliff, True Dao Unification, Patterned Brocade...
Just missing one more..." he mumbled.
Lu Jiangxian pondered for a moment, contemting the deaths of both Yu Yufeng and Fei Wangbai.
Daoist Master Shangyuan is probably the next person to break through to the Golden Core Realm... The metallic essence he sought after is likely this one.
With these thoughts, Lu Jiangxian set aside all these cultivation techniques which he had deemed as dangerous, then picked out three artifact forging, one alchemy, and six talisman secret techniques.
He also picked out two from the remaining Grade Three cultivation techniques¡ªthe Fei Family''s Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual and the Yu Family''s Gazing Sea Chasing Mountains Technique Manual.
"I''ll find an excuse to give out these items," he continued mumbling to himself.
After pondering for a while, he mused to himself, "Since the Li Family no longer has a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, the talisman seeds from the mirror should also be decreased from nine to six to match the Li Family''s spections."
Lu Jiangxian struggled briefly. After all, the talisman seeds had gradually increased in number over time, deliberately timed by Lu Jiangxian to coincide with Li Tongya''s increased strength.
At that time, Li Tongya had assumed that the talisman seeds increased with the holder''s strength. Now that Li Yuanjiao wielded the mirror, the number of talisman seeds should logically also change ordingly.
Lu Jiangxian mulled over this briefly before releasing five talisman seeds in the end, inwardlying to his own conclusion.
"Never mind. Li Yuanjiao is a smart man, he''ll likely find an exnation for this himself."
Chapter 349: Generation of Xi and Yue Receive Talisman Seeds
Chapter 349: Generation of Xi and Yue Receive Talisman Seeds
Li Yuanjiao led a small group of boys up the mountain path and stood before the rear courtyard''s formation that was shimmering in white light.
Li Xijun stared at it in awe. He gripped Li Ximing''s hand and whispered, "Third Brother, is this where that rumored green and white immortal sword is...?"
"No idea," Li Ximing replied, furrowing his brow slightly. His features were sharp and smooth, yet next to Li Xijun, they seemed rather in. "I''ve never set foot in this courtyard all the years I''ve been home..." he continued as his voice trailed off.
"This is our ancestral hall," Li Xizhi exined softly, holding his coat tightly. Being much older than Li Ximing and Li Xijun who only reached up to his waist, he spoke warmly.
"After Brother Cheng and I were assessed for spiritual orifice, we were brought here to honor our ancestors and memorize our n''s history."
Realization dawned on the two younger boys while Li Xicheng stood silently at the front. Li Yuanjiao performed a series of hand seals and cast three spells before therge formation was unlocked, allowing them into the rear hall.
In the rear hall, numerous artifacts were disyed¡ªall weathered and ancient. Wolf skins adorned the walls, and prominently positioned among them was a bow of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Its surface bore countless scars that whispered of battles won and lost.
Li Xicheng and Li Xizhi exchanged nces, sharing a mix of both excitement and reverence. With a hushed tone, Li Xizhi whispered softly, "The Ebony Bow..."
Li Xicheng, a man of few words, grunted deeply. This was the bow that Li Xiangping had wielded, a fact well-known to both of them since they had already read and studied the Family History.
Li Yuanjiao nced at all four of them, then produced a jade slip and said in a solemn voice, "Do you still remember the Reception Method I instructed you to memorize before?"
The four boys looked at each other before nodding in unison.
"Yes..."
"Good! That saves me from further exnations then," Li Yuanjiao praised as he stowed away the jade slip with a satisfied smile.
He then led them through a corridor and pushed open the doors to the ancestral hall. A tablet stood atop a pedestal, its presencemanding amidst the lingering incense.
"Join hands," instructed Li Yuanjiao. The four boysplied right away, each bowing as Li Yuanjiao gently tapped their foreheads, sealing their six senses. They followed him silently to the secret chamber where the bluish-gray mirror faintly glimmered, emitting wisps of ethereal haze that resembled moonlight.
After arranging the juniors in a kneeling row, Li Yuanjiao stood before them, bowing respectfully once more. Then, he stepped forward and extended his spiritual senses into the mirror, only to discover five glowing white talisman seeds within it.
"Five...?!" he murmured in astonishment before a grin broke out on his face.
Uncle Xuanfeng must have attained the Foundation Establishment Realm!
The number of talisman seeds in the mirror reflected the strength of their family. There were a total of nine after Li Tongya had attained the Foundation Establishment Realm, and now with Li Tongya gone and the count unchanged, this pretty much confirms that Li Xuanfeng had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Too bad he''s in the remote Yi Mountain City, unable to deliver such great news to us..." Li Yuanjiao sighed to himself.
With newfound confidence, he took a step back and recited respectfully, "The Li Family of Lijing offers respect along with fine delicacies and wine... When the timees, we will remain true to our oath. With this talisman burned, we express our gratitude to the Supreme Yin."
Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense was stirred as it emerged from the mirror, scanning the four youths kneeling before him. Invisible, colorless ripples swept through them, and faint glowing white halos emerged above each child''s head.
"Yet another generation..." he mumbled to himself.
The eldest among the four was Li Xicheng, and was already about sixteen or seventeen years old. He had an honest appearance and seemed to be at the thirdyer of Embryonic Breathing Realm. His talent seemed decent, though the halo above his head measured only three cun, emitting a weak light. Lu Jiangxian''s gaze quickly swept past him.
The second youth, who was d in brocade and fur, bore a striking resemnce to Li Yuanjiao. He exuded a heroic air to him, and the gap between his eyebrows was small, lending him a sly look.
"This must be Li Xizhi... chosen to be sent to the Azure Pond Sect," Lu Jiangxian mumbled thoughtfully.
Li Xizhi, at the third stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm at the age of twelve or thirteen years old, boasted talent that was on par with Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong. Lu Jiangxian took note of his superior talent and the six-cun halo above his head.
Next was Li Ximing, whose white halo was seven cun. While his talent slightlygged behind Li Xizhi''s, Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense detected something peculiar.
"Huh?!"
He scrutinized him carefully, from the Shenyang Mansion between his brow to his trachea, and finally into the Qihai acupoint, confirming his initial suspicion.
"The red haze in his sea of qi rises fourfold, and the qi in his Shenyang Mansion is stable and can harmonize water and fire... There''s no sign of yin and yang imbnce... He has a natural talent for alchemy!"
Having read various alchemy texts and many relevant books from the Yu and Fei families'' collections, Lu Jiangxian''s knowledge far surpassed that of the Li Family. His recognition of such a trait brought him instant delight.
"Seven cun halo... After receiving the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed, he''ll be a significant genius¡ªa potential pir for the Li Family, and a valuable asset, given his potential in alchemy!"
Having stayed in the mirror and observed the Li Family''s growth over eighty years in solitude, from Li Chejing to Li Tongya, Lu Jiangxian''s heart swelled with a mix of pride and nostalgia as he continued assessing the youngest descendant before him: Li Xijun.
"...Good appearance!"
Having encountered countless cultivators around theke, including the handsome Li Chejing, the graceful Fei Wangbai, and the ethereal An Jingming, Lu Jiangxian could not help but marvel at Li Xijun''s striking features.
Li Xijun, born just a month or two after Li Ximing, naturally looked to be about the same age. Despite his youthful countenance, Li Xijun''s sharp eyebrows and bright eyes made him stand out among his brothers.
"His talent is mediocre, yet he possesses a nine-cun halo..." Lu Jiangxian noted, counting on his fingers. Though Li Xijun''s potential was only average, his nine-cun spiritual orifice set him apart from ordinary cultivators, rivaling Li Ximing''s talent before receiving a talisman seed.
"Li Ximing must receive a talisman seed... So I''ll have to decide between Li Xizhi and Li Xijun."
With an abundance of talisman seeds at his disposal, Lu Jiangxian acted generously. After a moment''s consideration, he waved his hand and sent out three talisman seeds.
"Li Xizhi will be joining the Azure Pond Sect; his cultivation speed will undoubtedly be superior to the rest... He deserves a seed. If Li Ximing is the only one to receive the talisman, he may struggle alone and the Li Family might eventually end up like the Yu Family... Although Li Xijun''s talent is average, his nine inches of halo and the talisman seed will make him a small genius. Both of them will receive a seed too!"
The three talisman seeds hovered above their heads while Lu Jiangxian held onto the remaining two for the next generation. He then handed the Golden Temple Radiant Origin Manual, Introduction to Alchemy, and Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual to each of the three boys.
With a hand seal, the three white lights exited the bluish-gray mirror obediently. They pierced through the wisps of moonlight haze, illuminating the air with an otherworldly brilliance. The ends of these streams of light subtly split into faint seven-colored hues, creating a mesmerizing sight indeed.
"Three seeds?!" Li Yuanjiao eximed in delight, watching the lights descend upon the three boys. He quickly patted each of them on the shoulder, undoing their mana-sealed six senses.
"Focus your mind, hold your essence, and circte your mana ording to the instructions in the Reception Method!" he instructed.
Chapter 350: Receiving New Techniques (I)
Chapter 350: Receiving New Techniques (I)
Li Yuanjiao watched as the three juniorsposed their minds and began meditating. He then nced at Li Xicheng, who sat at the side with his six senses still sealed off. He gently took his hand, leading him out of the courtyard and into a secluded area.
Li Yuanjiao gently tapped on the space between the boy''s eyebrows to undo the mana seal on his senses, and the boy immediately awakened. Meeting his slightly confused gaze, Li Yuanjiao asked softly, "Xi Cheng, are you training with the spear?"
Li Xicheng obediently nodded. Li Yuanjiao continued asking, "Did Aunt Qinghong ever teach you the Wing Clipper Spear Technique?"
"No. Auntie said she took the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath so she couldn''t pass it on to others, so she didn''t teach me," Li Xicheng replied eagerly.
"I see," Li Yuanjiao replied thoughtfully. He retrieved a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to the boy, exining, "Your younger brothers are inheriting the n''s legacies. This Grade Three Wing Clipper Spear Technique shall be yours to inherit. Take the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath and memorize it here in this courtyard before you leave, and you must never speak of what has happened today!"
"Yes!" Li Xicheng immediately responded. He hastily took the spiritual oath and epted the jade slip from Li Yuanjiao as if it were a precious treasure.
"Thank you, Second Uncle!"
Li Yuanjiao nodded then slowly exited the courtyard, closing the door behind him. The protective formation separating the inside from the outside hummed to life, and his expression betrayed a trace ofplex emotions.
"At least we''vepensated for it... We have no choice but to hide it from him..." he murmured with a sigh.
Li Yuanping, who had been waiting outside, shook his head slightly and replied, "The fewer he knows, the better. Apart from the family head and those who have received a talisman seed, no one else is allowed entry. This rule has been set long ago."
"You''re right," Li Yuanjiao replied with a smile before continuing, "Still, it''s a surprise that three of them received a seed... That''s beyond our expectations. It''s about time for us to check on the boys."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xizhi guided the profound pearl ording to the Reception Method''s instruction. It descended through the twelve stories¡ªhis trachea¡ªthen settled at the Qihai acupoint. Instantly, warmth spread throughout his body and his sea of qi churned vigorously.
"This!"
As a direct descendant of the Li Family, Li Xizhi practiced the best Embryonic Breathing Realm technique in the family¡ªthe Supreme Jade Meridian Nourishment Technique. It was a neutral Grade Three technique that harmonized well with most qi cultivation techniques.
Despite the technique''s minor drawbacks and potential lifespan reduction, the elerated cultivation speed made it a worthwhile endeavor. Having dedicated many years to its practice, Li Xizhi had sessfully condensed three Supreme Jade Spirit Chakras within his body, each glowing faintly with the luster of jade.
However, as the white pill entered his body, the two of the Spirit Chakras condensed by the Supreme Jade Meridian Nourishment Technique within his Qihai acupoint began to tremble slowly and gradually turned shiny...and brilliantly white.
The previously grayish sea of qi churned, gradually clearing under the white light, transforming into a clear and serene pool.
"W-What... immortal technique is this?!"
Among the six chakras of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, Li Xizhi had already condensed the Profound Scenery, Radiant Lure, and Celestial Whirl chakras. Now, the two of them within his sea of qi had transformed.
He hurriedly circted his mana and examined the Celestial Whirl chakra in his Juque Court near his lungs. Indeed, it had turned bright white too.
Just as Li Xizhi marveled at such a phenomenon, an imposing and deep voice resounded in his mind.
"Here stands the disciple of the Li Family¡ªwho has forsaken his worldly attachments... To him, I bestow the Profound Light, initiating their journey in the path of Dao, transforming them from mere mortals to saints. They will begin with discipline and ultimately ascend to truth! I grant them a scroll of the Supreme Yin Breathing Meridian Nourishment Sutra, along with the Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual!"
Li Xizhi''s mind was flooded with strange words and profound phrases, deeply imprinting themselves into his mind. He concentrated intently, maintaining focus for the time needed to burn a stick of incense before slowly opening his eyes.
The blurred scenery before him gradually sharpened into focus. Li Xizhi realized he was standing in a dim, mist-shrouded environment that seemed as ethereal as a celestial realm. Soft white mana lights bathed his surroundings, casting a gentle glow overhead.
Directly in front of him stood a tall, ancient stone tform that was adorned with intricate patterns and a dazzling light floating just above it.
"That''s..."
A bluish-gray mirror hovered in the air, with wisps of moonlight flowing out of it and creeping up along his robes. Li Xizhi could not even register Li Yuanjiao''s words. His gaze waspletely fixated on the mirror above him as he gasped softly, "What''s that, Father?"
Standing nearby, Li Yuanjiao solemnly replied, "There was once an immortal cultivator who underestimated this immortal object and attempted to capture it with his dharma artifact... He was swiftly reduced to nothingness by the Supreme Yin Profound Light, along with his artifact. If you do not fear death, you may continue gazing upon it."
Li Xizhi recoiled in shock and quickly averted his gaze, mumbling quietly but frantically, "Please forgive me!"
However, his excitement soon returned in a sh as he wondered aloud, "Is it a treasure?!"
"Perhaps even more."
Li Yuanjiao gently guided his eldest son to kneel beside him while waiting for the two younger boys toplete their reception of the Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds.
He continued in a hushed tone, "This immortal mirror has a long history, handed down through generations in our family. Anyway, what technique did you receive?"
Li Xizhi immediately understood his father''s question and replied, "The Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual and..."
Observing Li Xizhi''s astonished expression, Li Yuanjiao chuckled.
"I see you''ve realized that regardless of your previous Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivation technique, once the talisman seed enters your body, the chakras you have previously condensed will be instantly transformed into the Supreme Yin Chakras, aligning with the practice of that immortal sutra!"
Overwhelmed by this revtion, Li Xizhi was rendered speechless. After a good while, he shyly admitted, "I had thought the green and white immortal sword was remarkable enough... I never imagined our family harbored such a marvel! Even the rumored Frosty Absolute Sword of the Azure Pond Sect can''t possibly bepared to this..."
While they were talking, Li Xijun and Li Ximing had already opened their eyes and looked on with wonder.
Li Yuanping approached and spoke to them warmly before his face beamed with happiness as he announced, "Brother, both of them have received cultivation techniques too!"
"Excellent!" Li Yuanjiao smiled joyfully but quickly lowered his voice and said, "We shouldn''t be noisy here, let''s talk outside."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the much brighter side hall, two boys were writing furiously. Li Xizhi, the oldest and more skilled with his brush, had already finished transcribing the Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual.
"The immortal foundation that can be established by this Grade Three technique is known as Snow On Pine... This technique harnesses cold qi to control rain and snow, and the manual also includes a qi gathering technique. It seems quite impressive," Li Yuanjiao remarked, nodding as he finished reading the manual.
"The qi is to be gathered during the snowy season in the pine forest on a high mountain, under a cloudless moonlit sky. One can obtain a wisp of it in three months. Ten wisps make a portion," he added.
"That won''t be a problem," Li Yuanping responded with a gentle nod, "Mount Yuting is high and snowy; it should be a suitable ce to gather qi. I''ll arrange for someone to nt the pine trees there as soon as possible."
"There''s no need to hurry. The northern coastal peaks are abundant with pine forests. A trip there will be sufficient," Li Yuanjiao said, setting aside the wooden slip. "Moreover, establishing a pine forest will take time, even with the help of spells and techniques. Besides, we can''t predict the challenges that may arise with this technique..." he added with a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.
Li Yuanping immediately understood the meaning behind Li Yuanjiao''s words and nodded. As soon as they concluded their discussion, Li Xijun presented another wooden slip.
"The Golden Temple Radiant Origin Manual," he announced.
Li Yuanjiao picked up the transcribed manual from Li Xijun and read it carefully. After a moment, he raised an eyebrow in surprise and eximed, "A Grade Four technique?!"
He continued flipping through the pages eagerly, mumbling to himself in marvel.
"Excellent...excellent!"
Chapter 351: Receiving New Techniques (II)
Chapter 351: Receiving New Techniques (II)
Li Yuanping leaned over to read the manual, initially joyful until he noticed a small note in ink at the end. Their expressions suddenly changed. Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes as he said, "Recorded by Cui Mu from Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion from Wei State of Central in? This is a legacy from Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion from Wei State of Central in?!"
"Wei State?" Li Yuanping echoed, puzzled.
"I''ve heard of the northern powers like Yan State and Zhao State, but I''ve never heard of Wei State... let alone this Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion. There''s actually an immortal sect in the north..?"
Li Yuanjiao carefully ced the wooden slip on the desk. His heart was racing as he murmured, "Maybe this Wei State is an ancient territory from centuries past... That would exin why we''ve never heard of it. Seven hundred years ago when Buddhism was still confined to Mobei, Daoist sects dominated the Central in. There were reportedly over 172 states, Wei could have been one of them. If that''s true, then it makes sense for immortal sects to exist in the Wei State..."
Li Yuanjiao had gotten this information from Xiao Guiluan. After all, the Xiao Family was an ancient immortal family with ancestors who hailed from the north. Naturally, they were more knowledgeable about the history of the north; in fact, they even had a few northern Dao techniques in their possession.
However, Xiao Guiluan was a concubine-born daughter of the direct lineage, with a status akin to those in the major sect of the Li Family. Now that she had been married into the Li Family, it was even more challenging for her to obtain such information.
Li Yuanjiao could barely contain his excitement while Li Yuanping was slightly taken aback by the revtion. He quickly connected the dots and said in a serious tone, "So... you mean to say that techniques simr to this nature might have already been lost? Doesn''t that mean..."
Before Li Yuanping could finish his sentence by saying "Doesn''t that mean we''ll have a smooth ride ahead", he was interrupted by Li Yuanjiao''s sigh.
"Let''s not rush to conclusions. We should verify if there''s indeed still an immortal sect active up in the north..." Li Yuanjiao said firmly.
Listening intently from the side, Li Xizhi''s eyes flickered with curiosity. He hurriedly interjected, "The younger brothers have just begun their cultivation journey, and they will take at least ten years to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm... After I join the Azure Pond Sect, I can investigate Wei State and the Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion on behalf of our family."
"Very well!" Li Yuanjiao praised, looking more at ease now. For years, the weight of Li Tongya''s passing had burdened him, fearing he might fall short of his expectations. Now with a clear direction, he felt uplifted.
"It''s a shame Uncle Xian is from a branch of the Xiao Family. Otherwise, Auntie could help us inquire more..." Li Xizhi remarked absentmindedly, his excitement evident as he nced at the tiny script on the wooden slip.
However, Li Yuanjiao''s expression turned stern as he interrupted sharply, "Zhi''er!"
Li Xizhi raised his head in surprise, noticing the fading smile on Li Yuanping''s face as he gently exined, "Since your aunt has married into the Xiao Family, she is now one of them. Asking her to do something like that would put her in a difficult position!"
Li Xizhi, who had spent his childhood ying in the mountains, was extremely close to Li Qingxiao. Li Yuanping''s words had taken him by surprise.
"I''ve been thoughtless," he admitted.
Li Yuanjiao looked at him, then sighed.
"Our family does not match theirs in status at present, having been a n for just three generations. No matter how close we are as a family, we must tread carefully. We cannot impose undue burdens and end up souring familial ties..."
"I understand," Li Xizhi responded, cupping his fist respectfully. Li Xijun listened attentively to their conversation, his handsome face betraying a pensive expression.
Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao collected the wooden slips and nced at Li Ximing, who was still scribbling furiously with sweat beading his forehead.
Li Yuanjiao was amused by such a sight and failed to suppress a chuckle. He walked up to the boy and asked warmly, "Why haven''t youpleted your writing yet?"
Li Ximing, looking slightly flustered, gestured to the stack of meticulously written wooden slips. He carefully dipped his brush into ink and replied, "Everyone else''s entries are so short, but mine turned out so long-winded!"
Hisint drew chuckles from Li Xijun and Li Xizhi. Li Yuanjiao peered closer and saw the title on the slip¡ªIntroduction to Alchemy.
"Alchemy?!"
Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao exchanged surprised nces.
"How rare! This is the first time I''ve seen someone being bestowed an alchemy manual among the hundred arts of Immortal Cultivation..." Li Yuanping remarked.
As soon as he finished speaking those words, realization dawned on them. They simultaneously ced their hands on Li Ximing''s body¡ªone on his Qihai acupoint, the other on his throat.
"This is..."
The Li Family had never produced a skilled alchemist. After assessing Li Ximing for a moment, the two brothers had their suspicions.
Eventually, Li Yuanjiao chuckled and decided, "You can begin practicing with the manual. We''ll send someone to the Xiao Family to invite Senior Yuansi over!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile in Yi Mountain City at the southern border...
A middle-aged man d in leather armor stood silently atop the city wall, the biting cold wind whipping fiercely around him. His sharp eyebrows furrowed as he gazed down at the demon beasts gathering below him. His gray-ck eyes, tired yet steady, betrayed no emotion.
He raised the golden longbow in his hands, taking a deep breath before a radiant golden light condensed between his hands, swirling and forming a golden-white arrow.
"Take this!"
Golden-white brilliance gleamed in his eyes as the arrow streaked through the sky like a falling star, slicing through the air and leaving a trail of dazzling light in its wake.
Whoosh!
A massive eagle, asrge as a house and soaring in the sky, emitted a cry so piercing that it could crack gold and shatter stone. It pped its wings desperately, attempting to ascend, but it was toote to evade.
Its shrill cry was abruptly silenced.
Watching the eagle plummet into the distant mountain forest, Li Xuanfeng lowered his bow and straightened up. The glint in his eyes dimmed once more as he turned back toward the city, retrieving a wineskin from his chest pocket and taking a small sip.
"Brother Feng... Your archery skills have improved yet again," Fei Yihe remarked. He was dressed in white as usual as he sat down beside him with his spear.
"That demon beast was at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, yet you shot it down with just one arrow... You''re probably not far from reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, right?" he asked in a hushed tone.
"Yes."
Li Xuanfeng nodded and leaned his longbow against the wall, its weight creating a loud thud that startled the surrounding crowd.
"I''ve reached the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm, and I am ready to pick a day to enter seclusion for the breakthrough," he announced, causing murmurs of approval and well-wishes from those who were gathered around.
Li Xuanfeng acknowledged them with a wave of his hand.
Fei Yihe smiled wryly and remarked, "Brother Feng, your talent is truly exceptional. If you were still on theke, Yu Mugao and Yu Xiaogui would surely be troubled by your presence! It''s a shame we''re stuck in this hellhole, watching the Azure Pond Sect y games with the Demon King day in and day out..."
"If we win, the demons we killed belong to the Azure Pond Sect. If we lose, we be the demon''s food and nourishment. We started with fifty-six defenders on these walls; now, we''re down to just fifteen. Gambling for too long is bound to lead to losses," he continued.
Li Xuanfeng chuckled in response.
"You seem to fear death less and less now, to speak so openly and frankly about this."
Fei Yihe sighed wearily and said, "All of us are going to die sooner orter anyway. The Azure Pond Sect doesn''t care what we think."
Li Xuanfeng gazed into the distance as he took another sip of wine thoughtfully.
"I heard that the Azure Pond Sect is gathering a group of formation masters to repair Yi Mountain City''s formations?" he asked.
"Yes."
At the mention of this, the group of people was filled with joy and anticipation. Fei Yiheughed out loud and continued, "It''s been ten years since we''ve been isted from the outside world... Finally, someone ising! I wonder how much the outside world has changed over these years!"
Chapter 352: Arrival of the Cloudliner (I)
Chapter 352: Arrival of the Cloudliner (I)
The howling north wind waspletely isted outside the enclosed cabin of the Dawn Cloudliner. The wooden chairs on the Cloudliner were cushioned with brocade fabric and enchanted with spells, making them exceptionallyfortable.
"Yi Mountain City..."
Liu Changdie sank into the wooden chair as his gaze lingered on the majestic city below, feeling emotions stirring within him. He thought to himself, In my previous life, I came to this ce as an insignificant Qi Cultivator of the second heavenlyyer... In this life, I have already reached the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Looking at the ancient city before his eyes, the image of a golden longbow appeared in Liu Changdie''s mind, causing him to frown as he was filled with deep confusion.
There are more and more changes... Li Tongya killed Yu Xiaogui with his sword... This is another event that never happened in my previous life. Could the formation I set up for the Li Family have changed everything?
Liu Changdie was originally an ordinary cultivator, but with these memories, he had been living his life smoothly. Now, everything had be unrecognizable, causing him to feel a fearful chill down his spine.
In my previous life, after Li Tongya killed the Maha, he disappeared. The Master Monks of the Lotus Temple besieged Mount Lijing. I had thought of saving them to make them owe me a favor... But now, Li Tongya is still guarding the Li Family, and the bald monks of the Lotus Temple seem to have be recluses.
The Yu Family not only failed to breach the Fei Family''s defense, but they also lost Yu Xiaogui. The situation on theke is entirely different now. My past life''s memories are no longer of much use...
As the altitude continued to drop, he felt a sense of confusion, thinking, Now that Li Qinghong is not dead, the Li Family will be even more different. Without the previous life''s knowledge and assistance, Li Yuanjiao may not consider me his brother... Fortunately, I have made friends with those from the Xuan generation, so it''s not too bad.
Seeing the advantages of his rebirth gradually fading, Liu Changdie began to lose hope.
I do not know if Mufeng and Zhongqing have reached the Qi Cultivation Realm. It seems I still need to return to the Li Family... After all, I am not destined to roam the world alone.
Lost in thought, he felt a slight weight underfoot as clouds appeared beneath him. The man standing at the bow of the ship poked his head inside and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, we have arrived!"
Liu Changdie quickly stood up as they descended upon the city below. He saw a majestic great wall stretching out and covered in intricate runes, forming a unified whole and turning the entire city itself into a grand formation.
"As expected of the city left by the Moonlight Origin Mansion. No other formations of the present era could bepared to it!"
Liu Changdie had lost count of the times he had climbed up and down these city walls in his previous life, but he was still filled with emotion. Looking up, he saw eagles and sparrows circling relentlessly above thend with bones scattered everywhere. In the distance, a dense forest raised waves of leaves in the north wind.
"This is Yi Mountain City!"
Following his memories, Liu Changdiended at this first stronghold of the Yue State, and he saw the cultivators around the stronghold gathering. He searched carefully and finally saw a middle-aged man carrying a golden bow, who was smiling at him.
"Brother Xuanfeng!"
Liu Changdie ignored the others surrounding him and eagerly went over, saying joyfully, "Congrattions!"
Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow, his gaze lighting up with interest. He asked, "What is there to congratte about?"
"Hahahaha," Liu Changdieughed heartily and said, "Senior Tongya has in the Maha with his sword and forced the retreat of a prestigious n... His reputation is resounding!"
Most of the cultivators on the stronghold were from around Moongaze Lake. Hearing this, they were all stunned, finding it hard to believe and silently swallowing in fear.
Before Li Xuanfeng could speak, someone asked a question that caught everyone''s attention immediately.
"Has Senior already broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm?"
"No..." Liu Changdie replied softly as he gathered everyone to sit down and began to exin in detail. The group listened, asionally gasping and sighing.
When he mentioned Fei Wangbai''s death, Fei Yihe suddenly stood up, his face flushed with disbelief. "How is that possible?! Our Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation isn''t just for show! What nonsense are you spouting!" he eximed in shock and anger.
Liu Changdie smiled wryly, having anticipated his reaction.
"If you do not believe me, you can go to the other cities and ask around. There is nothing more I can do..."
Seeing Fei Yihe''s incredulous expression, Liu Changdie thought to himself, Losing just Fei Wangbai is far better than the entire n being wiped out!
Li Family.
In the hall, Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping stood with their cupped fists. The middle-aged man at the head wore several medicine pouches at his waist, exuding a gentle demeanor. He stroked his beard with one hand and ced the other on Li Ximing''s back, his eyes slightly closed.
"The red haze in the Sea of Qi rises fourfold, Shenyang Mansion harmonizes water and fire, Juque acupoint''s spiritual energy flows continuously, and twelve levels of the trachea align in harmony..."
Xiao Yuansi nodded lightly and said warmly, "Congrattions to both of you! This child indeed has a constitution suited for alchemy. His heart fire is bnced and just, making him particrly adept at refining pills that can enhance cultivation and break through barriers. This is quite rare!"
Xiao Yuansi was always gentle and schrly. Even when facing two juniors, he remained courteous and calm. Li Yuanjiao was overjoyed upon hearing this and replied, "Thank you, Senior!"
Xiao Yuansi chuckled and shook his head, saying kindly, "No need to thank me... but I shall ept it."
He took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Li Ximing, exining, "Your family''s Snake Dragon Tree bears fruit annually, and it is a hassle to send it to me each time. I used a private recipe to exchange this Snake Essence Pill form from my n... Consider it a meeting gift for Ming''er."
Li Yuanjiao had always heard that this senior took great care of their n and was trustworthy, which was why he dared to invite him. Unexpectedly, Xiao Yuansi presented such a grand gift, leaving Li Yuanjiao somewhat overwhelmed. "This is too much!" he eximed.
Xiao Yuansiughed, shaking his head. He let out a sigh and said, "No need to be so polite. Since you invited me, I cannot be stingy! I promised Jing''er that I would take good care of your family."
The two brothers wanted to express their gratitude further, but Xiao Yuansi simply waved them off and said, "Our family''s ancestor has been away for many years. I had just returned from gathering herbs in the mountains this month, only to hear about Tongya ying the Maha and forcing the retreat of the Yu Family... What happened?"
Li Yuanjiao felt a chill run through him, thinking to himself, The Xiao Family certainly knows the truth about Li Tongya ying the Maha... Even if they don''t know the specifics of what happened in the end, they must know that our ancestor was used as bait!
Xiao Yuansi''s gaze was calm and his eyes gentle, giving no hint of any hidden knowledge. This made Li Yuanjiao feel a cold sweat break out on his back, and he thought to himself, It seems the Xiao Family is intentionally keeping things from him... Should I tell him or not?
He hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with thoughts, feeling deeply apprehensive.
Our Li Family shouldn''t be aware of this! Although Xiao Yuansi has good intentions, a gentleman should be forthright. Perhaps Xiao Guitu and the others are using this to test us...
He then shook his head and answered, "Our ancestor returned and immediately went into seclusion. We are not aware of the details; we only know that the Maha was merely a reincarnated body."
Xiao Yuansi gazed intently at him for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully before asking, "I received a letter from my junior sister a while ago. Is it true that you have a child studying under her?"
"Indeed!"
Li Yuanjiao was eager for the change in topic and quickly called Li Xizhi over.
Li Xizhi, dressed in a brocade robe, had a dignified appearance. Although he was not as impressive as his younger brother Li Xijun, he still stood in the courtyard with a certain grace.
Chapter 353: Arrival of the Cloudliner (II)
Chapter 353: Arrival of the Cloudliner (II)
"Xizhi greets Senior!" Li Xizhi greeted as he cupped his fist respectfully.
Xiao Yuansi nodded and mused, "Yuan Tuan owes your family a great deal... She will certainly take good care of this child. Do not hesitate to ask her for anything he needs!"
However, he soon let out a sigh.
He nced down at the shimmering Dragon Coiling Pir sword hanging from Li Yuanjiao''s waist and nodded.
"This Dragon Coiling Pir has been in the Yuan Family for many years... Even though they have no sword cultivators, they never let it go. Now it has easilye into your family''s possession... That speaks volumes."
The Dragon Coiling Pir was a congrattory gift from the Yuan Family to Li Tongya when he had achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm. It eventually ended up with Li Yuanjiao, who had never thought much about it.
Xiao Yuansi continued to exin, "The Yuan Family of Mushroom Forest in owes your Li Family a great debt. Giving you Dragon Coiling Pir hardly repays even a fraction of that debt... If you need anything, you can always ask the Yuan Family for help."
Li Yuanjiao felt increasingly suspicious. Instead of feeling pleased, he grew rmed and narrowed his eyes, asking softly, "I was unaware of this matter... Could you enlighten me, Senior?"
"Well..."
Xiao Yuansi looked ufortable, pausing for several seconds before speaking vaguely, "I only recently learned of this... The Azure Crest Manifestation was... originally a substitute for Lake Moon Autumn, which is why my junior sister dyed for so many years... It is aplicated mess, and it is really difficult to exin!"
Seeing the puzzled looks on the faces of the two brothers, Xiao Yuansi changed the topic awkwardly but hastily.
"It has been many years, Yuanjiao. At such a young age, you have already reached the sixth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm!" he suddenly remarked with a forced smile.
"You tter me, Senior..." Li Yuanjiao responded politely despite his confusion.
Xiao Yuansi chuckled. "Each generation brings forth new talents... Rare, indeed!" hemended, though his words hinted to a deeper meaning behind them.
He then looked at the two juniors with a smile and, with a yful tone, said, "Senior Mutian... he''s probably more than just a simple Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, is he not?"
The two brothers exchanged nces, both equally confused. Li Yuanjiao respectfully replied, "The family records do not provide detailed information..."
Xiao Yuansi waved his hand and interrupted him before saying loudly, "I see, never mind then... I still have important matters to attend to, so I won''t intrude any longer! Please inform me when Tongya emerges from seclusion."
"Of course!"
The two immediately responded before Xiao Yuansi left by riding the wind. Li Yuanjiao respectfully saw him off beyond the borders, then returned.
The affairs in the hall had already been taken care of. Li Yuanping was holding the alchemy recipe, reading it in deep thought. Seeing Li Yuanjiao stride in, he smiled wryly and said, "Senior Xiao has been so considerate, we have no way to repay him. The Xiao Family indeed has shown great kindness to our family... Moreover, we will still need to rely on the Xiao Family in the future."
Li Yuanjiao responded with a sigh, "Xiao Yuansi is Xiao Yuansi... the Xiao Family is the Xiao Family. Senior Xiao''s intentions are protective and caring, but Xiao Guitu may not necessarily feel the same. This matter is not urgent... But how did the Yuan Familye to owe us a favor?"
"It seems to be rted to the sword immortal... Lake Moon Autumn is the sword immortal''s Dao foundation. Perhaps Yuan Tuan owed a favor? It is just a pity we cannot ask the ancestor..."
The two pondered about the matter for a little while longer but ultimatelycked information and could not deduce much, so they had to give it up.
Li Yuanjiao picked up a jade slip, assessed it with his spiritual sense, and said warmly, "This Golden Temple Radiant Origin Manual is indeed excellent, and the Radiant Origin Pass has many wonders. However, collecting the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth known as Golden Yang Radiant Origin is quite difficult."
Li Yuanping had also read this technique and immediately responded, saying, "This Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth indeed sounds extraordinary! Fortunately, the technique also includes methods for gathering this qi. Otherwise, such ancient spiritual qi would be impossible to find even if we turned Yue State upside down."
Li Yuanjiaoughed and shook his head, reading aloud, "Seek a pass extending for thousands of li in the desert... wait until dusk when the wind and sand are calm, and the sunset is half-set. Then, use your mana to extract the power of the glowing sun. There is only a moment to obtain this energy... requiring two years to get a wisp, and ten wisps to make one portion."
"Ancient methods are indeed troublesome!"
Li Yuanping sighed and reminded him, "It is even more than that. The Golden Yang Radiant Origin must note into contact with gold, iron, copper, water, or wood; otherwise, it will transform into Scorching Smoke Qi... It also requires a fine jade box for storage."
"That is not a concern."
Li Yuanjiao still had a Purple Mansion Realm jade box that Li Tongya had found on the ind in the heart of theke, and it was more than sufficient to store the Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi. He was now considering where to find such a pass.
"Brother, put these matters aside for now. The Dawn Cloudliner is arriving!" Li Yuanping said as he shook his head slightly.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The golden cloudliner glowed brilliantly, its golden wings cutting throughyers of clouds. It glided over the dark greenke water, reflecting dazzling golden light.
At the front of the Dawn Cloudliner, a youth in simple green attire stood quietly. His features bore a strong resemnce to Yu Mugao, but while Yu Mugao''s expression was often harsh and sinister, this man''s face was calm and serene.
"Moongaze Lake, formerly known as the Moongaze Marsh..."
The Dawn Cloudliner docked slowly in Milin Prefecture. Yu Muxian stood with his hands behind his back, his ethereal demeanor making his simple clothing appear elegant and dynamic. Just by standing there, he drew the gazes of all the cultivators on the ship.
Yu Muxian had been away from home for over twenty years, making it hard to recognize the familiarndscape beneath his feet. He gazed down in indifference, continuously ying with the jade buckle in his hand.
The jade buckle was as clear as ice, emitting a faint moonlight-like glow as he twirled it in his hand. Yu Muxian''s eyes gazed steadily forward, seemingly observing something in silence.
"Moongaze Lake... truly a blessednd."
The jade buckle in his hand glimmered faintly with colored light, and the immortal foundation within him, the Molten Metal Cave, continued to operate. Shadows appeared in his pupils as he counted silently, "The Yu Family''s Jade Smoke Mountain, the Li Family''s Qingche Sword, and Daoist He''s Nine Gates Temple."
"Hmm?"
A trace of purple light shed in Yu Muxian''s eyes, and he smiled slightly, whispering to himself, "Oh... there is also a hidden spear!"
He withdrew his gaze and nced around him, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"A minor Mount Yue cultivator possessing a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact... Ah, he must be from Duanmu Kui''s Mount Wu, I guess it''s no surprise they''d have one or two valuable items on hand!"
Yu Muxian examined for a while, then frowned with a hint of disdain in his eyes, envisioning the mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He thought to himself, The Mountain of Human Heads... what a sinister dharma artifact!
Despite his disdain, Yu Muxian could not help but admire the clever design of the artifact. He then mused, There are ten Foundation Establishment Realm legacies and five Foundation Establishment Realm artifacts around thiske. Aside from the three sects and seven gates, no ce in Yue State is richer than Moongaze Lake!
While he was lost in thought, the Dawn Cloudliner came to a gentle stop. Yu Muxian disembarked slowly, hearing a chorus of respectful greetings from the mountain below.
"Wee, Emissary!"
Yu Muxian looked up to see a crowd of bowing cultivators. He rubbed the jade buckle and responded, "No need for formalities!"
The cultivators straightened up right away and returned to their seats. A middle-aged cultivator with a haggard face but hawk-like, piercing eyes that were full of sinister intensity approached Yu Muxian, bowing deeply and cupping his fist.
"Yu Mugao of the Milin Yu Family greets the Emissary!"
This man was his older brother by blood.
"Rise."
Yu Muxian''s icy demeanor faltered slightly as he gazed at Yu Mugao, who slowly lifted his head.
Yu Mugao spoke respectfully and courteously, "Thank you, Emissary."
The two brothers locked eyes for a moment, their gazes shing in silence¡ªone with a hawk-like gaze, the other as cold as snow. Their faces bore a striking resemnce, yet their auras were entirely different.
Chapter 354: The Jade Buckle (I)
Chapter 354: The Jade Buckle (I)
The group of cultivators from Milin Prefecture paid their tributes. The Dawn Cloudliner, with its colorful radiance and long tail, docked in the sky, casting a beautiful golden-red reflection.
Meanwhile at the Li Residence...
In a dim room shrouded in white mist, a bluish-gray mirror slowly floated up, vibrating incessantly and emitting dazzling white light. Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense suppressed the trembling of the mirror, and he was filled with suspicion and rm.
"T-This is...!"
Various illusions appeared before his eyes¡ªa rushing clear stream, a treasure vault glittering with mana lights, a young boy''s tender face, fair arms, towering mountains with immortals traversing them, gushing spirit springs, and a cave-dwelling abundant with spiritual qi.
Finally... the vision lingered on the radiant Dawn Cloudliner.
"There is a mirror fragment on the Dawn Cloudliner!"
Lu Jiangxian had experienced this reaction before. The jade stones by theke and the jade pendant in the old Daoist''s hand had both caused simr feelings of trepidation. Now that the mirror''s power had gradually recovered, these impulses had grown even stronger.
"Who is it..."
The mirror floated up again, with twelve ancient runes shining one by one on its surface. If not for Lu Jiangxian''s suppression, it would have already flown away long ago, drawing the fragments together in reunion.
This sensation and phenomenon even emanated from the mirror, ricocheting within the sealed dark room and transforming into various mystical visions.
Patterns on the ground suddenly sprouted osmanthus trees with golden-white flowers hanging down from their branches. Their stamens were like gold, exuding a pleasant fragrance, and appearing particrly brilliant in the misty moonlight.
The rustling sound grew louder, and a few energetic and lively toads hopped out from the shadows, ying among the fallen osmanthus flowers. A jade buckle appeared in the reflection of the bluish-gray mirror.
"Yu Muxian..! It is on Yu Muxian!"
Amidst the illusions, Lu Jiangxian recognized the face resembling Yu Mugao''s, exuding an ethereal aura. Who else could it be but Yu Muxian?
RUMBLE!
The sunlight above the Li Residence dimmed. The mirror''s internal world shook, its tremors tracing back through the connection of the talisman seeds. Outside, the talisman seeds trembled, emitting white light.
Li Ximing, who was the closest, was quietly reading an alchemy text in the great hall. His qihai acupoint suddenly churned, radiating brilliant light that caused him intense pain, making him cry out in agony.
"AHH!"
He curled up in pain, breaking out in a cold sweat almost immediately.
Li Yuanping, who was reading a secret letter in the n Affairs Courtyard, was startled by the child''s scream. He jumped up, not even bothering to put on his shoes, and rushed to the child''s side.
"Ming''er! Ming''er!" he called out anxiously.
Li Ximing was Li Yuanping''s only son and a precious asset to the Li Family. Naturally, his distress threw Li Yuanping into a panic. He reached out to touch the child''s forehead and found it cold and mmy, much to his dismay. When he lifted his hand, he discovered it was covered in transparent mucus.
"This..."
The mucus was icy cold. As it dripped to the ground, it transformed into golden-white petals that scattered everywhere, leaving Li Yuanping stunned.
The petals were striking, shattering upon contact with the ground and rising as bright, moon-like yin energy. The sight blew Li Yuanping''s mind.
Dou Yi, standing at the far end, was terrified by the scene. With Li Yuanping''s lifespan limited and Madam Dou being heartless, the entire Dou Family depended on young Li Ximing. Dou Yi hurriedly rushed up the steps, rmed by the turn of events.
"Young master?!"
As the Li Family ascended to the status of a n, more and more rogue cultivators visited, and the standards for such visits were modeled after those of other ns in Yue State. The upper staircase had over twenty steps, and it took Dou Yi several moments to climb them all.
Dou Yi had just ascended thest few steps when he rushed forward to find Li Yuanping. Li Yuanping turned abruptly, his gray-ck pupils dted, and his forehead covered in a sheen of sweat. The gentleness in his face waspletely gone, reced by a grim and fierce expression.
"Get out!!" he shouted fiercely.
Dou Yi had been with him for almost ten years and had only ever seen such an expression on Li Yuanjiao''s face. Li Yuanping was usually much moreposed and gentle, and seeing him like this now made Dou Yi''s heart pound in fear. He stumbled backward, missed a step, and fell, rolling down the dozen steps.
THUD!
Living a life of luxury and indulgence in recent years had left Dou Yi quite plump, and he rolled all the way to the bottom of the stairs with a heavy thud. Without daring to lift his head, he grabbed his robe and scrambled out of the hall hastily.
Li Yuanping stood at the top, his body trembling slightly. He dared not move an inch, using his wide robe to cover the trembling Li Ximing in his arms.
"Everyone, leave!" he instructed firmly.
It was not until the clinking sounds of armor had faded and the guards at the sides of the stairs had retreated did he quickly grab the alchemy book from the table.
In his haste, Li Yuanping knocked over ink and brushes which fell with a tter. He paid no attention to the mess, frantically patting the few bright streams of moonlight-like energy beneath him.
Only when thest of the Supreme Yin Moonlight disappeared and the entire hall had turned cold did a bit of color return to his face.
"Father..."
Li Ximing attempted to rise amidst the scattered osmanthus petals.
Li Yuanping hurriedly embraced him, relieved to find that the boy was unharmed. He murmured, "Immortal Mirror... It''s the Immortal Mirror..."
Meanwhile on Mount Wutu...
Li Xizhi suddenly looked up, staring at the scattered petals in his hands.
Hundreds of li away at the Cloud Crowned Peak market, Li Xuanxuan, who was bargaining with a customer, abruptly fell silent, hearing a faint rustling sound...
In the Yi Mountain City...
In the Milin Prefecture...
All those who received a Profound Pearl Talisman Seed looked up simultaneously, gazing into the distance pensively as an ethereal face and a translucent, smooth jade buckle appeared before their eyes.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao suddenly raised his head, the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in his qihai acupoint vibrating intensely. A point of white light appeared in his eyes and he felt a strong attraction, his gaze fixed on Yu Muxian''s white robe.
"Yu Muxian... Jade buckle..."
Seeing Yu Muxian seemingly sense something and look up, Li Yuanjiao slowly lowered his head. He had once read in the family''s history about Li Tongya back when he was still a mortal, who had ventured into the reed marshes at night and found that jade stone, a feat that seemed impossible.
The vastness of the reed marshes made it akin to finding a needle in a haystack... How could a mere mortal find it? He had attributed it to Li Tongya''s unique fortune, which was different from ordinary people.
Now, truly facing the legendary treasure that could fuse with the mirror, he realized its wondrous nature. Even without looking at Yu Muxian, he could feel the jade buckle in his hand.
At the top, Yu Muxian felt a sudden sense of unease, a fleeting pang that vanished as quickly as it came, leaving no trace behind.
Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators who had refined their immortal foundations possessed certain mystic abilities. A sudden premonition was a significant matter, but after thoroughly inspecting himself and finding nothing out of ce, he could only cast suspicious nces at those below him.
"Milin Prefecture''s Yu Family!"
The attendant of the immortal sect began calling names, and Yu Muxian dismissed his distractions, quietly watching his brother bow and withdraw. He then stood upright.
His gaze lingered on Yu Mugao''s gaunt cheeks and haggard figure. The burdens of thought and schemes seemed to have crushed the man. Despite being at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm cultivation, he was tormented to this state by the internal strife and intense struggles within the Yu Family.
With Yu Xiaogui severely injured and in seclusion, the various branches of the Yu Family, already dissatisfied with Yu Mugao''s control, had erupted into chaos, each faction acting independently. If not for the absence of news confirming Yu Xiaogui''s death and Yu Mugao''s ruthless methods, the situation might have already turned disastrous.
Chapter 355: The Jade Buckle (II)
Chapter 355: The Jade Buckle (II)
"Sixteen stalks of Autumn Moon Grass, two thousand jin of Purple Jade Spirit Rice, ny pieces of Azure Pool Essence Stones, seven Long Sea Pearls..."
Box after box of spirit items were carried to the stage. Yu Muxian, rubbing the jade buckle in his hand, reflected internally, If I had not found this treasure as a child, which allowed me to see through people''s true nature and sever worldly ties, I might have ended up mired in the power struggles of the Yu Family at Moongaze Lake¡ facing a tragic fate.
"Li Family of Lijing!"
Yu Muxian was lost in thought when the attendant''s voice brought him back to reality. A young man in ck came forward, broad-shouldered with high-set eyebrows, exuding an ambitious air that made him seem untrustworthy at first nce.
"Li Yuanjiao of the Li Family greets the Emissary!" Li Yuanjiao responded withposure, his gaze fixed on Yu Muxian''s robe.
Yu Muxian nodded and said warmly, "I have long heard of the Sword Immortal''s fame."
He cupped his fist, smiling as he continued, "The Qingche Sword that the Sword Immortal wielded was crafted by my master''s own hands. Yuanwu Peak has always had good rtions with Qingsui Peak. There is no need for such formalities, fellow Daoist."
These words not only stirred Li Yuanjiao but also drew the attention of the various families around theke. Yu Mugao slowly closed his eyes, saying nothing.
"So, there is such a connection¡"Yu Muxian''s excessive friendliness made Li Yuanjiao uncertain of his intentions. He responded vaguely, and Yu Muxian said no more, simply standing there with his hands sped behind his back.
As box after box of spirit items were brought up and all the families reported, an attendant verified everything. A young cultivator in green then stepped forward, respectfully addressing Yu Muxian, "Senior Brother, the three ns and sixteen prominent families of Moongaze Lake, along with forty-one smaller households, have all been checked. Please review them."
Yu Muxian took the record from him and read aloud the names of the families marked for discrepancies¡ªeither underreporting or for the poor quality of spirit items. Immediately, several disciples in green stepped forward and dragged the offenders out unceremoniously.
Thud!
The people from several families trembled and kneeled. Yu Muxian chuckled lightly and asked, "Junior Brother, how are these cases usually handled?"
The reporting disciple looked disdainfully at the families below and replied, "They shall be punished ording to the severity of the discrepancies¡ªsome by executing their elders, others by removing their family name, and some by banishment to Yi Mountain City."
The crowd below immediately began to tremble with fear, begging for mercy out loud repeatedly. Yu Muxian nced at them and saw that several families were under the jurisdiction of Daoist He on the western shore¡ªmost likely unable to pay double taxes.
He then said gently, "Just confiscate the storage pouches from a few people to make up for the shortfall. Otherwise, we''ll have to require Senior He''s advice and trouble him."
"Understood!"
As soon as he had finished speaking, several uniformed cultivators seized the storage pouches from those individuals. Despite their pleas and cries, the cultivators handed the pouches to Yu Muxian, who calmly tucked them into his sleeve. Then he said, "The ns should stay; the rest may leave now."
The smaller households felt as if they had received a pardon and they bid their farewells, then quickly scattered like the wind. In an instant, only the Azure Pond cultivators and the Fei, Li, and Yu families remained on the mountaintop.
Although the Fei Family had lost Fei Wangbai, they were still recognized as a n by the Azure Pond Sect and therefore did not leave. Representing the Fei Family was Fei Tongyu, who had just reached the Qi Cultivation Realm. His aura was unstable, indicating that he had used some medicinal aid.
Yu Muxian swung his sleeve, stepped forward, and cupped his fist to Fei Tongyu. His immortal grace was evident as he said regretfully, "You must be the young master of the Fei Family¡ I have heard about Senior Wangbai''s passing. As a cultivator under our sect, his death caused quite a stir within the sect, and we sent people to investigate."
Shaking his head with regret, he continued in a low voice, "Unfortunately, the culprit remains elusive, and we have not uncovered any information."
"Thank you for your effort..." Fei Tongyu responded, pretending to be moved by his words as he exchanged pleasantries with Yu Muxian.
Yu Muxian then said, "The Fei Family has provided tributes for many years. Our sect feels obliged to offer somepensation."
Fei Tongyu''s eyes lit up, understanding that the crucial moment had arrived. Yu Muxian smiled and said, "My master has decided that the next disciple slot will go to your n!"
These words shocked the three families. Several moments of silence passed, with only the whistling wind breaking the quietness.
"What?!" Yu Mugao was utterly stunned, his expression one of disbelief.
Li Yuanjiao appeared thoughtful while Fei Tongyu eximed in amazement, "Which peak would that be?"
"Naturally, it will be my Yuanwu Peak!" Yu Muxian announced.
After the initial shock, Fei Tongyu was visibly overjoyed. Fei Wangbai''s greatest regret while he was alive was not being able to support a disciple within the Azure Pond Sect. Now, despite knowing Yu Muxian''s likely had ulterior motives, he could not bring himself to refuse such an offer.
My family still needs to send disciples to the sect, so how could the Fei Family refuse? How could they possibly refuse¡
Li Yuanjiao stared silently at Yu Muxian''s ethereal profile, lost in countless thoughts. For a moment, he was speechless, only thinking to himself, This Yu Muxian... he is indeed a remarkable figure. With this single move, he has restored the tripartite bnce on theke and caused a rift between the Fei Family and mine... Even if the ancestors were still alive, there would be no changing this. He keeps that jade buckle hidden inside his robe, close to his body¡ It must have many miraculous properties! Obtaining it will definitely not be an easy task... I must n carefully.
Meanwhile, Yu Muxian discussed some details with Fei Tongyu. Afterward, he turned to address Yu Mugao and Li Yuanjiao, saying softly, "Greetings, fellow Daoists!"
Yu Muxian was a Foundation Establishment Realm immortal cultivator, and both of them felt unworthy of being addressed as fellow Daoists by him. Before they could decline and refuse, Yu Muxian continued, "Every seventy years, the various peaks of the sect rotate their jurisdictions. Moongaze Lake now falls under the jurisdiction of Yuanwu Peak. In recent years, my junior brothers have been handling peak-rted affairs, and we have not made proper agreements with you all. This has caused many disturbances on theke, which is our peak''s fault."
Li Yuanjiao dared not let him apologize and quickly brushed things off. Yu Mugao, on the other hand, stared at Yu Muxian in confusion and disbelief, as if he could no longer recognize his younger brother.
Yu Muxian then continued, "So I reported to my master, and Yuanwu Peak has re-evaluated the current situation and redefined the boundaries, which I have brought to you."
With a gentle pat on his silk pouch, three light green jade seals appeared in his hand, which he distributed to the three of them. His gaze finally carried a hint of warning as he said coldly, "With these boundaries set, minor conflicts between minor households will not be our concern, but the major ns must not engage in further disputes! This is also my master''s intention..."
Li Yuanjiao received the light green jade seal and brushed it lightly with his hand. The seal emitted a golden light, revealing severalrge golden characters¡ªUnder the jurisdiction of Azure Pond Sect.
Immediately, the boundaries'' outlines appeared in silvery light, epassing Lijing, Huaqian, Huazhong, Yuting, and even including Mount Wutu and Eastern Mount Yue.
The Li Family had previously held a jade seal left by Si Yuanbai, which only marked the four towns of Lijing. It could notpare to this new one.
Now that Yuanwu Peak had acknowledged the legitimacy of the Li Family''s territory, Li Yuanjiao felt a sense of relief and responded, "We will strictly follow the Daoist Master''s decree!"
Fei Tongyu was even more overjoyed. Of the three major ns on theke, his was the weakest. He responded eagerly and felt greatly relieved.
Seeing Li Yuanjiao and Fei Tongyu both agree, Yu Muxian nodded approvingly.
"Thank you, fellow Daoists."
Chapter 356: Conclusion (I)
Chapter 356: Conclusion (I)
As soon as Li Yuanjiao put away the jade seal, he caught sight of a stream of light rising in the distance, quickly approaching them. A man and a woman were riding a flying shuttle and soonnded nearby. Several Azure Pond Sect disciples rose on their flying shuttles promptly, forming hand seals as they shouted in unison, "The Azure Pond Cloudliner is here, who goes there?"
The woman, riding the flying shuttle, furrowed her brows but did not stop. She bypassed the disciples, and the spells they cast were futile as they were blocked by a few talismans she threw out, causing them to fall heavily to the ground.
These disciples were outer disciples of the Azure Pond Sect, only slightly higher in status than attendants, and were all at the Embryonic Breathing Realm. The woman managed to barge through them, panting as shended beside Li Yuanjiao.
"Brother!" she urgently called out.
"Qingxiao?!"
Li Yuanjiao was taken aback, greatly shocked. The female cultivator before him, her face slightly flushed, was none other than Li Qingxiao. She was only at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, yet she stood behind him with her hand on her sword, watching the others intently.
Li Yuanjiao, understanding that Li Qingxiao hade to support him, felt deeply moved but also slightly angered. He whispered sharply, "Why are you so reckless?!"
A man at the back hurriedly stepped forward, pulling Li Qingxiao behind him, and awkwardly cleared his throat before speaking in an apologetic tone.
"Xiao Xian of the Xiao Family greets the immortal sect''s Emissary. My wife does not understand the rules and has been disrespectful¡ I hope you can forgive us.""No matter." Yu Muxian''s gaze lingered briefly on Li Qingxiao and Xiao Xian before continuing, "I will not hold you here any longer. Feel free to go about your business!"
"Thank you, Emissary. Yuanjiao shall take his leave now," Li Yuanjiao replied as he discreetly nced at Yu Muxian''s robe. Li Qingxiao seemed bewildered and was about to say something but closed her mouth obediently after receiving a stern look from Li Yuanjiao.
The Li Family members, feeling as if they had received a pardon, quickly flew off. Li Qingxiao and Xiao Xian, unable to fly since they were not Qi Cultivators, followed on their flying shuttle.
After traveling a few li, Li Qingxiaoined, "Brother, how could you keep such a huge matter from me?! I only heard about it from home. Did Yu Muxian¡ give our family any trouble?"
"No, he did not." Li Yuanjiao shook his head and exined the situation to her briefly. Then, he turned to Xiao Xian and cupped his fist. "I apologize for my younger sister''s ignorance!"
"No apologies needed!" Xiao Xian hurriedly replied, waving his hands.
"I am only an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator without much ability and rely on Xiao Family''s influence. This was not only Qingxiao''s impulsive decision; I''ve considered it as well."
Seeing Xiao Xian speaking up for Li Qingxiao, Li Yuanjiao thought more highly of him. Li Qingxiao, ignoring the politeness between the two men, nodded thoughtfully and said, "I heard Yu Muxian is the precious son-inw of Daoist Master Yuanwu and usually does not involve himself with the Yu Family. From what I have seen, he seems quite unkind and unloyal¡"
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, distracted as he was still thinking about the jade buckle. Xiao Xian hesitated briefly before speaking in a low voice, "Not necessarily¡ I have a n uncle who was close to the Yu Family. He mentioned knowing the younger generation of the Yu Family."
Feeling it was awkward to speak about the Xiao Family''s past attempts to support the Yu Family, Xiao Xian reluctantly continued as both Li Qingxiao and Li Yuanjiao were looking at him expectantly.
"My n uncle once said that the Yu Family has four sessors! Yu Mugao is thoughtful and resourceful, Yu Muyuan is bright and courageous, Yu Mujian is pure-hearted, and Yu Muxian is gentle and generous¡ If Yu Muxian leads, with Mugao, Muyuan, and Mujian as his supporters, they will shine for generations. No one could oppose them."
He paused, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Now that Yu Muyuan was dead, Yu Muxian was heartless, and Yu Mujian had left the family, only Yu Mugao was left struggling to support the family. Xiao Xian could not help but think to himself, n Uncle said it with such confidence... no wonder he has not returned home for years. He must be afraid of bing aughing stock.
While he pondered silently, he spoke, "Judging by those words, Yu Muxian should not be this heartless."
Li Qingxiao looked thoughtfu as she said, "Who knows? Perhaps he feels he cannot afford not to be heartless, to gain others'' trust, or maybe..."
Her voice became soft and eerie as she continued, "Perhaps Tang Yuanwu has cast some divine ability on him, nted some spell in his mind¡ I have heard that the Purple Mansion Realm''s divine abilities are the most sinister. It is possible that one of the old ancestors from the Azure Pond Sect has taken over his body."
With these words, both of them felt a chill down their spines. After a brief silence, Xiao Xian whispered, "He''s a Daoist Master¡ Let us not call him by name so casually."
Tang Yuanwu had been a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator for many years. He founded Yuanwu Peak and then went into seclusion to cultivate a second divine ability, passing the position of peak master to his son.
Tang Yuanwu''s son managed the peak for many years and reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. It was only a few years ago that he perished in an attempt to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm, forcing Tang Yuanwu toe out of seclusion to take over once more.
Xiao Xian exined all this and added, "Yu Muxian also married Tang Yuanwu''s daughter. He is quite famous in the sect, and it will not be long before he bes the master of Yuanwu Peak."
Li Yuanjiao finally realized why Yu Muxian was so eager to stabilize the situation around theke¡ªit was all to prepare for his ascension to peak master. He nodded slowly as it all came together in his mind. The groupnded before the Li Family''s mountain, where Li Yuanping was already waiting in the courtyard.
"Borhter Ping!" Li Qingxiao called out.
Li Yuanping was momentarily stunned upon seeing her but then greeted her happily, "Sister Qingxiao!"
Li Qingxiao, having been married into the Xiao Family for several years, had grown ustomed to their ways. Despite her ordinary looks, her elegant attire made Li Yuanping take a moment to recognize her.
After a brief chat, she smiled and said, "I have not seen our parents in years. I will first take my husband to greet them, and thene down the mountain to discuss matters with Second Brother."
"Of course," Li Yuanjiao responded with a tender smile as he nodded. After Li Qingxiao and her husband went up the mountain, he then hurried into the hall and asked in a low voice, "Has there been any unusual activity at home?"
Li Yuanping nodded calmly and replied, "Ximing, Xizhi, and Xijun all had visions. When I asked them carefully, they all described seeing a man in white holding a jade buckle."
Originally, Li Ximing had been cultivating in Lijing Town under Li Yuanping''s watch. With Li Xizhi preparing to enter the Azure Pond Sect, he had been spending more time with their mother. Li Yuanping had already called the children back and hidden them on the mountain.
Li Yuanping himself had not received any talismans and thus felt nothing significant. However, Li Yuanjiao had felt it profoundly. He shook his head and said gravely, "This is... caused by the immortal mirror. Up the mountain we go!"
Chapter 357: Conclusion (II)
Chapter 357: Conclusion (II)
On Mount Lijing...
The two men quickly undid theyers of protective formations and strode into the courtyard. The garden was lush and vibrant, bathed in golden sunlight, exuding a sense of vitality.
They hurried to the ancestral hall, pushing open the thick stone door. Immediately, a burst of white qi current rushed out, forcing them to step back as a chilling sensation enveloped their bodies.
The mist swirled in the courtyard, causing leaves and flowers to fall. The green branches turned yellow and withered, creating a cascade of dead leaves. In an instant, the once spring-like courtyard moments before had turned into an autumn scene, filled with a chilling atmosphere.
Li Yuanjiao stepped into the secret chamber and saw five or six small osmanthus trees that had sprouted within. Snow-white jade rabbits and yellow-green toads hopped around on the ground, filling him with astonishment.
The ground was covered with fallen osmanthus flowers, and white moonlight mist spread everywhere. A bluish-gray mirror floated in the air, emitting ribbons of bright light, exuding an impressive aura.
"This is..."
Li Yuanjiao carefully stepped around the hopping toads and rabbits on the ground, approaching the stone tform. He greeted respectfully, "Descendant of the Li Family greets the immortal mirror!"
Whether it was his words or the gradual departure of the Dawn Cloudliner returning to the Azure Pond Sect in the south, the light on the mirror gradually dimmed but remained dazzling.
Li Yuanping, only at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, could not withstand the aura and dared not enter the chamber until the light had faded slightly. Even then, he felt the cold biting into his bones.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the various phenomena in the dark chamber exploded, transforming into thick moonlight, resembling wisps of pure white mist. They swirled rapidly around Li Yuanjiao, who was kneeling in the center. Before him, the mist condensed into a jade buckle.
Li Yuanjiao kneeled before the stone tform, watching the moonlight coalesce into the clear jade buckle. With a solemn expression, he said, "Li Yuanjiao, a descendant of the Li Family, has received themand..."
The radiance slowly receded and the mirror reverted to its dull, gray state. The moonlight flowed back into the mirror from the stone tform. Li Yuanjiao bowed once more before standing up slowly.
The two brothers exited the dark chamber, the stone door closing silently behind them. Li Yuanping then said gravely, "Brother, Yu Muxian is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and a member of the Azure Pond Sect at that... We must n carefully."
"I understand," Li Yuanjiao replied, narrowing his eyes. He continued in a low voice, "Besides, it seems Yu Muxian has also benefited from that jade buckle. He constantly keeps it hidden in his sleeve, often rubbing it subconsciously... His remarkable achievements and rapid cultivation on Yuanwu Peak must be linked to this treasure."
"That makes it even harder!" Li Yuanping eximed in exasperation as he shook his head and said seriously, "First, we should send Xizhi into the sect to gather information. As long as the jade buckle remains with Yu Muxian, we can eventually find a way to get our hands on it."
Nodding, Li Yuanjiao left the courtyard with his brother. Li Yuanping continued, "Regarding the matter of the Golden Yang Radiant Origin, this is of great importance and concerns our future path. It will take considerable time and effort. We need a reliable and capable Qi Cultivator to collect the qi."
"Are you suggesting...?" Li Yuanjiao''s voice trailed off as his mind conjured up a name. He exchanged a nce with his brother and asked, "Uncle Chen Donghe?!"
"Exactly!" Li Yuanping pursed his lips and continued, "To the west of Moongaze Lake lies the territory of the Golden Feather Sect, with several deserts... We can send someone to search that area. If there is no pass that stretches a thousand li, we may have to head north."
"Go ahead and make the arrangements," Li Yuanjiao responded, fully trusting Li Yuanping. When he noticed Li Yuanping''s paleplexion, he frowned and asked, "Why do you look so frail? There are many family matters to handle... Let Xicheng get some practice. Use more spirit herbs and do not strain yourself."
"Heh." Li Yuanping shook his head and replied, "My body is inherently wed, like a leaking jar. No amount of spirit herbs will help. Maintaining my current cultivation without regression has already consumed many resources."
As they spoke, they arrived at a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain, taking seats one after the other. Li Yuanping waved his hand to shift the topic away from himself and continued, "Speaking of Xicheng... he is soft-hearted and indecisive, popr among the younger generation, but not fit to manage the household. A few days ago, I gave him some tasks, but he was indecisive and was easily swayed by others'' opinions. I had to send him to Mount Yue to manage the Spirit Paddies."
Although Li Yuanjiao trusted him, Li Yuanping made sure to exin the situation to avoid any misunderstanding, lest his brother thought he was mistreating the eldest son of the second lineage.
Li Yuanjiao, holding a cup of tea, replied, "It is not a big deal. I see Xijun is clever. Both he and Ximing show great promise. We should not be too hard on Xicheng."
Li Yuanjiao, once fierce and bloodthirsty, had mellowed significantly after enduring the deaths of his older brother and granduncle.
cing his cup down, he recounted Yu Muxian''s visit in detail. Li Yuanping sighed, "Now that a Fei Family disciple has entered Yuanwu Peak, they are at least a junior fellow of Yu Muxian, possibly even his disciple. They will find it hard to align with us as before..."
"More than that..." Li Yuanjiao shook his head and was about to respond when he was interrupted by a well-dressed woman entering the courtyard.
She greeted warmly, "Brother, Yuanping."
Li Qingxiao had just ascended the mountain, meeting a few from the Yuan generation. When she asked about the family''s situation, Li Yuanping exined everything in detail, speaking softly, "The family has been doing well these past few years... The ancestor has also gained some insights and is in seclusion for cultivation. You do not need to worry."
"All right..." Li Qingxiao''s eyes were slightly red, showing a hint of reluctance. She spoke softly, "My husband has finished his duties in the n over the past few years. We nned to return to Mount Yu, but when I heard about this, I hurried over. I cannot stay long and have to quickly bid farewell to our parents."
"Mount Yu is quite far from Moongaze Lake. If anything happens at home, it will be difficult to return promptly," she exined, then kneeled and bowed deeply.
"I must trouble Big Brother and Brother Ping to take care of my parents. Qingxiao is forever grateful!" she said.
"Just go without worries..." Li Yuanjiao said as he turned to the side, refusing her formalities. He shook his head slightly and continued in a low voice, "Focus on assisting your husband on Mount Yu. Do not worry about family matters to avoid unnecessary gossip. In a few years, when you have children, bring them back to see me."
"Yes!" Li Qingxiao responded gently and left with Xiao Xian on their flying shuttles.
Li Yuanjiao then turned to Li Yuanping and said, "Soon, I will return to Mount Wutu for seclusion. By then, Qinghong should also be out of seclusion. While she stabilizes her newfound power, you may approach her for any issues."
"Understood..." Li Yuanping responded, watching Li Yuanjiao calcte the time.
Li Yuanjiao then spoke in a serious tone, "Inform Qinghong that three months from now, on the Earth Pig day, wait in the mountain together. I wille home then."
Trantor Note: What is Earth Pig Day (Ji Hai Day)?
The Chinese calendar uses a 60-year cycle called the sexagenary cycle, whichbines two sets of symbols: the 10 Heavenly Stems (like a set of numbers) and the 12 Earthly Branches (like a set of letters).
Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches:
Heavenly Stems: These are like numbers from 1 to 10 (Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui).
Earthly Branches: These are like letters from A to L (Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai).
The cyclebines one stem with one branch to create 60 unique pairs, like "1A," "2B," etc.
Ji is the sixth stem, and Hai is the twelfth branch.
Hence, Ji-Hai (Earth Pig) Day is one specificbination in this 60-pair cycle. It represents a specific day in this cycle, which repeats every 60 days.
TLDR: "Ji-Hai Day" is like a special code or name for a specific day in a traditional Chinese 60-day calendar cycle, simr to how we have names for the days of the week. This cycle repeats every 60 days. We don''t really use this system anymore in the modern day.
Example:
Li Yuanping was momentarily puzzled, not understanding the significance of the date. The annual sacrificial ceremony was in winter, which was far from that date. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "What is this about...?"
"It has been five years..."
Li Yuanjiao sighed deeply, his lips barely moving as he used his mana to transmit his voice to Li Yuanping''s ear, "It has been five years since the ancestor''s life jade broke. Following his instructions, we should open the entrance to Meiche cave dwelling to wee his immortal remains."
Chapter 358: Five Years Since My Death
Chapter 358: Five Years Since My Death
Three months passed quietly. Li Qinghong, d in jade armor, arrived by riding the wind.
She still looked like she was in her early twenties. The spear in her hand was sharp and her jade armor was crystalline, adorned with intricate patterns. This was an Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifact.
Armor-type artifacts were extremely expensive, second only to alchemy furnaces. This set was discovered when the family conquered Mount Yuting, and Li Tongya had gifted it to Li Qinghong, who in turn had given it to Li Yuanping.
However, Li Yuanping insisted on sending it back, having Li Xicheng carry it to Mount Yuting for Li Qinghong, making poor Li Xicheng run back and forth, exhausted and out of breath.
She took a few steps into the hall. Li Yuanping, who was seated at the end of the hall, raised his head. The spirited woman stood there conspicuously with her spear and dazzling jade armor. He quickly got up and smiled warmly with fondness in his eyes.
"Sister Hong."
Li Qinghong smiled radiantly and stepped forward, her eyes shimmering with purple hues as she assessed Li Yuanping. She then remarked in a spirited tone, "Your cultivation is about to be overtaken by Xizhi!"
Li Yuanping smiled gently. Li Ximing stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Ximing greets Auntie!"
"Our family alchemist has arrived," Li Qinghong said teasingly, making Li Ximing blush.
Li Yuanping saw that Li Qinghong''s cultivation had advanced significantly, noting she had been at the fifth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm for a while, and sighed, "You and Brother Jiao''s cultivation speed is truly astonishing. Back then, Yu Mujian was considered highly gifted for reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm before thirty. You and Brother Jiao are not even thirty, yet both of you are already at the fifth and sixth heavenlyyers respectively. How truly remarkable!"
Li Qinghongughed heartily before speaking seriously, "An Jingming reached the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm in his twenties... We are nothingpared to him."
Li Yuanping nodded, recounting recent events. Li Qinghong listened carefully, pondered for a moment, and said, "I spent some time with the Fei Family and am familiar with the Fei brothers¡ªFei Tongyu and Fei Tongxiao."
Her eyes gleamed with a purple hue as she continued softly, "Fei Tongyu is handsome, gentle, and amiable, butcks decisiveness. He can go with the flow but not survive adversity. Fei Tongxiao is brave and resolute but loyal, and would not betray our family''s kindness."
Li Yuanping rarely heard news about these two, so he cherished this information, listening and taking notes mentally. Li Qinghong then smiled and said, "Even if a member of the Fei Family joins the sect, these two would not easily turn against us. At most, they would be indecisive and try to bnce both sides, so there is no need to worry!"
They conversed for a while, bing somber as they remembered their purpose today. Li Yuanjiao and Li Xuanxuan were already approaching the hall. Li Xuanxuan appeared to have just rushed home from the market.
Now over fifty, his temples were graying, and he was stern and unsmiling. The younger generation quickly went up to greet him. The four of them, all d in white robes, exchanged nces. Li Yuanjiao then gave them the solemnmand.
"Let us go up the mountain."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meiche Peak cave dwelling was discovered by Li Xiangping and Li Tongya, who used the Supreme Yin Profound Light to break it open. It had been renovated multiple times with smooth stones,plex formation patterns, and two majestic stone lions.
The four of them stood on the tform before the cave dwelling. Li Yuanjiao performed a series of hand seals and cast a spell, but the door of the cave dwelling remained motionless. He was slightly stunned and frowned.
"It is sealed from the inside..."
Seeing this, the other three turned to Li Qinghong. She practiced spear techniques and had mastered lightning-type skills, excelling in breaking through barriers. Li Yuanping cupped his fists and said, "Elder sister, please."
Li Qinghong, hearing this, stepped forward with her spear, silently apologizing in her heart before swinging the spear. Lightning surged along the spear, concentrating at the tip of it.
"Ha!"
Li Qinghong thrust her spear with great force, swinging it down with a backhand strike. Purple lightning, taking the form of a serpent dragon with its ws bared, crashed into the stone door.
This was the Dragon Reflection technique gifted by the Fei Family five years ago, adept at breaking formations and defeating enemies. Li Qinghong had practiced it for years and mastered it, and it was perfect for this asion.
BOOM!
The formation on the stone door, primarily designed for gathering spiritual energy, suddenly lit up and shattered. Li Yuanjiao and Li Xuanxuan had prepared in advance, pressing their hands against the wall to absorb the aftermath and protect the stone door.
When thest trace of purple lightning disappeared, Li Yuanjiao exhaled deeply and slowly pushed open the stone door.
Whoosh¡ª
A cold wind rushed out from the cave instantly, dispersing into the sky. The three carefully ascended the steps and entered.
Inside, on a stone bed, a white-clothed youth rested his chin on his hand with a sword on hisp. His eyes were closed, his ck hair flowing down, with green water pooled on the floor. The stone table by the door had dew dripping from it.
The four stared in a daze at the youth on the bed, bowed together, and then saw the white-clothed youth dissolve into green spirit water, leaving behind coral, ss, mica, and basalt scattered on the ground.
Li Yuanjiao stepped forward and saw writing on the stone table, carved deeply into the surface, with characters like flying dragons and dancing phoenixes¡ªbold and vigorous.
"I have been dead for five years. My eyes have be ss, which can be ced in a box and buried. My bones have turned into mica and basalt; I hope future generations will discard them into the mountain streams for craftsmen to pick up, to be used as a foundation or beam.
My internal organs have turned into green water. Pour it into great rivers and seas, so that I can see the world''s scenery. The rest of me has turned into coral and talc, to be scattered in the mountains and forests, or added into medicine and paint.
Final words of Li Tongya, of the Li Family."
In the room, the four remained silent, each with different expressions. Li Xuanxuan gently touched the stone table while Li Yuanjiao took out a jade box, carefully cing the two pieces of ss inside.
He then respectfully removed the Qingche Sword from the bed, holding it close, and said to Li Qinghong, "Sister, please gather the basalt and mica, collect the spirit water, and find a mountain stream and a great river. I will first take Granduncle back to the ancestral hall."
Li Qinghong, with her head bowed, kneeled before the bed, lost in thought. After several moments, she finally managed to utter a word from her lips.
"All right..."
She took out a jade box, carefully picking up the ck and white, crystal-clear spirit items with her hands, then used a spell to condense the green spirit water into a water ball. She held it in her hands, then flew away.
Drifting away from Mount Lijing, Li Qinghong flew in silence for a while, searching all around until she finally found a mountain stream.
The spring water trickled melodiously, and the ground was covered with orchid grass. Not far away, there was a small vige of mortals, which suited Li Tongya''s wishes. She took out the mica and basalt from the jade box and carefully ced them into the spring, one by one.
After finishing her task, Li Qinghong sat down nearby, resting her chin in her hand, gazing thoughtfully.
"Awooo... Awooo..."
She was slightly startled and looked around with reddened eyes. She then noticed a fox with fiery red fur sitting by the stream, crying loudly.
Li Qinghong hesitated, then cautiously stood up and said respectfully, "Junior Li Qinghong greets Senior!"
"Damn it!" the fox cursed, looking up at Li Qinghong.
It spat out a spirit herb and said angrily, "Li Tongya sealed the mark I left on him. I just found out he is dead now, and I had gone into the mountains to find this medicine for him for nothing! What a waste!"
Though cursing, the fox drooped its head, looking dejected. It nced at her, picked up a piece of mica from the river, threw the spirit herb back into its mouth, and drawled, "I came to find Li Tongya but saw you burying him. Just happened to stop by."
Then, it took off on a demonic wind, disappearing into the sky like a ck wind, heading toward the depths of Mount Dali.
Li Qinghong stood still for a moment, slowly bowed in the direction it had left in, then flew off to find the great river.
The serene mountain stream returned to tranquility. Dew dripped softly, and the stream water tinkled as it flowed. After a long while, a figure slowly emerged from the void.
This person wore white robes, his loose clothing adorned with a piece of green jade at the front of it. His face was indistinct, and a sword dangled from his waist. He stood with his hands behind his back.
"Li Tongya..."
He looked down at the mica and basalt in the stream. Lifting one white cloth shoe, he gently kicked a stone, which rolled and tumbled into the water.
Chapter 359: Testing the Horse (I)
Chapter 359: Testing the Horse (I)
A group of direct descendants discussed for a while and decided to keep Li Tongya''s funeral private, only hanging white silk on the mountain. The few direct descendants paid their respects individually before dispersing.
The news of Li Tongya''s passing had already been known to a few direct descendants, who hadpleted their mourning period three years ago. Now, they merely felt a brief moment of sorrow before quickly returning to their respective duties.
Li Xuanxuan stayed at home for a few days, which was a rare opportunity for him to see Li Yuanping every day. He held Li Ximing with a smile, ying with him as he asked gently, "Ming''er, how much have you read from the alchemy books?"
"I can already summon the Pill me!" Li Ximing responded happily as he nodded obediently, bringing his hands together to summon a pure white me. It was as gentle as jade and as cool as water, quietly dancing between his palms.
Li Yuanping happily took Li Ximing in his arms and looked at the smiling Li Xuanxuan, whispering, "Father, since you rarely return, you should stay home for a bit longer. Let the others in the family handle the market affairs..."
"No." Li Xuanxuan''s expression immediately turned serious as he replied, "I am old and have long lost my drive. Second Uncle saw this clearly, which was why he sent me to the market."
His usually stern face showed a hint of remorse as he continued softly, "Your granduncle understood well. I am not truly talented at overseeing the family; at best, I am just a caretaker. I had made many mistakes while overseeing the family over those years..."
He sighed with a hint of guilt in his voice as he continued, saying, "Back then, the family had only a few members, and my father died young. My uncles always felt like they owed me, so they left the family''s responsibilities on my shoulders."
With a tinge of regret on his face, he added gently, "Xuanling is actually far more capable than myself. Second Uncle''s favoritism toward me kept him in the background. Even though my father died young, he was still beloved by the vigers and respected by many."
"And me... what about me...?" Li Xuanxuan sighed deeply, his voice hoarse, "A hundred years from now, how will people speak of me...?"
It was the first time Li Yuanping saw his father like this, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, Li Xuanxuan smiled slightly and continued, "Fortunately, the family is thriving and orderly. You are better than I am, so do your best!"
With a proud smile, he patted Li Ximing''s head, then stepped out of the courtyard and flew away.
Li Yuanping chuckled quietly and looked down. Li Yuanjiao entered the hall just in time, seemingly having waited outside to avoid interrupting their conversation. He sat down, and soon, a person came forward, bowing.
"Family Head, the lord of Eastern Mount Yue, Shamoli, hase alone with a horse, saying he has broken through to the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and wishes to ascend the mountain to cultivate, and is no longer seeking status and power."
"Shamoli?"
Li Yuanping raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Yuanjiao, whispering, "I remember Shamoli has a son named Li Jiman, raised in our family... He is part of our Li Family branch. A few years ago, he went to Mount Yue to manage a city."
"Correct." Li Yuanjiao simply responded as he swirled his cup slightly, indicating that he had already considered this matter. Li Yuanping flipped through the documents on his desk and upon finding a small letter, he frowned as he read it.
"The assessment of the n Affairs Courtyard is that he is courteous and possesses the demeanor of a gentleman... What does Brother think of this person?"
Li Yuanjiao, who had spent years cultivating in Eastern Mount Yue, was familiar with these matters. He shook his head upon hearing the question.
"Outwardly, he appears respectful, but inside, he isbative and far lesspliant than Shamoli. However, the influential families in Eastern Mount Yue are powerful, and using him as a weapon is not a bad idea," he said thoughtfully.
"Oh." Li Yuanping put away the small letter and took a sip of tea.
At this moment, Dou Yi, who had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, finally found his chance. He spoke softly, "Family Head, Shamoli has tamed a demon horse. It is at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, just a notch below the one from Jianixi. It is said to leave no tracks in the snow and moves like a ghost."
"Oh?" Li Yuanping looked up upon hearing this and exchanged a cheerful nce with his brother.
Li Yuanjiao asked warmly, "Is it a good horse?"
"Of course!" Dou Yi replied fawningly.
However, Li Yuanping shook his head and said, "A good horse must be tested. One that is too wild can harm its rider, while one that is too docile cannot travel a thousand li."
Dou Yi nodded while visibly looking confused, and Li Yuanjiao chuckled as he said, "Then I will leave it to you, Brother Ping..."
"Rest assured, Big Brother!"
Li Yuanping read the letter in his hand and nodded firmly, then said in a deep voice, "Let him in!"
The person at the lower end of the hall responded and left. Soon, a man dressed in fine clothes and a jade crown entered, bowing respectfully.
"Shamoli greets Family Head!"
This was none other than Shamoli, the ruler of Mount Yue, now at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Although he practiced various unrefined qi, his high-grade technique made himparable to cultivators of pure qi.
Li Yuanping looked at him and spoke warmly, "Since you wish to renounce your position and cultivate on the mountain, will you follow my brother to Mount Wutu?"
"I could not ask for more!" Shamoli readily replied as he kneeled down on one knee.
After the formalities werepleted, Li Yuanjiao stood up and said with a smile, "Then I shall return to the mountain first!"
"Alright!" Li Yuanping nodded, watching his brother and Shamoli leave. He then waved to Li Ximing, who had been crouching quietly by the side observing everyone. He then said with a smile, "Go and change into your riding clothes."
Li Ximing''s eyes lit up instantly as he asked, "Father, where are we going?"
Li Yuanping removed his cloak and said warmly, "To test the horse!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The climate over Moongaze Lake had always been stable, with extreme droughts and floods being rare urrences. This year, the rain arrived as expected, falling steadily and marking the end of summer as the evening breeze grew cooler.
Recently, Li Yuanping had been in high spirits. Dressed in riding clothes, he rode his horse at full gallop, his usually pale face now flushed with excitement. His son, Li Ximing, nestled against his chest, giggling continuously.
"Hyah!"
Li Yuanping urged his horse forward, galloping down the road and leaving the convoy of carriages, adorned with ck gs, far behind them. Normally found reclining on a soft couch, he now exuded a rare heroic aura,ughing heartily and looking carefree.
The Li Family had grown quite prosperous. The horse under Li Yuanping was a tribute from Mount Yue, named "Zhongsuo". It moved silently like a ghost and possessed the strength of someone at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, having been personally tamed by Shamoli and presented to Mount Lijing.
Thrilled with his new steed, Li Yuanping raced from the outskirts of Lijing Town to the outskirts of Wutu City in Mount Yue, with Li Ximing enjoying every moment. His ck hair flew in the wind as he asked, "Father! Where are we?!"
"This is eastern Mount Yue," Li Yuanping replied, his spirits high. He suppressed a cough in his throat, reined in his horse, and pointed his whip toward the northern mountain range.
Smiling, he exined, "Beyond these mountains lies Wutu. Legend has it that Lord Xiangping once led his troops through here, only two li from Mu Jiaoman''s army. He held his breath and reined his horse, narrowly escaping disaster."
Li Ximing listened intently. Li Yuanping continued in a gentle voice, "These mountains descend into Wutu City, the border city of Mount Yue. It is quite prosperous, and Li Jiman has been managing affairs here for ten years."
Chapter 360: Testing the Horse (II)
Chapter 360: Testing the Horse (II)
"Li Jiman..." Li Ximing pondered for a moment, then said, "Son of Shamoli, heir to the throne of Mount Yue... Soon to inherit the throne."
"Indeed," Li Yuanping agreed with his son''s words. As he nced around, he saw rain dripping from the leaves and knew that the Jade Court guards and several guest cultivators were closely protecting them. Rxing, he let the horse follow the road at a leisurely pace.
He rode absent-mindedly, his ears twitching slightly as he spoke with interest, "Li Jiman is a clever man, but he is belligerent and treacherous... outwardly respectful but inwardly deceitful."
The horse snorted and climbed a high slope, revealing a panoramic view of the scenery. Screams and roars echoed through the air, mingled with the sight of blood-stained ground.
On the in below, the walls of Wutu City were visible in the distance. A group of emaciated Mount Yue vigers, trembling and wielding hoes and pitchforks, had surrounded a gray wolf. The wolf, which appeared to have a low level of cultivation, snarled and roared incessantly.
On a nearby hill, a brown carriage fluttered with gs, and long spears were arranged in a row. A group of soldiers sat idly,ughing and joking with each other. At the top sat a young man who was holding a fruit andughing heartily.
"That must be Li Jiman!" Li Yuanping remarked casually.
In his arms, Li Ximing frowned and whispered, "Father, what is he doing?"
"Watching a show," Li Yuanping replied coldly. He watched as a blueblood belowughed loudly and threw a fruit, hitting the wolf demon on the head, provoking it. In its anger, the wolf howled and tore a nearby man to shreds in an instant.
The peasant, frail and small, was quickly reduced to a pile of remains, further inciting the wolf''s fury. It continued howling madly.
The other nobles and Li Jiman on the hill watched intently and burst intoughter as the body fell apart, guts and blood spilling everywhere. Li Ximing could not bear the sight and turned his head away.
"Watch carefully," Li Yuanping patted his shoulder gently and said, "Remember this scene... It will teach you what the prominent families might do behind your back if thews are not strictly enforced."
He paused and then continued, "When cultivation stagnates and the future seems bleak, when they tire of their luxuries and possess power and strength far beyond ordinary people, they will alwayse up with new ways to entertain themselves."
Li Ximing nodded thoughtfully. Li Yuanping then sneered and said, "Bring me my bow!"
A Jade Court Guard quickly handed him a longbow. Sitting steadily on the horse, Li Yuanping exhaled, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the people below. He said softly, "Watch closely, my son."
Whoosh¡ª
The arrow shot through the air, its runes glowing with bright white light, descending like a meteor to the ground.
Li Jiman, stretching his arm and holding a fruit, felt indifferent to the scene before him, and seemed to be merely going through the motions. Tian Rong, who was standing beside him, stepped forward and said with a smile, "Jiman, how about this? Quite amusing, is it not?"
"Very amusing!" Li Jiman responded as he nced at him with hidden disdain, thinking to himself, The Tian Family controls the politics of Eastern Mount Yue... With the old man about to step down, how can I be a puppet like Shamoli? But Tian Zhongqing is cautious. To get leverage on them and negotiate, I must start with Tian Rong...
He seemed to be watching the wolf demon''s desperate struggle, but his mind was preupied with figuring out how to seize control of Eastern Mount Yue''s politics. Just then, a blinding white light descended from the sky.
Boom!
The wolf demon, barely at the first stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, could not withstand the arrow and exploded into pieces, with its blood sttering everywhere. Tian Rong, who had beenughing, looked as though he had been pped in the face. He jumped up at once and roared,"Insolence! Who dares to disrupt my entertainment!?"
Li Jiman had already risen and looked up. With his peak Embryonic Breathing Realm vision, he instantly recognized the person on the mountain as his mind went nk with fear, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Li Yuanping..."
He fell to his knees with a thud, prostrating himself on the ground, his forehead pressed tightly against the earth. A surge of panic and terror washed over him, his back soaked with sweat instantly, his eyes bloodshot.
The Family Head despises those who oppress and harmmoners... I am finished! Who set me up... Tian Zhongqing... yes, it must be the Tian Family... Tian Zhongqing... Damn it! No wonder he wanted me toe to this remote ce for a feast! I''ll remember this, Tian Rong!
A wave of unease swept over the gathered Mount Yue lords, and they all kneeled on the ground. Tian Rong stood there in a daze for a few moments. After attempting to pull some of the kneeling people up, he too realized what was happening and kneeled, bewildered.
Halfway up the mountain, Li Yuanping, d in riding attire, held the delicate Li Ximing in his arms, his expression calm as he quietly observed them.
"Father... They are so afraid of you! Are you going to kill them?"
The boy''s clear voice echoed through the mountain, sending chills down the spines of those below. Li Jiman clenched his eyes shut, wishing he could tear Tian Rong and the Tian Family to pieces.
Li Yuanping steadily held the reins, leaning close to his eldest son''s ear and whispered, "No. Li Jiman is a smart man, but Tian Zhongqing and the Tian Family are even smarter."
He handed the bow to one of the Jade Court Guards without looking at the people kneeling below with their foreheads touching the ground, and whispered to Li Ximing, "Father will now teach you how a wise man controls a group of wise men."
"All right!" Li Ximing answered expectantly.
Li Yuanping then smiled coldly, tugged the reins, turned the horse around, and Zhongsuo began to walk quietly, its hoofbeats silent, slowly disappearing into the forest they hade from.
The Jade Court Guards on both sides nced coldly at the people below before following the horse and vanishing as well. After several breaths, Li Jiman finally raised his head and shouted, "Family Head, you have unparalleled insight! I am grateful beyond words!"
Only the whistling wind answered him, and hatred almost overflowed from Li Jiman''s eyes.
"The Tian Family... I, Li Jiman, will never coexist with you!"
He stood up, ring at Tian Rong with hatred and cursed, "You brat, you are good at pretending! Tricking me to watch this show must have taken you a lot of effort! I knew it! I knew it!"
Li Jiman was convinced that Tian Rong had received orders from Tian Zhongqing, intentionally luring him here to be seen by Li Yuanping. He drew his sword with a ng and shouted, "Scoundrel! How dare you deceive me!"
Tian Rong looked utterly confused, unable to grasp what had just happened. Li Jiman''s expression changed rapidly, restraining the urge to strike. He kicked Tian Rong in the shoulder, sending him flying over some distance, rolling on the ground with a pained cry.
"Get lost!"
Watching Tian Rong flee in panic, Li Jiman''s face darkened. Unlike the other Mount Yue lords, he was of Li Family blood and subjected to the n Affairs Courtyard''s discipline. Even if Li Yuanping did not punish him, it would not be long before someone came to investigate.
Thinking about the trouble ahead, Li Jiman felt a chill in his heart.
"Damn it!"
Chapter 361: Dispute Between Master and Disciple (I)
Chapter 361: Dispute Between Master and Disciple (I)
Li Yuanping rode his horse forward, feeling the onset of a cough as his excitement waned. The riding uniform he wore was cold and mmy from sweat. Li Ximing, sensing his father''s difort, asked, "Father, how have you been feelingtely...?"
"Heh."
Li Yuanping did not answer. His face remained pale as he rode up to the carriage with the ck gs fluttering above it. He dismounted, handing the reins to Dou Yi, who quickly took them. Li Yuanping then said, "Take this horse to... to Xicheng. It shall be his mount. Starting tomorrow, there is no need to prepare a carriage for him anymore."
He bent down and entered the carriage, beginning to remove his attire. Li Ximing, understanding his father''s needs, lit the brazier inside. Li Yuanping coughed twice, sat by the fire, and spoke gently, "Sitting high in the hall, the letters from various towns always paint a picture of peace. Riding this horse for these past few months, and seeing things with my own eyes, has finally set my mind at ease. Now that we have observed Li Jiman, Ming''er... what do you think of him?"
Li Ximing''s face, illuminated by the fire, turned a bit golden-red. He poked the coals with a stick, recalling his thoughts as he finally replied, "I see him as arrogant and cold-hearted."
"Hmm."
Li Yuanping nodded in agreement, speaking softly, "In your opinion, would it be better for Mount Yue State to fall into the hands of the Tian Family or Li Jiman?"
Li Ximing furrowed his brow slightly and responded, "I think it makes no difference who holds it. It depends on who can give our family more benefits... Thend of Mount Yue is vast, and the spirit goods and paddies they send up are too few."
Li Yuanping did not expect such profound insights from a child. He sighed softly and said, "It is not just Mount Yue. As our n grows, open and hidden struggles within the seven towns have intensified. shes between prominent families and branch lines are fierce. If it were not for the n Affairs Courtyard and the Jade Court Guards maintaining order, there would be even more disgraceful incidents.
"The n has existed for five generations... If we count from the day our forefather returned to establish it, it has been nearly a century. Achieving sess is indeed easy, but maintaining a household is difficult."
As father and son conversed in the carriage, the lead spirit horse snorted and stopped. Outside, Dou Yi called out, "Family Head, we have reached the town."
Li Yuanping led his eldest son out of the carriage. Dou Yi approached and whispered, "Family Head, Chen Donghe and the others are already waiting in the hall."
Li Yuanping hummed in acknowledgement as he walked into the hall. Despite being only an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, the Qi Cultivators inside stood up from their seats respectfully.
Li Yuanping took the main seat and first looked at Chen Donghe, asking politely, "Uncle, what is the situation?"
Chen Donghe, now in his fifties at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, cupped his fist and replied gently, "I have prepared my luggage and am ready to head west with Jingtian."
Li Yuanping nodded in understanding as he reached over and picked up a storage pouch from the desk. He walked down the steps and handed it to Chen Donghe. He then said solemnly, "These are the talismans and Spirit Stones prepared by the family. The town has also arranged two Unrefined Qi Cultivators from Mount Yue to assist with minor tasks... Please take care, Uncle!"
Chen Donghe and his wife had always intended to travel. Officially, they were said to be adventuring, but in reality, they were heading west to the deserts of the Golden Feather Sect to collect Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi.
This was a secret mission. Hearing that Li Yuanping had arranged for two Mount Yue cultivators to apany him, Chen Donghe looked up in surprise. Li Yuanping smiled and said, "Do not worry, Uncle. These two are heavily bound by ties and have sworn a spiritual oath. They can be trusted."
Mount Yue''s cultivation methods were simple and archaic, aligning with the bloodlines of its various tribes. They were easy to practice but not effective for achieving significant power. Over the years, only five unrefined cultivators emerged, mainly tending to spirit nts which were of limited use.
To collect the Golden Yang Radiant Origin by oneself would take at least twenty years. Chen Donghe naturally understood Li Yuanping''s intention as he nodded in understanding and expressed his thanks. Given the presence of outsiders, he did not say much more. He simply epted the silk pouch and took his leave.
After Chen Donghe left, Li Xicheng stepped forward and respectfully reported, "Family Head, over the past five years, Eastern Mount Yue has paid its tribute: 2,100 jin of spirit paddies, 200 White Essence Fruit, 200 jin of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice, and eleven types of various other spirit items."
He paused before continuing, "The total value is seventy Spirit Stones! They have already been sent down the mountain."
"Good." Li Yuanping nodded in approval. The Azure Pond Sect barely managed the small households in the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation realms, only collecting a small tribute to establish a hierarchy, but the taxes on ns were steep.
As a n, the Li Family had to pay a tribute every five years, a significant amount of 10,000 jin of Spirit Paddies, equivalent to a hundred Spirit Stones; 500 White Essence Fruit and 500 jin of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice, also worth a hundred Spirit Stones; and an assortment of other spirit items totaling thirty Spirit Stones."
Currently, the Li Family could only produce less than half of this amount. The remaining hundred-plus Spirit Stones were a constant source of worry for Li Yuanping.
In previous years, they supplemented this deficit through the Cloud Crowned Peak market, issuing tasks for external and family cultivators to collect herbs and hunt beasts. Combined with the talismans drawn by Li Xuanxuan and others, they could barely generate forty to fifty Spirit Stones.
Additionally, they relied on the Ebony Mine on their territory, which, through full exploitation, could yield another forty to fifty Spirit Stones over five years. The rest was covered by Li Yuanping''s frugal management.
"Furthermore, we must provide resources for the family cultivators," Li Yuanping muttered, troubled by the modest revenue from Mount Yue as reported by Li Xicheng.
He moved his cup on the desk and mumbled, "Mount Wutu stillcks arge formation and it is truly impoverished... such annual deficits are unsustainable."
Li Xicheng stood respectfully before him. Seeing that his earlier report had been fairly smooth without any signs of awkwardness, Li Yuanping could not help but ask, "What is the situation in Mount Yue?"
Caught off guard, Li Xicheng hesitated for several moments before nervously replying, "The Tian Family holds power... Prince Li Jiman is brave..."
"Enough," Li Yuanping interrupted, noting that Li Xicheng did not assertively say "The Tian Family rules" or "The Tian Family controls the politics." He hadpletely lost interest in hearing more and kindly dismissed him.
"Go and cultivate."
"Yes!" Li Xicheng cupped his fist and left.
Li Yuanping sighed deeply, turning to look at Li Ximing, who was diligently studying nearby. He softly remarked, "Xicheng is honest and straightforward, kind and generous... In the future, if you manage the family, you can employ your Xicheng, but he cannot be given sole responsibility."
Li Ximing was quite fond of his elder brother Li Xicheng, so he was at a loss for how to respond, simply burying his head in his book. Fortunately, someone came forward and reported, "Family Head, there is news from the Yuan Family."
"Oh?"
Li Yuanping immediately looked up. The person continued, "Immortal Master Yuan Tuan has reached Mushroom Forest in and will arrive at Moongaze Lake on the full moon day of the eleventh lunar month."
"Good!" Li Yuanping said as he pped his hands together, instantly delighted. It was now the third day of the eleventh month, meaning Yuan Tuan would arrive in twelve days. He smiled and said, "Send someone to reply that our family eagerly awaits the Immortal Master''s visit."
Chapter 362: Dispute Between Master and Disciple (II)
Chapter 362: Dispute Between Master and Disciple (II)
The rain in Linghai Prefecture was continuous. Located in the south of Yue State, it was surrounded by mountains, humid and stifling. Rainwater gathered in the valleys, often flooding the low-lying areas.
A young man trudged through the water in the dense rainforest, annoyed by the constant croaking of frogs. He frowned and grumbled, "Master, why are we circling back to this godforsaken ce?"
"Who knows what madness has taken over the Azure Pond Sect..."
The man behind him, with wild hair and a fierce look, walked on a ck mist and spoke in a hoarse voice, "They did not send even one rted Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... We have to first cross Linghai Prefecture and then head to Yi Mountain City at the southern border! This body is already useless. If I had not practiced Blood Drinker, suppressing this body, it would have long turned into a puddle of pus from Metallic Essence erosion..."
The young man squinted his eyes and said ambiguously, "But Master, are you not searching for some special Dao foundations? If you forcefully enter Yi Mountain City, you may never return and have to keep heading south. If you reach the depths of the southern border, where will you find a body for your soul transfer..?"
This young man was none other than Jiang Yan, who had been missing for many years. Many cultivators were causing trouble all over Yue State under his name while he had secretly returned to Linghai Prefecture.
A trace of suspicion shed in Jiang Yan''s eyes as he asked this question tentatively. Jiang Boqing, however, waved it off nonchntly and replied, "Your Master, a genius who reached the Foundation Establishment Realm at thirty and Purple Mansion Realm at sixty, will figure something out when the timees!"
Jiang Yan shook his head andughed, then responded simply, "Since Master ims to be a genius who achieved Foundation Establishment Realm at thirty and Purple Mansion Realm at sixty, why did you abandon the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao and switch to practicing curses and strange scriptures?"
"Damn it..." the rough man groaned, his wrinkles deepening with his changing expression.
He grumbled, "I was a genius back then, oblivious to the filth between the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao. I never met anyone with the same immortal foundation as mine, always burying myself in cultivation... Later, when I reached the Purple Mansion Realm¡ªOnly then did I realize that the Lord of Mount Wu, Duanmu Kui, cultivated the same Dao!"
He controlled the body that was on the brink of copse, his expression twisted and hideous, barely managing to smile as he continued, "Duanmu Kui is a figure of overwhelming power in his era... How could I ever wait for him to make a move? It scared me so much that I immediately diminished my divine abilities and cut down my Dao foundation, seeking emptiness to create talismans. I lost most of my cultivation in the process, which is how I became like this."
"Oh?" Jiang Yan remainedposed and asked, "What does seeking emptiness to create talismans mean?"
Jiang Boqing shook his head, a hint of pride on his face as he exined, "This is a method I obtained from an ancient text. It involves treating one''s life divine abilities as talismans, turning one''s entire cultivation along with the Dao foundation into an immortal talisman, transitioning from the Golden Core Dao to the Shamanic Talisman Dao..."
A glimmer of hope appeared on his face as he continued warmly, "When I was young, I received the legacy of a predecessor from Moonlight Origin Mansion. This technique was part of it, and it is not easy to master. Only I, who sought the Supreme Shaman''s Three Nine Blood Essence that had a close rtionship with talismans, managed to seed!"
"Turning one''s entire cultivation into talismans..."
Jiang Yan pondered these words, then suddenly looked back, this time with tears glistening on his face as he asked in a low voice, "Master... are you now turning my cultivation into talismans?"
Jiang Boqing, still babbling on, suddenly froze when he heard this and cursed, "What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Jiang Yan, however, became more certain. His tears gradually stopped as he stared into Jiang Boqing''s eyes and said coldly, "Although I do not cultivate the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, I understand that this path cannot be easily switched. Turning a core into a talisman is already the limit, how can one so casually seize metallic essences?!"
His eyes glinted as he continued coldly, "If my guess is correct, Master, your metallic essence was already heavily damaged... Now that it has disintegrated, there is no more opportunity for you to seize any Dao foundation and start anew!"
Jiang Boqing sighed loudly as his angry expression gradually calmed, turning into a look of appreciation. He said softly, "Indeed, I have no chance of seizing a body..."
Jiang Yan took a step back, seeing that Jiang Boqing waspletely unguarded. A bitter smile appeared on his face as he snarled, "It seems you and the Azure Pond Sect are of the same ilk. No wonder... No wonder the Azure Pond Sect, a colossal entity, could not capture even a small cultivator like me after so many years of wandering through the five prefectures."
"So much bloodshed along the way... and every time I broke through a stronghold of the Azure Pond Sect, materials suitable for breakthroughs always appeared... Those resentment qi and blood qi collected dozens upon dozens of years always ended up in my hands one gourd after another."
His pupils dted, and his fists were clenched so tightly they nearly bled. He then screamed, "Jiang Boqing! What a self-directed, self-acted y... You and the Azure Pond Sect each got what you wanted... You have really put on such a good show!"
"You were never trying to seize some special immortal foundation... It was just aforting lie for me! The Three Nine True Talisman in my qihai acupoint, the Shamanic Blood Talisman in my Shenyang Mansion, those were what you plotted for!"
His venomous voice echoed through the mountains, silencing Jiang Boqing. Flesh fell from Jiang Boqing''s face in shreds. After a few moments, Jiang Boqing spoke.
"I was indeed close with Buzi, and the devil gue was indeed a trade of interests between the Azure Pond Sect and myself... That is why the resentment qi and blood qi were sent to you one after another. You are a smart child, and you guessed all of these correctly."
He paused, shaking his head slightly as he continued, "But my metallic essence is damaged beyond repair. No talisman or seal can save it. The two shamanic talismans on you are something I nurtured myself... They are exceptionally miraculous, but they are not meant for body seizing."
Jiang Boqing''s body was covered in blood, yet his gaze remained gentle. He said softly, "upying this body is merely to protect you. Without special elixirs or matching techniques, it will eventually perish along with this body. I thought I could hide it from you until I sent you out of the southern border..."
Jiang Yan remained unmoved, taking another step back with a wary expression, his voice ice cold as he replied, "You say it is not... and I should believe you just like that? How can I trust you!"
Jiang Boqing frowned at him, suddenly startled. He then shouted loudly, "Hey!"
His lips and teeth came together, releasing a thunderous shout that made Jiang Yan''s head buzz. Jiang Boqing''s expression changed drastically as he cursed, "Damn it, it is a divine ability!"
Jiang Yan''s eyes cleared up, and he was taken aback. Jiang Boqing quickly grabbed him, lifted off into the air, and shouted, "We must leave quickly! If he is using a divine ability to block us, he must be close!"
"A Purple Mansion Realm cultivator?"
Jiang Yan''s hair stood on end as he pushed his mana to fly, asking, "Are you not in cahoots with the Azure Pond Sect? Why would they send a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator after you!"
"Probably an old enemy of mine!"
Jiang Boqing''s rough, wild-haired body cursed loudly, calcting in his mind, "How is this possible?! Who could have predicted this?!"
They had only flown for a moment when the biting wind in the sky suddenly ceased. The wind formed from their mana stopped flowing, and streams of ck light appeared in the void before them, bursting with the colorful brilliance of a Purple Mansion Realm''s divine ability.
"Senior Jiang," a young man said as he leisurely stepped out from within the void. He wore a simple Daoist robe, his features delicate and refined, holding an unremarkable grayish pearl in his hand.
"To think that this day finally came for you..."
"Qing Jifang..." Jiang Boqing muttered as he stared at the young man, clearly surprised by his appearance and unsure of his intentions. He asked in a low voice, "What do you want?"
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s robe fluttered as he turned the pearl in his hand gently, calmly looking at Jiang Boqing. "Senior, no need to be tense... I have many questions to ask you. Perhaps about the Answers to a Beggar''s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree, or about Sword Immortal Shangyuan, Xiao Chuting, Tang Yuanwu... What are you plotting? Who has the immortal book now? Everyone from Mount Changhuai is very curious... Pleasee with me to Wu State, Senior."
Chapter 363: Yuan Tuan Arrives (I)
Chapter 363: Yuan Tuan Arrives (I)
The young Daoist had just spoken when the dharma pearl in his hand rotated once, emitting ayer of hazy gray light. It was like the clouds and mist, continuously rising.
Before the two could make any move, the gray mist had already spread, enveloping them and preventing others from peeping with their divine abilities.
"Oh?"
Jiang Boqing''s gaze lingered on the gray light surrounding them for a moment before he said softly, "I do not know anything about Answers to a Beggar''s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree... I am only familiar with Buzi from the Azure Pond Sect. As for Xiao Chuting, he is just a somewhat skilled junior whom I have never met, so how would I know anything about him?!"
"Mount Changhuai... it is one thing if you are plotting for the immortal book, but do not go thinking I am an easy target just because I am in a tight spot!" Jiang Boqing spat as he red at the man with his bloodshot eyes, his face contorted in anger.
"A broken ship still has three jin of nails. When I, Jiang Boqing, was at my peak, you were just a minor Daoist in Wu''s jurisdiction. Are you not afraid that I will bite back, at least ending your cultivation path?" he snarled coldly.
"Senior, you must be joking..." Qing Jifang smiled slightly. With this artifact for protection, he was not afraid of being detected by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of Yue State, and he said leisurely, "You im you do not know Xiao Chuting, but you and the Azure Pond Sect orchestrated this massacre in Lixia Prefecture. To say you have no connection with Xiao Chuting... I simply cannot believe it."
At these words, Jiang Boqing''s expression changed dramatically, and Jiang Yan beside him was stunned, lifting his head in disbelief. Jiang Boqing, under Jiang Yan''s piercing gaze, forced himself to remain calm and replied, "That was Xiao Chuting and the Azure Pond Sect''s scheme. I was just exploiting the situation..."
Qing Jifang, having cultivated to the Purple Mansion Realm, was naturally observant. He immediately sensed the fluctuation in Jiang Boqing''s emotions and realized something. He then turned and looked at Jiang Yan behind him as he said softly, "Young man, this person used divine ability to entice your father, bringing cmity and killing your mother, refining you as a talisman... and yet you still call him master. How absurd is that?"
Seeing his pretentiousness, Jiang Boqing instead calmed down and said solemnly, "What is the meaning of this, fellow Daoist?"
Seeing Jiang Yan remain silent, Qing Jifang finally turned his gaze to Jiang Boqing and said softly, "I will not quibble with senior. Answers to a Beggar''s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree is an immortal book. Besides Duanmu Kui, no one in Jiangnan knows it better than you, Senior... Now that Mount Wu has fallen, everyone''s eyes are on you. Not just my Wu State, but even two of the three True Monarchs of Yue State are watching you. Where do you think you can escape to?"
Qing Jifang''s voice echoed in the air, and Jiang Boqing''s face was covered in blood as they dripped down silently. Qing Jifang''s words shattered Jiang Boqing''s self-deceptive dream, causing his expression to turn darker.
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator then shifted his gaze to Jiang Yan and said solemnly, "The father as the yang, the Three Nine True Talisman; the mother''s death as yin, the Shamanic Blood Talisman... An excellent body indeed. If Senior is willing toe with me to Wu State, I can spare his life and give you a chance."
"We will just ask about the situation in Yue State, only seeking fragments of the immortal book from your memory. Once done, you can reincarnate." Qing Jifang smiled and continued warmly, "Wu State will have its clues, and Senior will have lost your memory... it is without value anyway, and you will no longer be watched by the True Monarchs. With this excellent body, you can start over and roam the world... is that not wonderful?"
Jiang Boqing stared at him coldly and replied, "I have already obtained a wisp of metallic essence... There is no need to use such divine abilities to confuse me."
Qing Jifang''s expression remained unchanged as he smiled and quipped, "It seems I was showing off my skills before an expert, but this offer is sincerely made and still stands."
Jiang Boqing hesitated for a moment, then finally answered, his voice low, "Fine, but first, send my excellent body away."
Qing Jifang was immediately overjoyed and replied, "Senior is courageous... Jifang will never break his promise!"
With that, he drew out a ray of colorful light, lightly capturing Jiang Yan. Jiang Yan, only able to resist the power of a Foundation Establishment Realm with Jiang Boqing''s help, was easily captured by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.
"Wait, I will do it myself!" Jiang Boqing interrupted loudly.
Qing Jifang suddenly realized Jiang Boqing''s sincerity even more, nodding in agreement, "Indeed... indeed, it is better that I do not handle this myself."
At this moment, a slit appeared in the gray mist, allowing Jiang Boqing to send Jiang Yan away. A Purple Mansion Realm cultivator could roam the void, and though not instantly covering thousands of li, a hundred li was still achievable. With Jiang Boqing''s metallic essence, he could send Jiang Yan a thousand li away,pletely erasing his trail.
Jiang Boqing grabbed the colorful light, activated the metallic essence, and unceremoniously seized control from Qing Jifang, causing the Purple Mansion Realm Daoist''s eyelids to twitch.
Jiang Yan, unable to speak, stared at him quietly. Jiang Boqing extended his hand to open a path of ck light, sending Jiang Yan away, then turned back with a broad smile to Qing Jifang.
"Senior?" Qing Jifang watched him warily.
Jiang Boqing simply nced at him, saying softly, "Mount Changhuai has shamanic Dao lineages. If one could obtain Answers to a Beggar''s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree, a True Monarch would surely reach a higher level."
"And so what?" Qing Jifang asked as he began to sense that something was amiss. The pearl in his hand floated up and down.
Jiang Boqingughed and said, "Why don''t you guess whether Pristine Water prefers the immortal book to be lost within Yue State''s borders or for the clues to be controlled by your state, subjected to external maniption?"
"Oh no... Have you lost your mind?!"
Seeing Jiang Boqing''s body explode into fragments, turning into a shower of flesh and blood, Qing Jifang was momentarily shocked. He hastily stowed the pearl and was about to make an attempt to escape into the void.
ng¡ª
From the shattered body emerged a wisp of golden light, seemingly with eyes, which rushed toward the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator with great speed. In an instant, the light zed brightly, causing thousands of frogs to croak in unison and rivers to surge.
Qing Jifang was filled with disbelief as the golden light collided with his body, the void around them sealed by the metallic essence. He could only manage to let out a final cry, "You are throwing your life away!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the eleventh lunar month...
The snow on Mount Wutu was thick and white, covering the stone table with snowkes, and the rocks in the courtyard were also nketed in white. A young man in fine clothes and a white fur coat reclined on a redwood chair, silently holding a jade cup between two fingers.
"Zhi''er."
A woman with thin eyebrows and phoenix eyes, dressed in red, spoke warmly, her expression showing signs of fatigue.
"Have you packed?"
"Yes..." Li Xizhi responded softly, adding, "What about Father?"
"Your father has gone to Lijing Town. The Immortal Master ising, and there are many things to prepare. A carriage wille to fetch you soon," Xiao Guiluan exined softly, observing her son''s disappointment.
She attempted tofort Li Xizhi, but the boy''s expression did not change. He focused his gaze on the cup in his hand, speaking in a low voice, "Qingsui Peak is sparsely popted, with only an empty reputation. As the senior brother of the peak, I am afraid there will be endless troubles in the future."
While his words exined his worries, his heart was filled with bitterness which he did not dare to share with his mother.
Hearing that Yuan Tuan wasing, Li Yuanjiao finally showed his eldest son the n''s internal records. Li Xizhi read the book all night, his expression changing several times.
The entanglements between Chi Wei, Chi Zhiyun, and Yuanwu Peak and Li Chejing''s tragic end, filled his heart with anguish, leaving him silent and troubled as he thought to himself, So many entanglements within the sect... With this reputation, I am afraid I will be a pawn in their struggles.
He silently gripped the sword at his waist, set down the jade cup, and responded, "Once I join the sect, I will do my utmost."
Chapter 364: Yuan Tuan Arrives (II)
Chapter 364: Yuan Tuan Arrives (II)
As Li Xizhi pondered, someone arrived from below. This person wore simple clothes and had some snowkes on his shoulders, and he appeared to be in a hurry.
He hastily brushed the snow off his body, first bowed to Xiao Guiluan at the top, then called out loudly, "Brother Zhi!"
Li Xizhi quickly stood up and walked over to greet him, asking, "Brother Cheng, what brings you here?"
Li Xicheng, covered in dust and wearing thin clothes without any essories, cheerfully took out a jade pendant from his chest pocket and smiled. "I heard you are about to join the sect, so I found something good for you!"
He had not received the talisman seed and was oblivious to many family secrets. He only saw joining the Azure Pond Sect as an immensely beneficial thing and proudly presented the jade pendant, which glowed with a green light. He ced it in Li Xizhi''s hand while exining with a smile, "This is an Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifact, capable of condensing spiritual qi. Consider it a gift from your elder brother!"
Li Xizhi was momentarily stunned. His father was Li Yuanjiao, and his grandfather was Li Xuanxuan, the leaders of the Li Family for generations. Hecked for nothing of such trinkets, but seeing Li Xicheng''s joyous expression filled him with mixed feelings.
Li Xicheng''s father had no spiritual orifice, and his grandfather had died early, making their lives much harder. This jade pendant was a precious item to his elder brother, who forced it into Li Xizhi''s hand.
Looking at his brother''s simple attire without any mana light, yet still looking at him warmly, Li Xizhi held the jade pendant tightly as strong emotions surged in his heart. Feeling as if it were a burning coal and not knowing what to say, he stammered, "Brother Cheng... you shouldn''t have!"
Li Xicheng, who had spent the past few months overseeing Spirit Paddies in the mountains, had gained some experience and spoke more confidently. Heughed and said, "Your elder brother now holds a position in the n and receives stipends. Do not refuse my gift!"
His tone was warm, but Li Xizhi felt even more conflicted. He grabbed his brother''s hand, having long wanted to speak with him, and said softly, "I heard that your expenses are tight, and your pockets are empty. The family''s resources and your stipends are half given away and half lent to the n brothers... Is that true?"
"Well..." Li Xicheng hesitated, stammering, "I''m just helping out the brothers... The n has been going through tough timestely, and everyone is struggling."
"Oh," Li Xizhi had no idea what to say. He embraced his elder brother firmly in his broad chest as he jokingly reminded him, "You should be more frugal. Be careful, or the n chief might use you of being a spendthrift and a big spender!"
Li Xicheng chuckled softly, but Li Xizhi wasn''t sure if he heeded the advice. A servant stepped forward and respectfully informed, "Young master, the carriage has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Li Xizhi nodded slightly. He looked at Li Xicheng''s beaming smile, and all his previous frustration vanished, now reced by determination and anticipation.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lijing Town.
Li Yuanjiao, d in ck, stood silently in the snow, his sword by his side. Snowkes fell on him, only to slide off shortly after. Li Xizhi stood beside him, gazing absentmindedly at the horizon.
The Li Family members waited for a moment. Amidst the swirling snow, a Daoist in green robes arrived riding a deer. The woman appeared to be in her thirties, radiating an extraordinary aura.
The deer beneath her had pure white fur and was adorned with spots of green, and moved with grace and agility. Its eyes were lively. The woman on the deer wore fluttering robes, giving her a celestial appearance. Around her waist, a long ribbon was tied, fluttering constantly in the wind.
The ribbon had intricate patterns, light and transparent, clearly a fine dharma artifact.
"Members of the Li Family greet the Peak Master!"
The Li Family members greeted her respectfully as Yuan Tuan smiled and nodded. As soon as the white deer touched the ground and kicked its four hooves, it turned into a patch of white snow and disappeared.
This miraculous disy left the Li Family and their guests in silent awe. Yuan Tuan responded, "No need for formalities."
Yuan Tuan, who was around the same age as Li Tongya, had reached the Qi Cultivation Realm at eighteen, even faster than his senior brother, Xiao Yuansi. However, for reasons unknown, after achieving the Qi Cultivation Realm, she focused on talismans and spirit nts, causing the progress of her cultivation to suffer.
At that time, their master, Si Yuanbai, was imprisoned, and her senior and junior brothers were all in the southern border. Yuan Tuan had to support Qingsui Peak alone, enduring much hardship. Fortunately, in the past decade, she made several breakthroughs and achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm. Life improved significantly for her since then.
"Pleasee inside, Immortal Master..." Li Yuanjiao said politely.
Yuan Tuan nodded gently and walked gracefully across the snow. The guest cultivators and other family members withdrew, leaving only a few direct descendants to apany Yuan Tuan inside.
Her gaze lingered on the sword at Li Yuanjiao''s waist for a moment, then she turned her head slightly, feeling somewhat ufortable.
"Is that the Qingche Sword..?" she asked softly.
"Indeed!"
Li Yuanjiao had reced the sword at his waist, the Dragon Coiling Pir, with the Qingche Sword. He removed its covering, proudly disying it instead of hiding it like he usually did.
"This sword..."
Yuan Tuan''s expression turnedplex, and she said in a low voice, "I apanied my master to acquire this sword for him. At the time, our peak was struggling, and we could only afford a peak Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifact. Yet, Jing''er was overjoyed and thanked us profusely... Who would have thought that this sword, after ying demons and absorbing sword intent, silently advanced and became a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact."
The Li Family members listened silently. Yuan Tuan raised her eyebrows, nced at Li Yuanjiao, and asked, "Since you wearing this sword at your waist... you must be the head of the Li Family?"
Li Yuanjiao had rehearsed his response many times. He answered respectfully, "Lord Chejing had no descendants. I, a junior of the Yuan generation named Jiao, am considered his sessor and thus wear this sword."
"No descendants, huh..."
Yuan Tuan barely maintained her expression, standing in ce for two full breaths before following Li Yuanjiao''s lead to the seat of honor. She silently scanned the faces of the crowd, and then asked warmly, "Why do I not see Daoist Tongya?"
Li Yuanjiao lowered his head slightly and said in a deep voice, "The ancestor is in seclusion and has yet to emerge."
"Oh..." Yuan Tuan nodded, then saw Li Yuanjiao signal with his eyes.
Li Xizhi stepped forward and said respectfully, "Junior Li Xizhi greets Senior!"
"Good!"
Yuan Tuan finally showed a hint of a smile. She scanned him with her spiritual sense, observing for a while, carefully examining his Qihai, Shenyang Mansion, and Juque Court acupoints, and then closed her eyes without saying a word.
This sight made everyone in the hall silently tense up. Li Xizhi forced himself to stay calm, feeling the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in his Qihai acupoint, his heart pounding.
After more than ten breaths, Yuan Tuan finally opened her eyes and nodded.
"Not bad, you should join my Qingsui Peak!"
She then smiled brightly at Li Xizhi and said, "Good child, there is no need to be nervous."
With these words, everyone finally rxed and felt relieved. Li Xizhi respectfully thanked her as Yuan Tuan looked at him with a smile and said softly, "Raise your head!"
Li Xizhi''s face, simr to Li Yuanjiao''s, showed a gentle and peaceful demeanor when he lowered his eyes. But when he raised his head, his ambitious look appeared, making Yuan Tuan smile lightly and say, "Your appearance does resemble your father... You have quite a fierce look and the potential to lead. It seems I have indeed picked up a treasure."
"Senior is too kind to my son..." Li Yuanjiao responded quietly and said, "Being able to join Qingsui Peak is a blessing for the Li Family."
"Yes..." Yuan Tuan nodded, then asked, "I heard your family has a young alchemist. Is he here?"
Chapter 365: Azure Manifestation (I)
Chapter 365: Azure Manifestation (I)
Yuan Tuan had just finished speaking when Li Ximing stepped forward, drawing everyone''s attention. He wore loose white robes and appeared quite dignified though his voice still sounded somewhat immature.
"Junior Li Ximing greets Senior!"
Yuan Tuan looked at him carefully, the long ribbon at her waist gently fluttering. She smiled and said, "I heard from my senior brother that there is an alchemist with a harmonious aura, blending together both water and fire. Now that I see you, you are indeed a fine seedling!"
With that, she took Li Ximing''s hand and asked warmly, "Do you have a suitable alchemy furnace, Ming''er?"
Li Ximing was slightly taken aback and looked at Li Yuanjiao, who gave a slight nod before he replied, "Yes, Senior! I already have one!"
The Li Family''s alchemy furnace had been taken by Li Tongya from someone else when the market fell many years ago, and it was at the Qi Cultivation Realm. At that time, the Li Family was still weak, and Li Tongya feared that possessing such a treasure would bring trouble, hence it had been sealed away for many years.
Now that the Li Family''s foundation was stable and they had an alchemist, the furnace finally saw the light of day, though its presence was known only to a few direct descendants.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Tuan paused as she rubbed her storage pouch at her waist, sensing the alchemy furnace inside. She could not help butugh bitterly to herself.
This is awkward. I have owed Yundan Peak a favor for nothing...
The Li Family had only been established for less than a hundred years, so Yuan Tuan did not expect them to have an alchemy furnace ready. She thought for a moment, then took off a jade bead from her wrist which was tied with a red string, and put it around Li Ximing''s wrist. She then smiled warmly.
"Consider this my gift to you, Ming''er!"
Li Yuanjiao noticed the brilliant radiance of the jade bead and knew instantly that it was no ordinary item. He was delighted but quickly said modestly, "Peak Master! How can we ept this?!"
Yuan Tuanughed, looking at Li Ximing''s serious little face, liking him more and more. She then exined, "This item was my protective treasure during my years as a Qi Cultivator, and it is called Azure Manifestation. It has been tempered by my cultivation method for many years and possesses some spiritual abilities. It can transform into an eagle, dog, tiger, or deer, making it an excellent dharma artifact for those at the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms.
"Now that I have achieved the immortal foundation, Azure Crest Manifestation, and nurtured it for two years, it has be even more miraculous, almost a Foundation Establishment Realm artifact... The abilities of Azure Crest Manifestation ovep with this item, so I no longer need it and so I will give it to Ming''er!"
Li Yuanjiao could tell that Yuan Tuan had originally intended to give an alchemy furnace as a favor, but now that she had given the jade bead instead, it must be of equal value. Alchemy furnaces were rare and priceless, and this jade bead beingparable was extraordinary. He immediately said, "Quickly thank the Immortal Master!"
"Thank you, Senior!" Li Ximing replied earnestly.
Yuan Tuan nodded before extending her delicate hand, and released a faint white light that enveloped them, isting them from the outside. She then asked seriously, "Are you aware of the chaos caused by the devil gue?"
Li Yuanjiao immediately became alert, and Li Yuanping, Li Xicheng, along with the others also pricked up their ears in attention. Li Yuanjiao replied, "Our family is located in northern Yue and has heard some news... It is said that Jiang Yanmitted all kinds of evil, spreading the devil Dao lineage everywhere. These teachings have even spread among rogue cultivators andmoners, causing widespread chaos, especially in the south, which suffered greatly..."
"Correct." Yuan Tuan nodded and continued in a low voice, "Although Jiang Yan opposed our sect, he practiced the shamanic dao, not the devil dao as rumored. Moreover, he has been missing for many years... The devil gue must have another cause."
Li Yuanjiao frowned slightly and replied, "Senior, you mean to say that... the devil gue in Yue State is caused by someone who deliberately spread the devil Dao lineage...? Is anyone in the sect going to suppress and resolve it?"
Yuan Tuan''s expression was difficult to read as she said softly, "No, but there are concerns among the peaks. We fear that if the devil gue is left unchecked, it will eventually lead to a tragedy like that of Pingming Ford."
The great battle between the immortals and devils took ce at Pingming Ford, causing heaven and earth to copse, mountains and rivers to submerge, and the divine continent to sink. This led to the immortal cultivators abandoning the north, the invasion of the Jie people, and the widespread influence of Buddhism, resulting in the current situation.
Li Yuanjiao nodded silently, understanding the gravity of the situation. Yuan Tuan then advised, "In recent years, we have repeatedly found traces of devil cultivators in the Mushroom Forest in, and we have even lost two Qi Cultivation Realm disciples. It seems the situation is worsening and moving north... Please keep an eye on this."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior!"
Seeing Li Yuanjiao''s respectful response and knowing he took this matter to heart, Yuan Tuan''s delicate fingers emitted a trace of azure light. As soon as it touched the ground, it transformed into two white deer, blinking their eyes and standing still.
Yuan Tuan then said softly, "Good disciple, follow me back to the peak!"
Li Xizhi hurriedly bade farewell to his parents and brothers, then mounted the white deer and soared into the clouds.
Yuan Tuan gracefully mounted on the back of the deer as well and said softly, "If you wish to send a letter to the sect, send it to the Yuan Family. The favor of the predecessors will eventually fade, so work hard on your cultivation."
Her voice lingered in the air as the two white deer stepped on the clouds and disappeared without a trace. The remaining people looked up, and Li Yuanping finally spoke, "Azure Crest Manifestation truly has the demeanor of an immortal... I wonder which lineage it belongs to!"
The two exchanged nces, both pleased with the smooth proceedings and the gifts they had received. Li Xijun leaned over to Li Ximing curiously and said, "Brother! Let us see your fine dharma artifact!"
Li Ximing nodded eagerly, having been excited for a while but trying to maintain the family''s dignity without showing joy in front of Yuan Tuan. His eyes sparkled as he activated his mana and the jade bead glowed slightly, then emitted a stream of azure light that drifted to the ground.
The azure light transformed into a white deer, about the size of a cat, looking very lively and blinking at the people. Li Xijunughed, flipped onto the deer''s back, and attempted to ride it.
The spirit deer, however, would notply, darting left and right actively and trying to hide behind Li Ximing. Li Xijunughed, grabbing its antlers and yfully wrestling with the spirit deer while Li Ximing held the bead and grinned.
"First stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm..." Li Yuanjiao muttered as he scanned the spirit deer with his spiritual sense, still dressedpletely in ck.
Li Yuanping nodded and replied, "It should be rted to the cultivation level of the bead holder."
"Ming''er!" Li Yuanping called out, and Li Ximing hurriedly brought the dharma bead over, reluctantly handing it to Li Yuanjiao.
Li Yuanjiao took the dharma artifact, Azure Manifestation, and channeled his mana into it. After a few moments, he remarked, "It has some spirituality... it has already recognized its master."
He then handed the jade bead back to Li Ximing. Li Ximing, whose eyes had been glued to the bead, was overjoyed at this and tied it back onto his wrist.
After sending off the children among the generation of Xi and Yue, several n guards entered the hall for the night watch. The two men sat down at a small table, and Li Yuanping said in a low voice, "The devil gue is approaching. I reviewed the n''s situation recently and wanted to discuss it with you, Big Brother."
"All right," Li Yuanjiao replied.
Li Yuanping began, "There are currently six Qi Cultivators in the n. Big Brother is at the sixth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm, Big Sister at the fifth heavenlyyer, Uncle Donghe is currently away from home, Father is at the third heavenlyyer, Sister-In-Law Guiluan and my mother are at the first heavenlyyer."
"Besides the main lineage, there''s also a Qi Cultivator in the branch lineage named Li Wen, who has just broken through. He''s from the Jade Court Guards, specializing in protective duties." He paused, then called out to the n guard, "Summon the battalionmander."
The person acknowledged hismand and retreated while Li Yuanping continued, "External cultivators Tian Youdao, Tian Zhongqing, and Xu Gongming are all at the first heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm, and guest cultivator An Zheyan is at the seventh heavenlyyer. As for Unrefined Qi Cultivators simr to Li Qiuyang, there are seven to eight of them, mainly from Mount Yue. Facing a Qi Cultivation Realm devil cultivator would be a death sentence for them..."
After hearing this, Li Yuanjiao said in a deep voice, "Excluding our uncle and father who are not at home, there are six early-stage Qi Cultivators, two mid-stage, and e-stage."
"Correct," Li Yuanping confirmed with a nod.
Just then, a robust, tall man with a rough face and strong build entered, kneeling powerfully with an aura that could push down golden mountains and jade pirs.
"Court Guard Li Wen greets Family Head and n Uncle!"
Chapter 366: Azure Manifestation (II)
Chapter 366: Azure Manifestation (II)
The treatment for Jade Court Guards was equivalent to that of a battalionmander, so Li Wen had sufficient resources for his cultivation. He had also been practicing the rapid cultivation method, Guardian of the Courtly Path, and was now just over thirty.
Li Yuanping quickly called him to rise and exined to his elder brother, "This man has been in seclusion and breaking through in recent years, so he may seem unfamiliar to you, Big Brother."
Li Yuanjiao nodded and asked, "Which branch are you from?"
Li Wen replied, "My great-grandfather was the younger brother of Li Mutian, the youngest son of Li Genshui, and the elder of the four branches..."
Seeing this sturdy man''s face full of pride and chanting this lineage fluently, Li Yuanjiao found it both amusing but headache-inducing, and quickly interrupted, "I understand, so you are from the youngest son of Ancestor Genshui''s line."
Li Wen nodded proudly, the fluent recitation indicating he often spoke of it. Li Yuanjiao took out a bottle of pills from his storage pouch and ced it into Li Wen''s hand, saying lightly, "Consider this a greeting gift from your n uncle."
"Thank you, n Uncle!" Li Wen bowed again and murmured his thanks before retreating.
"He seems honest," Li Yuanjiao remarked, watching his retreating figure.
Li Yuanping, his face pale, nodded and hinted, "The branch lineage has many people, but their talent iscking. Among so many, only he has emerged, and even among the Unrefined Qi Cultivators... there is only Uncle Qiuyang."
"Indeed..." Li Yuanjiao nodded, cing the jade cup on the table. "It does seem too few, which might raise suspicions," hemented with a sigh.
After all, the main lineage of the Li Family consistently produced children with spiritual orifices, each generation more talented than thest. Although the two main branches had many descendants, including many mortals, somewhat bncing the high ratio, the branch lineage had been toockluster, producing no notable talents for many years. Such a thing could arouse suspicion among those with ulterior motives.
"What is your suggestion, Brother Ping?" Li Yuanjiao asked earnestly.
Li Yuanping had already made his ns but still looked to his elder brother, Li Yuanjiao, for confirmation. Hearing the question, Li Yuanping nodded slowly and answered, "We approach it from two angles. For the branch lineage, reduce their households under charges and encourage cultivators to marry into the main lineage, changing their surnames. For the main lineage, expand the branches and increase the poption... I have been working on these matters for the past few years."
Li Yuanping paused, his expression somewhat grim as he exined, "After all, abolishing the ancestral temple is a significant matter. It strikes a painful blow to the branch lineage. Changing the surname from Li to Ye and expelling them is extremely painful for the branch lineage,parable only to death... This needs to be done gradually."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, staring into Li Yuanping''s eyes as he said softly, "I have a good method."
"I would like to hear the details!" Li Yuanping chipped as he looked up.
Seeing this, Li Yuanjiao began, "Nowadays, there are more and more wastrels and ruffians among the branch lineage. Although the n Affairs Courtyard has many cultivators, they cannot spend all their cultivation time managing the n members, and they are gradually bing overwhelmed. Several fools are even being yed around by the prominent families."
His voice was low, almost drifting in the air as he continued, "Should there be a war, we could mobilize the n disciples as soldiers and generals ording to tradition. This would eliminate the weak and retain the strong, cleansing our family and greatly reducing our burden."
Li Yuanjiao had fought on the battlefield in his youth, beheading many in Mount Yue. At that time, Li Yuanping had not yet been born. By the time he took charge, Li Yuanjiao had already restrained his nature, discussing matters with him day and night without showing any ferocity.
Now, hearing these words, Li Yuanping understood why their father, Li Xuanxuan, always said that Li Yuanjiao had too strong of a killing intent. He silently took a deep breath and asked, "Who would we fight?"
"It does not necessarily have to be a war; it is just an idea," Li Yuanjiao chuckled, his eyes fixed on the letter from Eastern Mount Yue on the table. He then said warmly, "Eastern Mount Yue is now also upied by the bloated and useless ns. Back then, we needed these ns to restrain Shamoli. Now that the Tian Family has seeded, keeping them around is just allowing them to embezzle spirit resources and upy spirit fields."
He sipped some tea and said softly, "First, eliminate the parasites in the n. Second, deal with the lords of Mount Yue. These matters must be resolved before the devil gue arrives to prevent our family from bing weak and allowing these parasites to grow unchecked."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The Xiao Family, Xianyou Peak.
The cold water in the clear pool rippled slightly, and the spiritual grass on the shore grew crookedly. Xiao Chuting rode a rainbow light out of the void and sat on a rock at the highest peak.
"The Supreme Shaman''s Three Nine Blood Essence is truly magnificent."
Xiao Chuting stroked his beard, filled with emotion. The golden light had shed in the void for over ten breaths, rming all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in the Wu and Yue States. Witnessing the once-in-a-century spectacle of the metallic essence dissipating filled them with awe.
"Qing Jifang is still young and judges others by himself... He really thought these Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, no matter how far they advanced, would always be afraid of death and submit to his Mount Changhuai."
Thinking of Qing Jifang''s shocked and terrified face when he was solidly hit by the supreme shaman''s metallic essence, Xiao Chuting felt quite pleased.
"Jiang Boqing... Since the fall of Duanmu Kui and the loss of Answers to a Beggar''s Questions Under the Mulberry Tree, he knew he did not have much time left... He was just unwilling to die without trying to break through onest time..." Xiao Chuting reflected.
Back then, Jiang Boqing materialized in the void of Lixia Prefecture, his auraparable to the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm. This terrifying presence had left the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of the Azure Pond Sect paralyzed with fear. They could only watch helplessly as Jiang Boqing manipted them like puppets, not daring to utter a word.
Looking back at today, he had been surviving under the jurisdiction of Azure Pond Sect for over ten years, forced to damage his own metallic essence in order to seize Dao foundations and flee in all directions. In the end, he had to sacrifice his own life only to severely injure a junior, which was trulymentable.
"Such bad luck. Just when Duanmu Kui fell, he also met his end, bing a target for everyone and losing his chance for reincarnation..."
Xiao Chuting took out a white jade fishing rod and ced it on the rock. Just as he was about to use his divine ability to see if there was anything valuable nearby, a warm voice sounded in his ear.
"Wee back to the mountain, Ancestor. Yuansi is here to pay his respects!"
Xiao Chuting face showed a trace of helplessness. Despite his attempts to avoid him, Xiao Yuansi still found him. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Come up!"
Before long, Xiao Yuansi, dressed in white and emanating a medicinal fragrance, flew up. It seemed he had just finished refining a batch of pills. Hended in front of Xiao Chuting and greeted respectfully, "Yuansi greets the ancestor and congrattes the ancestor on attaining advanced mastery of divine abilities!"
Seeing his overly formal and stiff demeanor, Xiao Chuting could not help butugh inwardly. He asked, "Are you here because of Li Tongya?"
"Ancestor is perceptive; Yuansi is impressed!" Xiao Yuansi replied as he continued to stand respectfully.
Xiao Chuting had to put down the white jade fishing rod and said gruffly, "I have done my best! Li Tongya''s fate is sealed. The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators pushed him to that ce, which is beyond my power to change anything."
Then he recounted the entire cause and effect of the matter with the Wrathful Maha, finally saying, "I have already tried my best to alter fate. Since Li Tongya''s fate cannot be changed, we can only use him to gain more benefits... Our Xiao Family has some ties with his family, but not enough to offend numerous Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and disrupt years of ns for his sake."
Having heard the whole story, Xiao Yuansi could not help but eximed, "Why Li Tongya?! Why?!"
Xiao Chuting sneered and said in a low voice, "Perhaps it is because his fate is both fragrant and beautiful, or maybe because of his position at the junction of the north and south...making him convenient to manipte. Or perhaps he was a resource prepared by the Maha years ago..."
He then paused slightly, as if thinking of something, and a scene from the void on that day shed in his mind. He silently added in his heart, Perhaps it''s not just to lure the Wrathful Maha using Li Tongya... but to test some other existence...
Seeing Xiao Yuansi''s silent and thoughtful appearance, Xiao Chuting shook his head and sighed. "It is a pity that idiot Liu Changdie ran from east to west, then from west to south, desperately trying to traverse the entire Yue State, mixing up all the fates, making it impossible to deduce anything urately. By now, there are already more than a dozen Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in Jiangnan who want to kill him with a single p. Theyin in the east, curse in the west, all barely able to restrain their anger."
Xiao Chuting chuckled as if recalling something amusing, leaving Xiao Yuansi confused. He only heard the name Liu Changdie but did not understand what everything else meant.
Chapter 367: Guest from Afar (I)
Chapter 367: Guest from Afar (I)
Li Jiman rode to Lijing Town on horseback but returned to Wutu City in a carriage. The n Affairs Courtyard''s enforcer was an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator. Despite Li Jiman''s own cultivation, he was still flogged until his skin was torn and fleshcerated.
Several unsmiling elders of the n Affairs Courtyard deliberated amongst themselves for a while before concluding with a judgment of negligence of duty and indulgence of the prominent families. Not only was Li Jiman flogged seventy times, but his reputation was also thoroughly tarnished.
The Tian Family members naturally rushed to the n Affairs Courtyard. Tian Zhongqing stepped forward and repeatedly apologized, and Li Jiman epted it with a smile, but Tian Zhongqing felt a chill down his spine.
Meanwhile, even though the n Affairs Courtyard and Li Yuanping''s central hall gave no specific instructions to his family, they still broke out in cold sweat.
As the head of the Tian Family in the eye of the storm, Tian Zhongqing felt a lump in his throat, and the joy of advancing to the Qi Cultivation Realm vanished. He drove back to Eastern Mount Yue overnight, smashing the porcin in the courtyard in anger. He also had to stop his uncle, Tian Youdao, from pping Tian Rong to death.
"Get out! You wretch!"
With Tian Youdao''s roar, Tian Rong slunk away, clutching his swollen cheek. It was only then did Tian Zhongqing release his uncle''s hand. Deep down, he did not want to stop Tian Youdao, thinking it would be better if his uncle could end Tian Rong with one p...
When the old man''s p only made Tian Rong stagger, Tian Zhongqing knew that his uncle still cared for his only son. After finishing the act, he said in a low voice, "Uncle... what should we do now?"
Tian Youdao, an elder of the Li Family, had progressed from the Embryonic Breathing Realm to the Qi Cultivation Realm and held significant seniority in the n. He sighed deeply and said glumly, "Li Jiman is a petty man who already held a grudge against our family in the first ce. Now that this has happened, it has only deepened his grudge..."
The uncle and nephew were both Qi Cultivators and led thergest external force within the Li Family. They had always been cautious. Who could have imagined that while Tian Zhongqing was in seclusion and Tian Youdao was away, Tian Rong would cause such a disaster?
Tian Zhongqing sighed and said softly, "I clearly gave instructions. How did he manage to run off? Now Li Jiman has the support of many Mount Yue lords... If there are any changes in the future..."
Tian Youdao sat at the head, and he was now over seventy years old and well-experienced. Stroking his beard and pondering deeply, he said, "This matter is peculiar... Let me talk to the family head and rify things. If the n has any ns, we will cooperate ordingly!"
Since Tian Youdao was Li Xuanfeng''s maternal uncle, he held significant seniority in the family, giving him the authority to speak on such matters. Seeing this, Tian Zhongqing could not help but feel a sense of relief.
Only uncle can speak like this in the n...
"Zhongqing!" Tian Youdao called softly, and Tian Zhongqing quickly looked up. The uncle and nephew exchanged a solemn nce, and Tian Youdao said gravely, "Speaking of this... our family''s current power and prestige seem toe from us breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm one after another, making the Tian Family a mainstay and earning the trust of the main family to control Mount Yue. But Zhongqing..."
He looked at his nephew and said softly, "You must understand... our family''s power and prestige rest solely on me!"
Tian Zhongqing nodded heavily as he understood the gravity of his words. He had established his own family for many years. After fathering many children of his own, he had be much more mature.
He replied in a low voice, "The Ren and Dou Families are tied to the first lineage of the main family... Now that they have Lord Ximing, they eagerly follow him. The Liu Family has declined, and the Xu Family focuses solely on military loyalty, not leaning east or west, so there is nothing for them to worry about. But our Tian Family..."
Tian Youdao was Li Xuanfeng''s maternal uncle, and the Tian Family had always been led by the third lineage of the main family. However, Li Xuanfeng had gone to Yi Mountain City in the southern border and had no heirs, leaving the Tian Family without support.
Li Xuanfeng said he was going to guard Yi Mountain City, but few who went there ever returned. Hence, everyone had silently assumed that he would nevere back. The other prominent families were indifferent to this, but the Tian Family was secretly worried.
"Indeed..." Tian Youdao shook his head and replied, "I fear that one day if something were to happen to me, the Tian Family will be dismembered like the Liu Family."
Tian Zhongqing hesitated for a moment and asked softly, "Uncle, what do you think of the eldest son?"
Among the Xi and Yue generation of the Li Family, Li Xicheng was the eldest. Li Xizhi was the third, Li Ximing and Li Xijun were the seventh and eighth respectively, and the rest included one daughter and three sons who were all mortals and were sent down the mountain.
Li Xicheng was currently managing affairs in Mount Yue, making him the only son of the Li Family to work outside the mountain. He was from the second lineage of the main family¡ªLi Tongya''s line.
Tian Zhongqing, who had frequent interactions with him, exined, "The eldest son is very magnanimous, generous, and kind. If the Tian Family were to marry a daughter to him as a concubine and I sincerely foster a rtionship with him, aligning ourselves with the secondary lineage, we might find great support..."
"The second lineage had once declined,cking support from the maternal family, making him an excellent choice!" Tian Youdao nodded as he took a sip of tea and replied, "Go ahead and give it a try. Establish a good rtionship first. I see that he has more than enough magnanimity butcks firmness, making him easy to rely on. If you gain his trust, the family will be secure for generations."
In the grand hall with many guards, Li Yuanping sat cross-legged in a brocade robe. The meditation cushion beneath him emitted white light, helping him concentrate and avoid distractions.
"Family Head! A letter has arrived from the western road..." a n guard at the lower seat quietly announced, seeing that Li Yuanping was cultivating in the hall and dared not approach.
Li Yuanping had rare moments of leisure in recent days, which allowed him to cultivate. Although the gains were minimal, it was better than nothing.
"Bring it up."
Li Yuanping exhaled as he reached out to take the letter, using a specific spell to open the secret letter. He unfolded it and read, "Donghe has reached the western desert, a ce called the Smoke Valley Desert. The two followers are respectful and without issue. There are many passes here and we are staying as guests at the Smoke Valley Temple under the jurisdiction of the Golden Feather Sect. The three of us will work together, and in seven years we can return with the qi."
"Excellent!"
Seeing that there was a way to collect the Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi in the west, Li Yuanping was overjoyed. He looked at the small letter in his hand and asked, "Where did thise from?"
"Reporting to Family Head, it was carried by an unrefined Qi Cultivator merchant on the road," the n guard replied.
Li Yuanping nodded in understanding before taking a brush and wrote arge Excellent, along with some words of encouragement andnguage to express his gratitude. He sealed it with his own dharma seal and handed it to Dou Yi with a singlemand.
"Reward him with some Spirit Paddies and let him take it back."
In this world,munication was not supposed to be so troublesome. This was without mentioning ancient times where it was said that a thousand years ago, there weremunication talismans and simr items. Butter, for unknown reasons, these talismans either lost their effectiveness or became prohibitively expensive, and not many used them anymore.
Collecting his thoughts, Li Yuanping refocused his attention on family affairs.
"Mount Yue is easy to handle."
A few days ago, Li Yuanjiao mentioned this matter and had discussed it in detail with Li Yuanping before returning to the mountain for cultivation. Now, Li Yuanping focused his concentration on figuring out how to solve these two issues.
Li Yuanping had long been dissatisfied with Mount Yue and had secretly made arrangements. However, he found that dealing with the n''s many disciples was a headache.
"If it reallyes to what Big Brother said... where would we find another ce..."
Li Yuanping sorted the letters on the table, gathering intelligence from nearby families.
Chapter 368: Guest from Afar (II)
Chapter 368: Guest from Afar (II)
The Yu Family had been quiet recently. Yu Mugao was busy organizing the n, killing some members some days and releasing others the next. Despite the numerous brothers, they could not fight back at all and were ughtered likembs daily.
"He really dares to kill..." Li Yuanping mumbled as he looked at the list of names and pursed his lips. He thought to himself and concluded that although Yu Mugao enjoyed the killing, he had left behind many hidden dangers. Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to the families on the eastern shore.
There were more than a dozen families scattered along the eastern shore, though most were small families at the Embryonic Breathing or Qi Cultivation Realms. The situation was quiteplex with many entanglements, so few people dared to interfere.
Both the northern and eastern shores of Moongaze Lake used to be the territory of the Golden Tang Gate, and the eastern shore families had numerous connections with the Golden Tang Gate. Although the gate had weakened and lost this territory, some rtionships remained. This was one factor.
Another factor was that the eastern shore families held several valuable ore veins and spirit springs, and all were secretly controlled by the Xiao Family from the west. Xiao Family members guarded these ces under the guise of guest cultivators, enabling them the power to maintain the situation while profiting from it.
This arrangement should not have been allowed, but the Azure Pond Sect had turned a blind eye to this. The Xiao Family preferred to see the situation fragmented, and so this arrangement remained for years.
Moreover, Moongaze Lake bordered the Xiao Family''s territory. These families maintained the buffer zone, bordering the Golden Tang Gate to the north and the Li and Ding families to the south. Thepetition among various forces made the area highly sensitive.
These factorsbined to maintain the status quo among the eastern shore families, with no significant changes for a hundred years. When the Jiang Family prospered, they supported them; and when the Yu Family dominated, they supported them. Now, with the Yu Family''s decline and a tripartite power structure on theke, each family sought its own protector.
Back when the market copsed and the Yu Family declined, our family had the opportunity to take over some tributary families. However, we were understaffed at the time and only wanted to bide our time, so we missed our chance.
Li Yuanping thought for a moment, his heart stirring with ambition. He thought to himself, Now that our family''s finances are tight, if we could intervene... we could gain some tributes and support some forces on the eastern shore...
While considering the feasibility of this idea, he called to Dou Yi at the lower seat.
"Go to the n Affairs Courtyard and get me a report on the eastern shore families."
Dou Yi quickly nodded and hurried off. Unexpectedly, another person ran up from below and said respectfully, "Reporting to Family Head! There is a cultivator seeking an audience on the road!"
"A cultivator on the road..?"
Li Yuanping was slightly taken aback. Knowing that anyone who was reported up to the hall must not be any simple or trivial matter, he took this seriously. "What is their cultivation level? Are they seeking something?" he asked.
The n guard hesitated and answered, "ording to Master An, the person is likely not a Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivator. They wear a robe with cuffed sleeves and appear youthful. I heard that their aura far surpasses the Foundation Establishment Realm... As for their business here, they insist on seeing you personally."
An Zheyan had seen powerful figures like Yu Xiaogui and Li Tongya in the past and could roughly estimate the strength of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Hearing that this person far surpassed the Foundation Establishment Realm made Li Yuanping''s expression fall solemn.
"Not a Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivator!? Seeking my presence?" Li Yuanping was momentarily stunned and then said sternly, "Go and inform Brother Jiao, but... no need to have hime over. Let him keep watch on the mountain... Have Master An and others ready to suppress this person in case they suddenly act up."
Li Yuanping''s face looked somewhat grim. He always despised unexpected troubles, especially when the other party, despite politely visiting, had a cultivation far beyond the Foundation Establishment Realm. If they caused trouble, the Li Family could not handle it.
"Damn it!" he cursed in frustration, then exhaled and said softly, "Escort him to the side hall to wait."
"Yes!" Dou Yi responded as the others quickly retreated.
Li Yuanping sat back on the main seat, thinking to himself, Though he doesn''t look like a Buddhist cultivator, he might be disguising himself... Maybe he''s a devil cultivator... Our family has never encountered a devil cultivator from Jiangnan, but we''ve heard they look no different from ordinary people. We might not be able to recognize them.
He took two steps down the stairs. After all, it was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator visiting. In the Li Family, only he had enough weight to handle this, without risking too much loss if things went awry.
"This is not the time to show weakness... It would be bad if he became suspicious. I should go meet him," Li Yuanping mumbled to himself quietly as he walked to the front of the hall and stepped lightly toward the corridor. As he walked, he saw Li Wen following him, carrying a mace as big as a human head without saying a word.
Seeing Li Wen''s immense figure, Li Yuanping felt a bit more confident and smiled.
"What a sturdy fellow you are!" he remarked.
"Hehe," Li Wen chuckled in response.
When Li Yuanping reached the side hall, he said gently, "You do not need toe in. Just wait outside."
After all, the gap between Foundation Establishment Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm was too vast. ording to An Zheyan''s description, if Li Wen went in, it would only take one palm strike from the visitor to send him flying, which would make them seem weak.
Seeing Li Wen nod dumbly, Li Yuanping pushed the door open and entered.
The side courtyard was simple and unadorned, with only a few wooden tables. Sitting by one small table was a young man with an ordinary face and a daoist crown on his head. A wooden sword rested on his knees, which appeared to be made of peach wood.
He looked to be only about twenty years old, wearing a in Daoist robe with golden embroidery on the cuffs of an unknown origin. The peach wood sword seemed ordinary and dull, not like any precious treasure.
A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator at twenty years old?
Li Yuanping secretly assumed that this person must be using an illusion to disguise his appearance, bing even more cautious.
"The Li Family wees you, Senior... May I ask how to address you?" Li Yuanping stepped forward with a smile, speaking politely yet confidently.
"Greetings, Family Head! I am Wang Xun from Yinghua Prefecture in Zhao State! Thank you for your hospitality!"
Unexpectedly, the young cultivator reacted with great enthusiasm, jumping up from his seat almost right away. The peach wood sword on his knees flipped in the air and floated lightly. Wang Xun, seemingly unaware, had responded courteously.
Seeing his response and demeanor, Li Yuanping felt slightly relieved. He nced unobtrusively at the peach wood sword and smiled as he said, "Oh, a guest from Zhao State! I am Li Yuanping... Apologies for keeping you waiting."
"No need for apologies!" The man smiled in return. Seeing Li Yuanping not taking the main seat but instead choosing to sit to the side, Wang Xun''s tense expression rxed, and he also sat down.
Watching the young man''s sincere reactions, Li Yuanping felt even more at ease and called out, "Serve the tea!"
The attendants quickly brought the tea, ced it before them, and left hurriedly. Li Yuanping smiled, observing the shy and bashful young man in front of him while still on guard. "May I ask, Senior... Where do youe from? Is there anything you need? If my family can help, we will certainly do so."
The young man seemed unustomed to worldly interactions and had not mentioned his background. Li Yuanping asked about his background to gauge if he belonged to a significant sect or family, which would inform his response.
Still smiling courteously, he poured tea from a jade pot.
The young man hesitated, nodding repeatedly, as though he had already expected to be asked about his family lineage. Ie from the Wang Family in Yinghua, a great-grandson of True Monarch Xiaojin and the son of Daoist Master Yingyuan..." he replied hurriedly.
"Wow..."
Li Yuanping felt as if he had been pped out of nowhere, and his head buzzed. His steady hand suddenly shook, spilling several drops of tea.
"True Monarch Xiaojin! A Golden Core Realm cultivator!" he eximed.
He looked up in shock and stammered, "Senior... you say you are the great-grandson of a True Monarch and the son of a Daoist Master?!"
Chapter 369: Wang Xun (I)
Chapter 369: Wang Xun (I)
As soon as Wang Xun had entered the Li Family''s territory, Lu Jiangxian, who was deeply engrossed in his studies, was immediately alerted.
Lu Jiangxian had set up several nodes in his divine sense to alert him of the following matters: if a direct descendant of the Li Family was about to die, if the aura of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator appeared, or if a member of the Li Family broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm...
He himself was repeatedly delving into the memory fragments of Maha Jinlian from years ago, trying to find clues to the origin of the Golden Temple Radiant Origin Manual or hints of the Purple Mansion Realm Records.
Wang Xun''s powerful sword qi, shining like a great ball of light, instantly woke Lu Jiangxian, who looked at the young man with some confusion.
"He is not a Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivator?!"
Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense hovered around Wang Xun, feeling that his fate waspletely nk, likely protected by some extraordinary method to avoid worldly entanglements.
Focusing once more, Lu Jiangxian saw a golden sword case appear on Wang Xun''s broad back. It was intricately patterned, mostly with cloud motifs, totaling one hundred and twenty-eight in number.
The case contained sixteen sword slots which was already holding ten swords, all hidden within, their forms indiscernible.
"Divine ability... or fate?"
The sword case on Wang Xun''s back was invisible to ordinary eyes but seemed extraordinary to him. Although it was clearly a divine ability, it was filled with the aura of fate. Lu Jiangxian, now quite experienced, observed for a while and made some deductions in his heart.
The northern path of cultivation...bines life and essence, consuming qi to seek essence and nourishing life with divine abilities... Difficult, truly difficult!
Lu Jiangxian looked at the sword case for a couple of moments, cautiously refraining from probing it with his divine sense. After all, this was a descendant of a Golden Core Realm cultivator and such an act might have hidden dangers.
After carefully observing the young man, Lu Jiangxian had a strong premonition that this was the most orthodox and original method of cultivation¡ªone that cultivated both heart and essence, seeking truth and immortality... directly pointing oneself to the path of the immortal!
"But if this is how cultivation is done, the difficulty is too great... Only one in a thousand spiritual orifice children might be able to seed... or less than that. If the Li Family were to practice this method now, not a single one might seed, and even producing a spark would be considered impressive..." he mused in amazement.
Lu Jiangxian gazed at the sword case, countless profound ideas flooding his mind, and could not help but praise and sigh.
"Life and essence duo cultivation, huh!"
Compared to this immortal method, the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao waspletely different. First, they nurtured the chakra and absorbed qi. After reaching the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, they discarded it to build the immortal foundation and cultivate divine abilities. Afterpleting the divine abilities, they sought essence, even absorbing simr immortal foundations to enhance their cultivation...
If Wang Xun''s immortal Dao was like climbing a mountain with integrity, the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao was like choosing the easiest path. Destroying and plundering along the way, without the need for seeking truth in the heart, each step bringing its own power.
"No wonder the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao is prevalent; they lower the threshold for cultivation so much..." Lu Jiangxian mumbled. He stared at him for a while, gradually gaining some insight into the ancient battles between immortals and devils, and could not help but sigh softly.
Seeing Li Yuanping lose hisposure for the first time in years, Lu Jiangxian smiled lightly, sensing that Wang Xun had no malicious intent and even wished to avoid contact with the Li Family to prevent entanglements, let alone harm them.
"It might even be a good thing!" he smiled triumphantly to himself.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Side courtyard at the foot of the mountain.
"Indeed, our True Monarch is Xiaojin, one of the Three Gold in the state... uh..." Wang Xun exined as he nodded but eventually paused, realizing he might have said too much, then slowly continued, "Fellow Daoist Yuanping, I am new to Jiangnan and unfamiliar with the southern customs. I havee with a request and do not intend to use my status to oppress. If I have offended in any way, please do not take it to heart..."
"Not at all! Not at all!" Li Yuanping quickly eximed, and he still found the situation hard to believe and wished Wang Xun would say more. Seeing his sincere expression, Li Yuanping quickly responded and secretly began calcting, then asked, "Although our family is somewhat known in this area, we are small and insignificant. What brings you to visit us, Senior..?"
"This... is a long story." Wang Xun replied with a mysterious smile on his youthful face as he continued, "My Wang Family does not cultivate the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao of Jiangnan but the ancient method of spiritual cultivation. This method has been lost in Jiangnan for a long time. If I were to exin it in detail, it might take three days and nights."
"ording to the understanding of Daoist cultivation in Jiangnan, I need to cultivate the divine ability known as Nurturing Azure Heaven, which requires gathering one hundred and twenty-eight sword qi and sixteen sword intents, forming a unique path to cultivate this divine ability."
He paused as he picked up the jade cup and smiled, looking at Li Yuanping with anticipation then continued eagerly, "My family has over a hundred people who have cultivated sword qi. I have already gathered them, but sword intents are rare. The Wang Family only has two, and I must venture out to find the rest toplete my Dao. So, I asked my father for advice, and he deduced that there are still four sword immortals and two spirit swords in Jiangnan that I could seek out."
Hearing this, Li Yuanping roughly understood why Wang Xun hade. Wang Xun took a sip of tea and, somewhat shyly, said, "When I arrived at theke, I secretly divined that your n possesses a spirit sword, residing in Mount Lijing, known as the Qingche."
cing the jade cup down, Wang Xun stood up solemnly and shook his sleeves as he stepped back.
"I humbly ask the family head to lend me the sword for a look, so I may advance on my path... I would be immensely grateful!"
Wang Xun simply cupped his fist lightly and bowed his head without bending at the waist. Although his words were respectful, his demeanor seemed somewhat arrogant.
Li Yuanping, thinking Wang Xun was of immortal lineage, found it not unusual. Wang Xun, looking embarrassed, quickly added, "My fate restricts me from bowing to serve others, lest it brings harm to you, Family Head. Please do not take offense!"
Li Yuanping, hearing this exnation for the first time, was suddenly enlightened and took note of it, replying that he dared not take offense. He then exined, "The Qingche Sword is a treasured heirloom of our family, both a dharma artifact and a ritual instrument. This is a serious matter... I must report it to the elders of the n and let them decide. Please wait a moment."
"Of course, of course! That is as it should be!" Wang Xun eximed in understanding as he nodded repeatedly. With this, Li Yuanping stepped outside, whispering to Li Wen about the details and sending him up the mountain to report.
Watching the strong man leave, Li Yuanping returned to the hall, his mind racing with thoughts.
This person seems knowledgeable, speaking of things usually kept secret within sects. It would be wise to take this rare opportunity to learn more! After all, the knowledge from a True Monarch''s family is priceless.
Before he could speak, Wang Xun eagerly continued, "Your n is known for its swordsmanship and bears the surname Li, residing by Moongaze Lake. Could you be rted to Daoist Master Donghua of the Moonlight Origin Mansion?"
Li Yuanping, unfamiliar with the name, replied, "No, our family descends from Ancestor Mutian, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Our ancestral origins are untraceable, and we have never heard of such a Daoist Master."
Wang Xun nodded and smiled, "The Daoist Master''s real name was Li Jiangqun, a sword master of great renown... His reputation even reached Yinghua Prefecture in Zhao State. He was a supreme cultivator of Moongaze Marsh in his time."
"So that is the case..." Li Yuanping mumbled, even deeper in thought.
Privately, the direct descendants of the Li Family had suspected this, but there was no evidence of it. Moreover, the karmic ties of Li Jiangqun were too significant. Being a small n, the Li Family preferred to avoid such connections rather than seek them out.
At that moment, he decided to change the topic, probing the stance of this spiritual cultivation Dao. With a smile, he said, "I heard that the North has fallen to the Jie people and Buddhism cultivators... I did not expect to still find fellow Daoists like ourselves."
"Well..." Wang Xun paused and exined, "Although the Jie people have pushed north due to the dominance of Buddhism cultivation to their south, there are still many grotto heavens and blessednds in the North where cultivators seclude themselves. Some small states are not under Buddhist rule... Moreover..."
He smiled awkwardly and continued, "The Spiritual Cultivation Dao waged war with your Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao a thousand years ago. In the past century, although circumstances forced many alliances, we can hardly call each other fellow Daoists..."
"I see... I have overstepped!" Li Yuanpingughed it off as realization dawned upon him. Although he was quite curious about this Spiritual Cultivation Dao, he did not dare pry into another''s Dao lineage. The young man before him was naive about worldly matters, not foolish; a few questions were enough.
Wang Xun, feeling slightly guilty at Li Yuanping''s apology, quickly added, "There is no inherent good or evil in Dao; it all lies in human actions. I am not one to judge based on Dao lineages. Last year, I visited Yue Cultivating Sect to ask for a sword from Senior Shangyuan and had a delightful conversation with him..."
"Daoist Master Shangyuan..." Li Yuanping responded, hearing a name he had only encountered in rumors, he then continued, "The Daoist Master is said to be a sword immortal second only to Golden Core Realm cultivators, with unparalleled sword intent."
"Indeed, he is formidable!" Wang Xun sighed, showing a serious expression for the first time as he praised, "His sword is astonishing... On one side, it is ethereal and transcendent, purging evil and vanquishing demons. On the other side, it is like cold snow in the vast sky, chilling to the bone! Even our True Monarch has never seen someone with two such distinct sword intents in one body."
Chapter 370: Wang Xun (II)
Chapter 370: Wang Xun (II)
On the other side, Li Wen, having received his orders, silently flew up. The courtyard on the mountain was quiet, with Li Yuanjiao standing motionless in ck, his face somber.
Xiao Guiluan held his arm silently, her face also showing worry. She had recently broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, her vitality-filled cultivation healing injuries and detoxifying poisons.
"Brother."
Li Qinghong, holding a long spear, also wore a solemn expression. After a long silence, she said, "Though it is said so, leaving Brother Ping alone at the foot of the mountain makes me very uneasy."
"There is no other choice..." Li Yuanjiao muttered as he gritted his teeth and said quietly, "After all... there is no room for sentimental attachments now. I swore before our granduncle''s spirit that you and I must note to harm."
"Hand that spear over to me!" Li Qinghong demanded glumly.
Li Yuanjiao was slightly stunned but still took out a jade box from his storage pouch, speaking softly, "I thought of this beforeing and brought it along. Granduncle said this spear is fierce and unruly, damaging one''s vitality and shortening one''s lifespan... He never used it after acquiring it. He instructed that it should not be handed to you unless you reached the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm, but if things truly turn dire, having this spear might give you a better chance of escape..."
He handed over the jade box, and Li Qinghong quickly took it. Just then, the courtyard door creaked open, and several external Qi Cultivators and guest cultivators hurried in, greeting in unison as they stepped into the courtyard.
After greeting them, Li Qinghong gently opened the jade box, revealing a long spear lying inside.
The spear was entirely silver-white, with a seven cun long, diamond-tipped head, t like buckwheat. The shaft was six che long and was intricately patterned, with mana light flowing through it. It was all one color, making it indistinguishable without close inspection.
As soon as the box was opened, the spear, as if harboring years of pent-up anger, burst forth with a series of white, shimmering electric sparks, leaping out of the box instantly. However, Li Qinghong caught it single-handedly.
"Hah!"
Delicate purple energy swirled in her almond-shaped eyes. Li Qinghong grunted with joy, and with a flip of her hand, the long spear gradually calmed down, emanating streaks of purple lightning thaty obediently in her red-tinged white palm.
"And the spear''s name..?"
The spear bore no markings, as the maker had left no name on it. It would reveal its name only when it acknowledged its master, and Li Yuanjiao had been curious for a long time. Seeing Li Qinghong tame the spear now, he eagerly asked his question out of deep curiosity.
Li Qinghong''s jade-like fingers opened, grasped, and turned. The spear spun like a beam of white light, swiftly moving from a horizontal position to an upright one. The long, t tip pointed diagonally at the ground and it hummed softly.
"Its name is Duruo[1]!"
Li Qinghong''s voice was clear and bright, her eyes sparkling like stars. Dressed in jade armor and long boots, her already heroic attirebined with the spear gave her a breathtaking presence, capturing everyone''s attention.
Most of the family''s Qi Cultivators were present. Tian Youdao and An Zheyan, being the oldest, remained calm, while Tian Zhongqing and Xu Gongming were momentarily stunned before quickly averting their gazes.
Madam Dou, dressed in a red dress, looked at her niece with envy.
"Good!"
Li Yuanjiao could not help but praise, a hint of pride on his face. He did not have time to ponder why the spear had such a name, thinking to himself, Qinghong''s equipment is probably on par with that of sect disciples... With this spear, our family will surely gain renown!
The Duruo Spear was considered excellent among Foundation Establishment Realm artifacts. The Li Family had not seen many of such artifacts, but both the Qingche Sword and this spear were clearly superior to the Jade Smoke Mountain of the Yu Family.
Li Yuanjiao rposed himself and coughed twice, making Tian Zhongqing and Xu Gongming, who kept ncing at Li Qinghong, feel a bit embarrassed. He then said in a deep voice, "A Foundation Establishment Realm external cultivator has arrived at our home and is waiting at the foot of the mountain. Coincidentally, the ancestor is away in the north seeking opportunities to break through to mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm..."
Their doubts were instantly dispelled. Tian Youdao stroked his long beard and said in a grave voice, "I fear that this person might be a devil cultivator... If he goes mad, it could result in a bloodbath!"
Tian Zhongqing and Xu Gongming exchanged a nce and suddenly realized why they had been called up the mountain. If that person was indeed a devil cultivator, only the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation could hold him off to some extent...
"Thank you for your protection, Family Head!" An Zheyan quickly said, offering a word of ttery, though his expression was somewhat grim. After all, his wife and children were still at the foot of the mountain. His wife Li Feiruo had borne him two sons and a daughter, all with spiritual orifices, which was quite rare.
Li Yuanjiao shook his head slightly and said in assurance, "The n Affairs Courtyard has already taken the direct descendants and their wives and daughters to the foot of the mountain."
At these words, the group rxed. Li Yuanping had been thorough in his preparations, easing a lot of the burden on Li Yuanjiao. After all, they might need these people to guard the formationter, and it was better for them to have no distractions.
Liu Changdie had left eight high tforms when he established the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation, which could be used to reinforce the barrier. With eight people present, they could fully activate the formation, making it difficult even for a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to break through it.
Li Wen was still at the foot of the mountain...
As Li Yuanjiao was thinking of this, someone descended into the courtyard with a gust of wind. The figure wasrge, holding a big mace with both hands, looking quite fierce¡ªit was Li Wen.
Li Wennded, then bowed respectfully.
"Family Head!"
After conveying Li Yuanping''s message and exining the situation, Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly and waved his hand, "Go to your designated formation points."
The guest cultivators and external cultivators all nodded and dispersed. Li Qinghong assigned a formation point to Li Wen, then turned back and asked, "Brother! Can we trust him?"
"Probably..." Li Yuanjiao said as he squinted slightly.
However, Li Qinghong was still wary and cautioned, "I am afraid Brother Ping might be under a spell."
Li Yuanjiao suddenly had an idea and replied, "Let us take a look and find out!"
He turned and entered the courtyard, soon returning with a small bluish-gray mirror. Li Qinghong immediately understood his intentions and Li Yuanjiao closed his eyes, focusing on the mountain.
Sitting by a small table in the side courtyard was a young man in white, with a daoist crown on his head and an ordinary face. His aura was calm and transparent under the mirror''s gaze, even exuding a celestial air, and he was clearly not an evildoer.
At that moment, Wang Xun was holding a jade cup, sipping tea. A peach wooden swordy on his knees, and the cuffs of his daoist robe were embroidered with golden patterns. He carried a sword case on his back that glimmered with a golden light, giving off a slightly ethereal quality.
"A sword case..?" Li Yuanjiao voiced his doubt.
1. Duruo also means White Iris flower. ?
Chapter 371: Wanglin Blossom
Chapter 371: Wanglin Blossom
Li Yuanjiao held the mirror for a while, unable to decipher anything. He assumed this person was an immortal descendant of a Golden Core Realm cultivator and that the item on his back was a treasure.
Gritting his teeth, he handed the mirror to Li Qinghong and said softly, "I will go down and take a look... You hold the mirror and observe. If anything happens, activate the Supreme Yin Profound Light immediately."
"All right!"
Li Qinghong strapped the spear to her back and took the mirror, feeling a cool sensation as the white light flowed across its surface, giving it a mystical aura.
"What a fine mirror..." she murmured to herself as she held the mirror, feeling an all-over coolness on her body, her senses bing sharp and clear. The spear on her back, which had been emitting white light, quickly dimmed and fell silent.
Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao arrived at the foot of the mountain. Inside the hall, Li Yuanping was having a pleasant conversation with Wang Xun. As Li Yuanjiao approached the courtyard, he heard a heartyugh.
"Brother Yuanping, you must be joking! My Wang Family is limited to Yinghua Prefecture, with just over 200,000 people in the mundane world! Those who attain the Dao enter our family''s grotto heaven, avoiding worldly entanglements, so naturally, there are no connections. The lord of my family is one of the Three Gold, and even among the Buddhist Sects, there is constant internal strife, with factions too busy currying favor to dare interfere with us... And so this is how things have been for centuries."
Li Yuanjiao gently knocked on the door before entering. Wang Xun looked up and immediately fixed his gaze on the sharp sword at Li Yuanjiao''s waist. Li Yuanping smiled and introduced him to the guest.
"Senior, this is my elder brother, Li Yuanjiao."
"Greetings, fellow Daoist!"
They exchanged polite greetings. Wang Xun carefully observed Li Yuanjiao before smiling andmenting, "Your brother has quite an impressive presence!"
Li Yuanjiao responded politely to hispliment and then said, "I already know the purpose of your visit, Senior. Our family¡¯s spirit sword contains a preserved sword intent left by our elder, sealed for many years and never used. If you wish to borrow the sword to advance your path, do you intend to take the sword or the intent? And if so, will it damage the sword intent?"
Li Yuanjiao had already thought the matter through and went straight to the point.
"Fellow Daoist..." Wang Xun smiled wryly and replied, "Our Wang Family has plenty of Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifacts¡ªmost of them swords. I have traveled far to seek this sword specifically for its intent."
"As for whether it will damage the sword intent..." Wang Xun paused, thinking for a moment, then answered, "I need to examine the sword to determine that."
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, removed the sword from his waist, drew it from its sheath, and solemnly presented it.
"Please take a look."
The young man was overjoyed and carefully took the sword, admiring the green-white de with the elegantly inscribed characters¡ªQingche.
Wang Xun could not help but praise, "Four che and five cun long, forged from seven che of Qingming Copper... Although the materials are average, the craftsmanship is exceptional. The sword has been nurtured by sword intent for years, making it a fine piece!"
"The sword intent within is as clear as water, as white as the moon, and nurtured for ten years. If this is unleashed... ordinary cultivators would not withstand it."
The Li brothers listened attentively. Wang Xun continued, "I only need a sliver of the intent. Based on my understanding of swordsmanship, it would reduce the sword intent''s strength by at most... twenty percent."
He smiled awkwardly and quickly added, "I will not let your family suffer a loss! I canpensate with other items."
The brothers exchanged a nce, and Li Yuanjiao asked, "ording to the standards of the Jiangnan Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, what power would this sword intent retain after the reduction?"
"Hmm..." Wang Xun pondered for a moment and then replied, "This sword intent is potent. Even if I draw a sliver from it, once the sword is wielded, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator at the early stage would surely die. A mid-stage might escape with their life, but even ate-stage would suffer greatly if caught off guard."
As soon as Wang Xun had finished speaking, he saw the hesitation on the brothers'' faces and continued, "Our Daoist tradition mandates minimal worldly ties; we cannot owe favors or intervene for others... However,pensating with spirit items, precious herbs, or pills is eptable."
"Fellow Daoist, please use this sword to advance your path!"
Given Wang Xun''s clear exnation and their inability to offend him, Li Yuanjiao reluctantly agreed. Wang Xun was overjoyed but remained cautious, saying solemnly, "Whatpensation would you require? Please, do not say anything polite, as it would put me in a difficult position!"
He stared intently at the two, fearing they would make unreasonable demands after he extracted the sword qi. It was evident that without clear terms, he would not proceed.
"Allow my brother and I a moment to discuss this," Li Yuanjiao replied courteously.
"Of course!" Wang Xun nodded, examining the sword as the brothers stepped outside the hall to talk.
Once outside, Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao both spoke at the same time.
"Essence Gathering Pill!"
"Spirit root!"
Both were momentarily stunned by each other¡¯s outbursts and thenughed wryly. Li Yuanping had intended to ask for Essence Gathering Pills to help his brother and elder sister break through to Foundation Establishment Realm, while Li Yuanjiao had considered requesting a spirit root, simr to the Snake Dragon Tree, to alleviate their family''s annual financial struggles.
Each brother had the family''s best interests at heart¡ªone focusing on cultivation, the other on the family''s well-being. They shared a knowing smile. Li Yuanping quickly said, "The family can manage; the key is for you and our elder sister to break through! Even though the Essence Gathering Pill only increases the chances of Foundation Establishment Realm breakthrough by fifty percent, it''s still a big help. Besides, since the Wang Family is descended from Golden Core Realm cultivators, he might have even more powerful pills..."
Li Yuanjiao thought for a moment and hesitated, "I also feel that everything Wang Xun holds is extraordinary... Although the Essence Gathering Pill is precious, it seems a waste to exchange it for a favor from the Wang Family. If he has a spirit root, it would surely be a special one that could sustain our family for centuries toe..."
Given that Wang Xun promised spirit items and precious herbs, and since the brothers had seen many spirit items but not many treasured panaceas, their best bet was a spirit root. With one such root, they could continuously produce spirit items.
After some deliberation, the brothers found themselves in a dilemma. Li Yuanpingughed and said, "Now that we have such an opportunity, it is making us hesitant."
Li Yuanjiao pondered for a moment and then replied, "Let us ask the senior first... We don''t know whether he has something better than the Essence Gathering Pill or maybe no spirit roots on hand. With clear options, we can thenpare and decide."
"Agreed!"
They then returned to the courtyard and tactfully presented their request to Wang Xun. He nodded in relief as he mumbled thoughtfully, "A spirit root... I do have one, which I found by chance in our grotto heaven."
He retrieved a red-yellow seed the size of an almond from his storage pouch and said softly, "This is called the Wanglin Blossom. A thousand years ago, it was the treasured relic of the Wanglin Upper Sect in Jiangbei. After the spiritual energy waned, it could no longer thrive there, and only a few remain in our grotto heaven. This spirit root blooms every three years and withers in three days, bearing fruit every three hundred years. It is very delicate and requires daily watering with spirit spring water if the spiritual energy is insufficient. Its flowers are a type of spirit item, considered to be of the Foundation Establishment Realm ording to the standards of Jiangnan, and can alleviate worries and sustain life."
Chapter 372: Generation After Generation (I)
Chapter 372: Generation After Generation (I)
"Whoa!"
As soon as Wang Xun spoke, the two brothers were stunned, secretly amazed. After all, Wang Xun was an immortal descendant of a Golden Core Realm cultivator, and his understanding of spirit roots was on apletely different levelpared to the Li Family''s.
The Li Family''s Snake Dragon Tree was merely between the Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm, while Wang Xun immediately offered a Foundation Establishment Realm item, leaving the brothers speechless.
Wang Xun, seemingly unaware of their amazement, continued to exin nonchntly, "This Wanglin Blossom has the effect of alleviating worries and sustaining life, and its flowers bloom like red jade. Normally, consuming them can calm the mind, eliminate distracting thoughts, and enhance cultivation... In life-and-death situations, chewing and swallowing the flowers can sustain the body and prolong life. From our family''s experience, this can sustain a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator for several days. The more consumed, the less effective it bes. However, if the quantity is sufficient, it can sustain someone for up to half a month without any issues."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanjiao was immediately tempted. He stared at the red-yellow almond-sized seed, his thoughts racing, Our Mount Huaqian has a spirit spring... I wonder if it can support this spirit root. The flowers can be consumed for cultivation, given as gifts, or sold to wealthy ns!
Although sustaining life for a few days seemed insignificant for a small n like the Li Family, it was quite valuable for arge n. Combined with certain pills and talismans, it could enable a heavily injured Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to make it home.
Forrge ns like the Xiao Family, who possessed numerous elixirs, the chances of survival were significantly higher as long as there was still a breath left.
Seeing the two brothers deep in thought, Wang Xun smiled gently.
"As for the Essence Gathering Pill, our Wang Family has those, as well as better pills. However, such items are of no use to me, so I did not bring them. I only have a few bottles of Essence Gathering Pills for rewards."
After saying this, he took out a jade bottle from his storage pouch and flicked his finger. A pill flew out, snow-white and crystal clear, emitting a pleasant fragrance. Wang Xun smiled and said, "This Essence Gathering Pill is of high quality, certainly not inferior! You may inspect it, but merely exchanging your sword intent for these pills might seem like I am bullying you with my status."
The Essence Gathering Pill, when taken for the first time, could greatly enhance the probability of achieving Foundation Establishment Realm and was an excellent cultivation pill. It was not particrly rare, and the materials required for its production were not exceedingly expensive. However, the recipe and materials were monopolized by the three sects and seven gates, only used as rewards for disciples, making it quite rare in the Yue State.
In Wang Xun''s eyes, these were merelymon supplementary pills and not particrly valuable, hence he felt it was an inappropriate offer.
Li Yuanping carefully inspected it, finding the fragrance delightful. Li Yuanjiao, upon seeing the pill, was startled, his eyes widening in shock. His back was cold, and he eximed, "This is an Essence Gathering Pill?!"
The Li Family had seen Essence Gathering Pills before. Li Tongya had taken them in the past, and there were mentions of them in the family records. Li Yuanping, not being well-versed in cultivation, was unaware, but Li Yuanjiao had memorized the records.
The Essence Gathering Pill the Li Family had obtained was white with gray patterns and coiled in shape, causing dizziness with a single whiff. Yet, the pill before them was bright, smooth, and delicate like a jade bead, filling the room with a nice fragrance;pletely different from what they had seen before.
Greatly shocked and speechless, Li Yuanjiao''s mind was filled with a terrifying question.
If this is an Essence Gathering Pill... what did our ancestor take back then..?
Wang Xun, noticing Li Yuanjiao''s reaction, thoughtfully nced at him and swirled the small cup on the table.
"The Essence Gathering Pill, named for its ability to consolidate one''s essence and remove impurities, uses the Azure Amber Spirit Grass as the main ingredient,bined with twelve supplementary herbs, refined with three specific types of mes..."
Wang Xun appeared knowledgeable about medicinal herbs and pill forms, calmly exining as he noticed Li Yuanjiao''s reaction.
Li Yuanjiao, feeling a chill down his spine, asked in a low voice, "Senior, if the pill has gray patterns, is coiled in shape, and its spiritual qi is intense with effects simr to the Essence Gathering Pill... Can you identify what kind of pill that might be?"
"Gray patterns?"
Wang Xun pondered for a moment, his expression turning cold, and replied in a low voice, "In Jiangnan, there are many different Diverse Mansion Unified Furnace techniques that incorporate human blood qi into pills. When mortal and spiritual energybine, they can form certain patterns... Those are pills made from other human''s essence and qi. Diverse Mansion Unified Furnace techniques produce pills that are far superior in both quantity and qualitypared to ordinary pills. If the streaks are gray, it means that some kind of immortal foundation might have been used. These pills are often taken by the core members of devil sects. Consuming it significantly boosts cultivation and has astonishing effects."
Although Wang Xun''s voice was not loud, it exploded like a thunderp. Li Yuanjiao staggered a step backward, looking at the person in front of him in disbelief. He almost couldn''t breathe but managed to squeeze a reply out of himself.
"Thank you, Senior... We will choose the spirit root!"
While responding, his mind finally cleared up and many of his doubts were resolved, though such realization filled him with increasing dread.
Granduncle once said he thought his talent was mediocre and that achieving Foundation Establishment Realm would be a life-or-death struggle... He hadn''t expected it to happen so smoothly! So it was... it was... because of the pills?!
That''s why it was so easy for him to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm back then! Of course, in order to make my granduncle a bait for Maha, he must seed in his breakthrough... If he failed and perished, the Maha would simply find another target and the bait would be lost...
Wang Xun continued to chat with Li Yuanping while taking out a jade box, cing the spirit root inside, and handing it to him.
"I will cultivate in this side courtyard for a few days. The Family Head can stay nearby, so he won''t have to worry about me running away with the sword..." he reassured softly.
Li Yuanjiao listened to their polite conversation in a daze and unknowingly walked out of the side courtyard, still in a trance. Wang Xun''s words kept echoing in his mind.
In Jiangnan, there are many different Diverse Mansion Unified Furnace techniques that incorporate human blood qi into pills. When mortal and spiritual energybine, they can form certain patterns... Those are pills made from other human''s essence and qi...
Wang Xun''s words were vague, but his eyes and hints were extremely clear. "Pills made from human''s essence and qi" clearly meant Human Pills... made from the blood qi and essence qi collected from annual ughters!
He walked in a daze to the main hall, where Li Yuanping, looking worried, called out repeatedly. Li Yuanjiao seemed to wake from a dream and hurriedly took off his storage pouch from his waist.
With a grave expression, Li Yuanjiao gently patted the storage pouch, pouring out several jade bottles that ttered onto the table. He picked up one and poured its contents into his palm.
This pill was the mostmon Jade Sprout Pill, mostly distributed from the Yundan Peak of the Azure Pond Sect. The Azure Pond Sect''s pills were of particrly high quality, favored by rogue cultivators, making them easily recognizable.
The Jade Sprout Pill was a pale yellow color, with nothing special visible on the surface. Li Yuanjiao scanned it repeatedly with his spiritual sense and finally found faint, curly patterns.
The alchemist''s skill was exquisite, making these patterns almost imperceptible. They were colorless, blending seamlessly with the pill.
Li Yuanjiao''s eyes reddened, and he quickly poured out all the pills from his storage pouch, searching frantically. Finally, he found the Snake Essence Pill made by Xiao Yuansi for the Li Familyst year and hurriedly poured it into his palm.
Chapter 373: Generation After Generation (II)
Chapter 373: Generation After Generation (II)
This pill was a pale red color, slightly smaller than the previous one, with a smooth and round surface. After flipping it over a dozen times, Li Yuanjiao could not find a single pattern on it.
I knew it! No wonder the Azure Pond Sect collects blood qi and resentment qi every year; most of them must be used for this! The Azure Pond Sect releases thousands of pills annually, sustaining half of the Yue State... How many circte in the market?
Li Yuanjiao slowly closed his eyes, knowing that even within the Li Family, almost everyone had taken these pills. Only a few from the generation of Xi and Yue, who had just started cultivating, had not yet taken any...
Seeing his brother''s inexplicable expression, Li Yuanping grew extremely anxious. Li Yuanjiao spoke in a low, deep voice, "Brother Ping, all the pills released by the Azure Pond Sect are made using mortal blood qi... Their high-level techniques remove the resentment qi, leaving only the blood qi and essence qi, making it just another ingredient, letting it go unnoticed by people... That pill Granduncle took back then was not an Essence Gathering Pill. The Chi Family knew Lord Chejing would never take that pill but would leave it for our family. They used another''s immortal foundation to specially refine it... It might have been the Boundless Ocean!"
After exining his deductions in detail, Li Yuanping stood still, staring at his brother, speechless for several moments. He slowly sat down, his face bewildered, muttering, "We have all consumed them... Every cultivator in Yue State takes these pills... The Azure Pond Sect has existed for five hundred years. Rogue cultivators, sect cultivators, n cultivators¡ªwhether they know it or not¡ªhave been consuming these pills for generations! I have taken them, my father took them, my grandfather took them, and so did our ancestors... You and I... we have been eating humans, and we are also descendants of those who eat humans."
After finally processing this shocking news, he trembled and asked, "In your opinion, do any other ns know?"
"I have no idea."
Li Yuanjiao shook his head slowly, his expressionplex, and said, "It is hard to say about the Yuan Family, but Xiao Yuansi is a righteous gentleman and must be unaware of this. As for the Xiao Family, having dominated for so many years, I cannot believe... not a chance, that they do not know."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At the peak of Mount Lijing.
Li Qinghong slowly clenched her fair and delicate hands into fists. The bluish-gray mirror faintly reflected her fine features. The spiritual sense magnified by the mirror covered not just Lijing Town but far beyond. She had heard every word exchanged between the two clearly.
"So that is how it is..."
She recalled the few pills she had consumed, wondering how many men, women, children, and elders had contributed their blood qi to those pills. A wave of nausea swept over her. Beside her, Lu Jiangxian was stunned, his heart sinking.
"The Azure Pond Sect... what kind of trickery is this? This means that the entire Yue State, and even all of Jiangnan, have been consuming these pills..."
For a moment, he was at a loss for words. After all, Lu Jiangxian came from a society that was governed by strictws. Internally, he drew a line for the Li Family.
No ughter, no blood sacrifice... I cannot bear to see that. If the Li Family gets involved in this, I might as well use the Profound Light to destroy them... But now, what should I do?
Lu Jiangxian''s already limited knowledge was concentrated in the realm of shamanic spells and talismans. When it came to alchemy, his understanding remained at the level of those few alchemical books he had studied. Naturally, he could not identify the issues with these pills.
Furthermore, back when Li Tongya took the pills, Lu Jiangxian was just a novice. If Wang Xun had not pointed it out, he would have had no awareness of the problem contained within.
"Forget it. If they have unknowingly eaten these human meat buns, can it really be considered a crime...?" He sighed as he focused intently on the mirror, its profound light radiating and clearing the minds of the people below him, waking them from their state of growing inner demons.
Seeing the gradually awakening group, Lu Jiangxian felt troubled again. If the Li Family knowingly continued to consume these blood qi pills in the future... what then?
"Logically, past actions cannot be judged, and addressing it now would be too conspicuous. Moreover, these pills, refined from pure blood qi, would not trigger the talisman seeds'' warnings... It is impossible to monitor the Li Family constantly..." Lu Jiangxian sighed deeply, shrinking within the mirror''s world.
He murmured quietly, "The world is filthy... it is impossible to climb up cleanly. Let''s take it one step at a time. Now that the Li Family has their own alchemist, they have room to maneuver. Let''s see how they handle this!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The members of the Li Family were deeply shaken by the news that had just been revealed to them. Meanwhile, in the side courtyard, Wang Xun gently held the long sword in front of him, hesitating for a moment as he appeared lost in thought.
"This Li Family still adheres to the righteous path, a rarity under the rule of these Jiangnan powers... But I wonder how long they can endure in such a corrupt world..."
The young man''s eyebrows slightly furrowed, showing a hint ofpassion. Even his own Wang Family could only avoid the world, what more could a mere Foundation Establishment Realm family achieve?
The currents of the world were like a torrent, and even his family''s True Monarch could only protect the n, let alone consider anything beyond that.
"The Heaven Dao is wed, and we are powerless... If it were not for my family''s teachings of seclusion, we would have been destroyed in that great cmity..."
Wang Xun brought his two fingers together and gently stroked the green-white sword. The clear, bright sword aura reflected in his eyes, filled with innocence, kindness along with... deep pain and guilt.
Although he came from a prestigious family, he had traveled the world, but he was unfamiliar with southern customs. Knowing that the Li Family dared not offend him, he could have easily given a few pills to appease them and avoid further entanglements.
However, as he traveled, he saw only joy and strictws under the Li Family''s governance, making him find them endearing. He feltpelled to offer something better, hence he had taken out the spirit root and given it to the Li Family willingly.
"Jiangnan is indeed as described in the books, with various factions pulling strings and everyone being powerless. Only the Yue Cultivating Sect seems somewhat righteous..."
With this thought, Wang Xun could not help but feel a sense of doubt and pondered, "That True Monarch is not a benevolent person, yet the Yue Cultivating Sect has adhered to the rules set by the Immortal Lord for so many years without overstepping their boundaries... which is truly puzzling."
He mulled over it but could not figure it out. Naturally gifted with an innate connection to the way of the sword, he was not adept at pondering these schemes and conspiracies. He shifted his thoughts and felt the grief and indignation within the spirit of the Qingche Sword.
"That Li Family Sword Immortal has indeed suffered an unjust death..."
Wang Xun let out a bitterugh. Having traveled in the north, he found it to be dead and stagnant under the Buddhism rule, with everything remaining the same year after year. The Maha forever remained Maha, and the lowlymoners forever remained lowlymoners, filled with despair.
Jiangnan, on the other hand, was constantly chaotic, filled with betrayal and ughter. Today, someone might break through the Qi Cultivation Realm and forge an artifact to annex another n, and tomorrow, that person might be killed, resulting in the annihtion of their n... It was not any better.
cing the Qingche Sword on his knee, Wang Xun formed a seal and performed a spell, extracting strands of white sword intent. He sighed as he muttered quietly to himself, "If I had to choose, I would rather be born in Jiangnan... At least there is a path to take."
Chapter 374: Eradicating the Pest (I)
Chapter 374: Eradicating the Pest (I)
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Wang Xun handed the Qingche Sword back to the Li Family, saying simply, "It is better than I expected; I only took one-tenth of the sword intent. Thank you all!"
Then, he flew away as if escaping, not daring to say another word. The two brothers looked at each other, realizing that this person truly did not want to get involved in worldly affairs and had only spoken more because he had a request.
One brother held the sword, and the other carried the jade box. They returned to the small courtyard on the mountain in the rain where the rest of the Li Family was already waiting.
Raindrops pattered down, and the courtyard was silent. On the smooth and simple table were several jade bottles,rge and small, green and white, emanating spiritual qi. On the other end, there were five or six lonely jade bottles.
"Roughly, this is the situation..."
Li Yuanjiao exined the series of events in a low voice, "Currently, about seventy percent of the pills in the markete from the Azure Pond Sect, while only twenty to thirty percente from the Xiao and Yuan Families. Now, consider carefully how we should handle this."
All the direct descendants of the Li Family were present. Li Qinghong stood silently to the side, holding her spear, while Li Yuanping bowed his head in thought. The younger generation, seated on the lower end, had varied expressions.
Seeing that Li Yuanping and Li Qinghong remained silent, Li Yuanjiao turned his gaze to the eldest, Li Xicheng, indicating for him to speak.
Li Xicheng, who had been lost in thought, quickly straightened up. After thinking for a moment, he said slowly, "In my opinion, these pills¡ªthough precious¡ªare made from human lives... Our family has always upheld strict family traditions and prioritized nurturing the people. It is best to abandon these pills..."
Li Xicheng, who had gained experience managing affairs in Mount Yue, could articte better now. He clearly suggested that the pills should no longer be used. Li Yuanjiao nodded and looked at Li Xijun.
Dressed in a white robe with silver edges, Li Xijun appeared more handsome. He said respectfully, "In my opinion, since our family will no longer use these pills, we should sell them in the market at slightly lower prices to convert them into Spirit Stones, quickly replenishing our family''s resources while creating some buzz. Then, we should establish connections with the Xiao and Yuan Families to ensure future pill suppliese exclusively from them, avoiding the market."
"Excellent!"
Li Xijun, within a few dozen seconds, had provided aplete strategy that made Li Yuanjiao''s eyes light up in both joy and pride.
Finally, Li Ximing spoke softly, "I have not yet broken through to the Jade Capital Stage and cannot focus solely on refining pills. We''ll have to rely on the Xiao and Yuan Families for several years... Eighth brother''s strategy is thorough, but I have one concern about these pills."
Li Ximing paused for a moment, then continued, "Pills made from blood qi, as rumored, are created using Diverse Mansion Unified Furnace techniques that produce a higher quantity and quality of pills... Are there no side effects or hidden dangers? Perhaps the harm is far greater than people know..."
His words made the three elders raise their eyebrows. Having read alchemy books, Li Ximing understood the risks better than the others. He continued, "My point is, even if we disregard the connection to human lives, we should not consume these pills. Who knows what risks they carry? The pills from the ns might not be as sought after as those from the Azure Pond Sect, but they are easier to acquire... so why not?"
"Indeed."
The three elders exchanged nces, and Li Yuanping smiled as he said, "You may all leave now."
After the younger generation had left and the courtyard gate closed with an isting formation, Li Yuanping remarked, "The younger ones have truly grown."
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly and said, "Xicheng, althoughcking substance, has be less unsophisticated and is willing to learn and improve, which is good... But Xijun is a practical one."
Li Xijun''splete strategy delighted the three elders. Li Qinghong, holding the Duruo Spear, appeared more rxed and said gently, "Ximing is thoughtful, Xijun is strategic. It is thanks to your teaching, Brother Ping!"
Li Yuanjiao began to put away the pills on the table, contemting on how to acquire the right connections with the Xiao Family without indebting them. He thought of seeking help from Xiao Yuansi and said with a smile, "Our family has taught through personal examples and historical lessons for three generations while maintaining strict traditions, which is why we have such outstanding descendants."
With the Profound Light of the mirror enhancing their spirits and the encouragement from the younger generation, the three elders felt much relieved. Li Yuanjiao exhaled deeply, picked up the jade box on the table, and, with a slightly lighter tone, said, "This spirit root, the Wanglin Blossom, is at least at the Foundation Establishment Realm... It needs to be watered with a spirit spring. We have one on Mount Huaqian that can be used."
The spirit spring on Mount Huaqian had a long history. Even during the Wan Family''s time, the formation genius Wan Huaqian had used this spring to construct formations. Now, in the hands of the Li Family, the spring was primarily used to water spirit nts, hoping to save a few years'' worth of growth and help alleviate the family''s annual deficit.
"ording to Wang Xun, this Wanglin Blossom cannot be stored in gold or jade. When it blooms, we should pick the flowers with wooden chopsticks and store them in a bamboo box," Li Yuanjiao exined.
"This flower cannot hear crying. If it hears crying, it will wither, so be mindful of that!" he reminded.
Li Qinghong nodded solemnly, taking the responsibility seriously. "I will guard Mount Huaqian for the next few years and watch over this spirit root," she said confidently.
"How are the two matters we discussed previously progressing?" Li Yuanjiao suddenly inquired.
Li Yuanping quickly responded, "The situation in Mount Yue is bing more stable, and the Tian Family is cooperating well. It seems about time... Those fat Mount Yue nobles were like sheep ready for ughter. They sided with us at the right time back then, so we did not touch them. Now, they are getting more arrogant and even starting to encroach on our spirit resources... We should kill a few to strengthen our family."
Li Qinghong, not being adept at household management and political maneuvers, frowned and asked, "Why not kill them all and send our own people to Mount Yue? Why keep a bunch of mountain pigs around?"
"Dear sister," Li Yuanping chuckled softly as he exined patiently, "If we send our own people, they would still be corrupt, and we will have to waste manpower to supervise them. If the branch families gain benefits, they might unite, making it harder to deal with them."
"Oh," Li Qinghong responded, frowning. Her clear voice then added, "I just returned to the mountain and noticed that the branch families down there do nothing but marry wives, take concubines, y games like pot-throwing, and keep dogs for racing... That does not seem right."
Li Yuanping nodded and continued, "You are right. These guys are indeed useless, hiding their corruption and shame, secretly upying people''snd, and exploiting them. Some even collude with merchants for power and wealth!"
"In the past, when there were fewer of them, the n Affairs Courtyard could suppress them. But now, with the family struggling and more rtives joining, our cultivators need to focus on nurturing spirit nts. We cannot waste time on them. And that brings me to my second matter..."
He then poured tea for Li Yuanjiao and continued with a smile, "Brother, regarding the issue you mentioned, I have found an opportunity. We need to look into the families on the eastern shore."
Taking out a gray map from the table, he exined, "To our north are Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting, bordering the Yu Family. To the east of Mount Yuting are the families on the eastern shore... Among our neighbors are two families, one surnamed Rui and the other Pu."
"These two families only have cultivators in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Their ancestors were enlightened by the Xiao Family and upied small mountains. They united with nearby families to mine the local spirit ores for the Xiao Family." Li Yuanping paused and exined further, "Do you remember the Ding Family?"
Chapter 375: Eradicating the Pest (II)
Chapter 375: Eradicating the Pest (II)
"Of course," Li Qinghong replied, sipping her tea, "The Yuan Family''s vassals and a small buffer household between the three families."
"Correct." Li Yuanping nodded and continued, "The Ding Family has several Qi Cultivators, including Ding Xiding in thete stage. These two families used to pay tribute to the Ding Family. After our ancestor broke through to Foundation Establishment Realm, Ding Xiding was so frightened that he came to pay his respects and abandoned these two families near our border. Without their tribute, these two families sent us gifts a few times. Seeing no response from us, they have be free and content, even attacking and plundering mortals."
"Plundering mortals...?" Li Yuanjiao asked, sensing something ominous.
Li Yuanping, having thoroughly investigated the matter, replied in a low voice, "I found it strange too, so I sent people to inquire. It turns out the Xiao Family only wants the spirit jade ore and does not require tribute, but the Ding and Yu families do. Hence, the eastern shore families have always been short ofbor. Mortals, not needing spiritual energy but producing a lot of output, became their only option..."
When Li Yuanping spoke to this point, everything became clear. After all, it was the territory of the devil gates, and Li Yuanjiao had heard of such things before. Simr transactions involving rogue cultivators were also carried out by the Yu Family, and he had be somewhat ustomed to it. He merely nodded silently.
"I intend to intervene in thends of the eastern shore families, supporting one or two small households in the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms. This will be an opportunity to conscript over two thousand people from the branch families, specifically selecting those who are idle and frivolous."
Li Yuanping continued to outline his ns in great detail.
Li Yuanjiao nodded in realization, his narrow eyes showing satisfaction. Li Yuanping''s gray-ck eyes, rounder than Li Yuanjiao''s and simr to Li Qinghong''s, also reflected cunningness and intelligence.
"I will deliberately have Xicheng lead these troops. Xicheng is kind-hearted and gentle, reluctant to scold or shout. This group of frivolous men is already unreliable. Once they cross the borders into another family''s territory, it is unlikely they will be able to restrain themselves from revealing their true nature..."
After saying this, Li Yuanping took a sip of tea and continued softly, "At that time, we will kill some, punish some, and release some. Who among the n elders would dare voice opposition to such severe crimes? After this campaign, we can ensure at least forty years of clean governance!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Beneath Yi Mountain City
Drip, drip.
Being close to the southern border, Yi Mountain City received ample rainfall. The heavy rain fell, mixing with the blood on the ground, turning the mud into a grayish-red slurry.
A youth with gray-ck eyes stared at the city walls. His clothes were tattered, soaked with mud and water, and he stank terribly. Blending in with the other ve soldiers, he was indistinguishable.
"Another hour, and I can leave the city..."
Using his metallic essence to create a rift, Jiang Boqing had sent Jiang Yan to Yi Mountain City in one breath. The old man was in terrible shape, nearly draining Jiang Yan of all his energy to fuel the transport. This extreme exertion nearly depleted Jiang Yan''s cultivation, leaving him barely able to recover.
Jiang Yannded in a ve camp within the city, lying on a corpse where hey stiffly for a while before slowly recovering. He looked up to see a vast white formation covering the sky, recognizing it as the first city of Jiangnan.
Despite his endless confusion, there was no time to ponder. Barefoot and disoriented, he sat in the camp, his heart full of confusion.
He deceived my father, killed my mother... all to refine the two shamanic talismans in my body... Why does it end like this?!
With Jiang Boqing dead, Jiang Yan felt both sorrow and bewilderment, not daring to think too much. He only knew that if he stayed here, he would be discovered sooner orter.
The great formation in Yi Mountain City was established by an immortal sect and was impossible to break through by force. Jiang Yan had to disguise himself as a ve soldier, waiting in the camp for half a month before encountering a demon beast raid.
"Howughable."
Jiang Yan''s gaze swept over the emaciatedmoners, immediately discerning the devil gate''s intention. Coldly, he thought to himself, This is not defense... it''s merely feeding the beasts!
ng!
The tunnel entrance barely opened, revealing an array formation above him. The mind-bewildering formation activated, driving themoners to madness as they rushed out.
"Ahhhh..."
Jiang Yan mingled with the crowd, only to face the gaping maw of a wolf demon. Its sharp white teeth glinted menacingly as the crazedmoners hurled themselves at it, resulting in a spray of blood and flying debris.
He took a detour, unable to fly now, and had no choice but to sprint. Unexpectedly, the demon seemed to find him interesting, turning to chase after him.
"Damn it!"
Though injured, Jiang Yan was not someone a mere low-level demon could bully. With a simple p, he had sent the wolf demon staggering. He then flew low to the ground, escaping southward in a sorry state.
Atop Yi Mountain City.
Liu Changdie had already gone down to maintain the grand formation. Li Xuanfeng stood with his bow while Fei Yihe stood silently beside him, watching the approaching beast horde.
The other cultivators either held bows or spears, concentrating and imbuing their weapons with mana which caused them to glow mystically.
These cultivators,cking any family heritage, either trained in swordsmanship or spear techniques, only developing sword or spear aura to attach to their weapons. Longer reach meant greater strength, so naturally, they chose spears to increase their chances of survival.
At most, they only managed to cultivate sword or spear qi. Thetter had a wider range than sword qi, providing them with better chances of survival. Thus, except for a few disciples from prominent ns, most wielded spears.
They stood ready, and behind them were several green-robed cultivators, mostly at the mid tote stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, standing with their hands behind their backs. All of them were disciples of Azure Pond Sect, overseeing the formation.
Screech!
A distant eagle cried, but it did not dare to approach. On the groundy several corpses being devoured, likely the result of Li Xuanfeng''s archery which had killed several creatures, deterring the rest from advancing.
After a while, a dozen or so demon beasts gathered together and finally mustered the courage to charge toward the city walls in a swarm.
"They areing!"
Li Xuanfeng drew his bow, and the other cultivators quickly adjusted their formation to protect him at the center. They wielded spears and cast spells to fend off the attacking beasts. ck demonic arts shed with the cultivators'' spells, creating a cacophony of explosions.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
In just a few breaths, golden beams shot out from Li Xuanfeng''s bow, each one seemingly sentient, seeking out the beasts'' eyes, noses, and mouths with terrifying uracy. Blood sttered everywhere and fur flew everywhere, prompting the disciples of the Azure Pond Sect to nod approvingly.
One of them whispered to the person beside him, "Senior Brother... without this man, these cultivators would not havested this long."
The person in front, who seemed to hold a high position, remained silent, his expression grave as he slowly furrowed his brow.
"Is that... a ve soldier?"
His gaze was fixed on the battlefield below, where amidst the bloody chaos, a ve soldier had pped a wolf demon away and was fleeing at an incredible speed.
Surrounding demons quickly converged on him, making him highly conspicuous. Realizing he had been exposed, the ve soldier decided to fly, shooting like a meteor toward a distant forest.
The leading Azure Pond Sect disciple sneered, forming a golden beam of light in his hand, ready to release it. However, the disciple who had spoken earlier chuckled, "Senior Brother... why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"
He waved his sleeve and turned to the person below, smiling brightly as he said, "That Li Family archer, shoot that thing down."
Chapter 376: Eradicating the Pest (III)
Chapter 376: Eradicating the Pest (III)
The green-robed cultivator, with a shifty and sleazy appearance, boldly stepped forward. At his words, several Azure Pond Sect disciples turned their gazes toward Li Xuanfeng, who frowned slightly but had no choice but to nock an arrow and draw his bow.
These cultivators were mostly disciples of Yuanwu Peak, known for their condescending behavior toward Li Xuanfeng''s group. Fei Yihe and the other cultivators, always submissive, looked nervously at Li Xuanfeng.
Thwang...
Li Xuanfeng remained silent, raising his golden longbow. With a deep breath, he drew the bowstring, gathering dazzling golden light that formed a radiant white arrow.
His eyes mirrored the tattered figure in the distance, the longbow in his hand exuding lethal sharpness. The ve soldier, sensing imminent danger, paused mid-air and turned to look back.
Cultivators possess extraordinary eyesight. Their gazes locked across a hundred chi, and Li Xuanfeng saw a pair of eyes brimming with resentment. A wave of familiarity washed over him as his heart stirred, and his grip on the bowstring ckened.
The arrow radiated light, streaking across the sky like a meteor, and in an instant, it pierced through the ve soldier''s back. The ve soldier fell, twisting and turning like a bird with broken wings.
The green-d cultivatorughed heartily, watching the brilliant trail of the golden-white arrow streak across the sky. He eximed, "Nice shot! That arrow is fast!"
He had a cunning and rat-like appearance that cheapened the elegant green robe he wore. He held his belly as heughed, drawing nces from others. The higher-ranking man, handsome with a high nose bridge, nced disdainfully at him and said coldly, "He''s not dead."
Fei Yihe, who had been waiting for a while, quickly smiled obsequiously and said, "Exalted Immortal, you might not know, but my brother''s archery is unique! Once hit, the target will have astral qi attached to them and be reduced into a blood puddle within three quarters of an hour."
The tall leader of the Azure Pond Sect disciples, towering over Fei Yihe, stared at his face for a moment before suddenly swinging his sleeve.
Smack!
The p sent Fei Yihe stumbling back instantly, and he clutched his face and repeatedly apologized. The tall leader then turned abruptly, full of rage, and kicked the crouching rat-faced man.
Thud.
Caught off guard, the rat-faced man was sent flying, rolling a good ten zhang away on the ground and ending up in a mess.
"Senior Brother!"
The sudden kick shocked the other disciples of the Azure Pond Sect while the n cultivators exchanged confused nces with each other, unsure why the sect disciples were fighting among themselves. They all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
"Senior Brother! Please, no!"
The disciples quickly came to mediate the situation. The rat-faced man, seemingly oblivious to this, dusted off his robe and said cheerfully, "Senior Brother Ning''s kick is precise... just like the ancestor''s style."
Senior Brother Ning, towering and fierce, stepped forward, overshadowing the rat-faced man. Grabbing his cor, he pulled him close and gritted his teeth as he threatened menacingly, "Deng Yuzhi... you better really be an idiotic troublemaker, genuinely affected by your cultivation technique! Stay this way for life, or I will show you the methods of the Yuanxing Peak if I catch you slipping!"
With that, he threw Deng Yuzhi to the ground, shook his robe, and let out a loudmand.
"Let''s go!"
As he walked away, his jade boots embroidered with gold threads shimmered in the light.
Senior Brother Ning looked noble and imposing. At hismand, none of the Azure Pond Sect disciples dared to speak for Deng Yuzhi. They silently bowed their heads and followed him, flying back toward the city.
Deng Yuzhiy on the ground, now covered in dust, his hair disheveled, looking utterly miserable. Everyone else pretended not to see him, hurrying to face the enemy.
"What a temper..."
Deng Yuzhi got up unhurriedly, cast a spell to dust himself off, and muttered a string ofints. He nced at Li Xuanfeng, who was holding his bow in contemtion, and cursed, "Useless! Such a reputation but no substance! Are you not afraid of causing trouble?!"
He then turned and leaped toward the city, leaving everyone else exchanging bewildered nces.
"Those words... seemed to have another meaning."
Li Xuanfeng watched Deng Yuzhi''s departing figure and thought to himself, I seem to have seen this person before. He had a long conversation with our ancestor during the recruitment... Perhaps what just happened involves a lot of internal conflicts within the Azure Pond Sect...
He withdrew his gaze, the look in the youth''s eyes as he turned back reying in his mind. Stroking his bow, he thought to himself silently, My shot was just for show, not truly lethal. The enemy of the Azure Pond Sect is our friend... It cannot possibly hurt to save a favor.
Li Xuanfeng, now at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm, had far surpassed the young Azure Pond Sect disciples in cultivation. He had yet to meet his match, especially in archery, so he naturally could deceive this group of disciples.
He slung his longbow over his back and looked at the retreating beast tide. Turning to Fei Yihe, he asked, "How are you?"
"I''m fine!" Fei Yihe quickly responded with a dismissive wave. After all, he had taken an unnecessary p, but he had already wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and the red mark on his face was gradually fading.
He replied gently, "For someone in our position, taking a p is nothing. No harm done!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Eastern Mount Yue.
The grand hall of Mulu Town was resplendent with gold and jade. The dim lights flickered on the walls, casting dark shadows that leaped like demons and monsters.
Tian Zhongqing carefully put away the wooden slips in his hand. A servant rushed in and respectfully reported, "Master! The lords have once again submitted a petition to support Li Jiman''s ascension... They say the agreed date is approaching and it cannot be dyed further!"
"Bring it here."
Tian Zhongqing sighed, took the petition from the servant, and began marking it with his brush.
Tian Zhongqing was temporarily in charge of matters in the Eastern Mount Yue. The dark red color used for official documents was a recent change, as they were marked with vermillion previously.
Since the main Li Family used vermillion for their official documents, the n Affairs Courtyard used a slightly darker shade to signify their subordinate status. Shamoli, hearing this, had his annotations changed to an even darker red¡ªa tradition that continued to this day.
"Tell them to revise these inappropriate phrases and resubmit in a few days!"
Finding an excuse to dismiss them, Tian Zhongqing felt a chill run down his spine.
"It is not me holding you back... It is the will of the main family... How can we let Li Jiman ascend without eliminating a batch of wastrels first?"
He sighed inwardly, gazing at the grand hall. The opulent decorations gleamed gold, tempting his senses. He had been acting as the temporary ruler for over half a year and was almost bing fond of this high position.
The flickering lights in the inner hall bathed the jade and gold artifacts in a soft andforting glow. This grand hall was once the pce of Mu Jiaoman, so it was magnificently built. When it passed to Qimu, much of the extravagance was reduced.
Later, Li Feiruounched a coup, and the Li Family''s carriage entered the pce, staining the pce steps with blood as the peers ughtered the royal family to curry favor with the Li Family.
"The wheel of fortune turns... Soon, the blood of these wastrels will be spilled..."
Dazed by the sight of the golden red, Tian Zhongqing was jolted awake, shaking off those thoughts hurriedly. Suddenly, he heard a ng from outside the hall as a burly man entered.
The man, eight chi tall with thick eyebrows and a robust build, held a giant mace in his hand. He looked like a bandit ready to crush Tian Zhongqing with his weapon.
Chapter 377: Eradicating the Pest (IV)
Chapter 377: Eradicating the Pest (IV)
Tian Zhongqing quickly jumped down from his seat and hurried to greet him with a smile, "Brother Wen! What brings you here? Is the family head here too?"
"Uncle Tian, you have misunderstood."
Despite his fierce appearance, Li Wen had a gentle disposition and replied in a low voice, "The Jade Court Guards have already been deployed throughout the city. The family head said it is time to close the, so he sent me to oversee things."
"Good, good, good!" Tian Zhongqingughed obsequiously and asked, "Brother Wen, does the family head have any other instructions?"
Li Wen nodded and replied, "The family head has agreed. If this matter is resolved, the Tian Family''s descendants can return to the twelve towns."
"That''s great!" Tian Zhongqing responded, clearly overjoyed. Ever since the Tian Family was sent to Eastern Mount Yue to control the situation, they had been increasingly looked down upon by the people of the East, who saw them as allies of Mount Yue. This disdain was particrly hard to bear in a society that revered the East.
In the Eastern Mount Yue, the Tian Family had a high status, but in Lijing Town, they were treated as inferiors. Despite having two Qi Cultivators, theycked the backing of the main family and were often looked down upon in secret.
His eldest son had once gone to Lijing Town and, not knowing the local drinking games, was mocked and came back depressed for three months, causing Tian Zhongqing to sigh deeply.
Moreover, being far from the main family in the Eastern Mount Yue, and being the most powerful among the external families, Tian Zhongqing felt like he was walking on a tightrope every day, constantly on edge.Now, with Li Yuanping''s promise, he was overjoyed. All the frustrations of offending Li Jiman and the lords by acting as Li''s enforcer dissipated. He thought coldly to himself, I was worried about how to establish myself in Eastern Mount Yue, but now¡ let''s kill! Let heads roll. I''ll just wipe my hands clean and leave! Who cares about a few local tyrants?
He immediately gave the order, and the soldiers in the pce began to move. The nging of weapons resounded, and the pce gates swung open. Carriages and horses drove out right away, riding on the newly built roads.
Rumble¡
The noise echoed like thunder between the streets, waking the residents of Mount Yue from their sleep, leaving them bewildered and unsure of what was happening.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In another corner of Mulu Town, there was a lively banquet with songs andughter. Li Jiman sat at the head of the table with a sour expression, watching the lords sing loudly, feeling frustrated.
"Barbarians... What rubbish is this?"
There was no drinking game, pitch-pot, or poetrypetition; all the tricks Li Jiman had learned were useless here. They just sang songs and gulped down wine, making him very ufortable.
As he was lost in his thoughts, a drunken lord staggered up to him, grinning and slurring, "Great King¡ do you not think Li Yuanping always looks so pale, as if he is at death''s door? Does that not suggest a change might being?"
Li Jiman''s expression changed abruptly. He was familiar with the main family and often took pride in it. He was also deeply grateful to Li Yuanping for sparing him and held him in the highest respect. How could he possibly tolerate such talk?
Moreover, he vividly remembered how the Tian Family had exploited him. Fear and anger surged within him all of a sudden.
"Hmph!"
Li Jiman threw his cup at the man''s face, smashing it and causing him to fall with a thud, blood streaming down his face. Li Jiman cursed, "You scoundrel!"
The hall fell silent. Li Jiman quickly stood up, as if exining to someone, and shouted, "That is the majesty of a tiger feigning illness, an eagle seeming to sleep! How could lowly people like you understand?!"
As soon as he had finished speaking, everyone fell to their knees. Even the music stopped, and the hall became so silent one could almost hear a pin drop. Li Jiman strained his ears and felt a chill run down his spine instantly.
"Why do I hear the sound of weapons shing...?"
As he spoke, the people below looked at each other in confusion. Suddenly, a scream pierced through the air.
BANG!
A group of soldiers in white armor burst through the door, wielding weapons with stern expressions. They filed in, ignoring the lords'' protests. Some even jumped up, shouting, "Who are you? Do you know where you are?! How dare you act so brazenly here?!"
However, the white-armored soldiers ignored the demands of the lords and simply continued barging through the crowd. Those with cultivation tried to resist but were quickly subdued by the leader. Watching his allies being taken away, Li Jiman stood in shock, unable to believe what was happening.
"Jade Court Guards..?" he murmured in disbelief.
The hall was filled with the sounds of subdued grunts and pleas for mercy. Before Li Jiman could ask further questions, the captives were already being marched out. He stood there, dumbfounded, suddenly left all alone.
The leader of the Jade Court Guards showed a bit of courtesy, lightly cupping his fist in salute.
"Apologies, young master."
"This is..." Li Jiman stammered, feeling as if he had been stripped of everything he owned in broad daylight, taking several moments to find his words.
The leader of the Jade Court Guards respectfully cupped his fist again, his eyes bright as he gestured for his men to withdraw, leaving only two behind. Only then did he exin, "Young master, the Tian Family submitted a cartload of evidence to the n Affairs Courtyard, and it implicated many ns in Mount Yue. I am here under orders to arrest them."
"The Tian Family?!"
Li Jiman snapped to attention right away, realizing why the main family had suddenly be so ruthless. His eyes reddened, and he ground his teeth in anger.
"It seems the Tian Family has been plotting this for years, nning to wipe out my followers and turn me into a puppet!" he fumed.
"With the Tian Family controlling Mount Yue unchallenged by the lords, they will be a major threat! This must not happen, Family Head!" he yelled.
Li Jiman, grabbing his robe, hurried closer. The Jade Court Guard, noting his urgency, hesitated and then whispered, "This is indeed an extreme measure. Brother, perhaps you should plead with the family head directly. It is said he intends to recall the Tian Family, but they have persistently refused, spreading nder to remain in Mount Yue."
"Ah! Thank you, brother!" Li Jiman eximed, hearing this for the first time. ted, his face flushed with excitement as he resolved, "Yes¡ if the Tian Family leaves Mount Yue and returns to the towns, everything will be resolved! I must persuade the family head to make them withdraw!"
Having studied governance for over a decade, he was determined not to be a mere puppet. He hurriedly put on his shoes, ready to rush out of the hall.
The Jade Court Guard, seeing his urgency, hesitated before offering a final piece of advice, "Brother, I have heard the family head has long been troubled by theck of spirit resources from Mount Yue¡ He has sent us to investigate many times. If you have any insights, this could be a way to appeal to him!"
Li Jiman''s eyes lit up instantly at this timely information. Nodding vigorously, he rushed out but then stopped and turned back.
"Brother, you have helped me greatly today¡ May I know your name?"
The Jade Court Guard chuckled and replied, "I am Chen Mufeng, I just returned from the market a few days ago. I will need your support in the future, young master."
"Chen Mufeng¡" Li Jiman repeated the name,mitting it to memory. He thanked Chen Mufeng quickly before rushing out.
Chapter 378: Black Robe (I)
Chapter 378: ck Robe (I)
Watching Li Jiman hurry out of the hall, Chen Mufeng''s gaze swept across the remnants of melons and fruit as well as the gold and jade cups. He stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the highest seat at the end of the hall.
"The King of Mount Yue is nothing but a puppet," he murmured to himself while he subconsciously stepped up to the tform. He ced his slender hand on the seat with intricate engravings in silence.
The Chen Family had always been exceptionally talented. Chen Mufeng, now at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, surpassed all but those from the main family. He took great pride in this achievement.
"The main family''s bloodline is undoubtedly noble, so I can''t possiblypare to them. But Tian Zhongqing and Xu Gongming are just a few years older than me... Who among them can match my talents and background?"
He was young and at the peak of his ambition. His heart was brimming with boundless dreams, and he could only fix his gaze on the seat of power.
Lost in thought, Chen Mufeng was staring at the chair when a group of white-armored cultivators suddenly parted the curtain and entered.
One of them respectfully greeted, "Young Master, the preparations are done. Your orders...?"
Chen Mufeng quickly retracted his hand from the chair as though he had been electrocuted by it. He cleared his throat and responded quickly.
"Let''s go then."¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile in Lijing Town¡
Li Yuanping, dressed in brocade, was meticulously writing with a vermillion brush, and a stack of wooden slips was neatly arranged on his desk. He nced up as Li Wen approached quickly and solemnly kneeled before him before reporting, "Family Head, the Jade Court Guards have seized control of Mount Yue¡ Li Jiman has traveled without rest and arrived in the town."
Li Yuanping hummed in response, stroking his chin in silent contemtion. Li Wen got up and stood guard below the tform. Shortly after, amotion of footsteps heralded the arrival of a man bursting into the hall.
This man, with a slightly tannedplexion, clutched the hem of hisvish robe. He stepped forward and fell to his knees abruptly.
"Family Head, the Tian Family harbors great ambitions¡ªthey aim to monopolize Mount Yue and use it as their stronghold. If we yield it to them, I fear it could lead to significant troubles!" the manmented.
"Jiman..?"
Li Yuanping frowned slightly and continued with displeasure in his voice, "The Tian Family are close rtives and loyal to the core... How can you say such a thing?!"
He looked slightly upset and pushed over the small pile of wooden slips on his desk. They fell on the ground with a loud tter, tumbling right down in front of Li Jiman.
"The evidence of crimesmitted by those on Mount Yue is here¡ªwitnesses and exhibits for each charge! What do you have to say about this then?" he asked coldly.
These incriminating pieces, diligently collected by the n Affairs Courtyard, were undeniable, but they were submitted in the name of the Tian Family. Although Li Jiman did not know this, he was aware of these prominent families'' nature and did not dare examine the documents.
"Family Head! Although the Mount Yue tribes are violent and tyrannical, they serve as a crucial counterbnce to the Tian Family. If eradicated, the Tian Family will dominate, and the Mount Yue State will be at their mercy¡. They could also breed disaster!" he pleaded.
"I''ve studied history! The Jiang Family of Moongaze Lake once depended on external families, which eventually led to their division into various factions and was overtaken by the Yu Family! This is a very important lesson to learn from..." he continued.
Li Yuanping looked at him silently, a little swayed.
"What do you suggest we do?" he asked.
"Family Head... please recall the Tian Family!" Li Jiman said in an outburst as he remained kneeling, his face flushed with urgency.
Li Yuanping let out a soft sigh, scanned the room, andmanded the two rows of guards, "You''re all dismissed!"
As the room cleared in an orderly fashion, Li Yuanping let out another long sigh. He quickly descended the tform, helped Li Jiman to his feet, and spoke warmly.
"Jiman, what are you doing? You are a member of my Li Family; the Tian Family cannotpare to us!"
For a moment, Li Jiman was too stunned to respond, but then he heard Li Yuanping continue, "I''m aware that the Tian Family has deep roots in Mount Yue, and is restricting your freedom to act."
"But the tribes of Mount Yue are tyrannical, greedy, and vicious. If we don''t remove them, how can Mount Yue ever fall into your hands?" he asked.
Li Jiman''s expression was frozen for a long while before it finally gave way to a spark of realization.
"I see¡ I was far too ipetent to understand Family Head''s foresight!" he eximed.
Li Yuanping sighed and took his hand, leading him up to the tform while speaking earnestly.
"The Tian Family, while well-connected within the n, is innocent of any wrongdoing. If we don''t sacrifice the Mount Yue tribes, we have no valid reason to transfer them," he exined.
Li Jiman nodded vigorously, then saw Li Yuanping smile.
"I have already issued the decree to transfer the Tian Family. Once this night passes, the wolves will perish, the tigers will migrate, and Mount Yue will be cleared from top to bottom. The honor of restoring it will be yours!"
Li Jiman was deeply moved, whispering softly and guiltily, "Family Head! You''ve nned everything for my benefit, yet I scarcely realized... I am truly ashamed!"
Li Yuanping shook his head and said, "I will ce part of our family''s cultivators under yourmand. You have studied the art of governance for over a decade. Raise the poor families, redistribute thend, protect the spirit fields, elevate the upper ss... I''m sure you don''t need further guidance from me, right?"
Confident and excited, Li Jiman quickly replied, "Yes! It''s better to put those who are to be punished to good use by having them tend to the fields. Give me some time to train the cultivators. In less than five years, Mount Yue''s productivity could increase by more than thirty percent!"
Delighted by Li Jiman''s response, Li Yuanping offered a few words of encouragement. Li Jiman expressed his profound gratitude and departed, his head held high¡ªa stark contrast to his earlier subdued arrival.
As he disappeared outside the hall, the smile on Li Yuanping''s face slowly faded. Leaning back, he held his forehead with one hand and picked up his brush, lost in deep thought.
"Li Jiman is a clever man. The Tian Family''s initiative was too abrupt, and the action to eradicate the other tribes was overly decisive¡ Sooner orter, he''ll suspect me. Better to speak out first, dispel his doubts, and in doing so, also curry favor..." he mumbled to himself.
He gently set the brush aside and coughed a few times before noticing a person approaching. d in jade armor, the figure appeared steadfast and honest.
Kneeling on one knee, he reported in a deep voice, "Family Head, of the thirteen Mount Yue ns, two have been eradicated for their crimes. Nine are under custody, and the remaining two have been found innocent."
Li Yuanping nodded, appreciating the fact that the Mount Yue ns still knew how to moderate themselves which allowed two families to survive. He nced toward the back whererge chests and wooden boxes were stored and asked, "How is the harvest?"
Chen Mufeng listed several spirit items before replying, "The total value is thirty-five Spirit Stones, all ounted for here."
Li Yuanping instructed him to dispatch the items, and amidst a bout of coughing, he thought to himself, Once the guest cultivators are escorted to Cloud Crowned Peak, the family''s finances will see improvements. The Wanling Blossom might bloom in a few more years, and things might get better."
Chapter 379: Black Robe (II)
Chapter 379: ck Robe (II)
A gentle, chilly breeze swept through Cloud Crowned Peak Market, causing the pole in front of the door to sway. A ck and red g emzoned with the character "Li" fluttered conspicuously in the wind.
The dark threshold was marred by more than a dozen footprints, lending it a distinctly worn appearance. A middle-aged man, slouched over, sat silently on the threshold with his chin in his hand, watching the world pass by.
A cultivator d in gray paused briefly before him and asked, "Brother Yun, do you still have any pills in stock?"
A few days ago, the Li Family store had released over a dozen bottles of high-quality pills at a reasonable price, attracting arge crowd and selling out in less than a day. As a result, passing cultivators frequently inquired about them.
Li Yuanyun looked up and drawled, "Already sold out long ago."
The man waved his sleeve and walked away, muttering something to himself.
Li Yuanyun knew this person well¡ªa regr Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator at the market.
Since he was not highly skilled, he could not afford to provoke the Li Family. Despite being a mortal, Li Yuanyun still belonged to the main family''s lineage, which usually earned him some respect. As a result, he was bold enough to show his bad mood in the cultivator''s presence openly.
After the cultivator left, Li Yuanyun continued to sit on the threshold with a somber expression. Now in his thirties and showing his age, he now appeared even older since the death of his father, Li Xuanling.
"A direct descendant, yet relegated to such menial tasks..." he muttered bitterly.
Li Yuanyun once held a great appreciation for the n rules that governed his fellow n members. Now that these rules were directly applied to him, he no longer felt the same way about them. He sat silently, staring at the passersby, feeling utterly at a loss.
After a while, a ck-robed cultivator stopped in front of him, causing the wind chimes at the door to tinkle softly. Recognizing the signs of a Qi Cultivator, Li Yuanyun quickly straightened up and respectfully invited the man, "Senior, pleasee inside!"
"Hm." the cultivator grunted hoarsely. His bamboo hat obscured his face and his voice was deep and raw.
Li Yuanyun could not help but look up, but at the cultivator''s dismissive snort, he quickly lowered his head again and followed him inside. From a corner, Li Qiuyang hastily looked up and greeted the visitor with a respectful smile, "Senior seems unfamiliar... May I ask what brings you here today?"
When Li Yuanyun heard the tone in Li Qiuyang''s voice, he could tell that the man was likely at thete stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, perhaps even at the peak. Li Yuanyun stepped backward discreetly.
The ck-robed cultivator nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on Yuanyun for a moment before surveying the room, appraising the merchandise. He was dressed in an unusual attire, his face obscured by a ck veil.
"Take a look at this."
With a flick of his fingers, he sent a dark jade pearl flying toward Li Qiuyang, who caught it and inspected it closely.
The pearl was about the size of a fist. As Li Qiuyang held it, a slight tingling sensation passed through his hand. The object was rather heavy and opaque, revealing nothing of its contents.
Li Qiuyang scrutinized the pearl for a bit but could discern no details. He extended his spiritual sense, probing the object briefly, then expressed his confusion.
"Senior, this is my first time seeing such a rare pearl. Our store doesn''t usually ept spirit items though, and I hope you will forgive my ignorance... But is this a spirit item of the Qi Cultivation Realm?"
"Hahaha!" the ck-robed cultivatorughed harshly, smacking his sword on the counter with a resonant ng that startled both Li Qiuyang and Li Yuanyun.
His voice raspy, he chided, "To run a family store with such ack of knowledge about spirit items! Is this the standard of the Lijing''s Li Family? Ridiculous!"
Qiuyang''s expression darkened, anger ring within him.
Looks like this guy is here to make trouble!
Despite knowing that the man came with ill intentions, he restrained himself and replied calmly, "Please, give me a moment, Senior. I''ll consult the owner... He''s very knowledgeable and will surely be able to identify this item."
With a respectful gesture, he handed the pearl back to the man.
The ck-robed figure calmly put away the item before dismissing Li Qiuyang with a wave, arrogantly saying, "Get out of my sight."
Biting back his frustration, Qiuyang departed. The ck-robed cultivator continued to eye the various leather and spirit items disyed around the shop, his murmurs filling the air.
Li Yuanyun cowered in a dark corner and watched silently, too fearful to speak.
Shortly after, Li Xuanxuan quickly descended from upstairs with a smile and said, "Forgive me for theck of wee! I am Li Xuanxuan, the owner of this modest establishment."
The cultivator nced at him and ced the mysterious pearl on the counter, asking curtly, "Do you know what this is?"
Li Xuanxuan hurriedly took the jade pearl and carefully studied it. A sense of familiarity washed over him as if the memory was sparking within him.
"The size of a fist, a tingling sensation upon touch, heavy and ck, devoid of light or color. I think I''ve read about this object before..." he murmured.
As he searched his memory, a shock ran through him like an electric jolt. His heart pounded as realization struck him.
"So this is the item..." he muttered quietly through gritted teeth.
This jade pearl had haunted Li Xuanxuan''s dreams countless times, as vivid as if he had read its description repeatedly. In his dreams, he had tried to stop Li Pingyi time and again, only to wake up in agony, his grip crushing the edge of the bed...
Despite its harmless appearance, this object had imed the life of his most cherished eldest son and plunged him into a life-long despair. Although he had never seen it before, he was able to recognize it right away.
"Hey, you!"
The raspy voice of the ck-robed cultivator jolted him back to reality.
Covered in a cold sweat, Li Xuanxuan realized he had been standing frozen to the spot, a chill spreading through his body as he regained his senses.
He wiped his face with his sleeve, suppressing the urge to smash the pearl. With a forced smile, he gently ced it on the counter.
The cultivator found his reaction quite suspicious. He peered at Li Xuanxuan intently from beneath his bamboo hat, his gaze piercing as he repeated his question.
"So... do you know what this is?"
Li Xuanxuan straightened up, hesitating to speak as thoughts raced through his mind.
Why is this person here...? He seems to know what it is... What''s going on?
What is the meaning of this? Who would dare to cause trouble in the Xiao Family''s market?
He exhaled slowly before replying in a calm voice, "Truth be told, I don''t recognize it..."
"Hmph!"
The cultivator smacked the counter and was about to react harshly, but paused when he saw Li Xuanxuan hesitate and open to speak once again.
"But..." Li Xuanxuan began.
"But what?!"
The tension was palpable as the cultivator''s voice grew strained, his impatience clear.
"If I am not mistaken, this pearl holds a mysterious technique that could unleash both thunder and fire. It''s likely an extremely powerful object."
"Oh?"
The ck-robed cultivator appeared slightly surprised, pausing for a breath before his voice deepened with interest.
"You have keen eyesight..."
Adjusting the edge of his bamboo hat, he watched Li Xuanxuan with an amused expression.
Li Xuanxuan, noticing the small gesture, felt a growing sense of rm and said in a low voice, "Of course, my family possesses a unique secret technique! Mastering this skill would allow one to discern spirit items easily."
"Tell me more."
The ck-robed cultivator''s eyes glinted with a hint of greed as he stared at Li Xuanxuan, who quickly responded, "Just a moment, Senior!"
He moved to close the door properly before quickly peering outside. As he expected, several nearby shops were embroiled in heated arguments with cultivators inside¡ªeach one at thete stage of Qi Cultivation. The confrontations had escted, already turning physical, with two individuals vandalizing a nearby store.
With a chill in his heart but a smile on his face, he turned back to find the ck-robed cultivator staring at him intently.
Li Xuanxuan hurriedly whispered, "Senior, you may not be aware, but my family has a superior perception technique known as Spirit Eye Perception. I would be willing to impart it to you discreetly for a fair price."
"I see!"
The ck-robed cultivator was delighted. He knew that such a secret technique was hard toe by as they were usually only memorized within the family. He thought to himself, No matter the cost, I must acquire this technique first before I deal with these people... With only an unrefined Qi cultivator and an early-stage Qi Cultivator, they''re as good as dead.
Chapter 380: Chaos In Cloud Crowned Peak Market (I)
Chapter 380: Chaos In Cloud Crowned Peak Market (I)
Li Xuanxuan nced at the man sideways, then seated himself before a desk. Stroking his beard, he said bluntly, "This secret technique is a rare perception technique... Three hundred Spirit Stones and it''s yours, Daoist!"
This exorbitant price was clearly inted, but knowing that he had to finish up soon and leave, the man in ck was in no mood to haggle. He rudely snapped, "That''s fine! Just hand over the technique... Don''t waste my time!"
Seeing that the man was uninterested in bargaining, Li Xuanxuan agreed readily. With this, his suspicion that this cultivator harbored ill intentions increased from seventy to nearly ny percent in certainty.
Smiling, he proposed, "Your generosity is impressive, Daoist. Let us proceed to the Xiao Residence to formalize this agreement andplete the transaction..."
The ck-d cultivator''s demeanor shifted suddenly; his voice turned icy and he narrowed his eyes as he demanded, "What agreement?"
Li Xuanxuan feigned confusion and exined, "Is this your first visit, Senior? When ites to transactions involving significant amounts, it''s customary to involve the Xiao Family for validation and to draft a deed. This safeguards against any discrepancies, preventing any potential losses for you..."
The cultivator, clearly impatient, retorted gruffly, "There''s no need for that! Just deliver the secret technique, and that will suffice!"
Li Xuanxuan nodded, still smiling, and reassured the man once more.
"Since you''re ready to pay generously, I''ll have my assistants fetch the deed from Xiao Residence. It won''t be much trouble..."
He gave Li Qiuyang a meaningful look, and Li Qiuyang quickly exited the store. The cultivator in ck grunted coldly and pped his storage pouch, causing an array of dharma weapons to tter out. An assortment of dharma weapons, each glowing faintly with mana, tumbled out with a tter.
Among them were swords, axes, and halberds. Some were in poor condition, while others were fairly usable. All of these were smeared with dried blood that crumbled and scattered as they hit the floor.
"These dharma weapons are either of the Embryonic Breathing or Qi Cultivation Realm. Do they cover the cost?"
As his words hung in the air, dark brown dust drifted gently in the sunlight. Li Xuanxuan inhaled quietly and pretended to calcte, though thoughts were racing through his mind.
This man must be a devil cultivator from the north... The thought of such a group lurking here in the Cloud Crowned Peak Market is unsettling. That thunder pearl he carries is far too potent for use against someone of my low stature; it''s likely intended to destroy the market''s formation eye...
His gaze lingered on the assortment of dharma weapons, knowing deep down that there was no way he could save this store. At least he had already sent Li Qiuyang away; he trusted Qiuyang was sharp enough not to misinterpret his intentions.
"What''s happening? What''s wrong with you all?"
"Quiet! No fighting in the marketce!"
Themotion outside grew louder, marked by the roar of mana collisions and the metallic nging of dharma weapons. It seemed imminent that the group would soon make their move.
Li Xuanxuan''s anxiety red, and he softly said, "This doesn''te close to the agreed three hundred, Daoist!"
"Not enough?"
The ck-robed cultivator, increasingly impatient, waved dismissively and reached again into his storage pouch.
Li Xuanxuan, feigning greed, sharply instructed Li Yuanyun who was lingering nearby, "You, get out of here!"
Li Yuanyun, along with a few apprentices of the store, quickly vacated the premises, easing Li Xuanxuan''s worries somewhat.
He then called out, "Daoist, may I take another look at that exceptional item you showed earlier? I''ve been in this business for years, and it''s the first time I''ve seen something so precious! Such a rare item could definitely fetch a handsome price!"
"Oh?"
The ck-robed cultivator paused, then burst into heartyughter as if he had just heard the funniest joke. Regaining hisposure, he pulled the ck jade pearl from his sleeve and chuckled.
"You have quite the eye! Here, take it!"
He tossed the Thunder Pearl toward Li Xuanxuan, who clumsily caught it. The cultivator then demanded coldly, "Now, hand over the secret technique!"
"Of course, immediately!"
Li Xuanxuan gazed at the precious pearl with a greedy glint in his eyes while retrieving a jade slip from the storage pouch at his waist and handing it over nonchntly.
As the ck-robed cultivator delved into the jade slip with his spiritual sense, Li Xuanxuan seized the opportunity to act. With a swift sweep of his sleeve, he sent the pile of dharma weapons scattering and cluttering loudly across the floor. Amidst the ensuing cacophony of nging, he quickly burst through the door and made his escape.
"Huh?"
The cultivator surnamed Qiu was enraged upon realizing the jade slip contained nothing more than trivial travelogs and cultivation notes.
"Such audacity!" he cursed angrily.
Furious, he stamped his foot, causing a burst of white vapor to rise that rattled the building. He lunged at Li Xuanxuan, his palm wind transforming into clouds of white qi currents that surged toward his target.
Li Xuanxuan''s expression darkened as he quickly activated the shimmering golden talisman that was already in his hand, unleashing a burst of golden light that enveloped him.
As a thick aura of blood-red light erupted, he retreated swiftly like the wind.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
BOOM!
Li Xuanxuan''s golden shield barely withstood a few breaths against the onught of the white qi currents before shattering like a fragile eggshell. He could not dodge in time, and part of the skin and flesh on his hand were scoured away, leaving a sight of his white bones exposed to view.
Gritting his teeth, he stifled a cry of pain, channeling all his mana to counter the ck-robed cultivator''s ferocious attack. He staggered back a few steps, then propelled himself into the air.
Li Xuanxuan had always sold the talismans he crafted for Spirit Stones to send home, neglecting to prepare anything of quality for himself. Feeling secure within the market, the talismans he retained were all only of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
The moment the shield was effortlessly shattered by a simple palm strike, he deeply regretted hisck of preparation.
"GAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
The apprentices, all mere cultivators in the Embryonic Breathing Realm, were caughtpletely off guard. One moment they were chatting idly outside the door, and the next, they were screaming in agony as white qi enveloped their bodies.
The upper torso of the apprentice closest to the door instantly evaporated, leaving only the lower half of his body behind¡ªtwo stark, white thigh bones grotesquely standing on the floor.
The others met simrly gruesome fates: some were beheaded, while those who retained their heads managed only a few cries of despair before copsing.
Li Yuanyun, who was watching themotion on the street, was unaffected by the white qi but was drenched in cold sweat from fright and screamed in terror.
He was horrified by the sight of an apprentice, who had lost his lower body, crawling toward him with blood-red hands, leaving a trail of crimson on the ground behind him. In his terror, he jumped up and fled without looking back.
Before Li Xuanxuan could even assess his injuries, the cultivator surnamed Qiu was already advancing toward him at a rapid pace. His bamboo hat was raised high, revealing a face marred by scars. His eyes glinted fiercely as he bellowed, "How dare you deceive me?!"
Li Xuanxuan, heart racing, hurled the dark jade pearl like a lightning bolt toward the cultivator''s face. At the same time, he activated the Blood Escape Technique, vanishing in a trail of crimson.
The cultivator sneered.
"Ridiculous!"
The Thunder Pearl required a specific spell and mantra to detonate it, which was why the cultivator surnamed Qiu had dared to hand it over to Li Xuanxuan without a hint of fear.
When he saw Li Xuanxuan throw the pearl without any incantation, he merely gave a cold snort and continued to advance undeterred.
BOOM!
Chapter 381: Chaos In Cloud Crowned Peak Market (II)
Chapter 381: Chaos In Cloud Crowned Peak Market (II)
The dark pearl exploded in midair with a sh of crimson sparks, lighting up the cultivator''s face. He froze, shocked.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" he eximed in shock.
Almost instinctively, he reached for a talisman in his sleeve. As he prepared tounch the talisman, he fought the impulse suddenly, stepping back and watching the ck jade pearl as it fell, producing only a few tiny sparks.
"Phew..."
The cultivator wiped the cold sweat from his brow and then retrieved the jade pearl. He chuckled coldly. Noting that the crimson light was already too far off for him to catch up to it, he muttered, "What a clever man. He stuck a piece of talisman on this pearl and nearly fooled me with it... Fortunately, years of fighting experience have saved me from wasting a precious protective treasure."
"Unfortunately, I still need to proceed to the formation point. I''ll have to let this one go... The Li Family, huh? I''ve heard they''re a sword immortal n... With Li Tongya dead, I suppose I can lead my people through there..."
He cast a distant nce at Li Xuanxuan and abruptly turned away. Li Yuanyun had already scrambled to his feet and sprinted a dozen chi within moments.
The ck-robed cultivator let out a coldugh and snapped his fingers.
"AH!"
A white aura, swift as a meteor, struck Li Yuanyun''s exposed back. He had time only for a brief cry of pain before his skin and flesh vanished, immediately bing reduced to a heap of white bones that was scattered across the ground.
The marketce was in chaos, littered with signs of the recent skirmish. In the pulsating light of the white formation, the cultivator surnamed Qiu let out a heartyugh and flew toward the formation point where he was supposed to be heading to.
Li Xuanxuan, employing the potent Blood Escape Technique, sped forward. Aheady the Xiao Family''s grand formation, flickering intermittently, its energy undting like water ripples¡ªclearly on the verge of copse due to both internal and external pressures.
He stared intently at it. Though it was noon, darkness and swirling devilish smoke enveloped the outside. He paused, hesitant to venture out.
"Who knows how many devil cultivators are lurking outside, just waiting for this formation to break and swarm in... all eager to plunder this market... If I go out recklessly now, I risk bing the appetizer for those fiends!"
Blood qi and mana were flowing out of him like a river that had burst its banks. Li Xuanxuan could barely endure it, and the vivid red of his shield was also too conspicuous to maintain.
Looking back and seeing that the ck-robed cultivator had not followed, Li Xuanxuan quickly deactivated the technique and stumbled into the street, coughing painfully. Every part of his body ached. He checked himself with his spiritual consciousness, only to find himself much thinner with a ghastly visage.
"Fortunately, it''s not as bad as it could have been," Li Xuanxuan murmured with a quiet sigh of relief.
He had narrowly escaped death by employing the Blood Escape Technique, bracing for the severe toll it could take on his vital qi. To his surprise, it had merely shortened his lifespan and altered his appearance.
He suddenly winced in pain. The wound on his hand was deep, exposing his bone, and blood was spilling copiously.
Li Xuanxuan sealed the wound with mana, cast several healing spells, and swallowed two pills hastily. "Venturing out now seems impossible. Qiuyang must still be around the marketce, hiding somewhere... and Yuanyun is probably dead by now..." he muttered somberly to himself.
Li Xuanxuan almost could not breathe. Li Xuanling had only died recently, followed by Li Tongya. Now, with Li Xuanling''s son also dead in the marketce, the weight of his guilt was unbearable...
If not for Li Qinghong, who now stood as one of the two strongest cultivators in the family, and Xicheng and Xijun, who each possessed a spiritual orifice, the lineage of Li Tongya would be on the brink of extinction.
Reflecting on these circumstances deepened Li Xuanxuan''s sorrow, a feeling that overshadowed even the loss of years from his life.
Looking at the sky, Li Xuanxuan realized his only chance to escape was to wait for the devil cultivators to break the grand formation and swarm into this marketce.
He paused to rest, catching his breath and recalibrating the qi within his body. His mind began racing with thoughts.
This invasion is too sudden! Aren''t the devil cultivators still in neighboring prefectures...? How did they traverse the vast Mushroom Forest in and appear in Lixia Prefecture unnoticed?!
Does... Xiao Chuting know about this?!
He huddled in a corner to remain unseen as more thoughts continued racing through his head.
The marketce was under the supervision of Xiao Yongling, a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm. However, he was reassigned five years ago, leaving only Xiao Ruyu, who is still a Qi Cultivator here... No, maybe Xiao Ruyu has already left the mountain long ago!
Li Xuanxuan looked up at Cloud Crowned Peak which was shrouded in dark clouds, his heart filled with unease. If Qiu, nted in the market as a spy, was already a peak Qi Cultivator, that must mean that the Cloud Crowned Peak was currently surrounded by Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators!
"Four..."
Li Xuanxuan observed silently. After Xiao Yongling''s reassignment, the Xiao Family had only one or two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators left at the marketce on the Cloud Crowned Peak. They were clearly outnumbered and forced into a defensive stance.
"It takes the time to burn a stick of incense to travel here from Xianyou Peak, and a quarter of that time has already passed."
Li Xuanxuan''s expression was grim. He was painfully aware of his modest abilities¡ªmerely at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and not adept inbat.
If the situation escted into chaos, he feared the worst.
BOOM!
The attic before him exploded with a loud bang, and as scorching mes erupted, Li Qiuyang''s hurried steps halted. He looked up at the sky, awash with streaks of light, and felt torn.
"That ck-robed cultivator is most likely a devil cultivator... Brother Xuan probably sent me out to seek help from the Xiao Family... But given the current situation, the Xiao Family can hardly protect themselves, let alone assist others!"
The marketce sprawled around Cloud Crowned Peak, crowned by a grand formation that enveloped the entire area. Numerous nodes were scattered throughout the market.
Amidst the dark clouds looming over the peak, Li Qiuyang spotted several ck-robed cultivators. It was then that he realized that seeking help by ascending the mountain would be futile.
As the angry shouts of the other ck-robed cultivators that were wreaking havoc in the marketce filled the air, a sense of foreboding grew within Li Qiuyang. Hiding under the eaves, he brooded darkly.
Brother Xuan must be fighting that cultivator right now... That man is a peak Qi cultivator. How can Brother Xuan possibly hold his ground...?
He wanted to step forward but paused, gripped by hesitation.
But I am just an unrefined Qi Cultivator... I''d be killed instantly by the devil cultivators as soon as I stepped out! How can I even stand a chance to help Brother Xuan?!
Outside, the battle raged with cries of pain and sttering blood. Gritting his teeth, Li Qiuyang knew he could not remain hidden for long without being discovered. He quietly activated a Qi Restraining Technique before cautiously venturing out.
The ck-robed devil cultivator ahead was an early-stage Qi Cultivator and was wielding arge ax. He radiated a fierce aura,ughing maniacally as he swung his weapon.
Opposite him, a group of Xiao Family cultivators stood in formation, led by a figure who had only recently attained the Qi Cultivation Realm. Li Qiuyang, familiar with the local cultivators, recognized him and recalled their brief interactions.
Behind him stood five cultivators of the third and fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm holding white mana light in their hands that formed a small, shimmering formation. Each time the devil cultivator''s axe struck, the formation shook, threatening to copse under the force.
A chill ran down Li Qiuyang''s spine. He had often seen Xiao Family''s cultivators resolve disputes with calm efficiency, but now they struggled to hold their ground. It was his first time witnessing such a formidable battle.
The Xiao Family''s cultivators are strong, and they have always been regarded as formidable among their peers. Yet, they have to form a defensive formation just to withstand this devil cultivator''s assault!
Li Qiuyang reached into his sleeve and pulled out two talismans¡ªone early-stage and e-stage Qi Cultivation Realm¡ªwhich he had initially nned to sell for Spirit Stones.
Holding them tightly, he prepared for action.
The Xiao Family''s cultivators, sweating under pressure, nced up and caught sight of Li Qiuyang hiding in the distance. A fleeting relief flickered across their faces before they swiftly resumed a guise of anxiety. Quietly, they marshaled their strength, preparing to coordinate their counterattack with Li Qiuyang.
Understanding their intentions, Li Qiuyang slowly channeled his mana into the talisman in his hand. As soon as it glowed with a red aura, he cried out loudly, "RELEASE!"
Chapter 382: Profit From Chaos (I)
Chapter 382: Profit From Chaos (I)
Li Qiuyang''s spell ignited in his hand instantly, ring into a stream of light that split the air as it flew toward the unsuspecting man. Focused on the group of Xiao Family''s cultivators in front of him, the man felt his skin crawl and turned just in time.
"Damn it!"
The devil cultivator saw the fire spell barreling toward him and hastily shifted his stance to block it. Despite his experience and strong martial prowess, he was forced to brace himself and counter the spell.
Meanwhile, the Xiao Family''s cultivators reacted swiftly and grasped this opportunity to attack. They positioned themselves behind the man now, seizing the opportunity as they swung their dharma artifacts.
Their leadermanded, "Men, reposition yourselves! Shift the formation to the offensive!"
The golden light, long gathered in his palms, was bursting forth. The Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators behind him had been channeling their mana to empower the spell all this while, making it ze ever brighter, transforming into a prismatic golden missile that hurtled toward their foe.
"SHIT!"
An ordinary Qi Cultivator caught between these attacks would have had no chance of survival. However, this devil cultivator was not ordinary. A brilliant blood light red around him, and a small red shield emerged behind him.
CLANG!
He raised hisrge axe, its de aglow with sinister blood light. With a single sweeping blow, it had already shattered Li Qiuyang''s spell. However, an unyielding streak of golden light struck him squarely in the back.
The shieldsted only a moment before vanishing under the onught of the golden light. It was a brief respite, but enough for the cultivator to adjust his position and narrowly avoid a fatal blow.
A muffled poof was heard before blood sttered everywhere. The devil cultivator''s body was cleaved all the way from his left shoulder to left hip, and his organs spilled out gruesomely.
He gritted his teeth and cursed, then quickly performed a hand seal. The blood and flesh in the air quickly transformed into a swirling blood mist before touching the ground, and just like a whirlwind, the remnants of his body vanished into the depths of the alley.
Li Qiuyang, having never before encountered a devil cultivator of such resilience, stood frozen in shock for a moment before eximing, "How can he still escape in that state? How can this be possible?!"
"Brother Qiuyang!"
The Xiao Family cultivators had already broken their formation and approached him with gratitude.
"Thank you for your help, Brother Qiuyang!"
"No problem," Li Qiuyang replied, but he was still a little dazed from being surprised by the devil cultivator''s maneuver.
"Are we going to just let him go like this?" he asked.
Noticing Li Qiuyang''s surprise, a member of the Xiao Family smiled bitterly and said, "You may not know about this, Brother Qiuyang, but devil cultivators are masters at preserving their lives. Among all cultivators, those who followed the path of Diverse Mansion Unified Cauldron were notoriously difficult to defeat."
"What''s more, devil cultivators like him generally disregard their physical bodies, just like the Buddhist cultivators. While their bodies aren''t as disposable as the Buddhists, they certainly don''t hold the same value to him as to us. Do not be fooled by his injuries; a few days of absorbing blood qi and devil qi will see him fully restored," he added bitterly.
While the Xiao Family''s cultivator was exining, the white formation in the sky above them suddenly rumbled, revealing cracks all over. The faces of those around him immediately turned ashen with fear.
"Then we should leave quickly! If this devil cultivator gathers reinforcements and attacks, we''ll be as good as dead!" Li Qiuyang urged hastily.
The expression of the Xiao Family''s cultivator darkened as he said gravely, "You''re right, the market seems to still be surrounded by devil cultivators... It''s impossible to escape now. There''s still a major formation atop the Cloud Crowned Peak, why don''t youe with me to the market''s center? There''s a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator on Cloud Crowned Peak, and with the grand formation''s protection, I think we can hold out until my family sends help..."
Li Qiuyang shook his head, pulling a jade pendant from his storage pouch and sensing its direction before replying, "Brother Xuan from my family is still in the marketce. I must go help him... Forgive me, but I cannot apany you."
"Ah!"
A look of disappointment appeared on the Xiao Family''s cultivator''s face as chaos reigned around them in the city. He knew Li Qiuyang, an unrefined Qi Cultivator, might struggle even with self-protection, let alone find someone in the marketce.
But seeing Li Qiuyang''s solemn, determined expression, he could only cup his fist respectfully and say in a subdued voice, "Take care of yourself, Brother!"
Flying was not an option as such ascent would make them easy targets for the lurking devil cultivators, so the cultivators activated their Divine Movement Spell and swiftly parted ways.
The Xiao Family''s cultivator led his group down an alley, while Li Qiuyang clutched the talisman in his sleeve with one hand and held the jade pendant in the other, racing toward Li Xuanxuan.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile on Cloud Crowned Peak...
The wind blew gently across the frigid mountaintop where Xiao Ruyu stood, his expression as somber as the murky clouds rolling endlessly beyond the protective formation.
On the jade tform before himy a formation te withplex patterns. Six of its points still shone brightly like stars, while the other six were dull and cracked, having clearly been tampered with.
Contrary to Li Xuanxuan''s assumptions, Xiao Ruyu was still on Cloud Crowned Peak. He stood there, unprepared and brooding, his teeth clenched.
"I''m afraid... I''ve fallen into a trap."
The jade in his hand emitted a faint red glow as light flowed across the six engraved names.
"Cloud Crowned Market, Mount Yu, Xianyou Peak, Yuyuan Market... I don''t think our family can save them."
A chill settled in Xiao Ruyu''s heart. The devil gue was wreaking havoc, not just on the fringes of Cloud Crowned Peak but at almost every Xiao Family stronghold, including the main peak, Xianyou Peak.
"The Old Ancestor has been gone for months, and with the devil gue intensifying, I fear my family will suffer great losses!"
BOOM!
Lost in his grim thoughts, Xiao Ruyu did not immediately notice two more points on the formation te flicker and die. Clutching his dharma artifact, he looked up to find several ck-robed cultivators outside the formation, silent yet clearly hostile, leaving him puzzled.
They said the devil gue would spread north from the Mushroom Forest in, through Lixia Prefecture to the boundary of the Purple Smoke Gate... Why the sudden change? Could the Azure Pond Sect... be against us now?
Having led his family for three years and managed the Cloud Crowned Peak town for five, Xiao Ruyu was no longer the impulsive youth who had once sought revenge at the Golden Tang Gate together with Li Xuanfeng. His knowledge of hidden secrets and his tactical acumen had evolved immensely.
Impossible... impossible... How could the Azure Pond Sect turn against us now, with at least fifty years until Daoist Master Shangyuan breaks through?
His thoughts were in disarray as the formation points shook violently before finally being extinguished. The cracks in therge white formation above widened, and devil qi began seeping through like billowing smoke, emitting a shrill whistle.
Xiao Ruyu watched on with a calm look on his face, but a tense voice beside him quickly broke the silence.
"Young Master!"
A swordsman with an ethereal auranded on the peak, his body encircled by two serpent dragons with bared fangs. In a grave voice, he said urgently, "Please descend the mountain quickly, Young Master. I will handle things here!"
He was Chen Taojing, once an ally in the siege of Yu Yufeng alongside Li Tongya. His Dao foundation was the Boundless Ocean, and the light green serpent dragons around him looked extremely formidable.
"Uncle Taojing..."
Xiao Ruyu hesitated, his eyes flickering between the faltering grand formation and the stalwart figure beside him.
"My Boundless Ocean prowess is the strongest here; I can control many with one. I''ve also prepared pills for this. Please leave quickly now, Young Master!" Chen Taojing urged.
Gritting his teeth, Xiao Ruyu cloaked his figure and hurried down the mountain, leaving Chen Taojing standing alone, sword in hand, facing the silhouettes outside the crumbling grand formation.
Chapter 383: Profit From Chaos (II)
Chapter 383: Profit From Chaos (II)
Li Xuanxuan waited in the street for a bit. He saw no one, only the stark red blood that had seeped into the earth and stained it. He retrieved a jade talisman from his storage pouch and focused on it intently for a moment.
"Qiuyang''s position is still changing... I can''t tell if he''s alive or if someone has taken his talisman..." he murmured to himself in worry.
The fact that Li Qiuyang was an unrefined Qi Cultivator made him vulnerable, especially amidst such widespread cmity. Li Xuanxuan clung to hope for his safety, though his certainty waned.
Anxiously, Li Xuanxuan watched the direction indicated by the jade talisman and began to move toward it.
After a moment''s hesitation, he crammed the talisman into a crack in the wall. His hand glowed with mana light as he quickly wrote a few lines of words on the wall:
Qiuyang, if you''re reading this, then wait for me here.
He secured the message with their family''s encryption method before swiftly departing.
Walking down the street, Li Xuanxuan passed by a gruesome scene¡ªbodies young and oldy scattered, their ends evidently violent. Amidst the debris, he noticed fragments of a jade bottle and two blood-stained white pills emitting a faint glow.
Years of experience working in the store allowed him to quickly identify them as Clear Mind Pills. These were used by cultivators to clear their minds and stabilize their qi to enhance cultivation. He promptly approached the pils and scooped them up. He wiped them on his robe first before casting a spell to remove the remaining bloodstain and squinted closely at them.
The pills had smooth surfaces and were well-made; clearly produced by a prestigious n. Despite being stained with blood, their efficacy was only slightly diminished. Relieved, he sealed them in a jade bottle and resumed his search.
The corpse in the blood pool was desated, with its life forcepletely drained. However, Li Xuanxuan was undeterred. He searched the body, only to find that the storage pouch had already long since been robbed clean by the devil cultivators.
He rubbed the sleeve of the clothes that the corpse was wearing and realized that it was made of high-quality spirit cloth, suggesting that the deceased cultivator had a notable background. Without hesitation, he stripped the robe from the body and stowed it in his storage pouch.
After looting the corpse, Li Xuanxuan looked up and saw a shiny store sign across the street that read Elixir Pavilion.
His heart surged with excitement. Staring at the deserted entrance which reeked of blood, a greedy thought crossed his mind.
The devil cultivators must have raided this ce in haste... perhaps they left something behind!
Elixir Pavilion was owned by the Yu Family of Cloud Crowned Peak. Just days before, Li Xuanxuan had purchased various items there. The selection of elixirs was extensive, and he could have easily spent all day browsing through their offerings.
Snapping back to reality, Li Xuanxuan immediately cast an Aura Restraint Technique on himself before quietly approaching the pavilion.
At the entrance, a cultivator dressed in brocade kneeled with his head drooped downward. Blood flowed down the steps from his hollowed chest¡ªhis heart had been stolen. Recognizing the man as the Yu Family''s shopkeeper, Li Xuanxuan shuddered at the sight.
If I hadn''t recognized that Thunder Pearl and acted swiftly, my family''s store might have suffered the same fate... or worse!
Li Xuanxuan moved past the corpse and quickly searched the counter. Despite a thorough search, the grim reality was that it had beenpletely looted. The devil cultivators, fond of Spirit Stones, had evidently taken them all, leaving nothing behind.
The Elixir Pavilion was shrouded in darkness, littered with broken fragments of jade bottles and bloodstains. Using his spiritual sense, Li Xuanxuan managed to salvage five robes and seven pills¡ªsix of Embryonic Breathing and one of Qi Cultivation Realm.
He nced back at the disrobed corpses. Feeling a twinge of remorse and guilt, he decided to cover them up with other fabric he found in the store before stepping into the pavilion''s backyard.
The backyard was even dimmer and partially copsed. The bare stone bs underfoot glowed a dark red; though they were not hot, the pungent smell of the smoldering ground was sharp and acrid, stinging his nostrils.
"Warm yet not searing¡ªit''s a fire vein... The Yu Family must have been nning to build an alchemy room, so they had drawn the fire vein here..." Li Xuanxuan murmured thoughtfully.
Although the Li Family did not have an alchemy room, Li Xuanxuan was able to identify the baleful me used in one. The devil cultivators had likely ransacked the area and stolen the furnaces. Without the furnaces and their suppressing formations, the fire vein had erupted, scorching the ground around it.
Casting a protective spell over his nose and mouth, Li Xuanxuan cautiously advanced, pushing aside the debris of a pir to reveal the smoldering dark red mes beneath it, confirming his suspicion that the furnaces in two rooms had indeed been stolen. What was left behind was only the fiery veins that were exposed and glowing intensely.
"What a waste..." he sighed.
The Yu Family must have expended many Spirit Stones to harness these fire veins as it required a lot of work.
As he turned to leave, a faint groan caught his ear.
"Hmm..?"
He paused, listening intently. Following the sound, he spotted a furry arm poking out from beneath the rubble. A hand with sharp, ck nails was struggling to push aside a boulder.
Li Xuanxuan''s first thought was rm.
Is it a demonic creature?!
How could a demonic survive in Yu Family''s marketce, at the heart of the city?!
Yet as he observed more closely, the creature showed no signs of demonic qi but instead radiated pure mana.
This can''t be a demon... It must be one of the Yu Family''s spirit beasts! Perhaps one that guarded the storehouse or served them!
Relieved, Li Xuanxuan stepped forward and struck the boulder with his palm, shattering it instantly. The creature pinned beneath flipped over, revealing a monkey''s face.
"A spirit monkey..?" Li Xuanxuan wondered aloud.
The monkey appeared exhausted, its eyes red and face deeply wrinkled, yet its gaze was lucid, brimming with worldly wisdom. Tears filled its eyes as it looked at Li Xuanxuan with great emotion in his eyes. Each breath it took wasbored, resonating like air wheezing through a broken furnace.
Li Xuanxuan held the monkey''s furry hand and was taken aback to discover that this spirit beast was stronger than him. It had reached the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, but despite its strength, the monkey was suffering from fire poisoning and had sustained numerous injuries, teetering on the brink of death.
Li Xuanxuan gazed at its tear-stained face which was filled with gratitude, and felt a tug at his heartstrings. He reached into his sleeve and produced two healing pills, offering them to the monkey.
"Here, take these," he said warmly.
The hunched spirit monkey eagerly epted the pills and swallowed them. It then began gesturing animatedly, moving its body to generate a ttering din akin to nking iron.
It was at this moment that Li Xuanxuan finally noticed a cold, heavy cor around the monkey''s neck. Nearby, a jade green mortar and pestley discarded, its edge chipped but still glinting like a precious treasure.
He picked it up, recognizing it as a Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifact used for grinding herbs¡ªa rare find which was highly prized among alchemists and worth even more than any elixir.
Overjoyed, Li Xuanxuan eximed, "Good monkey, with these treasures, many of Ming''er''s problems will be solved!"
Trying to contain his excitement, he carefully stored the dharma artifacts into his storage pouch. The monkey kneeled and parted its charred fur, revealing several puncture wounds of varying sizes. The wounds oozed ck blood, presenting a startling and grim sight.
Realization dawned on Li Xuanxuan as he quickly retrieved a bottle of ointment and applied it to the wound, then cast three spells to heal the monkey''s wounds. Looking at the creature, he spected, This spirit beast likely tended to the Yu Family''s fires. I wonder where it was hiding during the devil cultivators'' attacks... its survival is nothing short of miraculous!
As he tended to the monkey''s blistered skin and singed fur, horror struck him at the realization of what it had endured.
It must have hidden itself in the fire vein! Such a smart and resilient monkey... Its mental fortitude is impressive!
The fire vein, fraught with toxic me and chaotic energy, could disrupt spiritual senses. It was a perilous hideout, yet the monkey had endured the suffering silently...
Still in disbelief, Li Xuanxuan watched as the monkey dug through the debris, retrieving a charred body. From the sleeve pocket of the corpse''s robe, it pulled out a shiny jade piece.
Click.
In just the space of two breaths, the monkey had used the jade piece to unlock the spirit iron cor around its neck. It presented both items to Li Xuanxuan, then crouched on the ground and began to meditate.
Li Xuanxuan had only taken a brief look at the items when the monkey''s eyes suddenly snapped open. Its ears twitched as fear flickered in its eyes. It began making silent gestures, miming the motions of pounding herbs.
Sensing the urgency, Li Xuanxuan quickly stowed the items and retracted his spiritual sense as much as possible as he huddled in the corner, not daring to move. The monkey anxiously alternated between bowing and miming the action of pounding herbs but did not dare to make any noise.
Li Xuanxuan watched it quietly for a moment before taking out the mortar and pestle from his storage pouch and handing it back to the monkey. In an instant, the creature gratefully grabbed the dharma artifacts and disappeared into the ruins like a wisp of smoke.
Chapter 384: Profit From Chaos (III)
Chapter 384: Profit From Chaos (III)
Meanwhile on Wutu Peak...
Li Yuanjiao exhaled deeply. The scale pattern of the longsword named Dragon Coiling Pir in his grip shimmered with an azure sheen as it caught the light. With his other hand, he held a light purple-colored manual titled the Law of Celestial Moon.
Now thirty-three, Li Yuanjiao stood at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, just a step away from achieving the seventh heavenlyyer. His progress, fueled by the Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit Talisman and the considerable resources of the Li Family, was already regarded as extraordinary.
Byparison, Li Tongya was already fifty when he reached the seventh heavenlyyer, and Li Xuanfeng was nearly forty. Li Yuanjiao''s rapid ascent definitely positioned him as an exceptional cultivator among the other disciples of the Li Family.
"I should break through to the seventh heavenlyyer by the end of the year! Thete stages of Qi Cultivation Realm are about umtion... With seven or eight years of effort, followed by a talisman pill, I should be ready to attempt a breakthrough to the most difficult ninth heavenlyyer. Just two more years, and I might attempt to build the Immortal Foundation."
If everything went ording to n, Li Yuanjiao should be able to seclude himself to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm in his early forties.
He stowed the manual away and retrieved a white jade slip, titled the Law of Sexagenary Cycle Sword Manual¡ªamentary written by Li Tongya. Compared to theplicated Law of Celestial Moon, it was much easier to understand.
After carefully reading the content twice, he thought to himself, Granduncle''s swordsmanship is exceptional, having been mentored by the Sword Immortal himself, yet he only grasped the sword element at the age of eighty... That shows how difficult it is to master the art of killing. I wonder how many swordsmen and Sword Immortals there are in Jiangnan...
Currently, only I can match my granduncle in sword talent. Qinghong and Xicheng prefer spears, and the next best swordsman in our family, Zhi''er, has gone to the sect. Xijun shows promise, whereas Ximing treats his sword merely as a tool,cking the true spirit of a swordsman.
Deep in thought and stroking his chin, Li Yuanjiao was interrupted by a middle-aged man with slightly tanned skin, high eyebrows, and huge eyes. He approached and cupped his fist.
"Peak Master, there''s been an incident on Guli Road!"
He was none other than Shamoli, a Qi Cultivator of the fourth heavenlyyer who had given up on ruling Mount Yue State and now cultivated alongside Li Yuanjiao.
Despite being an unrefined Qi Cultivator, he consumed spiritual qi that had been mixed with water and purified. Skilled in the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique, he stood on par with regr Qi Cultivators.
Taken aback by the news, Li Yuanjiao rose on the winds. As he ascended, he saw smoke billowing from Guli Road, drawing cultivators from various families who also rose to investigate. Several white lights stayed in the air, signaling hesitation.
"Something happened at Cloud Crowned Peak!"
Thanks to the Xiao Family''s efforts in renovating Guli Road,plete with stationed cultivators at newly established ry posts, news from Cloud Crowned Peak reached them swiftly.
Li Yuanjiao''s expression darkened.
Oh no... How could this happen?! Father and the others are still at the marketce!
"Let''s go!"
He quickly descended, summoning Li Qinghong and An Zheyan, along with other seasoned Qi Cultivators before flying eastward together.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanxuan watched the monkey vanish, his mind swirling with doubts and a nagging sense of fear that the creature might not return, which stirred a vague regret within him.
St.
Before he could dwell on these thoughts, a subtle flipping sound set off rms in his heart. Unfortunately, the baleful mes in the backyard from the fire vein suppressed his spiritual sense, confining it to a mere few inches around him and preventing any investigation of his surroundings.
After waiting in the fire-enshrouded backyard for some time, Li Xuanxuan finally glimpsed a tall, dark figure with a halo of red light around him emerging from the baleful mes.
While Li Xuanxuan was waiting, he already had the most powerful fire talisman in his clutch. His eyes were fixated on the figure, carefully contemting his next move.
Dressed in ck and exuding blood qi, he must be a devil cultivator. I need to strike first! Even if I can''t defeat him, I can at least escape...
While this person was busy looking around, Li Xuanxuan quickly acted. The talisman in his hand glowed a fierce red as he hurled it toward the figure while he drew arge ax from his storage pouch with the other hand, swinging it with a swift twist.
The devil cultivator, whose spiritual sense was suppressed by the baleful mes, had not anticipated such a sudden ambush from the shadows. Caught off guard and struck by a talisman of mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm, his face and body were instantly engulfed in mes.
"OWWW¡ª!"
The baleful me in the backyard and the fire spell sparked a chain reaction, boosting the fire intensity by thirty percent and casting a brilliant, red glow over the ruins. In this fiery light, Li Xuanxuan''s ax gleamed menacingly as it descended upon the cultivator''s neck.
Snap...!
A gruesome noise was heard as the devil cultivator''s neck split into two like sugar cane, blood spurting everywhere violently.
Li Xuanxuan felt a moment of relief¡ªuntil the headless body of his enemy staggered forward, its pale hands striking Li Xuanxuan''s chest with surprising force.
"What?!"
The impact sent him flying, and he crashed into a crooked beam causing a loud noise. Ash and smoke billowed as tworge pirs copsed onto him.
Gasping and spitting out two mouthfuls of blood, Li Xuanxuan dared not continue staying on the ground. He struggled to rise to his feet, and the world was spinning around him. Meanwhile, the devil cultivator had somehow managed reattached his head, his face pale and his eyes filled with vivid anger and fear.
He cursed loudly, "I knew something was off! To think an immortal cultivator nearly killed me outright!"
Despite his exmations, his actions were swift. He drew two short des, their edges slick with blood. He was lightning fast and closed the distance in a blink, des poised to strike.
Thankfully, Li Xuanxuan had held onto his dharma weapon through the pain. Twisting the handle of his ax, he used it like a shield to block the iing attack, though the impact still sent a shock of pain through his chest.
With his free hand, he retrieved yet another talisman, releasing streams of golden light that formed a protective barrier around him. This allowed him a moment to catch his breath.
The devil cultivator, having missed his blow, quickly retreated, gasping for breath. Clearly still reeling from the earlier talisman attack, he cursed vehemently, "You motherfucking bum... How dare you sneak up on me?!"
Li Xuanxuan rose to his feet silently and carefully assessed the situation. His enemy was probably a mid-stage Qi Cultivator, now slightly weakened by his sneak attack.
This man is a lot faster than me... I can''t afford to rush my escape; I need to seize every opportunity to get out of this alive!
In any case, Li Xuanxuan was secretly grateful that his foe was not as formidable as the previous devil cultivator with the thunder pearl, and their cultivation paths seemed quite different too.
I should strike while he''s weak!
With that thought in mind, he swung his ax directly at the cultivator''s face. The devil cultivator red at him furiously and quickly crossed his des in response to block the ax. He then moved his lips and spat out a mist of blood qi.
This blood qi mist was most likely some vile technique from devil cultivation. Unfamiliar with such means, Li Xuanxuan could only grit his teeth and back down.
What should I do?!
Li Xuanxuan was not adept inbat andcked powerful strategies. The dharma ax that he wielded was more ornamental than practical, chosen only because it was an unused weapon in his family.
The devil cultivator began slicing away chunks of flesh, leaving a bloody, gaping wound in his thigh. As Li Xuanxuan watched the devil cultivator regain hisposure and use his superior speed to fight, anxiety gripped him.
With gritted teeth, he pulled out a dozen talismans from his sleeve, muttering quietly to himself.
"I''m reluctant to use these... but my life depends on them."
Chapter 385: Profit From Chaos (IV)
Chapter 385: Profit From Chaos (IV)
The devil cultivator''s expression paled at the sight of Li Xuanxuan reaching for another talisman. Scrambling about desperately, he managed to produce only two talismans of his own.
Meanwhile, several talismans in Li Xuanxuan''s hands were already glowing fiercely before being hurled straight toward the devil cultivator.
"Such madness!"
In the narrow confines of the backyard, thebined might of the talismans was overwhelming. The devil cultivator emitted a sharp whistle as half of his body transformed into a cloud of blood mist. In the pitch darkness of the courtyard, they stood merely three or four chi apart when Li Xuanxuan issued amand.
"RELEASE!"
The talismans burst into brilliant red light. Li Xuanxuan had selected fire spells since the room was filled with baleful mes, and could be used to his advantage. The darkness in the room was instantly reced by a vivid crimson glow as mes surged, engulfing both figures.
BOOM!
The Elixir Pavilion could no longer withstand the onught and copsed under the fiery assault, but fortunately, fires raged throughout the marketce, making the destruction less conspicuous amidst the chaos.
The shield around Li Xuanxuan shattered instantly, flinging him backward. He rolled twice beforeing to a stop, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Several of his ribs were broken and his left leg hung limply, likely broken too.
mes zed all around him, searing his skin into blisters. Despite the excruciating pain, he forced himself to stand. His left calf, though badly injured, was still attached to his thigh by the tendon¡ªindicating that the wound, while painful, was not severe.
After casting a healing spell on his leg, Li Xuanxuan staggered to his feet, feeling drained of all energy. The mana shield had saved his life, but at the cost of depleting his mana reserves.
"Where is that person...?"
The baleful mes roared, further fueling the burning fire and spreading it from the broken wooden beams. It twisted through the air like serpents, warping his vision. Through the distorted haze, Li Xuanxuan saw the devil cultivator rise to his feet unsteadily, his skin seared and emitting a burnt odor. His hands, reduced to bare bone, were still holding the two short des. He moved toward Li Xuanxuan steadily, clearly in a far better condition.
"You..."
The devil cultivator fixed him with a spiteful re and managed to squeeze out a single word before a smaller figure burst forth from the mes. A turquoise jade pestle, as thick as an adult''s arm, swung through the air and struck the cultivator''s head with a sickening crack.
The devil cultivator''s head burst open like a watermelon instantly, sttering the scene with a gruesome mix of white and red¡ªalmost like fireworks. Teeth scattered around like rain, a few of them even hitting Li Xuanxuan''s face and with two rolling into his sleeve.
Thud.
Li Xuanxuan finally fell to his knees, blood spilling from his mouth.
Bam!
The monkey continued swinging the pestle, striking the fallen devil cultivator''s chest. Flesh and blood flew everywhere, staining the monkey into a gory red. Yet, it showed no sign of stopping.
Li Xuanxuan swallowed a pill and paused to meditate, quickly restoring his mana. He then cast several healing spells upon himself, still focusing on his recovery. Nearby, the fire intensified, painting the surroundings in ominous shades of red while smoke billowed around him.
Li Xuanxuan called out, "Good monkey... Burn him with the fire! Burn him..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw the devil cultivator''s finger twitch ominously.
Aware of the threat this man posed, Li Xuanxuan dared not let his guard down. Despite tearing up from the smoke, he kept his eyes on the devil cultivator and immediately noticed this subtle movement. He yelped in fear and quickly grabbed hisrge ax at the ready.
However, the devil cultivator''s stomach suddenly swelled up massively before exploding. A thin, frail and bloody child jumped out from within, eyes wide with terror. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he immediately started sprinting toward the mes.
Fortunately, Li Xuanxuan had already raised his ax. With a powerful swing, he heard a sickening crunch as the emaciated child fell to the ground limply, cleaved into two. However, he continued pleading, "Mercy, Immortal Master! Forgive me, please! I''ve made a mistake! I..."
While Li Xuanxuan was still gasping for breath, the monkey turned around in terror and swung its green jade pestle, pulverizing the child''s remains into unrecognizable masses. Without further dy, Li Xuanxuan performed a hand seal and unleashed a fire spell.
The me of the spell roared, reducing the devil cultivator''s body into mere charcoal. Li Xuanxuan grabbed the monkey''s bloody hand and whispered hoarsely, "Let''s go!"
His voice was so raspy that even he could hardly hear it, but the monkey quickly understood his words, nodding and handing over the ck and gold-colored storage pouch that belonged to the devil cultivator to Li Xuanxuan.
"Good monkey!"
After collecting the pouch, Li Xuanxuan and the monkey dashed from the fire, seeking refuge in a nearby house that was untouched by mes. They copsed onto the ground and began meditating to heal their injuries.
"Shit..." Li Xuanxuan cursed.
It had been so many years since hest cussed. The word scratched his throat as it came out, bringing tears of relief. His cultivation which had been stagnant for years suddenly stirred to life.
After a few moments, he rose abruptly in rm and instructed the monkey, "You stay here and heal first."
Li Xuanxuan ced two bottles of pills in front of the monkey before carefully stepping outside. He navigated two streets and spotted someone anxiously waiting near where he had concealed the jade pendant earlier.
With the Elixir Pavilion now copsed and the fire spreading, everyone''s spiritual sense was dulled on the street. Squinting through the mes, Li Xuanxuan could barely discern the figure. However, their eyes met, sending a jolt of fear coursing through him.
"Is that Brother Xuan?!"
Li Qiuyang was equally shaken, but gritted his teeth and called out to the man in the distance, his voice trembling.
Overwhelmed with relief, Li Xuanxuan cried out hoarsely, "Qiuyang!"
Li Qiuyang took a step forward, then recoiled in shock again.
"Brother Xuan?!" he eximed in disbelief.
The man limping before him had a gaunt face and a skeletal frame. His eyes were clouded, his skin was smeared with ckened blood and covered in blisters. His hair and eyebrows werepletely singed off, leaving his scalp bare. Blood dripped from his sleeves, giving him the eerie appearance of a corpse freshly retrieved from a ze. If he had not called out his name, Li Qiuyang would not have recognized him at all.
Li Qiuyang stared at him nkly. Just when Li Xuanxuan was about to say something, the ground trembled beneath them.
Rumble!
Cracks began forming on the surface of the grand formation''s barrier in the sky, causing the expressions of both men to change.
"Brother Xuan, let''s go!" Li Qiuyang urged anxiously.
As if remembering something, Li Xuanxuan stopped him.
"Wait... Wait!"
He shook off the dripping blood from his sleeves, then swiftly flew deeper into the street. Li Qiuyang stomped his foot in frustration, then quickly hurried after him. As soon as he took a turn, he saw Li Xuanxuan rushing toward him again, this time with a monkey.
"Ah...?!"
Li Qiuyang froze, staring at the monkey in disbelief and shock. Its fur was matted with pitch-ck blood and its exposed skin was covered with blisters. Startled by Li Qiuyang''s gaze, the monkey bared its teeth menacingly, raising the jade pestle in its hand as if ready to strike him.
"Ah?"
Li Qiuyang stumbled back, baffled.
Li Xuanxuan quickly yelled out, "He''s with us!"
The old man''s shout seemed to calm the monkey instantly. Together, the two men and the monkey rushed against the wind.
Li Xuanxuan instructed urgently, "This formation is about to break... We must escape through the Elixir Pavilion! Once the formation copses, the devil cultivators will swarm in. The baleful mes can disrupt spiritual senses, and the chaos will conceal us!"
As soon as he finished speaking, realization dawned upon him. He quickly retrieved the ck and gold storage pouch and emptied it, using his robe to catch the contents. A myriad of colorful and glowing items came tumbling out, including several sharp dharma weapons that sliced through the fabric of his robe and pierced his skin.
Wincing in pain, Li Xuanxuan quickly transferred the dharma weapons and jade slips into his own storage pouch. With a swift motion, he discarded the remaining useless items, scattering them across the ground, along with the emptied pouch.
Chapter 386: Rescue
Chapter 386: Rescue
"Where are the Xiao Family members?"
Li Yuanjiao led the members of his family forward and stopped more than ten li away from Cloud Crowned Peak, in front of a massive formation that shrouded the sky. They hovered in mid-air, their expressions grim.
The entire Cloud Crowned Peak was enveloped in a fog and the formation was riddled with cracks. Four or five Immortal Foundations manifested. Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators surrounded the peak, deterring any approach.
"Something''s gone terribly wrong with the Xiao Family!" Li Qinghong said, her eyes alight with anxiety. She carried the White Iris Spear on her back and clutched a gray spear of the Qi Cultivation Realm in her hand. Her gaze, tinged with a hint of purple, was fixed intently on the formation.
"It only takes the time taken for an incense stick to burn to get here from Xianyou Peak... The Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator should have beaten us here from Mount Lijing, if he meant toe at all. They must have been detained by someone!" she eximed.
The group fell silent, each person grappling with the gravity of the situation. The Xiao Family was the Li Family''s main supporter, and the thought of them in distress was unbearable¡ªnot to mention that their own family members were still trapped in the marketce...
"My dear!"
While Li Yuanjiao and the others were waiting anxiously, a woman suddenly approached them, riding on the wind. Her elegant face was tinged with anxiety as well, just like the rest. It was Xiao Guiluan, who had rushed over upon hearing of Xiao Family''s plight.
"Luan''er...There are likely many devil cultivators ahead, do not go any further!" Li Yuanjiao instructed as he moved to intercept her, his tone firm.
Despite her estrangement from her father, Xiao Guiluan remained deeply connected to the Xiao Family who had raised her. She nced toward the besieged Xiao Family marketce with distress, knowing that her uncle, Xiao Ruyu, was likely trapped inside.
"The ancestor must be held up by someone! Xianyou Peak and Mount Yu are surely under attack, preventing any rescue at the Cloud Crowned Peak marketce... Xiao Ruyu, who has always looked after our family store, is also trapped inside!" she eximed.
Li Yuanjiao''s heart was equally fraught with worry and concern, but he maintained aposed exterior tofort his wife.
"Xiao Ruyu is one of the Xiao Family''s strongest peak Qi Cultivators... He surely has some means of escape. There''s no need to worry!"
As they spoke in hushed tones, a thunderous boom resounded in the sky.
Rumble!
A sh of white filled everyone''s vision.
The Xiao Family''s meticulously crafted Foundation Establishment Realm formation, which had held on for an hour, finally shattered like ss, disintegrating into a thunder that vanished between heaven and earth.
A swarm of devil cultivators then rode in on a cloud, descending upon the marketce in a frenzied looting spree. As chaos ensued, the Xiao Family cultivators at Cloud Crowned Peak knew defeat was inevitable and descended the mountain in a desperate bid to escape.
Unfortunately, Cloud Crowned Peak had be the focal point of the devil cultivators'' siege, and it was uncertain how many would make it out alive.
"Go!"
As the devil cultivators flooded the marketce, several onlookers exchanged nces and began to close the distance. After covering a few li, they heard a bellowing cry.
"Chen Taojing of the Xiao Family is here! Don''t think you can act as you please!"
In the sky above Cloud Crowned Peak, a brilliant white light shed, revealing two pale red serpent dragons, their fangs and ws bared in a ferocious disy against numerous adversaries. Both serpents had four streams of ck qi in their clutches.
It appeared that Chen Taojing had either consumed a powerful elixir or performed some kind of secret technique. The serpent dragons, though oddly colored, were impressively lifelike and formidable.
As his deration echoed loudly, Li Yuanjiao felt the Dragon Coiling Pir at his waist buzz and tremble, as if on the verge of flying through the air. He quickly pressed down on it in rm.
"I heard about this Chen Taojing from Uncle... He''s a formidable swordsman. However, Why then does his presence agitate the Dragon Coiling Pir so much..?"
While he pondered, a mocking voice cut through his thoughts.
"Chen Taojing of the Xiao Family? Hahahahaha..."
A female devil cultivator''sughter rang out shrilly as if she had just heard the funniest joke. After a pause, the voice softened to a taunt.
"I heard that the Xiao Family used to be thepdogs of Lingyu Gate''s Chen Family... How amusing that the roles have reversed in a mere hundred years, and now it''s the Chen Family who bows to the Xiao!"
Chen Taojing paused in the air as if trying to identify something before sneering coldly.
"Here I thought what sort of devil gue this was... Turns out it''s just something that crawled out of the tower!"
"Shut up!"
The female voice, now furious, let out several shrill screams. The ck qi in the air grew restless, quickly encircling Chen Taojing and muffling his words.
Seeing that the Foundation Establishment Realm devil cultivators in the sky were entangled and immobilized, Li Yuanjiao saw an opportunity. He turned to the group behind him and whispered, "Master An and I have the highest cultivation realm here, we'' will approach and assess the situation. The rest of you wait here."
Upon hearing the instruction, An Zheyan stepped forward. Behind him, Li Qinghong pursed her lips, quickly grasping Li Yuanjiao''s intent.
She drew the White Iris Spear from her back and said softly, "Big Brother, my thunder technique is highly effective against demons and devils, and it should also work well against devil cultivators... Why don''t you stay here and watch over the group while Master An and I go ahead to investigate?"
Li Qinghong spoke convincingly, prompting Li Yuanjiao to reconsider his options. Realizing that both he and Li Qinghong could not risk danger simultaneously, he nodded reluctantly and replied with a sigh, "Fine! But retreat immediately if the situation worsens... Do not risk your life."
With that, the two hastened toward the Cloud Crowned Peak Market. Driven by urgency, Li Qinghong and An Zheyan moved swiftly, reaching the market outskirts in mere moments.
They stopped just outside the forest surrounding the marketce. The ground was stained with blood, and inside, the fire zed fiercely with smoke billowing everywhere.
An Zheyan shivered slightly but secretly reassured himself.
With her beside me, we should be able to escape unscathed as long as we don''t encounter a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator...
Li Qinghong had bested most of the Li Family cultivators in duels. Those in the early stages of Qi Cultivation Realm could not match her, and only those in the middle andte stages could challenge her.
An Zheyan himself could only trade a few hundred blows with her before being inevitably overwhelmed by Li Qinghong''s spear.
The only people who possessed the strength to suppress her were Li Yuanjiao and Chen Donghe, who was now away from home. However, should a battle ensue, the oue would be uncertain, especially considering that Li Qinghong wielded the White Iris Spear, a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma weapon.
An Zheyan had just breathed a sigh of relief when Li Qinghong tightened her grip on her spear, her face turning slightly pale. The devastation around the market was a grim reminder of the peril facing her uncle, Li Xuanxuan, and her n uncle, Li Qiuyang... not to mention her mortal brother¡ªLi Yuanyun.
Still harboring a sliver of hope, she quickly retrieved a jade pendant from her storage pouch. This pendant could locate others from the main family and their aides within a li or two.
"Oh?"
Upon sensing with her spiritual sense, Li Qinghong was relieved to see two pendants moving together, steadily heading away from the chaos of the market.
Overjoyed, she eximed, "n Uncle Qiuyang and Uncle Xuan Xuan are together and close by!"
An Zheyan nodded, relieved at their safety. As they descended toward the market, he thought to himself, I only hope that Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang haven''t fallen to the same enemy, or had their pendants taken... This woman''s wrath would be a force of nature, summoning thunder that could obliterate her enemies, leaving no trace behind!
Chapter 387: Benefits (I)
Chapter 387: Benefits (I)
"Brother Xuan!"
Li Qiuyang flew close to the ground with Li Xuanxuan beside him, whose face was ashen. He was dragging the scorched monkey along, asionally pulling out a talisman from his sleeve and tossing it behind them.
BOOM!
The talisman barely emitted a glow before a blood-red hammer shadow crushed the spell into countless fragments.
The man holding the hammerughed heartily.
"You must be from a rich family, so full of treasures!" he mocked.
They chose a path shrouded in infernal fire to escape, but Li Xuanxuan''s luck was never good, and they soon ran into a devil cultivator. This one, wielding arge hammer and seeming to be quite powerful, appeared to be in the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Li Xuanxuan and the monkey were already in terrible shape, and Li Qiuyang was only an unrefined Qi Cultivator, making them no match for this opponent. They immediately turned to flee for their lives.
"Fortunately, this guy''s techniques are broad and slow, unlike the previous devil cultivator. This gives us a bit more time," Li Xuanxuan said as he touched the jade pendant in his sleeve, formting a n in his mind.Although his internal mana was almost depleted and he could not increase his speed, he used the River Crossing Torrential Step to dodge left and right, managing to hold on.
The devil cultivator chased them on a rolling ck cloud, brandishing his hammer and toying with them like a cat would with mice. asionally, he would speed up, forcing Li Xuanxuan to use talismans to fend off his attacks.
This devil cultivator was clearly more experienced inbat than the previous dual-wielding one, methodically depleting their mana and forcing Li Xuanxuan to exhaust his talismans.
"Brother Xuan¡ this is not working. Let me cover the rear," Li Qiuyang whispered through gritted teeth to Li Xuanxuan, whose face looked ghastly.
"No need."
Though his mana was nearly depleted, Li Xuanxuan gripped the jade pendant inside his robe tightly, boiling with anger as he thought to himself, ording to this pendant''s guidance, Qinghong is just a li away. I''ll show you the consequences of bullying a Li Family member!
Seeing Li Xuanxuan''s determined tone, Li Qiuyang silently followed him.
Qi Cultivators were extremely fast. They had been running for only a few breaths before a woman appeared ahead.
The woman seemed to be in herte teens, d in bright white jade armor that shimmered with an azure light. Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with anger, tinged with a hint of purple. She held a spear, its tip pointing downward.
She had an attractive face that exuded a heroic aura. The ribbons on her jade armor fluttered in the wind. Her hair was simply tied up in a ponytail with a in jade hairpin and her jet-ck hair flowed freely in the wind.
"Lady Qinghong!"
Li Qiuyang, seeing hope in despair, was overjoyed. He finally understood the source of Li Xuanxuan''s confidence earlier. They staggered to her side, breathing a sigh of relief.
The devil cultivator''s face darkened, intimidated by Li Qinghong''s imposing presence. He slowed down but upon realizing she was only a mid-stage Qi Cultivator, heughed mockingly.
"Damn, these cultivators look prettier one after the other¡ with weak cultivation but such grand airs. One might think she is an immortal general!" he sneered.
Noticing her impressive artifacts, he remained unafraid. He had killed many and knew that the cultivation methods of Jiangnan''s families and rogue cultivators were mostly rubbish that did not use pure qi and not worth worrying about.
His own cultivation came from techniques passed down by powerful devils,parable to Grade Four immortal techniques of Jiangnan. He sneered and shouted, "Little female cultivator, you¡ª"
Before he could finish, Li Qinghong lunged forward, her jade armor jingling. A bright purple spear shadow flowed like a dragon, striking in an instant.
The devil cultivator swallowed his words right away, raising his hammer to block the iing attack. The spear, crackling with bright purple lightning, transformed into a dragon, smashing against the blood-red hammer with a loud bang, emitting a brilliant purple spark.
BOOM!
The devil cultivator felt a surge of annihting thunder force travel through his hammer. His dharma artifact emitted a series of mournful wails, and a sh of lightning burst between his palms, releasing tendrils of ck smoke. His face quickly turned pale.
Li Qinghong knew this ce was not suitable for a prolonged fight and preferred a quick resolution. She immediately drew her Duruo Spear, seizing the opportunity of her opponent''s arrogance. Sheunched the Fei Family''s ultimate technique¡ªthe Dragon Reflection.
For some reason, the Vast Sky Fierce Sparrow talisman qi within her surged upon seeing this devil cultivator. Dark red light flowed from her elbow to the spear, adding extra power and might to her weapon. The thunderous dragon-like shadow struck, causing a tremendous thunderp that left the devil cultivator at a severe disadvantage.
"A thunder cultivator?!" the devil cultivator groaned, his hands dropping powerlessly. He felt his cultivation dwindle, and even his dharma artifact slipped from his grip, ttering to the ground.
Panic-stricken, he wailed loudly, "When did Jiangnan produce such a powerful Dao lineage?!"
Abandoning his dharma artifact, he whipped up a blood-red whirlwind and hurriedly fled into an alley.
"Only an idiot would fight her with all these treasures lying around! Whether I can win or not, my cultivation is already half gone!"
Specialized in escape techniques, the devil cultivator disappeared at the end of the alley in the blink of an eye, leaving his hammer on the ground.
Li Qinghong watched him go with a smile, unhurried. Her delicate hand twirled the spear and rested it behind her. With her other hand, she crafted a talisman in the air, emitting mysterious purple patterns.
Bzzzt... bzzzzt¡
The thunder talisman formed before her, glowing brightly. The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique she practiced was ancient and profound with several secret techniques attached to it, this being one of them.
Li Qinghong chuckled softly, flicking the talisman like a meteor after the fleeing devil cultivator. Without waiting for the result, she picked up the hammer and calmly turned to her uncles, saying softly, "Uncles, we should leave quickly."
Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang were awestruck by her spear''s power, nodding hastily. The three of them took off, flying just a few chi before a loud explosion sounded from the market.
BOOM!!
Purple lightning erupted, and ck smoke rose. Several screams and curses ensued, with a few red lights and demonic smoke shooting up. Li Xuanxuan and the others ducked instinctively, even the monkey looked terrified and distanced itself from her.
Hearing themotion, Li Qinghong calcted their next steps. Realizing her brother Li Yuanyun was missing, her heart sank.
"Uncle¡ where is Brother Yun?" she asked softly.
Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang exchanged nces, unsure of how to respond, leaving only the sound of their sighs. Li Qinghong understood immediately and flew on in silence.
On the Guli Road.
Li Yuanjiao and his group waited for a while, chasing away some scavenging rogue cultivators before seeing Li Qinghong approach with the others. He hurried to meet them, staring at Li Xuanxuan''s condition in shock.
"Father?!"
Li Xuanxuan raised his head, his left leg crooked and dangling. He looked emaciated and withered, his eyes half gray and half white. He gave a weak smile and managed to croak out softly, "Jiao''er!"
Though Li Yuanjiao had minor grievances with his father, he still cared deeply for him. He quickly supported him, asking gruffly, "What... happened to you?!"
"Ah!"
Li Xuanxuan, despite his haggard appearance, was filled with the joy of survival, unable to hide his glee. He eximed with a hint of pride, "Nothing I have done in my whole lifepares to what I have achieved in this past hour!"
Li Xuanxuan used to think of himself as mediocre and ipetent. Reflecting on the multiple times he had skirted the edge of death, he could not help but feel a bit of pride in himself, his eyes brimming with tears. He thought to himself, It must be Second Uncle''s spirit in heaven protecting me! It must be his umted virtue...
At this moment, Li Xuanxuan deeply understood why Li Tongya had handed down the River Crossing Torrential Step and the apanying Blood Escape Technique, insisting that the direct lineage must practice them diligently.
Without these two secret techniques, he would have perished at who knows where. As these thoughts crossed his mind, tears began to trickle from his eyes, burnt gray by the fire.
Everyone was deeply moved, and for a moment, no one remembered Li Yuanyun. Only Li Qinghong, who clutched her spear, wept silently. Li Yuanjiao, feeling distressed, handed his father over to Xiao Guiluan who was skilled in healing, andforted him for a while longer before they all returned home together.
Chapter 388: Benefits (II)
Chapter 388: Benefits (II)
On Lijing Peak.
Li Yuanjiao and his group returned to the peak, sending Tian Youdao and An Zheyan off, one to Xianyou Peak and the other back to Cloud Crowned Peak to survey the situation and gather news. Li Yuanjiao personally helped Li Xuanxuan into the cave dwelling to treat his injuries while the remaining cultivators returned to their respective peaks.
Li Yuanping hurried up to check on Li Xuanxuan, personally tending to him for a while. Li Qinghong called over Li Xicheng and Li Xijun, informing them of what had happened to Li Yuanyun, and they waited for the chaos in the marketce to subside before they could search for his remains.
The two brothers, grieving their father''s death, were naturally filled with sorrow. Li Qinghong, having experienced numerous life-and-death separations herself, understood their pain the most and did not allow them to dwell on it. She gave them heavy and tedious tasks to upy them before hurrying down the mountain.
The greatest loss in the disaster at Cloud Crowned Peak''s marketce was naturally borne by the Xiao Family. As Li Xuanxuany unconscious and recovering, Li Yuanjiao and Li Qiuyang estimated that the Xiao Family had probably lost dozens of Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators and about ten Qi Cultivators.
The loss of these ten Qi Cultivators was not significant, as most were external and guest cultivators of the Xiao Family, with few true Xiao Family members. However, the loss of those dozens of Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators, including some true Xiao Family heirs sent down to gain experience, was substantial, and it was uncertain how many had escaped.
As for the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Chen Taojing, who fought against four opponents, although protected by the Boundless Ocean, it was easy for him to defend himself but hard for him to escape, thus he was likely dead.
Next were the various families of Lixia Prefecture and the rogue cultivators in the marketce. Most of the families in Lixia Prefecture were vassals of the Xiao Family, also suffering losses in this disaster.
The Xiao Family had a significant influence, controlling two-fifths of Lixia Prefecture. Most of the remaining families were directly or indirectly controlled by the Xiao Family. Even the families on the eastern shore of Moongaze Lake, bordering Lixia Prefecture, were mostly under the Xiao''s control, and many had suffered losses in the marketce attack."As for the rogue cultivators, this disaster might have severed many lineages..." Li Yuanjiao sighed inwardly, puzzled. "But the Xiao Family is an important ally of the Azure Pond Sect, and the devil gue is said to be the dogs of the Azure Pond Sect¡ How could the Xiao Family be caught off guard and bitten so hard by the devil cultivators?" he continued, muttering to himself.
He stroked his sword at his waist, murmuring quietly, "Either the Azure Pond Sect has fallen out with the Xiao Family, or the devil cultivators have gone rogue... or perhaps someone from the three sects and seven gates interfered, altering the overall situation."
Recalling the hints given by Yuan Tuan when she visited the Li Family, Li Yuanjiao dismissed these spections. "If the devil cultivators spread out in Lixia Prefecture, it will be our Moongaze Lake that suffers," he mumbled, understanding the situation.
Feeling anxious, he wondered whether to take another pill to break through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm when the stone door in front of him rumbled open, interrupting his thoughts. Li Xuanxuan hurried out.
Li Xuanxuan had changed into a clean robe and most of his burn scars had healed, though his eyes still had a grayish hue. He looked emaciated and haggard,cking his former solemn and dignified appearance.
"What about that monkey?!"
Li Xuanxuan''s first question upon waking was about the obedient spirit beast he had brought back, causing Li Yuanjiao to smile wryly.
Turning to a nearby family soldier, he gave amand.
"Go bring that spirit beast here."
Li Yuanjiao watched Li Xuanxuan eagerly, who had been the head of the family for many years. Li Xuanxuan understood the unspoken request and happily took off the storage pouch from his waist, saying with a smile, "Let''s see what we have gathered!"
The family''s finances had been in poor shape for many years, so both Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping were keenly interested in what Li Xuanxuan had managed to collect during the disaster at the market. They both nodded eagerly.
Rustle¡
Li Xuanxuan reached into the storage pouch and poured out a stream of treasures, most of which he had taken from the storage pouch of the dual-wielding cultivator. The rest included a few robes and some pills.
The dharma artifacts were all of the Qi Cultivation Realm. There were four low-grade and inferior-grade artifacts, which were not worth mentioning. The highlight was a medium-grade artifact, arge oval-shaped earth-yellow shield called the Six-Stone Cloud te, a well-crafted item known for its sturdiness.
As for how they knew its name and origin, the shield''s edge had a small inscription on it that said, "Six-Stone Cloud te, medium grade, Yuanwu Peak, forged by Yu Muxian."
"This..?!"
Both men were rendered speechless by the discovery. It was the first time they learned that the term medium grade referred to the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation Realm within the sect.
Li Yuanjiao hefted the Six-Stone Cloud te, finding it light and handy, and remarked, "It is indeed the work of an old acquaintance¡ Yu Muxian does have some skill indeed."
"After all, it is from the long-lost Molten Metal Cave technique," Li Xuanxuan said quietly as he heard many rumors in the market. He stored the Six-Stone Cloud te away and brought out a pair of twin des.
These twin des were also medium-grade, and they were t and thin. Without the devil cultivator''s mana, they showed a faint blue-green hue. They examined them for a while but found no signature, indicating they were not from the three sects and seven gates.
Li Yuanjiao swung the des, which emitted a thin blue de qi. It was thinner and sharper than sword qi, requiring specific skills to wield it properly.
"Let''s call them Azure des."
The Li Family''s collection of Qi Cultivation Realm artifacts was limited, with none of medium grade until now. The Azure des were a pair of artifacts, significantly increasing their value. Naturally, Li Yuanjiao carefully noted them down and stored them away, considering their potential future use.
The form of each dharma artifact determined the reach and range of its qi and aura, each with its own characteristics. Having a variety of different weapons in the family''s repertoire was greatly beneficial.
"There is also therge hammer that Qinghong has. I wonder what grade it is," Li Xuanxuan said thoughtfully. After sorting through the dharma artifacts, he set aside the pills and picked up a jade slip from the table, marveling at it.
"It is strange that this devil cultivator carried his legacy so openly. Perhaps he had no fixed residence and nowhere else to store it," he mused.
Li Yuanjiao scoffed and offered a different perspective.
"If not for this, how could devil cultivators grow so rapidly in Jiangnan? They probably copied countless copies and spread them widely. It is no wonder they have several copies in their storage pouch!"
Li Xuanxuan found this exnation reasonable. He had seen the bizarre resilience of devil cultivators with their numerous backup ns, unafraid of damaging their bodies or their cultivation. Many rogue cultivators, unable to resist temptation, naturally turned to the devil cultivation in droves.
He ced his spiritual sense into the jade slip, and a fewrge characters appeared in his mind: Blood Dharma Manual. Annotated by Anonymous. Part One.
Li Xuanxuan dared not delve deeper, merely noting the title mentally. He was puzzled and mumbled, "Blood Dharma Manual... Why does this name sound so familiar?"
Chapter 389: Benefits (III)
Chapter 389: Benefits (III)
Blood Dharma Manual...
Li Xuanxuan pondered for a moment and vaguely remembered hearing Li Tongya mention this cultivation method before. It seemed to be a method from the Golden Feather Sect, with the first volume marked as Grade Four, containing only the Qi Cultivation Realm section.
"It appears that even among the devil cultivators, they use cultivation methods to control and threaten each other. After all, devil cultivators are selfish. Without such control over their cultivation paths, they would have scattered long ago..."
"It should be more than that." Li Yuanjiao paused slightly and contemted for a moment. Not all devil cultivators had hopes of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. There must be other connections or methods of control among these devil cultivators.
"It is not surprising that the three sects and seven gates have devil cultivation methods... But finding a Golden Feather Sect method on a devil cultivator within Azure Pond Sect''s territory is interesting. Could it be that Azure Pond''s devil cultivators have secretly defected to the Golden Feather Sect?"
Li Xuanxuan was filled with doubt, and he murmured, "Or perhaps... The devil gue was something both the Golden Feather Sect and Azure Pond Sect tacitly approved of or even intentionally facilitated. But if that is the case..."
"What good would that do?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
He was all dressed in ck and stared intently at his father, puzzled as he continued, "The ns and rogue cultivators have been supporting Azure Pond for years! To allow them to be ughtered by devil cultivators just like that doesn''t make sense... Azure Pond would have to send people to re-establish control next year, and areas ravaged by the devil gue would be deste for decades. Small families and rogue cultivators would take nearly a century to grow again... It is like giving away their eggying hens for others to enjoy!"
"Maybe... the devil gue has another purpose."
Li Xuanxuan shook his head, shifting his thoughts as he read through several ck jade slips one by one.
There were escape techniques like the Sacrificial Blood Escape, likely the blood wind the devil cultivator used to escape, a reincarnation method Belly Ghost Infant, and a method to convert from immortal to devil cultivation, Blood Conversion Scripture...
In total, there were five techniques. They all required human blood, spiritual energy, resentment qi, and human heads¡ªall of which were not good things. The two only read the summaries to gain a rough understanding of the devil cultivator''s secrets.
Devil cultivators also started from the Embryonic Breathing Realm, but instead of immediately progressing to the Qi Cultivation Realm after condensing the six chakras, theybined them into what was known as a Diverse Mansion.
Once this Diverse Mansion was formed, the Juque Court, Shenyang Mansion, and Qihai Acupoints would be merged, and their body ceased to be the basis of cultivation. Instead, it became something like a boat on a sea of suffering in Buddhism cultivation.
The intricacies of this method were profound and mysterious, seemingly possessing a strange power that tried to draw the reader''s spiritual sense into it,pelling them to follow the outlined cultivation path. Fortunately, this power was not strong, and the two quickly regained their senses after a moment of confusion.
Li Xuanxuan, knowing he did not have strong willpower, did not dare delve deeper and quickly released his grip on the jade slips.
"The Diverse Mansion... so the term Diverse Mansion Unified Furnace Technique refers to this..."
Li Yuanjiao had also heard about it when Mu Rongxia ventured south, mentioning something about nurturing a human head in the belly, though it was slightly different. In any case, cultivation paths varied greatly, making it hard to fullyprehend them.
Just recently, when I went to Cloud Crowned Peak Market, the four Foundation Establishment Realm devil cultivators surrounding it radiated the glow of immortal foundations... What does that mean then?
As Li Yuanjiao was busy pondering these thoughts, Li Xuanxuan silently picked up the ck jade slip titled Blood Conversion Scripture.
CRACK!
With a squeeze, Li Xuanxuan crushed the jade slip and put away the remaining four. He turned to Li Yuanjiao and instructed, "Store these in a secret chamber. Having these methods as references will ensure our younger generations won''t be caught unprepared when facing devil cultivators."
Li Yuanjiao nodded then picked up a jade bottle from the table, examining it carefully. The bottle was slightlyrger than a typical pill bottle and was pale blue in color.
Using his spiritual sense to probe inside the bottle, he found it contained clear, cold spirit water with a faint ck hue, about half a bottle''s worth. It swirled as if it were a single entity, emitting waves of coldness that made Li Yuanjiao shiver.
He murmured softly, "Spirit water of heaven and earth..?"
Li Xuanxuan took it from him hurriedly and shivered from the cold. Though he had seen many spirit items in the market over the years, he had never encountered spirit water of heaven and earth.
"Perhaps it is? Or maybe it is some special kind of spiritual qi of heaven and earth..." he wondered aloud.
Seeing Li Yuanjiao carefully storing it away, he quickly added, "Better ce it in the n''s vault just in case."
The remaining pills were scattered and few were usable. There were two blue bottles: one containing blood qi and the other containing resentment qi, roughly the essence of over a thousand people. There were also some heads and organs of Qi Cultivators, used for spellcasting, which they quickly buried.
Not knowing how to handle the two blue bottles, they decided to store them away for now. The thirty-odd Spirit Stones were the real prize, bringing Li Yuanjiao great relief.
The devil cultivator''s loot was quite substantial, considering that typical Qi Cultivators carried only five or six Spirit Stones. This one had thirty-five, which was enough to keep the Li Family afloat for the next five years.
"It is a shame we cannot keep the storage pouch... It must be quite valuable with such arge space! The devil cultivator did not seem that powerful, I wonder where he stole it from..." Li Xuanxuanmented.
Storage pouches were the easiest to tamper with, and even the pouches of the direct Li Family members had traps set within them. Given the urgency of the situation, he had not considered the pouch''s quality and did not dare to keep it.
After dividing the spoils, both were in high spirits. Some n guards arrived, followed by an old monkey about five chi tall, with a face full of wrinkles and intelligent eyes, silently bowing and looking up at Li Xuanxuan gratefully.
The old monkey had healed and was now free of the fire poison. Li Xuanxuan noticed its advanced age now that it was clean and groomed well enough. Washed clean of soot, its fur was snow-white. It was short and only reached up to Li Xuanxuan''s chin.
"If I may I ask..." Li Xuanxuan hesitated, unsure whether to address it as a fellow Daoist or senior. He noticed that the monkey''s throat seemed damaged, and was only able to make sounds. He asked gently, "What is your name?"
The old monkey shook its head, pointed to Li Xuanxuan, and then to its own forehead. Li Xuanxuan seemed to understand and asked, "Fellow Daoist, would you like to stay with us, the Li Family?"
The old monkey nodded repeatedly. Li Xuanxuan was overjoyed. This monkey, a Qi Cultivator at the fourth heavenlyyer who likely understood medicine and spirit nts, was a valuable addition to his family.
"Well then, you shall be part of our family from now on and take our surname," Li Xuanxuan said tentatively.
Chapter 390: Benefits (IV)
Chapter 390: Benefits (IV)
The white monkey nodded, opened its mouth, and spat out a jade pestle. Li Yuanjiao, watching Li Xuanxuan ept it, was also delighted andmented, "The Wanglin Blossom on Mount Huaqian has yet to sprout. Maybe it could help."
Li Xuanxuan agreed and exined the situation to the monkey, then ordered a guard to escort it to the mountain. Turning back to Li Yuanjiao, he smiled and said, "Do not be fooled by those shy dharma artifacts. This old monkey is far more valuable than them! Tomorrow, we will have it learn to write, record its knowledge and techniques, and our n will gain another legacy."
"That''s a brilliant idea, Father," Li Yuanjiao praised. He also had the same idea. He picked up the green jade pestle and mortar, both low-grade artifacts but valuable as a set.
He thought for a moment before saying, "These shall be named the Jade Pestle and Jade Mortar."
Li Xuanxuan''s mouth twitched, realizing his son''sck of creativity in naming for the very first time. He shook his head and remarked, "I''m sure Guiluan is the one who named Xizhi, yes?"
"Yes," Li Yuanjiao replied, puzzled by his father''s sudden question. Li Xuanxuan merely smiled and continued shaking his head in amusement.
Li Xuanxuan recuperated in the cave dwelling for several days. While waiting for news from Cloud Crowned Peak, Li Yuanjiao decided to stay on Mount Lijing and learn about family matters from his father.
Li Xuanxuan started from the death of his father, Li Changhu, speaking for two full days. Just then, a n guard reported that Tian Youdao and An Zheyan had returned.
Tian Youdao, who broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realm at sixty, now looked like an old man, dressed in a gray robe. He was sent to check on the situation at Cloud Crowned Peak.
Cupping his fist solemnly, he reported, "Chen Taojing fought against four enemies, holding out for half a day before finally dying of exhaustion. Before his death, he shouted, The Great Ling Dao lineage is no more, shaking the heavens with his voice."[1]
Li Xuanxuan and Li Yuanjiao exchanged nces, both feeling a sense of foreboding. Tian Youdao continued in a serious tone, "With his death, the green water floated over Cloud Crowned Peak like rain and mist. The smoke rolled southward, carrying a group of devils with it."
"Southward?"
They both rxed slightly. As long as the devils did not scatter across Lixia Prefecture, it was a good thing. Li Yuanjiao whispered, "Southward probably means toward ces like Mushroom Forest in..."
This made the actions of these devil cultivators particrly suspicious. Originally gathered from ces like Mushroom Forest in, they attacked the Xiao Family''s market and then immediately returned home, clearly showing that they were targeting the Xiao Family.
After Tian Youdao finished his report and left, An Zheyan hurriedly approached. Though his personality was still rather carefree despite experiencing great ups and downs, he spoke in a brisk, fiery manner.
"Reporting to the Family Head! The great formation on the Xiao Family''s Xianyou Peak was active for six days, isting thempletely and making us wait anxiously. When the formation finally lifted, the Xiao Family members only came out to lead us inside. We met with Young Master Guitu, who said that despite the attack, the Xiao Family suffered no major losses, only losing two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. The Daoist Master has returned to the peak, so there is no need for concern."
"So the Daoist Master has returned..." Li Yuanjiao waved him off. He was unable to discern how much of Xiao Guitu''s words were true, but knowing that the Xiao Family was their backing, they had to believe it regardless.
"Let us just wait and see..." Li Xuanxuan muttered.
After An Zheyan left, the old monkey eagerly came forward. Itmunicated with Li Xuanxuan through gestures, and he finally understood the issue with Wanglin Blossom.
"The spirit spring on Mount Huaqian is insufficient; it cannot provide enough spiritual energy..." Li Yuanjiao repeated.
He remembered Wang Xun''s remark about the fragility of the Wanglin Blossom. The spring on Mount Huaqian was clearly not enough to sustain this spirit root. After thinking it over, he suddenly said, "Among the eastern shore families... The Rui and Pu families near us seem to have a spirit spring, right?"
Sending troops to the eastern shore was already part of Li Yuanping''s n. It would resolve internal conflicts, tribute collection, and uphold righteousness, as those families usedmoners as ingredients for their medicines.
"Given this, we must deal with those families." He sent word to Li Yuanping. Since the devil cultivators hadn''t headed west, Li Yuanjiao didn''t rush to consume the pill. Instead, he focused on cultivating, aiming to break through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm before the year''s end.
With the market destroyed, Li Xuanxuan could not return, so he took advantage of the insights gained from his near-death experience to go into seclusion and cultivate. Li Qiuyang, having not spent time with his family for years, went home.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
It was snowing heavily at the end of the year.
Snow was rare in the past two years, making this year''s end special. Perhaps it was meant to honor those who perished in the recent cmity as it fell even more heavily.
The world was nketed in white. Li Yuanping stood on a high watchtower, looking down at the troops below, who were restless and shivering in the cold winter.
He brushed the snow off his clothes. Beside him stood Li Ximing, who was already nine years old and at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Wrapped in fur, he apanied his father in the snow.
Li Yuanping''s face remained pale, butpared to the past two years, it had be more withered, and his hair was slightly graying. He had dyed it ck on purpose, which made him look a bit younger at least.
As the devil cultivators came and went, countless lives were lost along the way. It took the Li Family several months to gather information. Some said these devil cultivators had wandered to the territory of the Purple Smoke Gate, while others said they roamed the Mushroom Forest in.
It is the Yuan Family who should be worried, Li Yuanping thought to himself. Having dealt with the affairs of Mount Yue recently, he took the opportunity to settle the matters at home while the devil cultivators had yet to march toward Moongaze Lake.
This included his long-contemted n to deploy troops to the eastern shore and bring order to the chaotic families there.
"Family Head, it is time."
A youthful voice brought him back to reality. Before him stood Li Xicheng, d in armor and holding a long spear. The experiences of recent years had matured him, making him more capable in both speech and action.
"Yes," Li Yuanping nodded, looking down once more at the troops below. They had been standing in the heavy snow for a while, appearing lethargic. The other four contingents had already set out, leaving only this one to depart.
Having received the order, Li Xicheng hurried down from the high tform and mounted his horse. The heavily armored horse beneath him had a cultivation level higher than his own and stood quietly in the snow.
"Hyah!"
Cold snowkes scattered as he spurred his horse forward, leading the group of young soldiers through the snow-covered forest. He could not shake the confusion in his heart.
The eastern shore families are weak... With just one Qi Cultivator and a few Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators, it would be an easy task. Why bother using the n''s younger members as soldiers? Isn''t it unnecessary?
This time, the Li Family mobilized over five thousand people, divided into five groups. The other four groups wereposed of n soldiers, but due to ack of manpower, Li Xicheng''s group included young members of the n, led by himself.
Maintaining a steady pace through the forest, Li Xicheng could not understand the n''s intentions. The snow fell softly, and his thoughts wandered.
The Family Head said it was to rectify the n''s customs, hence using the n''s young members as soldiers... But there had been no prior training, and suddenly we are marching through the snow at night. What use could it serve..?
The more he thought about it, the more puzzled he became. This recruitment felt abrupt, almost like rounding up criminals, forcefully dragging the young members along. Most of them had bad records.
Suddenly, realization dawned upon him. Looking back at the soldiers trailing a dozen steps behind him, he gulped silently.
"Perhaps... they are not needed at all..."
1. Just my guess here, the Great Ling Dao lineage probably refers to the Lingyu Gate''s lineage as the River One Qi Technique Chen Taojing cultivated originated from there. ?
Chapter 391: The Rui Family (I)
Chapter 391: The Rui Family (I)
Li Xicheng wandered in the forest for a whole day. The n soldiersined endlessly, feigning illness and refusing to move. Li Xicheng continued on his own, with only about forty percent of the troops remaining, until they finally reached the hills bordering the Li Family''s territory.
These hills contained a Qi Cultivation Realm spirit jade mine, jointly controlled by five Embryonic Breathing Realm families who mined for the Xiao Family, known as the Five Spirit Jade Families.
A few more li brought them into the territory of the Rui Family, which bordered the Li Family. There, they saw two small fields of Spirit Paddies. The remaining soldiers immediately scattered, jumping into the fields to pull up the paddies, leaving only a hundred or so following behind him.
"These are Spirit Paddies!" one of the soldiers shouted jubntly.
The four previous groups of n soldiers had passed by without touching the Spirit Paddies, but now it was being trampled on and destroyed in the blink of an eye. Li Xicheng reined in his horse and shouted a few reprimands.
Although Li Xicheng cherished the talented members of his n and often provided them with money and food, he had no sympathy for these wastrels who tarnished the family''s reputation. He continued riding along the narrow path, thinking to himself, Thezy and foolish ones already ran off on the way here. Now we have gotten rid of a batch of greedy and foolish ones, and what remains are...
As he was contemting, a group of soldiers came forward, respectfully reporting, "Young Master, the formation has been broken. Please ascend the mountain."
Li Xicheng nodded and surveyed the terrain, then spurred his horse forward, wondering aloud, "With such arge spirit jade mine, why is the local earth vein and spiritual energy so impoverished?"
The spirit fields here were so poor that even the humblest Li Family member would not bother nting them. Yet, the Rui Family used them for growing Spirit Paddies. It was evident that the spiritual energy here was severelycking. Li Xicheng thought to himself, Thisnd probably takes seven or eight years to mature a single crop... No wonder the Five Spirit Jade Families haven''t produced a single Qi Cultivator in all these years!
At Rui Family Peak.
The grand formation on Rui Family Peak had long since copsed, not even broken by the Li Family. Chen Mufeng had symbolically attacked a few times, shouted out the Li Family''s name, and the Rui Family had hastily opened their formation.
Li Xicheng, remembering his family''s instructions, first went to check the spirit spring at the mountain''s peak.
The spirit spring on Rui Family Peak was a pool of green jade. It was slightly chilly, and the spiritual energy content here was slightly lower than that of the Li Family''s Mount Huaqian. He filled a small jade bottle with it to take back for examination.
After handling the most important matter, Li Xicheng finally crunched through the snow and entered the Rui Family''s main hall.
Before him stood a young man d in armor, holding a long halberd¡ªit was Chen Mufeng. After breaking the mountain''s defenses, he had been waiting here for Li Xicheng obediently, standing in the main hall with two rows of n soldiers, their drawn swords glinting coldly.
Chen Mufeng was a junior rtive of Chen Donghe and Li Qiuyang''s son-inw and disciple. Although the Chen Family did not have many descendants with spiritual orifices, those who did possessed outstanding talent. At twenty-seven, Chen Mufeng has already condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and reached the fifth stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Though he had only recently broken through and his cultivation was not yet stable, he had a thirty percent chance of reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm in the future. The Li Family valued him highly, and he was considered a rising star within the n.
As soon as Li Xicheng entered, the Rui Family members scrambled down hastily to kneel before him, some rolling and some crawling. An old man with white hair, holding a jade seal high, bowed his head and said, "The Rui Family respectfully wees the great family''smander! We humbly present the Azure Seal, willing to serve as your loyal dogs and horses, forever at your service..."
This old Rui Family Head appeared to be the strongest cultivator in his family, at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, even lower than Chen Mufeng. They dared not offend the Li Family, which had a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator and many Qi Cultivators, hence they surrendered the jade seal inscribed with Under the Governance of Azure Pond Sect.
Chen Mufeng, who had once served as a servant in the market andter led troops to ughter the lords of Mount Yue, had be a general. With his rich experience, he watched the Rui Family Head''s lip service with disdain, remarking, "Your words are pretty, but..."
Li Xicheng sighed but did not respond to him immediately. He looked around and saw two small piles of Spirit Paddies set aside, presumably as offerings. The amount was pitiful, even less than the Li Family''s regr tributes. He nced at it and moved on.
However, what caught his eye were dozens of small, white, fleshy objects arranged on jade tes, looking quite delicate and lovely, along with five or six jade bottles filled with blood qi.
Having spent a few years in the Eastern Mount Yue, Li Xicheng had learned about various spirit items but had little exposure to the ndestine transactions among cultivators. He asked with some confusion, "What are these?"
The old head of the Rui Family brought them over to him hurriedly. The pinkish, fleshy items looked cute and delicate. He respectfully said, "These are called rice meat, something the Yu Family demanded as tribute in the past."
Li Xicheng stared at them, feeling a vague sense of unease. He waved them away, and Chen Mufeng, who already knew what it was, whispered with a grim expression, "This so-called rice meat was made from those who were fed rice, likely mortals refined through a secret method... Blood slices are just a refined term for blood qi."
Li Xicheng''s face turned pale though he maintained hisposure. The old head of the Rui Family, seeing their expressions, realized his ttery had backfired. He quickly stammered, "I did not know that your esteemed n disdains these items! I beg your pardon! My name is Rui Qiongcuo... My ancestors were enlightened by the Xiao Family."
Rui Qiongcuo was trying to align himself with the Xiao Family for protection. Chen Mufeng merely threw him a nce and ignored his existence.
The Rui Family and the other families around the spirit jade mine were early vassals of the Xiao Family, mining for them. Though called vassals, they were more like mining ves. Hence, surrendering to the Li Family was nothing to be ashamed of.
Even though the Xiao Family had not issued any official certificates, the Li Family would not annex its own supporter''s vassals. Chen Mufeng, seeing Li Xicheng remain silent, also stood still.
Rui Qiongcuo was getting nervous. He knew about the attack on the Xiao Family but did not know their current status. He thought to himself, The Li Family is also supported by the Xiao Family... so maybe there won''t be any problems?
As he was thinking this, another person arrived outside the hall. Rui Qiongcuo, who had not developed his spiritual sense, heard Chen Mufeng respectfully address the neer as Master, indicating the person was likely a Qi Cultivator. He quickly bowed his head in silence.
The neer was Li Qiuyang. Since these small families only had Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators, it was not necessary for a Qi Cultivator from the main family toe, so Li Qiuyang was sent instead.
Li Qiuyang adjusted his robe which was still covered with snow, and appeared deep in thought, holding a light green, diamond-shaped piece of ore. He said softly, "I was ordered by the n to investigate the spirit jade mine shared by the five families."
"Thank you, n Elder," Li Xicheng replied, noting Li Qiuyang''s hesitant expression.
Li Qiuyang put the ore away and said sternly, "Since the Rui Family has joined our Li Family, you should adhere to our rules. You must no longer use humans as spirit materials to make rice meat or blood slices. Our family ces great importance on this matter, so do not test us."
This matter was not honorable to begin with, and now that Li Xicheng had bluntly pointed it out, Rui Qiongcuo felt deeply embarrassed. He nodded repeatedly, inwardlyining, How domineering... The Yu Family demanded blood qi as tribute, and now the Li Family bans rice meat. Each n has its quirks, huh? But thisnd is so barren; without using the old and infirm as medicine... What else can we do?
Chapter 392: The Rui Family (II)
Chapter 392: The Rui Family (II)
Although there was a valuable spirit jade mine in the area controlled by the five families, the spirit veins and spiritual energy seemed to have been concentrated around the mine, leaving the rest of thend barren and severelycking in spiritual energy. This made it extremely difficult for the Rui Family to grow Spirit Paddies and other spirit crops, forcing them to resort to various means to barely survive.
Seeing Rui Qiongcuo''s submissive demeanor, Li Xicheng organized his thoughts and continued, "Our family head understands your situation. We are not demanding tribute from you for nothing. We permit the Rui Family to send people to our Yuting Peak to cultivate paddies and study. Our family will only take a twenty percent tax."
The old man was stunned for a moment, his eyes no longer showing his usual cunning but rather a deep confusion. He looked at Li Xicheng, somewhat dazed, and murmured, "To Yuting Peak to grow paddies...?"
Rui Qiongcuo muttered these words twice, his eyes reddening, and he quickly asked, "What kind of tribute does your esteemed n require?"
"We only ask for the water from your spirit spring and the twenty percent tax as your tribute!" Li Xicheng dered as he waved his hand dismissively. Rui Qiongcuo still could not believe these words and stared at him in a daze.
Rui Qiongcuo was well aware of how fertile thends of ns were and how abundant their spiritual energy was. He had once harbored greedy thoughts, but during his tenure, the Ji Family was at its peak, especially Ji Dengqi, who was particrly domineering, leaving no room for Rui Qiongcuo''s ambitions.
Later, when the Ji Family was reced by the An Family and then the Li Family came, with their White Jade Fist and Celestial Moon Sword, they were even stronger, capable of obliterating the Rui Family with a mere breath.
As for secretly selling the ores, the Xiao Family had a profound technique for detecting veins. They knew exactly how much was missing from the mine and how much was delivered. If discovered, it would lead to the extermination of the entire Rui Family.
The Rui Family had thought about escaping from this impoverished ce, but the Xiao Family sent people annually to collect the ores, making them too afraid to act. They could only struggle year after year.
Now that there was hope, decades of hardship welled up instantly, and tears streamed down the old man''s face.
"Thank you, young master!" he eximed gratefully.
Seeing the old man prostrate himself on the ground in deep gratitude, Li Xicheng was somewhat surprised.
The order was given by Li Yuanping, and he had not thought much about it. The Li Family was short on manpower, and there were stillrge tracts of vacant spirit fields under Yuting Peak, so it was merely a matter of renting them out instead of leaving them idle.
"That is enough."
The old man had be a kowtowing worm. Li Xicheng ordered someone to help him up. The old man''s face was covered in tears, and he seemed genuinely moved.
The Rui Family''s gratitude did not mean much to the Li Family, but Li Xicheng had a kind disposition. Seeing the old man''s emotional state, he felt rather warm and said someforting words. Meanwhile, Tian Zhongqing also arrived with his men.
The Pu Family simrly expressed their profound gratitude and sent two Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators.
"Let us return home then."
After settling everything and repeatedly warning the Rui Family, Li Xicheng transcribed their techniques. As expected, they weremon and already present in his family, so he led his men back to their n.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
This expedition felt like a lot of noise for little action. In just one day, they subdued two families and returned triumphantly. The Li Family took the nearby Rui and Pu families as vassals, tying them together throughnd leases, which were far more binding than usual tributes.
Li Xicheng returned with over a hundred men. Over a thousand were executed by the Jade Court Guards due to disregarding military and familyws, while the rest were expelled to Mount Yue, thus purging the n.
The charges were securely ced, so Li Yuanping did not have to argue with the n elders and uncles. He even took the opportunity to rectify the family''s moral conduct. Feeling a great burden now lifted from his shoulders, his steps were lightened.
"Though these elders and uncles are not fools, they have noticed my actions, and my reputation has undoubtedly suffered."
Although Li Yuanping had heard some insults about himself, he paid them no mind. He spent a few days appeasing the n elders and uncles before putting the matter behind him.
Sitting at the wide desk, Li Yuanping picked up a small letter and frowned.
This letter was from An Zheyan, who was stationed at Mount Huaqian. The Rui Family''s spring water had been sent over, filled into seven or eight bottles, but the old monkey had resolutely thrown each one out of the cave.
An Zheyan, chattering with the old monkey for half a day like a monkey himself, finally understood that the Rui Family''s spring water was too cold and carried some metallic poison. If it were used to water the spirit root, it could potentially destroy it.
Li Yuanping was immediately covered in a cold sweat upon hearing this news, silently feeling grateful. If not for the old monkey''s vignce, they might have wasted this Foundation Establishment Realm money tree.
Mentally giving the old monkey credit, Li Yuanping pondered on whether to send someone to investigate the spring water while summoning Li Qiuyang, who imed to have important matters to report.
Li Qiuyang, with a serious expression, took out a light green ore from his storage pouch and said in a low voice, "Reporting to the n head, we examined the ore samples imed to be spirit jade from the five families, and brought one back."
He handed over the ore. Li Yuanping examined it, noticing its light green hue with traces of gold. This ore was a Qi Cultivation Realm spirit item, potentially harmful to the body. Li Qiuyang, fearing it might harm Li Yuanping, had sealed it with a spell.
Unable to discern much, Li Yuanping heard Li Qiuyang say solemnly, "This is not spirit jade; it is Green Origin Copper Essence, a rare spirit item. I learned about it during a chat with a cultivator from the Xiao Family."
"Green Origin Copper Essence is a Qi Cultivation Realm spirit item that requires Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators to mine... Its cold and fierce nature harms the body. Without reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm, mining it impairs one''s cultivation path and lifespan, making it increasingly difficult to break through," Li Qiuyang exined as he continued to report, "Year after year, the Five Spirit Jade Families mined it without realizing this. The copper essence also contaminated the spirit fields, damaging the spirit nts. This exins why the five families'' Spirit Paddies and crops yield so poorly."
Li Yuanping felt a chill down his spine as realization dawned upon him. He set down the copper essence, nodding as he said, "No wonder the Five Spirit Jade Families have remained at the Embryonic Breathing Realm for so many years without producing many Qi Cultivators... No wonder the Xiao Family sought to enlighten other families! On one hand, the Azure Pond Sect strictly forbids cross-peak and inter-prefecture activities... This is done in order to avoid provoking the sect. On the other hand, the Xiao Family does not want to send their people to mine."
With a bit of thought, Li Yuanping''s previous doubts were resolved, and he mumbled, "No wonder the spring water had metallic poison... it must have been contaminated by the Green Origin Copper Essence."
Feeling much relieved now, he asked, "Have the cultivators from the Rui and Pu families been settled?"
"They have been arranged at the Yuting Peak to cultivate Spirit Paddies," Li Qiuyang responded with a nod.
Li Yuanping then picked up a vermillion brush, wrote a few words on An Zheyan''s letter, and handed it to Li Qiuyang.
"Please have this delivered to Wutu Peak, n Uncle."
Chapter 393: Buzi
Chapter 393: Buzi
Azure Pond Sect, Qingsui Peak.
The small pavilion at the mountaintop had changed owners several times but still stood quietly in the snow. As the golden sun rose, radiant beams scattered all around, and a young man in a green robe sat cross-legged inside the small building, quietly absorbing the energy.
Time flew by, and Li Xizhi had been cultivating under Yuan Tuan''s guidance for over a year now. The spiritual qi on Qingsui Peak was dense. He had just broken through the third stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm beforeing to Azure Pond, and now he was ready to break through the fourth stage.
Creak.
Yuan Tuan appeared to have just returned to the mountain. Her clothes were neat, with tightly bound cuffs. ncing into the pavilion, she saw Li Xizhi silently cultivating as usual and nodded approvingly.
¡°Xizhi is truly obedient...¡±
This year, Yuan Tuan had taken in another disciple, sent by the Yuan Family. Although Yuan Tuan harbored some resentment toward the Yuan Family, she still epted the child. However, the child was unruly and unlikely to achieve greatness.
The sharp sword hung quietly on the wall was the very one used by Li Chejing back in the day. Yuan Tuan''s gaze lingered on it for a moment. Li Xizhi finally awakened from his meditation, stood up hurriedly, and respectfully greeted her.
¡°Master! You are back!¡±
Yuan Tuan nodded in acknowledgement and asked, ¡°How is your swordsmanship?¡±
¡°The sword aura has formed, but I am still far from achieving sword qi...¡± Li Xizhi replied with some frustration, looking quite pressured as he continued, ¡°There are always people in the sect whoe to challenge me. If it were not for the fact that you were out and locked the mountain gate, I would have been in trouble.¡±
Yuan Tuan smiled slightly at this.
¡°The Xiao Family was attacked. I went back to Mushroom Forest in a few days ago to settle a few things and feel a bit more at ease now. It''s still chaotic out there and devil cultivators are rampant. Staying outside for too long is not wise.¡±
Back in the day, Yuan Tuan had managed to maintain her position on Qingsui Peak alone, carving out a path for herself and breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm all alone. Her sensitivity to the situation and observational skills were naturally extremely sharp, so she had returned quickly.
Since his mother, Xiao Guiluan, was from the Xiao Family, they could be considered his maternal family. Li Xizhi was naturally very concerned and asked eagerly, ¡°How is the Xiao Family?¡±
¡°They are fine,¡± Yuan Tuan replied briefly, taking down the sword from the wall and ying with it.
The sword gleamed coldly but moved obediently in her hand. She continued, ¡°Daoist Master Chuting underestimated the killing intent of the three sects and seven gates toward the Chen Family. He was trapped in the Eastern Sea by a scheme from Tianyuan of the Golden Feather Sect and could not return to aid. The Xiao Family suffered a moderate loss."
"The Xiao Family is a shield for our Azure Pond Sect... Daoist Master Chuting''s Man On Creek is very crucial, so they dare not act rashly. This borate effort was merely to kill Chen Taojing," she added.
Yuan Tuan''s words were startling. Li Xizhi silently took note of this, wanting to say something, but Yuan Tuan changed the subject and smiled.
¡°Your Li Family should be fine. I was near Cloud Crowned Peak at that time and used Azure Crest Manifestation to pray for your family members¡ªprobably your uncles and granduncles¡ªthree times, which should at least protect their lives.¡±
Li Xizhi was overjoyed and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
¡°Thank you, Master!¡±
¡°No need to be so formal.¡±
Yuan Tuan''s lips curled into a smile as she continued, ¡°This is just a Dao foundation, not a divine ability. At most, it offers some small assistance and cannot be considered a significant help.¡±
Li Xizhi obediently said some words of praise, and Yuan Tuan seemed to be in a very good mood, enjoying the ttery. Suddenly, she asked, ¡°Is Li Tongya no longer around?¡±
Li Xizhi, still overjoyed, was caught off guard by the question, and his body stiffened. He responded almost immediately, ¡°I have not heard...¡±
His reaction was swift, but his body could not lie. Yuan Tuan knew immediately, staring straight at him and sighing.
¡°What a pity.¡±
Li Xizhi silently lowered his head, trying to suppress his unease. He was just a boy of fourteen or fifteen and could not deceive Yuan Tuan. Realizing this, Yuan Tuan mourned for two breaths before saying, ¡°If Li Tongya is not dead and joined forces with Chen Taojing, they might still be able to protect Cloud Crowned Peak... From now on, more and more ws will be revealed. I hope your father can cover his death for a few more years.¡±
Seeing Li Xizhi''s somewhat downcast appearance, Yuan Tuanforted him, "Do not worry. I have heard that your granduncle, Li Xuanfeng, has already taken a leave of absence at Yi Mountain City and is in seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Once he seeds, he will be a great help."
When Yuan Tuan mentioned this, Li Xizhi had some questions that had been on his mind for a long time. Seizing the opportunity, he asked earnestly, "Master! Is there any precedent for recalling external cultivators from Yi Mountain City? If there is, how can they be recalled?"
Yuan Tuan paused slightly, showing a thoughtful expression, and replied in a low voice, "The sect has summoned cultivators before. If they are direct disciples of the sect, they usually return after a dozen years. Recruited family cultivators generally do notst more than a few years... There are precedents for releasing them, typically between fifty to sixty years, and if someone within the sect speaks on their behalf, they might be released sooner."
Li Xizhi nodded thoughtfully. Yuan Tuan pondered for a few moments, swallowing some unspoken words, then quickly changed the subject. Calcting the time, she then asked softly, "Have you decided which qi to gather for your Qi Cultivation Realm?"
Li Xizhi remained silent for a long time, his mind racing with thoughts, his heart pounding. Finally, he smiled calmly and said, "I will cultivate whichever technique has the most cultivators in the sect."
"Oh? Why is that?" Yuan Tuan asked as she looked at him deeply.
Li Xizhi replied, "With more people cultivating it, the path might be smoother."
Creak...
Before Yuan Tuan could respond, they heard a creak¡ªthe sound of the outer courtyard gate slowly opening. Both their expressions changed. Li Xizhi frowned, while Yuan Tuan''s face filled with shock.
Li Xizhi, having not yet developed a spiritual sense, assumed it was a junior disciple from the Yuan Family visiting. However, Yuan Tuan''s Foundation Establishment Realm spiritual sense swept over their surroundings and discovered that there was no one in the snow-covered courtyard!
"How is this possible?!"
Yuan Tuan''s heart shook. There could only be one type of person who couldpletely escape her detection and move freely on Qingsui Peak, as if walking in their own backyard...
A Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master?!
Yuan Tuan''s face changed, her shock overwhelming her like a tidal wave, momentarily causing her entire body''s mana to stall. Her mind raced with thoughts.
Their expressions varied, and the footsteps outside moved like the wind. In a few strides, the person reached the front of the pavilion, casually removing their shoes and stepping inside.
Swish...
The bamboo curtain of the pavilion was suddenly lifted, and a handsome cultivator walked in, with a jade ornament hanging from his waist. Despite the smile on his face, his eyes were cold, staring directly at Li Xizhi.
Yuan Tuan, the peak master who had locked the peak and set up a formation to iste the inside from the outside, was shocked to see the Daoist quietly enter the room. Li Xizhi was terrified and was just about to voice a question when he realized he waspletely paralyzed, unable to move.
The scene before him dimmed, and Li Xizhi''s gaze stiffened as he saw the horrified expression on his master''s face. rm bells rang in his mind. In his remaining consciousness, he saw Yuan Tuan''s red lips moving, forming the words Buzi.
Buzi?
Chapter 394: Pig Demon (I)
Chapter 394: Pig Demon (I)
Li Xizhi, bewitched by Daoist Master Buzi''s divine ability, copsed onto the desk with a thud, losing all consciousness and senses, and sinking into a deep darkness. However, the Talisman Seed in his Qihai acupoint stirred, allowing him to vaguely break free from the divine ability''s restraint and hear some sounds.
Yuan Tuan''s voice was gentle and warm.
"Junior pays respects to the Daoist Master."
Yuan Tuan lifted her gaze, forcing herself to remain calm as she greeted the man. The green-robed Daoist in front of her simply nced at her sideways, then sat cross-legged and picked up a jade teapot.
Gurgle, gurgle...
Emerald green tea flowed into the cup. Daoist Master Buzi did not respond immediately but poured himself some tea before saying, "Azure Crest Manifestation is indeed a high grade ancient technique. You have wasted so much time on it... We did not expect you to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, so it seems you have your own fortune. Not bad."
"Thank you for the praise, Ancestor," Yuan Tuan replied obediently.
Gentle breezes blew into the pavilion as the Daoist and the female cultivator sat facing each other. Daoist Master Buzi rolled up his sleeves, took a sip of tea, and continued, "What did you gain?"
Yuan Tuan''s heart skipped a beat. She feigned ignorance, frowning as she asked, "What do you mean, Daoist Master?"
Daoist Master Buzi chuckled, his gaze sharp and his voice turning cold.
"Did you not secretly go to Cloud Crowned Peak to seek a Dao scripture? I''m just wondering which Dao scripture the Yuan Family wants... Is it the Heavenly Night Badger Scripture or Clear Clouds Scripture?"
He squinted at Yuan Tuan''s submissive demeanor, pondering to himself, Azure Crest Manifestation protects the mind and spirit, and dispels disasters... I wonder how much my divine ability can influence her.
Yuan Tuan, being in the Foundation Establishment Realm, was not as easy to manipte as Li Xizhi beside her. Daoist Master Buzi stared at her and said in a low voice, "It certainly cannot be Aged Courtly Path Scripture or River Mountain Sutra, which are beyond the Yuan Family''s capability. Do not bring trouble upon yourself."
Daoist Master Buzi''s words were full of warning, causing Yuan Tuan to hurriedly bow her head in apology. She was about to speak, but Buzi abruptly interrupted her.
"But the former two are also eptable!"
He swirled his jade cup gently and said in a warm tone, "Your ancestor Yuan Licheng was brought up by me. If he could find the Clear Clouds Scripture, he may re-enter the sect as the master of Qingsui Peak and be a Daoist Master of the Azure Pond Sect after breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm."
"That was how Tang Yuanwu and Si Boxiu rejoined. Having Yuan Licheng follow their path won''t a problem... This is the sincerity of our Azure Pond Sect."
Buzi put down the jade cup and, seeing Yuan Tuan''s contemtive look, smiled as he continued, "Not everyone can be as resourceful as Xiao Chuting, walking along the edge of a cliff day and night. Look, despite his strength, how well has the Xiao Family been doing these past few years?"
"Thank you for the guidance, Daoist Master..." Yuan Tuan responded.
Only then did Daoist Master Buzi turn his gaze to the unconscious Li Xizhi, speaking in a low voice, "A member of the Li Family?"
"Indeed," Yuan Tuan answered.
Hearing her affirmative answer, Buzi looked at Li Xizhi with interest with an unreadable smile on his face.
"There is one more thing: years ago, Si Yuanbai imed he himself obtained the Dao of the Supreme Yin Moonlight and gave it to his disciple Li Chejing. We thought he was foolish for not using such a valuable thing himself, but could not question him because of Si Boxiu."
"Thinking about it now..." Daoist Master Buzi paused as he stared coldly at Li Xizhi and spoke softly, "Si Yuanbai may be honest but he''s not stupid. It should be the Li Family that obtained the Supreme Yin Moonlight, and decided to give it to Li Chejing with Si Yuanbai''s help to cover it up."
His long fingers beckoned, and the copsed Li Xizhi suddenly sat up, dazed and vacant-eyed. Daoist Master Buzi asked softly, "Where did the Li Family get the Supreme Yin Moonlight?"
Li Xizhi seemed bewitched by his divine ability, stammering out a story about how the Li Family had gained ess to a cave dwelling on Meiche Peak, obtained the Supreme Yin Moonlight, and let Li Chejing bring it back to the sect. The logic was seamless, making Daoist Master Buzi nod slightly.
"That makes sense... A small family getting one Supreme Yin Moonlight is fortunate enough. How could they have a second one?"
Daoist Master Buzi, needing this Supreme Yin Moonlight for alchemy, tried his luck and sighed regretfully upon hearing this, murmuring quietly, "Maybe I will find another opportunity to search Moongaze Lake. Perhaps there might be more."
He rose from his seat, brushed his sleeves, and adjusted his shoes and socks under the curtain by the entrance before leaving on his own.
Yuan Tuan remained silent by the desk for a long while before slowly exhaling. She then awakened Li Xizhi, speaking gently, "Xizhi!"
Li Xizhi pretended to be confused, but with the Talisman Seed protecting him, he had been awake for a while. He had deliberately revealed some information, having heard the Azure Pond Sect''s promises to the Yuan Family, and silently noted it in his heart.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The Li Family, Wutu Peak.
Li Yuanjiao let out a long breath, his cultivation gradually stabilizing. After months of seclusionst year, he had sessfully broken through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Now, after half a year of silent cultivation, his progress was steady.
With a few more years of umtion, he could easily break through to the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. With the help of the talisman pill, the Foundation Establishment Realm was within reach.
The past two years had been rtively stable, though there were still some devil cultivators in Mushroom Forest in. The number was notrge, but the Purple Smoke Gate north of Lixia Prefecture began to suffer attacks from devil cultivators. The rumors seemed true; the group of devil cultivators who previously besieged Cloud Crowned Peak feared the Xiao Family''s retaliation and dared not stay long, mostly moving north.
Many had died in Mushroom Forest in, but since it was the Yuan Family''s backyard, they could not allow any devil cultivators to wreak havoc.
Yuan Licheng, the peak Foundation Establishment Realm ancestor of the Yuan Family, personally led four Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to sweep out the devil cultivators, driving out the rest, and bringing stability back to Mushroom Forest in.
The Li, Yu, and Fei families behind Moongaze Lake, nestled between Lixia Prefecture and Mushroom Forest in, were shielded by the Xiao and Yuan families and thus suffered no losses. They even gained considerable benefits.
First, rogue cultivators, fearing the devil cultivators, retreated to Moongaze Lake or to Mount Dali to establish their own Dao lineages, or temporarily resided among the various families scattered around Moongaze Lake. Some rogue cultivators, after fleeing, grew tired of wandering and submitted to the Li Family as guest cultivators.
Second, the destruction of the Cloud Crowned Market left many rogue cultivators without a ce to trade their materials. With devil cultivators rampant, travel became unsafe, forcing them to sell their goods cheaply to the nearest ns.
Li Yuanjiao''s half-year seclusion saw many changes in the family. Li Yuanping visited Mount Wutu to sort out the family''s affairs, reporting, "In Eastern Mount Yue, there are sixty-five Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators in total. They tend to the spirit fields, yielding 1,400 jin of Spirit Paddies annually, valued at about twenty Spirit Stones along with other spirit items."
"Our own Lijing, Huaqian, Huazhong, and Yuting Peaks have over seventy Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators. After deducting wages, they produce 1,600 jin annually, valued at twenty-five Spirit Stones with other spirit items!"
Li Yuanping, looking very pleased, continued with a smile, "Our family now makes a yearly profit of forty-five Spirit Stones. Over five years, that is two hundred and twenty-five spirit stones, enough to cover the tribute to the Azure Pond Sect!"
Li Yuanping, who had racked his brains to bnce the family''s ie and expenses, was pleased to finally see the ounts bnced. Hisplexion looked much healthier now.
After all, the Li Family was now arge and prosperous one, and the expenses needed to maintain it were astronomical. This wave of rogue cultivators fleeing to them had helped alleviate the burden somewhat.
Li Yuanjiao also showed a hint of joy, and Li Yuanping continued, "There are ten unrefined Qi Cultivators of Mount Yue who do not possess muchbat strength... They mostly handle transportation and errands within the n. Five family cultivators and external unrefined Qi Cultivators have also been assigned to various positions. As for the Qi Cultivation Realm, we have an additional guest cultivator, also surnamed Li, named Li Qng. He is at the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Originally, he was running errands in Mushroom Forest in, but upon hearing about the Li Family at Moongaze Lake, he came over to join us."
True Qi Cultivators among the rogue cultivators were few, so recruiting one was quite a sess. Li Yuanjiao did not mind and set his sword down. Li Yuanping then continued, saying, "I have already sent people to the Yuan Family to purchase the spirit springs. Although it will cost some money, we can nt the Wanglin Blossom sooner and not dy it any longer."
Chapter 395: Pig Demon (II)
Chapter 395: Pig Demon (II)
"Well done!" Li Yuanjiao praised, and Li Yuanping then summoned an old monkey.
The old monkey was now dressed in a Daoist robe, with shoes and socks on its feet, and a storage pouch tied around its waist. Its eyes were bright, its demeanor calm, and there was an inexplicable air of high cultivation about it.
This old monkey, with snow-white fur and neatly dressed, had learned to read and write but could not speak. It bowed respectfully and handed over two jade slips.
One was White Monkey''s Travel Notes, an autobiography of the monkey demon. Li Yuanjiao skimmed through it briefly.
It turned out that this monkey demon was born in the Wu State''s Mount Qingkong, originally a mountain monkey demon. It was unclear how many years it had cultivated, but it slowly gained wisdom after condensing the Profound Scenery Chakra, only to be captured and forced to grind medicine.
Later, when Qingkong Temple, which had captured it, was destroyed, it wandered to the Wu State''s border and fell into the hands of the ughter Jun Gate. Again, it was made to grind medicine for over ten years until ughter Jun Gate was destroyed, and it finally ended up with the Yu Family.
The Yu Family, needing an extra pair of hands, saw its proficiency and continued to use it for grinding medicine.
"So, it is truly proficient in this field huh..."
What followed was the destruction of the market town. Li Yuanjiao skimmed through this part and then picked up the other jade slip.
This one, titled Medicine Grinding Notes", recorded the properties and conflicts of over a thousand spirit herbs. Li Yuanjiao was amazed, and at the end were two alchemical recipes of unknown origin, Jade Sprout Pill and Clear Mind Pill.
Both weremonly used by Qi Cultivators and were already recorded in their family''s alchemy books, holding little value. However, the detailed properties of the herbs made Li Yuanjiao smile, and he exchanged a pleased nce with Li Yuanping.
As for the cultivation method of this monkey demon, it had relied on breathing exercises before the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Afterward, it used a demon cultivation method granted by the Yu Family, but due to some spell, it could not recall the details.
Li Yuanjiaoforted the old monkey, giving it two bottles of pills. The old monkey did not hesitate and epted them, tucking the pills into its pouch and bowing deeply.
"Family Head!"
As the brothers were speaking, Shamoli quietly approached, his expression a bit strange. He whispered into Li Yuanjiao''s ear, "Family head! A pig demon has arrived at the foot of the peak, dressed neatly, iming to be a demon soldier from Vermilion Cave and is here to pay a visit..."
"A demon soldier? Here to pay a visit..?"
Li Yuanjiao was taken aback. Although he had never heard of Vermilion Cave, he immediately thought of the Foundation Establishment Realm pig demon on the northern slopes of Mount Dali and asked softly, "What is its cultivation level?"
"Peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm," Shamoli replied in a low voice.
Li Yuanjiao frowned and responded, "Invite it up."
Shamoli nodded and left. Li Yuanping, pondering thoughtfully, then said, "It must be that the pig demon has something to discuss but does not dare toe personally due to our ancestor''s reputation. So, it sent a lesser pig demon as a messenger."
"Indeed..." Li Yuanjiao agreed as he gripped the hilt of his sword, specting quietly, "I have heard some rumors. It seems that as our family rises and our territory expands, these demons, deprived of live food and often killed by cultivators entering the mountains, have grown resentful."
As they conversed in low voices, a white pig about six chi tall quickly ascended the peak. Walking on two legs, with a fat head and big ears, it looked ratherical. If not for the bone fork it carried, its ferocity as a demon would be undetectable.
"Pig Two from the demon den of Mount Dali greets the great king of the Li Family..."
The pig demon bowed clumsily, its eyes furtively ncing at the old monkey, probably wondering about its unfamiliar cultivation method. Nheless, it respectfully addressed them.
"Are you the messenger of the mountain pig demon?"
Demons were always bullies, fearing the strong and preying on the weak. Moreover, this pig demon reeked of the consumption of many humans, with an aura of darkness about him. Naturally, Li Yuanjiao showed no kindness, calling out sternly and ring at the pig demon.
"Yes...yes, I am."
Despite the pig demon''s high cultivation level, it was terrified of Li Yuanjiao. It moved itsrge head nervously, not knowing how to soften its words, and said hurriedly, "Your esteemed den has monopolized hundreds of thousands of live sacrifices from the mountains below! My lord has not had a proper meal in years..."
It turned out that although the demon den of Mount Dali forbade its demons from leaving the mountain to consume humans, this restriction only applied to demon generals and those registered in the cave. Lesser demons and ordinary beasts were generally never controlled.
Although this pig demon was registered in the den and forbidden from leaving the mountain to consume humans, it could still send minor demons out to capture some people for asional meals. The demon den of Mount Dali was far from human governance and wouldn''t strictly enforce its rules.
After all, with so many demonsing and going, it was unlikely that demons passing through human territories would not eat a person or two. However, with the rise of the Li Family, the pig demon''s live sacrifices had dwindled, naturally leading to discontent.
Seeing the pig demon''s fearful and cowardly demeanor, Li Yuanjiao red fiercely. The pig demon, scared out of its wits, spilled the rest of itsints like beans from a bamboo tube.
"Your esteemed den is the master of thisnd, monopolizing all the live sacrifices from the mountains below... It is understandable that our den members are not allowed to scavenge. But... your esteemed den has repeatedly ughtered my lord''s soldierstely. This is simply unreasonable!"
Hearing this, Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanping exchanged a nce and immediately understood.
It seems rogue cultivators entered the mountains and indiscriminately killed demons, harming this pig demon''s subordinates in the process...
The lesser pig demon, still trembling, kneeled on the ground and said in a low voice, "My lord hopes for somepensation in live sacrifices, just one hundred strong men."
Li Yuanjiao frowned upon hearing this and said, "There have always been rogue cultivators entering the mountains. Theye for profit, kill demons, and flee. How can this be med on my family? Your lord is just looking for an excuse to extort us!"
He then let out a coldugh, drawing his sword with a ng. The scales of the Dragon Coiling Pir sword glimmered as he cursed, "Does he really think my family can be bullied so easily?"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, the Celestial Moon sh technique shed, slicing down toward the pig demon. Being at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm, the pig demon was quick to react, it ducked and summoned a thick ck mist to enshroud itself.
ng!
The Li Family''s sword technique had a fierce start. The pig demon, having been caught off guard, suffered a minor loss. The moon-white sword qi pierced through the ck mist forcefully, cutting a small chunk of flesh from the greasy face of the pig demon.
"Ah!"
Pig Two screamed, clutching its face and retreating several steps, saying hurriedly, "Misunderstanding! It is a misunderstanding!"
Li Yuanjiao, contemting leaving the pig demon to perform a sacrificial ritual for the mirror, refrained from further action given the demon''s background. Nonchntly, he picked up a cloth from the desk to wipe his sword, the Dragon Coiling Pir, and said harshly, "Tell your great king that if he has the guts, let him send someone else to test us. But he should beware of using his pig head to test the sharpness of my ancestor''s treasured sword!"
"Yes, yes, yes..." the pig demon replied sheepishly as it kowtowed repeatedly.
Li Yuanjiao thenmanded in a stern voice, "See the guest out!"
Li Yuanping quickly escorted the pig demon away, speaking kindly, "Escort Brother Pig down."
After Shamoli led the pig demon away, the old monkey also took its leave. Only then did Li Yuanjiao sheathe his sword, speaking softly, "This pig demon has grown suspicious and came to test our family... We cannot hesitate at this moment. Demons always bully the weak and fear the strong."
Li Yuanping agreed, saying in a low voice, "Regardless, this pig demon is restrained by the demon den and cannot descend the mountain. Even if it wants to trouble our family, it will at most send a few Qi Cultivation Realm demons, which would fall right into our hands. That is exactly what we want."
Chapter 396: The Calamity of Mount Yu (I)
Chapter 396: The Cmity of Mount Yu (I)
The pig demon stumbled out of the Li Family territory hastily, wiping the wound on his face. He flew deep into Mount Dali without a word and only then did it dare to curse out loud, "Damn dog... What kind of lousy idea was that?! Making me take that sword for nothing! At least it was not face-to-face with Li Tongya... Lucky me...!"
He did not dare hold a grudge against the Li Family but was already seething with hatred for the hyena in the demon den who hade up with the idea. He cursed all the way back.
When he arrived at the demon den, a light gray hyena eagerly greeted him, its eyes darting around slyly as it squeaked, "Pig Two! What did the Li Family say?"
Pig Two was already looking for trouble with the hyena, and here it came to him. Although he had cowered before the Li Family, he had some status in the den. Now, his eyes bulged with rage as he yelled, "Damn dog! Filthy dog! Get out of my sight!"
With that, he kicked the hyena, which was only at the early stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, sending it rolling away with a yelp. Pig Two stormed into the cave, where a burly creature with a full beard sat.
The creature was devouring something, holding a chunk of flesh in his hand. Blood dripped from his brown-red beard, making it wet and sticky. His eyes were bloodshot as he red at Pig Two and hissed, "What did Li Tongya say?"
Pig Two immediately wilted and stammered as he recounted the events. The demon general flew into a rage, cursing, "What nerve!"
His blood-red eyes red, and his demonic qi surged as he yelled, "How dare they wave around the g of the Devil Gate and act like some esteemed n! When I ruled this mountain, that Li Tongya was just a garden boy! A mere small-time cultivator at the Embryonic Breathing Realm! If it were not for Si Yuanbai, the Li Family would not even exist! And now, I send a messenger, and Li Tongya does not dare to even meet him! This is too much! Argh... This is too much!"
The Foundation Establishment Realm pig demon roared furiously. The demon soldiers below, knowing his temper, huddled silently together until he had smashed the tables and chairs and left the ground covered in blood and debris. Only then did he calm down slightly.
The gray-furred hyena, who had recently joined the den and suggested testing the Li Family, thought himself clever. He sneaked forward and whispered, "Great king! The Li Family is arrogant, why not send..."
The burly creature, his face fierce, did not wait for him to finish. He backhanded the hyena, sending him flying and scattering teeth and blood everywhere as the hyena howled in pain loudly.
"Never mention the Li Family again!" the demon general roared, and the demon soldiers, feeling as if they were granted amnesty, understood that their great king was afraid and had decided toy low.
They exchanged nces, relieved, "At least we do not have to face those immortal swords..."
The Li Family.
Spring winds once again swept over thend, turning theke water back to a gentle light green. Perhaps it was the season, or the ample spiritual energy that nourished it, but the Li Family''s Wanglin Blossom finally sprouted.
The tender green shoot appeared fragile and weak, but it was a Foundation Establishment Realm spirit root. The Li Family treated it like a treasure, watering it with spirit spring water consistently, engraving formations around it, and burying Spirit Stones in the soil, fearing that the spirit root might wither.
Fortunately, the old monkey tended to it meticulously, adjusting the soilposition and managing the spiritual energy in the earth veins. Though the spirit root seemed unspirited, it grew day by day, much to the relief of the Li Family.
Mount Lijing.
"The Spirit Paddies are growing well this year."
Li Xuanxuan walked along the mountain path with his hands sped behind his back. Since the market''s destruction, he had be idle as all the other roles in the family had been filled, and no one dared to order him around, leaving him with nothing to do.
Apart from his daily talisman drawing, Li Xuanxuan had no other engagements, so he wandered around and spent time with his grandson.
"It is funny... In the past, when there were few cultivators in the family, these Spirit Paddies were as hard as iron. Initially, mortals had to use axes enhanced with Golden Light spell to cut it..."
Li Yuanjiao, who was walking beside him, listened to his ramblings and nodded gently. Although Li Xuanxuan was his biological father, he had grown up under the care of his elder brother Li Yuanxiu, and had little to no direct contact with Li Xuanxuan.
Because of Li Yuanjiao''s background, Li Xuanxuan was also not very close to him and harbored a silent guilt toward his son. Now, as he babbled on, Li Yuanjiao noticed a trace of nervousness in his father''s demeanor, so he remained silent.
This life-and-death crisis had finally propelled Li Xuanxuan to break through to the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, but his progress was as slow as a turtle''s. Now at fifty-nine years old, his cultivation speed would only decrease further after sixty, and he muttered quietly, "With my aptitude, it will take more than a decade to break through to the next heavenlyyer after sixty. I might as well take the talisman pill now and break through to the fifth heavenlyyer to avoid trouble after sixty..."
As he was thinking about this, a cheerful voice called out from behind them.
"Grandfather! n Uncle!"
Li Xuanxuan turned around to see two young boys, about twelve or thirteen, walking up the mountain path. The one in front, at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, had a radiant smile that made one feel like a spring breeze. He wore a brocade robe with a green jade bead tied to his wrist, swaying as he walked.
The other, taller and more handsome with a sword on his back, appeared more reserved. He smiled and greeted, "Xijun greets Granduncle and n Uncle."
"Good... good!"
Li Xuanxuan happily took the hands of the two juniors, warmly asking about their cultivation progress. Li Yuanjiao watched with a smile as they chatted andughed, making their way to the small courtyard on the mountain.
Li Yuanping sat in his seat, silently reading the letters in his hand.
The Li Family had received two letters this month. One was from Chen Donghe to the west, stating that devil cultivators had also appeared in the territory of the Golden Feather Sect, with one dead and one injured among the two unrefined Qi Cultivators who apanied him.
The Li Family currently had many unrefined Qi Cultivators from Mount Yue, so Li Yuanping decided to send two more loyal ones over. If not for the sensitive nature of the matter, he would have sent more.
The other letter was from Li Xizhi within the sect, stating that everything was going well. He hinted at theplex situation in the Cloud Crowned Peak market and advised against investigating too deeply to avoid trouble.
He also mentioned that members of the Fei Family had joined Yuanwu Peak two years ago. A female cultivator named Fei Qingyi, though not skilled in smithing, had good talent in cultivation and had gained the favor of Yu Muxian.
"Two years ago..." Li Yuanping sighed softly. The Fei Family had been quiet for the past seven or eight years, and their joining of the sect had been tightly covered up. If not for the letter from within the sect, there would have been no news on theke, indicating their fear of interference from the Li Family.
"Ping''er!" Li Xuanxuan called out.
Seeing his aged face appear at the courtyard entrance with the two youths cupping their fist respectfully beside him, Li Yuanping quickly weed them in, handing the letter to Li Yuanjiao.
Chapter 397: The Calamity of Mount Yu (II)
Chapter 397: The Cmity of Mount Yu (II)
Li Yuanjiao read the letter and silently pondered to himself. Li Yuanping then said, "The Fei Family has been silent these years, rarelymunicating with us. Their disciples only cultivate on the peak."
Li Yuanjiao nodded and replied, "How could our family obstruct the recruitment of disciples? If they were open about it, it would be fine... Sneaking around only shows their own guilt. Clearly, this is Fei Tongyu''s doing, cautious and fearful like a busy white mouse preparing for winter."
He handed the letter back to Li Yuanping and said, "Do not worry about it!"
Li Yuanping nodded and put away the letter, smiling as he said, "Brother''s description is quite apt."
Li Xuanxuan, on the other hand, was reading Chen Donghe''s letter with a frown.
"It is troublesome for Donghe to handle this alone... Let me go and help him," he said finally.
Li Yuanping shook his head and replied, "That pass isrge, but three people collecting qi is already the limit."
Speaking of qi collection, Li Yuanping had considered sending people into the mountains to gather the mountain''s spiritual qi. It would take seven or eight years to collect one portion of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi.
Minor Pure Spiritual Qi required a vast mountainous area, and the Li Family, backed by the expanse of Mount Dali, could amodate three or four people collecting qi simultaneously.
Moreover, Minor Pure Spiritual Qi was useful not only for advancing true Qi Cultivators but also in alchemy, smithing, and talisman drawing. Each portion was worth about thirty Spirit Stones. Unfortunately, though this qi wasmon, it was very troublesome to collect, requiring seven years of leaping through the mountains, dying one''s own cultivation.
"Once we have more unrefined Qi Cultivators, we can send them into the mountains, bringing in additional ie each year..."
Li Yuanping was calcting the profit after deducting the sries and subsidies for these cultivators when someone hurriedly approached them.
He respectfully reported, "n head! Madam Qingxiao has returned to visit her family... but..."
"Qingxiao?! Quickly, let her in!" Li Xuanxuan called out repeatedly, then stopped abruptly, seeing the hesitant expression on the n soldier''s face, and asked in confusion, "But what?"
The soldier dared not hide anything and answered, "Madam is dressed in mourning clothes..."
Everyone in the courtyard was startled as they heard this. Li Yuanping paused for a moment before eximing, "In... mourning clothes?!"
Li Yuanjiao also turned pale and quickly reacted, asking urgently, "Is it Xiao Xian? Or Xiao Jiuqing?"
The n soldier rushed away, leaving everyone with grim faces. Li Xuanxuan clenched the armrest and said in a deep voice, "It must be the devil gue!"
After a while, Li Qingxiao indeed arrived in mourning clothes.
Now, her face was much thinner than when she left, her eyebrows lighter, and her lips were pale. She looked exhausted, with a faint scar on her wrist. She seemed like she had been through hard times.
Li Qingxiao had left as a charming young girl, but in less than ten years, she had returned as a frail woman. Her face was pale, her eyes slightly red, and as soon as she entered the courtyard, she fell to her knees with a thud.
"Please, my save my family, n brothers!" she cried out desperately.
She looked ashen, tears streaming down her face like broken beads. Li Yuanping could not bear to see this, hurriedly stepping forward to help her up. However, Li Qingxiao remained kneeling stubbornly.
"What happened?!" Li Xuanxuan asked with a pained voice.
Li Qingxiao, her voice mournful as she wept, began exining.
"My Mount Yu is located at the northernmost part of the Xiao Family territory, adjacent to the Purple Smoke Gate... We suffered heavy losses during that devil gue. My husband''s n uncles and n brothers died in battle, and many were injured or lost cultivation path..."
"Later, when the devil cultivators moved north toward the Purple Smoke Gate, they passed through Mount Yu. My husband and father-inw were cleaning up the aftermath when they encountered the devil cultivators..."
She wept bitterly, pressing her delicate fingers against the stone tiles, closing her eyes in pain as she wept, "When the n members arrived, both my father-inw and husband were dead... along with more than ten rtives, their bodies never found..."
"Dammit!"
The Li Family members all mourned silently, helping Li Qingxiao up and offering herfort and tea, though she wa not in the mood to drink.
She cried anxiously, "The main line of Jiuqing on Mount Yu is now extinct, leaving only my two young sons... But ording to the Xiao Family''s branch rules, the position of head must be handed over to some n brothers!"
With tears still streaming down her face, she continued, "But Xiao Xian always worried about the malicious intentions of these n brothers... If I give up this position, how can I face my husband? What will be of my two children in the future?!"
Li Yuanping, upon hearing these words, had a vague premonition. His face turned slightly pale, and he took a step back, speaking gently, "Sister, do you mean to say...?"
Li Qingxiao kneeled again, her face as white as snow, her lips trembling, finding it difficult to speak. She said in a low voice, "I only hope... I only hope the family can send a few loyal people to apany me to Mount Yu... as long as they have the strength to suppress the various branches of Mount Yu..."
"You..." Li Xuanxuan also fell silent, stumbling back, caught in a dilemma.
Li Qingxiao looked around at everyone''s faces, then said sorrowfully, "Qingxiao understands the difficulties of the family. I have not troubled the family in these past years... but... but... I really cannot bear to see the position of Mount Yu fall into the hands of others!"
Li Yuanjiao''s face darkened as he stared at Li Qingxiao. After a long silence, he finally said glumly, "This is a Xiao Family''s matter! Sister... The Xiao Family is an immortal n of the Purple Mansion Realm... how can our humble n interfere?"
"Qingxiao understands!" Li Qingxiao kneeled, crying silently. Eventually, she said nothing more.
Li Yuanjiao''s expression changed, and he asked, "Is Senior Yuansi in the n?"
"He has already been ordered to go to the Eastern Sea!" she responded weakly.
How could Li Qingxiao not have thought of Xiao Yuansi? She had already sent someone to the n to look for him.
Li Yuanjiao sighed deeply as he helped her up and wiped her tears, then said in a serious tone, "Do not be anxious... There will always be a way."
Once Li Qingxiao was seated properly, Li Yuanjiao waved his sleeve and instructed, "Invite Guiluan and Qinghong toe over."
When Xiao Guiluan and Li Qinghong arrived swiftly by riding the wind and heard the news, Li Qinghong gripped her spear tightly, her brow furrowed, unable to speak.
Xiao Guiluan, though not directly involved, was much clearer-headed. She considered the situation briefly and then said softly, "Madam, the main line of Mount Yu was severely damaged and should be recuperating. Why would they suddenly act so recklessly? Xiao Jiuqing is a smart person; he would never do such a thing. Was it an order from the family?"
Li Qingxiao shook her head and replied in a low voice, "It was not that my family acted recklessly, but... Mount Yu was already mostly ruined by the previous devil gue. Countless formations were breached, with only a few intact, making it easy for them to be ughtered... My father-inw had foresight and found an excuse to send the women and children to Xianyou Peak, allowing me to escape this disaster."
Xiao Guiluan nodded silently. The Xiao Family was currently recuperating, with the first formations to be repaired certainly being at Xianyou Peak and the main line. The formations of the branches at Mount Yu were numerous andplicated, so it was normal for them to be dyed.
She paused, her expression serious. She then asked in a deep voice, "Did the Xiao Family eventually eradicate these devil cultivators?"
Li Qingxiao, overwhelmed by sorrow, had not rushed here immediately. She had mde many arrangements and sought help from various sources, but all to no avail. Hence, she had no choice but to return home.
She immediately replied, "This group of devil cultivators came suddenly... They entered Mount Yu through the pass, killed people, and fled north without a trace. Although the family came to the rescue, it was already toote!"
Chapter 398: Who Is It (I)
Chapter 398: Who Is It (I)
Xiao Guiluan asked more detailed questions while Li Yuanjiao listened silently from above, calcting in his mind. Upon hearing that the Xiao Family had not captured the devil cultivators but had insteade up empty-handed, Xiao Guiluan breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Yuanjiao raised an eyebrow and asked in a deep voice, "Are you worried that Xiao Guitu orchestrated this..?"
It was not unreasonable for the couple to be suspicious. Li Yuanjiao''s brother-inw was quite capable and ambitious, always having intentions to further align with the Li Family.
However, it seemed that Xiao Chuting had given an order, causing Xiao Guitu to abandon his ns. Over time, there had been no further movement, allowing Li Yuanjiao to rx quite a bit.
Now, fearing that Xiao Guitu''s ambitions had resurfaced, it had prompted him to ask this question. Once it was out of his mouth, everyone''s expressions changed immediately.
Li Xijun, who was deep in thought, gradually rxed his sharp eyebrows and cupped his fist before speaking.
"I also think that this might be Xiao Guitu''s doing... he might be trying to lure our family into taking action, giving him an excuse to intervene. If we set a precedent, the Xiao Family could interfere in our affairs whenever there is turmoil."
His straightforward exnationid bare the suspicion, surprising both Xiao Guiluan and Li Qingxiao.
"My brother would not do that," Xiao Guiluan said after a while as she shook her head, pondering for a few moments before exining further, "My brother is proud and always favors a righteous path. Even if he wanted to deepen his control over our family, he would not resort to such tactics. Besides..."
She paused before continuing, "If it were a deliberate scheme, he would have set an ambush at Mount Yu, waited for the devil cultivators to massacre, and then pretended to arrivete to annihte them, killing two birds with one stone. That way, he would not damage his reputation by showing both internal weakness and external ruthlessness."
Li Yuanjiao, having had suspicions initially, now realized the inconsistency and agreed, "Exactly. The Xiao Family has suffered a loss and needs to demonstrate strength to avoid being preyed upon. This is not the time to scheme against us... Xiao Guitu would not go that far."
Li Xijun nodded lightly, though his expression remained unchanged as he replied, "I guess I have overthought it."
His unmoved demeanor made Li Xuanxuan nce sideways, wondering if Li Xijun had intentionally brought this up. Xiao Guiluan, meanwhile, had already spoken and broken the silence.
"Do not worry. Since it is not my brother''s doing, there is much that can be done," she reassured.
She took Li Qingxiao''s hand and said gently, "My father holds a high status in the n and has some influence. My eldest brother, who manages the household, speaks with authority but is greedy and narrow-minded. Take some Spirit Stones and send someone to Xianyou Peak. tter him well and bribe him heavily; secure the position of head of Mount Yu first."
While she was speaking, Li Yuanping had already taken out over seventy Spirit Stones from a storage pouch, and said warmly, "Sister, the family''s savings are here... Use them as needed."
Li Qingxiao wept as she trembled and epted the Spirit Stones meekly. Before she could speak, Xiao Guiluan continued, "Even if my brother has no such intentions, we cannot set a precedent. I have two close friends in the n with some influence in the Xiazhong and Dongshan branches... I will write a letter asking them to lend you a few Xiao Family cultivators to support you."
"Yes... please..." Li Qingxiao said gratefully as she kept the Spirit Stones. Xiao Guiluan then took up a brush, dipped it into the ink, and began writing.
Li Yuanjiao stepped forward and said solemnly, "I also have a Foundation Establishment Realm talisman here for your protection. It can deter minor threats."
Instead of offering sentimental words as her older brother, he shoved the talisman into her hand and began exining how to use or not use it.
Li Qingxiao nodded and epted the letter Xiao Guiluan handed over to her. Li Yuanjiao then said, "The family will send a caravan to Mount Yu. Stay in touch with us as the situation evolves."
"Thank you... thank you, brothers. Qingxiao has no way to repay this..."
Li Qingxiao was moved, responded gratefully, and epted everything. She bowed deeply and said, "The grace of the family will be remembered by the lineage of Mount Yu. Once Mount Yu is stabilized, we will repay you."
With no one to preside over Mount Yu, every moment Li Qingxiao spent away increased the danger. Without any further dy, she rode her flying shuttle and took her leave.
"Mount Yu has no cultivators of significant power. With these measures, they should be able to handle ordinary threats..." Xiao Guiluan said softly as she watched Li Qingxiao depart.
"I will return to the Xiao Family too. I cannot stand aside while my family is in trouble. Besides, I need to gauge my brother''s stance on Mount Yu," she added.
"Sorry to trouble you," Li Yuanjiao said affectionately, moved by his wife''s dedication as he readily agreed. Xiao Guiluan smiled softly and rode the wind away.
Once she had left, Li Yuanping shook his head regretfully and said, "Xiao Xian and Xiao Jiuqing were both excellent men. What a pity..."
He had a brief acquaintance with Xiao Xian back in the day, and although it was only superficial, Xiao Xian had always seemed reliable.
Li Yuanjiao, however, had a different thought and said in a low voice, "I am afraid Daoist Master Chuting is still missing!"
Li Qinghong, who had been thinking about this matter throughout the conversation, finally spoke up.
"Brother is right. If Xiao Chuting were at Xianyou Peak, how could he allow devil cultivators to openly ughter at Mount Yu? Xiao Guitu''s im that the Daoist Master has returned must be to pacify the people!"
Li Yuanjiao sighed, growing worried about the Xiao Family''s situation. He then turned his thoughts to other matters as he said, "With the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s struggles above, how can we possibly intervene? I am afraid the devil cultivators are difficult to deal with... If theye to Moongaze Lake, our family might be in trouble."
He looked around at the remaining core members all within their family''s formation, and said boldly, "The n''s immortal mirror has the power to perceive the heavens and earth, and the Supreme Yin Moonlight is extremely powerful. However, it holds a high inherent rank, and using it frequently for surveince might be disrespectful. We must remain vignt ourselves... The devil cultivators in Mushroom Forest in are scattering in all directions. Stay within the grand formation and cultivate in peace."
Li Qinghong nodded while holding her spear. She scanned with her spiritual sense and said softly, "Brother, you have reached the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm!"
Li Qinghong was more talented than Li Yuanjiao, but with the Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit talisman qi, his cultivation speed had doubled, now surpassing hers.
Li Qinghong was now only at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, while Li Yuanjiao had reached the seventh heavenlyyer. He received the talisman at twenty, and now at thirty-seven or thirty-eight, he had advanced almost oneyer every two years, which was astonishingly fast.
"Yes," Li Yuanjiao replied.
When he saw the envious look on Li Qinghong''s face, he continued saying, "No need to be envious... In a real fight, I might not be your match. The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique is incredibly fierce, ancient, and mysterious. With Duruo Spear in hand, you might even wreck the devil gue."
However, Li Qinghong still had doubts in her heart. Her expression turned a little strange as she dismissed the younger generation. She then pulled Li Yuanjiao aside and whispered in a serious tone, "Brother! All these years I have been cultivating this technique, and I have been finding it increasingly extraordinary... Ites with both a thunder talisman and a thunder spell, which are both remarkable!"
She put away her spear, sat down, and continued in a low voice, "Back then, Ning Heyuan of the Azure Pond Sect fought with me. He is a direct descendant of the Azure Pond Sect, and his Heavenly Serpent Celestial Light spell is a secret technique of the Sect, yet it barely managed to hold my thunder talisman."
"Although my cultivation was slightly higher, which gave me an advantage, it shows the power of the thunder talisman. It is just a pity that it is integrated with the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique and cannot be cultivated separately," Li Qinghong exined, her eyes filled with doubt as she continued, "Grandfather always said that nine out of ten good things in the world turn out to be bad... That is why I am apprehensive."
Li Yuanjiao nodded silently and replied, "This technique was a gift from a Purple Smoke Gate cultivator whom our granduncle saved... It might not necessarily be problematic. The cultivator imed it came from an ancient sect and he had not practiced it himself. He was a bit unreliable, so he might not have known its true value. In any case, I will write a letter to Xizhi, asking him to inquire about it within the sect."
After discussing it for a while, the two of them went their separate ways.
Chapter 399: Who Is It (II)
Chapter 399: Who Is It (II)
Xiao Guiluan rode the wind for two full days.
Given the current rise of devil cultivators, the road was unsafe. She took a detour through Mushroom Forest in, passing respectfully through a dozen or so immortal mountains of the Yuan Family before making arge loop to reach Xianyou Peak.
Everywhere on Xianyou Peak was draped in white cloth, and Xiao Guiluan could not help but feel deeply sorrowful as she visited various familiar old friends. Many of her childhood ymates had now be minor peak masters, and many were no longer close to her.
The Xiao Family was simply too vast, with many interests and factions. Some old friends had joined different branches and dared not speak much with her for fear of getting involved in conflicts.
Currently, Xiao Guitu was the cultivator managing the Xiao Family, elevating Xiao Guiluan''s status as well. In the past, she would have had to wait a long while for her arrival to be reported, but now she was quickly escorted up the main peak with just a brief announcement.
Xiao Guitu, d in golden armor and ying with a pair of jade rings, sat at the head of the main hall on the main peak. Xiao Guiluan walked on jade tiles, bowed deeply upon entering, and seized the opportunity to observe her brother.
Xiao Guitu looked much somber now, and was at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. His once-smiling face had be impassive, but upon seeing his long-unseen sister, a faint smile appeared. He spoke warmly, "It is rare to see you return."
These words left Xiao Guiluan speechless. Xiao Guitu took two steps down and sat by the side of the stone steps. Only then did Xiao Guiluan notice the small holes covering his golden armor, making it unusable.
Xiao Guitu quietly removed his armor, saying softly, "What a coincidence... Daoist Master Buzi just left, and you arrived."
"Daoist Master Buzi? From Azure Pond Sect?" Xiao Guiluan eximed, instantly shocked.
Xiao Guitu tossed the armor piece from his elbow to the ground with a loud nging sound and replied, "Yes. Since the ancestor has not returned, he has be audacious."
Xiao Guiluan stared nkly at him, her mind racing with thoughts. She could not understand why Xiao Guitu was suddenly behaving unpredictably and being so straightforward with her.
Without looking at her expression, Xiao Guitu continued, "The Li Family must have noticed as well. For something like this to happen at Mount Yu, it shows that the ancestor is not at the peak. With a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator overseeing, how could they dare to use the Mount Yu path? Now, the Yuan Family, Chen Family, and the twenty-eight families affiliated with my Xiao Family are all in turmoil, sending people to inquire and offer condolences... Everyone knows what they are really thinking."
Xiao Guiluan listened attentively while Xiao Guitu looked fatigued and said wearily, "The Daoist Master is merely trapped somewhere in the Eastern Sea... Zhang Tianyuan cannot kill him."
He stared nkly at Xiao Guiluan, seemingly making a resolution. He walked down slowly, a sincere expression as he spoke.
"The Xiao Family has helped your family a lot over the years. The Daoist Master raised your family from obscurity, and Ancestor Yuansi personally handled many matters. Regardless of whether the Li Family has a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator or the Mount Dali demon n behind them, go to the Eastern Sea to help."
The Li Family has a Purple Mansion behind them?!
Xiao Guiluan was shocked, thinking of the Li Family members'' worried expressions which did not match up to having a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s support.
She assumed Xiao Guitu had misunderstood and quickly said, "Brother! The Li Family is utterly impoverished, struggling even to have Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators! How could they have a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s protection... this... this..."
Xiao Guitu shook his head and said softly, "Just convey my words to Li Yuanjiao."
Xiao Guiluan paused, then gritted her teeth and agreed. Only then did Xiao Guitu say, "I also know about the situation at Mount Yu. Do not worry, there will not be any problems."
Xiao Guiluan felt that her brother might have misunderstood something, but seeing him so agreeable, she felt relieved and left obediently.
Xiao Guitu watched her departing figure, silently sitting on the jade steps, staring into space.
Does the Li Family have a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator behind them?
In Xiao Guitu''s mind, it was a certainty. There had to be at least one extraordinary Purple Mansion Realm cultivator behind the Li Family!
In the past, Xiao Guitu had always felt uneasy about having the Li Family, a formidable force, nearby. He watched as the Li Family conquered the Mount Yue region and two other mountains, and as Li Tongya''s swordsmanship astonished everyone. He tossed and turned, unable to find peace.
However, after Xiao Chuting''s incident with the Wrathful Maha, leveraging Li Tongya''s immunity to divine abilities to intimidate the other Purple Mansion cultivators, Xiao Chuting had returned home and pondered, gradually bing suspicious. Furthermore, the Mount Dali demon n staunchly supported the northern family, which quickly led to spection.
Xiao Guitu had nned to make the Li Family a subordinate through marriage. Before any significant movement urred, however, Xiao Chuting had summoned him to the mountain. When Xiao Chuting exined his suspicions, Xiao Guitu finally understood.
"No wonder... no wonder the Li Family could rise so rapidly within decades, effortlessly outmaneuvering other families! No wonder both Li Tongya and Li Chejing, starting from humble beginnings, could reach the Foundation Establishment Realm..."
It turned out the Li Family was a hidden asset of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator! The Li Family''s meteoric rise was clearly orchestrated by some profound life divine ability. The Li Family was even likely descendants of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, hidden among themon folk, which would exin their exceptional talent!
Li Mutian was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, yet there was no trace of him in the Wu and Yue States, clearly indicating the involvement of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. When Xiao Guitu thought more carefully about the matter, he realized that only two families had caused losses to the Li Family.
Mount Wu killed Li Xiangping, and the Azure Pond Sect killed Li Chejing.
Both incidents pointed to two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators on the verge of breaking through to the Golden Core Realm! It was evident that the Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Masters were exchanging blows, interfering with each other.
With this calction, the vague figure behind the Li Family emerged; proficient in manipting fate, hidden behind the scenes of some sect, at odds with the Azure Pond Sect, and at least in theter stages of the Purple Mansion Realm.
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator behind the Li Family remained hidden, and the Xiao family dared not expose them. They quietly facilitated the Li Family in the market, supporting them silently.
Now that Xiao Chuting was trapped, Xiao Guitu had nowhere to turn for help. He remembered the silent cooperation between Xiao Chuting and the Li Family''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator¡ªone leveraging power, the other remaining hidden. Thus, he had no choice but to make a risky move and seek help from the Li Family.
"I can only hope I don''t anger that Daoist Master... Guiluan is straightforward, it should be fine..." Xiao Guitu mumbled, as he could not help but worry.
Xiao Chuting had been missing for over two years now, and he had only learned from Buzi''s mouth that Xiao Chuting was trapped by Zhang Tianyuan. That green-robed Daoist Master had gloated, suggesting that Xiao Chuting''s situation was dire.
"Our family has broken away from the Azure Pond Sect... Now, our survival rests on you alone!"
Chapter 400: Here Comes Buzi (I)
Chapter 400: Here Comes Buzi (I)
Eastern Sea.
Among the four seas, the Eastern Sea was the most vast, with rolling waves and clear turquoise waters. Various demons often rode the wind and traversed the waves on the sea''s surface.
The demons thrived the best in the Eastern Sea. Led by the dragon species, each established pces deep within the sea, bing a formidable force and lending vibrant life to the waters.
The inds were scattered like stars in the sky, and the closer they were to the Yue State''s coastal prefecture, therger and broader they became. The area was filled with rogue cultivators and sects with a significant number of devil cultivators, extraordinary beings, and shamans, making it a chaotic region.
Additionally, the Eastern Sea was home to numerous demons, where killings urred daily. Sixty percent of the demonic materials on the maind were harvested from the Eastern and Southern Seas. In contrast, vast regions of the maind cultivated Spirit Paddies, which were then exported overseas, benefiting both parties for over a millennium.
The sects in the Eastern Sea also constantly thought about relocating to the maind. In fact, many among the Yue State''s three sects and seven gates had achieved the Purple Mansion Realm on the Eastern Sea before migrating ind.
Deep within the sea, after passing throughyers of mysterious forbidden formations, there was an undersea cliff covered with corals, ruins, and scattered fragments of tiles.
Xiao Chuting sat cross-legged, dressed in gray, with a calm andposed expression. Facing a radiant stone wall, the wall was crystalline and clear, with lines of golden characters appearing one after another.
The perfection of Nine Arts lies in the Qingming. The three disasters and nine tribtions are bestowed by the heavens. The wind and fire of the Great Void are the essence of spirit energy...[1]
Xiao Chuting observed the words carefully, and after the text on the stone wall had finished appearing, a new line ofrge characters reappeared¡ªHunyi Golden Core Mysterious Method[2].
As the lines of small characters reappeared, Xiao Chuting watched on silently. He has been trapped here for years, staring at the stone wall every day without a hint of impatience.
"Daoist Chuting... Still unwilling to speak?"
Zhang Tianyuan, dressed in golden robes, stood with his hands behind his back and said softly, "This mysterious method is a legacy from before the ancient cataclysm... Reading it will make you forget itpletely. Do not waste your effort!"
Seeing Xiao Chuting remain silent and continue staring at the stone wall, Zhang Tianyuan''s brow furrowed with a trace of impatience. He said in a deep voice, "Under the Hunyi Immortal Wall, even the True Monarchs cannot investigate it. Only you and I know about this. What are you worried about?"
"By the way, which Purple Mansion Realm expert intervened during the Wrathful Maha incident?"
Xiao Chuting paused, finally looking at him and saying gently, "Daoist Tianyuan, I only met that senior once. I only know of his divine ability, nothing else."
"Ha!" Zhang Tianyuan sneered, speaking in a deep voice, "Could it be that person used a life divine ability to fight eight just to save Li Tongya''s life? The Li Family is just a small Foundation Establishment Realm n. How could they have such great influence?"
"Since he is your backer and is proficient in life divine abilities, he must have some n of his own!" he spat.
He stared deeply at Xiao Chuting and continued softly, "Since you refuse to speak, we will continue to wait and see if that Daoist is willing to help you escape. Without your support, the Xiao Family will notst long."
"You overestimate me, fellow Daoist," Xiao Chuting said,pletely unfazed by his words. He saw through Zhang Tianyuan''s bluff and sat steadily, with even a hint of a smile on his face.
"We can wait, but Azure Pond cannot. If I am not mistaken, now that Chen Taojing is dead, the devil gue has moved toward the seven gates," he calmly spoke.
Speaking of Chen Taojing''s death, a hint of regret shed in Xiao Chuting''s eyes as he continued, "If I am not ind, with only Chi Buzi and Yuansu, they cannot mobilize so many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. If the True Monarch''s ns are ruined, not even Daoist Tianyuan can bear the responsibility."
Xiao Chuting''s words darkened Zhang Tianyuan''s face, and his golden robe trembled slightly as he said sternly, "You are quite calctive... No wonder you hid for five years, waiting for this moment...! Fine... Fine!"
Zhang Tianyuan gritted his teeth as he continued, "First targeting my Zhang Family, then using Azure Pond Sect... Fine! Take your perilous path and see how long you can hold out!"
He then swung his sleeve, his figure disappearing into the distance. This ce was filled with forbidden formations left by the ancient Immortal Sect, preventing entry into the Great Void. Even Purple Mansion Realm cultivators had to fly openly.
After Zhang Tianyuan left, Xiao Chuting also stood up, his hands behind his back. To protect that hidden pawn of the Li Family for the Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master, Xiao Chuting had expended considerable effort, using clues to point all suspicion toward himself. Now, he had thoroughly offended Zhang Tianyuan.
"I hope that senior... has his own ns arranged." Xiao Chuting muttered to himself.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Chen Mufeng."
Li Yuanjiao picked up the small letter in his hand silently, reading its contents. He looked at the young man half-kneeling before him and praised, "Not yet thirty and already at the peak of Embryonic Breathing Realm... truly a genius!"
Chen Mufeng, with lowered gaze and head, responded loudly, "n Brother is the one with a profound affinity for the Dao and is naturally gifted in cultivation! Mufeng is but a firefly''s light, iparable to the brilliance of n Brother''s moonlight."
Chen Mufeng''s words were sincere. Li Yuanjiao, only six or seven years older, had already reached the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, making anyparison futile for Chen Mufeng.
Hearing him call him "n Brother," Li Yuanjiao was slightly taken aback. He then remembered that Chen Mufeng was the son-inw of his n uncle, Li Qiuyang, and the husband of his cousin, making him his brother-inw by marriage.
"Have you decided on which cultivation technique to practice?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
Chen Mufeng bowed again and replied, "I will follow the n''s arrangements!"
"Very well," Li Yuanjiao nodded, "then it shall be the River One Qi Technique."
"Thank you, n Brother! Thank you! Mufeng will serve the n with all his might..." Chen Mufeng eximed readily with ears pricked up, as he had been waiting for these words. He was overjoyed, bowing excitedly and reciting a string of vows.
Li Yuanjiao merely waved his hand and said softly, "Go to Yuanping to collect the cultivation technique, pills, and spiritual qi. There is no need to report back."
The Li Family''s support for external cultivators was indeed generous, as even Li Yuanjiao himself practiced the River One Qi Technique. A technique one grade stronger would significantly enhance one''s strength. Chen Mufeng hurriedly thanked him and left in a rush.
Watching the young man leave, Li Yuanjiao turned to Li Xuanxuan and asked softly, "How does hepare to Uncle Donghe?"
Li Xuanxuan, holding a talisman produced by the Azure Pond, carefully scrutinized the brushwork and said, "Hecks Donghe''s steadiness, is less tempered, and inevitably reckless, unlike our n members."
The Li Family''s direct descendants were aware of the great treasures they possessed and understood the severe methods of the higher sects. They were always taught the grave consequences of a single moment of negligence, leading to the n''s annihtion. Hence, the younger members like Ximing and Xijun were all introspective and cautious, differing greatly from the ambitious Chen Mufeng.
With the strict nws, the atmosphere within the n was always somber. Li Yuanjiao feared excessive strictness andughed softly, saying, "As long as he is useful. The n needs a few with drive."
1. Trantor''s Note: The Qingming here probably means Qingming Copper which is used to forge weapons. ?
2. Trantor''s Note: Hun means "mix" and yi means "one", so Hunyi could also mean "mixed into one". ?
Chapter 401: Here Comes Buzi (II)
Chapter 401: Here Comes Buzi (II)
As they were talking, Xiao Guiluan arrived, full of curiosity. She descended from the wind and bowed to Li Xuanxuan, saying respectfully, "Father."
Li Xuanxuan waved his hand, signaling her to speak. He then urgently asked, "What did Xiao Guitu say?"
Xiao Guiluan hesitated for a moment and then repeated her brother''s words. Li Yuanjiao and Li Xuanxuan were both stunned, looking at her in disbelief.
"Our family''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator?!"
Li Yuanjiao was dazed for a few moments, frowning as he looked up and said in a deep voice, "Where would our family get a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator? If the Li Family had one, we would not be in our current state!"
Li Xuanxuan put away the talisman in his hand, still puzzled. Xiao Guiluan herself was also confused. Seeing Li Yuanjiao''s genuine expression, she hesitated and said slowly, "Perhaps it is a good thing! But¡ I always feel uneasy for some reason."
Li Yuanjiao turned the cup in his hand silently and said softly, "No wonder Xiao Guitu was so courteous¡"
"What should we do now?" Xiao Guiluan asked.
Li Yuanjiao, surprisingly calm, had a fleeting image of the immortal mirror in his mind before replying nonchntly."Act as if nothing happened. Proceed as usual."
He had a guess: the family''s immortal mirror was of extremely high rank yet excelled at concealment¡ Perhaps Xiao Chuting miscalcted due to this misunderstanding.
He could not send someone to the Xiao Family to rify either. Whether Xiao Guitu believed it or not, if word spread to others, it could spell trouble.
"If Xiao Chuting can return safely and promptly... Everything will be fine. If he cannot return..."
Li Yuanjiao said this, but in his heart, he felt that Xiao Chuting was definitely not someone who would take risks rashly and get trapped. With the mysterious nature of the Man On Creek, it was more likely that he would be the one setting traps for others.
He shook his head and continued, "Xiao Chuting would never risk himself unnecessarily¡ It is likely a calcted exchange. Do not worry about the Xiao Family; let us prepare to deal with the devil cultivators first."
Seeing Li Yuanjiao casually brush off the matter, Xiao Guiluan had no choice but to nod. Suddenly, a moment of rity struck her mind, and she felt inexplicably uneasy. She gasped, "Oh no!"
Both men looked over to see Xiao Guiluan''s face turn pale as she murmured, "No wonder I felt so uneasy! Brother... has been hit by a divine ability... It is Buzi! No wonder¡ I understand now¡I understand! Buzi intentionally met with him. No wonder he demanded the Purple Mansion Realm expert toe personally¡ he forced my brother to meet him!"
Xiao Guiluan continued, "Brother is only at the Qi Cultivation Realm, while Buzi is already at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. He must have used his divine ability to confuse and shake his mind, forcing him to seek help. He probably wanted to see what the Xiao Family''s backup n was!"
Xiao Guiluan had only brief contact with him but was already influenced to the point of distraction, showing how deep Xiao Guitu''s enchantments were. If it were someone less resolute, they would have broken down and revealed all secrets by now.
"What?!"
Li Yuanjiao was momentarily stunned but quickly reacted, horrified, "What level is the Xiao Family''s formation?! Does the Xiao Family have the means to iste from the outside? If Buzi overheard your conversation with your brother, his next step would be toe to our house!"
Buzi was no ordinary Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. If he learned that the Li Family had a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, he would definitely visit personally. Their family did not have one, and they had a hidden treasure on the mountain. If it was seen by a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, it would spell the end of the family.
If Buzi saw this treasure that absorbs the Supreme Yin Moonlight, he wouldn''t care about the Azure Pond Sect or Mount Dali; he would ughter our family and flee with the treasure!
Li Yuanjiao thought of the worst-case scenario.
"Impossible!"
Xiao Guiluan, freed from Buzi''s divine influence and much clearer-headed, said decisively, "Our Xiao Family''s main hall was personally refined by our ancestor! It has a barrier with the Great Void. Even Buzi would have to lower himself,nd on the mountaintop, and then enter the hall. It is impossible for him to overhear our conversation. Once isted from the Great Void, even if someone died inside, their soulmp in the sect would not extinguish immediately, let alone leave any means to eavesdrop!"
Li Yuanjiao nced at her, still feeling a chill run down his spine as he murmured, "Let''s hope that''s the case..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The water on Moongaze Lake rippled as a green-robed cultivator descended with the wind,nding on a small ind in theke.
"Moongaze Marsh."
He gazed silently at the blue water, calcting that it had been over a hundred years since hest came to this ce.
In the records of the Azure Pond Sect, the spiritual energy here was once the greatest in the Yue State, a treasurend of the immortal mansion with white mist curled around the vast marsh. Five hundred years ago, it plummeted, andter, the siege of Li Jiangqun severely damaged the spiritual energy, almost depleting it entirely.
Daoist Master Buzi looked around. His grandfather and uncles all died in that great battle. Now, hundreds of years old, he still felt that the green water had a tinge of red to it.
"Jiangqun is dead, the bright moon rises in the east, its light like frost. Snow falls in the prefecture, theke sparkles with a myriad of lights, red and green intertwine..."
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators who died in that battle were countless. Some returned home with an indelible sword intent, slowly awaiting death. But the spectacle over theke was more magnificent than the previous hundred yearsbined.
Li Jiangqun never had the chance to transform into a spirit object. His flesh was divided among the three sects, treated as precious treasures. What followed was the reckoning with Lingyu Gate and the extermination of a few immortal ns.
He snapped out of his recollections, shook his head, and withdrew his gaze, extending his spiritual sense to search the bottom of theke repeatedly.
"I''ll search three times. If there is nothing, I''ll leave."
Thekebed of Moongaze Lake churned, treacherous and filled with numerous demons, some of which were Foundation Establishment Realm creatures. Usually domineering, they now trembled in the mud, cowering in fear before the Purple Mansion Daoist Master.
Buzi ignored them, carefully searching three times. Finding nothing, he could not resist searching two more times. Finally, he shook his head and sighed. "Still nothing¡ I supposed it''s not so easily found."
In fact, the sects had long given up on finding the Supreme Yin Moonlight in Moongaze Lake. It was more likely to be found in the ruins of the Eastern Sea. However, Buzi could not resisting after hearing Li Xizhi''s ount.
"The Purple Mansion Realm expert aiding the Xiao Family did not show up... It might be Xiao Xianyou''s favor. It is best to release Xiao Chuting first, to avoid furtherplications."
Buzi nced at Mount Dali, swung his sleeve, and vanished into the Great Void.
Watching Buzi vanish into the Great Void, Lu Jiangxian finally let out a long sigh of relief, "Thank goodness... he was noting for me."
When Daoist Master Buzi passed by the Ding Family and stepped into Moongaze Lake, Lu Jiangxian was immediately alerted. Seeing this man with such a formidable aura, he briefly feared that he had been exposed.
As he secretly calcted whether he could escape from Buzi, a mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who had mastered three divine abilities, he realized that Buzi was just passing by to search for the Supreme Yin Moonlight.
In the future, the Li Family must not expose the Supreme Yin Moonlight again... If another one appears, thiske will constantly be visited by Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. The three sects might even start fighting over the ownership of Moongaze Lake¡
As he pondered this silently, he noticed a ripple in the Great Void once more. Buzi, dressed in green, returned. He was stepping lightly over the water, which startled Lu Jiangxian.
This guy! What is he up to now? Lu Jiangxian cursed.
Buzi had a slight smile on his face as he calmlynded on theke, looking toward the glittering grand formation on Mount Dali.
Isn''t there still the Li Family? That Li Xizhi is just a young brat and might not know the family secrets. If the cave dwelling contains such a precious item as the Supreme Yin Moonlight, there might be other treasures as well!
Chapter 402: Soul Searching (I)
Chapter 402: Soul Searching (I)
Listening to Xiao Guiluan''s exnation, Li Yuanjiao felt a chill in his heart, his mind racing with countless thoughts.
Where is Buzi now? Has he heard anything about our family?! Xiao Guitu had just been hit by his divine ability, and Guiluan immediately went to see him¡ Wouldn''t Buzi misunderstand this?
Should I rece the immortal mirror with Qingche Sword?
Li Yuanjiao believed that if he quietly ced the bronze immortal mirror in the woods or a river, even a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator would not find it. No one would suspect a thing if he reced it with the Qingche Sword on the stone tform.
He pondered, his legs stiffening as another possibility crossed his mind.
The speed of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator far exceeds that of a Qi Cultivator¡ If Buzi has already reached Moongaze Lake, he could be watching from the Great Void right now!
If Buzi was indeed at Moongaze Lake and used the Great Void to bypass the Sun Rite Profound Light Formation, any action he took now would be under Buzi''s watchful eye, and attempting to retrieve the mirror would be suicidal.
But I can''t just sit by and wait to be killed! A Purple Mansion Realm cultivator wouldn''t waste time idly watching from the Great Void! With a single sweep of his divine ability, he could learn everything¡ Buzi shouldn''t be at theke!
Li Yuanjiao knew that a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator could travel in an instant, much faster than Xiao Guiluan''s return. His thoughts spun rapidly, but his actions did not stop. He suddenly called out in a deep voice, "Guiluan, return to Mount Wutu at once!"With that, he headed to the backyard. Xiao Guiluan, understanding the urgency in his tone, left swiftly like the wind. Li Xuanxuan''s face also changed drastically, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Li Yuanjiao stepped out, feeling a sudden warning in his mind. The Profound Pearl Talisman Seed in his Qihai acupoint trembled, sending chills through his body as though he was being watched by something sinister.
"Oh no!"
He stopped abruptly, only to see the space in front of him darken. Slowly, the image of a green-robed cultivator appeared, standing with his hands behind his back.
The green-robed cultivator had a small smile on his face. He looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, dressed in a flowing robe. His long hair fluttered in the wind as he stared at Li Yuanjiao quietly.
Daoist Master Buzi¡
Li Yuanjiao felt a bitterness in his mouth as Buzi raised his head. The sleeve of his green robe moved as he held up a small, exquisite white jade bottle in his right hand.
"What is this?" Buzi asked casually, but his question made Li Yuanjiao break out in a cold sweat.
The jade bottle in Daoist Master Buzi''s hand came from the Li Family''s treasure vault, containing a talisman pill that the immortal mirror had condensed!
Buzi has been to our treasure vault¡
Li Yuanjiao hurriedly bowed, feigning a terrified demeanor, and said in a trembling voice, "Junior Li Yuanjiao from the Li Family under the governance of Azure Pond greets Daoist Master Buzi!"
His voice was neither too loud nor soft, but it was enough for Li Xuanxuan, who was standing guard outside, to hear clearly. Li Xuanxuan was so terrified that he almost went to retrieve the mirror.
Just as he took a step, Li Xuanxuan realized that the spiritual sense of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator could easily cover the entire Mount Lijing; going to the backyard now would be like doing so right in front of Buzi.
Outside, Li Xuanxuan was like an ant on a hot pan, while inside, Li Yuanjiao tried to buy time, quickly making a judgment in his mind.
Buzi broke through the Great Void and immediately went to our treasure vault, attracted by the talisman pill, and is directly asking about it¡
Although a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator could easily bypass most formations via the Great Void and enter it, their spiritual sense could not prate the formations; they had to go in person to sense what was inside.
The Li Family had five mountains with over twenty formations, and with the small formations protecting the spirit fields, there were likely over a hundred. Buzi could not possibly check each one.
Even Mount Lijing had five separate formations, three for spirit fields, one for the ancestral hall, and one for the family vault.
He only went to the treasure vault at the mountaintop and has not been to the ancestral hall yet!
Countless thoughts shed through his mind as Chi Buzi watched him.
"You recognize me?" Chi Buzi asked.
Li Yuanjiao bowed again and respectfully said, "I have seen portraits of the four Daoist Masters of the upper sect. Daoist Master Yuanwu and Daoist Master Yuan Xiu are both white-haired cultivators, only you and Daoist Master Yuan Su are young men in green robes. Daoist Master Yuan Su is stationed in the southern border all year round, so it must be you..."
"Not bad."
Chi Buzi smiled and looked at him. Among the remaining four Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of Azure Pond, Tang Yuanwu, Si Boxiu, and Ning Tiaoxiao were all of the same generation, serving as the left and right arms of Chi Wei, hence using Yuan as their Daoist title.
He was from ater generation, and by the time he reached the Purple Mansion Realm, the Azure Pond Sect no longer followed the custom of using Daoist titles. Hence, he was simply called Buzi. Seeing that Li Yuanjiao could name so many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators from Azure Pond, his smile broadened as he repeated, "What is this thing?"
Of course, he was referring to the talisman pill. Li Yuanjiao responded promptly and respectfully, "This item was obtained by our n in a cave dwelling, along with the Supreme Yin Moonlight of that year. The n could not identify this pill or discern its quality, and we feared possessing a valuable item would bring disaster, so we did not dare reveal it..."
Chi Buzi waved his hand to interrupt him, smiling brightly as he remarked, "This pill has excellent boundary-breaking effects and is quite rare¡ It seems to be made with an ancient method. I see that your n''s fortune is not shallow!"
Just as Li Yuanjiao was about to reply, he suddenly felt a wave of panic overwhelm him. The world before him turned gray and dark, shrouded in a misty gloom as if draped in a veil of darkness, making everything hazy.
Divine ability!
A cramping pain shot through his stomach, and his face felt damp. His consciousness splintered into fragments, withrge sections of text and images drifting through his mind.
With thest vestiges of his awareness, he mped his mouth shut, his lips trembling. The talisman seed in his Qihai acupoint emitted a slight coolness, keeping his consciousness intact but not fully awakening him to avoid revealing any abnormalities.
Outside, Li Xuanxuan was also affected by the divine ability. Fortunately, Buzi focused on Li Yuanjiao alone, so Li Xuanxuan only felt slightly dizzy and immediately recognized it as a divine ability.
Feeling his mind growing increasingly muddled, Li Xuanxuan, knowing his will was weak, pped the Shenyang Mansion between his eyebrows with his palm before copsing with a thud.
Chi Buzi paid no attention to Li Yuanjiao''s reactions. He waited for Li Yuanjiao to kneel and be dazed, then gently ced a hand on Li Yuanjiao''s Shenyang Mansion. Pressing the spot between his defiant brows, he performed a hand seal with his other hand.
"Yin Quarters Nine Hills Heart Questioning Spell!"
This technique was a pure soul-searching spell from the Daoist sects, far superior to the crude methods of devil cultivators. Once a forbidden spell hindering the Dao path, it had now be a useful immortal method.
Li Yuanjiao''s act was wless, but Chi Buzi had no interest in guessing the origin of the pill. Whether Li Yuanjiao told the truth or lied, he did not care to listen to the details. A soul-searching spell would reveal everything.
Chi Buzi focused intently, closing his eyes slightly. He has used this spell many times with unfailing sess. His spiritual sense smoothly entered Li Yuanjiao''s sea of consciousness, guiding all his memories to the surface.
The origin of this pill!
He manipted the spell and colorful lights appeared in his hand. These then entered Li Yuanjiao''s Shenyang Mansion, transforming into pale gray runes that danced in his sea of consciousness.
Chapter 403: Soul Searching (II)
Chapter 403: Soul Searching (II)
Chi Buzi''s vision darkened for a few moments before a dimly lit secret chamber appeared, cold and icy, with one or two flickers of white mana light.
This is... a cave dwelling?
Chi Buzi''s gaze shifted, noticing the floor, intricately patterned, with osmanthus trees bearing ethereal white flowers that were fragrant yet chilling.
What is this... it looks somewhat like the Moon zed Tree, our sect''s Purple Mansion Realm spirit root.
Given that this was the ce where Supreme Yin Moonlight was obtained, some anomalies were expected. Chi Buzi quickly looked away, then saw a stone tform ahead which was shrouded in a white mist, exuding an aura of mystery.
This is...
Chi Buzi''s heart stirred, but then he heard rustling noises. Golden and white osmanthus flowers fell, their golden stamens and pleasant fragrance particrly striking in the misty moonlight.
Rustle, rustle...
Several lively, adorable toads and rabbits hopped out from the dark corners, trampling on the fallen osmanthus petals.
Li Yuanjiao finally straightened up, allowing Buzi to see what was on the tform.
Suspended on the stone tform was a small grayish-green sphere, inscribed with ancient and profound runes. Suddenly, a pair of eyes appeared on it.
They were gentle yet indifferent and majestic.
On the peak of Mount Lijing, Chi Buzi''s hand, which was hidden in his sleeve and performing the hand seals of his spell, began to tremble violently. Tears of blood streamed from his eyes that were closed tightly, trailing down his cheeks and making him look especially terrifying.
Drip, drop.
Two droplets of blood tears fell to the stone floor, shattering two bricks, then rolled like beads, producing crisp, echoing sounds.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Buzi''s arrival was too sudden, a consequence of his reckless pursuit of Supreme Yin Moonlight for Li Chejing''s Dao foundation years ago.
Although Si Yuanbai had imed to have obtained the moonlight himself to protect the Li Family, deceiving the various Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, no one had anticipated that the matter would resurface yearster. Eventually, some greedy individuals took a chance and personally visited the Li Family.
"I guess there''s no running away this time..."
The immortal mirror had not regained its full power, but its inherent rank was exceedingly high. Once it was used for calctions, it was equivalent to predicting the fate of those above the Dao Embryo Realm. Lu Jiangxian had borrowed its power back then and was well aware of its capabilities.
Whether it was Master Monk Minghui or Maha Jinlian, they were merely following Li Qinghong''s trail. When Lu Jiangxian directed them to the mirror, they immediately suffered significant losses.
The talisman seed of the mirror was even more domineering. Those in the Li Family who bore the Profound Pearl Talisman Seed had their souls, fates, and cultivation all linked to it. As long as Lu Jiangxian willed it, no one could touch them.
Now, with Buzi searching Li Yuanjiao''s soul, he should have found nothing. Seeing Buzi''s persistence, Lu Jiangxian grew increasingly fearful. If Li Yuanjiao''s soul search failed, it would only raise more suspicion andplicate the situation. Ultimately, he might be exposed.
The Supreme Yin Profound Light was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, but it was powerful enough to instantly kill a peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator or even threaten a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. However, Chi Buzi was not a stationary target and could escape into the Great Void, making it impossible to hit him.
Seeing Buzi initiate the soul search and about to reach the mirror, Lu Jiangxian gritted his teeth and thought to himself, I might as well use the talisman seed as a bridge and connect to Chi Buzi''s spell immediately.
Although Lu Jiangxian was not skilled in soul-searching techniques, his proficiency in shamanic talisman had grown considerably over the years. Moonlight surged as it connected to fate, and the immortal mirror lit up, forcefully crashing into Chi Buzi''s sea of consciousness.
Although I have not recovered, my divine sense far exceeds ordinary spiritual senses! Only by using this technique to counterattack can I hope for a chance at survival...!
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao''s consciousness drifted in a haze for a long time before suddenly clearing. A cool sensation rose from his Qihai acupoint, and he snapped his eyes open. Before him was Chi Buzi''s hand, pressed against his forehead.
All around him was pitch-ck and gloomy, the corners shrouded in darkness, and the atmosphere was oppressive. It was the time of day when baleful qi was at its peak.
The sky had already darkened, indicating that nearly two hours had passed. The blood-red setting sun, apanied by dark red clouds, flowed on the horizon, signaling an ominous portent.
He nced around and saw that the ground was covered with glittering red jade beads, lying quietly and reflecting dazzling colors in the dim light, creating a rather beautiful scene.
"Daoist Master..?" Li Yuanjiao called out cautiously, unsure of what Chi Buzi had done to him with his divine ability. He bowed his head in silence.
I am still alive... Chi Buzi must not have discovered anything.
Chi Buzi gave no response.
A sense of unease rose within Li Yuanjiao. After a long moment, he began to step back slowly. Chi Buzi remained silent, his sleeve hanging limply. When Li Yuanjiao finally looked up, he saw that the Daoist Master''s face was grim, and his eyes were tightly shut.
The darkened twilight illuminated Chi Buzi''s face, revealing two streams of blood tears. The sight struck Li Yuanjiao like a thunderp, leaving his mind nk.
Chi Buzi! What is this..?!
Drip, drip...
Blood flowed down continuously Chi Buzi''s cheeks, dripping from his chin as two blood beads hit the ground, transforming instantly into sparkling red jade beads. They collided with the ones on the ground, creating a series of crisp clinking sounds.
Li Yuanjiao now understood how the jade beads hade to be. Though he felt somewhat relieved, he was also horrified and took a step back. Chi Buzi remained motionless like a statue in the dim twilight.
Li Yuanjiao cautiously extended his spiritual sense to scan Chi Buzi, only to find nothing but an empty shell where the previous oppressive aura had been.
The jade bottle containing the talisman pill had fallen from Chi Buzi''s sleeve and shattered on the ground. The pill rolled out and settled in a crack between the bricks.
Silently, Li Yuanjiao moved out of the courtyard. His father, Li Xuanxuan,y stiffly on the ground. Li Yuanjiao checked his breathing, which was steady and long, then spotted a bloody wound on his head, indicating that he had been knocked unconscious.
Li Yuanjiao immediately took to the air, his spiritual sense sweeping the area. The two n guards outside the courtyard seemed to have been affected by a spell and were sound asleep, snoring loudly.
Seeing that some were beginning to stir, Li Yuanjiao hurried back into the courtyard. He closed the gate hurriedly and helped Li Xuanxuan to his feet, using a spell to awaken him.
Li Xuanxuan gradually regained consciousness, groggy and bewildered. Upon seeing Li Yuanjiao, he asked in shock, "Where is the Daoist Master?!"
Li Yuanjiao gave a bitterugh, shook his head, and helped Li Xuanxuan up to his feet. Opening the courtyard gate, he saw the two n guards standing straight, showing no signs of their earlier slumber.
"Go fetch Qinghong and Yuanping!" Li Yuanjiao ordered.
After the guards left, Li Yuanjiao led Li Xuanxuan to the backyard.
The sky grew darker, and Chi Buzi remained standing there, tears of blood continually dripping from his stoic face. Li Xuanxuan felt dizzy at the sight. The red jade beads covering the ground gleamed brightly.
"Jiao''er..."
Li Xuanxuan trembled as he scanned Chi Buzi with his spiritual sense. The man stood like a jade pir, and it was hard to believe what he saw. He checked repeatedly.
The colorful light of Chi Buzi''s divine ability and overwhelming aura had vanished. The oppressive presence that once traversed the Great Void was gone, leaving only his thin green robe on his jade-like body.
Chi Buzi''s face showed slight pain, but still, the bloody tears continued flowing.
"...Is he dead? ...Is he really dead?"
Li Xuanxuan''s face turned pale, and he staggered back a few steps, filled not with relief or satisfaction, but with trembling fear.
"The Azure Pond Sect... how many years has it been since a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator was killed..."
Chapter 404: Awakening
Chapter 404: Awakening
The setting sun was blood-red, casting a gloomy shadow over the surroundings.
At Moongaze Lake, an unusual evening fog was particrly thick, reducing visibility to the point where one could not even see their hand right in front of them. The ce was eerily silent, and even the insects had fallen silent and still.
In the streets of Lijing Town, people were scarce. The reddish light of the setting sun crept along the bricks. Even the street vendors had bex, closing up early and heading home, making therge city of tens of thousands feel empty and silent.
Li Yuanping hurried up the mountain where his father and brother were already waiting. The n guards had been dismissed from the courtyard where his elder sister stood, holding a spear with aplex expression.
Li Qinghong''s face showed a hint of satisfaction, yet her tightly crossed arms revealed a slight unease. It was the first time Li Yuanping had seen his sister like this, immediately raising a question in his mind.
"Elder Sister!" Li Yuanping entered the courtyard and called out to her.
Li Qinghong nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing further, closing the courtyard gate.
Drip, drip...
A crisp sound reached his ears as Li Yuanping slowly crossed the courtyard. His brother Li Yuanjiao stood silently in the backyard, while his father, Li Xuanxuan, sat on the doorstep, holding a handful of red jade beads.
The sky was growing darker, and Li Yuanping,cking spiritual sense, could barely make out the scene in the courtyard. He performed a spell to produce a thin beam of bright light.
"Brother, what is this..."
Just as he inquired, he slowly lifted his head, realizing that there was another person present. The figure had smooth, jade-like skin, and sharp features. He was standing as still as a cold statue, draped in green robes.
Li Yuanping''s gaze moved slowly until it met a face streaked with bloody tears.
Drip.
The sound of blood-red beads falling and colliding with each other filled the air as one rolled to his ankle. Li Yuanjiao''s hoarse voice reached his ear.
"This is Daoist Master Buzi from the Azure Pond Sect... He arrived at our home two hours ago, found our talisman pill, and ended up like this."
Li Xuanxuan, still turned away from them, took a sip of spirit wine from a gourd, his face slightly flushed. He continued where Li Yuanjiao left off, "We examined him for a long time, and it seems that Buzi was frightened to death by what he saw."
Frightened to death... frightened to death...?!
His father''s words echoed in his ears. Li Yuanping stood there, stunned, mumbling in shock, "You mean... a Daoist Master from the Azure Pond Sect suddenly died in our house..?"
Fear slowly filled his pale face as he said urgently, "We must flee! At the very least, we need to send the younger family members away, this..."
"No."
Li Yuanjiao shook his head, his expression dark, clearly having considered this before. He continued in a low voice, "The Azure Pond Sect still does not know about this... his soulmp in the sect is not extinguished yet. Otherwise, Azure Pond cultivators would have broken through the Great Void ande here long ago, and our family would have already been destroyed!"
If a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from Azure Pond Sect died at Moongaze Lake, the consequences would be unimaginable, especially since this Purple Mansion Realm cultivator was a direct descendant of the Chi Family, the actual leaders of Azure Pond Sect.
The sect would not only be in an uproar, but it might also rm cultivators above the Purple Mansion Realm.
Even if the Azure Pond Sectcked Golden Core Realm cultivators, the cunning nature of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators would prevent them froming in person. But if they learned of Chi Buzi''s death, there would be numerous Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators emerging from the Great Void, turning Moongaze Lake upside down!
Everyone understood the gravity of the situation and fell silent.
"Perhaps the Daoist Master is not dead."
Li Qinghong suddenly spoke, causing the others to exchange nces and then retreat, closing the small door to the backyard and taking positions in the front yard.
"Brother."
As Li Yuanping reached the front yard, he had calmed down and spoke in a serious tone, "Regardless of whether the Daoist Master is dead or alive, we must quickly send out the direct family members, dispersing them in all directions to preserve our family''s legacy while Azure Pond Sect remains unaware... "
Li Yuanping paused to consider the options, then said, "We could head to the Wu State, and take over a small mountain or temple. Although we would lose everything, at least we can survive... Or go to the Eastern Sea, where we could seize a small ind and bide our time..."
Li Qinghong interrupted him with a clear voice, "If our entire Li Family flees, it will be as good as admitting guilt. The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators can trace our whereabouts! Moreover..."
Her expression turned somewhat forlorn, her voice lowering as her red lips parted, "Grandfather killed Wrathful Maha, right here in the southern Yue State, by the shores of Moongaze Lake... The monks of the Wrathful Form dare note for revenge, but if we leave this ce, those monks, led by The Merciful One, will surely descend upon us like wolves. Forget about the Merciful One... even a Master Monk could destroy our family!"
Li Yuanping suddenly recalled the burden of guilt unjustly ced upon their family by an unknown Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. He gritted his teeth and said, "Then are you suggesting we go to the Yue Cultivating Sect? The three major sects usually do not interfere with each other. We are under the governance of the Azure Pond; if we go to the Yue Cultivating Sect, do you think they will ept us?"
Li Qinghong clenched her spear and shook her head slightly as she continued, "There''s no ce for us in the territory of the Yue Cultivating Sect... We can only be their guest cultivators, and our number of Qi Cultivators is not something one or two immortal mountains can sustain."
Li Yuanjiao was silent for a while before transmitting his voice through mana.
"The immortal mirror has a high inherent rank... I do not know if the person holding it can be detected. If not, there might be a chance to escape."
His meaning was clear: someone from the Li Family should escape with the mirror. Hearing this, Li Xuanxuan and the others fell silent.
"If Buzi is dead, then we have a chance. But if he is not, there''s no way he''d let us go after this..." Li Yuanjiao continued grimly.
The constant dripping of blood in the backyard was nerve-wracking. Finally, Li Xuanxuan, stroking his beard, said, "Jiao''er, you take the mirror and leave. Do not concern yourself with the matters of the family."
Li Yuanjiao touched the sword at his waist as he organized his thoughts, but before he could speak, Li Xuanxuan continued, "We will handle the rest. You have the highest cultivation and a low-profile technique. With the Qingche Sword, you can travel far and find a ce to seclude yourself and break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm..."
Li Yuanjiao gritted his teeth, his thoughts racing as his grip on his sword grew tighter.
The courtyard was eerily silent; it was a silence that made one''s heart race. The night was bright with the white moonlight casting its glow around their surroundings. Li Yuanjiao looked up at his siblings, but his expression suddenly froze.
There had been no movement for some time. His father, Li Xuanxuan, stood still, clutching his beard, his pupils dted. Li Yuanping''s face was covered in sweat which trickled down his neck.
Li Qinghong stood motionless like a statue, her hand holding the Duruo Spear which emitted no light. Her grip was so tight that her knuckles turned white. Sweat began forming on the bridge of her delicate nose.
Why is it so quiet?!
Li Yuanjiao suddenly had a bad premonition.
Creak...
In the white moonlight, the door to the backyard slowly opened. A fair hand rested on the door frame, the green robe appeared dazzlingly pale in the moonlight as if glowing.
tter...
Red jade beads scattered across the backyard ground, rolling lightly onto the stone bricks of the front yard.
Thud.
Then, it was followed by the sound of a footstep.
Chapter 405: Water Mansion Immortal Official (I)
Chapter 405: Water Mansion Immortal Official (I)
Azure Pond Sect.
Azure Pond Peak was enveloped in swirling clouds and mist. Within the cave dwelling on the mountain, a dark golden bell with intricate patterns hung in the center. It was only rung upon the death of a Daoist Master or the ascension of a sect master.
Chi Zhiyunnded on the peak hurriedly, followed by a group of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. As soon as hended, a tall young man approached, cupping his fist in greeting.
"Sect Master!"
"Hejing."
Chi Zhiyun waved his hand urgently, not stopping, and stepped into the stone cave, asking, "How is it?"
"The me is dim and turned bright white... Themp oil is rising, the nine lines are flickering. This has never happened before." Ning Hejing''s voice was grave.
Chi Zhiyun''s expression grew increasingly grim as he muttered, "Bright white...? How could that be?!"
He dismissed the others and quickly stepped deeper into the cave dwelling. Several soulmps rested on lotus seats carved from wood, burning quietly.
The wood sculpture was made from Soul-Tuning Mulberry Wood, which could foretell blessings and disasters, was impervious to the five elements, and feared only thunder. Themp oil used Nine Refined Soul Essence, once a precious treasure was now no longer particrly valued.
Chi Zhiyun focused his gaze, and indeed, Daoist Master Buzi''s me was noticeably smaller. It has changed from a pale gray to bright white, with the patterns on themp base interweaving between dark and light.
Only Chi Zhiyun and Ning Hejing were in the cave, both looking grim. Ning Hejing spoke in a low voice, "I have already inquired; the Daoist Master left the sect earlier without leaving any message."
Chi Buzi was Chi Zhiyun''s great-grandfather, and Chi Zhiyun''s lineage was the maternal family of Ning Hejing''s branch. The two grew up together, their interests closely intertwined, making them almost like real brothers.
As soon as Chi Zhiyun became sect master, Ning Hejing was appointed as the peak master of Yuanxing Peak, gaining significant influence within the sect. Now that there was an issue with Chi Buzi, he was naturally worried.
"Do Daoist Masters Yuanwu and Yuan Xiu know of this?" Chi Zhiyun blurted out suddenly.
Ning Hejing shook his head and replied, "Rest assured, n Brother. I have sealed off this information immediately. The two disciples guarding themps are trusted members and will not leak this news. As of now, only Daoist Master Yuan Su is aware."
"Good." Chi Zhiyun praised him and spected in a low voice, "Now that devil cultivators are running rampant, without the Man On Creek, they cannot be contained. Xiao Chuting is trapped in the Eastern Sea, and the Daoist Master must have gone to find him."
Chi Zhiyun tapped the edge of the table anxiously and muttered, "Could it be Zhang Tianyuan? What is his Golden Feather Sect thinking? Do they not fear ruining things?!"
"That is not necessarily so!"
A clear voice echoed through the cave.
Chi Zhiyun and Ning Hejing both rxed, respectfully stepping aside as they greeted the neer.
"Wee, Daoist Master."
Daoist Master Yuan Su, dressed in green, his robe looser with a small white seal at his waist and a slightly rounded face, spoke softly, "Zhang Qiushui of Golden Feather Sect has mastered the Moistening Radiant Lead life divine ability, which can also attract these devil cultivators... just not as effectively as Man On Creek or Heavy Murk. The matter of the True Monarch is crucial; it will not be entirely entrusted to the three of us."
Chi Zhiyun and Ning Hejing both bowed their heads respectfully. Daoist Master Yuan Su continued, "However, without at least five or six Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, it is impossible to detain Buzi. Zhang Tianyuan cannot orchestrate such a formation; at most, he would cause Buzi some trouble."
Daoist Master Yuan Su appeared unconcerned, smiling as he continued, "Buzi is just like my senior brother was in life, now having reached the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. Over the decades, he has be arrogant and conceited, yet also inherently greedy... Though he is calcting, it is rare for him to suffer setbacks. It will not be a problem!"
Chi Zhiyun and Ning Hejing, not daring to interrupt, shrank back like quails. After a moment, they finally suggested, "Daoist Master, maybe you should deduce it..."
They only dared to ask due to Daoist Master Yuan Su''s mild temperament. Daoist Master Yuan Su merely shrugged and replied, "He is cautious, leaving no traces in the Great Void, and his cultivation is high. I possess the divine abilities of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, not the fate-determining power of a Maha... what could I use to deduce?"
He shook his head and joked, "If he is dead and his divine abilities dissipate, I might be able to deduce something."
Chi Zhiyun and Ning Hejing exchanged nces, clearly not amused. Daoist Master Yuan Su shrugged, reached out to trace the air in front of him, and stepped into the Great Void, his voice still echoing in their ears.
"He most likely got caught up in something while rescuing Xiao Chuting in the Eastern Sea. I will go check it out."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense was even more formidable than expected, forcefully entering Chi Buzi''s sea of consciousness, and disorienting his soul. Chi Buzi, being from an immortal sect with considerable experience, quickly realized he was facing a highly skilled cultivator.
Activating a secret technique, he gathered his spiritual sense and called out, "I am a disciple under the Pristine Water Origin Talisman True Monarch... I do not know which senior is before me, but if I have offended you, please forgive me!"
Despite being several hundred years old and seasoned, Chi Buzi was not intimidated by Lu Jiangxian''s overwhelming presence. He observed closely and discerned that Lu Jiangxian was all bluster. If it were not for his high intrinsic rank, Chi Buzi would not have felt threatened.
He spoke politely while thinking to himself, This old man appears to be an ancient cultivator who has fallen on hard times... if I could kill him, the rewards would definitely elevate me to greatness!
Lu Jiangxian, however, remained silent, his divine sense ruthlessly overwhelming Chi Buzi. Although Chi Buzi''s spiritual sense was not as strong, he had arge quantity of it, and he resisted stubbornly, continuing to shout out, "May I know which metallic essence the senior cultivate?"
No matter how Chi Buzi inquired, Lu Jiangxian did not respond, relentlessly pursuing him. Chi Buzi had not anticipated that Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense would be so unyielding, causing him to retreat repeatedly.
After about an incense stick''s time, Chi Buzi began to grow anxious.
"Senior, be cautious... I am known to the True Monarch, and if something happens to me, it will surely rm him!"
Ignoring him, Lu Jiangxian continued his aggressive assault, finally grabbing him tightly as he sighed with relief, If this were within the world of the mirror, eliminating him would be a matter of a single thought... but here in his Shenyang Mansion, it took so much effort!
Seeing Chi Buzi still struggling, Lu Jiangxian made up his mind. Using the bacsh from the Yin Quarters Nine Hills Heart Questioning Spell, he began to read Chi Buzi''s memories.
Chapter 406: Water Mansion Immortal Official (II)
Chapter 406: Water Mansion Immortal Official (II)
Just as he had this thought, Lu Jiangxian felt uneasy, and a clear pool appeared hazily before his eyes, startling him.
"Of course, there is still the Pristine Water!"
He was in Chi Buzi''s sea of consciousness; not within his own mirror world. Lu Jiangxian knew that reading Chi Buzi''s memories would alert the True Monarch of the Azure Pond Sect...
I can''t kill him... Since I can''t erase his memories, I''ll nt a shamanic spell in his spiritual sense!
Lu Jiangxian waved his hand, condensing the dense moonlight and setting up a bacsh monitoring spell. He reluctantly extracted a string of talisman qi.
I''ll tie you to my boat so you can''t go running to Pristine Water to tattle!
After setting up severalyers of precautions to ensure that Chi Buzi would be utterly destroyed if the spell activated, Lu Jiangxian had a sudden inspiration. He used his divine sense to bring forth an object.
This was a piece extracted from the soul of Maha Jinlian, purified numerous times by Lu Jiangxian''s moonlight. It was now nk and shining white.
A bold idea arose in Lu Jiangxian''s mind, almost making him quiver with excitement.
Why not... rece him with a substitute... make him one of my own...
After careful consideration, Lu Jiangxian shook his head. Chi Buzi, after all, was associated with Pristine Water. If the sect discovered something was amiss upon his return, it would spell disaster for Lu Jiangxian.
Then apromise¡ªcreate a friend out of him!
He took the glowing orb and embedded it with fabricated memories, including various exalted immortals and immortal courts from past lives, checking everything thoroughly.
Satisfied with his work, he also altered the shamanic spell in Chi Buzi''s Shenyang Mansion, linking it to the soul fragment of Maha Jinlian. After reviewing it, he was extremely pleased with his handiwork.
"It''s wless!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
On Mount Lijing.
The continuous sound of blood tears falling from Chi Buzi''s body had stopped, leaving an eerie silence that made even the faintest sound audible.
"Hmm..."
Daoist Master Buzi pushed open the door and stumbled forward, a strange smile on his face. He leaned against the doorframe, taking another step out.
Buzi!
Li Yuanjiao''s mind was racing with rm bells.
The Daoist Master in green robes stepped forward, his eyes closed, the blood tears having ceased. Buzi then exhaled deeply, stiffly turning his head toward the members of the Li Family.
Li Yuanjiao felt his legs go numb and a chill run down his spine, raising the hair on the back of his neck.
At that moment, Buzi''s face was divided; one side was clean and sharp-featured, while the other side was distorted and covered in fine white fur with the muscles twitching slightly. His ears were elongated and drooped downward.
His eyelids moved slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes, revealing empty ck sockets with bulging green veins around them, the red-purple eyelids struggling to open.
"G... Greetings, Daoist Master!" Li Yuanjiao''s hoarse voice echoed in the courtyard.
Buzi stared nkly at him for several breaths before speaking, "What Daoist Master? I am an Immortal Official under themand of the Immortal Lord at the Water Mansion of Dangjiang Creek.... What era is this? Where is the Immortal Court? Which is the nearest Water Mansion?..."
Buzi took a moment to examine his body before eximing, "After waiting so long to obtain a Purple Mansion Realm body, why is it still a damn devil cultivator?! How can devil cultivators run rampant in broad daylight in this era?"
The Li Family stared at him, dumbfounded. Buzi looked at them impatiently and asked, "Are you recipients of the talisman? Which sect do you belong to?"
Li Yuanjiao was still processing Buzi''s words when Buzi suddenly stepped back, muttering, "No, I need to find a Water Mansion and reim my immortal position!"
He shouted, "You little yellow hats, quickly open this broken formation before I break it with a single palm, making you cry all over the ce!"
Li Yuanjiao, observing Buzi''s behavior, felt a sudden jolt of fear in his heart as his mind raced with thoughts.
Could it be that Chi Buzi has been possessed by some being with Metallic Essence? This entity keeps talking about a Water Mansion; who knows how ancient it is... no wonder Chi Buzi looks so disheveled! But... why isn''t this being using the Great Void to travel..?
Since Chi Buzi was possessed, Li Yuanjiao wanted this disaster to leave as soon as possible. He quickly deactivated the formation, revealing the dark night sky.
"Good! You little yellow hats are sensible!"
The Metallic Essence spirit was overjoyed and flew away like a shooting star, leaving a loudugh behind.
"Visit my Water Mansion of Dangjiang Creek another day, and I will surely reward you with merit!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Chi Buzi then left the Li Family, flying south. As Lu Jiangxian''s residual power waned, his expression grew increasingly bizarre. He suddenly stopped, shouting aloud, "What Metallic Essence fiend is this?!"
As soon as he spoke, he became furious and pped himself on the face with incredible force, shouting, "Audacious! The Daoist Lord is an Immortal Official of the Water Mansion of Dangjiang Creek, not some fiend!"
Chi Buzi was shocked, raising his hand to press against his Shenyang Mansion. Halfway through the motion, his hand stopped in mid-air, as if struggling against an invisible force. Chi Buzi warned, "I am a disciple under the Pristine Water True Monarch, you fiend... stop this! I will find you a good body!"
"Body? I want yours!"
The soul remnant left by Lu Jiangxian, infused with Maha Jinlian''s personality, was chaotic and unruly, spewing profanities endlessly.
But Chi Buzi ignored him, focusing on controlling his hand toward his Shenyang Mansion. As the original owner of the body and a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, he was slowly gaining the upper hand.
Seeing itself losing, the immortal officialughed coldly, and a bright spell mark rose within Chi Buzi''s soul.
Try moving again! I''ll detonate this spell and escape with Metallic Essence, then I''ll see what you can do!
Chi Buzi looked down in disbelief, muttering, "How is this possible..?!"
What''s impossible? What did you think I was doing when I took control of your body earlier? You can try, see if you can exterminate me faster than I can detonate this formation!
The immortal official, thinking it was a remnant of metallic essence, felt triumphant, no longer controlling Chi Buzi, allowing him tond by a stream.
It continued, I''ve waited in that yellow hat''s mind for decades, finally using that Supreme Yin Moonlight to lure you! A pity that you''re a devil cultivator... why didn''t you hide properly instead of wandering around seeking death? I won''t hold it against you devil cultivators as long as you take me to a Water Mansion and send me to the Immortal Court... maybe I''ll even petition the Immortal Court to give you a chance at survival.
Chi Buzi suddenlyughed maniacally, angered. He immersed his spiritual sense into his Shenyang Mansion, cursing at the white glowing circle, "What nonsense! What Immortal Court? What Water Mansion?! You are full of ancient, unheard-of nonsense! What kind of era is this? Stupid... fool!"
He cursed angrily, then suddenly paused, greed rising in his heart.
Before him, several objects that were neither talismans nor seals, floated within the glowing circle, glowing dully. A sweet fragrance of fate, blood qi, and incense filled the air.
What... What is this?
Chapter 407: Departure (I)
Chapter 407: Departure (I)
The object, neither talisman nor seal, flipped and hovered slightly before condensing into a small bluish-gray orb that emitted shes of mana light. It was easy to tell at first nce that it was no mundane artifact; it was the very treasure Li Yuanjiao remembered his family had discovered in a cave dwelling.
"I see... This was that person''sst resort."
Chi Buzi recognized it instantly. After observing it briefly, he took a moment to chastise himself for his earlier greed. Who would have guessed that the Supreme Yin Moonlight was a lure set by that old schemer?
Suppressing his greed, Chi Buzi thought to himself, This old thing is probably an ancient monster by now... I shouldn''t rush things and coax out his secrets first. Maybe within them lies my opportunity to form a core and acquire my own essence!
The shamanic spell was still rooted deep within his soul, yet Chi Buzi felt no fear as he focused on the talisman qi.
It''s a mere shamanic spell... In eighty-three years, when the True Monarch emerges from his seclusion, this spell can be dispelled easily. But securing that ancient relic is truly a treasure, I must secure it before meeting the True Monarch!
While he contemted his next move, the Water Mansion Immortal Official suddenly grew vignt and snapped, "What concern is it of yours? This is the legacy of the immortal position bestowed by the Immortal Court! It''s mine alone to im... Don''t even think about it!"
However, Chi Buzi was not really listening to him. He was fixated on the promise hidden within his words¡ªA legacy of an immortal position! A chance at the Dao Embryo!
Breathing heavily, Chi Buzi''s thoughts raced with possibilities.
Could it be true? Does this ancient being truly believe in the Immortal Court? If so, how can I ensure my safety against Pristine Water? The True Monarch is ruthless¡ªonce he learns of this, the Azure Pond Sect won''t protect me... It could mean more than just my demise.
Chi Buzi was adept at quick thinking. Within moments, he had weighed all possible oues.
In this case, it''s better to vanish overseas and plot quietly in secret to im this legacy than to be silenced or killed.
He rubbed his tired eyes, only then noticing his horrible state. He organized his thoughts.
I Investigated the Moongaze Lake, searched the soul of a Li Family member... and fell into the trap of this old thing...
His divine abilities were impaired, and chaotic moonlight energy surged through his body¡ªa direct consequence of his daring gaze upon the immortal position.
A decade or so of recovery should suffice.
Despite the potential risks, Chi Buzi felt indifferent; encountering such ancient relics was worth any personal loss, especially since the power of the immortal position seemed extraordinary at first encounter.
"First, I need to restore my eyes."
Rolling up his sleeves, Chi Buzi began scooping up some river mud, deftly molding it into two thumb-sized balls which he then inserted into his empty eye sockets.
The two mud balls fitted into his sockets nicely. Closing his eyes, he performed a hand seal and cast a divine ability. A burst of colorful light emerged, and when he opened his eyes again, the mud balls had be real eyeballs that could move around.
This will suffice for now! I must have damaged my eyes by gazing directly at that immortal position... I''ll craft proper recements once I return to my sect for some blood qi.
Now with his new eyes, Chi Buzi''s vision had be clearer and his mind turned sharper.
Although he had tasted the formidable power of the ancient being when he assaulted his sea of consciousness, Chi Buzi remained skeptical.
Could the Dao Embryo legacy really be so easily obtained? I could not even scan it with my spiritual sense, who knows what it is? If Pristine Water believes this, I''ll be as good as dead.
As this thought crossed his mind, Chi Buzi''s expression hardened as if recalling something.
"Old thing, is the Li Family even aware of your existence?" he asked.
"I''ve hidden in their house for decades but never spoken to any of them and have long erased their memories," the Water Mansion Immortal Official replied nonchntly.
The Immortal Official''s tone was dismissive, but for Chi Buzi, it was a matter concerning his own safety. He whispered fiercely, "I''ll go silence them and reim the divine ability that I''ve leaked while I''m at it!"
Although Azure Pond and Mount Dali had promised not to perform blood sacrifice in the northern foothills, there was no problem in killing a few mortals. As for the divine power, it was referring to the scattered blood beads on the ground.
Chi Buzi was not after those spirit items, knowing they would soon dissipate. However, he feared they might be exploited by others. He opened the void, only to be stopped by the Immortal Official''s harsh admonition.
"How dare youmit such acts that defy the natural order!"
His words carried weight, and after counting silently to four, Chi Buzi sighed deeply and reluctantly halted, replying coldly, "What an old-fashioned man you are! We, who possess divine abilities, are not the same as those mere mortals and lowly cultivators... How absurd it is for us to be bound by the same moral constraints fabricated by the mundane world!"
The Immortal Official snorted coldly and was about to respond when Chi Buzi cut in sharply, "Let me ask you this, old thing... When the heavens and the earth were first formed, were there any morals,ws, or honor when there was nothing but the vastnd?"
Caught off guard, the Immortal Official responded, "There were none."
Chi Buzi smiled coldly and then continued, "In the earliest days of humanity, those who emerged first were revered, while those who followed were deemed lesser. The powerful became emperors; the meek, their ves. The so-called morality was nothing more than a set of rules crafted by the revered to control the lesser, by emperors to dominate their subjects, and by elders to discipline the young."
He continued, "When the elders died, and the young became wiser and ascended to power, they preserved the established order. Over time, it morphed into a system of superiority and inferiority, morality and etiquette."
"Morality andws are mere constructs; they exist if you believe in them and vanish if you don''t. Now, as a revered figure with divine abilities, I can set my own rules. Why should I bow to the whims of those long gone?" he challenged.
The Immortal Official retorted in anger, "ughtering the innocent and disrupting the peace of heaven... Do you not fear the repercussions of karma?"
Chi Buzi scoffed and muttered darkly, "Karma? It is but a toy in the hands of the Mahas, and the people are mere livestock under my divine abilities. How adorable do you think these creatures are? They despise me, yet they would eagerly take my ce."
With a sinister smile, he added, "As for the repercussions, it''s nothing more than a feeble cry... a pitiful delusion."
Despite the distance, Chi Buzi''s location was still within the perception of Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense. With the help of the shamanic spell in his soul and his own divine sense, Lu Jiangxian could read every thought in his mind.
"THis is the only thing I can do since Chi Buzi''s visit was too abrupt..."
With talisman qi that could elude even a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, Lu Jiangxian tried to bluff in away that would entice a potential Golden Core Realm cultivator. As long as Chi Buzi did not dare to gamble with Pristine Water''s vision, it was naturally impossible for him to report anything.
The soul of the Immortal Official, though under Lu Jiangxian''s influence, retained considerable autonomy. Armed withplete knowledge of Immortal Court systems from his past life and the Sacrificial Rituals Method''s instructions in the mirror, he had managed to deceive Chi Buzi for the time being.
If contradictions arose, the Immortal Official would assume his fragmented memories were to me, rather than suspect that his soul had been fabricated by another.
As long as Chi Buzi refrained from probing into the Pristine Water, the ever-watchful soul would ensure any slip led swiftly to his demise, which was far preferable to falling at Moongaze Lake.
"Once I finish using this man and ensure they won''t be able to track me down, things will be easier."
Lu Jiangxian rxed, a hint of anticipation coloring his face.
Chapter 408: Departure (II)
Chapter 408: Departure (II)
The Immortal Official''s inquiry into today''s events will certainly extend to the cultivation method and other secret techniques of the Azure Pond. He might even uncover aspects only essible to those of the Purple Mansion Realm... Once Chi Buzi ventures to Moongaze Lake, I''ll connect to his soul and extract his memories.
Surveying the area around Moongaze Lake with his divine sense, Lu Jiangxian sifted through the family treasuries. While there was nothing new, the Ding Family had a new set of legacies that included a Grade Two cultivation method of little significance.
Nevertheless, Lu Jiangxian noted down the cultivation technique before leisurely returning to the mirror. Chi Buzi''s blood beads were still rolling on the ground.
These could be useful...
Although the beads contained only a modest amount of Chi Buzi''s divine abilities, the shamanic path excelled in harnessing dharma blood. The abundant quantity was more than sufficient for Lu Jiangxian''s purposes.
Just a bit more persuasion is needed for the Li Family to surrender them to me...
Aside from divine sense and the Supreme Yin Moonlight, the mirror''s ability to interact with the outside world was limited. Unless someone triggered the mirror''s fate, it was impossible for it to move, let alone pull someone into the realm within it.
Lu Jiangxian, though desiring the blood beads, had to wait for the Li Family to offer them to him.
Li Yuanjiao and the others watched Chi Buzi ride the wind and disappear into the distance, exchanging surprised nces.
"An official from the Dangjiang Creek Water Mansion? An Immortal Mansion?"
"It must be the reincarnation of some metallic essence..." spected another.
The Li Family was more knowledgeable now.
Li Yuanping nodded in agreement.
"Brother is right, but considering what we''ve seen at home, how could it manifest a metallic essence...?"
They stopped abruptly, exchanging knowing looks with each other before swiftly changing the subject.
"The one possessing the Daoist Master''s body seems reasonable enough, but who knows what he might do next."
Li Xuanxuan, noticeably more rxed, wiped the sweat from his brow and added softly, "I''m also unsure if this Daoist Master will regain consciousness and seek revenge. We must prepare for all possibilities..."
Turning to Li Yuanjiao, he asked, "What do you think about relocating overseas?"
Li Yuanjiao shook his head slowly and replied, "We would need at least two family members at the Foundation Establishment Realm to consider establishing a branch overseas. Currently, sending anyone would be futile¡ªthey''d merely be marching to their demise."
He paused, then proposed, "Why don''t we discreetly send Ximing to the Xiao Family to consult with Ancestor Yuansi? We could have Ximing fostered under his tutge in the guise of practicing alchemy."
Li Yuanjiao gradually regained hisposure and continued borating, "Ancestor Yuansi is a warm and generous elder. Under his guidance, Ximing will surely thrive, learning much more than he would at home."
"Moreover, should disaster befall the Li Family and we face annihtion, the Purple Mansion would surely attempt to erase us. Without divine abilities, fleeing would be futile. Xiao Chuting, who has sheltered Chen Taojing, a suspected remnant of the immortal sect, will likely use his divine abilities to conceal Ximing''s whereabouts as well, ensuring our family''s legacy endures," he added.
Li Xuanxuan sighed as he sat down.
"Ancestor Yuansi has already done much for our family... The debt of gratitude we owe is immense, and I would not involve him further unless absolutely necessary."
Li Yuanping, who had been listening quietly, nodded slightly, then cupped his fist and excused himself.
"I will make the necessary arrangements."
Li Xuanxuan gave him a nod, then turned back to Li Yuanjiao.
"In these perilous times, perhaps you should take the mirror, seal the ancestral hall, and retreat to Mount Wutu for safety."
Li Yuanjiao performed a hand seal, then carefully collected the red beads from the ground and ced them in a jade box. Once done, he picked up one and examined it in the moonlight.
The bead''s radiant red hue, shadowed by a faint gray mist, shone particrly brightly. Staring at it for an extended period stirred a deep-seated sense of unease and irritability within him, feelings that were difficult to put into words.
As soon as he secured the beads, Li Yuanjiao felt the talisman seed within him stir and was immediately delighted.
Oh, they can be used as an offering in the sacrificial ritual..? I knew these were good stuff!
"This is a serious matter. We must consult the mirror," he replied to Li Xuanxuan.
With that, he activated theplex formation, entered the ancestral hall, and pushed open the heavy stone door. He kneeled and bowed deeply before the mirror.
"I, Li Yuanjiao, the disciple of the Li Family that is beset by cmity and faces great peril, respectfully request the Profound Light to protect and preserve... I pray for your supreme guidance..."
Afterpleting the ritual and offering deep bows, the mirror''s light gradually dimmed before descending before him, indicating his prayer''s sess.
Li Yuanjiao had studied several books of prayers from the mirror, dedicating himself to understanding these mystical incantations. He often wondered why the mirror required such borate rituals, assuming it was a reflection of its exceedingly high status.
However, his recent encounter with a metallic essence iming that he was the Immortal Official from the Dangjiang Creek Water Mansion governed by the Immortal Lord, had left him deeply unsettled. Piecing together all he knew about the mirror, a startling possibility emerged.
Perhaps this mirror serves a vast immortal mansion in a realm beyond our skies! Maybe it is merely a medium formunicating with this distant celestial realm...
If this were truly the case, then everything made sense! Perhaps Chi Buzi had inadvertently met a specific criterion¡ªmaybe an offense against the Immortal Mansion or he was destined to be a physical sacrifice, thus allowing an Immortal Official to descend to the mortal realm!
With these thoughts unraveling in his mind, the potential of mighty forces behind the scenes slowly became apparent. Li Yuanjiao dared not speak of his suspicions aloud but held them close in his heart.
Feeling a surge of excitement, he wondered, Does expressing our gratitude to Supreme Yin meant... we''ll be able to reach the immortal mansion as long as our cultivation is high enough...?
Suppressing his wild spections, Li Yuanjiao carefully stored the mirror and exited the backyard. He nodded to his father and announced respectfully, "I''m going to Mount Wutu to cultivate!"
Li Xuanxuan exhaled deeply, nodding in return as he watched his son leave. He then proceeded to close up the formations, ensuring all traces were concealed within the secret chamber before leaving to meditate as well.
As soon as Li Yuanjiao returned to Wutu Peak, he was greeted warmly by Xiao Guiluan.
"How was it?"
Li Yuanjiao shook his head and replied, "Nothing to worry about, it was just a false rm."
He quickly changed the subject.
"The family ns to send Ximing to the Xiao Family to study alchemy... I''ll need you to make the journey as well."
"Understood," Xiao Guiluan responded sinctly, taking to the winds without further question.
Li Yuanjiao felt a pang of guilt and unease in his heart. Xiao Guiluan trusted himpletely, yet he had to keep secrets from her.
After all, having experienced it firsthand and hearing it from Li Tongya, the talisman seed could indeed protect against the Purple Mansion Realm Cultivator''s deceptions. Only those who received the seed could lie directly to Purple Mansion Realm cultivators without fear of detection.
Xiao Guiluan did not have such protection from a talisman seed, and knowing too much would probably only endanger her.
"Hm?" Li Yuanjiao paused, a sudden thought striking him.
The Yu Family has been too quiet!
Compelled to investigate, he took out the bluish-gray mirror and soared northeast, over mountains and forests, beforending at the Yu Family''s cave dwelling.
The highest cave, richest in spiritual qi, was heavily fortified by a grand formation. The entrance was also sealed tightly with multipleyers of spirit formations.
Inside, Li Yuanjiao found the cave floor littered with shiny jade fragments that were still rolling around. Blue, green, red... They scattered across the ground, reflecting off one another. The cave was also filled with various crystals from ceiling to floor, and the ground was nketed with fine white salt.
A skeleton, colored like jade but broken in half,y copsed. The upper section of the skeleton had fallen to the ground, cleanly severed, the cut so smooth and t it seemed almost polished.
Chapter 409: Settling (I)
Chapter 409: Settling (I)
"Yu Xiaogui is dead."
Li Yuanjiao had heard many rumors and lived through the death of his family''s ancestor. With a quick nce, he instantly grasped the situation at hand.
The two families had a blood feud, and Li Yuanjiao, feeling no sorrow, sighed in relief that the turmoil was finally settling.
"Fei Wangbai fell to an unknown swordsman. He fell with just a single attack... Yu Xiaogui met his end at the hands of my granduncle, armed with only a Huashang Fruit and his Qingche Sword... It took just a single strike too. The Three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of theke are now all dead..."
The Azure Pond Sect would not ease its grip on prestigious ns just because their Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had fallen. The tributes that were due would still be demanded under the guise of honoring past legacies. These families would still bebeled a prestigious n for another fifty years so that the sect could drain all their remaining resources before discarding them for good.
Should a few more Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators emerge in the Li Family or annex additional territories, their required tributes would undoubtedly increase, mirroring the substantial offerings made by the Yuan Family, who paid far more than the Li Family.
The scene of Yu Xiaogui''s death was strikingly magnificent, with jade scattered all across the ground. Li Yuanjiao observed in silence, then left the cave to survey the Yu Family''s territory for a while.
Under the Yu Family''s governance, conditions had significantly improved over the years. Now, at least, their subjects led decent lives. Despite Yu Mugao''s sinister and brutal nature, his bold reforms to the n system and his elevation ofmoners not born into the family all led to positive progress.
Understanding the situation, Li Yuanjiao put away the mirror. As the familiar stone wall of his cave dwelling came back into view, he murmured, "Chi Buzi''s visit has indeed unsettled my family... The long-term consequences of it are still unclear."
The day''s events had caused frustration to umte within him. Li Yuanjiao took the Qingche Sword from its ce and started practicing his sword techniques.
It was not until he had practiced for half the day that he felt the mounting pressures begin to dissipate, and he sensed a slight improvement in his skills.
Sitting cross-legged, he began to clean the sword. At that moment, a man in brown robes and a jade crown approached, his face breaking into a broad, respectful smile.
"n Brother! n Brother! Good news!"
It was none other than Shamoli. Despite being older than Li Yuanjiao, he had learned the ways of the world and preferred addressing Li Yuanjiao as his n brother with familiarity.
"n Brother! There''s good news from Lijing! Daoist Master Chuting has appeared in Mount Yu and vanquished dozens of devil cultivators lurking over there! He has already returned to Xianyou Peak... The devil cultivators in the Xiao Family''s territory have scattered, fleeing in all directions!"
Xiao Chuting has returned!
Li Yuanjiao silently sighed in relief, a smile breaking across his face.
With Xiao Chuting inmand, the Xiao Family''s plight will be solved... My family will be safer as well.
With that in mind, he patted Shamoli''s shoulder and replied, "That''s indeed good news! Keep watch for a while; I''ll cultivate in seclusion now."
Shamoli then nodded and silently withdrew.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
As news spread, the cultivators on the mountain breathed a sigh of relief and the crowds at the foot of the mountain rejoiced. They did not understand the intricacies of the struggle but knew that the Xiao Family backed the Li Family. Hence, the return of such an important figure was naturally a cause for celebration.
The generation of Yuan and Qing, who held important positions across various mountains and towns, were ted too. Having returned to Lijing to report on their duties, they gathered in Li Yuanping''s central hall to offer their congrattions.
The generation of Yuan and Qing originally numbered over ten, but now nine remained. Excluding Yuanjiao and Qinghong in the mountains, and Yuanping who managed family affairs, most of them were Li Xuanxuan''s concubine-born children.
There were four sons and two daughters¡ªthe eldest was thirty, and the youngest just over ten, each holding a significant role within the family. Two among them possessed spiritual orifices, though their talents paled inparison to even Li Yuanping''s and were nearly indistinguishable from mortals.
"Greetings, Family Head!"
This group, representing nearly half of the Li Family''s worldly influence, gathered in the hall. Li Yuanping greeted them with a warm smile and helped his siblings to their feet.
Their unruliness during Li Yuanxiu''s reign hadpletely vanished. Everyone had a warm smile on their face and was devoted to the family.
It was not that Li Yuanping was better at leading the family than Li Yuanxiu; it was rather because his siblings had married, settled down, and started families of their own.
The distinction between those with spiritual orifices and ordinary mortals was profound. While it was challenging to produce heirs with such rare traits, these siblings endeavored to conceive them, aiming to nurture children as remarkable as their father, Li Xuanxuan.
ording to the Li Family''s rules, concubine-born children from the major sect identified with spiritual orifices by the age of six could be sent to the mountains for training. With their precious children cultivating on the mountain, the parents naturally shifted their allegiances to be staunch supporters of the main lineage.
This was a strategy Li Yuanping understood well. By boldly promoting key positions, he eased his own burdens considerably. Over the years, his warm rtionships with his brothers had greatly strengthened their bonds.
With augh, he chirped, "Although this is good news, all of you shouldn''t have gone out of your way to make this trip."
After exchanging pleasantries, the group pushed forward a man with a broad, round face¡ªthe eldest son born to Li Xuanxuan from a concubine. After some extended conversation, one of them said, "There are still untapped talents within our family, talents that have been overlooked and underutilized by the n... We''vee to bring them to your attention, Family Head!"
"Oh?"
Li Yuanping''s interest was instantly piqued.
The man continued, "These two brothers are the sons of Master An... They are also part of the Li Family."
He motioned, and two teenagers, about thirteen or fourteen years old, stepped forward. Dressed in cloaks with their hair neatly tied back, they wore gold bracelets on their wrists and had round faces with dark eyes.
Both bowed formally as they greeted him respectfully.
"An Siwei greets the Family Head!"
"An Siming greets the Family Head!"
They were the only children of An Zheyan and Li Feiruo. The siblings both possessed spiritual orifices and had attained the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm by the ages of thirteen and fourteen!
However, their aura seemed unsteady, indicating they had only recently achieved this breakthrough. Nevertheless, their progress still astounded everyone.
Li Yuanping studied them intently and suddenly eximed in surprise, "Both of you... are cultivating the
Guardian of the Courtly Path technique?!"
Both brothers nodded, prompting Li Yuanping to secretly sigh in relief.
No wonder they''ve advanced so quickly... The Guardian of the Courtly Path is known for elerating progress in the Embryonic Breathing Realm while slowing Qi Cultivation; but it''s impressive nheless.
Although they can''t match An Jingming''s progress at fourteen, they''re still better than many of our external cultivators. Not just the Chen n, but their speed also matched even those in my family who have received a talisman seed!
He shook his head and stated firmly, "Given your current level of cultivation, I don''t have any responsibilities for you."
The other siblings and the An brothers were dismayed upon hearing Li Yuanping''s statement. Li Yuanping, however, continued, "I''ll write a letter to find a cave dwelling on Mount Huazhong for you two to focus on your cultivation so you can swiftly achieve the Qi Cultivation Realm... The n will have significant duties for you by then!"
"Yes!"
The brothers readily responded, clearly ted upon hearing this.
Li Yuanping immediately wrote the letter. The An brothers epted it and respectfully withdrew.
Chapter 410: Settling (II)
Chapter 410: Settling (II)
Meanwhile at the Xiao Residence...
Xiao Chuting broke through the void and descended lightly atop Xianyou Peak. The water in the cold pool was crystal clear and icy as usual. Sitting down, he gazed at a mountain rock across the bank, lost in thought.
Battles of wit had left him exhausted. As Xiao Chuting settled on the rock, he was suddenly reminded of his dead elder brother, Xiao Chuchou.
The brother, with whom he had discussed current events and changes in the world by that pool for years, had been consumed by him and transformed into one of his half-realized divine abilities.
Xiao Chuting knew in his heart that even if he had not consumed Xiao Chuchou, his brother''s days were numbered due to his old age. Xiao Xianyou had orchestrated everything masterfully, making the best use of every resource.
There''s no turning back...
Devil cultivators had wreaked havoc, and Xiao Chuting ensured that those of the Qi Cultivation and Embryonic Breathing Realms on Mount Yu Qi met their ends in both miserable and humiliating ways.
Despite his efforts, he could not pursue the demon cultivators who had fled to the Purple Smoke Gate for revenge. Instead, he was left to vent his frustration by eliminating just a few of their masses.
Thend of Jiangnan was exceptionally fertile with deep earth veins enriching it. nting a few seedlings guaranteed a bountiful harvest the next year. Although tens of thousands had perished on Mount Yu, the poption would flourish again within a few generations, much like crops. Therefore, the losses sustained by the Xiao Family were rtively minor.
Despite his many sessful schemes over the years to turn small investments intorge profits, the old man''s face remained gloomy. He could never quite satisfy his ambitions. Silently, he picked up his white jade fishing rod and began to fish.
After a long while, a messenger arrived, announcing that Xiao Guitu, the family head, hade to pay his respects to the old ancestor.
Xiao Chuting hummed in acknowledgment. Xiao Guitu quickly ascended the mountain path, dressed in casual clothes. With a happy look on his face, he said respectfully, "Junior Guitu greets the Daoist Master!"
"Hm."
Xiao Chuting gave him a brief nce and asked, "Chi Buzi looked for you?"
Xiao Guitu bowed and replied, "With the protection of the dharma artifact from the old ancestor, I didn''t fail too badly before the Daoist Master of Azure Pond. However, I was still influenced by his divine ability. I also asked Guiluan regarding the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of the Li Family."
Xiao Chuting shook his head gently and replied, "That''s fine. Chi Buzi has since returned to the Azure Pond Sect after visiting Moongaze Lake... We don''t know if he was injured, but he had likely retreated hastily after being warned by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of the Li Family."
Xiao Guitu nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "What of Mount Dali''s demon den?"
Xiao Chuting remained silent for a moment before responding evasively, "Send someone to the South Sea to fetch Xiao Yuansi, so Guiluan need not wait any longer."
"Understood!" Xiao Guitu replied and respectfully withdrew.
Xiao Guiluan had stayed with the Xiao Family at the foot of Xianyou Peak for just over half a month, reconnecting with old acquaintances to gather information about Mount Yu.
Her father, learning it involved the Xiao and Li ns, adamantly refused to meet with Li Qingxiao.
Yet, with dozens of Spirit Stones presented, the door that was once closed suddenly opened, transforming formal strangers into eagerly weed guests.
Xiao Guiluan was not surprised by his father''s greed and spitefulness. It seemed that with the right incentive¡ªparticrly an expensive gift and Xiao Guitu''s tacit approval¡ªa door once closed could indeed be opened.
With Xiao Guitu''s ndestine support, arrangements concerning Mount Yu proceeded smoothly, and Xianyou Peak even dispatched a few guest cultivators to stabilize the situation.
Good news continued to arrive. While Xiao Guiluan wondered how much longer she would have to wait for Xiao Yuansi to return to Xianyou Peak, she received news of his imminent return.
Perhaps Xiao Chuting''s presence allowed for the reallocation of resources, facilitating Xiao Yuansi''s reassignment from the South Sea.
Xiao Guiluan quickly sought an audience with Xiao Yuansi, who readily epted. Subsequently, Xiao Guiluan entrusted an alchemy furnace to Li Ximing, asking him to remain with the Xiao Family, then bade farewell and departed.
Upon her return to Li Residence, she learned that Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong, the Li Family''s main pirs, were cultivating in seclusion. Understanding that the family''s situation had stabilized, she was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Two years swiftly passed. Li Yuanjiao had been waiting for news from the Azure Pond Sect, but heard nothing nor did their Purple Mansion Realm cultivator appear in the sky as he feared. Day and night, he wondered if the Immortal Official managed to deceive the sect. With no catastrophic developments, he finally felt a measure of relief.
The devil gue had also diminished, no longer presenting the collective threat it once did while it was ravaging several prefectures. Now, the scattered devil cultivators spread malevolence throughout the Yue, Wu and Xu States, leading to a steady stream of smaller, yet more frequent disasters.
During this period, some devil cultivators infiltrated the Li Family''s territory. Thanks to the family''s thorough and detailed household registration system, these invaders were quickly discovered after harming just one or two people. These Embryonic Breathing Realm devil cultivators proved not particrly formidable and were easy to eliminate.
The Li Family''s sacrificial ritual that took ce every five years was approaching once again. With Chi Buzi''s blood beads, the preparations this time were even more borate. ess to Mount Dali was heavily restricted. Li Qinghong, having emerged from her seclusion after advancing to the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, was tasked with the preparations of this ritual.
The Li Family now boasted a plentiful number of Qi Cultivators. However, due to the secretive nature of their sacrificial ritual, seeking external assistance would necessitate fabricating an borate tale. Therefore, the main family opted to undertake the task themselves, starting with a search around Moongaze Lake.
The bottom of Moongaze Lake shimmered. Dark waters flowed, swirling up clouds of gray silt. Li Qinghong and Li Yuanjiao stood in the water, their mana light deliberately dimmed to blend with the underwater shadows, waiting patiently.
Li Qinghong''s jade armor, an heirloom of the An Family, was enchanted with a Water Avoidance Spell, providing herfort in the water. Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao''s mastery of the River One Qi Technique enabled him to navigate the water as naturally as a fish.
Moongaze Lake was deep and teeming with demonic creatures that had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. After two months of meticulous searching, the pair finally encountered a catfish demon of no significant background.
Glug, glug...
As the distant waters rushed in, Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong exchanged a knowing nod.
Suddenly, they spotted a beast swimming swiftly through the dark waters, asrge as a hut, with its long whiskers flinging about. It opened its massive mouth to gulp water, swallowing several times before spitting out bone fragments.
Large, t forehead... Sticky, slippery saliva... It''s definitely a catfish demon.
This catfish demon, only at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and with a poor bloodline,cked significant legacy and intelligence. However, it excelled in water control and swam swiftly. Once startled, it could dart away instantly, making it nearly impossible for the duo to catch up to it underwater.
Beneath theke, demonic creatures of the Foundation Establishment Realm lurked, and this particr catfish demon, with its low intelligence, roamed the waters haphazardly. Should Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong inadvertently stray into the territory of another demon general, it could spell trouble for both of them.
Li Yuanjiao racked his brain for a while before deciding to rent a Qi Cultivation Realm water-aligned formation te known as the Muddy Water Talisman Flowing Formation from the Yuan Family. While the catfish demon foraged, he set up the formation in itsir and waited.
As the catfish demon blundered forward, Li Yuanjiao activated the formation. A blue light rippled open instantly and a greenish-blue barrier emerged from thekebed, seamlessly merging with the water, isting the areapletely.
Startled, the catfish swiftly turned and shot out like an arrow, only to collide with the Muddy Water Talisman Flowing Formation and causing the entire formation to shake slightly.
Since the catfish demon''s skin was thick, it showed no reaction of pain. After a moment''s pause, it attempted to flee again in a different direction.
"It''s done!" eximed Li Yuanjiao.
This demon, inexperienced in battles with cultivators and unfamiliar with formations, panicked. At that moment, Li Yuanjiao drew his sword and advanced.
Buzz...
His bright white sword qi sliced through theke, leaving two long waves in its wake. The catfish demon responded by expelling water from its mouth, which transformed into multiyered shields.
This spell was primitive, typical of a wild demonic creature with scant mana. The arc from Li Yuanjiao''s Celestial Moon sh technique cut through the water shields and pierced the catfish demon''s body, creating a small gash.
Despite itsrge size, and tough scales which had mucus and mana protection, the sword arc managed to still pierce through and damage the demon''s scales and bones. Writhing in pain, the catfish rolled on thekebed.
As Li Yuanjiao raised his sword to strike again, Li Qinghong quickly interjected, "Brother, your sword qi is too powerful, I fear you might identally kill this demon. My thunder techniques are better suited for capturing it alive. Shall I take over?"
Chapter 411: Engraved Stone (I)
Chapter 411: Engraved Stone (I)
"Fine," Li Yuanjiao said as he smiled and nodded, then stepped to the side.
Li Qinghong had been cultivating in seclusion for a long time. This was an opportunity for her to stretch and loosen her muscles.
Her face broke into a grin as she advanced, drawing her weapon. With practiced grace, she spun the spear that was radiating with a purple glow. Although she had fought many battles in theke, she did not immediately unleash her thunder. Instead, she slowly approached the catfish demon.
Thunder technique worked differentlypared to sword qi, which was the sharp qi derived from the metal element. Sword qi harmonized well with water, so it could work well under water.
On the other hand, thunder techniques were characterized by attributes of thunder and fire, as well as the dynamic bnce of yin and yang, where the yang manifested as lightning. Naturally, it was less effective when released in waterpared to onnd. Yet, it was still formidable enough for Li Qinghong to deal with a minor demon.
Li Qinghong activated the River Crossing Torrential Step, then lunged, targeting the demon''s underbelly with her spear.
The White Iris Spear was deadly, so she would not use it to deal with a mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm demon. The dharma weapon in her hand was instead a low-grade Qi Cultivation Realm spear.
Poof!
Li Yuanjiao had barely registered a tingling sensation on his face when a bright light suddenly shed, followed by the muffled sounds of an explosion. Water churned into froth and mud.
The catfish demon, caught off-guard, winced and recoiled. The spell it had been gathering in its mouth dispersed as it staggered backward, its whiskers stretched taut, emitting a piercing screech.
Li Qinghong pressed on now that she had gained her advantage. Her spear movements were swift and precise, killing the fish and prawns in the water and causing them to surface. The catfish demon, clearly outmatched, turned in panic and fled.
Li Yuanjiao, observing the scene before him, could not help but express his admiration.
"Thunder techniques are truly impressive! It''s rare in Jiangnan... If it didn''t shorten lifespans and harm the body, it would have been the most formidable offensive technique in our family," he remarked.
If their family had not acquired the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual recently, nothing could truly rival this Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique. Though the former was a Grade Four technique, brilliant and powerful as the sun, it might still fall short of the intimidating power of the thunder technique, which could overwhelm both the enemy and the wielder alike.
With that in mind, Li Yuanjiao recalled something else.
Xicheng has made remarkable strides in the past few years... He celebrated his twenty-sixth birthday just a few days ago with a breakthrough to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Meanwhile, Uncle Donghe hasn''t returned from the western desert...
Chen Donghe was expected to return in a year or two and likely be around when Li Xicheng entered the Qi Cultivation Realm. However, Ximing who was studying alchemy with the Xiao Family, and Xijun who was training on Meiche Peak showed remarkable talent. They were already close to reaching Li Xicheng''s level.
Ximing and Xijun have already reached the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm at just fourteen and fifteen... It seems likely they''ll advance to the Qi Cultivation Realm within the next five to seven years. If the Golden Yang Radiant Origin is bestowed upon Xicheng, then at least one of them won''t be able to receive this spiritual qi in time for their breakthrough.
With the devil gue rampant across thend andmunication from the west sporadic, gathering a portion of the Golden Yang Radiant Origin spiritual qi within the next seven years posed a significant challenge to them.
I better discuss this with Xicheng once I return!
By the time he regained hisposure, Li Qinghong was already returning, dragging along arge catfish behind her. The fish''s body, marked with patches of ck and white, was now rigid, with its cultivation sealed. Foam bubbled from its gaping mouth.
This demonic creature, struck by lightning and slightly charred, had regurgitated all sorts of things¡ªbits of fish, ducks, crabs, snakes, along with some fabric and driftwood... It also seemed like some of the fishermen on theke had fallen prey to it before.
"Hm."
Li Yuanjiao cast a nce at it before performing a hand seal to deactivate the isting barrier. The formation te on the ground slowly floated up, settling gently onto his hand.
"This Muddy Water Talisman Flowing Formation is quite useful and extremely isting... As long as the formation te is guarded, it can reliably trap enemies," Li Qinghongmented thoughtfully.
Li Yuanjiao put the te away, then remarked, "It''s a solid water-based formation, though regrettably only avable for rent. Purchasing it would set us back over a hundred Spirit Stones."
Li Qinghong was in a good mood, conversing with her brother as she channeled mana to her hands to lift the catfish demon that was the size of a small hut. The two of them then flew side by side back to the mountain.
Meanwhile, Li Yuanping had already finished preparing for the ceremony. Dressed in a Daoist robe, he waited with the old monkey who was also dressed in a Daoist robe and a pair of clogs. Standing beside them was Li Ximing, who seemed to have just returned not long ago and was ready to join the family rituals.
Upon seeing his elder siblings return with the demonic beast, Li Yuanping praised them and produced a wooden box from his sleeve joyfully.
"Big Brother! The Wanglin Blossom has bloomed!" he eximed in excitement.
He opened the wooden box to reveal three slightly reddish spirit flowers, each delicate and soft, about the size of a palm, with slender stamens and five bicolored petals¡ªred on top and white beneath.
As soon as the wooden box was opened, everyone, including Li Yuanping himself, smiled at the sight of it. Li Yuanping exined, "This flower makes the heart light and joyful. Whether mortal or cultivator, unless they''ve formed their Immortal Foundation, they can''t help but show a true smile."
The wooden box had just been opened, but Li Yuanping and everyone elseughed muffledly, with the corners of their mouths upturned.
"The owner of this flower is happy, smiles when he sees it, and is very gentle... No matter whether he is a mortal or a monk, as long as he had not be an immortal, he must smile honestly." Li Yuanping finished with a warm, genuine smile.
After admiring the flowers for a moment, Li Yuanjiao instructed, "Give two of these to Ximing and have him deliver them to Ancestor Yuansi as a modest gift, a token of our gratitude for his long-standing support."
After giving the instructions, Li Yuanjiao rewarded the old monkey with some cultivation resources which the monkey epted with a grateful nod.
Li Ximing then came forward.
"Thank you, Second Uncle!"
Li Ximing was gentle and respectful. Having trained with the Xiao Family for two years, Master Xiao Yuansi had taught him everything he knew. Li Ximing had studied numerous medicinal texts and had be proficient in gathering and identifying herbs, reflecting some of Master Xiao''s refined demeanor.
He had grown taller and his features had be more distinct, bearing a strong resemnce to Li Yuanping, though less delicate in appearance and not as handsome. However, his temperamentpensated for his in looks.
The aura at Xianyou Peak was rich, and his cultivation had been progressing well. He was not far behind Li Xijun, who was also focused on advancing his cultivation. Li Yuanjiao noticed a hint of concern in his eyebrows and said, "If there are any difficulties, feel free to speak up."
Li Ximing hesitated for a moment before gesturing to a few medicine pouches on his waist and replied, "Master Xiao gifted me an old set of medicine pouches to store spirit items. I epted it in the end, so I fear our family is further indebted to him..."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in understanding. The family had already stretched its resources thin by giving Li Qingxiao seventy Spirit Stones.
"Our family currentlycks additional resources; we only have a few dharma artifacts left in our treasury. Does Senior Yuansi have any children? What is their level of cultivation?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
With a look of guilt, Li Ximing answered, "The ancestor''s children were not strong in their cultivation and died in a conflict. There''s a descendant in their family named Xiao Guixiang whoes from a well-off family that doesn''tck dharma weapons nor elixirs."
Li Yuanjiao sighed and gritted his teeth in frustration, mentally noting this information.
We shouldn''t dy this any longer... If there''s little chance of resolving this, it might be best to offer the alchemy legacy from our family.
He waved dismissively and said, "Now that you''re back, let''s prepare for the ritual."
Chapter 412: Engraved Stone (II)
Chapter 412: Engraved Stone (II)
Yi Mountain City was constructed around Mount Lingqiu, a once majestic and renowned peak. It used to ze with mes in ancient times and produced a type of golden spirit ore mined extensively by an immortal sect known as the Southern Fire Heavenly Mansion. As a result of this, the earth veins became thinner, and the mountain eventually stopped burning.
At the highest cave dwelling atop the mountain, shrouded in clouds and swirling green fog, Daoist Master Yuan Su stood, ying with a light golden jade seal. He gazed down at the grand city below him.
"Buzi must have lost his mind... He wanders Wu and Yue States day and night, refusing to return to the sect. Thankfully, the devil gue is progressing well..." he murmured.
Daoist Master Yuan Su hailed from the same era as Chi Wei. Unfortunately, he practiced a cultivation method that prematurely ended his progress, confining him to the early stages of the Purple Mansion Realm. If not for the fact that it was a life divine ability, Yuan Su might have lost all standing.
Disillusioned, especially with people like Si Boxiu, he decided to choose a quieter life, hence retreating to the southern border.
"Hm?"
Yuan Su paused, sensing the surge of golden aura at the foot of the mountain.
"Someone''s establishing a Dao foundation... it''s the Engraved Stone..." he mumbled to himself.
He calcted silently; the one from Golden Tang Gate had not moved in ages but he still lived. If memory served, his divine ability was iplete.
"Situ Huo practices the Engraved Stone, but that fool isn''t skilled in alchemy and hasn''t established his Dao Foundation... He''s probably not destined for it."
Yuan Su chuckled to himself before picking up a jade token from the desk, muttering to himself, "Li Xuanfeng... another from the Li Family?"
The image of a certain young man shed through his mind. As the jade token spun in his hand, Yuan Su mused, "I owe something to the Li Family... but who knows what that man thinks? Maybe Xiao Chuting has already beaten me to it. He probably detests the Chi Family and myself as well."
His other hand rose slowly, capturing a wisp of colorful light in the void. Unleashing his divine ability, he connected it across the heavens to Li Xuanfeng.
Yuan Su calcted carefully again with his divine ability.
It seems respect and fear prevail... Xiao Chuting doesn''t dare make a move. Perhaps the Li Family only resents Chi Wei...
Back then, no outsiders knew who took Li Chejing away. When Yuan Su was forced to carry out this task, he was cautious enough to veil his face.
In terms of prudence, only Xiao Chuting can match me, he thought smugly.
Since the Li Family bore no malice toward him, Yuan Su decided to let the matter rest. With a flick of his fingers, he sent the jade token soaring like a shooting star,nding before a specific cave dwelling at the mountain''s base.
"Damn it," Daoist Master Yuan Su cursed as he reattached the jade seal to his waist.
He settled back on the rock and muttered, "With Chi Wei dead, Yi Mountain City is mine... Who cares what the Chi Family thinks!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In a brightly lit cave dwelling, a middle-aged man sat cross-legged beside a spirit spring, slowly exhaling.
His features were sharp, and he bore the visage of someone both brave and ruthless. Yet, a lingering sadness softened the harsh lines between his brows, tempering the fiery intensity within him that otherwise defined his presence.
Behind him stood his golden longbow, radiating an extraordinary aura.
He was none other than Li Xuanfeng.
"After more than fifty years of arduous cultivation, I''ve finally achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm!" he dered proudly, releasing a long breath and opening his eyes slowly. A golden fire danced within their depths. His eyes brightened momentarily before fading back to their natural hue.
As soon as Li Xuanfeng achieved his breakthrough, a few rays of light appeared behind him, and the name of Daoist Master Yuan Su surfaced in his thoughts. The Profound Pearl Talisman Seed within him stirred violently, emitting a white light that briefly clouded his vision before rity returned.
However, this memory swiftly vanished, leaving Li Xuanfeng unaware of the internal struggle between the two forces within his mind.
My Immortal Foundation... The Engraved Stone!
This immortal foundation was established with cultivation techniques from the Golden Tang Gate. Its Qi was capable of breaking formations, cleaving mountains, and destroying enemies'' dharma artifacts. Specializing in precision attacks, it bes increasingly powerful with each enemy defeated, tempered by their blood qi.
Once formed, this Immortal Foundation could detect gold in earth veins, consume gold and jade for healing, ward off baleful qi, and render the body as impervious as metal and stone. With just a wave of his hand, he could wield sharp qi, making it difficult for spells and curses to harm him.
"It''s an excellent tool for battle and breaking through formations," Li Xuanfeng mused as he rose to his feet. The Golden Age Longbow behind him vibrated and leaped into his hand instantly. He ran his fingers over the bowstring, only to notice that the cave wall was filled with brown and golden ores that seemed like spirit items.
"This is the phenomenon that apanies the establishment of my foundation..." he mumbled quietly in awe.
The cave dwelling was brimming with baleful qi and astral qi. Thankfully, the grand formation of the Azure Pond Sect prevented the cave walls from being ravaged by the corrosive forces.
With a wave of his hand, Li Xuanfeng cleared the turbulent qi in the cave dwelling. Pushing open the door, he stepped out into the night. The stars and moon were shining brightly above in the sky.
The two Daoist children stationed keeping watch at the cave entrance exchanged surprised nces with each other, clearly not expecting that Li Xuanfeng¡ªa mere n cultivator¡ªwould seed in establishing his foundation.
They quickly kneeled before him.
"Greetings, Old Ancestor! Congrattions on establishing your immortal foundation and ascending to immortality once again!"
Li Xuanfeng nodded and took a step forward, only to pause and look up as a fluorescent light streaked across the night sky.
Wrapped in a white glow and trailing a colorful tail three chi long, it slowly descended before him. Stunned, Li Xuanfeng watched as the light dimmed, transforming into a diamond-shaped jade pendant thatnded at his feet.
Before he could speak, a tall figure appeared beside him, d in the all-green attire and jade boots typical of an Azure Pond Sect disciple. Each item he wore glowed with the light of mana.
The Azure Pond Sect disciple slowly bowed, then sank to his knees gracefully and announced, "Hejing bears the imperial decree of the Daoist Master!"
After rising from his bow, an awkward smile spread across his face as he continued, "Please ept the decree, fellow Daoist!"
It must be Daoist Master Yuan Su...
Li Xuanfeng observed the man''s reaction and understood that this was indeed an order from the esteemed Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master.
That''s quick!
Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly before epting the decree with a smile. "Where is the Upper Sect sending this humble servant to?" he asked.
"You have humor, fellow Daoist. I am Ning Hejing, Peak Master of Yuanxing Peak, stationed in Yi Mountain City."
The smile on the man''s face was stiff. Li Xuanfeng took a closer look at him before realization dawned upon him as well.
So, it''s him!
This person was Senior Brother Ning who led a group of Yuanwu Peak disciples back then. He was tall and quite outstanding. He had kicked Deng Yuzhi over and let him shoot the fleeing cultivator with an arrow.
"Daoist Master Yuan Su has personally appointed you as a general, entrusting you with a significant responsibility," Ning Hejing quickly regained hisposure and spoke with forced cheerfulness.
"This appointment is part of your entry into Yi Mountain City''s cultivation registry. You''ll receive immortal stipends and can also umte merits to request spirit items from the sect. From now on, you and I are colleagues," he exined.
Ning Hejing''s eyelids twitched as incredulity flickered in his heart. He scanned Li Xuanfeng''s face, pondering how this man, seemingly without notable background or talent¡ªsave for his archery skills, had been chosen for promotion.
How could Daoist Master Yuan Su personally promote a Foundation Establishment Realm n cultivator when there are dozens of other cultivators of the same realm within the sect in this city? Is it out of admiration... or does he have other motives?
Li Xuanfeng raised his eyebrows, clearly pleased as he responded, "Thank you to the Daoist Master."
He did not dwell much on his situation. Since his arrival in Yi Mountain City, he had been resigned to a fate of death over dishonor, simply seeking to enhance his cultivation and extend his life a few more years. Now realizing he could still provide for his family in his remaining years, a thought struck him as he said with a smile, "How can I call myself your colleague? If the Peak Master has any requests, I am yours tomand."
Ning Hejing studied Li Xuanfeng for a moment, clearly taken aback by his humble words despite his formidable prowess with the bow. Feeling somewhat reassured now, he replied warmly, "You are too polite, fellow Daoist. After all, you were personally promoted by Daoist Master Yuan Su... There''s no need for formalities with Hejing. If you have any requests, just let me know."
Li Xuanfeng, though not particrly shrewd, had the wisdom of fifty years of experience. Since his family had no connections to Daoist Master Yuan Su, and suspecting that his promotion was more about Yuan Su''s interests than his own merit, he said tactfully, "There''s no need to trouble the Peak Master. I only wish to inquire about my duties."
"Nothing more than to help maintain order. The southern border is currently in chaos, and I have no interest in engaging in any cunning games."
Ning Hejingughed, his demeanor turning eager as he warmly suggested, "Fellow Daoist Xuanfeng, why don''t youe with me to meet all your colleagues?"
Chapter 413: Brothers Bound Together (I)
Chapter 413: Brothers Bound Together (I)
After two years of careful nurturing, Lu Jiangxian observed the murky qi of heaven and earth surging within the mirror, apanied by flowing golden light and a subtly rising aura. With his divine sense, he traced the connection from the mirror to the talisman seed.
"Li Xuanfeng has established his foundation..." he murmured.
The feedback from Li Xuanfeng''s breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm was even less substantial than before, only slightly strengthening his divine sense and the Profound Light, just like when Li Chejing first broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realm.
The subsequent breakthroughs of other Li Family members in the Qi Cultivation Realm gradually showed diminishing returns, generallycking any significant qualitative change.
Now that I have the means, I need to grow a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator...
As Lu Jiangxian''s mastery of shamanic talismans grew stronger, he gradually possessed more shamanic techniques. To his dismay, all of them were of the Moonlight lineage, which drew unwanted attention and made it likely that all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators would covet any Auspicious Children[1] he raised...
I''ll just have to wait for the Li Family to offer that Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s dharma blood before I can n further.
The talisman qi was condensed by mixing essence qi, incense, and soul. A Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s dharma blood could not be obtained easily, and Lu Jiangxian had to rely on the ritual performed by the Li Family to get it inside the mirror.
"It''s a pity that the mirror can''t house cultivators for now... Otherwise, everything would be much easier!"
He mused to himself for a while before a fragmented voice reached his ears.
"The Li Family of Lijing offers respect along with fine delicacies and wine with unwavering devotion year upon year... Observing the three yuan festivals and six regr festivals, we maintain reverence¡ªensuring to pay timely respects... Through the smoke of our offerings and the blood of our sacrifice..."
Swoosh.
A white light pierced through theyers of gloomy clouds and mist,nding in Lu Jiangxian''s hand while a series of red beads also appeared on the table. Lu Jiangxian used his mana to secure them and first examined the talisman qi in his hand.
"It''s a mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm demonic creature."
He assessed that the talisman qi was somewhat weak. Mount Dali was challenging to ess, and most of the demonic creatures in Moongaze Lake were cunning and grouped together; capturing this demon must have been quite a feat.
"It is good that I still have reserves."
Lu Jiangxian had saved many excess Qi Cultivation Realm gray talisman qi left over from the Li Family''s previous sacrifice rituals. He drew out a strand andbined it with the weak gray talisman qi in his hand. The Li Family still had plenty of talisman pills, so no further additions were necessary.
His divine sense swept over the jade tform on the mountain where the Li Family members who had received a talisman seed stood.
"Talisman qi can assist in breakthroughs and improve cultivation progress... It is best bestowed upon a Qi Cultivator. Since the generations of Xi and Yue are still Embryonic Breathing cultivators, it is better to save this until there is a Foundation Establishment Realm white talisman to give out."
Then again, talisman qi could only be granted to those who had received a talisman seed. After much consideration, Lu Jiangxian''s gaze settled on Li Xuanxuan, who appeared emaciated and aged after narrowly escaping death with the Blood Escape Technique previously.
Sixty years of arduous effort, and now his cultivation path has been obstructed... Perhaps I should bestow this talisman on him. With a pill, he should be able to elevate to thete stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
With a deft movement, the gray talisman flew into Li Xuanxuan''s brow like a meteor.
A light appeared before Lu Jiangxian''s eyes and several gray characters emerged¡ªHolding Profit and Keeping Prosperity.
Unlike in the past when the Li Family members had several talisman qi to choose from, Li Xuanxuan was given only one option.
This particr talisman qi, though umon, could slightly enhance the sess rate of alchemy, talisman drawing, and other hundred arts of immortal cultivation. Based on Lu Jiangxian''s current understanding of talisman qi, it should also be able to bnce fortunes, calm storms and mitigate any potential turmoil.
"This talisman qi is a decent one for Li Xuanxuan... It''s a blend of fate and divine ability. With its protection, he should be able to live a few more years."
After bestowing the talisman qi, Lu Jiangxian returned his attention to the blood beads on his table.
With a gentle maniption of his mana, the blood beads quickly melted and merged, forming a fist-sized crimson jade pearl. Lu Jiangxian swept his divine sense through it, silently discerning the divine ability it harbored.
I knew it... Chi Buzi''s Dao foundation is the Heavy Murk.
If Chi Wei could advance to the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm, then surely the Azure Pond Sect must have aplete set of cultivation techniques to build the Dao Partners. I wonder which metallic essence these Dao Partners are after...
Observing the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of Jiangnan, they all seem intent on avoiding cultivating the same Dao lineage. If it is the Pristine Water Origin Talisman Essence they are looking for, will it impact the Pristine Water True Monarch?
Lu Jiangxian''s limited understanding of cultivation realms above the Purple Mansion left him with a nagging doubt.
I guess I can only wait for a more suitable time to gather further information...
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
When blood was spilled on Mount Lijing''s jade tform, the catfish demon copsed immediately. Blood light and incense slowly floated away, invisible to the onlookers.
Li Xuanxuan was closely monitoring the younger ones in the family when he suddenly felt something stirring in his Shenyang Mansion. A gray light appeared and the mana in his body surged.
Stunned by the unexpected surge in mana, Li Xuanxuan''s face flushed. After a few moments, he grasped the situation and quickly seated himself cross-legged.
The Li Family members quickly stepped back, and after the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, Li Xuanxuan''s cultivation realm had risen from the fourth to the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He slowly exhaled and opened his eyes.
"Congrattions, Father!" a group of juniors said in unison.
Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard, smiling broadly as he exined the function of his new talisman qi to his family.
"I never thought I''d receive talisman qi at this old age, and its effects align so well with my needs... With this, my sess rate in crafting talismans has improved!"
Heughed, then cheerfully pulled Li Yuanjiao closer and said, "Maybe I should stabilize my cultivation for a few years, then use that talisman pill to reach thete stage of Qi Cultivation Realm and boost our family''sbat power."
Li Yuanjiao naturally congratted him and nodded in agreement, inwardly pleased with the oue.
Despite that, the blood of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator had not been particrly impactful. It had merely produced a gray talisman. While it looked more refined than usual and glowed slightly brighter, it was still just a gray talisman and too ordinary to be given to Ximing or Xijun.
By the time a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator emerges in our family, those two children should also be in the Qi Cultivation Realm... Perhaps by then, we should hunt for a Foundation Establishment Realm demon to request a talisman for them.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Two separate sacrificial rituals were being conducted at the mountain. The one hosted by those who had received a talisman seed in the Li Family took ce atop the mountain, while another happening at the foot of the mountain was overseen by Li Xicheng. As the eldest of the generation of Xi and Yue, Li Xicheng led the others in his generation in a ceremony that was both lively and vibrant.
Li Yuanping had nned everything meticulously. Although Li Xicheng initially felt awkward about not receiving a talisman seed, his role in managing the ceremony proved to be a strategic decision. It not only prevented him from feeling out of ce but also provided valuable exposure for the younger members of the Xi and Yue generation.
Feeling the weight of his responsibilities, Li Xicheng had begun preparing half a year ago. Now, with the ritual sessfullypleted without a hitch, he finally let out a sigh of relief and noticed only then that his back was soaked with sweat.
As soon as he changed his clothes after descending from the sacrificial tform, someone came over to inform him that Li Yuanjiao wished to see him.
Without further dy, Li Xicheng hurried up the mountain. Upon entering the main hall, he saw a man dressed in a ck robe sitting at the center, his brow furrowed with concern.
Ever since the passing of the Old Ancestor, Second Uncle rarely smiles...
Unbeknownst to Li Yuanjiao, these changes in him were more apparent to Li Xicheng, who, being significantly older than his younger brothers, remembered vividly what Li Yuanjiao was like in his youth.
Given his kind and generous nature, Li Xicheng was an empathetic person. He kneeled and greeted, "Xicheng pays his respects to Second Uncle of the fourth lineage! Congrattions on your significant advancement in immortal cultivation!"
1. The Auspicious Children in this context refers to whoever in the Li Family that received a talisman seed. ?
Chapter 414: Brothers Bound Together (II)
Chapter 414: Brothers Bound Together (II)
Although Li Yuanjiao originated from the first lineage as a direct descendant of Li Changhu, he had been adopted into the fourth lineage as a direct descendant of Li Chejing. However, the major sect on the mountain was close-knit and typically overlooked such nuances, paying attention to these distinctions only during formal events.
Unbeknownst to Li Xicheng, whose heart ached to see the changes in his second uncle, Li Yuanjiao also harbored feelings of guilt toward him.
Back then, this child wasn''t picked for the talisman seed and I had to make him leave the mountain... And now, I have to take away the spiritual qi of heaven and earth aura that he rightfully deserves to his younger brother...
Though Li Yuanjiao felt guilty, his decisive nature did not allow him to dwell on it for long. He paused briefly before saying warmly, "Xicheng, now that you''ve broken through to the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, it seems that your cultivation efforts are paying off."
"Cheng''er dares not feelcent about his progress," Li Xicheng replied modestly.
After a brief conversation, Li Yuanjiao said bluntly, "Uncle Donghe has managed to gather that Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi in the west. It''s estimated to arrive in a year or two. This spiritual qi is extremely difficult to collect; the family has spent seven years just to gather a portion of it... Since this resource is so scarce, I''m afraid not everyone in the four lineages can receive it. It will only be allocated to the second lineage..."
Li Xicheng was slightly taken aback before he hurriedly replied, "Xijun is now also at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm! It''s better for Second Uncle to reserve this spiritual qi for himself! Cheng''er is not as talented and fears wasting such a precious resource... I cannot bear to make my younger brother wait another seven years."
Li Yuanjiao had not even finished speaking when Li Xicheng interrupted him. He halted his speech, sitting up straight with a hint of dangerous suspicion in his eyes.
Hm?
Having led his family,manded soldiers, killed adversaries from Mount Yue, and dealt with corrupted nobles, Li Yuanjiao was ustomed to cunning and deceit. Consequently, Li Xicheng''s disy of loyalty aroused his suspicion, causing him to narrow his eyes as he scrutinized the young man closely.
Yet, upon observing Li Xicheng, he saw clear, honest eyes. Despite Li Xicheng''s in appearance and weak presence, his gaze was filled with trustworthy sincerity.
"You..."
Li Yuanjiao averted his gaze, secretly ashamed of his skepticism. He nodded and said solemnly, "If that''s what you truly think... then very well, you may leave now."
As Li Xicheng bowed and was about to leave, Li Yuanjiao''s mood lightened. Heughed warmly and sighed, "Ah! You''re... You''re truly a good older brother... Xijun is fortunate to be your younger brother!"
Li Xicheng turned back and shook his head. He bowed to Li Yuanjiao again and said warmly, "Second Uncle, as the eldest of my generation, whether it''s Xijun, Ximing, or Xizhi who is currently training in the immortal sect, they are all my younger brothers. Brothers bound together by blood should stay united. Covetous envy or struggles for power are not in my nature, nor do they interest me."
This was the first time he had spoken so boldly to Li Yuanjiao. Standing with his spear slung behind him and his robes billowing, his expression was earnest. In his mid-twenties, the young man was at the height of his heroic vigor that lent a dignified air to his ordinarily in and almost overly honest face.
"Good!"
Li Yuanjiao tapped his knuckles on the table and sighed, feeling a weight lift from his heart. He chuckled, beckoning Li Xicheng closer. Taking a jade bottle from his sleeve, he said, "This is our family''s secret Barrier Breaking Pill. Take it and break through to the sixth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Strive to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm before thirty... it will do you good. This potion is astonishingly effective, a treasured ancestral elixir that must remain a secret."
"Understood!"
Li Xicheng''s face lit up as he epted the bottle. After taking a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, he patiently awaited further instructions.
Li Yuanjiao waved his hand with a smile and said, "Go now, find a cave dwelling and attempt your breakthrough in seclusion."
Li Xicheng nodded then retreated. Li Yuanjiao took out several pills and spirit items from his storage pouch, arranging them on the desk before writing a brief note to Li Yuanping.
"Cheng can be the mainstay of the n. He is respectful to his elders and cherishes his younger peers. Second Uncle lived frugally when he was still alive, and the second lineage suffered. Wutu Peak shall provide the sustenance and spirit resources he needs."
After putting away his brush and ink, the smile on Li Yuanjiao''s face slowly faded. He gazed into the distant sky, piercing throughyers of clouds, and thought he saw a handsome and dignified face smiling back at him.
Brothers bound together by blood should stay united...
Big Brother...
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile on Mount Lijing...
Li Ximing had not returned home in two years. Upon his return, he and his father, Li Yuanping, discussed family affairste into the night. After their long conversation, he first visited his mother, then Madam Dou.
Madam Dou, the wife of Li Xuanxuan and mother of Li Yuanping, was a distinguished Qi Cultivator within the n, known for her formidable abilities.
Li Ximing, who had always been dearly loved by his grandmother since childhood, was now also a Qi Cultivator. Upon their reunion, she eagerly handed him pills and spirit items, whispering, "These are from your grandmother''s maternal family... Just use them without reservation!"
Li Ximing smiled wryly as he epted them, then spent a few days settling a few family matters. Finally finding some leisure time, he sat on the stone steps of the small courtyard under the moonlight and began meticulously organizing his medicine pouch.
Xiao Yuansi had prepared a set of medicine-gathering techniques for him. Li Ximing had devoted himself to studying it and was now seeing modest benefits. At least, he could now store most spirit items of the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms without damaging their medicinal properties.
Brother Cheng invited me to Eastern Mount Yue. He has probably prepared a few spirit items... Big Brother always puts others before him...
As he was lost in thought, a sudden tap on his shoulder startled him. Unguarded in the safety of his own home''s formation, he looked up with a smile to see a figure with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes.
"Xijun!"
Li Xijun, usually somber and reserved, rarely smiled. Seeing his brother after so many years brought a smile to his face as he leaned in, sniffing. "You have a strong scent of herbs on you!" hemented yfully.
Li Ximing replied with a warm smile, "That''s how Master Xiao''s medicine-gathering technique is... The scent is quite potent but it can sharpen your mind and soothe your soul."
"You seem to have softened up quite a bit," he added.
Li Xijun stood with his hands sped behind him. Among the brothers from the generation of Xi and Yue, he most embodied the Li Family''s spirit. While Li Xicheng was generous and Li Xizhi was graceful, Li Ximing was gentle. Only Li Xijun remained cautious and skeptical, carrying his sword with him everywhere he went.
Li Ximing chuckled and asked, "I heard you''ve been training diligently on Mount Yuting every day... What brings you home so suddenly?"
"Second Uncle sent for me."
Li Xijun''s face turned slightly gloomy as he continued in a subdued tone, "I wonder why Uncle Jiao summoned me up the mountain. He spoke of Big Brother''s generous nature, insisting that it not be taken for granted... He also mentioned that I am more talented and should watch out for my big brother."
His gray-ck eyes shimmered in the moonlight, giving him a particrly striking look as he added with a hint of suspicion, "I wonder if he''s indirectly ming me... Given my big brother''s nature, who wouldn''t get along with him? Could someone be gossiping..?"
Li Ximing replied softly, "Uncle Jiao lost his brother when he was younger... Perhaps he was just being emotional and fearing that history would repeat itself. I''ve heard that the performances in the Liyuan Theater below the mountain often leave the audience in tears, regardless of their age."
The two fell silent for a while. Li Xijun, cradling his sword, finally spoke softly after a long pause.
"Brother Cheng is gradually taking over home affairs. Our half-brothers have families of their own, you and I are approaching the Qi Cultivation Realm and Second Uncle is nearing the Foundation Establishment Realm... The n''s future will soon rest in our hands."
He turned his head slightly to the side, the cold de in his arms catching the moonlight and gleaming coldly as he chuckled.
"Study well with the fire, while I take to the snowy paths... With your medicine and my de, the n has nothing to fear!"
Li Ximingughed in cheerful agreement.
"Indeed!"
The two brothers shared spirit wine under the moonlight, conversing through the night¡ªfrom Azure Pond to Jiangnan and its northern reaches. It was only when dawn broke, painting the world in golden red, that they staggered to their beds.
Chapter 415: Dawn Colored Qi (I)
Chapter 415: Dawn Colored Qi (I)
In the Azure Pond Sect...
A brisk breeze swept along the quiet path as a cultivator, covered from head to toe, sped along the road. The white glow beneath his feet was a clear sign that the Divine Movement Spell was activated.
Finally back...
Li Xizhi looked weary with a furrowed brow as he navigated the path at the base of Qingsui Peak, his ck robe tattered and dusty.
This assignmentsted two whole months! There are countless matters to address below the mountain... without my prior experience at home, this would have been quite the challenge.
Not every disciple of the Azure Pond Sect could focus solely on cultivation; worldly distractions often interrupted their practices.
The nature of these distractions varied¡ªsome trivial, others troublesome¡ªand their assignment typically depended on the influence of their immortal peak within the sect.
Qingsui Peak had been in decline for years.
Under Si Yuanbai''s protection, Li Chejing could cultivate in peace most of the time. Si Yuanbai''s profound skills in the way of talisman and his backing in the sect shielded his disciples from menial tasks.
But now, since Yuan Tuancked significant influence or backing in the sect, Li Xizhi often got the shorter end of the stick. His responsibilities often required him to leave the mountain and work his fingers to the bone.
Moreover, with the arrival of more sword cultivators to the other peaks, Li Xizhi dared not reveal himself and could onlyment his plight inwardly.
These swordsmen were primarily qi cultivators who liked to challenge him to duels, promising to suppress their cultivation to make it a fair fight. They had trained with the sword for a few more decades than Li Xizhi.
Putting aside their profound mastery of the sword, with the viciousness gleaming in their eyes alone, Li Xizhi knew that he was no match for them.
Fearing he might embarrass himself and Qingsui Peak, Li Xizhi always made his journeys up and down the mountain as inconspicuous as possible, wrapped tightly in his cloak to maintain a low profile and avoid trouble.
When he finally reached the tform on the summit, he took a deep breath and looked up.
The bamboo forest before him swayed in the wind, leaves fluttering down and surrounding a green deer that was as tall as a human.
Atop it sat a Daoist woman with a lovely face, who was watching him silently.
"Master!" Li Xizhi greeted her respectfully.
Yuan Tuan nodded but said nothing about his unusual attire, seemingly unsurprised.
"I''ve brought you the cultivation technique," she said softly.
She extended a slender arm, presenting a pale yellow jade slip. Li Xizhi epted it eagerly, and a quick scan with his spiritual sense revealed its contents¡ªDawn Dew Gathering Technique.
Instant relief washed over him as Yuan Tuan continued, "This is also a Grade Four technique. While it may not rival the teachings exclusive to the immortal peaks of direct lineage, it is on par with the sect''s standard cultivation technique. It''s challenging to master, which deters many from practicing it... The content is only avable up to the Foundation Establishment Realm."
Li Xizhi listened in silence, not questioning why his master had not chosen the superior Clear Essence Rain Control Technique.
Yuan Tuan moved her lips slightly but her whispers seemed to echo directly in his ears.
"Most of this cultivation technique''s Dao Partners are lost... Only several iplete legacies remain in Wu State, so there''s no cause for concern."
Li Xizhi could not fathom the trouble Yuan Tuan had gone through to secure this cultivation technique. Moved, he began to express his gratitude.
"Master''s kindness is..."
However, Yuan Tuan cut him off abruptly with a gentle voice.
"It is what I should do."
She locked eyes with him as she continued, "This cultivation technique requires you to gather Dawn Colored Qi, but it''s a rather troublesome process as it requires one to ascend to the clouds and descend into deep valleys. The sect would never hand over the qi gathering technique to your family so they could help you collect it either... The only option is to purchase the spiritual qi from the sect¡ªand at a steep price."
Li Xizhi looked up, his voice tense with unease.
"About the price..."
"A hundred and twenty Spirit Stones."
Yuan Tuan''s voice was cold, tinged with a hint of vexation.
The amount shocked Li Xizhi, causing him to bow his head as a tumultuous conflict waged within him.
Yuan Tuan added, "Should your family coffers fall short, I will provide the remainder."
"Thank you, master!"
Li Xizhi kneeled and bowed deeply in respect. When he rose, Yuan Tuan had already vanished.
He wandered to his small courtyard in a daze, wordlessly lighting amp and spreading out a sheet of letter paper, yet he just stared at it for a long time and wrote nothing.
Under the flickering yellowmplight that cast a golden-red glow over his face, Li Xizhi pursed his lips.
A single drop of ink fell from his brush.
Setting the brush aside, he reced the spoiled paper with a fresh sheet, but his anxiety persisted and he began zoning out once more.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Ximing bid farewell to his family and rtives at the Li Residence and set out to return to the Xiao Residence.
Although he had yet to achieve Qi Cultivation Realm, the dharma artifact on his wrist¡ªthe Azure Manifestation¡ªhad transformed into a barking deer with vibrant green markings, yfully bounding along behind him.
Concerned for his safety in a region now teeming with devil cultivators, the Li Family refused to let Li Ximing return to the Xiao Residence alone.
Although the deer was a lot faster than Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators, the journey would still take several days and was fraught with danger.
Without needing any suggestion from the n, Li Yuanjiao decided to personally escort Li Ximing on the wind.
Winter had arrived early this year, bringing flurries of snow.
After Li Yuanjiao departed with Li Ximing, Li Yuanping assigned tasks to the other men. Just as they were also about to disperse, a streak of white light appeared in the distance, rapidly descending upon the grand formation.
"Yuan Huyuan from the Yuan Family hase to pay his respects! Please open the mountain gate!"
His voice, amplified by mana, echoed as Li Yuanping watched from within the mountain, momentarily startled.
Yuan Huyuan...? Why is he here?
Yuan Huyuan, a peak qi cultivator from the Yuan Family''s direct lineage, held an esteemed position despite little hope of achieving Foundation Establishment Realm. He stood outside patiently, d in dharma clothes.
With Li Yuanjiao away, Li Qinghong took charge. She rode the wind and exited the grand formation, sping her hands together and greeting the man in a clear voice.
"Li Qinghong of the Li Family greets Senior..."
d in jade armor and carrying a spear on her back, her appearance was striking. Although Yuan Huyuan was nearly a century old, his eyes shone brightly with recognition.
He stroked his beard and smiled.
"Ah, so you''re the thunder cultivator of your esteemed n... I''ve heard much about you."
He politely reached out with his spiritual sense and quickly retracted it. A look of surprise appeared on his face.
"To think you''ve reached the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm already! And at such a young age¡ªbarely thirty! That''s..."
Li Qinghong, uninterested in prolonging the discussion about her aplishments, which she assumed he mentioned out of courtesy, offered a polite smile.
"What brings you here, Senior...?" she asked politely.
"Ah."
Regaining hisposure, Yuan Huyuan retrieved a sealed letter from his sleeve, despite the lingering look of disbelief on his face.
"My family received a few letters, one of them was from Xizhi, so I came to deliver it," he exined.
Given Yuan Huyuan''s stature, Li Qinghong surmised that there must be a significant reason for his personal visit. He must have something important that could not be discussed outside the formation. She epted the letter and swiftly stowed it in her sleeve pocket.
"Pleasee in and have a seat, Senior," she invited with a smile.
"Sure!"
Yuan Huyuan epted the offer immediately, and the two flew into the formation together. Below them, Li Yuanping had already tidied the hall. By the time they stepped inside, even the spirit tea had been prepared readily.
Yuan Huyuan exchanged a few pleasantries with Li Qinghong before smoothly transitioning to the main topic.
"How is Senior Tongya these days?" he asked softly.
Chapter 416: Dawn Colored Qi (II)
Chapter 416: Dawn Colored Qi (II)
Yuan Huyuan''s initial visit to the Li Family was to escort Li Chejing home. At that time, his cultivation had already reached the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, while Li Tongya was merely a humble Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator. Now that he was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Yuan Huyuan had to address him as senior with due respect.
Li Qinghong chuckled and replied, "I''m sorry that his absence disappoints you, Senior. You''vee at the wrong time, and our ancestor is currently cultivating in seclusion."
"Ah..."
Yuan Huyuan gave her a look but did not dwell on the subject. Instead, he changed the topic.
"Your family''s Xizhi has been cultivating at Qingsui Peak and has be quite formidable, now at the sixth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. I''vee on behalf of Ancestor Yuan Tuan to ask this as both of us are Xi Zhi''s elders¡ªwith the child close to advancing to Qi Cultivation Realm, does your family have any ns for him?"
Li Qinghong feigned surprise before responding without hesitation.
"The cultivation techniques avable in the sect are certainly superior to those of my humble n... We shall let your family ancestor decide."
"Haha," Yuan Huyuan chuckled dryly and replied, "Our ancestor, of course, wants the best for Xizhi. The Grade Four Clear Essence Rain Control Technique is naturally a good choice, but she is thinking of trying out a Grade Five technique..."
"Among the Azure Pond legacies, the Grade Five Dark Floating Compliant Cloud Sutra is exclusive to the Chi Family''s direct lineage, and the Heavenly Pronouncement Sutra is a secret that we guard closely..."
Yuan Huyuan shared several points before pausing. He chuckled and then continued, "There are many ancient techniques avable though. I wonder how your esteemed family views them..."
Li Qinghong sipped her tea and eyed Yuan Huyuan, who nearly had the Supreme Yin Moonlight written across his forehead. With a resigned thought, she mused, Does he think I''m gullible? This is all too obvious!
A soft chuckle escaped her vermilion lips and she replied, "The Li Family is of humble background, we put our faith in the Old Ancestor."
"Very well... You''re an understanding person, youngdy."
Yuan Huyuan nodded, despite being secretly surprised. He was a seasoned cultivator now over a century old, and usually treated people with generosity and kindness. His venerable status also carried considerable influence across various families.
Had it not been for the Ancestor Yuan Licheng''s greedy scheming, Yuan Huyuan would never have stooped to such measures. With a sigh of relief, he smiled and said, "I have some good news to share with you, youngdy."
Li Qinghong gestured for him to continue and Yuan Huyuan announced, "Fellow Daoist Li Xuanfeng from your esteemed n has sessfully established his immortal foundation, Engraved Stone, in Yi Mountain City!"
"What! Uncle Xuanfeng has achieved Foundation Establishment Realm?!" Li Qinghong eximed, her face lighting up with a genuine smile.
"Many thanks for this joyful news, Senior Yuan!"
Yuan Huyuan nodded, his face beaming as he replied, "Congrattions! Your family now boasts three generations of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators¡ªtruly the mark of a prestigious n!"
Although the inclusion of Li Mutian in his statement stretched the truth somewhat, it was meant as a felicitous remark. Li Qinghong smiled and thanked him, then heard the rustling sound of falling snow as a man dressed in a ck robe entered the hall.
Li Yuanjiao had just returned from escorting Li Ximing. Along the way, he encountered and defeated a devil cultivator. He was merely at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, far below his own capabilities. With a decisive palm strike, Li Yuanjiao ended the confrontation almost instantly and seized the cultivator''s storage pouch easily.
Shaking the snow from his cloak, he tossed the blood-stained pouch onto the desk, exhaling warm breaths into the cold air. ncing at Yuan Huyuan, he asked, "And you are...?"
"Yuan Huyuan from the Yuan Family," the man replied. After Li Qinghong exined the situation to Li Yuanjiao, he smiled at the man and said, "Greetings, Senior."
Li Yuanjiao was not surprised by the news, having already anticipated it.
Yuan Huyuan added, "Furthermore, Senior Xuanfeng has been promoted by Daoist Master Yuan Su and serves as a general in Yishan City... He could be considered a distinguished member of the Azure Pond Sect now."
The siblings exchanged a nce with each other. Given their family''s unpleasant history with the Azure Pond Sect in the past, they had already lost their trust in those Purple Mansion Realm cultivators long ago. They could only muster a strained smile, bracing for potentialplications.
Yuan Huyuan then mysteriously remarked, "Daoist Master Yuan Su has always been a loner and kept his distance from the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators within the sect. He has neither immortal peaks nor prestigious ns under hismand. Your family could seize this opportunity..."
Seeing the thoughtful looks on the siblings'' faces, Yuan Huyuanughed heartily and cupped his fist.
"Well... I''ve delivered the message. I shall take my leave now!"
After the siblings had escorted Yuan Huyuan out of the formation, they returned to the hall, still puzzled.
Li Yuanjiao then mused, "I heard that Daoist Master Yuan Su''s immortal foundation is Spring''s Echo, which haspletely nothing to do with Engraved Stone... This immortal foundation is probably only valuable in the Golden Tang Gate..."
A thought suddenly struck Li Qinghong as she remarked, "Spring''s Echo? Our family has a cultivation technique rted to that¡ªUncle Xuan''s Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique, though it''s merely Grade Three and can only be cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Realm. If it''s from the Azure Pond Sect, even the technique to form this immortal dao will surely surpass Grade Three."
Realizing their spection led nowhere, they finally gave up in resignation. Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao pulled out a green-colored jade bottle from a storage pouch.
"Take a look at this," he said with a grin.
His journey to the Xiao Family involved more than just escorting his nephew.
Back then, Li Xuanxuan had unknowingly acquired a spirit water of heaven and earth from a devil cultivator''s storage pouch in the marketce. For a long time, they had not been able to identify it. So, Li Yuanjiao had taken the opportunity to consult Xiao Yuansi himself.
Xiao Yuansi, well-versed and insightful, quickly referenced several books before determining the substance''s nature.
Seeing Li Qinghong''s baffled expression, Li Yuanjiao exined, "This spirit water of heaven and earth isparable to a treasured panacea. Named Earth Fiend''s Cold Spring, it could quench fire poison, replenish baleful qi, and harmonize with numerous techniques¡ªtruly valuable spirit water!"
"Comparable to a treasured panacea..?" Li Qinghong repeated, tightening her grip on the bottle.
A Treasured panacea was far more significant than mere spirit items of the Foundation Establishment Realm. While items like Wanglin Blossom qualified as a spirit item of the Foundation Establishment Realm, they could not be called treasured panacea.
The distinction was profound¡ªFoundation Establishment Realm spirit items benefited only cultivators in that realm, whereas the treasured panacea possessed miraculous properties that even Purple Mansion Realm cultivators coveted.
The two siblings put away the spirit water of heaven and earth and took out Li Xizhi''s letter, carefully reading it.
After a moment, Li Yuanjiao silently put the letter away. Li Qinghong stood up, holding her spear. Having scanned the letter with her spiritual sense and read its contents, she clenched her jaw and said gloomily, "A hundred and twenty Spirit Stones? Are they crazy?! What kind of spiritual qi of heaven and earth costs that much? It''s extortion!"
Although that was what she said, Li Qinghong looked at her silent elder brother, unsure of his thoughts. She then asked tentatively, "Are we still amassing the funds for Zhi''er?"
Li Yuanjiao put the letter away gently, then gritted his teeth. He raised his eyebrows, looking somber as he replied, "Yes... Even if it means selling off all the spirit items in our treasury."
He paused and then asked in a deep voice, "How many Spirit Stones do we have in our family''s savings?"
Li Yuanping, who was nearby, stepped forward and replied, "More than eighty."
As soon as Li Yuanping answered his question, he quickly added, "It''s almost time to pay our tributes though, Big Brother! After we gave Qingxiao a sum of Spirit Stones, we''re already struggling... We can''t afford to spend these savings!"
Chapter 417: Setting Sun (I)
Chapter 417: Setting Sun (I)
"I know," Li Yuanjiao said, waving his hand dismissively.
He picked up the storage pouch he got from the Embryonic Breathing Realm devil cultivator he had killed earlier on his way home and began sifting through its contents quietly.
"The n''s vault still holds the mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm Azure des... We can sell them to build the emergency funds. As for that Six-Stone Cloud te... It''s a rare dharma shield produced by the Azure Pond. We should keep that for ourselves," he said thoughtfully.
After considering his options, he finally put the pouch away, adding, "Considering this was an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, the capacity of his pouch is small¡ªhardly the size of a tabletop. Everything inside is probably worth only ten Spirit Stones in total."
Despite this, the devil cultivator was actually considered wealthier than most of his peers in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Li Yuanjiao stowed the items just as Li Qinghong, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
"The second lineage has nothing much to offer, but I have nine Spirit Stones. You can have them, Big Brother."
Without waiting for a response, she handed the stones to Li Yuanjiao, who epted them silently.
"Thanks, I owe you."
Li Xizhi was his only son. Selling dharma artifacts was the limit of what he could leverage from the n without causing a scandal. In other families, such actions might have led to usations of selfishness and provoked internal strife, and it is not something that could be settled with a mere discussion.
Li Qinghong merely shrugged and chuckled.
"They''re yours now."
They looked at each other for a moment before a smile broke across their faces. As soon as Li Yuanjiao put away the pouch he was going through, he took a few more Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts out of the store room. He unfolded a map and scanned it briefly, intending to find a marketce.
"Now that the Cloud Crowned Peak market is destroyed, it takes much longer to reach other marketces," he murmured while analyzing the map before him. He initially nned to head to the Yuan Family''s market but after estimating the distance, he realized that the Smoke Valley Market to the west in the desert was much closer.
"I''ll head to Smoke Valley Market then! Withmunications being so unreliable now, this is a good chance for me to meet up with Uncle Donghe."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao packed his belongings on the mountain hastily before departing. The snowfall intensified, drifting like goose feathers and nketing the town and mountains in white. Li Xijun, apanied by a group of elders, bid farewell to Li Ximing before returning to the mountain himself.
He walked in the snow with his hands sped behind his back. His thin and bright clothing stood out against the increasingly etherealndscape.
Unlike his elder brother Li Xicheng, who was burdened with many n responsibilities, Li Xijun enjoyed an easier role at the n Affairs Courtyard. He spent his days training in seclusion, asionally descending the mountain to y demons.
After walking about a dozen li, Mount Yuting loomed ahead, its peak covered in snow and peppered with green pines.
"Upon Yuting''s pines the snow falls, chasing away evil with its silent thrall..." Li Xijun murmured.
Having cultivated on Mount Yuting for many years, he had seen the pines multiply, and the mountain itself seemed to stretch ever higher, almost piercing the clouds. Li Qinghong, the town''s guardian, wielded thunder to vanquish demons. The four towns at the base of Mount Yuting often celebrated her with poetry. Li Xijun had read some of them and even remembered a few lines.
Approaching the mountain''s base with his sword in arms, he was met by two figures who bowed respectfully upon seeing him.
"Greetings, Young Master."
They were the An Family''s brothers¡ªAn Siming and An Siwei. Both of them were a few years older than Li Xijun, and were sent by Li Yuanping to train at Yuting Peak.
An Siming had a sword at his side, while An Siwei carried a spear on his back. Both wore gold rings around their wrists. Li Xijun exchanged a few pleasantries with them before opening the grand formation with a secret seal. The golden light flickered slowly just as it opened.
An Siming stepped forward, hesitating before saying softly, "Young Master, our younger sister at home is twelve this year. She has a spiritual orifice and is in the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... Not only that, she has a lovely face and..."
He looked rather awkward and was stumbling slightly over his words. Li Xijun, holding his sword, stepped forward with the grand formation closing behind him. He trudged through the snow, asking, "Is Master An thinking of aligning An Family with the second lineage through marriage?"
Both men affirmed eagerly, then offered some nice words. However, Li Xijun merelyughed and said, "After my father''s passing, the second lineage is now led by my aunt. If she and the n agree, I can certainly meet your sister."
Upon hearing his reply, the two brothers could only nod in agreement. Li Xijun gazed at the white snow dusting the pines and sighed.
"This matter is not ours to decide..."
The An brothers nodded in understanding. Running his thumb along the sheath of his sword, Li Xijun let his thoughts wander.
The An Family members are all very talented. If Second Uncle fails to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, at least my two brothers-inw will be peak Qi Cultivators in fifty years... By then, perhaps my father-inw will also reach peak Qi Cultivation Realm or beyond...
He caught a falling snowke and watched it melt in his palm.
The An Family is unaware that my family is protected by a mirror... They likely worry that if their daughter marries into our first lineage, their children could meet a grim fate, and marrying into the second lineage might require them to shoulder the heavy responsibility of overseeing the family''s affairs.
An Zheyan is probably clueless, so Li Feiruo had to send these brothers to test the waters.
Just then, a clump of snow fell from a green pine, disrupting Li Xijun''s thoughts. He smiled at the brothers and said courteously, "I''m ascending the mountain to resume my training."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao had been riding on the wind for half the day and he crossed the center of Moongaze Lake to its western shore. The area was dotted with bothrge and small mountain ranges, home to dozens of immortal cultivation families. Most were Embryonic Breathing Realm families, with very few being Qi Cultivation Realm families.
This region was under the domain of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivator named Daoist He, a recluse who had little to do with the wider world, subsisting on offerings collected within his small parcel ofnd. The nearby families wisely chose not to provoke him.
Continuing along the western shore, a towering mountain that split the sky soon came into view. The terrain was rugged and narrow with a stark, rocky summit, and the spiritual energy here was sparse. Known as Xiping, this mountain marked the boundary between the arid desert and Moongaze Lake; it also served as the frontier between the Azure Pond Sect and the Golden Feather Sect.
After traversing Mount Xiping, the climate immediately turned hot and dry. Days of flying brought the gradual emergence of yellow sands, and soon, an imposing pass loomed ahead¡ªSmoke Valley Pass, an ancient stronghold in Yue State, now upied by the Golden Feather Sect''s Smoke Valley Temple.
As Li Yuanjiao approached the pass, his spiritual sense detected the heat and light of a powerful grand formation, ready to activate at a moment''s notice.
"Li Yuanjiao from Lijing''s Li Family has arrived to pay respects. Please open the grand formation, Temple Master!" he said as he transmitted his voice via mana.
Momentster, a Daoist priest emerged from the formation. His cultivation was modest, at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. However, his half-yellow and half-white robe looked somewhat unusual. Nevertheless, he greeted Li Yuanjiao with a broad smile.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist! I am Bai Yinzi from Smoke Valley!"
Li Yuanjiao returned the smile, observing the priest''s overly humble demeanor and eager expression.
"Are you here to see Daoist Donghe? Come with me inside, fellow Daoist!" the man said in a weing manner.
Although Chen Donghe had resided here for many years, Li Yuanjiao was still too wary to follow the man inside. His gaze lingered on Bai Yinzi''s face before chuckling and resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"I prefer to stay here. Please get Uncle Donghe toe out here," he said.
Bai Yinzi''s face fell slightly as he wiped the sweat on his face, his lips quivering as he replied hesitantly, "I''m afraid that won''t be convenient! Daoist Donghe has sustained injuries and shouldn''t be moving around... It''s better for you toe inside, fellow Daoist."
Li Yuanjiaoughed and replied, "Is that so?"
Bai Yinzi breathed a sigh of relief, his smile returning. However, as Li Yuanjiao advanced a step forward, his expression abruptly hardened, turning fierce.
"Such audacity!" he boomed.
He had already unsheathed the Qingche Sword. The de gleamed brightly, emitting a piercing whistle as Li Yuanjiao executed the Celestial Moon sh technique.
Bai Yinzi felt a sharp cut on his face. With a horrified cry, he hastily summoned his earth-yellow Tortoise Shield dharma artifact, pleading miserably, "You''ve misunderstood me, fellow Daoist! Spare me... please!"
Li Yuanjiao, however, was not inclined to trust this man. Thoughts raced through his mind like lightning.
Is Uncle Donghe still inside? He''s trying to lure me into the formation... there must be no other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators around. I must hold him hostage and see if I can negotiate for Uncle Donghe''s release. If that doesn''t work out, I can at least avenge him!
As these thoughts shed through his mind, his sword arc struck the shield. This Tortoise Shield, likely a prized dharma artifact of the temple and appearing to be of high-grade Qi Cultivation Realm, wailed under the impact. The Qingche Sword, a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma weapon, proved far superior.
Chapter 418: Setting Sun (II)
Chapter 418: Setting Sun (II)
Bai Yinzi''s face flushed red from the exertion and fear as he cried out desperately, "Daoist Donghe! Come quickly! Your family is about to kill me!"
These words caught Li Yuanjiao off guard, and he relented slightly.
"Let go of your dharma artifact and I''ll spare you!" he said.
Bai Yinzi''s face was still crimson. He shut his eyes and stood frozen on the spot as the light on his dharma artifact slowly faded. With his sword held to the man''s throat, Li Yuanjiao was somewhat convinced by the man now and began to feel rather awkward.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
A middle-aged man flew out of the formation, looking pale and with several medicinal packs attached to his body. He smiled wryly and assured Li Yuanjiao, "This is a misunderstanding..."
Li Yuanjiao sheathed his sword, then bowed slightly to Bai Yinzi and apologized with mild embarrassment.
"Sorry, fellow Daoist..."
Still trembling with fright, Bai Yinzi muttered, "I see... Such is the might of the sword immortal n... Half of my soul nearly fled my body as soon as you raised your sword."
Chen Donghe also apologized to Bai Yinzi. Having regained hisposure, Bai Yinzi waved off the incident and simply replied, "It was my poor choice of words that caused the misunderstanding... I should be the one apologizing. You have been most gracious, Young Master!"
Despite being away from home for many years, Chen Donghe respectfully addressed Li Yuanjiao as Young Master, consequently influencing Bai Yinzi to do the same too. Li Yuanjiao said nothing and simply allowed them to address him that way.
With the misunderstanding resolved, Bai Yinzi let out a long sigh and was finallyfortable enough to speak normally.
"It''s no surprise that your esteemed n could thrive in the treacherous territories of the Azure Pond Sect, expand its territory, and ascend to be such a prestigious n... Such determination is truly beyond my emtion!"
Having sheathed his sword, Li Yuanjiao''s stern features rxed. Although he no longer looked as vicious as earlier, he still looked rather fierce.
Bai Yinzi clicked his tongue in admiration before continuing, "The Golden Feather Sect, under which I serve, also imposes a hefty immortal tax. Yet, it''s nothingpared to the ruthless measures of the Azure Pond Sect. They obliterate opposition at every opportunity. Even when temples are annexed, we must report to the Golden Feather Sect before proceeding with any further mergers, and we certainly do not resort to killing everyone..."
"In my opinion, the Azure Pond Sect and Gold Tang Gate behave no differently than devil cultivators. Let''s keep our conversation between us, lest we be used of ndering the immortal sect..." he added with a slow shake of his head, almost as though in dejection.
Li Yuanjiao listened patiently to Bai Yinzi''s tirades. As soon as Bai Yinzi paused to catch his breath, Li Yuanjiao seized the opportunity to turn to Chen Donghe, his voice filled with concern as he asked, "What has gotten you into this state?"
"Devil cultivators!"
Chen Donghe was now at the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. A smile appeared on his pale face as he exined, "A few days ago, a band of devil cultivators headed north, passing by Smoke Valley Temple over Mount Xiping. I helped the temple cultivators defend the grand formation, but I sustained some injuries and have been bedridden for many days. I requested the temple master toe out and greet you, but I didn''t know that would end up causing a misunderstanding..."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanjiao pressed further, eager for details.
"Where did those devil cultivators go?"
"After a prolonged battle, they crossed Mount Xiping and likely headed to the west shore," Chen Donghe replied.
Li Yuanjiao estimated the timing and realized he likely could not catch up to them now, so he could only sigh regretfully.
The fact that those devil cultivators failed to breach this grand formation meant that most of them were early-stage Qi Cultivators. If Li Yuanjiao could rally the cultivators in his family to intercept them, they could potentially eliminate the threat and loot them to amass funds.
Li Yuanjiao then retrieved several pills from his storage pouch and handed them to Chen Donghe, whose own supply had long been depleted in the fierce battle. Gratefully epting the supplies, Chen Donghe expressed his gratitude.
He smiled and introduced the other man, saying, "This is Bai Yinzi, the temple master who has greatly aided me over the years, providing everything from rations to spirit vein support. He is truly a kind and honest soul!"
Li Yuanjiao cupped his fist and acknowledged Bai Yinzi, while Bai Yinzi waved his hand andughed.
"Daoist Donghe has also been a great help to me over these years... He has defeated several rivals at the temple fair. I owe him much for the support and am more than happy to provide food and lodging for him."
Chen Donghe responded with a warmugh, and Bai Yinzi continued enthusiastically, "Fellow Daoist Donghe is a good-natured person. Even those he has defeated admire him... He''s earned quite a reputation across this desert over the years!"
The two continued conversing for some time. Bai Yinzi then invited them both back to drink and feast until the sunset. Eventually, Chen Donghe finally returned to his courtyard with Li Yuanjiao.
As they closed the door behind them, they activated an isting formation. In the center of the courtyard sat an old woman, her face etched with wrinkles around her eyes and on her forehead. She held an oilmp which illuminated the paper she was writing on with a brush. Looking up as the two men entered, she greeted them softly.
"Ah... You are here, Jiao''er."
"Auntie..."
Li Yuanjiao hesitated for a moment before recognizing her. Li Jingtian had aged significantly, now over fifty and drastically different from his memories, except for her eyes, which remained as gentle and warm as ever.
It was rare for mortals of Mount Dali to reach such an age. Chen Donghe had been nourishing Li Jingtian with spirit items, so she still seemed to be in good health.
With a smile, she asked, "How is everything at home? Is Second Uncle still doing well?"
Hearing her questions, Li Yuanjiao''sposure faltered, and tears welled up in his eyes. He shut his eyes, his hand gripping the hilt of his Qingche Sword which buzzed and vibrated with his emotion.
With a sorrowful tone, he revealed, "The Old Ancestor has left this world to express his gratitude to the Supreme Yin..."
Upon hearing this, Li Jingtian''s face immediately paled and tears streamed down her cheeks. Chen Donghe also seemed to be taken aback by the news as the expression on his face changed and he stood frozen in ce.
"I see... this moment has finallye..."
Although Li Jingtian had received a few pieces of news from home and had somewhat mentally prepared herself, Chen Donghe reacted as if struck by lightning, his face contorted in disbelief.
"Impossible... How can this be?!" he cried aloud.
Chen Donghe, normallyposed even in the direst of circumstances, hadpletely lost hisposure. His face contorted with a torrent of emotions. Taking a few steps back, his eyes darkened as he uttered in disbelief, "Unless a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator intervened, who could possibly have killed Second Uncle?!"
Without thinking, Chen Donghe had also addressed him as Second Uncle. His face flushed as he gasped for breath. Li Yuanjiao quickly reached out to support him, channeling qi through his meridians. After a moment, Chen Donghe coughed up a mouthful of ck blood.
Since he had sustained internal injuries, hisplexion visibly improved after he spat out the blood. Looking up, he asked, "Was it an old wound from Maha?"
"Yes..."
With this confirmation, Chen Donghe wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth and murmured, "The heavens must be envious of the talented... To think that all the four brothers of Lijing died so silently!"
Li Yuanjiao turned his head away slightly, as the family had not acknowledged Li Chejing''s death. Chen Donghe, who had supported them for years, must have had his reasons for keeping such matters close to his heart. Now, ovee with emotion, he had let the words slip.
After beingforted by Li Jingtian for a moment, Chen Donghe regained hisposure. He hung his head and apologized, "I''m sorry you had to see that."
Unable to find the right words offort, Li Yuanjiao continued to focus on helping Chen Donghe fix his meridians.
Chen Donghe then remarked, "Please allow me to rest for a bit. Tomorrow, I will take you to Smoke Valley Market."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, and the couple supported each other as they moved toward the inner courtyard.
Soon after, the sound of muffled sobs could be heard from the doorway.
Li Yuanjiao sat in silence and was lost in his own thoughts, now all alone in the courtyard. The tea on the table remained untouched, its colors mingling with the hues of the blood-red sunset.
He rested his hand on his knee, gazing toward the red sun dipping below the desert horizon as he let out a sigh. Smoke rose in shapes that resembled serpents, whales, wolves, and snakes, all melding into the dark red distant sky.
Chapter 419: Compassionate Appearance (I)
Chapter 419: Compassionate Appearance (I)
Located in the desert, the street of Smoke Valley Market was paved with sandstone. After walking for a bit, Chen Donghe and Li Yuanjiao heard the calls of merchants hawking their wares. As they raised their gaze, a sea of people stretched before them.
During their walk, Li Yuanjiao shared the news of Li Xuanfeng''s breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm with Chen Donghe, who looked slightly better upon hearing it, though his tone suggested that he had already expected this.
"Xuanfeng has always been extraordinary since young. He''s the most talented among all his brothers, so his achievement was to be expected," Chen Donghe had remarked simply.
After walking a little more, Chen Donghe had pretty much returned to his usual self. He pointed at the bustling crowd and exined, "Despite the barrenness of Smoke Valley Desert, it is rich in spirit resources and ores. Cultivators from all directions flock here, making the number of Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators here far surpass those at Cloud Crowned Peak."
He looked around cautiously, his voice diminishing to a whisper before shifting to mana transmission.
"Ultimately, it''s due to the Golden Feather Sect''sx control over the temples and their handling of rogue cultivators. This bnce allows many lower-ranked cultivators to thrive peacefully here, their numbers dwarfing those at Azure Pond."
Li Yuanjiao observed the crowd around them and nodded in agreement. "The Azure Pond Sect has thergest number of Purple Mansion, Foundation Establishment, and Qi cultivators though. It sees less return from the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators than it could gain from regr annexations and purges... This also ensures that the incapable naturally yield to the more capable and talented. Thus, valuable resources aren''t squandered on mediocrity."
After serving the Azure Pond Sect for such a long time now, the Li Family had naturally developed deep connections and insights over the years. Li Yuanjiao borated, "The many Embryonic Breathing Realm families in the region can only cultivate Spirit Paddies and must contend with others... They will never be able topete with Foundation Establishment prestigious ns with high-ranking cultivators in their ranks."
His gaze lingered on the market stalls briefly as he sighed.
"Yet, I must admit that the Azure Pond Sect''s systems and strategies are more ruthless and sophisticated, enabling them to evolve from a minor sect on Mount Azure Pond to the formidable entity that they are today."
Chen Donghe fell silent. The atmosphere grew somber, prompting them to shift the conversation. Li Yuanjiao furrowed his brow.
"Uncle Donghe, I brought a bottle of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi with me. It''s amon item, yet I''ve seen none for sale. Why is that?" he asked.
Chen Donghe pointed at the pervasive yellow sand and exined, "Minor Pure Spiritual Qi can only be collected from mountains and forests, which are absent in the desert. The people have found various ways to resolve this issue since ancient times. Historically, the locals have devised various alternatives... Nowadays, most have adopted Minor Quicksand Qi as a substitute. Minor Pure Spiritual Qi is now rarely seen and not worth much."
Chen Donghe''s exnation enlightened Li Yuanjiao. The two then searched for a shop and traded the Azure des for fifty Spirit Stones.
Although the Azure des were mid-quality Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts, it was unfortunate that the curved dual des were rarely seen. After several rounds of negotiation, it managed to only fetch a moderate price.
Li Yuanjiao epted the Spirit Stones with a sigh of relief.
No wonder most Qi Cultivators wield Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts... Fifty Spirit Stones will take an ordinary Qi Cultivator over ten years to save by just gathering qi without active cultivation. If they are actively cultivating, they will also need to buy supplies and rations, which can easily triple or quadruple this period... That''s about forty years of savings for a single dharma artifact. How many such forty-year spans does one have in a lifetime?!
He then retrieved a devil cultivator''s sledgehammer that he had gotten from Li Qinghong from his storage pouch. This inferior Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifact was worth only thirty Spirit Stones. After selling the remainder of the Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts, including Li Qinghong''s nine Spirit Stones, Li Yuanjiao managed to amass nearly a total of a hundred Spirit Stones.
With Minor Pure Spiritual Qi being both cheap and rare here, Li Yuanjiao decided to keep it for now. Chen Donghe pushed six Spirit Stones into Li Yuanjiao''s hands, rounding out the majority of the sum, leaving just over a dozen Spirit Stones unounted for.
Xizhi''s letter mentioned that Yuan Tuan could provide some Spirit Stones, but relying on a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator''s favors for just a few stones really isn''t worth it.
Having gathered all their items, the two exited the market and flew across the vast desert. Li Yuanjiao hesitated slightly before asking Chen Donghe, "Is there a way to earn Spirit Stones in the desert?"
Chen Donghe pondered briefly before replying, "There are ways, but most would take years, and it''s unlikely you could gather more than ten Spirit Stones."
Upon hearing that, Li Yuanjiao could only perish this train of thought. He handed over the few pills in his possession to Chen Donghe, then asked, "Uncle Donghe, how''s the progress with the Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi?"
"It''s about 80% ready," Chen Donghe replied as he pulled a jade bottle from his storage pouch and added, "It''ll be ready in another year and a half!"
"Good," Li Yuanjiao acknowledged with a nod of approval, "I''ll head back to the n first. Take care, Uncle Donghe... After some time, I wille find you again."
After exchanging a few parting words and promising to pay respects to Li Tongya on Chen Donghe''s behalf, Li Yuanjiao rode away on the wind.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The Yu Family of Linghai Prefecture had been a prominent n for generations. Its descendants pledged allegiance to various immortal peaks within the Azure Pond Sect, oftenpeting fiercely among themselves for power and influence.
In the abandoned city, streets and alleysy dry and deserted, save for the faint sounds of conversation emanating from the great hall at the city''s highest point. Here, a few of the Yu Family''s Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators stood in an awkward line.
Historically, the heads of these family branches rarely met,municating instead through messengers even for internal discussions. Yet this time, they found themselves together in this deste city, their expressions both a mixture of respect and tension. They were all d in distinct attire.
At the end of the hall sat a ck-robed monk, his belly protruding as if he were six months pregnant. His face, gleaming with grease, shifted between broad grins andbored gasps for breath.
"Are you satisfied, Master Monk?" asked the eldest of the Yu Family, stepping forward with a smile.
"Absolutely! I have noints! Your family has always been the most generous... offering up sixteen thousand souls! Truly, the Yu Family possesses the greatest wisdom in not clinging to mortal coils," Murong Xia responded with a huge grin.
"Hahaha! I''m d to hear that, Master Monk!"
The old master of the Yu Familyughed as a gust of wind swept through the empty streets, a sense of satisfaction welling within him.
This one is about to be a Maha! Without the exchange of interests between the immortals and the Buddhists, how could the Yu Family have ever connected with such a powerful figure? Now is the perfect opportunity to earn his favor before he attains the Maha status!
With a broad, obliging smile, he continued with forced sweetness, "Is this city sufficient for you, Master Monk? If not, I can find more people of great virtue and wash them well before sending them into your belly for a good time!"
The monk, half reclining on a grand golden seat, hummed a few notes. His protruding belly was exposed, and it was visibly marked with blue and purple veins.
He simplyughed off the offer.
"No need... no need! I''ve already gathered 106,756 people... Any more, and they might rupture my blessednd."
He winced, grappling with the difort in his belly briefly. After severalbored breaths, he added with a broad grin, "Since embracing the Virtuous Benevolence Zen Dao, I''ve abandoned The Merciful One''s feeble ways... Now, having realized the way, I will soon ascend to Maha! Then, I shall reim the cultivation of my previous lives and reach even greater heights!"
Chapter 420: Compassionate Appearance (II)
Chapter 420: Compassionate Appearance (II)
Murong Xia was the Master Monk who had once passed through the Li Family''s territory over a decade ago. While traveling and consuming humans, he eventually found himself in Linghai Prefecture. Sitting in the golden seat with his swollen belly, he smacked his lips and proimed loudly, "This old monk is about to be enlightened... This old monk is about to be enlightened!"
Those from the Yu Family naturally began congratting him. Blood began flowing out from Murong Xia''s lower body. He flipped over as if trying to adjust his posture before eximing suddenly, "ALAS!"
BOOM!
His enormous belly burst open, emitting a strange fragrance and radiating bursts of colorful light. The sounds of whistling wind, a pleasant melody, and theughter of men, women, and children erupted powerfully from within him.
From the bloody remains of his body, a baby emerged from Murong Xia''s stomach. He rapidly aged into a seventeen or eighteen-year-old figure with an androgynous and serene face. He had fourteen arms, each wielding a dharma artifact.
As he moved, shimmery golden powder fell from his body, instantly transforming into animated figures that scurried about in excitement.
The Yu Family, witnessing this surreal scene, recoiled in horror with their eyes wide open in shock. The androgynous being picked up Murong Xia''s lifeless torso and consumed it as if it were a cucumber, devouring it in just four or five bites.
"Delicious."
Blood trickled from the corner of the Maha''s mouth as his figure began to swell dramatically. In mere moments, he had grown to the size of a hill, his massive form blotting out the sun. As he towered over houses and cities, crushing them beneath his feet, he parted his lips slightly and spoke in a soft, mysterious voice.
"I, Murong Xia, have today attained enlightenment as the Ninth Maha Reincarnate. I have connected with the Six Paths of Compassion World View and gained great divine ability... In seven days, I invite all fellow cultivators to join me at the religious assembly..."
His voice rippled through the air smoothly like water, garnering echoes of congrattions. Cultivators from various sects in the north and south voiced their praises as Murong Xia stood silent and proud in Linghai Prefecture.
Murong Xia moved his gaze and was about to say something when the void before him suddenly tore open. A man in white emerged, cradling a sword and regarding him silently.
His face, obscured by mist, remained unseen, halting Murong Xia''s attempt to speak immediately. The celebratory sounds vanished too, leaving only a deadly silence around them.
"S-Shangyuan..."
A flicker of fear crossed Murong Xia''s androgynous,passionate face, and he lowered his fourteen slender arms.
Daoist Master Shangyuan, clutching his sword, stared coldly at him and gave a simplemand.
"Return to Yan State."
Arrogance immediately left Murong Xia''s face as he looked visibly deted. He shrank until his body became the size of a normal human again before he quickly scurried off into the void and vanished without a word.
The remaining Yu Family members were still kneeling in terror. They watched as Daoist Master Shangyuan also disappeared into the void without sparing them a single nce, leaving behind an empty city marked only by tworge footprints.
Phew!
The Yu Family members wiped the sweat from their foreheads, exchanged nces with each other, and then snorted coldly before dispersing.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile on Mount Yuting...
Li Qinghong had said her farewells to Li Yuanjiao before settling into a period of cultivation on Mount Yuting. However, she soon felt the Vast Sky Fierce Sparrow within her bing restless. With frustration in her heart, her progress was slowed.
"How could this be...?"
She set her spear down horizontally, her brow furrowed in deep thought.
Could it be that a devil cultivator has trespassed on my grounds, or perhaps there is a disturbance in the blood qi that has affected my talisman qi...? It might also be that I haven''t had a proper fight in too long... All these years, the battles have been swift, decided within a few moves.
Li Qinghong was not one for a peaceful life of quiet cultivation; she thrived in the heat of battle, only making progress when her spear was stained with blood. Now, having spent nearly a decade on Mount Yuting, practicing sporadically, her progress had naturally begun to slow down.
After offending that demonic creature, I dare not enter Mount Dali recklessly. The demons in Moongaze Lake lurk in its dark undercurrents, elusive and well-hidden...
She missed her family, but knowing she could not venture far, Li Qinghong decided to settle on Mount Yuting. Cradling her spear, she watched the sunrise silently. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise and the crunching of snow underfoot.
"Auntie!"
Li Xijun approached, walking on the snow. He cupped his fist respectfully and said, "There''s a monk by theke, and he has constructed a hut at the mountain''s base to meditate."
"A monk..?"
Li Tongya''s incident had left Li Qinghong with a deep-seated hatred for monks. She frowned immediately, gripping her spear tightly as she asked in a cold voice, "What is his cultivation realm?"
"Appears to be just a monk," Li Xijun replied, raising an eyebrow with concern, fearing his aunt''s impulsiveness.
He quickly added, "Auntie, this person traveled south under the guise of a mere monk, so he must have powerful backing... Please exercise caution and avoid unnecessary risks."
"I know," Li Qinghong replied, her almond eyes narrowing as she clutched her spear.
"Yet, we cannot allow him to stay at the base of our mountain. What if he is lying in wait for Brother Jiao''s return? Send someone to inquire why this bald cur hase," she instructed.
After a brief pause, she continued, "Ensure that those at Lijing are aware of the situation... and ready to act anytime to suppress this threat."
"The Family Head has been informed," Li Xijun replied with a nod.
Together, they approached the formation te. Li Qinghong reached out with her delicate hand and pressed on it, sending her spiritual sense through the device to survey the surroundings. As expected, she found a monk seated amidst the grass at the foot of the mountain.
The monk was d in a brown robe with wide sleeves, his head marked with ordination scars. His face was round and his features were unassuming, though not unattractive.
He sat cross-legged with a bronze-ringed monk staff resting on his knees, his eyes firmly shut.
After Li Xijun issued instructions, the formation soon stirred slightly. An Siwei approached warily with a spear in hand and said softly, "I am An Siwei of the Li Family... Venerable monk, what brings you from afar? Do you have any questions?"
The monk opened his small eyes and replied, "I am Kongheng of the Liao River Temple in Yan State... I wish to meet with the peak master of Yuting. Could you kindly convey my request?"
An Siwei, having received Li Xijun''s instruction before descending the mountain, nodded and inquired, "May I know what you would like to find out, Master Kongheng? At least, that will make it easier for me to ry it to the peak master."
Kongheng paused gently before replying, "Ie with no ill intentions. My journey is merely dictated by the path of Buddhism and the workings of fate, thus I have traveled far to wait here for the peak master."
An Siwei, unable to return empty-handed, pressed further, but the monk''s replies circled back to his initial statement. Reluctantly, he returned up the mountain to report his words.
Li Qinghong, typically wary of Buddhist cultivators, shook her head upon hearing this and said, "We know nothing of this monk''s background, and it wouldn''t be right to kill him outright... Let him wait if he so wishes. Additionally, send someone to the Xiao Family to inquire about this Liao River Temple."
The two boys departed right away to carry out her orders. Li Qinghong, finding her cultivation progress stalling, retrieved the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique manual and began studying two of the secret techniques in it.
After several days of studies, An Siwei returned, bearing his spear and speaking gravely.
"Peak master, this monk initially imed to be treating ailments. However, the townspeople, still traumatized by Murong Xia, have ignored him. Undeterred, he has now settled in a hut at the mountain''s base, continuing his cultivation alone!"
Li Qinghong set aside her jade slip and asked softly, "What did the Xiao Family say?"
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Chapter 421: Ambushed By Devil Cultivators (I)
Chapter 421: Ambushed By Devil Cultivators (I)
"The Xiao Family has sent a letter."
An Siwei respectfully presented a small, light green envelope with both hands.
Li Qinghong took it, noting that the letter was as soft as cloth or silk rather than ordinary paper.
To think that they use some kind of spirit cloth for letters... The Xiao Family truly lives up to their reputation as an immortal n.
An Siwei bowed before withdrawing. Li Qinghong unfolded the letter and read the first line.
"From Guitu: The Liao River is situated in the Liao of northern Yan. The Xiao Family knows little about it and the Liao River Temple is unknown to us. We only know that Liao is a cold and harsh ce, where Buddhism cultivation began long ago. Many ascetic cultivators reside there, and the sutras are strictly guarded. Cultivators are often denied ess, but there are no notable figures wielding divine abilities. Nowadays, Buddhist cultivators practice the Seven Dharma Forms, which differ significantly from the ways of Liao."
"Northern Yan..."
Li Qinghong put the letter away and ran her fingers along the handle of her spear with a contemtive expression. Suddenly, she detected a fluctuation from the grand formation. A ck-d man appeared andnded on the mountaintop swiftly.
"Qinghong."
"Big Brother!"
Seeing Li Yuanjiao descend, Li Qinghong knew he must have brought the mirror with him. She then handed over the letter, which Li Yuanjiao read with a serious expression. After a moment, he said softly, "Let''s descend the mountain to meet him."
Two figures flew out of the grand formation and saw a monk carrying a piece of redwood, splitting it into several pieces with his bare hands before smoothing them, sending wood shavings flying into the wind.
A man d in ck and a beautiful womannded at the foot of the mountain. The man appeared somber, while the woman in white exuded amanding presence. Kongheng immediately set the redwood down and rose to his feet.
"Kongheng greets Daoists!"
"I am Li Yuanjiao. I''ll dly answer any questions you have, Master Monk," Li Yuanjiao replied with a calm demeanor.
Kongheng bowed and replied, "I am not fit to be called a Master Monk... Nevertheless, I am simply passing by and wish to stay here for a while, as a guest cultivator."
Li Yuanjiao smiled and observed Kongheng''s serene and clear eyes before refusing politely, "I''m afraid that my modest home is ill-suited to amodate an esteemed monk like yourself from a grand temple. To the east, half a month''s journey away, is the Xiao Residence, home to an immortal n. Perhaps you might consider visiting them?"
Kongheng shook his head helplessly and responded, "I wish to cultivate in your family''s territory for a while. If there''s anything I can do, please let me know, Daoist."
Li Yuanjiao was slightly taken aback by Kongheng''s insistence on staying despite his suggestion. Behind him, Li Qinghong raised an eyebrow and asked, "How can my family possibly agree to allow you to stay if you don''t rify your intentions?"
Her voice was gentle, yet her tone was firm.
Kongheng simply bowed his head.
"I am facing a cmity and must seek refuge with your family. Please rest assured, I do not practice the Seven Dharma Forms..."
His answer was still vague and unclear. Before Li Qinghong and Li Yuanjiao could continue pressing on, a deafening roar echoed through the sky.
Dark clouds of ck qi rose from the town, which was apanied by loud screams. The clouds swiftly moved through the streets and alleyways, and the town was filled with the sounds of malevolentughter.
Li Yuanjiao felt heat rising in his chest.
His face darkened as he shouted, "Devil cultivators!"
With a swift motion, he drew a talisman from his sleeve and sent it soaring into the sky where it ignited into crimson mes. Instantly, the grand formations on the Li Family''s five mountains activated, and multicolored barriers appeared around the mountains.
As he rested his hand on his Qingche Sword, doubts crept into his mind. He briefly nced at the monk, who was equally astonished, and thought bitterly to himself, Buddhist cultivators are usually so good at divination... Now, as soon as Kongheng arrives, a demon cultivator appears... Could this be a deliberate act? Some kind of scheme..?"
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud, mocking voice.
"Hahaha! You reacted pretty quickly!"
The cloud of devil qi was fast approaching. A rough voice came from the mist, apanied by a swirling white mist and the indistinct figures of people.
A devil cultivator in ck stepped forward. He was a peak Qi Cultivator. He immediately greeted Li Yuanjiao with a palm strike and eximed, "Where is Li Xuanxuan? He has certainly made me suffer... Qiu is here to settle the score!"
Having heard about everything that had transpired in the marketce from Li Xuanxuan, Li Yuanjiao immediately realized the severity of the situation. His heart sank, knowing that this cultivator wielded an unusual and destructive technique that was extremely difficult to deal with.
The Qingche Sword flew from his hand, unleashing a radiant sword arc through the air. The sword qi collided with the white mist, dissipating several of its wisps and forcing them back toward the devil cultivator''s face.
"A Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact?!"
Upon seeing his usually invincible spell so easily countered, the devil cultivator was visibly delighted instead of surprised. A greedy glint appeared in his eyes as he shattered the sword qi with his palm strike.
"I suppose sword immortal ns are something else entirely! To think that even a Qi Cultivator can wield a Foundation Establishment dharma artifact... How extravagant!"
As soon as he finished his exmation, a thunderp echoed through the air.
Rumble!
Without a word, Li Qinghong had swung her White Iris Spear, unleashing a purple dragon''s shadow. Qiu gathered white qi in his hand before delivering a palm strike to the side of the spear, causing a loud explosion.
"Another Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact?!" he eximed.
Li Qinghong''s face hardened with silent fury, knowing that her younger brother, Li Yuanyun, was killed by this devil cultivator. Her spear moved with lethal precision, delivering a relentless barrage of strikes.
Oblivious to the fact that the mortal he casually killed before was Li Qinghong''s younger brother, the devil cultivator surnamed Qiu saw only the deep-seated hatred in the female cultivator''s eyes. He neutralized her attacks and looked at her contemptuously.
"Do you really think I''m like those other weaklings practicing the Blood Dharma Manual who only know how to flee but not fight? You think thunder is going to scare me away? I might be afraid if you unleash some sort of spell instead..."
Despite his tough act, he was beginning to feel the pressure from Li Qinghong''s relentless assault. With Li Yuanjiao joining the fray, he could only focus on defense for the moment.
However, he did note here alone. Amidst the swirling smoke, several figures emerged that were all glowing with red and ck light. They wereughing loudly, mockingly.
"Master Qiu... are you struggling against these Qi Cultivators of the sixth and seventh heavenlyyer?"
One devil Qi Cultivator at the sixth heavenlyyer stepped forward with a mockingugh, holding a dharma artifact that appeared to be a red mirror. After his teasing remark, he simply walked past the three battling cultivators and led hispanions toward Mount Yuting.
Mount Yuting''s grand formation, left behind by the An Family years ago, was of moderate power in the Qi Cultivation Realm. As the devil cultivators attacked, the surface of the barrier rippled like water.
The group, armed with various tools¡ªa hammer, a mirror, arge shield, and even a rare pagoda¡ªwere unable to break through the formation''s defenses. Theirbined efforts only created ripples on the surface of the formation.
Under the intense pressure from the two attackers, the devil cultivator surnamed Qiu grew increasingly frustrated and cursed, "Damn Zhang Huaide! I''m struggling here, and yet you''re busy attacking the formation? Combine your forces to deal with these two first, then we can divide the spoils! Really... How stupid can you be?!"
Zhang Huaide shrugged indifferently and said with a smile, "Boss, give me a moment to break this formation, and then I''lle back to help you!"
Devil cultivators were often driven by greed. Seeing Mount Yuting as a tempting prize, they were naturally eager to take advantage of the situation, striking first to loot the ce while Qiu was kept busy by the two cultivators.
Although Li Chejing and Li Tongya are dead, the Li Family might still have hidden tricks up their sleeves.
Zhang Huaide thought to himself with a cold smile.
I should just grab a few valuables and go... Wouldn''t want to piss those two off too much. If they unleash their divine ability, talisman, dharma sword, or jade token, they could easily crush us like ants!
With his perceptive abilities heightened by his cultivation, Zhang Huaide felt a shiver at the sight of Li Yuanjiao''s Qingche Sword. Instinctively, he wanted to retreat and only focused on escaping with whatever he could get.
Chapter 422: Ambushed By Devil Cultivators (II)
Chapter 422: Ambushed By Devil Cultivators (II)
Just then, several streams of light appeared in the distance, streaking across the sky. Leading them was a man with a shiny bald head d in leather fur.
"Little devil cultivators, how dare you trespass on my immortal mountain?! Do you wish to get a taste of my immortal sword?!" he yelled.
The man was An Zheyan, a cultivator at the eighthyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Sweat beaded his forehead as his sons, An Siming and An Siwei, were within Mount Yuting''s grand formation. Without any hesitation, he unleashed a barrage of spells at the devil cultivator.
Zhang Huaide remained unfazed. With a flick of his hand, he released a blood-colored mana light that easily neutralized An Zheyan''s spells.
"How absurd... It seems like you''re all talk," heughed derisively.
Despite An Zheyan''s advanced cultivation at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Zhang Huaide, at the sixth heavenlyyer but armed with the Blood Dharma Manual and numerous secret techniques, proved to be more than a match for him.
Li Xuanxuan, with a grim expression, followed closely behind. Armed with arge ax and at the seventh heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation, his appearance was that of a formidable cultivator from the main lineage. He was apanied by an elderly monkey at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Together, they presented a truly formidable and imposing presence indeed.
Li Xuanxuan looked at the devil cultivators below him, initially apprehensive but then smirking as he exchanged a few blows with a devil cultivator of the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"And here I thought you were a big deal!" he remarked with an arched brow.
The next two streams of light were Tian Zhongqing, Tian Youdao, and Xu Gongming. All three early-stage Qi Cultivators worked together to fend off an early-stage devil cultivator.
Seeing that breaching Yuting was proving difficult, the remaining two devil cultivators decided to abandon the formation and attack Tian Zhongqing and his uncle.
Kongheng, who had been left behind by the crowd, sighed deeply. With a swift motion, he wielded his staff and rode the wind, despite being only a monk. A golden light began pooling in his hands.
"Do notmit any sins of murder, Benefactors!" he boomed.
The staff, adorned with copper rings, whirled and danced at incredible speed, trapping the two devil cultivators instantly. The golden light in his hands radiated brightly.
The two devil cultivators were taken aback and shouted in rm, "A Master Monk!?"
Unlike immortal cultivators, Buddhist cultivators could only ride the wind when they became Master Monks with strengthparable to that of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
This realization caught the two devil cultivators by surprise, prompting the red glow on their bodies to intensify as they instinctively pulled apart.
Yet, the golden light was suppressing their blood light. The two were startled before realization finally struck them. One of the cultivators, who was wielding arge shield, eximed, "And here I was wonderin'' why a monk could fly and thought him a Master Monk! Turns out it is a dharma artifact he''s wielding!"
The other cultivator, who had a simr face to him, cursed, "Ugh...! You fool! Master told us to speak the officialnguage!"
The loud exchange startled Kongheng, whose tiny eyes widened slightly in surprise as he recognized their ent.
"You''re from Zhao State!" he eximed.
As the two devil cultivators raised their dharma artifacts and made their move to attack Kongheng, the monk quickly blocked their attacks with his staff. However, the relentless assault of the two cultivators forced him backward.
The shield-bearer urged, "No! A Buddhist enemy we mustn''t provoke!"
The other who was wielding a pagoda, silently relented. Despite Kongheng''s efforts, he found himself on the defensive, with the situation stalemated.
Zhang Huaide, who heard the entire conversation clearly, let out an exasperated sigh. He muttered in frustration, "Those two worthless fools!"
He was engaged in a fierce battle with An Zheyan, and while Qiu was attacking unrelentingly, he still struggled to shake off his opponents.
Initially uncoordinated due to ack of opportunity to fight together in the past, Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong gradually found their synergy. Li Qinghong''s thunder techniques and Li Yuanjiao''s sharp sword qi began to turn the tide in their favor.
The cultivator surnamed Qiu, who relied on a cultivation technique that was most effective against dharma artifacts and flesh, had enjoyed sess over the years. However, he was unlucky to run into these Qi Cultivators who wielded Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifacts. No matter how hard he tried, he could not prate their defenses. This left him in a state of great frustration.
He scanned the battlefield, his anxiety easing as he saw that his side had a significant advantage in several areas. With the situation more favorable, he coldly mocked the two opponents he was contending with.
"So what if your dharma artifacts are impressive? Your spear and sword qi are still inferior and can''t break my spell!"
As soon as he had finished speaking, three more figures arrived¡ªXiao Guiluan, Madam Dou, and a guest cultivator, Li Qng.
Li Qng, a Qi Cultivator at the third heavenlyyer with an honest face, stood behind the women. Xiao Guiluan''s phoenix eyes quickly scanned the battlefield and instructed decisively, "Save the Tian Family first!"
Tian Zhongqing and his uncle practiced a subpar cultivation technique andcked effective dharma artifacts or spells. As a result, they were steadily pushed back by the devil cultivator''s particrly powerful attacks, finding themselves in constant danger.
The devil cultivator''s hammer struck him hard, causing Tian Zhongqing to cough up blood. His face was flushed red, and his hands trembled uncontrobly. Despite his pain, he managed to utter words of thanks.
With the arrival of three reinforcements, the situation shifted dramatically. Xiao Guiluan, wielding the Xiao Family''s Grade Three cultivation technique and her dharma artifact¡ªa silk shawl¡ªmade a significant impact on the battle. Throughbined efforts, they overwhelmed the devil cultivator, who was now desperately calling for help.
Seeing the situation take a turn for the worse, Zhang Huaide could no longer hold back. He activated a spell, pping An Zheyan aside, and raised his red mirror high into the air. Concentrating his mana, he made the mirror glow with a fierce red light.
Boom!
A bolt of purple lightning streaked across the sky, disrupting his spell.
Shamoli, who had traveled from Eastern Mount Yue and was now at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, arrived just in time. Wielding thunder, he joined the fight to support An Zheyan.
Zhang Huaide was thrown into a panic as he saw An Zheyan now supported by a thunder cultivator, whose power was particrly effective against devil cultivators. Just as he was beginning to turn the tide of the battle, this unexpected arrival had made his task even more daunting.
"Zhang Mutong! Move faster!" Zhang Huaide shouted.
Zhang Mutong, a mid-stage Qi devil cultivator, was struggling to keep up with Li Xuanxuan and the old monkey. He frantically unleashed several spells, his frustration evident as blood light flowed chaotically around him.
Despite Li Xuanxuan''s dire condition, he managed to hold his ground while spitting out mouthfuls of blood. The devil cultivator, however, was struggling to catch his breath after the old monkey dealt him a heavy blow from behind him. Meanwhile, Zhang Huaide could only watch the entire scene in bewilderment.
Upon seeing the situation stabilizing, Li Qinghong exchanged a nce with her elder brother. Li Yuanjiao immediately understood her intention. He stepped forward with his sword while Li Qinghong performed a hand seal, conjuring a swirl of purple light.
"Purple Talisman Origin Light Secret Technique!"
This was one of the two secret techniques from the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique manual, a technique that had long been forgotten and lost its name. After years of study, Li Qinghong had finally mastered its subtleties and given it a name.
She brought her hands together, gently rubbing them to conjure a rich purple light. She then traced talisman symbols in the air, carefully outlining each character.
Seeing this, the cultivator surnamed Qiu was immediately rmed. He quickly brought his hands together and unleashed clouds of white qi.
"Shit, this bitch is getting serious! Zhang Huaide, stop hiding and act now!" he yelled frantically.
Zhang Huaide''s face grew grim as he adjusted his robe. His sleeves billowed without wind as he summoned a swirling blood-red light from his body. In a deep voice, hemanded, "Fellow Daoists, protect me!"
Chapter 423: Shattered (I)
Chapter 423: Shattered (I)
When the devil cultivator surnamed Qiu saw Zhang Huaide''s pathetic state, he could not help but wonder about the man''s true abilities.
The Ancestor Difu sent this person, but I can''t tell his purpose here... From the look on the ancestor''s face, this guy likely has some background. Perhaps he has some trick up his sleeve!
Gritting his teeth in frustration, the devil cultivator pushed his palms out. White qi surged forth as he tried to resist the thunder talisman Li Qinghong unleashed with a yell. The two attacks collided with a loud noise and Qiu tried forcing it away with all his might.
Li Qinghong''s Purple Talisman Origin Light Secret Technique was the highest-grade spell avable in the Li Family. Spells and techniques were strictly controlled by the three sects and seven gates, so the Li Family was unable to obtain other secret techniques ofparable quality.
BOOM!
The talisman in front of Qiu exploded. Purple lightning crackled aloud, and white smoke billowed in every direction.
"AHH!"
The devil cultivator cried out in pain, his palms now scorched ck. But before he could even catch his breath, a brilliant sword light had emerged from the smoke and dust, heading directly for his neck. The devil cultivator had no choice but to use his hands to defend himself.
His spell was shattered by Li Qinghong''s thunder talisman, and the Qingche Sword, a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, shed with deadly precision, cleanly severing five of his fingers. Blood streamed from the stumps as his eyes burned with rage.
"Damn it, Zhang Huaide! Qiu Ji is getting out of here!" he screamed.
The light in Zhang Huaide''s hand continued to intensify. Li Yuanjiao had readied thest remaining Foundation Establishment Realm talisman from his n in his hand while gripping the Qingche Sword with his other, his gaze fixated on Zhang Huaide.
As Li Yuanjiao''s gaze locked onto him, Zhang Huaide felt a sharp pain in the center of his forehead but remained calm and unafraid.
"Pitiful fool! I shall let you witness the true power of a devil cultivator''s secret technique!" he dered coldly and arrogantly.
The devil cultivators around him were thrilled, eager for him to strike. Zhang Huaide lifted the red mirror up high. Five jade rings appeared around him as he recited loudly, "By the grace of the Heavens, preaching across ten jungles and the underworld, I call upon thew of the four seas and the great void... The Blood Imperial Void Escape Spell!"
The mirror in his hands flickered as his body transformed into a blood-colored stream of light. It was norger than a fist, trailing a long red tail as it swiftly moved away.
The field fell silent.
The devil cultivators were too stunned to even utter curses. Among those who had been contemting escape but were surrounded by the Li Family, the ones most aware of Zhang Huaide''s shamelessness reacted the quickest.
Taking advantage of the crowd''s distraction, the devil cultivator seized an opening. With his hammer, he shattered the mana shield of Tian Youdao¡ªthe weakest among the group¡ªand struck him squarely in the chest.
Crack!
A sickening sound of splintering bone filled the air.
"UNCLE!"
Tian Zhongqing''s anguished cry pierced through the chaos.
Qiu Ji''s figure blurred as he retreated, enveloped in a blood-red light, moving in a direction different from where Zhang Huaide had vanished.
Of course, Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong were not going to let him escape. They rode the wind and gave chase, not anticipating that Qiu Ji would be heading straight toward Xu Gongming, who was armed with a dharma artifact.
While Xu Gongming was fighting another devil cultivator and saw Qiu Ji approaching, his eyes immediately lit up.
If I can dy him for even a moment, it might earn me some credit!
With that thought in mind, he swung his dharma artifact¡ªthe Ebony Saber¡ª in an attempt to intercept Qiu Ji. Unfortunately, since the family had no legacy to help him wield a saber effectively, he could not even manifest proper saber qi.
Qiu Ji, annoyed by the interference, sneered at the audacity of the puny ant whom he could easily crush with a strike of his palm.
"How dare you, vermin!" he roared angrily.
Without hesitation, Qiu Ji unleashed a st of white qi, which instantly enveloped Xu Gongming''s Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifact, shattering it instantly. The white qi also breached his protective mana shield, striking his cheek with devastating force.
As flesh and blood sttered everywhere, Xu Gongming plummeted from midair with a cry, no longer able to maintain his footing. Madam Dou rushed to catch him, attempting to dispel the malevolent qi from his face.
Meanwhile, the Li siblings pressed on, pursuing Qiu Ji. At that moment, An Zheyan, who had received a beating from Zhang Huaide earlier, regained his strength and moved to intercept the hammer-wielding devil cultivator who was in the early stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
He had always been close to Tian Youdao. Upon seeing the state he was in, An Zheyan''s rage boiled over as he yelled out in anguish, "SCOUNDREL!"
An Zheyan, at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, forced the devil cultivator back with a powerful palm strike, gaining an overwhelming advantage. The devil cultivator spat out blood at the impact, now too disoriented to even take flight.
BOOM!
Thebined efforts of the group quickly overwhelmed the devil cultivator. They battered him into a bloody mess and incinerated him with a barrage of fire spells, reducing him to a charred heap.
Tian Zhongqing had already descended to his uncle''s side. Tian Youdao''s bloody chest was no longer moving, and was lying on the ground with a pallid face.
The hammer had struck him squarely in the chest, causing his eyes to bulge and the area around them to turn purple. He had also broken several bones when he plummeted from the sky and hit the ground with extreme force. The once venerable old man nowy limp and paralyzed in his nephew''s arms, blood staining the ground all around him.
On the other side, one of the people fighting Kongheng shouted, "Hey, Zhang has fled!"
"Damn it, let''s retreat too!"
These two brothers, who had been fighting Kongheng half-heartedly, quickly apologized to him before also escaping.
Thest devil cultivator, Zhang Mutong, faced the worst fate. The blood wind he summoned was instantly shattered by Shamoli''s lightning, and he was not as powerful as Qiu Ji and so failed to take flight several times. The members of the Li Family closed in on him and brandished their dharma artifacts fiercely.
All sorts of dharma artifacts and spells rained down on him instantly. His red-zed beads deflected some attacks, but Shamoli''s persistent strikes kept disrupting his blood wind, preventing his escape.
Zhang Mutong endured a few more breaths than the other devil Qi Cultivators. In his desperate struggle, he managed to injure a few more people before finally being dismembered. After being incinerated by fire and struck by lightning, he waspletely dead.
As the situation settled, Li Yuanjiao and his sister returned as well. However, Li Yuanjiao looked pretty upset to havee back empty-handed.
Qiu Ji had been incredibly ruthless, using every secret spell at his disposal to escape. Despite their River Crossing Torrential Step, which was adept at evasion, it proved less effective against Qiu Ji''s relentless escape tactics. Even with their skills, they struggled to find a way to secure his capture.
As they strayed further and further away from home, they eventually had to give up and turn back, fearing that the enemy would lead them into a trap.
"My lord..."
Among the injured, Li Xuanxuan and Tian Zhongqing fared worse, but Li Xuanxuan was doing slightly better since he had the support of his monkey. Tian Zhongqing, however, held Tian Youdao''s corpse with tears streaming down his face.
Xu Gongming had lost consciousness. Half of his face was reduced to exposed bone, presenting a truly horrifying sight. Despite the severe disfigurement, he sustained no further serious injuries. His dharma artifact had absorbed much of the attack''s force, which was already weakened in the first ce due to Qiu Ji''s injuries.
Among the guest cultivators, Li Qng and An Zheyan were the least injured and were tending to the others on-site. Madam Dou cradled Li Xuanxuan, who appeared extremely aged, in her arms. At that moment, they looked like father and daughter instead.
While everyone was tending to their wounds, Xiao Guiluan approached her husband and announced softly, "Elder Tian has fallen."
Li Yuanjiao tightened his grip on the Foundation Establishment Realm talisman in his sleeve as he watched Granduncle Tian lying lifelessly on the ground. Standing with his sword in hand, he could not bear to look at Tian Zhongqing''s pained expression and sent Li Qinghong to console him instead.
About an hourter, as the sky began to dim, Li Qng handed two storage pouches to Li Yuanjiao, and then approached Tian Zhongqing to offer a few words offort before leaving him to grieve in silence.
Chapter 424: Shattered (II)
Chapter 424: Shattered (II)
Kongheng approached silently with his staff, the copper rings on it jingling with each step he took. Li Yuanjiao, overwhelmed withplex emotions and still grappling with his own suspicions, lowered his gaze.
"Many thanks for your help, monk."
Kongheng shook his head slightly, then walked over to Tian Youdao''s limp body. He quietly recited a few sutra verses, as if offering a blessing for the deceased.
However, Tian Zhongqing suddenly raised his head and let out a loud wail.
"Go away, bald donkey! Nothing good happens when you guys are around!" he shouted in anguish.
However, Kongheng remained unruffled. He retreated a few steps, then addressed Li Yuanjiao warmly, "I will be cultivating at the little ind near theke. If your esteemed n needs anything, they maye find me there."
With that said, he rode the wind and swiftly departed. The remaining people began taking their leave too as the hues of the crimson sunset and the blood-stained ground ovepped with each other. Li Qinghong offered a few more words offort to Tian Zhongqing who then picked up Tian Youdao''s body, and apologized to Li Yuanjiao before he left.
In the forest, only the core members of the Li Family remained.
Li Yuanjiao stood alone. Li Xuanxuan coughed slightly before wiping the trail of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"There is no fault in choosing and weighing the costs..."
Li Yuanjiao nodded slowly, gripping the green and white Qingche Sword tightly.
"I understand. As I hold this sword, it is only right that I prioritize the n''s interests above all else, even if it means bearing dirt and grudges."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Tian Youdao, younger brother to Tian Yun, was Li Xuanfeng and Li Jingtian''s uncle. He was an elder of significant status in the Li Family and one of the few who had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. His death at the hands of the devil cultivators was a significant loss.
The funeral ceremony was simple. Apart from the immediate Li and Tian families, the other guests showed little grief and some even felt a sense of relief.
The battle had killed two devil cultivators, one of whom was a mid-stage Qi Cultivator. Naturally, the Qi Cultivators in the family were too excited by the prospects of the spoils to be mourning at the moment.
Meanwhile at the central hall in Lijing Town, where the head of the Li Family, Li Yuanping, who handled the family affairs, also served as the center of the Li Family''s secr power. Originally magnificent, the hall now showed its age, with worn bricks on the steps visibly marking the passage of time.
Since the Li Family had been used of indulgence and luxury, Li Yuanping had not made any attempts to repair the building and simply used it as it was. Today, it was Li Yuanjiao who upied the seat, all dressed in white, with two storage pouches before him.
An ordinary Qi Cultivator typically carried only about ten Spirit Stones on them, with a worth ranging from thirty to forty stones. However, they had seized a total of forty-six Spirit Stones from these two devil cultivators alone. Even the Li Family would struggle to produce this amount of wealth within such a short time.
Of the eleven cultivators who participated in the battle, five were direct family members. Xu Gongming and Tian Zhongqing, both at the early stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm and severely injured, earned three Spirit Stones for contributing the most. Li Qng received two.
The old monkey and Shamoli, who were at the mid-stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, acquired two Spirit Stones each. An Zheyan, at thete stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, received six. Ten more were allocated as Tian Youdao''s death gratuity, and the remaining eighteen were confiscated.
The external guest cultivators eagerly stepped forward to receive their share. Xu Gongming, disfigured and concealing his appearance with a mask, smiled despite his condition.
When Tian Zhongqing approached to im the substantial sum of thirteen Spirit Stones, Li Yuanjiao personally gave him a few bottles of medicine and asked him softly, "With Grand Uncle''s passing, is this gratuity received by Tian Rong, his only son?"
Tian Zhongqing, having alreadyposed himself, quickly responded in a respectful manner.
"Old Master, Tian Rong has always tended to mistreat maidservants... During the mourning period, he became heavily intoxicated and was secretly killed by several maidservants with a hairpin in the dead of night. It seems this sum will likely be imed by the eldest and legitimate grandson, Tian Ling."
"Oh."
The external guest cultivators showed no surprise. Tian Youdao''s only son was considered a disappointment; he not onlycked good judgment but also got into conflicts with multiple families. Even the king of Mount Yue, Li Jiman, harbored deep disdain for him. It was Tian Youdao''s deep affection for his son that led him to protect him at all costs.
Now that Tian Youdao had been dead for half a month, any discussion of his death was overshadowed by the good karma he had umted during his lifetime. Whether his death was disgraceful or not was of little concern, and even Tian Zhongqing himself showed no interest in determining who was responsible.
Li Yuanjiao stroked his beard and sighed.
"Since Granduncle is no longer around and has left behind this orphan, we will send him to the mountains for cultivation. From now on, the responsibility for his training will fall under the main family."
"Understood!"
Tian Zhongqing bowed and the guest cultivators began to withdraw, heading toward the town''s tavern amidst their happy chatters.
Li Qinghong, who was observing the situation, realized that Li Yuanjiao''s actions andpensation were also a form of a test. "I need to send someone west to inform Aunt Jingtian," she said, feeling somewhat disheartened.
"I''ve already done that," Li Yuanjiao replied, dismissing the blood qi, resentment qi, and cultivation technique on his desk. He picked up the hammer and the zed beads, both of which were low-grade Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts. The hammer was unremarkable and could be sold off easily.
"This string of red zed beads is a valuable dharma artifact... The runes within are quite profound; they can release mana light for protection. It''ll be useful for the juniors," he remarked thoughtfully.
With a flick of his wrist, a red light was released from the beads, which was apanied by a flowing neutralizing force. Li Yuanjiao assessed its power and determined it could neutralize most early-stage Qi Cultivation Realm spells.
"How about calling it..." Li Yuanjiao mumbled as he began thinking of a name for it.
Li Qinghong, concerned that he mighte up with something uncreative like Red Light Beads or Crimson Light Beads, quickly interjected with a smile.
"I see that the beads are made of Rouge ze. They share the hue of dusk and hold all sorts of runes in them... Why not name it zed Dusk?"
Li Yuanjiao thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Good. Send it to Xijun."
The remaining items were mostly spirit items and Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts of unknown origins, and likely plundered from others. Altogether, they were worth about ten Spirit Stones. Since Li Yuanjiao had recently sold a batch of spirit items and dharma artifacts in the family vault, these truly helped.
Combining all the Spirit Stones he had gathered, Li Yuanjiao finally umted one hundred and twenty pieces together. He handed them to Li Qinghong with a sigh of relief.
"Please take these to the Yuan Family, sister."
Li Qinghong nodded. Li Yuanjiao hesitated briefly before taking out the bluish-gray mirror which he handed over respectfully. He then retrieved the Foundation Establishment Realm talisman and continued, "I''m worried that Zhang Huaide and Qiu Ji might still be plotting against us and could ambush you on the road... It would be better for you to make the trip with the mirror, just in case."
As he watched Li Qinghong depart on the wind, Li Yuanjiao took a deep breath. Counting the days, he took out a Jade Sprout Pill and murmured quietly to himself.
"It''s time to cultivate in seclusion and break through to the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm..."
Upon riding the wind and returning to Mount Wutu, he saw Xiao Guiluan standing in the courtyard, smiling and gazing at him. Li Yuanjiao was puzzled but did not expect to see her phoenix eyes crinkle up as she said warmly, "It''s time for you to think of a name again!"
Having been husband and wife for many years, they shared a deep bond and understood each other well without words. Seeing Xiao Guiluan caressing her tummy, realization immediately dawned upon Li Yuanjiao.
"WHAT?!"
He was both astonished and delighted. They already had a son when he was an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, and now that they were both Qi Cultivators, the chances of having a child were even slimmer. He never expected much while bedding his wife, treating it as a way to bond with her.
Xiao Guiluan''s unexpected pregnancy was joyous news to him. Laughing heartily, he kissed his wife and replied, "I wonder if it''s going to be a boy or a girl... This child is truly ate arrival!"
After spending a tender moment together, Li Yuanjiao focused on preparing for his breakthrough.
Chapter 425: News From The Yu Family (I)
Chapter 425: News From The Yu Family (I)
Li Qinghong, having waited for some time at the northern peak of the Yuan Family''s Mushroom Forest in, was met by their descendant. Intimidated by Li Qinghong''s formidable presence, the young representative barely dared to speak and instead stayed in one corner like a timid quail.
For Li Qinghong, delivering Spirit Stones to Yuan Huyuan was just an ordinary trip. However, the mirror that was in her chest pocket stirred slightly. Lu Jiangxian extended his divine sense outward, covering the entire northern expanse of the Mushroom Forest in.
He scanned the area with his divine sense, revealing various immortal peaks. Most were upied by minor Embryonic Breathing Realm ns under the Yuan Family''s control. Although the family''s main peak was away from here, Lu Jiangxian still managed to detect over ten cultivation techniques.
"Secret notes... One set of alchemy and one set of forging... Cultivation techniques... seven Embryonic Breathing, five Qi Cultivation, and two Foundation Establishment realms..." he murmured.
The Mushroom Forest in, a region controlled by major ns for centuries, had a more detailed categorization of cultivation methodspared to Moongaze Lake.
While Moongaze Lake''s methods were either for Embryonic Breathing or Foundation Establishment realms, Mushroom Forest in included a division between Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment realms. This division was believed to be a strategic measure employed by the Yuan Family to maintain control over the minor ns under their rule.
Lu Jiangxian set aside the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation techniques for future study and began to examine the two Foundation Establishment Realm techniques.
A Grade Three manual, Azure River Seeking Source Technique, and a Grade Four manual, Pheasant me''s Long March Technique...
The Azure River Seeking Source Technique, which could form the Dao foundation Grieving River Departure, was the Dao Partner of Boundless Ocean. Practiced by both the Xiao and Yuan families, it was regarded as a decent and somewhat miraculous method of cultivation.
Pheasant me''s Long March Technique was a Grade Four qi gathering method. Due to changes in the natural world, it had be obsolete. It appeared to be a remnant from a former immortal sect in the south that required the Long Marcing Pheasant me spiritual qi.
"The Yuan Family has quite a number of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators on their territory. All of them practice various techniques and utilize the unique aspects of their immortal foundations to develop numerous cultivation sites..."
From the various immortal peaks and their treasures, Lu Jiangxian acknowledged that these established ns, with over a hundred years of history, possess considerable hidden treasures. In contrast, the Li Family, still on the rise, had much to catch up on.
As Lu Jiangxian scanned the immortal caves and fire veins on each immortal peak, he nodded in quiet approval. These established prestigious ns with over a century of history had indeed amassed considerable wealth and hidden treasures. In contrast, the Li Family, which had only recently risen to prominence, still had much to do.
Satisfied with his findings, Lu Jiangxian retracted his divine sense into the mirror. As Li Qinghong drew closer to the Li Residence, his view of Moongaze Lake slowly grew clearer.
"It seems the devil cultivators are assaulting all of Moongaze Lake..."
The shores of Moongaze Lake were shrouded in a blood-red light, which also extended to the territories governed by the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of Mount Yue and Daoist He. Despite the ominous glow, these cultivators made no response but continued their silent cultivation on the mountains.
"It appears that the devil gue is either linked to these Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators or they have been warned... The Azure Pond Sect must be nning something big with all these devil cultivators running amok in the region..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Milin Prefecture was a fertile region with few mountains and forests, featuring only eight or nine small peaks. Five among them had the strongest earth veins that had the richest spiritual energy. The mountains were peppered with many cave dwellings, and most visitors were young cultivators in the early stages of the Embryonic Breathing or Qi Cultivation realms.
The usually bustling prefecture was now deste. Mana light shed with devil qi and blood qi in the sky, causing thunderous roars. Jade Smoke Mountain, the dharma artifact, flew here and there, causing loud cries of pain in its wake.
Although the Yu Family had inherited the Jiang Family''s legacy, theycked apetent cultivation technique. The Jiang Family''s ancestral secret techniques had long been lost, leaving only a collection of undecipherable jade slips. The Yu Family must rely solely on their dharma artifacts to fend off enemies.
Yu Mugao, observing the dwindling number of his nsmen, assessed the situation. With only six devil cultivators left, he knew they would not be able to breach their family''s grand formation.
"There''s no need to waste any more time. Disengage and return to the formation!" hemanded.
Yu Mugao was now ate-stage Qi Cultivator and the strongest in his n. Although he was not a particrly good fighter, having the Jade Smoke Mountain dharma artifact in his possession significantly enhanced hisbat capabilities.
With loyal n members and external cultivators he had personally trained, Yu Mugao faced the demon cultivators. They charged from all directions, exploiting the demons'' weaknesses to defeat them one by one. Despite being at a disadvantage in terms of strength, they fought with fierce determination and resolve.
Having expended two Foundation Establishment Realm talismans, Yu Mugao observed that most of the devil cultivators had begun to retreat with severe injuries. With the majority of cities and counties in Milin Prefecture saved, he deemed it unwise to continue fighting and decided to withdraw, heading toward the mountain.
Just as he was about tond in the mountains, his path was blocked by the formation that had just been activated. His loyal n members behind him began to panic as Yu Mugao froze in his spot.
The formation te at home has my seal... Why can''t I enter the formation?!
His heart pounded with dread. "Open the formation at once!" he demanded urgently.
Yu Mugao''s children were among the cultivators guarding the mountain. His seventh and youngest son, Yu Chengyi, recognized his father''s voice instantly. He jumped in surprise and was about to open the formation when he was halted. Several elders intervened, holding the formation te.
"The Family Head''s spiritual sense seal is on this te... There''s no reason why he can''t open the formation! That must be a devil cultivator impostor!" they said.
Yu Chengyi had always been timid. He hesitated and was quickly overpowered by the authoritative words of his elders. Not only did he not open the formation, but he also did not dare snatch the formation te from their hands.
Outside, Yu Mugao''s voice grew more urgent as he demanded, "Chengyi, open the formation right now!"
The voice was isted outside the formation. Although Yu Mugao could not see the elders inside the formation, he immediately understood the situation.
To think I''d actually perish at the hands of those juniors! he thought in anguish.
Meanwhile, inside the formation...
Smoke billowed outside and the air was filled with the haunting echoes of miserable screams. The Yu Family''s cultivators inside the formation shivered as they watched the man standing at the edge of the formation.
One of them asked nervously, "Master Lu, what should we do...?"
The guest cultivator observed the bloodshed outside with a smirk and reassured them with a smile, "No need to worry... The devil cultivators can''t breach the formation. Just wait it out. The situation will resolve itself."
The group huddled in the mountains and waited for several hours. Eventually, the ck devil qi began to dissipate, and everything outside the formation soon became visible. One of the Yu Family members came forward and said, "Master Lu, please go out and assess the situation!"
Master Lu nodded. He rode the wind and flew out of the formation to search among the fallen bodies on the ground for a while. Eventually, a big smile appeared on his face. He drew his sword and severed the head of a corpse on the ground,ughing as he made a loud promation.
"Rejoice, elders! Yu Mugao is dead!"
He raised the severed head high above his head as if it were a trophy and dered, "The tyrannical lord is dead! The officials and nobles in the prefecture no longer need to live under his oppressive rule! Congrattions, elders!"
Yu Chengyi''s face immediately paled as he slumped to the ground, finally realizing the severity of the situation. However, no one paid him any further attention. Amidst the mixed emotions of the crowd, someone called out, "Present the head quickly!"
Another voice shouted in excitement, "Where is the jade seal? Where is his Jade Smoke Mountain?"
Jade Smoke Mountain was a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact that had gained sentience. Only members of the Yu Family''s direct lineage could wield it effectively; for anyone else, the jade seal would be as unyielding as a real mountain. Since these demon cultivators were only at the Qi Cultivation Realm, it was unlikely they could take it away.
Chapter 426: News From The Yu Family (II)
Chapter 426: News From The Yu Family (II)
Master Lu quickly returned with the severed head and handed it to that elder.
"The Jade Smoke Mountain is too heavy for me to lift. It is still at the foot of the mountain," he informed.
The elder examined the severed head closely. Yu Mugao, now over eighty years old, had graying hair and his cunning eyes were slightly open. His hair and beard was long, and his face was all bruised and bloodied from the devil cultivator''s attacks.
Those eyes locked onto the elder''s greedy and gleeful gaze, causing the elder to gasp and throw Yu Mugao''s head away, his face paling in shock.
Another member of the group picked up the head, still unable to believe that Yu Mugao was truly dead. The elders exchanged uneasy nces, and one of them spoke with a tremble in his voice, "Although this man was cruel and unkind, he wasn''t much of a fighter... It was no surprise he got killed..."
"Yes, but... Yu Muxian is still in the sect. I-If... If he finds out that we have secretly erased the seal from the formation te... Master Lu! What should we do now?!"
It turned out that several of the elders were brothers of Yu Xiaogui. During his lifetime, Yu Xiaogui had feared that his eldest son, Yu Mugao, might ughter the n after his death, so he used various means to secretly protect them.
Yu Mugao had been aware of this but was concerned that any rash actions might expose news of Yu Xiaogui''s death. He had nned to frame and eliminate them one by one.
However, these elders were shrewd and had been feigning ignorance.
Yu Mugao did not anticipate encountering devil cultivators, and everyone was rescued by guest cultivator Lu. His descendants, being too weak to make decisive moves, ended up getting him killed.
Master Lu shook his head and replied, "Yu Mugao died due to the devil gue... Yu Muxian won''t investigate with a rity Talisman. As long as we hold our ground, we can manage this situation!"
The elder nodded silently, whispering, "We''ll put our trust in you, Master Lu!"
The guest cultivator nodded with a smile.
The old man turned around and addressed the terrified crowd.
"With Yu Mugao dead, all his rules are nullified. We''ll abolish his public fields, inspections, collective punishments, andmercial taxes... We''ll restore the n''s tribute system, the n ves... Allws enacted by Yu Mugao will be revoked in favor of the ancient n system!"
Instantly, the Yu Family members erupted in joy and cheers. Yu Mugao''s head, now fallen on the ground,y in the rain, his beard and hair drenched and matted.
The chorus of voices chanted, "Remove the tyrants and restore the n system!"
The face that had been drained white due to devil cultivation qi turning dull, now lying alone under the rain, eerily resembled An Jingming''s head that had been preserved with a spell for decades in the Yu Family''s vault.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanping sat at the high seat, now nearing thirty with gray sideburns that he no longer bothered to dye. People on Mount Dali usually got gray hair at thirty and passed away at fifty. Therefore, Li Yuanping could now be referred to as an Old Master.
The storage pouches left behind by the two devil cultivators were no ordinary items. Li Yuanping had them exchanged for three pouches suitable for the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators, and with the remaining twenty-plus Spirit Stones added to the family''s vault, his mood had lightened considerably.
The newly acquired storage pouches were given to the brothers from the An Family and the orphan from the Tian Family, as a gesture to win over their favor.
He was currently preparing for the uing tribute submission. He had learned that Eldest Senior Brother Yu Su from Yuanwu Peak, notorious for his greed and audacity, would be collecting the tributes this time. As such, it was essential to prepare a bribe.
While he listed down all the items that needed to be prepared, someone entered the hall and presented a letter.
"Family Head! A report from our Yu Family''s spy!"
Li Yuanping skimmed through the letter. His eyes widened in disbelief as he read it again, more carefully this time.
He then eximed, "Yu Mugao is dead?! Is this true? What kind of scheme is that person plotting now?"
He pondered for a moment, realizing that the current situation of the three families made it unlikely that the Yu Family would fake a death¡ªit would only cause unnecessary turmoil.
The three families had an agreement before. The Li Family moving north at this time would only provoke trouble.
On the other hand, the Yu Family, with its vast territory, had been gued by even more devil cultivators. Yu Mugao''s death seemed usible under the circumstances.
"Send someone to investigate further," he instructed.
Still feeling uneasy, Li Yuanping sent another person to confirm the news. After a moment, he put down his brush, a muffledugh escaping his lips. He turned to those around him, joyfully announcing, "With one less starving wolf at my side, I can finally sleep in peace!"
As he held the small letter, Li Yuanjiao descended into the front yard. He had been umting progress all this while and spent only several days breaking through to the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Li Yuanping rose from his seat and greeted him with a smile.
"Big Brother, take a look at this!" he eximed gleefully.
Li Yuanjiao nodded and read the letter carefully. He exhaled deeply, both relieved and satisfied.
"I guess he was fortunate to die an easy death," hemented.
Li Yuanjiao and his siblings still harbored resentment toward the Yu Family due to Li Yuanxiu''s death. They had always wished so badly to end that cunning pair of father and son from the Yu Family. Yu Xiaogui had been in by Li Tongya, who passed away shortly after that. Now that Yu Mugao had been killed in the devil gue, they could finally have peace of mind.
Li Yuanping raised his head and murmured, "Considering all the enemies of my family, even though Yu Mugao might notpare to the likes of Jianixi, he was still a formidable figure... Now that he is dead, his lifelong good governance and n system has been in vain. The Yu Family can no longerpete with my family for supremacy... This is a blessing for my Li Family!"
Li Yuanjiao chuckled in response.
"The Yu Family spent a century usurping Jiang''s territory, I still remember when they hosted a banquet and invited all the families to impose tributes on them. It has only been eighty years since then, and now their influence has crumbled. Even thest beam of their roof has been broken."
"Don''t forget about Yu Mujian... We still haven''t heard any news about him, so it''s unclear whether he''s alive or dead," Li Yuanping reminded him.
As the two brothers enjoyed their conversation, Dou Yi approached and reported, "Family Head! With Yu Mugao dead, their elder, Yu Xiaomian, is supporting Yu Chengyi, the seventh heir, as their new leader. Meanwhile, the other peaks, controlled by Yu Mugao''s other descendants, have split into four factions. The situation is currently at a standstill."
Li Yuanping considered this information thoughtfully but could only say, "It''s a pity that Yu Muxian''s oath prevents us from intervening in the Yu Family''s affairs or entering their territory... Otherwise, we could take advantage of this situation to expand north and annex half of the Yu Family''snd."
"We might not be able to annex it directly, but we could certainly do something about it..." Li Yuanjiao suggested.
Li Yuanping then took the letter presented by Dou Yi and said, "All four regions around theke have been struck by the devil gue, and the Fei Family has activated their Cloud Gathering Southern Heaven Formation. Without any Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators among the devil cultivators, they were unable to breach it and quickly withdrew."
As the two brothers were deep in discussion, amotion erupted in the front hall. Two young Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators hurried in with tears staining their cheeks. They rushed forward and fell to their knees as they cried out, "Please... save our families!"
These cultivators were from the Rui and Pu families on the eastern shore, both of which paid tribute to the Li Family. They hade to the Li Family to cultivate spirit fields and were now pleading desperately.
"Family Head, the families on the eastern shore are in utter chaos! Many devil cultivators of the Qi Cultivation and Embryonic Breathing Realms are running amok there... We''ve exhausted all our means of seeking help. Please, we beg the main family to save our families...!"
Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao exchanged a nce, their faces lighting up with sudden delight. Their eyes were drawn to the densely packed families on the map.
"Families on the eastern shore!"
These Qi Cultivation and Embryonic Breathing Realm devil cultivators are easy prey... We could use this opportunity to gather several Embryonic Breathing Realm families and increase the tribute we receive. It''s a perfect chance to kill two birds with one stone!
Chapter 427: Advancing To The Eastern Shore (I)
Chapter 427: Advancing To The Eastern Shore (I)
Written on the twenty-eighth day in the twelfth lunar month: It''s snowing heavily at theke. Enclosed with this letter are a hundred and twenty-two Spirit Stones. Everything is well at home. Your Great Granduncle Tian has fallen, in by a devil cultivator.
In light of this, you are required to dress in mourning garb and abstain from alcohol for three months. Study hard in the sect. Focus intently on mastering immortal recipes, engaging in profound discussions, and perfecting the art of cinnabar creation. Should you find yourself in need of additional resources, do not hesitate to write home.
From Father Jiao.
Li Xizhi looked at the small pile of Spirit Stones stacked on the desk before him. He remained silent, reading the letter in his hands over and over again. After poring over it more than ten times, he held the paper tightly, lost in his thoughts.
Li Yuanjiao was never good with words¡ªeven his writing was stiff and concise, devoid of emotion. It was almost as if he was unwilling to spare an extra word for his son. Li Xizhi pursed his lips tightly as he read the letter repeatedly, blinking back his tears.
If the delivery of this letter had not been dyed by the Yuan Family, his family actually took less than a month to collect a hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. Li Xizhi dared not wonder how they managed to even achieve this feat. He carefully hid the letter in his pocket and then stepped out of the courtyard to find Yuan Tuan.
"Master, Xizhi is ready to buy the Dawn Colored Qi," he informed.
"How much more do you need?" Yuan Tuan asked softly, cradling a tabby cat in her arms.
"I have all one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones," he replied.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Tuan raised an eyebrow and remarked, "Li Yuanjiao is really a problem solver... I didn''t expect him to be able to scrape together all one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones! Your family has only risen to prominence not long ago... This must have been quite a challenge for them."
Her calm voice took on a somewhat mournful tone as she murmured, "If only my family had remained as united and harmonious sixty years ago... Perhaps I wouldn¡¯t feel so aggrieved."
Taking the Spirit Stones from Li Xizhi, Yuan Tuan rode the wind away without further dy. An hourter, she returned to the peak with a frosty demeanor, holding a small jade vial in her hand.
"Here''s the Dawn-Colored Qi. I spent a long time searching in Xieqi Peak''s vault; this bottle is the purest, extracted over eighteen years ago through the proper qi gathering method. You can tell by its red and gold hues."
Her aura undted and she had a faint green light flowing around her, probably from a recent conflict with another cultivator on Xieqi Peak. Her expression remained frosty as she continued, "The people on Xieqi Peak are bing more presumptuous! I have already tolerated their steep demand of a hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, yet they dared to try and deceive me... They mistake my kindness within the sect for weakness, thinking I can be easily bullied!"
Li Xizhi noted her distinctly icy demeanor, and with a respectful bow, he first expressed his gratitude before responding.
"Xieqi Peak is among the direct lineages... it was only natural for them to make things hard for us. To think that they dare to treat Master this way when you hail from a prestigious n from the Mushroom Forest in! If I were to handle this alone, I doubt I''d even make it up the Xieqi Peak."
Yuan Tuan nodded thoughtfully, then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she smiled gently and asked, "Xizhi, you''re seventeen this year, aren¡¯t you? Yet, you haven''t found yourself a wife and started your family... It''s unwise to dy such matters for too long. Have you taken a liking to any girl from the peaks? If so, I''ll approach her on your behalf."
The abrupt change in topic took Li Xizhi by surprise, momentarily freezing him to the spot. Before he could articte his objections however, realization dawned upon him.
I am my father¡¯s only son, and Azure Pond is a perilous ce. Should anything befall me, would it not leave my father without an heir? It seems selfish of me to reject this suggestion...
With this thought in mind, he could only reply somewhat glumly, "I''ll leave it to you, Master."
Yuan Tuan nodded as if she had already anticipated this response, then said warmly, "Matching you with a member of the Qi Cultivation Realm family could indeed be tricky, especially given your family¡¯s recent mourning. Engaging with an unknown n brings uncertainty about their intentions... Perhaps I should approach the Yang Family at Imperial Cloud Peak on your behalf."
This suggestion was unexpected, as Li Xizhi was expecting her to suggest someone from the Yuan Family. Nevertheless, he bowed his head in silent agreement.
Yuan Tuan continued, "In the past, the King of Yue formed marriage ties with many ns, and although the old system has dissolved, transforming Azure Pond into its current form, political marriages still ur asionally, following old precedents."
"Thank you for your consideration, Master," Li Xizhi said respectfully while Yuan Tuan chuckled.
"Back in the day, Yang Tianya used that jade seal to muster his forces through Lixia Road and quell uprisings on my Mushroom Forest in. The Yuan Family has maintained ties with the Yang Family since then, so arranging this should be easy."[1]
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The families on the eastern shore were diverse,prising dozens of small families. Some were bound to the sect through deep-seated alliances or marital bonds, while others were vassals of the Xiao Family in their ore mining ventures.
These families regrly paid tributes to the neighboring ns. However, the situation shifted when the marketce on Cloud Crowned Peak was destroyed, leading to a decline in the Xiao Family¡¯s influence in the west. Following the downfall of the Yu Family, these eastern shore families finally found themselves able to lead somewhat easier lives.
However, the arrival of the devil gue shattered their newfound tranquility abruptly, thrusting all the families on the eastern shore back into a nightmarish reality. Clouds of malevolent qi billowed across thend as blood flowed freely in the streets, as well as being apanied by cries and howls of despair.
In the Rui Residence...
Li Qinghong''s jade armor glinted and glowed warmly. Her spear discharged dazzling purple electricity, striking down a fleeing devil cultivator at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Her weapon moved like a dragon, piercing through her foe effortlessly.
The purple lightning obliterated the devil cultivator swiftly, and with a smooth movement of her spear, Li Qinghong plucked a storage pouch from the gory remnants.
With a graceful flick, the pouch fell into her waiting hand. Turning, Li Qinghong saw her elder brother, Li Yuanjiao, grinning widely.
However, Li Xuanxuan stared at the corpse with a pained look on his face as hemented, "That devil cultivator wore robes made of Purple Cloud Brocade... Qinghong''s electricity has ruined itpletely and we can''t use it anymore..."
Li Qinghong lowered her weapon and suppressed a giggle as she said, "All right, all right... It''s my fault."
Li Yuanjiao waved off Rui Qiongcuo, the head of the Rui Family, who was bursting with gratitude and urged his group onward.
The external cultivators were not only weak but also required Li Yuanjiao to share any spoils with them and providepensation for casualties. Hence, Li Yuanjiao chose to bring only his own family members into battle¡ªhimself, at the eighth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm; Li Qinghong and Li Xuanxuan, both at the seventh heavenlyyer; and the old monkey wielding a jade mortar and pestle, at the fifth heavenlyyer. Together, they swept through the region, clearing it of the devil cultivators.
The devil cultivators they faced were not particrly strong, yet Li Yuanjiao remained cautious and maintained tight control over his group to prevent ambushes, opting for thoroughness over efficiency.
However, as they ventured deeper, they encountered increasingly formidable devil cultivators. Among these foes were local cultivators who had turned, now practicing the Blood Dharma Manual. While these enemies were not overwhelmingly strong, their expertise in evasion proved troublesome, significantly slowing the Li Family''s progress through the area.
1. Yang Tianya was mentioned briefly in Chapter 44. Nothing much is known about him, except that he was a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm who led a brutal campaign to the east against Mount Yue. ?
Chapter 428: Advancing To The Eastern Shore (II)
Chapter 428: Advancing To The Eastern Shore (II)
Clutching eight or nine storage pouches in his chest pocket, Li Yuanjiao murmured, "We¡¯ve in many Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators so far... If we continue at this rate, I fear the more powerful devil cultivators will have escaped."
He discreetly consulted his mirror, scanning the blood-soakedndscape with its help, and immediately glimpsed blood and fires in his vision.
"To the southeast! Let¡¯s catch the big fish first!" hemanded decisively in a grim tone.
As they flew onward, apanied by the monkey, they soon spotted three Qi Cultivators hovering in the sky. They were manipting a spell that glowed crimson. On the ground, they saw arge formation drawn with blood, linking it to those three Qi Cultivators above.
Li Xuanxuan nced behind him¡ªthe distant smoke from the towns along Guli Road was still visible, so they would not miss any signal for help from their family.
Li Yuanjiao murmured, "Two at the middle stage of Qi Cultivation Realm and one at thete stage..."
Devil cultivators varied greatly; those who wielded white qi were notably more formidable. Observing that these three were merely shrouded in a faint blood light, Li Yuanjiao nodded firmly to his group.
Li Qinghong caught on immediately, her fine eyebrows arching as she sped her hands together and conjured a dense purple glow between her palms¡ªthe Purple Talisman Origin Light Secret Technique.
The devil cultivators, engrossed inpleting their formation, were caught off guard by the direct assault. Scrambling, they raised their dharma artifacts in clumsy defense. With a wave of her slender hand, Li Qinghong sent a lightning-charged talisman hurtling right toward them.
If only we were closer, the ambush would have been more devastating!
Due to their heightened spiritual senses, the Qi Cultivators rarely fell prey to sneak attacks unless their enemies employed a unique dharma artifact that could conceal their presence. Li Qinghong closed the gap swiftly, further reducing the time for her enemies to react. She smashed a thunder talisman into the face of the weakest cultivator.
Boom!
The impact sent the mid-stage Qi Cultivator flying backward and spitting a mouthful of blood, his dharma artifact scorched. Seizing the momentum, Li Qinghong followed up with a spear attack. The other members of the Li Family swiftly engaged and tackled the remaining two enemies.
The attack took a very noticeable toll on the devil cultivator. Fortunately, his rich experience inbat allowed him to diffuse most of the talisman''s power with his dharma artifact, avoiding serious injury. His gaze turned vicious as he cursed at Li Qinghong.
"Such resilience!" Li Yuanjiao eximed, shing his longsword across his opponent''s chest, leaving a bloodied scar. Yet, he noticed that the three Qi devil cultivators seemed unnervinglyposed, and were even smirking confidently.
A bad feeling rose in Li Yuanjiao''s heart as he urged the others, "Let''s finish this quickly!"
Mana surged within him as he twirled his gleaming sword, engaging another mid-stage Qi Cultivator in battle. Leveraging his powerful River One Qi Technique, he attempted to tackle two enemies simultaneously.
Li Xuanxuan, catching onto his intentions, coordinated with the old monkey and Li Qinghong to converge on the wounded devil cultivator.
Thete-stage Qi devil cultivator in ck robes sneered, rebuking sharply, "How bold... Are you seriously treating us like mere rogue cultivators from some lowly families?"
The dharma artifact in his hand came whistling through the air while the other hand performed a spell that cast a chilling blood light. As he aimed to strike Li Yuanjiao, the gray-robed devil cultivator at the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm seized the opportunity and closed in to attack Li Yuanjiao as well.
Li Yuanjiao swiftly pped his storage pouch, conjuring arge, earth-colored oval shield. The six ovepping barriers glowed with mana light, blocking the iing attacks and unleashing a burst of white light against the crimson light.
As the Six-Stone Cloud te, a mid-grade dharma artifact, red to life, the mana within Li Yuanjiao surged like a tidal wave, defending him against the assault from his attackers.
"Ah, so you have a dharma artifact to rely on!"
The mid-stage Qi devil cultivator sneered, performing hand seals with his hands before breathing golden mes that mmed ruthlessly against the Six-Stone Cloud te.
With his mana reserve quickly depleting, Li Yuanjiao was forced to retract his dharma artifact. He drew back and unsheathed his sword, leaping into the air and executing a Celestial Moon sh, forcing the two attackers back momentarily. A fleeting touch of red light from earlier left the tip of his nose chilly.
The devil cultivator was in a worse state. His body was engulfed in ck smoke with wounds marring his body, and panic took over as he shouted, "Our reinforcements areing! You should run while you still can!"
The other two cultivators merely threw a few vicious res at him but said nothing. Devil cultivators were selfish. Both of them were only thinking about stalling the Li Family without any concern for their ally''s fate.
Cornered by Li Qinghong, who had thwarted all his attempts to escape, the wounded devil cultivator could not think of anything else other than trying to convince his enemies to leave.
"It is my possessions that you all covet, right?! Killing me serves no purpose! You guys won''t survive once our reinforcements are here! Spare my life, and I assure you, you will receive what you desire!" he yelled out in desperation.
He swiftly grabbed the storage pouch at his waist while enduring the barrage of assaults from his attackers. As blood spilled from his lips, he mustered the strength for onest spell. The storage bag shot away like a meteor as he descended to the ground.
Having borne the brunt of multiple spells, a trail of blood leaked out from the corner of Li Yuanjiao''s mouth.
"Let''s go."
Li Qinghong snagged the pouch with her electricity, then deactivated the spell that drained her mana. Her face paled, but she managed to still summon a wisp of purple lightning to employ her secret technique.
"Trying to escape?" thete-stage Qi devil cultivator in ck growled, swinging his dharma artifact fiercely at Li Yuanjiao''s retreating figure.
"Fool! Don''t chase him!" the wounded devil cultivator, who relinquished his storage pouch, cried out as hisrade surged forward. The ck-robed cultivator was momentarily taken aback.
Li Yuanjiao sheathed his sword and extended his spiritual sense into the mirror. The devil cultivator, feeling a sudden chill down his spine, found his hairs standing on end. In a desperate bid to escape, he performed a secret technique, causing his form to blur like flowing blood. With a violent push of energy, he managed to swiftly retreat several feet away.
Refraining from using the Supreme Yin Profound Light publicly, Li Yuanjiao simply intimidated the devil cultivator before seizing the opening to fly away in another direction. The anger in the devil cultivator¡¯s eyes hadpletely dissipated, now reced by a deep-seated terror.
As the gray-robed mid-stage qi devil cultivator tried to give chase, Li Qinghong¡¯s thunder talisman struck him hard. The devil cultivator was forced to deploy his dharma artifact in defense, barely managing to shield himself as he watched his targets disappear into the smoke and dust.
Employing his secret technique to flee had severely depleted the mana reserves of thete-stage qi devil cultivator, leaving him visibly pale. He hovered in midair, momentarily dazed. From below, the devil cultivator who had lost his storage pouch rose into the air with a chillingugh.
"The two of you should be grateful that I saved your lives just now!"
The mid-stage qi devil cultivator in gray shot him a cold look. The leader of their group, who was dressed in ck, looked relieved.
"Fellow Daoist, given your experience in the sect, you must be quite knowledgeable. What insights can you offer?" he asked humbly.
Despite losing his storage pouch, the other cultivator replied with a grateful tone, "I''ve reviewed our sect¡¯s catalog before. That man in ck wields the Qingche Sword, there''s no doubt about it! That''s the weapon of a Sword Immortal... Imagine the power of the sword qi hidden within it!"
"None of us, not even our lord, could withstand that sword qi without spending seven to eight years to recover from the injury. The sword''s intent is noughing matter," he added solemnly.
The ck-robed cultivator sighed deeply, his previous fear now exined. The gray-robed cultivator, though secretly relieved, remained outwardly stubborn.
"You may have a profound origin, but it changes nothing. You''re just another wanderer like us now. If you want to brag about your achievements, you should have stayed in the sect and strove to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm instead of turning to devil cultivation!" he snarled coldly.
The ck-robed cultivator waved his sleeves and quickly intervened.
"That''s enough... Let''s wait for our lord toe and collect all the blood qi from Moongaze Lake. We''ll leave quickly after that and head to the Golden Feather Sect."
Moongaze Lake was shrouded in mystery. Aside from the sword immortal n, there was also talk of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator concealed on the opposite shore. There were also rumors about another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator surnamed Jiang hidden among the families in this region.
"What a dreadful ce!"
Chapter 429: Slaughter Jun Kui Light (I)
Chapter 429: ughter Jun Kui Light (I)
The members of the Li Family swiftly departed on the wind. Li Yuanjiao''s face was slightly pale, but after consuming a Cold Dispelling Antidote and a pill to replenish his true essence, hisplexion improved significantly. Beside him, Li Qinghong, who had also exerted considerable energy, took the same pill and regted her breathing.
Despite his slight injuries, Li Yuanjiao maintained a smile on his face. The storage pouch in his hand glowed with runes, suggesting that it was no ordinary item.
He chuckled and said, "That devil cultivator seems different from the other minor devil cultivators we usually encounter... He''s likely one of the core figures like Zhang Huaide and Qiu Ji. I expect we''ll find something of value in this pouch."
However, Li Yuanjiao did not open the storage pouch but instead yed with it in his hand.
Li Xuanxuan looked at him in concern and asked, "Jiao''er, how are your injuries?"
"It''s nothing serious. I''ll get Guiluan to help me recover for a couple of days, and then I''ll spend the next few months stabilizing my cultivation. After that, I should be able to break through to the ninth heavenlyyer," he replied, hinting that he would be using a talisman pill.
Since the old monkey flying behind them, Li Yuanjiao did not want to talk about the talisman pill openly. The four of them flew on for a while until Li Yuanjiao suddenly halted and whispered, "Found it!"
Below them, a minor Embryonic Breathing Realm family was being ruthlessly attacked by a devil cultivator. Li Yuanjiao descended, drawing his sword to strike.
Soon, he returned with a captured Embryonic Breathing Realm devil cultivator, whose limbs had been cleanly severed. The devil cultivator''s eyes widened in fear as he pleaded for mercy.
Li Yuanjiao stared at him emotionlessly, then threw the limbless devil cultivator onto the ground before tossing the devil qi cultivator''s storage pouch on him.
"Open it with your spiritual sense," he ordered.
The Embryonic Breathing Realm devil cultivatorplied instantly, and the pouch''s contents spilled out. There were no visible traps or seals.
Li Yuanjiao, not interested in finding out whether the devil cultivator had been marked for revenge, ignored his pleas for mercy. With a swift motion, he crushed the devil cultivator''s skull under his foot and incinerated the remains with a fire spell, then picked up the storage pouch and its contents.
All of this happened in a matter of breaths. Meanwhile, Li Qinghong, who was meditating with her spear in hand, remained detached and seemingly unaffected by the scene. Li Xuanxuan, however, frowned and interjected, "A single sh would have sufficed... There was no need to sever his limbs and make such a bloody mess."
"It''s better this way. At least, there''s no need to worry about him using any talismans," Li Yuanjiao replied with augh.
With that, they soared into the air. Li Yuanjiao examined the contents of the storage pouch as they flew and in no time, they had arrived at the border of the Yu Family''s territory.
Yu Family''s Milin Prefecture was engulfed in smoke and fire. Spells and streams of mana light shed in the air, leaving marks of battle and ruin on the ground.
Li Xuanxuan paused to observe for a moment and then remarked softly, "There are only four generations from Yu Yufeng to Yu Chengyi. To think that the situation of their family has deteriorated so much that recovery seems impossible..."
Li Qinghong, who was holding her spear and watching the bright mes engulf the prefecture,mented, "When ns are founded, their ancestors are either exceptionally gifted and cunning, generous and resourceful, or cautious and ruthless. The first generation built their foundations, and the second maintained them but were less sessful than their predecessors... The descendants indulge infort and focus solely on cultivation, detached from the hardships of the world. They attain the Foundation Establishment Realm and suppress the other ns, or they risk nting the seeds of future troubles if they don''t."
Li Yuanjiao rested his hand on the sword at his waist and murmured, "From our family''s high ancestor, Li Mutian, we have seen four generations... The current generation of Xi and Yue is the fifth."
He turned and asked suddenly, "Is there any descendantparable to the high ancestor?"
Li Qinghong, caught off guard by his serious tone, quicklyughed and said, "Each generation faces its own circumstances. There''s no need topare, Big Brother."
Li Xuanxuan listened silently to the discussion between Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong without saying a word. Upon returning to Lijing Town, he ascended the peak to draw talismans, while Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghongnded in the central hall to divide the spoils with Li Yuanping.
There were ten spirit pouches of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. After filling the vault with dharma artifacts and spirit items, the remaining forty Spirit Stones were added to the n ount. This replenished the gap left by the Spirit Stones for Li Qingxiao''s lineage from Mount Yu.
When they poured out the savings from the Qi devil cultivator, there were twenty Spirit Stones, not ounting for the rest. Li Yuanjiao handed them over to Yuanping, only to see him frown and say, "You should keep some for yourselves too, Big Brother and Big Sister. If you give everything to the n, you two won''t have anything left for your own cultivation. Big Brother is on the verge of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm... You should think more about yourself."
The siblings exchanged nces with each other briefly, then decided to split the Spirit Stones among themselves. They also took a few bottles of useful pills for themselves. Li Yuanjiao sifted through the remaining devil techniques for a while before his eyes finally lit up.
"There''s a Grade Four technique!" he eximed in delight.
Most of the widely circted manuals in the Wu and Yue States were of Grade One and Two. Grade Three and Grade Four techniques and spells were generally kept secret by ns, while those beyond that grade were monopolized by the immortal sects.
Upon hearing this, everyone gathered around him eagerly. Li Yuanjiao read the manual carefully before remarking, "How rare! This is a Grade Four spell from the ughter Jun Gate, a minor sect in the Wu State! It''s known as the ughter Jun Kui Light, requiring different types of cold qi or cold water in its practice. To learn this spell, nine different cold qi or three types of cold water are needed. To master it, one would need nine different cold qi and nine types of cold water to make eighty-one variations!"
"Typically, these cold qi and water are to be absorbed into the left index finger... On the battlefield, a hand seal can be performed to unleash the ughter Jun Kui Light. This can obstruct an enemy''s mana cirction. Once mastered, it could freeze even Qi Cultivators," he continued exining.
Once Li Yuanjiao finished his exnation, Li Qinghong took the manual and examined it. With a regretful sigh, she said, "I can''t use this. Thunder is associated with fire, and this spell relies on the cold. It''s unsuitable for me, especially since the cold must be absorbed into the index finger..."
Li Yuanjiao nodded. His family practiced the River One Qi Technique and Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual, both of which werepatible with this spell. The Cold Pine Snow Qi, gathered by the Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual, could even be used to cultivate this spell.
The Earth Fiend''s Cold Spring spirit water at home could also be used.
"ughter Jun Gate..." Li Yuanjiao repeated the name, feeling a sense of familiarity with it.
"I think that old monkey used to train in this sect... The White Monkey''s Travel Notes described the cultivation techniques of this sect as gloomy and cold. The ancestors of the sect were wealthy and possessed several secret techniques. This gate waster destroyed by the devil cultivators, which is why this manual has ended up in our hands."
The spell required numerous types of cold qi and cold water, with nine varieties needed just to begin. Given the difficulty of starting the cultivation itself, Li Yuanjiao decided to set it aside for now. He nned to gather cold qi from other families before attempting to cultivate it.
Chapter 430: Slaughter Jun Kui Light (II)
Chapter 430: ughter Jun Kui Light (II)
Li Yuanjiao spent half a year in seclusion to stabilize his cultivation. With the aid of a talisman pill, he sessfully broke through to the ninthyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and could finally see the hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Now that he had emerged from seclusion, he inquired about the situation at home and found that most of the n''s cultivators had also retreated into seclusion.
The situation with the devil gue n had eased, and many overdue n wages were settled. Some had made progress in their cultivation, while others had saved enough to purchase pills to aid in their breakthroughs.
Li Qinghong had improved significantly after a period ofbating the devil gue. However, she was still umting her cultivation in thete stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm and had yet to break through to the eighth heavenlyyer.
As soon as Li Yuanjiao left his seclusion, he received a letter from Smoke Valley Temple. Chen Donghe had finally managed to gather a portion of Golden Yang Radiant Origin spiritual qi, which brought Li Yuanjiao great joy. He requested Li Qinghong to oversee the family and set off westward personally.
However, upon crossing Mount Xiping and arriving at Smoke Valley Temple, Li Yuanjiao''s joy quickly turned to dismay.
The ancient city wall, which had once stretched for thousands of li, had copsed in several ces, leaving it fractured into three or four sections. The remaining portions of the wall were now mottled and cracked.
Chen Donghe flew toward him and greeted him. His face was still pale and he seemed to have gained fresh wounds before his old wounds had even fully recovered.
Li Yuanjiao pointed at the damaged wall and frowned in silence. Chen Donghe quickly exined, "It was the work of those devil cultivators. Many frequently crossed the border this year. While most were just passing by, some grew greedy and besieged Smoke Valley Temple... During the battles, the ancient city wall was repeatedly impacted, leading to its current state."
Chen Donghe sighed and continued with a tinge of sadness evident in his voice, "This was also why the progress of gathering the Golden Yang Radiant Origin spirit qi had been dyed by half a year. The wall, which used to be able to support three people for qi harvesting, can now amodate only two."
Li Yuanjiao felt a headacheing. Repairing the wall would not resolve the issue; the Golden Yang Radiant Origin required the presence of an ancient pass. Further repairs might just jeopardize this qi gathering location.
Should I send people to protect this ce?
Li Yuanjiao was aware that there were only very few people in the main family who could fight. Sending more people to protect this ce would only further dy their cultivation and expose them to danger.
"This ce is too dpidated; the qi gathering efficiency is very low. We may need to send someone to search for another suitable site," Li Yuanjiao concluded, taking the jade box from Chen Donghe.
He opened it gently, revealing the flowing red and golden light within, and nodded in pleased approval. He then asked, "Does Auntie know about Granduncle''s situation? He''s her uncle. Perhaps both of you should take a trip back to the n to pay your respects."
Chen Donghe understood Li Yuanjiao''s intention. Taking a trip back to the n implied that they still had to return here and continue gathering the Golden Yang Radiant Origin spirit qi.
Despite this, Chen Donghe replied, "I''ll have to trouble you to escort her back to the n to pay her respects. It''s bing increasingly difficult to gather qi here... I''d better seize the opportunity to gather more, so I won''t be returning with her."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement, then sent someone to fetch Li Jingtian. Shortly afterward, the messenger returned to him and informed him that Li Jingtian refused to return home. She would, however, offer distant respects and put on a mourning garb as a gesture of courtesy.
Chen Donghe sighed softly, then bowed slightly to Li Yuanjiao in apology.
Li Yuanjiao understood the gesture and left behind several medicine pills and resources before riding the wind and departing into the smoky sunset, vanishing into the yellow haze alone.
As Li Yuanjiao disappeared from view, Chen Donghe straightened up. He took a seat and leaned against the city wall, staring at the slowly setting sun. He suddenly felt a pang of loneliness.
At sixty years old, with Tian Youdao gone, he had one person less to reminisce about the past with.
"The sunset is blood red, the earth veins are stirring... It seems the fire veins have erupted again," he mumbled quietly to himself.
There were many fire veins in this desert, making it an inhospitable ce for mortals. Li Jingtian''s health had been declining and she had grown stubborn. When she was younger, she never left Li Yuanjiao in such a difficult position.
Xiao''er... I wonder how she''s doing these days...
Chen Donghe, who practiced the River One Qi Technique, should ideally remain near water or theke. Due to years in the desert, his cultivation had stagnated. He did not seem to mind though. Sitting silently on the gray-white city wall, he hummed a few lines of songs from his hometown.
Li Yuanjiao returned home in a gloomy state and sat on a rock for two hours, gradually regaining hisposure. Just as his mood began to lift, he received word that Li Xijun had arrived.
"Have hime up," Li Yuanjiao instructed.
After a brief wait, Li Xijun appeared in a brocade robe. The dharma artifact, zed Dusk, had been carefully embedded into a jade ring that hung from his waist, swaying with his every movement like a beautiful pendant.
"Greetings, Second Uncle," Li Xijun greeted, cupping his fists in a respectful yet rxed manner.
Li Yuanjiao assessed him with his spiritual sense and noted, "I see you''ve condensed the Jade Capital Chakra and reached the Fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... Jade Capital Wheel. You''ve certainly worked hard."
At sixteen years old, Li Xijun was at the height of his potential. His talent, while impressive, was slightly inferior to that of Li Ximing, who was also nearing the Jade Capital stage at the Xiao residence.
Li Xijun responded humbly to his second uncle''s praise. Li Yuanjiao, knowing he hade to request a talisman pill, retrieved a jade bottle from his storage pouch and handed it over.
Li Xijun and Li Ximing would reach the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm after taking this talisman pill. However, there was only a portion of Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi avable.
After carefully choosing his words, Li Yuanjiao said warmly, "Jun''er, we only have a portion of Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi at home. Given the issues with the qi source in the desert, it may be over ten years before we can acquire another portion..."
Li Xijun nodded, mildly surprised to find himself in a simr situation that his elder brother, Li Xicheng, had previously faced. However, his personality waspletely different from Li Xicheng. He merely responded respectfully, saying, "Xijun will obey the elder''smands!"
He did not give Li Yuanjiao an easy way out, so Li Yuanjiao fell silent. Li Xijun lowered his gaze and waited for two breaths until he could no longer bear watching the guilt on his elder''s face.
He smiled and continued, "Xijun is rather fond of the Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique. It''s cold and ethereal, suitable for swordsmanship. That Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual sounds like an overblown show of wealth andcks appeal."
Li Xijun''s attempt at joking did little to lift Li Yuanjiao''s spirits. The Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual was only a Grade Three cultivation technique, while the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual was a rare Grade Four ancient technique. Consuming the Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi would determine one''s path for the next century.
This was a serious matter that impacted the lives of all the precious descendants of the Li Family, not a joke that one could simplyugh and forget about. Li Yuanjiao was overwhelmed by emotions and frustrations, yet found himself unable to articte them. In the end, all he could do was sigh.
"Once you stabilize your cultivation after the breakthrough, you can retrieve the Cold Pine Snow Qi from the foot of the mountain and prepare for the next step," he said.
He then retrieved the ughter Jun Kui Light manual and handed it over to Li Xijun apologetically. In an unusually gentle tone, he said, "This is thetest Grade Four spell our family has acquired... Study it carefully first before you begin practicing it slowly. Return to me when you''re able to absorb cold qi and cold water."
Unlike the Cold Pine Snow Qi, the bottle of Earth Fiend''s Cold Spring at home was a limited resource. Initially, Li Yuanjiao was hesitant to use this spell. However, after carefully reviewing the manual and discovering that only a small amount of spirit water was required, he decided to provide it.
"Thank you, Second Uncle!"
Li Xijun nodded calmly, then epted the manual and carefully read its contents. After swearing the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, he cupped his fist and took his leave.
After he departed, a thought struck Li Yuanjiao. He wrote a letter, which he handed to a subordinate and instructed, "Go to Xianyou Peak and find out Ximing''s cultivation progress. See if he has broken through to the Jade Capital stage then return quickly."
"Wait."
He retracted the letter and added something to it, then said, "Have him request toe home; I''ll fetch him myself."
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Chapter 431: Stripped of Clothes and Crown (I)
Chapter 431: Stripped of Clothes and Crown (I)
A stream of light emerged from Xianyou Peak and streaked across the sky. After bidding farewell to the Xiao Family, Li Yuanjiao took Li Ximing home.
The youth stood with hands sped behind him. d in a Daoist robe and a medicine pouch at his waist, he gazed down at the mountains below. In front of him, Li Yuanjiao, dressed in his usual ck robe, steered through the wind.
"Only a portion of the Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi has been gathered. Xijun has decided to take the Cold Pine Snow Qi instead," he said in a solemn voice.
"I see, I''m sorry that he has to go through that..."
Li Ximing''s robes fluttered in the wind as he nodded, his fingers caressing the jade beads¡ªAzure Manifestation¡ª around his wrist. The corners of his mouth drooped, hiding a myriad of unspoken thoughts. Yet, he maintained a stoic expression.
Li Yuanjiao was a perceptive person. As he read Li Ximing''s expression, difort flickered through him as he could not tell what was going through the younger man''s mind.
They flew in silence until Mount Lijing loomed below.
Despite being away for several years, Li Ximing still found the mountain familiar. Upon entering the cave dwelling, Li Yuanjiao handed him the jade box containing the Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi and a talisman pill.
"You can get the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual from your father," he said.
Li Ximing nodded and respectfully replied, "Ximing won''t let everyone down."
As Li Ximing slowly withdrew, Li Yuanjiao remained seated in a daze, his brows knitting tightly together. After a long while, his expression finally softened as he exhaled.
"You''ve certainly grown up... So grown up that you hide even your mind from your family. If I can''t read your thoughts, how can I entrust the Li Family to you?" he muttered with some sadness in his voice.
When they were all but children, I''ve always thought that Ximing was the affectionate one, while Xijun was the cold one... Now that they''ve grown up, they both seem impassive, though Xijun shows at least a touch of human emotion.
Li Yuanjiao had discussed the children from the generation of Xi and Yue with Li Yuanping on multiple asions.
Li Xijun had the best character, and though Li Ximing was capable, he often appeared overly rigid,cking any notable qualities and asionally appearing distant.
If Li Ximing had not been the most gifted, blessed with innate talents in alchemy and born of Changhu''s lineage, they might well have chosen to entrust the Li Family to Li Xijun instead.
Yet, seeing the brothers'' harmonious rtionship, they ultimately decided on Li Ximing since he was a gentle and reasonable child.
Now, observing his demeanor after years away, seeming distant even from his own kin, Li Yuanjiao unfastened his ck robe, feeling a weary resignation as he approached the small well in the cave dwelling.
The water shimmered, showing the reflection of fierce eyes that seemed like it was about to pick a victim to be devoured, under eyebrows that were too close to each other.
Li Yuanjiao squinted as he stared at himself in the water for a while.
When I was little, I was Father''s least favorite child... I guess he must have been frightened by my appearance.
He eventually looked away, settled down cross-legged, and began to cultivate in solitude.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Ximing descended the mountain and walked in silence. The spiritual qi of Mount Lijing paled inparison to that of Xianyou Peak. Reflecting on his age, he realized he was already sixteen.
I''m at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... After taking the talisman pill, I''ll reach the sixth stage. It''ll take another two or three years to break through, so I should be reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm by eighteen.
Xiao Yuansi had reached the Qi Cultivation Realm at twenty, yet it took him nearly forty more years to break through to the next realm, at the age of sixty. Li Ximing understood the dy all too well.
It''s definitely because the Xiao Family requires him to constantly produce pills.
Ancestor Xiao Chuting had been a Foundation Establishment Realm alchemist himself. Even with such a precedent, Xiao Yuansi was still severely hindered. Being a gentle person by nature, Xiao Yuansi dutifully refined pills withoutint.
What about me, then? I''m the only alchemist in the family. As soon as I ignite the Pill me, I can start bringing in profits to the family. Even if my family cares about me, I probably won''t have much time to cultivate... And on top of that...
Li Ximing had received the letter from home as soon as he had just broken through to the Jade Capital stage and ignited the Pill me to refine pills. He tried not to be suspicious, but this timing still chilled his heart.
As he continued walking, he noticed a figure ahead who was standing with a sword in his arms. His eyebrows were sharp like des and his eyes were bright as the stars¡ªit was Li Xijun.
Li Xijun had already taken the talisman pill and reached the sixth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, making his strength a level higher than Li Ximing. He approached with his sword and said softly, "Brother, it''s been too long since you came home. Why the long face?"
Li Ximing looked at him nkly, then suddenly took out a jade box that had flowing golden patterns from his storage pouch. He handed it over with a sigh of relief and said, "I think you should take this."
"The Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi?!"
Li Xijun was stunned, unable to find his voice for a while before he erupted, "Li Ximing! Have you lost your mind?!"
Li Ximing looked much more at ease and exined, "I''ve given it much thought. Our family needs a steady supply of pills and medicine, so I''ll inevitably be spending a lot of time in alchemy. It''d be a waste for me to practice that Grade Four cultivation technique, so I was thinking of letting you have it instead. I''ll use a less impressive technique and focus on alchemy. You should be the one overseeing the family."
He paused, then added, "I''ve observed many alchemists in sects and families being hindered by their craft. Achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm is rare among them... Perhaps I should follow the path my grandfather did. He specialized in drawing talismans instead of chasing after the Foundation Establishment Realm..."
Li Xijun sneered and shot back, "I see, you''ve thought this through... But your grandfather only focused on drawing talismans because he had no hope of attaining the Foundation Establishment Realm! You, however, clearly are more talented than the rest of us, yet you choose to dedicate yourself to alchemy?!"
He could feel a rising frustration as he continued, "How can a Qi Cultivation Realm alchemist even bepared to a Foundation Establishment Realm alchemist?!"
Gritting his teeth, he continued bluntly, "You''re just scared, Li Ximing! The family has pinned so much hope and expectations on you, believing you could be another Xiao Chuting. Yet here you are, overthinking things and trying to escape from all of it!"
Li Ximing, stung by the usation, flushed and retorted, "So what if I''m trying to escape? It all falls on me, everything depends on me... You speak without feeling the weight! Do you truly think everyone can be like Xiao Chuting? It''s impossible to maintain such a pace of cultivation progress while mastering alchemy simultaneously! The world doesn''t work that way!"
"I fear I can''t juggle alchemy and cultivation simultaneously! What if I die trying to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm? All this precious spiritual qi would be squandered in vain! In that case, I wouldn''t even make it as a Qi Cultivation Realm alchemist!" he added, his voice thick with distraught and frustration.
Li Xijun had said what he wanted to say. He shoved the Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi back into Li Ximing''s arms and said, "Fine! You''ll apany me up the mountain. We''ll tell Second Uncle about this and let him decide!"
Li Ximing slumped onto the ground, clutching the jade box in his arms, and fell silent. Li Xijun let out a long sigh and softened his tone.
"Brother, you shouldn''t stress yourself out like this..."
"How can I not?" Li Ximing retorted weakly.
He caressed the jade box on hisp, his voice soft and wistful as he said, "Our high ancestor remained a mortal for twenty years before ultimately achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm. Likewise, our three great ancestors were amazing heroes too. Whenever I read our family history, I just find them so amazing... As a child, I always heard the elders say you are most like them. You are calm,posed, thoughtful, and ruthless," he spoke softly.
Chapter 432: Stripped of Clothes and Crown (II)
Chapter 432: Stripped of Clothes and Crown (II)
Li Ximing lifted his head and continued, "I tried feigningposure as well, but I''ve done poorly. Unlike you, I''m just a fox trying to act like a tiger... When I was ten, my father asked me to kill someone, and I did it. I knew what he expected me to be. I was terrified at the time but didn''t dare to show it.
"Later, when I went to the Xiao Residence, I was led astray by the temptations of wine and women multiple times whenever I descended the mountain. Master Xiao had warned me repeatedly... I thought being a member of the Li Family would shield me from such temptations, but..."
Li Ximing''s voice was muffled as he confessed, "In truth, I feared the n Affairs Courtyard. I''m worried about tarnishing my father''s reputation. With the elders looming over us, I have to behave myself. If I could get away with doing all that, I would have caved and given in to those temptations already..."
His demeanor was flustered, nearly panicked.
Li Xijun was taken aback, his expression shifting dramatically before he could no longer contain himself and interrupted anxiously, "Y-You''ve... broken your Yang Essence already?! With someone from the Xiao Family no less! Our fathers took extensive precautions and nned everything meticulously, yet you..."
"Did you father any children?" he asked suddenly.
Li Ximing shook his head silently, tears streaking his face as he replied, "I don''t know."
"You don''t know?" Li Xijun stood up abruptly, gripping his sleeves tightly with an unreadable expression on his face.
Finally, he flung his sleeve and said coldly, "You don''t know?! No wonder... No wonder!"
Li Ximing snapped his head up as if he had been kicked, and pleaded, "Xijun! I...I am... No, please listen to me..."
He scrambled on the ground, standing abruptly, losing hisposure momentarily as he blurted out, "I''ve had many discussions with Brother Cheng. I''m different from you. The words I shared with my father were often guided by my mother and grandmother. I am not the talent meant to carry the Li Family to sess..."
Gazing at the silent Li Xijun before him, Li Ximing felt a surge of regret and fear as he thought to himself, Ah, it would be better to be honest with him! At least, I wouldn''t have to keep up this pretense...
"You!"
Li Xijun looked at Li Ximing''s expression, memories of their night discussing n affairs on the mountain surfacing. After some reflection, he realized Li Ximing had always cleverly agreed with him. Since they had been close as brothers, he had never really paid any attention to this until now.
"No wonder you were so eager to drink that night. I thought it was your first time drinking and you couldn''t handle the alcohol. It turns out you wanted to get drunk quickly to avoid exposing your true self! They shouldn''t have sent you to the Xiao Family!"
Looking at the expression on Li Xijun''s face, Li Ximing suddenly calmed down. He waved his hands, the Azure Manifestation on his wrist clinking softly. With a gentle, resigned tone, he said quietly, "Xijun... not everyone can be like you."
Li Xijun closed his eyes, his demeanor turning frosty. After a long silence, he said, "Don''t make any excuses. Come with me to the mountain and report everything. Let the n make the decision."
"Fine."
As Li Ximing uttered his agreement, he was suddenly struck across the face, sending stars shing before his eyes. His robe and jade crown were torn away, leaving his hair in disarray.
The jade crowny shattered on the ground, his medicine pouch and its contents scattered around him. He was d only in a thinyer of white undergarment.
Li Ximing finally registered what happened. He touched his nose and found it bloody. He then heard Li Xijun''s icy voice break the silence.
"Stay stripped of clothes and crown while you wait for your punishment!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Buzz...
The golden bowstring hummed softly. The middle-aged man lowered the longbow adorned with mysterious runes in hisrge hands.
In the distance, an eagley in a pool of blood, its innards crushed. Two men approached him from behind and showered him with words of ttery.
"General, you''ve truly earned your title as the Golden Bowstring! That shot was swift and masterful...!"
They were from the Ning Family, sent by Ning Hejing. Despite their ttery, Li Xuanfeng remained stoic. As the cultivator below dragged the in beast closer, he responded gruffly, "ttery breedscency, do not speak of it again."
Since the ttery did not work, the tterers quickly shifted the conversation to something else. They looked at the person presenting an eagle egg and eximed, "Congrattions, General! This Foundation Establishment Realm beast has left behind an offspring!"
Li Xuanfeng epted the egg casually and then soared into the wind. He slung his bow over his back, then fished out a jade pendant from his storage pouch to enter the city.
Ning Hejing has credited me with more than ten small merits... Together with my recent hunts, I should be able to redeem an Essence Gathering Pill without any issue.
Considering the timing, Yuanjiao is likely about to establish his foundation. If only I could get Liu Changdie to bring it out with him...
As soon as hended in the city, a crowd gathered around him, chanting, "General!"
Li Xuanfeng offered a small smile and exchanged a few pleasantries with the crowd when a woman descended gracefully onto the city wall.
She was d in the green outfit that the cultivators of the immortal sect typically wore. The gold embroidery on her sleeves indicated her status as a peak master. Her eyebrows arched softly above her warm eyes, and she appeared to be in her twenties.
The gathered n cultivators fell silent and swiftly dispersed. Li Xuanfeng cupped his fist respectfully and said, "I am Li Xuanfeng. May I ask which peak master graces us today?"
"Greetings, General. I am Ningwan from Moon Lake Peak," she replied.
Ning Wan was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator who had refined the Pine Forest Wind into the immortal foundation known as Clear Hearing. She exuded a subtle pine fragrance¡ªrefreshing yet bitter.
Bathed in moonlight, she seemed almost ethereal.
Li Xuanfeng bowed his head as Ning Wan continued softly, "I have been waiting a long time... I did not expect the General to be so devoted to his duties. Please bathe and change your clothes; you have been summoned by a Daoist Master."
Li Xuanfeng was slightly taken aback. He remained solemn, despite feeling puzzled.
Daoist Master Yuan Su...? What is this about?
He nodded then retreated to change his attire, stowing his bow in his storage pouch before exiting his cave-dwelling. Ning Wan was still waiting outside the courtyard, idly toying with a string of jade beads.
Upon seeing Li Xuanfeng emerge from the cave, she nodded slightly before both of them took to the wind.
Ning Wan suddenly asked, "When did your n move to Moongaze Lake? The great war back then devastated the southern shore, extinguishing all life there. I''m guessing it must have been within thest three hundred years."
Caught off guard by her abrupt question, Li Xuanfeng replied, "ording to my n''s records, it was indeed three hundred years after that great war. The spiritual energy of the southern shore was cut off for more than two centuries, deterring any visitors, forcing us to live as mortals for those three hundred years."
"Ah."
Ning Wan smiled gently, her eyebrows arching yfully as she softly remarked, "Mortals with spiritual orifices and three generations of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators... Fellow Daoist, you must be jesting. Such tales, if shared with the Daoist Master, might lead to serious consequences."
Her words, soft as the breeze, reverberated in his ears like thunder. Li Xuanfeng suddenly looked up, locking eyes with Ning Wan''s soft gaze.
Ning Wan, renowned as the most beautiful woman of Azure Pond and nicknamed the Fairy of the Autumn Lake even before she established her foundation, indeed had captivating eyes. However, Li Xuanfeng was not in the mood to appreciate them.
Is she trying to warn me? Why? My family has no ties to her, so why would she offer help?
What is Yuan Su trying to do...? Are they trying to unearth my family''s secrets?
Chapter 433: Li Of Wei (I)
Chapter 433: Li Of Wei (I)
Daoist Master Yuan Su''s cave dwelling was modest, constructed from ordinary rock and devoid ofvish decorations, save for the coiling bronze statue of a beast that was neither a wolf nor tiger at its entrance.
Ning Wan led the way as they entered the cave dwelling together. Inside, Daoist Master Yuan Su sat elevated, absentmindedly staring at a small, light golden seal in his hand.
This was Li Xuanfeng''s first meeting with a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Daoist Master Yuan Su had a round face andcked any imposing presence, appearing to be a man in his early twenties. He sat with a hand resting on his knee, looking rather rxed.
The air was thick with white mist that was swirling endlessly with exceptionally rich spiritual qi. In fact, it was potent enough that one could likely grasp a handful and refine it into Minor Pure Spiritual Qi. The chill Li Xuanfeng felt around his ankles suggested that the source of the mist was likely a type of spirit water.
Yuan Su wore light leather armor with a halberd lying beside him, both shimmering in light golden hues.
He looked up.
"Li Xuanfeng greets the Daoist Master!"
"Junior greets the Daoist Master!"
Daoist Master Yuan Su merely grunted in acknowledgment.
The green walls were inscribed with lines of text, obscured by the thick spiritual qi that had condensed into mist. Although Li Xuanfeng could not read them, he could tell that they had been frequently altered due to the varying depth of the characters.
Yuan Su did not keep them waiting for long. After a brief pause, he said, "Wan''er, the light in the void has faded. The person in question must have reincarnated, possibly somewhere between Yufu Prefecture and Lin''an Prefecture. Have someone keep an eye on those regions and prevent any conflicts from erupting."
"Junior understands," Ning Wan replied with a slight nod.
Yuan Su continued with his instructions, "Make the necessary arrangements for those returning from the north from purging evil to protect the Dao. Ensure the Metallic Essence he is connected to remains intact and just see him back safely."
Li Xuanfeng remained silent, absorbing the information from their conversation. Yuan Su then turned his gaze to him, asking gently, "Did Li Mutian ever establish an immortal foundation? Of what nature was it?"
Despite the sudden shift in topic, Li Xuanfeng was not caught off guard. Throughout his journey here, he had pondered this question often and replied calmly, "My grandfather was a mortal man; ims about him being a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator were merely baseless rumors. During times of vulnerability, our family let this rumor spread to leverage some advantage."
Yuan Su nodded and asked, "It''s quite extraordinary that three of the four sons of a mortal man possess spiritual orifices... Do you know why?"
With the most important question finally voiced, Li Xuanfeng, well aware of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s methods, nodded and chose his words carefully.
"Truth be told, our family has often pondered about our ancestral lineage as well. We''ve even heard rumors of an heir to the immortal mansion bearing the surname Li and wonder if there might be a connection between us."
This direction of this conversation was nearly taboo to speak of, causing Ning Wan to cast a worried nce his way. Yet, Li Xuanfeng maintained hisposure, speaking calmly as though he was discussing something as trivial as the weather.
"Oh?"
Daoist Master Yuan Su chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he responded, "You speak of Donghua Li Jiangqun? Such audacity!"
Waving his hand, he continued, "Most Li and Cui families trace their origins back to Wei State. The most probable lineage would be from the Li Family of Wei State, followed by the Li Family from Mount Tan of Wu State. The Li Family was distinguished back in the days, leaving behind many lineages."
"As for Daoist Master Donghua..." Li Xuanfeng''s voice trailed off.
Daoist Yuan Su''s gaze lingered on Li Xuanfeng''s gray eyes for a moment before he smiled and replied, "Daoist Master Donghua was a capable cultivator who hailed from Ning State. Were your family truly connected, your circumstances would be markedly different."
Pausing, he beckoned gently, "Come forward."
As Li Xuanfeng moved closer to the man, Yuan Su ced a hand on his shoulder, and with the other, he performed a hand seal to cast a spell. A colorful light appeared in his hand as a sharp pain pricked Li Xuanfeng''s fingertip, drawing blood.
The blood swirled within the radiant light, transforming into a golden gleam. Yuan Su murmured, "Hmm, Li of Wei indeed... Though the Dao lineage has long since been severed..."
As a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, it was a surprise that he would spend so much effort to find an answer to this question. Yuan Su dispersed the spell with a flick of his wrist and confirmed, "Your family is descendants of the Li of Wei..."
He paused, his expression clouded with contemtion. Momentster, rity seemed to dawn on him, his face brightening with a triumphant smile as if he had just solved a puzzle that troubled him for a long time.
"I''ve always wondered why those bald donkeys had persistently antagonized your Li Family... Now it all makes sense! After the Jie people conquered Wei State and took control of the north, they destroyed the Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion. That definitely exins the blood feud! Surely, you must be the descendant of the main Li Family from Wei State!"
Yuan Su, who was centuries old, had experienced most of life''s pleasures and was no longer easily impressed.
However, the revtion of such an borate scheme has left him visibly pleased, and he eximed with a broad smile, "That''s a clever ploy! Even those monks might never unravel why fate has conspired with you! The Wrathful Maha only knew he had to kill the whale, but did not know the origin of it."
"Were it not for my seemingly trivial intervention, who would have realized this? Employing the Bright Yang Metallic Essence to weave a plot over a millennium¡ªthis is truly the work of a great cultivator! Such is the art of a Golden Core Realm cultivator!"
Li Xuanfeng, though only partiallyprehending, felt relieved to have averted a crisis. Yuan Su, caught up in his enthusiasm, paced excitedly. He suddenly paused, reflecting with a hint of regret, "It''s no wonder Xiao Chuting ys chess the way he does... If that old thing didn''t redo his cultivation, he would have been a truly formidable junior!"
Ning Wan, equally taken aback by Yuan Su''s rare disy of emotion, recognized snippets of therger narrative.
Is he talking about the Wrathful Maha''s incident?
A partial understanding often carried the most profound impact. Chills ran down Ning Wan''s spine as fear gripped her.
So, these are the capabilities of a Golden Core Realm cultivator... Even if besieged and killed, he still managed to devise a contingency n to kill the Ninth Maha Reincarnate a millenniumter!
She was chilled to the core, feeling utterly powerless against the Pristine Water Origin Talisman True Monarch above her.
Who else could possibly thwart the schemes of the three True Monarchs of Yue State then?
Li Xuanfeng remained silent, absorbing the revtions, piecing together fragments of the truth. However, the Daoist Master seemed like he had no desire to say more as he had affirmed Li Xuanfeng to be the descendant of the Li Family from Wei State.
He patted Li Xuanfeng''s shoulder and suggested with a grin, "Li Xuanfeng, since you are unmarried, why don''t you consider taking a bride from my Ning family?"
Li Xuanfeng was taken aback by the suggestion but before he could respond, Daoist Master Yuan Su added with a teasing smirk, "Don''t even think about Wan''er. She has the potential to reach the Purple Mansion Realm, but your path is fraught with challenges."
"Hemian would be a good match. Act swiftly and waste no time," Yuan Su said.
Recognizing the finality in Yuan Su''s tone, Li Xuanfeng knew refusal was not an option.
Chapter 434: Li Of Wei (II)
Chapter 434: Li Of Wei (II)
Meanwhile at Li Residence on Mount Lijing...
The small courtyard atop the mountain was eerily silent, bathed in moonlight so white it resembled frost.
Li Ximing, who was dressed in white, kneeled quietly on the ground. His cheeks were swollen, bruised with patches of purple and red.
Li Yuanjiao sat in the high seat before him with a dark face. His naturally fierce face was filled with anger, and he looked as if he were on the verge of devouring someone alive.
Unlike his granduncle, Li Tongya, whose anger was silent and brooding, Li Yuanjiao''s wrath zed visibly in his eyes. When his face tensed, malice was clearly etched across his features.
Li Qinghong was present from the beginning and she stood silently at the side, her expression as cold as frost. Li Ximing dared not lift his gaze.
After a prolonged tense silence, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from outside. Li Yuanping pushed the door open, his expression grim. He stood at the side of the room in silence despite his heart aching for his child.
Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes, trying his best to suppress his rage as he asked dangerously calmly, "Brother Ping... is this the work of Man On Creek?"
Li Yuanping''s face was pale. The frail man kneeled and bowed deeply, answering the question solemnly, "He has no reason to.... Besides... Ximing has a talisman seed in him."
Li Yuanjiao slowly shook his head, his upset evident. He had just retreated into seclusion not long ago, only to be abruptly interrupted. The sight of his junior in such a state only deepened his dismay.
Hemented internally, I can only me myself for being so engrossed in cultivation that I failed to observe the younger ones closely. I always thought he was a disciplined one, so I rashly sent him to the Xiao Family... This is my fault!
Uncertainty about any descendants in the Xiao Family weighed heavily on him.
Shattering his Yang Essence is no great sin; youthful indiscretions are not unheard of... But what if he leaves behind an heir out there...
Ximing is the eldest son of the Changhu''s direct lineage... the first lineage! Any child of his would follow in that lineage. Without future offspring, that child will be thest of Changhu''s lineage. Even if Ximing does leave behind a child out there, there are still n rules andws to consider...
A profound silence fell over the courtyard. Li Yuanping slowly sat down and said softly, "Why not..."
Before he could finish, Li Yuanjiao interrupted him with a wave of his hand. He cast a nce at Li Ximing and suggested, "Let''s discuss this inside."
The three moved to the backyard, where Li Yuanping continued in a hushed tone, "Why not strip this child of his status in the n system and expel him from the main family, just as a precaution?"
"No!"
Li Yuanjiao looked at him and continued, "He is your only son. Doing so will end the first lineage!"
"This can be solved with an adoption," Li Yuanping suggested.
Li Ximing was his biological son, yet his words were ruthless. His face betrayed no emotion, save for his slightly trembling hands.
Li Yuanjiao shook his head and said, "He''s just a young man lured by pleasures... We shouldn''t be too harsh. Since he has shown genuine remorse, we''ll revoke only his title as the future young family head; all else will remain unchanged."
Shadow enveloped Li Yuanjiao''s face as he continued in a deep voice, "This matter should not be met with harsh punishment, but handled with leniency. He worries about having to bnce cultivation with n duties, right? Let him receive the Golden Yang Radiant Origin qi as nned, and before he establishes his foundation, we will not burden him with too many responsibilities in alchemy."
Li Yuanping listened to the lenient sentence, slowly lifting his head to ask, "And who shall be the future young family head?"
"We''ll try Xicheng."
As soon as Li Yuanjiao finished speaking, Li Yuanping''s expression shifted rapidly, and he whispered urgently, "Brother... This could lead to chaos!"
Li Yuanjiao shook his head, gritting his teeth.
"This is the only path forward for now."
Li Yuanping''s face reddened, his voice deepening, "What happens after Xicheng? Will the second lineage continue ruling the family or will it revert to the first lineage? You should know that this decision could start a crack in the family!"
Li Yuanjiao''s response was hoarse.
"What do you want then? Turn Ximing¡ªa prodigious alchemist of our family¡ªinto a bitter enemy...?"
Li Yuanping''s expression hardened and he replied ruthlessly, "If ites to that, I will cripple his cultivation with my own hands!"
Tears streamed down Li Yuanping''s face, having already lost his voice at this point. Li Yuanjiao rose from the shadows, his face illuminated by moonlight.
"Ximing has received a talisman seed and read the Internal History!" he reminded his younger brother sternly.
Both men fell into a heavy silence. After a long pause, Li Qinghong finally spoke.
"How about this: we im he was led astray by an enemy''s divine ability, which will spare him excessive self-me and calm the public''s unrest. It''s unwise to punish him too harshly. Let''s set this usation aside for now and pretend nothing happened. We''ll exin to Ximing that he was under the influence of a divine ability."
Li Yuanping''s anger ebbed slightly as he whispered, "So, you want us to pretend nothing happened... But we can''t be certain what the Xiao Family thinks. Moreover, given what has transpired, how can we still rely on him?"
Li Qinghong replied thoughtfully, "Using him might be better than not. He is still a descendant of the Li Family. Perhaps he''s only confused momentarily, but not forever... Let''s wait and see. Xicheng used to be stoic but now he''s a benevolent and kind person. Who can predict the future? People can change."
"We can''t say for sure he will give up on his debauchery ways after this, but my brother and I are still in our prime. With the Profound Light''s protection, the family isn''t in immediate danger," she added.
Exhaling softly, she continued, "When Grandfather was still around, he was always cautious, never sowing seeds of disaster over uncertainties. It''s wiser to act prudently."
Li Yuanping cupped his fist and calmly urged, "I still think it is better to remain vignt, brother and sister. My days are numbered, I fear I cannot avert the inevitable."
After bowing deeply, he departed.
Li Qinghong watched him leave, then turned to the silent Li Yuanjiao and sighed.
"Yuanping is being too extreme! Although Ximing has made a mistake, he doesn''t deserve to be punished so harshly... Brother, you should''ve intervened!"
The recent quarrel between the two brothers was apparent. Though Li Yuanjiao appeared to defend Li Ximing, his suggestions subtly pushed Li Ximing toward peril, prompting Li Yuanping''s outcry about crippling his own son''s cultivation.
Yet, Li Yuanjiao was still dissatisfied and wanted to push further. Li Qinghong listened to the entire exchange, feeling chilled to her core, and knew she had to intercede to put an end to it.
Li Yuanjiao stood under the moonlight, listening to her as he clutched his sword tightly.
"I can''t bear it either. Yuanping''s harshness stems from a deep affection for his son... Otherwise, he''d never allow leniency," hemented softly.
He understood the immense effort Li Yuanping had invested in his only son and how much hope he had for him. Li Yuanjiao murmured, "Brother Ping''s talents are limited by his root bone. His only hopey in this boy. Since he had high hopes for him, his disappointment is great."
"His child has truly let him down..." Li Qinghongmented, emotionally torn.
Li Yuanjiao sighed and instructed, "Don''t let them meet for the time being. Send Ximing to Mount Yuting to cultivate! We must prevent Yuanping from saying something that might fracture their bond. Young men are quick to anger, and too much me could bring trouble."
With those words, he departed from the rear courtyard in silence. Li Ximing was still kneeling at the entrance, apanied by Li Xijun. However, now Li Xicheng was also kneeling beside them quietly.
As Li Yuanjiao emerged, Li Xicheng began, "It''s my fault for not guiding my brothers properly. Please..."
Li Yuanjiao, already irritated, interrupted him with a dismissive gesture. He soared into the sky and gazed at Moongaze Lake from above, clutching his sword tightly.
"Ancestor! I''ve never hesitated to vanquish foes and y demons. Yet I find myself utterly drained when ites to upholding justice and fairness..." he murmured softly with a burdened sigh.
He stood in the air, feeling the northern wind blowing against his face. After a long, contemtive sigh, he repeated the familiar words solemnly.
"Jiao dares not forget."
Chapter 435: The Separation of Immortals and Mortals (I)
Chapter 435: The Separation of Immortals and Mortals (I)
Li Yuanping returned to the town, his heart still aching with anger and sorrow. His eyes were bloodshot as he entered the main hall which was dimly lit, with two small flickeringmps barely illuminating the space.
Dragging his exhausted body along, he sat on the highest seat and picked up a document, only to find himself unable to focus. Frustrated, he coughed twice, swallowing the blood that rose in his throat.
Dou Yi hurried in, climbing the steps quickly. Li Yuanping spoke in a low voice, "Prepare the ink."
Dou Yi obediently ground the ink, and after finishing, Li Yuanping waved him away. Taking up the brush, Li Yuanping gradually calmed down, taking some time to think through his thoughts carefully.
The position of family head required bncing the external branches of the n, managing the spirit fields, and distributing the n''s stipends. It involved managing the benefits of nearly the entire n, from those in the Embryonic Breathing Realm to those in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Ever since Li Xuanxuan became the family head and established the four lineages, the rule of single session had been set.
Now, with the Li Family firmly under the control of the main family endowed with the talisman seed, the family head could be appointed arbitrarily, with the wise ruling and the foolish obeying.
But once this precedent was set, future descendants of the main family, whose bloodlines would be more distant and whose backgrounds would differ, might begin to support different lineages, leading to internal strife.
"If ites to that, the position of family head will be a tool for power struggles among the talisman seed-bearing cultivators, used to exploit the family... Moreover..."
As Li Yuanping''s emotions settled, his thoughts became sharper, and he mused, "Seeing how things are with Ming''er, he is ultimately not fit for great responsibility. If the Li Family were handed over to him, how could he suppress the external branches? How could he control someone like Li Jiman?"
The hall was silent, with only Li Yuanping sitting high above in the dim light, his gaze fixed on the flickeringmps. His voice was low as he continued solemnly, "In the end, the familycks a figure of great power to maintain order. Foundation Establishment Realm may be achievable, but the Purple Mansion Realm is far beyond reach. Without significant fortune, the family is destined for decline or division..."
He stared nkly ahead of him as the first light of dawn slowly crept into the hall. His elder brother, Li Yuanjiao, stood quietly at the entrance, unnoticed by Li Yuanping, who was deep in thought.
As the morning light climbed the steps of the main hall, Li Yuanping spoke in a muffled voice, "The current nw was established by our great-grandfather. In those days, the family had only a few in the Embryonic Breathing Realm... how could he have foreseen today''s situation? Simply following the oldws may not be the best approach..."
Only then did Li Yuanping notice Li Yuanjiao standing before him. His gaze was sharp as he spoke softly, "Brother, if I were to die, who in the family should take the lead, suppress the external branches,mand Mount Yue, and manage the n while nurturing the younger generation?"
Li Yuanjiao hesitated before answering slowly, "At present, only Xijun is capable of such a task. Aside from him, Xicheng is too kind, and Ximing is..."
"It is indeed difficult to pick among those in the generation of Xi and Yue! They are all highly talented. By right, none should be singled out to lead. But if their generation passes without a strong leader, and the next generationcks a dominant figure, what then?" Li Yuanping asked.
Li Yuanjiao vaguely understood the meaning behind his words and replied, "If that happens, it cannot be helped."
"Brother, I intend to reform the n system."
He suddenly stood up and dered, "The authority of the family head is far too great, a system established during the time of Lord Xiangping... But how many in the n can match him? This method centralizes power and benefits, but it is truly too difficult to manage. Our descendants cannot always produce individuals with exceptional cunningness but moderate talent. What happened with Ximing may seem coincidental, but in truth, it reveals that our family can no longer sustain such a system of governance. Sooner orter, something will go wrong."
Li Yuanjiao looked at him intently, saying nothing for a long time. Finally, he replied gently, "Do what you must. I will support you."
Li Yuanping seemed to have fully recovered from his disappointment in his eldest son, but there was a lingering sense of mncholy as he said in a deep voice, "First, we''ll measure the spirit fields, record everything... and begin to decentralize power!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
For prestigious ns, it was nearly impossible to fully ount for privately held spirit fields. Even the Azure Pond Sect couldn''t urately assess the spirit fields of the ns under its jurisdiction, having to rely on a rough estimate based on the number of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators when collecting tribute.
The reason was simple: as long as an illusionary formation was in ce, a small piece ofnd could easily blend into the vast mountains and seas, making it virtually impossible to detect unless by sheer chance or a sweep of one''s spiritual sense.
Although the Azure Pond Sect had specialized techniques for breaking formations, it was unrealistic to inspect every cun ofnd thoroughly, so they had to rely on estimations based on earth veins and spirit veins.
This same reason exined why so many remnants of the Immortal-Devil War still existed within the sea, with their protective formations so advanced that even if one were to bash their head against them, they still would not be able to find the entrance.
However, when Li Yuanjiao summoned the mirror, he was able to see every cun of the Li Family''snd clearly. He could immediately identify which prominent families had secretly built small courtyards and demarcated spirit fields, as they were all exposed before his eyes.
"Indeed..."
This situation was inevitable. Every prominent family under the Li Family''s rule had privately developed spirit fields. In the barrennds that the Li Family had deemed worthless, they had secretly enclosed courtyards and set up illusionary formations to nt spirit paddies.
This was considered the lesser offense. Over the years, as more external cultivators joined the family, they hade into contact with many cultivation methods from rogue cultivators. Not all children with a spiritual orifice were sent to the Li Family; some external cultivators even ventured out to seek other opportunities, never to return.
Li Yuanjiao''s gaze swept over the area, noting that even some minor sect cultivators of the Xi and Yue generation were involved. He sighed quietly.
"Thesends may be barren, but they are still free! After all, no matter how good the family''snds are, most of the yield still has to be handed over. It is far more satisfying to grow and harvest for oneself."
The family had inspected these spirit fields twice before, and those remaining were within the allowed regtions. Li Yuanjiao carefully documented everything and returned to the hall, where Li Yuanping had been writing furiously for some time.
When Li Yuanjiao returned, Li Yuanping took the map he had drawn and circled several immortal mountains. After pondering for a moment, he spoke softly, "Brother, I have carefully studied the old methods from Lixia Prefecture and the current practices of the Yuan Family... Take a look at my n."
Li Yuanjiao lowered his head to examine it, and at the top wererge letters: Dual n System, Peak and Town Counterbnce.
Li Yuanping, his face pale but eyes bright, exined, "Now that our family has more cultivators than ever, I want to separate the n system from the sect system, cing the n above and the sect below, separating immortals from mortals. Cultivators would join the peaks and form the n, while mortals would descend the mountain and form the sect. Unless specifically assigned for demon extermination, none are permitted to descend the mountain.
"When an external or n member develops a spiritual orifice, they will be sent to the main peak of Mount Lijing to cultivate, where our family cultivators will carefully guide them. Those with high aptitude will continue their cultivation, while those with lower aptitude will be sent to other peaks.
"Each immortal mountain will establish its own office, dispersing the descendants of the four lineages into them. They will have a peak master, an enforcer, and a n chief... All spirit fields below the mountain will no longer be individually assigned but managed by the respective immortal mountains.
"The cultivators of each immortal mountain will rotate and be reassigned regrly. The collected spirit resources will be sent directly to Lijing and delivered to the cave dwelling on Mount Meiche. As for the family head... the head will handle promotions and assignments, while the n chiefs and enforcers will monitor the n''s affairs. With the mirror in the family, any embezzlement of spirit resources is almost certain to be exposed!"
Chapter 436: The Separation of Immortals and Mortals (II)
Chapter 436: The Separation of Immortals and Mortals (II)
Li Yuanping''s eyes gleamed brightly as he went on, "Looking at today''s situation, many of the external and branch cultivators are stealing spirit paddies, searching for treasures, transporting spirit resources, and seeking the Dao outside because there are no other paths to take within the family aside from cultivating spirit paddies. Without the opportunity for advancement, there is naturally no loyalty."
Finally, he concluded, "Under this new system, not only would our family no longer need to findrge talentless direct descendants to manage the family and maintain stability, but it would also create positions and ranks that would attract people to align with our family..."
Li Yuanjiao read through the detailed regtions. Naturally, Li Yuanping had included much more than he had mentioned verbally. The n was filled with various checks and bnces, cultivation restrictions, and measures to curb corruption and rebellion.
"If this is the case, the n Affairs Courtyard will need many more personnel for oversight, and the various ranks will require n stipends to maintain integrity..." Li Yuanjiao frowned as he read, realizing that while Li Yuanping''s n could indeed appease most cultivators, it would significantly increase the Li Family''s governance costs. He hesitated, weighing the potential benefits against the losses.
However, Li Yuanping smiled confidently and responded readily, "Cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao is inherently one of the most greed-driven pursuits. Our family will soon be able to produce elixirs. Once these are tied to the ranks, many will flock to them! Besides, the desire for power is one of the Nine Cmities; whenbined with other incentives, few can resist."
He added in a low voice, "As long as the external and branch families are eager to climb the ranks, they can be used by us. We will not need to rely on producing a genius every generation who can suppress andmand them; even ordinary people will suffice. Even in normal times, we could promote people at will based on the lists provided by the n Affairs Courtyard... This would allow us to manage the family even in the midst of cultivation."
Li Yuanjiao gradually became intrigued, picking up where Li Yuanping left off, "This way, our family would not need to constantly monitor the external families. As long as we keep an eye on a few outstanding individuals and marry them into the family, the mirror will keep everything under control, allowing us to secure our position on the immortal mountain..."
"Exactly."
Li Yuanping agreed and continued, "Even if we have to distribute more n stipends, so what? Brother, you are about to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm; the family will soon be very different."
Li Yuanjiao finally nodded in agreement, saying, "But in the end, it is because we descendants are unworthy, unable to concentrate power in one person, so we must delegate power and benefits to maintain stability. I just wonder... I just wonder how we will face our ancestors."
Li Yuanping nodded silently,forting him, "Maximum benefit does not always mean maximum stability. As our family continues to expand, division of power will be inevitable... We cannot afford to lose."
Li Yuanjiao spoke with him for a while, feeling heavy-hearted, and then set off for Mount Wutu, intending to spend some time stabilizing his cultivation before entering seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Yuting.
The snow on Mount Yuting remained pristine and bright. Li Xijun opened his eyes, exhaling a breath of white mist that collided with the longsword in his hand, forming a thinyer of frost.
"The Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual is indeed a Grade Three technique, cloaking me in dew and snow, allowing me to ride on cold winds."
His white robes fluttered as his power reached the first heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. His true essence was as pure as frost which was swirling all around him, andbined with the sharp de in his hand, he appeared untouched by the world.
In just over two years, three members of the Xi and Yue generation had broken through in session, adding three Qi Cultivators to the Li Family''s main lineage.
Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong had both gone into seclusion one after the other, and both the main lineage and external branches of the family had made significant progress. The number of minor sect cultivators in the Yuan and Qing generation was few, but with the Xi and Yue generation, the minor sect cultivators, mainly from the first and second lineages, had begun to take charge of the spirit fields.
ording to the Li Family''s ancestralws, most of the descendants of Li Mutian''s illegitimate brothers had gradually transformed from minor sects into side branches due to the rarity of spiritual orifices, slowly fading from history.
With the restraint of offspring by the two major sects of the Xuan and Jing generation, Li Xuanling and Li Xuanfeng, it was not until the third generation that the minor sects of the four lineages in the Li Family began to flourish, led by the minor sects formed by the illegitimate sons of Li Xuanxuan and Li Yuanyun, who took over the power of the previous generation.
Of course, Li Xijun saw this as a favorable development. It prevented the emergence of hundreds of mortal elders of his father''s generation, but brought the estranged minor sect closer to the center of power and thus resolved many conflicts.
"Young master."
An Siming, with a sword at his side, approached and cupped his fist respectfully.
Li Xijun, who had been in seclusion for a year and a half, suddenly noticed that An Siming''s spirit and demeanor had changed. He seemed more hopeful in life and was more motivated. Li Xijun could not help butugh at this observation and ask, "Have you taken a wife?"
An Siming was taken aback, shaking his head repeatedly before continuing, "You must be joking, young master! Young Master Xicheng is already waiting at the foot of the mountain."
Li Xijun descended gracefully to the foot of the mountain, where his elder brother, Li Xicheng, had been waiting for some time, d in leather armor. He looked more mature now, seeming to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old.
Li Xicheng was also at the Qi Cultivation Realm, practicing the River One Qi Technique. He had married a woman from the Tian Family and taken concubines mostly from the An Family, so he had many children, most of whom were two or three years old.
As a father to so many children now, Li Xicheng had grown a beard and tied his hair, exuding a dignified presence. He greeted Li Xijun with a warm smile, saying, "It has been a long time, brother."
Li Xijun nodded slightly andnded beside him. A nearby horse snorted, eyeing him warily.
Li Xijun scanned the area with his spiritual sense, noting that the sides were filled with cultivators, primarily his illegitimate brothers and external branches of humble origins, all standing respectfully on either side.
As a youth, Li Xicheng had loved to protect his kin and befriend cultivators. Those who had benefited from his kindness now flocked around him.
Li Xicheng waved his broad hand, and the crowd dispersed right away. The two brothers strolled along the stone path, and Li Xicheng, in a warm tone, said with a smile, "This past year, while you and Ximing were in seclusion, there have been significant changes in the family. The family head has reformed the n system; it is no longer as it was before."
He then recounted all the events of the past year and a half. Li Xijun frowned as he listened, and when Li Xicheng finally finished, he added, "Now, the changes have taken effect easily. Several immortal mountains have been restructured, and the construction of grand pces is in full swing. All the cultivators are cooperating, contributing their money and effort..."
"They would naturally cooperate!"
Li Xijun thought it through quickly and understood the situation clearly. His expression darkened, and he said coldly, "The n has given them power and stipends. They are not fools; of course they are pleased!"
Li Xijun spoke these words, but inwardly he pondered to himself, No wonder the spiritual qi on Mount Yuting has diminished significantly. It turns out that cultivators have entered the mountain! The family should start building a spirit-gathering formation so as not to dy the cultivation of the main lineage.
Li Xicheng quickly smiled, trying to smooth things over, "They are not taking it for free. The n has assigned them various tasks, and now they are out there working¡ªeven bringing in some extra ie for the family!"
Seeing that Li Xicheng still did not understand, Li Xijun looked around, saw no one nearby, and sighed as he spoke his thoughts.
"Brother, our elders have reluctantly divided their power. As juniors, we should feel ashamed, not proud..."
Chapter 437: Yufus Affairs (I)
Chapter 437: Yufu''s Affairs (I)
Li Xicheng suddenly choked up, shaking his head helplessly. He took out the jade slip containing the sect system from his sleeve and handed it over to Li Xijun, then said softly, "The new system has just been established, and most of the positions are still vacant. However, Uncle Ping can still manage the family affairs for now. We should hold on to the current personnel... They will be reassigned eventually. You can see for yourself."
Li Xijun looked at his older brother in surprise, then took the jade slip and examined it closely.
"The Dual n System..." he murmured softly.
As he continued reading, he understood the peak and town counterbnce system described at the end. Going back to the front, he carefully read about the Dual n System again.
After a long silence, he remarked softly, "n Uncle... He''s splitting the four lineages and nning to establish a government on a peak... Is this still a family?"
Li Xicheng, rmed by what he perceived as a bold remark, asked in a deep voice, "What are you trying to say?"
Li Xijun''s face turned gloomy as he replied, "With this approach, we''ll be the Lijing Sect instead of the Li Family of Lijing! The harmony of a family is maintained through generational continuity... If the members are scattered among the various peaks, how can it still be considered a family?"
Li Xicheng cast a nce at him and asked quietly, "What do you propose?"
"Just a few modifications to be made," Li Xijun replied, looking again at the jade slip, feeling that something was amiss.
"This one only details the sect system, not the n''s system. External cultivators and those from the branch family can be distributed among the peaks, but not the major and minor sects," he added.
He swung his sleeves and rode the wind toward the central hall.
Meanwhile on Mount Lijing...
Li Yuanping had worked tirelessly for over a year, finally setting up numerous systems in ce. As his workload gradually reduced and his efforts began to show results, he felt a sense of relief.
Big Brother has been cultivating in seclusion. I wonder how much longer before he''ll emerge again and how confident he is to achieve a breakthrough...
Just then, amotion erupted in front of the central hall. Li Xijun, who was dressed in white, hurried into the hall with a frown. He kneeled and bowed deeply, speaking in a solemn voice.
"Nephew greets the Family Head!"
He''s here!
Li Yuanping had been waiting for him for a long time. With his current influence in the family, no one could contest the neww. Only the younger generation dared to voice objections, so he smiled and asked, "What do you think, Jun''er?"
Li Xijun''s bright eyes met his n uncle''s gaze. He was not about to criticize the n outright and embarrass Li Yuanping. Instead, he took a different approach to the matter.
"I have a request to make!"
"Go on," Li Yuanping encouraged him and listened attentively.
He enjoyed conversing with this nephew of his tremendously. Li Xijun always managed to voice his objections tactfully, without causing difort to anyone.
"My request is to rebuild the Snake Demon Cave Dwelling on theke, fill in theke to create an ind, and establish a department there. We should move the direct lineage of the family, along with the most talented minor sect members, to this ind to cultivate and use it as the headquarters of the Li Family."
He added softly, "Jun''er understands your vision. What I mean to say is... the Dual n System should not turn our family into a sect."
"Li Family on theke and offices on the shore of theke..." Li Yuanping smiled slightly and nodded.
Li Xijun then stepped forward, pointing to the map, and exined, "Thekeside will serve as a base for managing matters rted to external cultivators and protecting the mortals. Meanwhile, theke itself will house the cultivators from the four direct lineages of the family and the talented members of the minor sect...
"One day, when Moongaze Lake is unified, we can then move to the heart of theke, where the marketce ruins are. From then on, we''ll be the exalted immortal n of theke, and the areas around theke will be a prefecture..."
Li Xijun''s ambition was evident in his firm gaze. Li Yuanping listened with growing excitement.
Li Xijun continued, "I have explored the cave. Although it is not suitable for growing paddies, it''s quite spacious and rich in spiritual qi, making it ideal for cultivation! There''s no formation protecting the cave, so our people have gradually withdrawn since the ancestor''s death. Isn''t it nice to be able to put it to use again?"
After making his point, Li Xijun lowered his gaze and added, "This is just my humble opinion..."
Li Yuanping shook his head with a smile and assured, "Humility is not needed here! My father has already sent word to Shanji Prefecture in the east and asked the cultivators of the Profound Peak Gate to move the mountain and build the ind. He just wanted to keep it a secret to avoid any ambushes!"
Li Xijun was momentarily taken aback before he sighed in relief.
"So, n uncle has had this n all along... I was overthinking and speaking ignorantly!"
Li Yuanpingughed and asked, "Do you remember the Rui Family?"
He pulled out a vermilion brush, circled a spot on the map, and exined, "The earth vein of this mountain is weak, but the water vein is rich, and there is a spirit spring. I intend to ask the members of the Profound Peak Gate to move this mountain and ce it on theke to serve as our family''s main peak!
"We can eliminate the influence of the Green Essence Copper and utilize this spirit spring directly, saving the family from having to purchase one. Not only that, isn''t it wonderful to have another peak?"
The Li Family had acquired a Vein Searching Technique from the An Family years ago, known as the Earthly Court Detection Technique, which allowed them to thoroughly investigate the earth and water veins.
Li Xijun listened to the exnation and replied, "Can the earth and water veins still be used after the move? Will the spirit spring disappear? It''s best we request the people from the Profound Peak Gate to assess whether these resources will remain viable after the relocation first."
Li Yuanping smiled and replied, "It''s not really a big problem. Currently, twelve families on the eastern shore have pledged allegiance and are paying tribute to us. We can select the most suitable one and offer them somepensation for the relocation... It won''t cost much."
Li Xijun sighed with relief, a smile spreading across his face. He stood up and said, "Uncle, you are wise! It seems like I was worried for nothing."
Li Yuanping''s expression grew serious. He sighed and said softly, "Jun''er, there''s something I would like to tell you... Your father passed away early, and the generation of Xi and Yue has more members in the minor than major sect. If anything were to happen to me, the family would rely on you. Xicheng is your elder brother, so I can''t speak ill of him... Ximing has let us down too. As an elder, this is the best I can do for my family."
Having worked tirelessly for years, Li Yuanping''splexion had deteriorated, and his smile was no longer as warm and pleasant.
He continued in a subdued tone, "After this matter is settled, I will gradually step back from family affairs. You will need to take charge."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
On Mount Yuting...
Li Ximing sat cross-legged. The true essence of the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Technique flowed around him, casting hues of gold and red in the dim room.
He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a wisp of golden qi.
Perhaps due to lingering doubts about the divine abilities of the Man on Creek, the elders had imposed a surprisingly light punishment¡ªjust confinement. Everything else remained unchanged. He was still eligible to receive pills and resources from the family but he was no longer burdened by family affairs.
Although he was confined to this lonely little courtyard, any resources he required were promptly sent to him at all times. Li Xijun also visited him asionally.
Li Ximing felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Feeling much at ease, his cultivation progressed rapidly too.
"This is the best," he murmured to himself.
He practiced diligently every day and studied alchemy texts in his spare time. Considerate of his needs, Li Xijun frequently sent spirit items for him to practice with and aptly named his residence the Alchemy Pavilion.
Free from the n''s affairs, Li Ximing focused solely on refining pills and cultivating, channeling all his guilt into his work.
Chapter 438: Yufus Affairs (II)
Chapter 438: Yufu''s Affairs (II)
Li Ximing had poor mental fortitude. Under intense pressure in his youth, he often fantasized about bing a Dharma relic¡ªone entirely devoted to cultivation and pill refinement, calmly sitting atop the fire vein.
As long as he could continue to contribute tirelessly, he would not have to worry about disappointing his father.
I guess I''m pretty much living my childhood dream right now!
Li Ximing tapped his storage pouch lightly, causing a furnace to emerge andnd on the ground with a thud. It was pitch ck and supported by three legs, adorned with intricate patterns of waves and beasts and engraved with the name¡ªFurnace In The River.
He retrieved a white and yellow wooden block, an Embryonic Breathing Realm spirit item known as Precious Pearl Wood.
Bringing his palms together, he summoned a pale golden Pill me.
Li Ximing nodded with satisfaction.
As expected of a Grade Four cultivation technique, the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual is truly remarkable. Since its true essence is pure yang energy, the Pill me it conjures surpasses the original.
"To refine the Yangqing Pill, I should use the Precious Pearl Wood with zing Sun Tri-Nine Technique."
This was the knowledge Xiao Yuansi had umted over time. Li Ximing ced the wooden block at the bottom of the furnace and took out a jade box. Using his mana, he picked up the Yangqing Fruit and added it to the furnace.
He slowly extracted the essence, then added a few supplementary medicinal ingredients, one after another.
Finally, he used the Pill me to continuously refine the mixture. After about an hour, six pale red spirit pills emerged from the furnace.
"Yangqing Pills, Embryonic Breathing Realm...plete!"
These six pills could sustain six Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators for several months, but it had only taken him an hour to refine. Li Ximing stored them with a special method, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction within him.
"Father... Ximing has not failed his elders."
Had his Yang Essence not been broken, he would definitely have had a chance to refine an extra half of the pill. Reflecting on this, he bowed his head silently, then took out more spirit items from his storage pouch, and prepared to refine another batch.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Having relocated from Xu State, Profound Peak Gate had settled in Shanji Prefecture.
The gate''s sole guardian was Daoist Master Changxi, and most of its members cultivated earth elemental profound techniques. Since Shanji Prefecture was quiterge, there were many members in the Profound Peak Gate.
The Profound Peak Gate was rtively modest, with only a few Foundation Establishment cultivators and disciples who were not particrly arrogant.
While Li Xuanxuan''s arrival was being reported, he was warmly entertained by two outer disciples. Being the weakest of the seven gates, Profound Peak Gate had only a handful of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and its disciples were quite humble.
Li Xuanxuan waited at the foot of the mountain with the old monkey until a cultivator came down to meet him.
Dressed in white, the cultivator''s good looks were spoiled by the moles on both cheeks that somewhat diminished his temperament. Adorned with various jade ornaments, he smiled and said, "Greetings, fellow Daoist from Lijing! I am Kong Yu of Profound Peak Gate. May I ask for your name?"
Despite being a peak Qi Cultivator, Kong Yu was very courteous. Surprised by his humble demeanor, Li Xuanxuan quickly replied, "I am Li Xuanxuan from the Li Family."
Kong Yu smiled and asked, "And the Celestial Moon Sword is...?"
"He''s my second uncle!"
Upon learning of their close rtionship, Kong Yu nodded approvingly and added, "Our Daoist Master was present when Senior Tongya yed the Maha with his sword. He praised your esteemed family''s swordsmanship, noting that even within the Wanyu Sword Gate, the Li Family''s sword skills are exceptional!"
"Senior is too kind," Li Xuanxuan replied modestly.
Kong Yu sighed and continued, "If it weren''t for the devil gue and the ongoing conflicts between the Wanyu Sword Gate, Chunyi Dao Gate, and Crimson Reef Ind over the Green Pine Temple Ruins, someone would have sought guidance from your family already. It''s a pity that Senior Tongya missed his chance for greater fame!"
Li Xuanxuan thought to himself quietly.
Pity, huh? The current top swordsman in our family is Jiao''er, who isparable to Xuanling from back then... But he can''t possibly match Second Uncle, who had already grasped sword qi when he was only at the Jade Capital Stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Without the rise of the Devil gue, his reputation might have faded long ago...
Seeing that Li Xuanxuan was not interested in discussing this matter further, Kong Yu got straight to the point.
"Are you here to discuss changing the earth vein and relocating the immortal mountain, fellow Daoist?"
Li Xuanxuan nodded and replied, "I''ve heard that your immortal gate is reputed to be the best in Jiangnan when ites to this sort of thing. After all, Mount Changxi was moved from Xu State and earned the acim of Profound Peak. I wonder if I could enlist one or two fellow Daoists to assist us..."
Kong Yu nodded. His gate was indeed specialized in such tasks, and while being hailed as the best in Jiangnan might be an exaggeration, being the best in Yue State was certainly well-deserved.
"Of course, we can assist you! The cost will depend on the earth vein, I''ll need to inspect thend to determine the price. Once you decide, I will retrieve the dharma artifact immediately," he said.
Li Xuanxuan nodded in understanding and Kong Yu left to retrieve his belongings. Shortly after, he returned, hurrying down the mountain with a string of golden ropes around his waist.
"Let us be off then!" he eximed excitedly.
Kong Yu was an affable person. As they rode the wind together, heughed and said, "Fortunately, my senior and junior brothers aren''t here... Otherwise, this job might have been taken by someone else. Being stationed at the peak is a tough assignment! Nothingpares to enjoying the scenery and earning cultivation resources."
Li Xuanxuan chuckled. He had appreciated a lot of scenery and could agree that it was a nice change of pacepared to staying in the n. He responded warmly, and Kong Yu let out a sigh.
"I have to say, Brother Xuanxuan, you and my eldest senior brother are quite alike. He governed the gate in his early years but waster killed by monsters... Seeing you, I''m reminded of him."
Li Xuanxuan offered some words offort, but Kong Yu seemed indifferent. Noticing that Kong Yu was heading west, Li Xuanxuan asked, "Why are we not passing through Yufu Prefecture? There are fewer devil cultivators there... Although you''re from the immortal gate and quite powerful, there''s no need to take unnecessary risks..."
Many disciples from the three sects and seven gates had fallen victim to the devil gue. Kong Yu shook his head at Li Xuanxuan''s suggestion and replied, "We can''t go through Yufu Prefecture. The gate has imposed a ban on it for the next three years. Trust me, if you go there, you might face dire consequences!"
"What?"
Li Xuanxuan''s face paled. Havinge from Yufu Prefecture with the old monkey, he found the area calm but was now deeply concerned and asked, "Why is that? I just came from Yufu Prefecture... Am I in trouble now?!"
Kong Yu took several steps back in the air. His face was filled with fear, and his voice trembled as he asked, "Did you linger there...? Did you say anything? Did you save someone''s life?! I heard that Senior Li Tongya was closely associated with Daoist Master Chuting... How could you not have heard the news?!"
Li Xuanxuan shook his head and replied, "No... No, I just passed through. When I left home, the ancestor was still..."
"Then you should be fine!" Kong Yu sighed in relief, and a smile slowly returned to his face.
He assured, "Don''t worry, as long as you haven''t made any connections in the prefecture and haven''t spoken a word there, you aren''t implicated. There''s nothing to worry about. If you get involved, it could be disastrous."
"Not knowing the details could lead to the destruction of your family though," he added.
He stepped forward, causing the jade pendants and jade buckles on his body to jingle, and he said mysteriously, "I''ve heard that even the Azure Pond has withdrawn its forces from Yufu Prefecture. The three Daoist Masters¡ªYuanwu, Yuansu, and Yuanxiu¡ªare all focusing on sending this disaster out of Jiangnan and back to Mount Luoxia!"
Li Xuanxuan, still puzzled, asked, "Could you exin in more detail?"
Chapter 439: Story (I)
Chapter 439: Story (I)
"Let''s talk while we ride the wind."
Kong Yu, anxious and fearing that his opportunity to earn might be snatched away by his seniors or juniors, could hardly stay at the foot of the mountain gate for even a moment longer.
He soared through Shanji Prefecture as he exined, "ording to my master, someone from an immortal gate of the Dao lineage on Mount Luoxia in the north has descended to undergo a tribtion. I''m not sure who he is, but his n is to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm in nine months, establish a foundation over three years, find a beauty, dismantle ns, eliminate devil cultivators, and enjoy all the benefits of wealth... then return to the north..."
"T-That''s..."
Li Xuanxuan, though skeptical, could not refute it and simply muttered under his breath, "If that''s the case, it shouldn''t be a problem for us to just pass through there..."
Kong Yu''s face showed a flicker of terror as he responded in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist, you probably only think that he''s nothing but a genius because you haven''t encountered someone like him before. When you meet someone with fate or even Metallic Essence, you''ll understand!"
"Senior Tongya should be aware of this as well... you might want to ask him," he added.
After saying this, Kong Yu fell silent and refrained from revealing more details, leaving Li Xuanxuan to infer what he would.
The two shifted the conversation to other topics, and by the time they left Shanji Prefecture, night had fallen. Kong Yu took out a jade box and ced it on his palm. He puffed his cheeks, blew out a ck cloud, and exined, "Fellow Daoist, this Night Cloud is a dharma artifact that can provide concealment. Given the dangers on this road, you and your spirit beast should join me in this."
"Alright!"
Li Xuanxuan epted his offer without hesitation. Despite Profound Peak Gate''s current destion, it still had a rich legacy. Naturally, as the descendant of Daoist Master Changxi, Kong Yu possessed many treasures.
With devil cultivators rampant and the two unable to pass through Yufu Prefecture, they were forced to navigate hills and forests filled with wild temples and rogue cultivators, where countless devil cultivators might lie in ambush. It was indeed perilous.
They had to pause their journey to cultivate during the day and resume at night. Kong Yu, who was both talkative and knowledgeable in the way of talismans,pared his notes with Li Xuanxuan, and both found the exchange extremely fruitful.
One day, as they flew toward the junction of Yue State and Xu State, they witnessed a devil cultivator fleeing on the wind, streaking across the night sky like a stream of golden light. A figure behind him, wielding a golden ring, pursued him relentlessly.
The scene was all too familiar, and they typically avoided such conflicts. Given that both the immortal and the devil were peak Qi Cultivators, provoking them was unwise.
Kong Yu stopped and whispered, "Those are people from the Golden Tang Gate... The Situ Family has some engagements with my Kong Family, so it''s not right for me to just stand by. I''ll lend him a hand."
As soon as Kong Yu finished speaking, he summoned a jade seal and hurled it directly at the devil cultivator. Li Xuanxuan sighed and began casting spells, using talismans to assist in restraining the devil cultivator.
Boom!
The devil cultivator, who was already exhausted, was overwhelmed by thebined assault from both parties. With two disciples from the immortal sect pressing on his tail, his several life-saving escape techniques proved futile. He met his end after only a few dozen exchanges.
The disciple from the Golden Tang Gate, wielding a golden ring that glowed with a hazy golden light, captured the devil cultivator''s body and drew it toward him. It was clear he intended to im the spoils for himself.
"Who are you?" he asked bluntly.
Li Xuanxuan didn''t feel like answering him so he moved behind Kong Yu, pretending to be hisckey. Kong Yu frowned and replied, "I am Kong Yu from Profound Peak. It''s been a while since I''ve seen anyone from the Golden Tang Gate. I''m not here to share in the spoils but rather to repay the favor of the past... I''m helping you out of gratitude."
"Oh," the young man replied indifferently, giving Kong Yu the cold shoulder.
"Oh? I see that you''re a really friendly person, fellow Daoist," Kong Yu remarked sarcastically. Feeling a mix of embarrassment and anger, he swung his sleeves and turned to leave.
The young man, however, sneered and said, "And here I was, wondering who you are... It turns out you''re from the One Stick of Incense n!"
Kong Yu''s face flushed with rage instantly. His Dharma artifact flew into the air as he shouted, "How dare you, junior?!"
The young man remained unfazed, disdain evident on his face as he said, "Let me remind you that Kong Nuanmeng married Situ Li, who was already eliminated by my Situ Mo''s lineage. If the Kong Family dares to mention past favors again, it''ll be no different from challenging my family!"
Kong Yu''s face turned into a mix of amusement and anger as he gritted his teeth and spat, "Fool! How did a great man like Situ Tang raise imbeciles like you?!"
With that, he turned and left, ignoring the shocked and furious expression of Situ Mo, the direct descendant of the Golden Tang Gate. He quickly took to the wind, with Li Xuanxuan hiding in the clouds. Li Xuanxuan let out a long sigh of relief when Situ Mo did not pursue them.
"Why provoke him, fellow Daoist? The Golden Tang Gate is known for its offensive cultivation techniques, and this Situ Mo seems like a legitimate heir. That golden ring he wields is quite formidable... Angering him could spell trouble for us."
Even if a fight did ur, Kong Yu, an old man who had failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm despite nearly a hundred years of effort, knew he would not be in immediate danger. However, the oue might not be as favorable for Li Xuanxuan, who was merely a talisman crafter. Naturally, he feared for his life.
Kong Yu sighed and murmured, "In the past, Daoist Master Changxi visited Mount Golden Tang and helped the Golden Tang Sect move several mountains, which led to an alliance through marriage... I never imagined that time would fill the Situ Family with such arrogant descendants."
Golden Tang Gate had been in turmoil for so long, naturally, Kong Yu was aware of the changes within the Situ Family. The branch of the Kong Family that had married into the Situ Family had been wiped out long ago.
The Kong Family, being weak and unwilling to make enemies, had opted to focus on maintaining their alliance with the Golden Tang Gate rather than seeking retribution. However, Situ Mo''s harsh words earlier had only chilled Kong Yu''s heart.
"n thatsted only the duration of a stick of incense" was definitely an insult that left an impression on Li Xuanxuan. Despite his curiosity, he held back his questions and offered a few words offort while waiting for Kong Yu to exin further.
Unlike a sheltered disciple who had grown up on the immortal mountain, Li Xuanxuan was an astute man, having mingled with the secr world for decades.
Given how Kong Yu brought up his deceased senior brother and past favors, Li Xuanxuan realized that Kong Yu was someone who struggled to hide his grief and tended to wallow in self-pity.
After a brief silence, Kong Yu finally spoke, as expected.
"To be honest, the Kong Family has suffered greatly due to the incident in Yufu Prefecture. My grandfather perished in this affair. While searching for spirit items near Jishui Prefecture in Xu State, he lost his senses and acted like a madman. Everything would have been fine if he had found a small tavern to rest, but instead, he insulted a young man.
"The young man sneered and walked away. Six monthster, he attacked our n and killed my grandfather... Despite being a top immortal cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm, my ancestor allowed a mere Qi Cultivator to escape!"
Li Xuanxuan felt as though he was listening to a storybook.
"How is that possible..?" he eximed in disbelief.
Chapter 440: Story (II)
Chapter 440: Story (II)
"How is it not possible?"
Kong Yu''s face darkened, gritting his teeth as he continued, "The ancestor''s son was killed before him, yet in his confusion, he ended up ying a game with that boy about holding on for the duration of an incense stick! He even lost and became aughingstock! Funny, isn''t it?!"
Kong Yuughed bitterly, then continued softly with a pained expression, "The people we sent out lost their minds and became fools to be consumed as mere fodder by the enemy. Ultimately, even our ancestor, who was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, also fell to that boy. He desecrated our family''s immortal mountain, dismantled the Kong Family, and eventually returned to the north."
"Where was Daoist Master Changxi?" Li Xuanxuan asked, his throat dry from listening to the story.
Kong Yu replied softly, "Daoist Master Changxi did eventually break through and return. However, within three years, our Kong Family was scattered and nicknamed the One Stick of Incense n. Terrified, Daoist Master Changxi relocated from Xu State, leading to the founding of Profound Peak Gate."
The story left Li Xuanxuan''s back drenched in a cold sweat. He sighed as realization dawned upon him.
No wonder Profound Peak Gate is in its current state of decline¡ªmost of their cultivators have perished, and they have yet to recover from this incident...
Kong Yu continued with a sorrowful expression, "The disaster that befell my Kong Family is a tale of utter helplessness. I can only imagine how much despair my ancestor must have felt when faced with such cmity. This incident stirred up a sensation in Xu State, and the surviving n members who scattered among various families were well-known."
Li Xuanxuan asked curiously, "Do you know the name of that person back then...?"
Kong Yu spread his hands and smiled wryly.
"A name? I dare not utter it."
Li Xuanxuan was momentarily at a loss. After hearing the story, he sensed that something was amiss.
"If you are so wary of offending him, why persist in publicizing this? It won''t benefit your family. It might even save future generations by letting the matter be forgotten..." hemented carefully.
Li Xuanxuan thought to himself, Isn''t spreading this story everywhere just sending a message to that person that the Kong Family is still resentful of what happened...?
Kong Yu gazed at him and replied, "I dare notment, resent, or forget this matter. Even if I speak of it, I will tell the entire story¡ªnot for any other reason but to spread it far and wide, hoping to appease that person and ensure our survival."
"After all, it is a tale painstakingly crafted by that person. As long as the story is widely known, the Kong Family will stand as a monument to their efforts, and that person may be less inclined to see us perish."
"If even the viin of the story has forgotten this story, how can the audience still find it engaging?" Kong Yu added in a deep voice.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Family...
As the year drew to a close and snow began to fall, the day for collecting tributes approached.
Li Yuanping meticulously reviewed the records. The Li Family now governed five peaks and eighteen towns, supporting 320,000 people. With the additional 280,000 from Eastern Mount Yue, the total poption reached 600,000.
This poption growth was due to the efforts of the three brothers, Li Yuanxiu, Li Yuanjiao, and Li Yuanping, who had relocated people from the densely popted Lijing and Huaqian areas to the newly acquired Mount Huazhong and Yuting. Additionally, the devil gue had driven families on the eastern shore to seek refuge with the Li Family.
"600,000 people!"
The Li Family''s wealth, with its five peaks, was second only to the fertile fields of Milin and far superior to the deep mountains and old forests of the Fei Family. Supporting 600,000 people was already at the limit of their capacity.
Despite having only a handful of Qi Cultivators, the Li Family boasted thergest number of Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators among all the families. The establishment of the governance system overnight on the five peaks dramatically increased the number of registered Embryonic Breathing cultivators this year from nearly 200 to over 300.
Li Yuanping understood the dynamics well. Prominent families saw the financial benefits and quickly integrated their cultivators into the Li Family. Simrly, it also attracted other rogue cultivators to join.
"Money is certainly motivating!"
Li Yuanping sneered, his pale face reflecting his disdain.
The prominent families and external cultivators probably still keep more than half of their Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators to themselves, fearing that I, Li Yuanping, might cheat them!
He nced over the lists and muttered, "Once you''ve registered... you''ll no longer have a say!"
"Get everyone toe in!"
At hismand, Dou Yi went to deliver the order.
A procession of cultivators soon entered, led by An Zheyan and Tian Zhongqing. The An and Tian families had made significant contributions, so they naturally took the lead, followed by representatives from the Chen, Xu, Ren, and other families.
Li Yuanping addressed the assembly, "The Tian Family made the greatest contribution tobating the devil gue this time. Tian Zhongqing, you will be assigned as the Peak Guardian of Mount Huaqian."
Tian Zhongqing was not surprised by Li Yuanping''s decision.
Li Yuanping''s administrative system had three key positions¡ªPeak Manager, Peak Guardian, and Peak Overseer.
The Peak Overseer would be one of the direct descendants of the Li Family, responsible for overseeing the formation te. This role did not require an exceptionally powerful member, as the main responsibility was to periodically inspect the formation te. The rest of the time, the Peak Overseer could cultivate in peace.
The Peak Manager would be assigned to an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator. Their responsibilities included overseeing taxes, general affairs, and inspections. Additionally, about ten other Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators would assist the Peak Manager. Although it was abor-intensive role, it was not a suitable position for Tian Zhongqing.
The Peak Guardian would be a Qi Cultivator responsible for guarding and defending against demons and devils. This role required the strongest cultivator but was also the most rxed, making it an ideal position for Tian Zhongqing, who, at forty, was in his prime for enhancing his cultivation.
"Xu Gongming will be the Peak Guardian of Mount Yuting, Xu Shumu the Peak Manager of Mount Huazhong, Xu Gongyu the Peak Manager of Mount Wutu, and Shamoli will also be stationed on Mount Wutu as the Peak Guardian..."
Li Yuanping only promoted seasoned veterans and officials who had distinguished themselves during the devil gue. Each peak is now governed by one Qi Cultivator, three various unrefined Qi Cultivators, and dozens of Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators. Most of these Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators were assigned to farming and other chores rather than remaining on the mountain.
With the major positions filled, Li Yuanping skipped the rest.
The other cultivators looked at him with anticipation, only to see him lower the document in his hand and say, "There''s still a shortage of cultivators. Until the peaks are adequately staffed with Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators, I will promote those who have shown merit."
Li Yuanping observed their bewildered expressions and smiled as he said, "There are only limited positions at each peak. Based on cultivation and merit, each positiones with dharma artifacts, elixirs, and cave dwellings, which are burdensome for the n to provide."
At the mention of dharma artifacts and elixirs, the eyes of the guest cultivators, prominent families, and branches grew intense. In a world where devil cultivators were rampant, venturing out could be perilous. Hence, dharma artifacts and elixirs were highly coveted.
The Li Family''s resources were scarce, and the cultivators under their rule were impoverished. Although the positions at the peaks came with dharma artifacts, these were expected to be returned upon resignation. Nevertheless, many other familiescked even a single dharma artifact.
Moreover, elixirs and cave dwellings were critical for cultivation. The opportunity to improve one''s abilities and extend one''s lifespan is hard to resist...
Noticing the greed and ambitions in everyone''s eyes, Li Yuanping nodded and dismissed the assembly.
The Snake Demon Cave Dwelling isrger than I anticipated... The direct lineage won''t have to worry about having a cave dwelling to cultivate. These caves on the mountain are surplus, the dharma artifacts are simply lying around. The only costs we have to worry about are n stipends and elixirs...
Li Yuanping sighed, reviewed a few reports, and prepared to expand the Jade Court Guards and n Affairs Courtyard.
"Sry increases... Spirit Paddies, Spirit Stones, and elixirs... There''s a shortage of everything. The spirit resources at the bottom of Moongaze Lake are simply too scarce! It would be ideal if we could gain ess to Mount Dali freely..."
Chapter 441: Rui Familys Peak
Chapter 441: Rui Family''s Peak
Moongaze Lake...
In winter, Moongaze Lake took on a light blue hue, its waters clear with floating ice fragments. A streak of light cut through the air and plunged into theke.
"Snake Demon Cave Dwelling... I wonder what it will be renamed to..."
Li Xijun performed a hand seal and cast a Water Avoidance Spell before diving into theke andnding on the dark yellowkebed. The Snake Demon Cave Dwelling, located on theke''s shore, had a shallow entrance and a simple formation set up by the Li Family themselves.
Upon performing another hand seal to enter the formation, he found himself in a spacious mansion. The sky above was a light blue color, and the floor and the walls around him were smooth and white.
The mansion was divided into several small courtyards, with more than a dozen cave dwellings created in the surrounding stone walls. Most of these caves were dim and empty.
In the center stood a massive icy blue column with a roughly polished surface. It supported the cave, linking the upper and lower earth veins and maintaining the spiritual qi at forty percent higher than the atmosphere outside.
The cave dweling''s illumination came from this column. The Li Family identified it as Shuling Jade, amon material mainly used for crafting jade slips.
Though not particrly valuable, such a big piece of this size was certainly rare. Since it maintained the spiritual qi levels, the Li Family had no intention of mining it.
Li Xijun flew to the high tform in the center where Li Wen, who was wielding two maces, enthusiastically greeted him.
"Young Master!"
The Li Family''s branch now boasted nearly ten thousand members, including many Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators who had mostly moved to the peak to work. Li Qiuyang was the only unrefined Qi Cultivator, while Li Wen was the sole Qi Cultivator who could be considered a genius.
"Already reached the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm at thirty-five... That''s impressive."
Li Wen found little use for his skills due to the recent restructuring of the n and had been assigned here to cultivate in peace. Ever since Li Xicheng became the n chief, they rarely saw each other.
Only a few people remained in this cave dwelling. Li Yuanjiao was still in seclusion on Wutu, but Li Qinghong had moved here. The other two promising disciples from the minor sect¡ªLi Chengyou and Li Chengchu¡ªwere also cultivating here.
Li Xijun visited the courtyard of the two younger disciples and offered them some guidance. As he activated his true essence, white snowlight seemed to swirl around him, giving him an ethereal appearance that filled the disciples'' eyes with admiration.
"That''s amazing, Eighth Uncle!" they eximed excitedly.
These disciples were expected to achieve the Qi Cultivation Realm and eventually be the Peak Guardians, recing the external cultivators. As such, it was only natural for Li Xijun to invest in their development. He took out two pills, intending to gift one to each of them.
As he pondered this, a purple light suddenly illuminated one of the cave dwellings in the wall. Li Qinghong emerged andnded beside Li Xijun.
"Uncle Xuanxuan is back!" she announced softly.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xuanxuan and Kong Yu arrived at the Li Family''s territory.
Kong Yu looked around in surprise and remarked, "I heard that Moongaze Marsh was once the premier dojo in Jiangnan. However, the great battles had damaged the earth veins and depleted its spiritual energy... I never imagined it would still be so beautiful!"
Kong Yu, whose lineage was known for moving mountains, immediately assessed thendscape. He praised it enthusiastically before pointing to Mount Yuting and saying regretfully, "That mountain has been damaged before... Otherwise, it would have made an excellent immortal mountain!"
"You have a keen eye, fellow Daoist!" Li Xuanxuan eximed.
The Li Family had only risen to prominence less than a century ago, so it was no surprise that Li Xuanxuan was oblivious to Mount Yuting''s history. The revtion was certainly eye-opening, and the two continued their conversation.
Shortly after, Li Xijun and Li Qinghong approached to greet them.
"This is the granddaughter and great-grandson of our old ancestor," Li Xuanxuan proudly introduced.
Kong Yu observed the pair for a few moments as they glided over, then remarked softly, "I can''t help but be captivated by seeing both of them. They have certainly inherited the immortal grace of Li Tongya, the Celestial Moon Sword..."
This old man certainly knows how to tter.
Li Xuanxuan chuckled inwardly.
In his opinion, Li Tongya exuded a heroic presence, while Li Xijun had a more ethereal, immortal grace, resembling Li Chejing more closely.
Li Xijun and Li Qinghong responded differently. Li Qinghong merely nodded politely, while Li Xijun offered a slight bow and said softly, "Senior possesses a majestic physique that lives up to the reputation of Profound Peak."
His voice was clear andposed.
Since Kong Yu''spliment was meant to be ttery, he could not help but look at Li Xijun again and joked, "It would be a disaster if a descendant as promising as Xijun were as mean and ungrateful as Situ Mo!"
Li Xuanxuan smiled wryly, never expecting Kong Yu to be such a petty man. He quickly shifted the conversation to the earth vein. Li Xijun flew closely behind them, listening intently.
Li Xijun''s striking appearance, a divine gift he had been proud of since childhood, was something he skillfully leveraged. With just a single sentence, he had managed to elevate the Li Family''s status in Kong Yu''s eyes and made his elders feel proud.
Everyone in this world is shallow, Li Xijun reflected in disappointment, amused by his own tendency to exploit his advantages.
As they descended on theke, Li Xuanxuan circled the area and asked, "Fellow Daoist, what do you think? Would it be appropriate to move the mountain here?"
Kong Yu looked around, cast a few spells, and then flew to the shore. He scooped up several handfuls of mud before returning with a smile.
"I see it now, fellow Daoist. Your family has a cave dwelling at the bottom of thiske and it''s spacious... Moongaze Lake is truly an excellent location!"
Li Xuanxuan, not one to shy away frompliments,ughed and responded, "Your vein searching technique is truly remarkable, fellow Daoist. Securing this cave dwelling was no easy task for my family!"
Kong Yu nodded and continued seriously, "I''ve examined it closely. The earth veins here are shallow, but the water veins are abundant. We can''t move arge mountain here, it would not only disrupt the spiritual qi of the cave dwelling but also cause the mountain to erode into sand and stone within a hundred years.
"Additionally, the water veins in this cave are cold and yin, which suits serpent dragons. Therefore, the mountain we move here cannot contain fire veins. You won''t be able to perform alchemy or forge weapons on this mountain..."
Li Xuanxuan expected no less of Kong Yu''s skill, given that the Profound Peak Gate was renowned for its expertise in moving mountains. Kong Yu meticulously outlined the potential issues and concluded, "To move a mountain here, it will likely require at least fifty Spirit Stones and twelve Qi Cultivators."
"That won''t be a problem!" Li Xuanxuan said as he waved his hand. With ample manpower and resources at their disposal now, the Li Family agreed readily.
A smile broke across Li Xijun''s face as he watched on from behind the group.
Uncle Yuanping''s heart will probably ache soon!
"Excellent," Kong Yu replied.
Together, they surveyed the mountains near the eastern shore. It took a long time to examine each one thoroughly. Naturally, the dozen or so families on the eastern shore did not dare to interfere and allowed the inspection to proceed without protest.
By the time Kong Yu resumed his flight, dusk had settled. He reviewed the map, eliminatingrge mountains and those with fire veins as well asplex earth veins, and then dered, "The remaining options are all suitable. Choose whichever you prefer!"
The three of them were immediately delighted andnded on the Rui Family''s mountain. Rui Qiongcuo, the head of the Rui Family, bowed and opened the formation, following respectfully behind. The two elders entered the mountain to inspect the earth vein.
Meanwhile, Li Xijun addressed Rui Qiongcuo warmly, "Apologies for the intrusion. If the Rui Family''s mountain is chosen, the family head will offer your family a position on the peak with variouspensations, including spirit fields and Spirit Paddies. Additionally, the children of your family will have the opportunity to study with us..."
Rui Qiongcuo nodded in agreement. Though the subsidies from the Li Family might not match the value of the immortal mountain, the chance to leave their current location and gain favor was a significant opportunity. He could only weigh the benefits in his own mind.
While Li Xijun reassured the head of the Rui Family, Li Xuanxuan, in the mountain, pointed to the spirit spring and asked Kong Yu, "This spirit spring has been affected by the Green Essence Copper and is freezing cold, it cannot be used to irrigate spirit fields. If we move this mountain, will there be another spirit spring that can nourish spirit ntations?"
Chapter 442: Qingdu Peak (I)
Chapter 442: Qingdu Peak (I)
"It''s definitely Green Essence Copper," Kong Yu confirmed.
"It must be nearby... Your family is really lucky to discover such rare spirit ores," he added, scooping up a bit of spring water and using a spell to analyze it.
After a few moments, he nodded in approval and said, "If we move this mountain, the shift in the earth vein will cut off the flow for about seven years. After that, the spring water will return, and the cold yin qi will be gone."
"Good!" Li Xuanxuan replied in delight with a nod.
Seven years isn''t too long... the Li Family can wait!
He then continued, "This ore vein actually belongs to the Xiao Family, the immortal n. Its production and reserves are meticulously recorded on Xianyou Peak. It has nothing to do with my Li Family..."
"That''s unfortunate," Kong Yu replied with a regretful smile.
"Green Essence Copper can neutralize yang heat and enhance quality. I guess people like Daoist Master Chuting must have probably been aware of this years ago and snatched it up," he added.
Li Xijun, who had approached just in time to hear Kong Yu''s remark, raised an eyebrow. Li Xuanxuan was also slightly taken aback but quickly responded, "You must be joking, fellow Daoist. The families on the eastern shore were all guided by the Xiao Family. There''s no such thing as snatching... All the tributes my family collects are also reported to the Daoist Master..."
While saying that, Li Xuanxuan silently wondered, Why did he say that? Is he testing the rtionship between my family and the Xiao Family?
Kong Yu was stunned by the response before smiling and saying sheepishly, "Please forgive me for speaking without thinking."
With the mountain selected, a group of cultivators from the Li Family gathered around. Kong Yu then produced twelve formation gs, handing them out to An Zheyan and the others.
He positioned each person around theke and gave a single instruction.
"When you see the golden light, activate the formation."
Back on the shore, the Jade Court Guards had already moved the Rui Family members from the mountain. Kong Yu then retrieved a long, wide, white talisman from his robe. It was half a person''s height, with something written in red ink on it.
"This is a pile of gravel, not a mountain."
At the end of the talisman was a small, bright red seal. Kong Yu exined, "This is the seal of Daoist Master Changxi, used specifically for moving mountains. It can deceive the earth vein, making the relocation process much easier."
Kong Yu stuck the talisman atop the mountain and then retrieved a handful of soft soil from his sleeve. He handed it to Li Xuanxuan while instructing, "When the earth vein begins to gush, infuse your mana into this Wuxi Sand and use it as a plug."
"If there''s some leakage of Earth Vein Baleful Qi during the move, the Profound Peak Gate will handle it for your family," he added with a reassuring smile.
Li Xuanxuan took the spirit soil and replied, "Yes, please... fellow Daoist."
Kong Yu nodded and then untied the long golden rope from his waist. He carefully folded it and coiled it between his fingers, then began flying around the mountain and waving it around while chanting an incantation. Soon, the entire mountain and surrounding area was enveloped in a golden glow.
One by one, the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators of the Li Family ascended the mountain. Over a hundred of them took their positions, gripping the golden thread and sitting cross-legged, all channeling their mana into it.
Havingpleted the necessary preparations, Kong Yu breathed a sigh of relief and shouted, "Let''s go!"
Immediately, sand and rocks were hurled into the air as a thick ck mist enveloped the surroundings, and eerie wails echoed loudly as the sky darkened. Rui Family''s peak, once lush with trees, trembled and vanished amidst the surging Earth Vein Baleful Qi.
"You call this some?!" Li Xuanxuan eximed in horror, having been caught off guard by the onught of ck qi.
As the thick Earth Vein Baleful Qi surged forth, Li Xuanxuan hurriedly channeled his mana into the Wuxi Sand, throwing it into the chaotic scene.
"Go!" he yelled.
The spirit soil met the dark energy and expanded rapidly. ck rain began to fall, transforming the soil into mud upon contact with the ground. It rolled on the ground, gradually plugging the damaged earth vein.
Clouds of ck baleful qi still lingered in the sky. Li Xuanxuan looked back to find that the Rui Family''s Peak had disappeared, along with Kong Yu and the others. Thendscape was now barren, revealing only gray-white rocks and soil.
"How miraculous!" Li Xuanxuan eximed in awe.
As he soared over theke, he saw a new peak standing amidst it. The once verdant summit was now stripped of trees, with huts and structures reduced to rubble.
An Zheyan and the other Qi Cultivators sat cross-legged on the shore, their faces pale from exhaustion. More than a hundred Embryonic Breathing cultivatorsy sprawled on the ground, their mana depleted and energy spent.
Kong Yu''s face was as pale as paper, but he pushed through, not daring to pause for a second to even catch his breath. He took out a white jade bottle, soared into the sky, and used his dharma artifact to gather all the baleful qi. Once he was done, hended with a sigh of relief.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Kong Yu exhaled deeply and opened his eyes, then said to Li Xuanxuan, "This Earth Vein Baleful Qi belongs to the Profound Peak Gate. The remaining payment shall be sixty Spirit Stones, covering the costs for the Mountain Moving Talisman, Wuxi Sand, andbor fee... What do you think, fellow Daoist?"
I see, these people have had an ulterior motive all along!
Li Xuanxuan realized that the Profound Peak Gate''s enthusiasm for relocating the mountain stemmed from their interest in harvesting the leaked baleful qi, which was likely very valuable for their alchemical techniques.
Reflecting on the baleful qi that had surged earlier, Li Xuanxuan wondered how many Spirit Stones it might be worth.
"Fellow Daoist Kong, you''re quite the negotiator!" Li Xuanxuan said with a sigh, while Kong Yu responded with a shameless grin.
"Thend left by the Rui Family will be barren for a hundred years. With the earth vein damaged and the spiritual energy depleted, it can only support some mortals," Kong Yu exined.
Moving mountains was extremely harmful to the earth vein and consumed vast amounts of mana. Fortunately, theke was not far from the eastern shore, or it would have been impossible for the few Qi Cultivators to handle the relocation.
Li Xuanxuan had already expected all those consequences after seeing the baleful qi surging out from the earth vein earlier. Since this area was not his family''s territory, he was not overly distressed. Nevertheless, he feigned anger and countered, "Why didn''t you say so earlier? Fifty Spirit Stones!"
Kong Yu was momentarily taken aback and grumbled internally, Why the distress over this? It''s not even your family''s territory!
After some back-and-forth, Li Xuanxuan conceded and provided fifty-four Spirit Stones. Kong Yu epted them with satisfaction.
Their rtionship warmed considerably, and Kong Yu said with a grin, "Despite my modest cultivation, I''ve been moving mountains for fifty years and have mastered the craft, Brother. Based on my experience, theke bed will naturally rise in a few years. Once the mountain''s peak is raised, you''ll see three or four small peaks forming around it due to the earth vein.
"Good!" Li Xuanxuan replied with a nod.
He arranged for Kong Yu to stay in the courtyard to recover. Meanwhile, the Rui Family had no ce to live and was forced to stay in Yuting Town. Rui Qiongcuo remained silent, spending his days at Mount Yuting.
With no other options, Li Yuanping sent a letter to the Xiao Family, requesting that they absorb the Rui Family. The Rui Family''s mining operations were naturally handed over to the Xiao Family as well.
Kong Yu stayed for several months to ensure the mountain remained stable before finally departing. As he left on the wind, he called out, "Brother Xuanxuan, if you need anything in the future,e visit me at Profound Peak Gate!"
Li Xuanxuan saw him off and then returned to the immortal mountain, which was now bustling with activity. The Li Family had cleared the fallen trees and constructed courtyards and pavilions, giving the area a lively atmosphere indeed.
Li Xijun and the others had been summoned to the mountain by Li Qinghong. Although Li Yuanjiao was still in seclusion, Li Qinghong insisted that they first decide on a name for the mountain and its cave dwelling.
Chapter 443: Qingdu Peak (II)
Chapter 443: Qingdu Peak (II)
After much deliberation, Li Yuanping and Li Xuanxuan proposed names like Four Lineage Peak and Li Lake Peak, but Li Qinghong was unimpressed and unsure how to respond to those names.
After further discussion, Li Xuanxuan decided on Celestial Moon Peak and Celestial Moon Cave Dwelling. He sighed and remarked, "It''s a shame there''s already a Moon Lake Peak in Azure Pond; otherwise, this name would have been perfect."
"I think our family should avoid names rted to the moon," Li Xijun suggested.
The group exchanged thoughtful looks and agreed. Li Yuanping then proposed, "How about webine the names of our Foundation Establishment dharma artifacts¡ªQingche Sword and Duruo Spear? We''ll call it Qingdu Peak! The water of Moongaze Lake is always light green, and we can nt some white irises on the mountain... It''ll be a perfect name!"[1]
Li Qinghong''s Duruo Spear glowed faintly and she smiled.
"Finally, a good name."
"Qingdu Peak and Qingdu Cave Dwelling. From now on, this will be our family''s main peak," Li Xuanxuan reaffirmed with a sense of satisfaction.
With the name settled, they received a letter from the Xiao Family. Xiao Guitu''s response was swift and clear. Li Xuanxuan read it carefully and nodded in approval.
"Xiao Guitu truly handles matters efficiently," hemended.
The letter conveyed that the Rui Family, though once enlightened by the old ancestor of the Xiao Family, had no direct connection with them now. The Xiao Family would manage the mining of the Green Essence Copper themselves, so there was no need to trouble the Li Family.
"They''re concerned that our family might mishandle the copper essence and create trouble," Li Yuanping said as he reviewed the letter. The Xiao Family''s high regard for Green Essence Copper made him reluctant to get involved, preferring to avoid any potential issues.
One party was unwilling to concede, while the other was hesitant to intervene. This somewhat contentious situation was eventually resolved. As they were discussing the matter, the Jade Court Guards arrived with a report.
"My Lords, the monk has taken up residence on a small ind nearby and built a thatched hut to cultivate."
"Kongheng? He''s still around?!" Li Qinghong eximed as she frowned slightly. This monk, Kongheng, had appeared uninvited and had helped during the devil gue by intercepting two devil cultivators from Zhao State. His intervention had prevented significant casualties.
Since the Li Family owed him a favor, it was difficult to drive him away, so they had no choice but to allow him to stay on theke.
"Yes, I''ve gathered quite a bit of information over the years. Kongheng initially wandered around Huaqian, collecting herbs and aiding people. Heter moved to Yuting, and now he''s here on theke. He doesn''t preach or cause any trouble, so we can''t kill him... We can only send a few people to keep an eye on him," Li Yuanping said with a shrug.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
For half a month, theke remained tranquil. When the Dawn Cloudliner arrived as scheduled, Li Qinghong had to make the journey to submit the tributes since Li Yuanjiao was still in seclusion.
This time, the senior cultivator from Yuanwu Peak of Azure Pond, known as Yu Su and nicknamed Brocade Dark Mouse, had a reputation of greed. To avoid giving anyone cause to criticize her, Li Qinghong set off for Milin Prefecture early.
Despite numerous covert attempts by various parties, the internal strife within the Yu Family had remained unresolved. Though they appeared as a unified entity, the Yu Family had actually fractured into four distinct factions, deeply affected by the failed reforms initiated by Yu Mugao.
As a Qi Cultivator of the eighth heavenlyyer, Li Qinghong flew directly over more than half of the Yu Family''s territory without encountering any obstacles. It was only when she neared the Yu Family''s peak, where she was to pay tribute, that a middle-aged man approached to meet her.
The man had a weathered face, a mature demeanor, and a tall stature, but his cheeks were tense, and he appeared somewhat nervous. With a spear slung over his back, he hurried over and stared at Li Qinghong in speechless surprise.
Li Qinghong, who had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm early, now appeared to be only in her early twenties.
"Fellow Daoist, you''re..."
The middle-aged man was taken aback, his face paling. After a moment of silence, he cupped his fist and greeted, "Fei Tongxiao of the Fei Family. Greetings, fellow Daoist!"
"Oh... it''s you!"
Li Qinghong finally recognized him. Theirst meeting had been many years ago, and reminiscing about the old times seemed rather awkward so Li Qinghong quickly shifted the topic.
Noticing the true essence around Fei Tongxiao, she frowned and asked, "Why...?"
"Oh!"
Fei Tongxiao understood that Li Qinghong was referring to the changes in his own cultivation and true essence.
Years ago, during the turmoil in the Fei Family, Fei Wangbai was beheaded by a sword, and since then, Fei Tongxiao decided not to practice the Long Brocade Heart Sutra for his foundation establishment. Unwilling to give up, he dispersed his cultivation and started anew.
With the full support of his elder brother, Fei Tongyu, Fei Tongxiao had spent over a decade reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm and had just recently broken through.
No matter how quickly he progressed, it had taken Fei Tongxiao thirty years to be a Qi Cultivator, having passed through the Embryonic Breathing Realm twice. Despite being considered a genius in his family, he found himself nearing forty before achieving this level. Beyond his deep sense of disappointment, the lines of age had begun to show on his face.
Seeing Li Qinghong, who remained as heroic, radiant, and beautiful as in her youth¡ªd in jade armor and wielding a spear¡ªhaving already reached the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, Fei Tongxiao found it difficult to articte the emotion he was feeling at the moment.
He had been so decisive in the past, ready to sacrifice everything and disperse his cultivation, but the consequences of his choices had left him with a pale face right now.
Nevertheless, he managed to say, "Are you here to submit the tribute too, fellow Daoist?"
Although he did not provide any exnation, Li Qinghong managed to figure it out by connecting the dots. She looked at him guiltily and replied softly, "Yes..."
The conversation fell into silence. On the peak, with only the two of them standing in the cold wind, Fei Tongxiao''s face gradually calmed. After several failed attempts to speak, he finally said with a bitter smile, "Things are unpredictable. The situation changed so quickly back then that no one could have imagined..."
Li Qinghong responded softly, and as the glory of Dawn Cloudliner began to rise in the sky, more people gathered. The cultivators from various families stopped respectfully, greeting Li Qinghong as a senior before continuing on their way.
Fei Tongxiao remained pale, his head bowed, saying nothing. Although he should have addressed Li Qinghong as a senior, he simply could not bring himself to do so and remained silent.
After a while, the Dawn Cloudlinernded on the peak, and a group of cultivators descended. The leader, dressed in a brocade robe rather than his usual uniform, had a short beard, dark yellow skin, a thin face, and sparkling eyes.
He was Yu Su, the senior brother of Yuanwu Peak, also known as Brocade Dark Mouse!
Yu Su stepped off the cloudliner and nced at the assembly, then asked softly, "Where are the Yu Family''s members?"
A representative was pushed forward¡ªYu Chengyi, the seventh son of Yu Mugao. He dropped to his knees with a thud and eximed, "Greetings, immortal envoy of the upper sect!"
Yu Su nced at him, then shook his head and said, "My junior brother has made a specific request, so I''ll attend to that first before discussing anything further with you."
At the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Yu Su was the highest-ranking cultivator anyone on theke had seen. His brocade robe fluttered as if moved by an invisible wind, and his presence wasmanding. His words left everyone in awe.
Unfamiliar with such grandeur, the assembly could only nod in agreement. Yu Su then took out a small, exquisitely crafted golden cage from his sleeve. Although bright and ornate, it was empty inside.
1. Qingche Sword literally means Green Ruler Sword while Duruo Spear means White Iris Spear. ?
Chapter 444: Xijun (I)
Chapter 444: Xijun (I)
The golden cage Yusu held was norger than a human head, and it had seventy-two vertical bars. The small door on the front was ajar.
cing the cage in his palms, Yu Su opened another small door on the side and then pointed at Yu Chengyi, who was prostrated on the ground.
With a sinister smile, he said, "This person has five brothers... Please help me collect their heads, fellow Daoist!"
Li Qinghong, Fei Tongxiao, and the others felt a cold breeze blowing against their faces, causing their robes to flutter. Given Yu Su''s authority, none of them dared to assess that golden cage with their spiritual senses. They could only wait in tense silence.
Murmurs began spreading among the crowd.
"Could that be a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact? Such artifacts exist...?"
"Who knows? It might even be a Purple Mansion Realm dharma artifact... The Frosty Absolute Sword isn''t the only artifact in the Azure Pond! The Purple Mansion Daoist Masters have been quiet for too long... Perhaps it belongs to one of them..."
As the whispers continued, a gust of wind delivered five bloody heads which fell from the sky and tumbled into a grisly heap. Li Qinghong, using her spiritual sense, detected a vortex of wind retracting into the cage, much like a whale sucking in water.
A monster? Or the effect of that dharma artifact?
Yu Su waited for a few moments before shutting the cage and frowning at the severed heads, with surprised and dismayed expressions frozen on their faces. He frowned and then said, "With this... the Yu Family should be able to consolidate their power now, right?"
Yu Chengyi stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence. Nudged by the guest cultivator behind him, he snapped back to his senses and managed to stammer, "T-Thank... Thank you, Exalted Immortal."
Yu Su''s gaze lingered on him momentarily as he remarked, "To think that Muxian has a cousin like you..."
He returned the golden cage back to his sleeve, then extended his hand andmanded, "Jade Smoke Mountain!"
His words caused the expressions of those from the Yu Family to change. Yu Chengyi, panic-stricken, took two trembling steps forward while kneeling and desperately pleaded, "Senior! The Jade Smoke Mountain is the prized treasure of my family! Please, I implore you¡ª"
"Give it to me now!"
Impatience shed across Yu Su''s eyes. With a swing of his sleeve, he pushed Yu Chengyi and he was sent tumbling backward. Suppressing the urge to beat him to death, Yu Su snapped, "Stop wasting my time, dog! Bring that dharma artifact to me! Rather than wasting it on your household, Muxian will make far better use of it."
That''s right... In the eyes of Azure Pond, these people are no different than dogs...
As soon as Yu Su spoke, sadness fell over the other families. They realized that although Yu Su appeared courteous, he regarded them as inconsequential, mere grass beneath his feet. Witnessing Yu Chengyi''s tearful plight, nobody dared to speak up.
Someone from the Yu Family presented the Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, Jade Smoke Mountain. Yu Su epted it and lifted it high up, scrutinizing the artifact for a few moments.
The Jade Smoke Mountain was snow-white and translucent, about the size of a fist, and exquisitely carved. The various cranes and trees on it were impably detailed, bringing them vividly to life. However, a shallow line on the mountainside emitted a faint green light.
Yu Su frowned as he observed this, murmuring to himself, "It really left a mark... Li Tongya was truly formidable. This thing is made of Supreme Radiant Profound Jade..."
After looking at it for a while, he lifted his head and said bluntly, "All matters are settled. Bring forward the tributes, everyone."
The families nodded, quickly bringing their tributes. Yu Su stood by as his attendants sorted through the tributes, dismissing inadequate ones and demanding recements.
It was well known around Moongaze Lake that Yu Su was opportunistic, exploiting others for gain. The familiesplied in silence. After inspecting the tributes, Yu Su gently swayed the golden cage in his hand and advised, "If there are no significant changes in the future, I will return here again in due time. Be better prepared next time, so no adjustments will be necessary."
With that, his disciples lifted into the air, boarding the Dawn Cloudliner. Yu Su, standing at the bow, surveyed the crowd below once more before the ship eventually vanished into the horizon.
The mood among the families soured immediately after Yu Su''s departure. Although a few prestigious ns managed better, most faces were marked by discontent.
As the Dawn Cloudliner left, families along the eastern shore who had allied with the Li Family gathered to plead for leniency and share their grievances.
"Senior! Please consider a lighter tribute this year!"
The head of the Pu Family, over eighty but still in the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, wore in clothes andcked even a basic dharma artifact. He respectfully addressed Li Qinghong, his face etched with a troubled expression.
"Senior, the peaks of the Azure Pond rotate their residency every seventy years, and we''re only halfway through... Over thirty more years of hardship await. What are we to do?"
Hisnd, affected by Green Essence Copper, scarcely supported the growth of Spirit Paddies. While the Rui Family had found relief by pledging loyalty to the Li Family, the remaining four families remained deeply troubled, as they were among the poorest on the eastern shore.
He looked to Li Qinghong with earnest hope for a favorable word.
Rui Qiongcuo, standing behind Li Qinghong respectfully, could not help but secretly rejoice at the misfortune of their formerpetitors.
Although his Rui Family was independent on the surface, they were technically under the Li Family. Yet, they livedfortably. To him, the modest tribute from the Embryonic Breathing Realm family was a trifle.
The mor of voices grew until Li Qinghong, forced to assert control, mmed her spear onto the ground.
The ng silenced them instantly.
Knowing Yu Su''s greed, Li Qinghong had wisely left her Duruo Spear at home, carrying only a low-grade Qi Cultivation dharma artifact with her today. Yet, even this was enough to shatter the stone bricks on the ground.
"If you face financial difficulties, please consult with my family head directly. The Li Family does not intend to ruin anyone merely for tributes... We have our ways to address such matters," she stated firmly.
With Li Yuanping at home to handle these issues, Li Qinghong was free to depart without concern, confident that the matters would be resolved appropriately.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The forest path near Lijing Town was shrouded in darkness, yet it buzzed with activity as several figures in white armor galloped past. Leading them was Li Xicheng, astride a spirit horse.
Li Xicheng rode along the dark path near Lijing Town, illuminated by fireflies that floated silently beneath the leaves of the trees around them.
Zhongsuo, his loyalpanion, galloped on without a word. Li Xicheng, now head of the Jade Court Guards, had to maintain a cautious distance from his brothers to avoid any suspicions.
Trailing close behind him was Chen Mufeng, the highest-ranking guard in the Jade Court Guards. His talent rivaled that of Chen Donghe, but his slightly superior cultivation technique used during the Embryonic Breathing phase had allowed him to advance faster, achieving the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm¡ªa rank mirroring Li Xicheng''s own.
Though Li Xicheng was the eldest by about ten years, he was considered the least talented among his siblings. Nevertheless, he managed to attain the Qi Cultivation Realm at thirty, thanks to a Grade Three technique he practiced during the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
Chapter 445: Xijun (II)
Chapter 445: Xijun (II)
Under the cover of night, one man rode on horseback while the other rode along the wind. Li Xicheng held a jade slip and spoke softly, "During this patrol inspection, two individuals in Huaqian were caught hiding Spirit Paddies... They''ve been arrested as per the rules. What did the n Affairs Courtyard say?"
Chen Mufeng, a man around his age and deeply trusted, responded, "They have been brought to justice, but... one of them belongs to a minor sect of the second lineage... The eldest son, Li Chengchu, is practicing at Qingdu''s main peak. This..."
Li Xicheng shook his head, replying softly, "It doesn''t matter... Everything should follow the rules. The family head will decide their fate. Likely, he''ll impose a severe or minor punishment and reassign him to a less critical role."
Chen Mufeng nodded as they continued along the river. Observing the verdant growth around them, Li Xicheng smiled and remarked softly, "Mufeng, our family is flourishing, with all lineages united. The external cultivators and those in the minor sects are emerging like bamboo shoots after rain. It''s a golden era for us; truly a cause for celebration!"
Chen Mufeng smiled in agreement, replying, "The main family is the clouds in heaven, and we are the vines on earth. We''re a single entity. Naturally, hearing this brings joy to my heart!"
Switching the jade slip to his other hand, Li Xicheng suggested warmly, "I have a concubine-born sister, Yunying, who isn''t married yet. She''s quite the catch for any promising Qi Cultivator. Are you interested in taking her as your wife? Perhaps I can arrange a meeting between you two soon. If you fancy her, it could be a wonderful union between our families, don''t you think?"
Chen Mufeng was immediately overjoyed. He had remained unmarried since his wife''s passing precisely for an opportunity like this! Now that he was finally given the chance to be part of the Li Family''s second lineage, he nodded enthusiastically and happily replied, "Thank you, my lord!"
The two conversed for a while longer. Chen Mufeng, now working under Li Xicheng, felt a newfound closeness to him. His speech grew more rxed as he leaned in and whispered, "Mufeng has been serving you for many years, yet a doubt still lingers in my heart."
"Speak," Li Xicheng encouraged, nodding slightly.
"My lord..." Chen Mufeng began, but just then, a cold wind descended from the sky, cutting him off mid-sentence.
A young man in white, with a sword at his waist and sharp eyes, rode the wind toward them. His gaze briefly met Chen Mufeng''s before settling on Li Xicheng.
"Brother!"
"Brother Jun! Come,e..." Li Xicheng greeted as he warmly grasped his younger brother''s hand, pushing Chen Mufeng''s words to the back of his mind.
Li Xijun chuckled and suggested, "This is not the ce to talk. Brother, why don''t we ascend the mountain?"
"Of course!"
Together, they soared upward andnded in the small courtyard on Mount Qingdu.
Li Xijun pushed the door open and entered. With a wave of his sleeve, the room lit up instantly. He fetched two pots of wine and ced them on the table, then filled the cups.
He then said, "Brother, you''re quite the figure these days... I''ve heard the Jade Court Guards are more efficient than the n Affairs Courtyard in overseeing the six peaks!"
"Nothing like that..." Li Xicheng chuckled, humbly dismissing the ttery.
Li Xijun chuckled as well and continued, "I''ve also heard that the impoverished families and branches you''ve assisted have reformed admirably. They''ve joined the peaks and even the n Affairs Courtyard and Jade Court Guards. Everyone speaks highly of you."
"You''re exaggerating!"
Though the tale was well-regarded within the n and Li Xicheng privately took pride in his foresight, he quickly adopted a modest tone in response to his brother''s words.
Li Xijun waved his hand and added, "Our second lineage has nurtured many talents who now hold significant positions across various peaks... Having spent years in seclusion on the mountain, I rarely manage family matters. These sesses are undoubtedly linked to your diligent training and leadership..."
Li Xicheng''s frown deepened as he took a sip of the wine handed to him by Li Xijun. A realization dawned on him, prompting him to say in a stern voice, "I have never shown the slightest favoritism! These people have earned their positions through talent and hard work. If you, Brother Jun, suspect me of such, it severely underestimates me!"
"Brother, there''s nothing wrong with what you''ve done."
Li Xijun, seemingly anticipating this response, shook his head. "If I believed otherwise, I wouldn''t be so respectful towards you," he said with aforting warm smile.
He raised his eyebrow as he continued in a cooler tone, "You can promote talent, forge alliances through marriage, influence the Yuting and two courtyards, and cultivate confidants among the peaks..."
Pausing, Li Xijun fixed his gaze on his brother.
"However, these are not actions befitting the eldest son of the second lineage... nor what Brother Ximing should be doing."
He set down his jade cup and squinted at his older brother.
"Big Brother, do you realize what you''re doing? You''re building your own support base and calming the masses. You''re proving you''re more capable than Brother Ming... forcing the family head to reconsider Ximing''s leadership..."
At this, Li Xicheng''s usually gentle face grew serious as he replied slowly, "There''s no such thing as forcing. If any, it is the family forcing Ming''er, who clearly has no interest in these matters. You''re misinterpreting my intentions... I''m merely acting in the family''s best interest."
"The session issue isn''t settled yet!"
Li Xijun''s expression tightened, his voice lowering, "Ximing can still father children! Even if hecks the desire, his offspring could lead!"
Li Xicheng sighed gently, asking softly, "What do you think then, Brother Jun?"
This question left Li Xijun speechless. Torn between a brother stripped of power by his own action and an elder brother poised to reveal his ambitions, Li Xijun closed his eyes, unable to respond.
The elders in the family are probably allowing the situation to turn into this...
Unable to think of something better to say, Li Xijun then spoke in a subdued tone.
"I too bear responsibility for Ximing''s plight... Since he was confined, the entire second lineage has been pushing you to act. Pressured by so many people, I guess you have no other choices either... I have no right to criticize you, Big Brother."
Li Xicheng nodded thoughtfully as Li Xijun''s stern expression softened, and he continued, "However, those you have promoted, many have risen only through your favor and by leveraging your prestige, gaining support across second lineage... You must be cautious in how you utilize them."
"I understand," Li Xicheng acknowledged, prompting Li Xijun to cup his fist respectfully and say gently, "From now on, we two brothers will lead the generation of Xi and Yue. I trust you will act with prudence."
With a decisive sweep of his sleeves, he turned to leave. His white robe fluttered as he approached the door. Li Xicheng watched his tall figure, murmuring words barely audible, "Why didn''t you ask if Uncle Yuanjiao has instructed me to do these things, Brother Jun?"
Li Xijun paused briefly, then took to the wind.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Qinghong emerged from three years of seclusion on Qingdu Peak after having spent some time stabilizing her powers at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation. Preparing to take a pill on either the first orst day of the month to break through to the ninth heavenlyyer, she never expected Li Yuanping''s sudden arrival.
Li Yuanping reported strange phenomena at Mount Wutu¡ªsurging clouds above the cave dwelling, faint sounds of dripping water within, and clear water bursting forth from the ground.
Even the weather at Mount Yue had grown erratic, with downpours ending as abruptly as they had begun, leaving the skies clear and the local fauna, including fish and turtles, scrambling ashore.
The Li Family had been through Li Tongya''s breakthrough previously. When Li Qinghong heard these ounts, she realized that her brother, Li Yuanjiao, was nearing a critical breakthrough in his foundation establishment.
"Geez... Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm is a life-and-death trial... How can he attempt it without telling me first?" she grumbled.
Although annoyed, Li Qinghong flew to Mount Wutu hurriedly and took up a vignt watch outside the cave dwelling.
Chapter 446: Li Fire Spear (I)
Chapter 446: Li Fire Spear (I)
Li Qinghong had just arrived at the courtyard when she noticed a female cultivator standing quietly there, holding the hand of a little girl. Her face was veiled with spirit gauze. Upon seeing Li Qinghong, she greeted him with a warm smile.
"You''re here, Qinghong!"
The woman, Xiao Guiluan, appeared to be in her twenties despite her actual age being over forty. It was no surprise as the Xiao Family was an immortal n and she was at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"Hello, Sister-In-Law," Li Qinghong replied with a gentle nod as a smile involuntarily appeared on her face. The generations of Yuan and Qing were all very close to each other. Xiao Guiluan, both tactful and capable, had always maintained a harmonious rtionship with her inws.
The little girl, Li Yuexiang, was Li Yuanjiao''s youngest daughter. She affectionately hugged Li Qinghong and called her auntie sweetly.
"Have you been studying well, Yuexiang?" Li Qinghong asked gently.
Xiao Guiluan turned to Li Qinghong with a smile and asked, "You''ve reached the eighth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm at just forty-two or forty-three, right?"
"That''s correct," she responded with a nod.
"You might establish your foundation by fifty then... you truly are a prodigy," Xiao Guiluan praised.
Theter stages of Qi Cultivation demanded substantial time, often at least five years. Unfamiliar with talisman pills, Xiao Guiluan estimated that Li Qinghong would reach the Foundation Establishment by fifty. However, Li Qinghong herself believed that she could achieve it by forty-five.
The women conversed for a bit before Li Qinghong frowned and said, "I don''t understand why my brother went into seclusion without saying a word... It''s unlike him."
Xiao Guiluan shook her head and began, "In the Xiao Family history, out of 376 Qi Cultivators breaking through to Foundation Establishment, 170 did so abruptly, without prior notice. When one''s spiritual energy is ripe, unless suppressed by secret techniques from immortal sects, it''s often best to break through immediately."
Li Qinghong furrowed her brow, prompting further exnation from Xiao Guiluan.
"Our elders are baffled too. After years of investigation, they learned of a rumor circting among the three sects that may be tied to the activity of Metallic Essence. Within the same Dao lineage, it''smon for several members to establish the same immortal foundation within a few years. Yet, curiously, after some more years, several among them may fail..."
Li Qinghong nodded gently, her keen intellect evident as her eyes lit up. She then spoke thoughtfully, "Mastering the activities of Metallic Essence could significantly enhance the chances of our disciples'' breakthroughs. If one could cultivate Metallic Essence effectively then that means..."
They could control the Dao lineage at will? To determine who achieves breakthrough...
She suddenly fell silent and looked at Xiao Guiluan, only to notice a subtle shift in her expression. The two exchanged a silent, knowing look.
No wonder the prestigious ns of the Xu State were decimated by a reincarnated being... Just the sight of a hint of Metallic Essence instills terror in anyone...
The two stood quietly in the courtyard, listening to the soft flowing sound of spring water flowing nearby. Xiao Guiluan continued in a gentle voice, "Those are probably just false rumors... In the ancient texts, no sect within the first three hundred years has mentioned any Dao lineage that could control foundation establishment."
Looking at the shimmering water ripples in the cave dwelling while engaging in their spective conversation, they were startled by a sudden loud explosion.
BOOM!
The sky outside the courtyard burst into a brilliant disy, with clouds turning a radiant gold. Streams of light danced through the air as numerous mana lights streaked across the sky. Li Qinghong looked up and swiftly ascended, riding the wind upward.
The golden lights in the sky merged into the distant red hues of sunset and the brilliance in the east shone intensely for several moments before gradually fading away.
More mana lights appeared, belonging to cultivators of various sizes and colors, all converging toward the east.
Li Qinghong hovered and observed for a moment before a cultivator in the early stages of the Qi Cultivation Realm approached. Li Qinghong stopped him with her spear raised, prompting a look of annoyance from the man. However, upon recognizing her advanced cultivation realm at the eighth heavenlyyer, he quickly softened his tone.
"What assistance may I offer, fairy?" he asked.
"If I may inquire, fellow Daoist... What is happening in the east?" Li Qinghong asked.
The cultivator, impatient yet respectful, responded swiftly, "Senior must have been in seclusion for a long while. This spectacle marks the copse of a grotto heaven, likely the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven in Yufu Prefecture that has been the recent talks. If you''re heading there, perhaps you could bring me along."
"Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven?" Li Qinghong pondered aloud.
Li Xuanxuan often ryed the news from Kong Yu to everyone in the family. When Li Qinghong learned that the disturbance originated from Yufu Prefecture, she shook her head slightly and quickly made up an excuse.
"This sounds too good to be true! The three sects and seven gates have probably imed everything... As long as the grotto heaven''s forbidden mechanisms remain intact, we are just pawns being used as scouts."
The rogue cultivator shook his head and replied, "You must be joking, Senior! How could we simply enter the grotto heaven? The spiritual energy released upon its fall scattered various essences like spiritual qi, spirit water, and spirit fire across Mount Dongli. There''s plenty to go around for those who simply wish to gather spirit materials and depart."
Li Qinghong frowned slightly but allowed him to pass. Xiao Guiluan caught up and gazed toward the east, then exined, "It must be Chu Yi, the Li Fire Spear, who opened the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven... That incident had indeed caused quite a stir. Judging by the date, this was expected."
Puzzled, Li Qinghong asked, "Where did this Li Fire Spear Dongli Sect at a young age and achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm by thirty-one and is considered a top-tier genius."
"Chu Yi was originally a rogue cultivator from Yufu Prefecture. After his legacy was exposed, he was framed by the Han Family of the local ns. Within just a few years, he achieved a breakthrough and eliminated two Foundation Establishment Realm ancestors in Jiangnan. His reputation has resonated throughout the region, earning him the nickname Li Fire Spear."
She paused briefly before adding, "Now, all of Jiangnan is aware that he has the legacy of Dongli Sect... It''s also widely rumored that he will soon enter the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven."
After absorbing this information, Li Qinghong mused internally, Such a genius! He must be a True Monarch...
As she contemted this, an elderly man with a wrinkled face and white hair ascended hastily. His expression was anxious as he called out, "Hong''er, you must not go!"
Li Qinghong flew toward him and smiled reassuringly.
"Uncle, you worry too much! Qinghong is not one to be blinded by greed," she replied.
Xiao Guiluan also approached, respectfully greeting the man.
"Father!"
Li Xuanxuan sighed softly and said, "Indeed, you are not one to act rashly, but you''ll never know if any divine ability is at y. I fear you might be led astray, just like Yu Yufeng was."
With concern on his face, he continued, "The moment I heard Chu Yi is Li Fire Spear, I was shocked. Despite all the news we''ve received, we never dared to interrupt your seclusion..."
The three then descended and seated themselves in the courtyard. Xiao Guiluan brought Li Yuexiang away as Li Xuanxuan continued speaking.
"As Guiluan mentioned, this Wander Fire Spear, Chu Yi, is likely the True Monarch awaited by the Azure Pond Sect. The Han Family''s actions are merely a repeat of what the Kong Family faced."
"Outside of the three sects, seven gates, and a few immortal ns, most other families remain in the dark, clueless about the current state of affairs..." he added after a brief pause.
Li Qinghong stared at the mana light streaking across the sky, shaking her head skeptically.
"You''re saying those are disciples from the three sects and seven gates that are heading there? Those lights seem enhanced by their escape spells... I don''t think there are so many ns practicing escape spells..."
Li Xuanxuan paused when she said this, observing intently. Realizing that Li Qinghong was right, he grew puzzled too.
"But Kong Yu didn''t look like he was lying," he said with a frown.
Chapter 447: Li Fire Spear (II)
Chapter 447: Li Fire Spear (II)
Li Qinghong reflected a moment before saying, "Kong Yu mentioned that disciples from the three sects and seven gates were barred from entering for three years... Now, those three years have psed."
Li Xuanxuan exhaled, grasping the unspoken implications, and responded, "You mean... Chu Yi is most dangerous beforepleting his foundation establishment...? Once hepletes it and opens the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven, things will stabilize...?"
Li Qinghong nodded slowly, adding softly, "I''ve considered Kong Yu''s story. I find it hard to believe that this reincarnation is merely the Golden Core True Monarch''s amusement... Just consider the Daoist Masters of Jiangnan¡ªall of them are insightful and cunning. Do you think the Golden Core True Monarch, above the Purple Mansion Realm, would truly descend to the mortal world for amusement? Isn''t such a reincarnated form inherently fragile?"
Li Xuanxuan nodded thoughtfully as Li Qinghong continued, "From a Qi Cultivator''s perspective, things may appear one way, but from the vantage of the Purple Mansion or even the Golden Core Realm, it''s entirely different..."
"Although there are Purple Mansion Realm immortals, none established sects. Why was the Kong Family destroyed overnight, allowing Daoist Master Changxi to swiftly establish the Profound Peak Gate and secure a position in Yue State?" she added.
Chills ran down Li Xuanxuan''s spine as he stammered, "Could it be Changxi... T-That''s..."
Li Qinghong replied softly, "This situation is a disgrace in the eyes of the Kong Family... How do you know if it isn''t Daoist Master Changxi''s maneuvering?!"
Li Xuanxuan broke out in a cold sweat but urged, "Carry on..."
Li Qinghong hummed in response and continued softly, "I suspect that although the meteoric rise of the Li Fire Spear is portrayed as the True Monarch''s reincarnation among the mortals, he''s actually orchestrating something beneath the surface. The Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven likely serves as the reward he promised to the three sects... Meanwhile, the seven gates are merely kept informed, privy to the knowledge but not the power."
Li Xuanxuan nodded in realization and sighed.
"As for the rogue cultivators, they only see the surface, believing it to be Chu Yi''s genius ascent... Had Kong Yu not informed me, my family would also remain oblivious..."
After piecing together their thoughts, Li Qinghong pursed her lips and added, "As for why Kong Yu confided in you, uncle... it seems he was extending an olive branch to our family. The Kong Family of Profound Peak Gate clearly harbors favorable intentions toward us."
Li Xuanxuan hesitated before whispering, "But still... Is there any way for our Li Family to profit from this?"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile at the Azure Pond Sect...
The bamboo forest on Qingsui Peak swayed gently in the breeze. Standing amidst it, Li Xizhi''s true essence radiated a faint purple-red glow, casting its hue on the bamboo shoots around him.
He practiced the Dawn Dew Gathering Technique, a Grade Four technique including six spells and three secret arts, ranging from the intricate footwork of Dawn Imperial Movement to the powerful spell Gold In Cloud, along with other escape spells and various techniques.
Although it had only been two years since Li Xizhi broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, he was already capable of beating three or four early-stage rogue Qi Cultivators single-handedly.
"So, this is the foundation of the three sects..."
Chuckling to himself, he re-read a letter from home.
"My family is prospering this year; they''ve even moved a mountain and named it Qingdu Peak. Surely, it wasn''t Father who chose the name! I wonder when I''ll be able to return to see it..."
As he mused on, a voice from the forest interrupted his thoughts.
"Senior Brother!"
Turning around, Li Xizhi saw a youngdy dressed in ck looking at him. She appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with a warm smile on her delicate face. Li Xizhi cupped his fist and greeted her.
"Junior Sister Yang..."
This was Yang Xiao''er, a match made by Yuan Tuan from the Yang Family for Li Xizhi. With Imperial Cloud Peak''s master, Yang Tianya, in seclusion, their nned meeting never materialized. In the end, she was sent over.
Her talents were modest and her looks were ordinary. She was usually quiet, but during the few times they met, she spoke warmly and adorably. As Li Xizhi often secluded himself for cultivation, they did not get to spend much time with each other.
Li Xizhi''s response was tinged with unfamiliarity, but Yang Xiao''er seemed unperturbed. She continued smiling and said, "Senior Brother often cultivates in seclusion... It''s rare for Xiao''er to see you."
Li Xizhi nodded slightly in agreement.
Yang Xiao''er stepped closer, saying, "Recently, there have been disturbances outside the sect. Have you heard about the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven?"
Li Xizhi''s eyebrows rose in surprise the moment he heard this.
"Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven? Well, I''ve heard a little about it. There''s talk of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator named Chu Yi the Li Fire Spear... Is this real?"
Yang Xiao''er nodded gently and replied, "Chu Yi must be a truly remarkable genius to be able to turn Yufu upside down as a rogue cultivator! My father warned that this man is quite unusual and should not be provoked, suggesting he must carry a special fate on him."
Li Xizhi nodded as he thought about writing home to his family about this matter.
Yang Xiao''er continued, "When the immortal gates of Wei State fled south, one of them established the Dongli Sect. The Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven is well-known, and its recent appearance has rmed the cultivators of Wu and Yue States. The three sects and seven gates have already secured the grotto heaven, poised to break through its formations and enter... Yet, Chu Yi has already essed it using secret techniques..."
As Li Xizhi sat quietly on the rock, listening to Yang Xiao''er''s stream of news when she suddenly paused and asked, "I wonder how many of us from Qingsui Peak are here?"
After a brief calction, Li Xizhi replied, "Probably just you and me."
"I see..." Yang Xiaoer said as she nodded, her expression turning resolute as she gazed directly at him.
Though not particrly striking, Yang Xiaoer had made an effort with her appearance, managing to look quite pretty. She raised her eyebrows and spoke with a hint of nervousness, "Senior brother, being from the sword immortal ns, you are handsome and talented. Xiao''er fears she isn''t a suitable match for him. Although I''ve considered it... I don''t wish to waste time."
Taken aback, Li Xizhi listened as she continued softly, "Xiao''er has been on this peak for two years... Senior Brother has never truly seen me... My talents are modest and my looks are in. If Senior Brother is interested, I will dedicate my life to supporting him. If not, I will ask my father to annul our marriage."
Li Xizhi, surprised by her frankness, stared at her in silence before responding in a serious tone, "Xizhi is not such a person. Since we have shared our wedding wine, we are bound as husband and wife for life, with no second thoughts. The past two years were solely to strengthen our cultivation..."
He smiled shyly and added, "Moreover, I feared you might think... I was too frivolous."
Yang Xiao''er had braced herself for a range of reactions, but she had not anticipated such a response. Stunned for a moment by his sincerity, she stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek.
Without hesitation, she pulled a white dharma robe with ck patterns from her storage pouch and offered it to him.
"This is the robe I requested from my n. It can protect my life in critical moments. Please ept it, Senior Brother..."
Li Xizhi''s face was tinged red and before he could recover from the surprise, a snowy white robe was presented to him.
"How could I possibly ept such avish gift... and this is a mid-quality Qi Cultivation Realm feather robe?!"
Feather armors were rare treasures. The Li Family possessed only one piece of Embryonic Breathing Realm jade armor, which was long since bestowed upon Li Qinghong as a treasured heirloom.
Now, holding such a precious dharma robe, Li Xizhi felt as if he was clutching a fortune in Spirit Stones.
This is worth two hundred Spirit Stones! No... possibly three hundred?
Yang Xiao''er gently pushed the robe into his hands and said with a smile, "This was part of my dowry from my father..."
"You..."
Li Xizhi looked into her eyes, which sparkled with joy, yet he felt a pang of mncholy.
She''s so innocent and genuinely devoted to me...
Chapter 448: Serpent Dragons Water Wisdom (I)
Chapter 448: Serpent Dragon''s Water Wisdom (I)
"Can my family benefit from this?" Li Xuanxuan asked, his heart pounding with anticipation. He was wary of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators'' schemes but also intrigued by the potential gains.
"The Dongli Sect was once a prominent immortal sect. Putting aside the treasures inside the grotto heaven, even the spirit water, spirit fire, and spiritual qi outside it are all exceedingly rare," he remarked softly.
"Could we send a few guest or external cultivators to the area around the cave topete with the rogue cultivators? If we manage to obtain one or two of the treasures, it would greatly benefit our family''s future development!"
Li Qinghong, listening to his proposal, raised an eyebrow.
"It''s difficult to say. If you really want to involve our family, whether you send guest or external cultivators, it''s essentially the same as sending our direct descendants," she replied.
She continued, "Moreover, these guest or external cultivators who acquire some spirit water or spirit fire won''t simply hand it over. They''d more likely escape with it..."
Li Xuanxuan was at a loss for words until Li Qinghong added, "Of course, we shouldn''t risk our family members'' lives. Even though Chu Yi has entered the grotto heaven, who can guarantee the rest could leave safely after harvesting the resources outside? They might be dead upon reaching Mount Dongli... The rogue cultivators don''t have much to lose; they''re simply looking for a chance. But...our family is a different story."
After a few moments of thought, Li Qinghong spoke softly, "While our family can''t afford to risk entering Mount Dongli, there are plenty who are willing to take the risk. If hawks can''t risk it, perhaps we can benefit from the sparrows."
She pulled out a map from her storage pouch and pointed to Mount Dongli.
"Mount Dongli is located on the border of Yufu, surrounded byrge prefectures to the northwest. Fleeing there would be unwise. If the rogue cultivators find the treasure and leave the mountain, they will likely head east, not northwest.
"East is the best direction to flee, toward the loosely controlled territory of the Purple Smoke Gate. Given that the Purple Smoke Gate is weak and preupied with dividing the treasure in the grotto heaven, their territory is sparsely guarded due to a shortage of manpower..."
Li Qinghong concluded confidently, "If I were a rogue cultivator with the treasure, I would definitely flee east, leave the Purple Smoke territory, and travel along the edge of Shanji Prefecture. I''d hide my identity in the Eastern Sea and establish a Dao lineage..."
Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard and fell silent for a moment before whispering, "Are you suggesting we ambush them in the territory of the Purple Smoke Gate?"
"No," Li Qinghong replied with an excited smile, "It''s better to position ourselves at the mouth of the river. The Purple Smoke Gate is too close to Mount Dongli, it''s too dangerous there. I''ll use the mirror to scout the river. With its ability to see thousands of miles away, no Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator will be able to catch me, and no Qi Cultivator will be able to defeat me."
"Right now, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators'' attention is focused on Mount Dongli. The entrance to the sea is winding and difficult under the rule of the Yue Cultivating Sect. We can wait nearby. If we''re lucky, we''ll profit. If not, it''s no great loss¡ªjust a matter of waiting for a few days."
The n seemed reasonable to Li Xuanxuan, but his advanced age and frailty had drained his courage, worn thin by past trials. He tried to speak but remained silent.
Understanding his hesitation, Li Qinghong pursed her lips and refrained from speaking further.
Uncle Xuanxuan is quite old and has faced death several times. He must be weary and likely has little desire for further risks...
Li Qinghong thought for a moment before Li Xuanxuan finally spoke.
"Jiao''er is in seclusion, and his fate is uncertain. If something were to happen, it could spell disaster for the family. Moreover, it may not be wise to use our family''s resources for such a distant venture."
"Alright, I will heed your advice," Li Qinghong replied, smiling with disappointment.
"But there''s no rush. I''ve heard that the grotto heaven hasn''t been opened yet. Many are still waiting..." she added while cupping her fist. Just as she was about to withdraw, the calm surface of the courtyard''s clear water suddenly rippled. A wind swept in, dispersing the dark clouds overhead.
Rumble!
A muffled sound resonated from the clear sky, and the sky darkened abruptly. The water in the courtyard leaped up from the ground, disappearing into the cracks and fissures.
"Brother! Big Brother has made a breakthrough!"
Li Qinghong was momentarily stunned as the cave''s stone door swung open with a gust of strong wind, stirring up a grayish-green water mist. Li Xuanxuan stood up with excitement and moved forward a few steps.
Indeed, a young man in ck emerged from the gray mist, carrying a sword on his back. He stepped forward with a beaming smile, his face radiant with joy.
"I have formed the Boundless Ocean!"
Li Yuanjiao''s voice was unusually cheerful. The emotions he had suppressed for years finally surfaced, and he felt a surge of confidence this time.
Looking at his father and younger cousin in the courtyard, he smiled and announced, "I have established the immortal foundation and am now a cultivator in the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Li Xuanxuanughed heartily. He stepped forward and said with genuine happiness, "Of course, I knew it was only a matter of time before Jiao''er established his foundation! With this new strength, there are many things we can now attempt that we previously avoided!"
Li Yuanjiao shook his head slightly, his face showing a hint of relief. Reflecting on the trials he had faced during his seclusion, a cold sweat broke out on his back. He replied, "Father, you speak lightly, but it wasn''t easy. I narrowly escaped death... If not for my good fortune and youth, I might not have survived this life-or-death ordeal."
Li Xuanxuan had seen several elders establish their foundation rtively easily and assumed that Li Yuanjiao''s sess was assured. He had not expected his son to look as though he had survived a great trial.
He responded, puzzled, "How could it be so difficult? If even you faced such challenges, how many in the family could hope to establish their foundation?"
"Not many," Li Yuanjiao replied as he continued, "Father, never underestimate the difficulty of establishing a foundation... Just look at how many from the Fei and Yu families died trying to achieve it."
Li Qinghong, who had been listening, appeared unfazed. She smiled at her brother and asked, "How does it feel, Brother? How different are you from my grandfather back then?"
Li Yuanjiao''s smile faded, and he became serious.
"That''s exactly what I''m wondering..."
With that, he slowly extended his hand. His ck robe fluttered gently in the wind as the immortal foundation within him began to resonate and the sound of a rushing waterfall filled the air.
Ssh!
The gray spring water surged from between the floor tiles and rock crevices. It spiraled around the feet of the three, wrapping around Li Yuanjiao''s robe. The water swiftly transformed into a serpent dragon that bared its fangs and ws, its scales clearly defined as it coiled beside him.
Li Yuanjiao murmured, "The immortal foundation I formed doesn''t possess the ability to condense talisman water, but I''ve acquired another ability known as Serpent Dragon''s Water Wisdom...
He continued, his expression unusual, "This ability allows me tomunicate with water beasts, befriend underwater monsters, control clouds, and rain, and activate water veins..."
Li Qinghong was momentarily stunned as a word suddenly popped into her mind. She eximed suddenly, "Jing Dragon King?!"
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Chapter 449: Serpent Dragons Water Wisdom (II)
Chapter 449: Serpent Dragon''s Water Wisdom (II)
Li Yuanjiao nodded approvingly and replied in a deep voice, "I agree. Jing Dragon King seems to fit better than Boundless Ocean. However, everyone knows that this is just another name for this immortal foundation... Jing Dragon King is the ancient name for Boundless Ocean..."
He then furrowed his brow and voiced his main concern.
"I''ve alsopared it with Grand Uncle''s description from back then. After condensing Boundless Ocean, I don''t feel the improvements he had described. The recovery speed of my true essence and the qi is only half of what my granduncle''s was..."
Li Tongya''s impressive suppression power wasn''t solely due to the Law of Celestial Moon but also his extraordinary recovery speed of his true essence.
Even the fact that he could take Huashang Fruit, the treasured panacea
without dying, was due to the profound power of Boundless Ocean...
With his different ability and effectpared to Li Tongya, Li Yuanjiao''s excitement waned. After a moment of contemtion, he sighed.
"Perhaps this is Jing Dragon King after all... It is different from the Boundless Ocean."
"Could it be due to the pill..?" Li Qinghong asked softly, and the three fell into silence.
Seeing Li Yuanjiao emerge from his seclusion, Li Qinghong felt renewed confidence in her n. She outlined the changes within the family, shared the previous n with a smile, and then asked, "What do you think, Brother?"
Li Yuanjiao nodded and responded softly, "The n is feasible, but divine abilities are mysteriously strange... How can we determine if one''s action is under the influence of one or if ites from the heart?"
Li Qinghong hesitated for a moment before answering with uncertainty.
"With the talisman seed we have... we should not be affected..."
"Not necessarily," Li Yuanjiao countered thoughtfully.
"In my opinion, the talisman seed can resist divine ability but only if it''s triggered through divine ability itself. If it''s triggered by fate, it might be unstoppable. If this weren''t the case, why did Granduncle always say that he was led by a divine ability? Why did Uncle Xuanling inexplicably wish to go to Mount Luoxia? It must be rted to fate!"
Li Yuanjiao, having broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, now saw many things with a new perspective. Mysteries that had eluded him before became clear now in his mind.
Li Qinghong frowned and asked, "If fate controls everything, how can anyone dare to act in this world?"
"I know right... If the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators truly wielded such formidable divine abilities, the Xiao Family wouldn''t have been able to exist. My family has suffered twice at their hands, making it hard not to be apprehensive."
Li Qinghong nced at both men and gritted her teeth.
"Anyone who can''t be a Purple Mansion Realm is destined to be an ant in the grand scheme of things!"
Li Xuanxuan sighed, his face growing more despondent with age. Li Yuanjiao, having just achieved Foundation Establishment Realm and freed from long-held frustrations, gently touched the sword at his waist and reassured, "Don''t let fear overwhelm you."
Li Qinghong turned to him, and Li Yuanjiao added, "Offer a sacrifice to the mirror to clear your mind. If it confirms our path, then proceed."
Li Xuanxuan, though listening, struggled with his anxiety. His hands trembled, haunted by memories of the market''s mes and devil qi.
He sighed heavily.
The catastrophe in the market had drained him physically and mentally. He had been trembling with fear for years, often dreaming of Li Tongya and Li Mutian, waking up with a racing heart from his meditation.
After watching the two juniors perform the ritual and receive guidance from the mirror, Li Xuanxuan sat down wearily and made a decision.
"Qinghong will stay behind. Jiao''er, you''ll go alone."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Dongli, located in the north of Yue State, was a rare mountain covered predominantly with maple trees. At this time of year, streams of lights interspersed with the mountain''s red foliage, creating a picturesque scene.
The mountain was sparsely popted with demonic creatures. A hundred years ago, the Azure Pond Sect surrounded it, and when the Dongli Sect was destroyed, many forbidden formations were left behind. It became a favored spot for the three sects and seven gates to train their disciples, with even peak master-level figures asionally searching for spirit items.
Prior to the grotto heaven''s fall, numerous rogue and devil cultivators had already begun roaming the area. Streams of light were periodically seen entering the mountain to explore the forbidden formations.
The sky above Mount Dongli was clear and cloudless. A figure descended from the great void, d in light golden armor and holding arge halberd, with a jade seal hanging from his waist.
The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator hovered in the air for a moment before another figure appeared. This person wore a golden robe, and though the robe was loose, it was clear that the figure was a woman. She was veiled, with white gauze obscuring her face.
The Purple Mansion Realm female cultivator called out, "Tiaoxiao."
Yuan Su turned around and nced at her calmly before saying, "Ah, Master Qiushui. Congrattions on your mastery of the divine ability and breakthrough to thete stage of the Purple Mansion Realm."
The female cultivator remained silent.
The two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators stood quietly, their gazes fixed on the grotto heaven floating in the great void.
Yuan Su spoke softly, "Senior Dongli has been hiding it for so many years, but it still came to light in the end... After all, it is Mount Luoxia. Among the visible Daoist sects, Luoxia is the only leader..."
The Purple Mansion female cultivator listened in silence and sinctly added, "The local Daoist sects."
The two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators conversed casually as the Azure Pond Sect''s Dawn Cloudliner broke through the heavy clouds and slowly descended onto Mount Dongli, casting shimmering light all around it.
Li Xizhi stood on therge vessel, watching the cultivators below. He murmured, "Another bloody storm has passed... I wonder how many cultivators have fallen to the devil gue. Given the current state of affairs, how many are left in Yue State?"
Yang Xiao''er, who was standing beside him, smiled and replied, "Brother Zhi, you may not know this, but for the three sects and seven gates, rogue cultivators are plentiful. The Eastern Sea is vast, and as long as the coast''s guardians rx even slightly, hundreds of Eastern Sea cultivators, lured by Yue State''s wealth, will rush in as rogue cultivators."
Yang Xiao''er nced at those around them and transmitted with her divine sense, "Once cultivators in Yue State obtain the treasure and leave, without suppression from the three sects and seven gates in the Eastern Sea, it''s natural for them to establish their own sects. The Eastern Sea cultivators are used to being impoverished and will be eager toe in. After all, not every ce could grow Spirit Paddies..."
Li Xizhi nodded and responded softly, "I''ve heard that Changxiao Gate was relocated here only in the past two hundred years. The seven gates can be moved or dispersed, but never the three sects."
Yang Xiao''er seemed to suddenly recall something and asked in confusion, "But... Brother Zhi''s ancestor... is Li Mutian, right? It is said he followed my ancestor to conquer Mount Yue..."
The rm in Li Xizhi''s heart red. However, he remained calm and replied nonchntly, "That''s correct."
Chapter 450: Lying In Wait (I)
Chapter 450: Lying In Wait (I)
Yang Xiao''er smiled as she stepped closer and quietly replied, "My family''s ancestor also praised him, saying he was a heroic, kind, and amiable man... It took him only thirty years to establish his foundation, and all four of his sons are remarkable talents..."
Yang Xiao''er spoke with unmistakable respect, perhaps influenced by her affection for Li Xizhi which in turn fostered her positive impression on the elders of the Li Family.
Li Xizhi, however, was surprised as he listened.
How is this possible? I-It''s... been nearly a hundred years... My great ancestor was merely a mortal! How could Yang Tianya possibly remember him...? What is the meaning of this?!
Li Xizhi had read the Internal History before and knew all the truths.
Although it was not surprising for her to say that great grandfather was talented... What did she mean by kind and amiable? It would be a betterpliment to say that he was cunning and bold! Not many in my family are kind and amiable... Yang Tianya... This Yang Tianya!
As these thoughts shed through his mind, Li Xizhi could onlyugh and say, "He was not as aplished as Old Ancestor Tianya who... after his recent breakthrough, must be nearing the peak of Foundation Establishment, with the Purple Mansion Realm soon within reach!"
"It won''t be that easy," Yang Xiao''er simply muttered, her gaze drifting toward the distant sky as she added softly, "The Lixia Immortals areing."
Li Xizhi followed her gaze and spotted arge gray boat in the air. A middle-aged man who was d in snow-white fox fur with slightly elongated eyes stood calmly at the bow against the breeze.
"Man on Mount Feather, Xiao Yongling!"
Xiao Yongling carried an unassuming aura and did not appear particrly exceptional, yet hemanded respect and admiration. After all, he had fought three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators alone in Yuyuan Market, preserving the most prosperous hub for the Xiao Family and earning himself a formidable reputation throughout Yue State.
This battle had left Xiao Yongling gravely injured, but thanks to the Xiao Family''s treasured panaceas, not only was he saved, but his strength also greatly increased.
Now standing at the bow of the boat, he offered a light nod and smile to Li Xizhi, who hurriedly returned the gesture while Yang Xiao''er cupped her fist respectfully.
She mused, Rumor has it that Man on Mount Feather and Celestial Moon Sword knew each other for a long time and were close... So it must be true then!
After a brief wait, cultivators from the three sects and seven gates arrived. As Daoist Master Yuan Su and Daoist Master Qiushui stepped out of thin air, colorful lights of their divine abilities began to rise. Above Mount Dongli, a gap soon appeared in the sky, revealing copsed pavilions and mountain peaks.
The disciples moved in an orderly procession through the gap, disappearing swiftly into the skies. From Mount Dongli, rich spiritual qi poured forth and spiritual energy surged powerfully. Streams of spiritual qi descended from the void, causing the spirit water to churn and the spirit mes to re. This disturbance roused the rogue and devil cultivators, who had been lying in wait on the mountain, into action.
An hourter, the air was filled with dust, debris, and fragments of pavilions raining down as the rogue cultivators erupted into cheers.
"The Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven has fallen into the sea!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile on Mount Qingdu...
Li Yuanjiao emerged, riding the wind as Moongaze Lake celebrated his breakthrough with rainfall. He navigated through the mist, shrouding theke in mist. He glided through it, feeling free and unrestrained.
As a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Li Yuanjiao enjoyed a noble status. Such a breakthrough would leave anyone beaming with joy, and he had not felt this proud in many years. Soaring above the Fei Family''s territory, he gazed at the bright stars, having left Yue State and arrived in Xu State.
This area, governed by the Yue Cultivating Sect, was considered very safe. Beyond ity the wild hills¡ªa far more perilous route avoided by most cultivators. Given the dangers near Mount Dongli, Li Yuanjiao preferred to take a longer detour.
The night deepened, yet he did not dim his mana light. He was secretly hoping to encounter some devil or rogue cultivators to rob, thereby replenishing his dwindling storage pouch.
In such a wilderness and armed with the mirror, Li Yuanjiao was naturally eager for such encounters.
Unfortunately, the cultivators in the mountains were mostly of the Qi Cultivation and Embryonic Breathing Realms¡ªwho were wise enough not to provoke a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. After an uneventful flight thatsted several days, Li Yuanjiao finally arrived at the territory of Profound Peak Gate.
The mountain gate of Profound Peak loomed like a giant bear hibernating in the morning sun, intimidating yet awe-inspiring. Reflecting on Daoist Master Changxi''s achievements of moving the mountain all the way from Xu State, Li Yuanjiao felt a flicker of yearning for the Purple Mansion Realm.
How many more years must my family wait before we produce someone of such caliber...?
As he prepared to ride the wind around the mountain, a female cultivator dressed in a light-yellow dharma robe soared into the sky and halted him in his flight. She cupped her fist respectfully and asked softly, "Kong Tingyun from Profound Peak greets fellow Daoist... May I ask which peak you represent?"
Her discerning eyes immediately recognized the extraordinary nature of the Qingche Sword behind Li Yuanjiao. Coupled with his Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit, he appeared rather majestic amidst the clouds and fog, leading her to assume he was a cultivator of high standing from one of the three sects and seven gates.
Li Yuanjiao returned the gesture, responding in a deep voice.
"I am Li Yuanjiao of the Li Family from Lijing... Pleased to meet you, fellow Daoist!"
"Ah, the Sword Immortal n," Kong Tingyun noted with admiration, then added softly, "What brings you to our territory? I''d be happy to assist in any way I can."
Knowing it was imprudent to reveal his true intentions, Li Yuanjiao simply stated, "I seek passage to the estuary of the Great River... I wonder if Profound Peak could facilitate this...?"
Upon hearing his request, Kong Tingyun chuckled softly. Her eyes glinted as she responded, "If Brother Jiao hase here seeking the treasures of Dongli, I''m afraid you''d be disappointed!"
"Hmm?"
Li Yuanjiao maintained hisposure though his motives were quickly discerned by this woman, and simply smiled.
"Why do you say that?" he asked.
Kong Tingyun exined, "Brother Jiao is smart enough to think of navigating the Profound Peak''s territories to reach the sea, but each family''snd here is well-fortified. Wherever rogue cultivators descended, they fall under the jurisdiction of that sect."
"Not just in Profound Peak, but also among the Sword Sect, Red Reef, and Snow Ji. All Dao lineages are united and have set up ambushes. No rogue cultivator would be able to slip through," she added.
She continued gently, emphasizing, "The Dongli Sect has left behind many valuables, including dharma relics and the Dao lineage of Daoist Master Cui Mu of Dongli. Even if they decay, they will do so within the confines of Yue State¡ªit''s absolutely impossible for them to reach the eastern sea. Two groups have alreadye seeking these treasures, and both were turned away by Profound Peak..."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanjiao chuckled self-deprecatingly and shrugged as he replied, "It seems the world is full of clever people... small schemes are indeedughable."
Observing his unruffled demeanor, Kong Tingyun''s regard for him grew. She smiled faintly and offered a word of advice.
"This matter is highly confidential. While I can''t divulge too much, Brother Jiao should know that the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven is under close watch...
"Don''t be fooled by the joy of the rogue and devil cultivators. Anything they touch, anyone they meet, and all traces they leave within three days of departing Dongli are monitored. The ordinary items will be overlooked, but nothing of the Purple Mansion Realm will be able to slip through..."
Li Yuanjiao felt a chill down his spine as he nodded slowly. Kong Tingyun, mistaking his reaction for prior knowledge, eximed, "Forgive me for unting my knowledge, I have forgotten about the close ties between the Xiao and Li families!"
Li Yuanjiao reassured her repeatedly, and Kong Tingyun, looking at his Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, hesitated briefly before saying, "Actually, there is a small matter for which I might require Brother Jiao''s assistance..."
"What is it?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
Kong Tingyun exined, "I was guarding one of the estuaries a few years ago and once encountered a Foundation Establishment Realm demonic creature in Lake Xian that is linked to the sea... Unfortunately, I wasn''t strong enough to vanquish it alone. I am the only Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator on Yunyue Peak so... could I hire Brother Jiao to assist me?"
Chapter 451: Lying In Wait (II)
Chapter 451: Lying In Wait (II)
Li Yuanjiao''s suspicions arose, and he replied tactfully, "Your sect has many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators... Why not seek their help?"
Kong Tingyun pursed her lips and answered, "There are many factions within the sect, and not all get along harmoniously... I have always stayed neutral and don''t want to be seen as favoring any particr peak..."
This exnation slightly alleviated Li Yuanjiao''s doubts. With the mirror in his possession, he felt confident in his abilities, and besides, knowing Profound Peak Gate''s good reputation, he could not help but ask, "What kind of demonic creature is it?"
Kong Tingyun looked up with bright eyes and exined, "It is a Hooked Serpent that resides at the bottom of Lake Xian. It fled there after losing a battle to the Azure Water Serpent Dragon of Wave Ind in the sea... I wish to obtain the two hooks on the snake''s tail."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, then answered with a smile, "I do have time to assist, but I must visit an old friend along the way first."
Kong Tingyun nodded slightly and said softly, "That''s fine! I await your arrival in Profound Peak."
After a brief chat, Li Yuanjiao departed on the wind. Kong Tingyun watched him disappear into the sky and paused among the clouds, musing to herself.
"What a cautious person he is..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Leaving the Shanji Prefecture of Profound Peak Gate, Li Yuanjiao found a deserted mountain in a remote area andnded there. Reluctant to use his Qingche Sword, he summoned his mana to form a cave dwelling. After setting up a simple Embryonic Breathing Realm formation around it, he settled down and began to cultivate in silence.
He had no old friends in the northern Yue State; he had only mentioned that to Kong Tingyun as a precaution¡ªto let her know that someone knew of his whereabouts, should he meet an untimely end.
Sitting in the cave, he thought to himself, Although the estuary is currently under the control of the Profound Peak Gate, that doesn''t mean I can''t intercept someone midway... Even if it''s not as busy as the estuary, catching one or two passersby would be worthwhile.
I''ll spend some time cultivating on this deserted mountain path and see if I''ll find one or two trying to escape... If it''s a devil cultivator, I''ll take them down with a palm strike, and if it''s a rogue cultivator... I''ll assess the situation further.
After waiting a day, the distant surge of spiritual qi and energy signaled the fall of a grotto heaven. Estimating the time it would take for those from Mount Dongli to reach here, Li Yuanjiao then closed his eyes and cultivated for over a day before taking out the mirror. He invoked it, activating its ability that allowed his consciousness to travel between heaven and earth.
Xianjian''s current range of vision was vast, covering an entire county''snd. It epassed not only therge area from Yufu Prefecture to Shanji Prefecture but also the border city of Yufu Prefecture and a considerable portion of Shanji Prefecture.
The range of the immortal mirror now spanned an entire prefecture, covering a vast expanse within Yufu Prefecture and Shanji Prefecture. In fact, it even provided clear views of Yufu Prefecture''s border town and half of Shanji Prefecture.
With a quick scan, Li Yuanjiao detected three mana lights and seven blood lights weaving through the chaotic wilderness mountains. Without further hesitation, he emerged from the formation and flew toward the nearest devil cultivator.
As soon as he crossed over a mountain, sure enough, he spotted two devil cultivators cautiously flying close to the ground, attempting to conceal their presence. However, they were starkly exposed under the scrutiny of the immortal mirror.
e-stage and one early-stage Qi Cultivators...
Li Yuanjiao suppressed his aura and approached stealthily, his sword in hand. When he was within the range of the cultivators'' spiritual senses, he suddenly leaped up and executed the River Crossing Torrential Step,unching an attack.
The devil cultivator barely managed to exim "Who?!" before Li Yuanjiao was upon him. He was a middle-aged man wielding a skeletal dharma artifact.
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator?!" he eximed in shock.
The greenish-gray serpent dragon coiling around Li Yuanjiao''s body surged forward, striking the face of the early-stage female Qi Cultivator fiercely. His Qingche Sword unleashed a greenish-white sword aura that left the man dazed.
ng!
The Law of Celestial Moon was a lethal movebined with the ambush. The man could not even manage to cast a spell or reach for another dharma artifact in his storage pouch in time. Within moments, his head was sent flying and his body exploded.
Li Yuanjiao collected the man''s storage pouch in the shower of blood before stepping forward to crush the severed head aside and casually cast a fire spell, reducing the man to ashes without giving him a chance to defend himself.
Turning around, he saw that the dragon serpent had devoured half of the female devil cultivator''s body. Her face was pale¡ªclearly lifeless. Li Yuanjiao frowned, activating his immortal foundation to make the serpent dragon spit her out. After collecting the storage pouch from her body as well, he destroyed the corpse with a spell.
These two bear a resemnce... they must be father and daughter.
The devil cultivator''s severed skeletal dharma artifact that had been destroyed by his sword aura continued spewing resentment and blood qi. Li Yuanjiao swiftly picked it up and flew to the next blood light.
Arriving at the destination, he found it eerily empty, despite the mirror''s earlier detection of a devil cultivator. He happily spected, "A dharma artifact that can conceal presence...?"
As soon as Li Yuanjiao voiced this thought, the cunning devil cultivator soared upward, hurling a jade bottle with intricate patterns at the distant ground. From his other sleeve, he flung a blood-colored talisman.
Li Yuanjiao sneered as the serpent dragon coiled around his body and sprang into action, swiftly capturing the jade bottle lying on the ground. With a swift wave of his sleeve, he obliterated the blood-colored talisman in front of him and went in pursuit of the fleeing devil cultivator.
The devil cultivator produced another jade bottle in desperation and eximed, "Senior! This is the Profound Yang Li Fire!"
He smacked the bottle, sending it flying to the ground while simultaneously tossing his storage pouch aside. Without wasting another moment that would allow Li Yuanjiao to unsheathe his sword, he quickly sped his hands together and performed a hand seal to cast a spell.
Profound Yang Li Fire!
Li Yuanjiao caught the jade bottle with one hand and drew his sword with the other. However, the devil cultivator had already unleashed his secret technique, transforming his entire body and facial features into blood. Surging blood mes enveloped his ghostly pale head as it flew away at a speed surpassing that of typical Qi Cultivators.
ng!
Green and white sword arc from Li Yuanjiao''s Celestial Moon sh technique whistled through the air, blowing the man''s head up. The blood mes had fizzled into ck smoke before pieces of the poor man''s head could even touch the ground.
How ruthless... You could have escaped if your opponent were any other early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator!
Li Yuanjiao marveled at his own decisive actions, grateful for the supremacy of his sword which had narrowly prevented the cultivator''s escape.
"Drat!"
While he was engaging with the man, the remaining devil and rogue cultivators had long fled. None of them were visible through the immortal mirror. Li Yuanjiaonded to collect the discarded storage pouch, stashing it swiftly into his chest pocket.
Without further dy, he soared on the winds, tracing the predicted route of the fleeing cultivators. Soon enough, he spotted a rogue cultivator flying cautiously on the wind.
"Excellent!"
Pleased, fog swirled on his face, concealing Li Yuanjiao''s face as he descended in front of the man and bluntly made his demands.
"Storage pouch."
The rogue cultivator jumped like a frightened bird. After scanning with his spiritual sense, his legs buckled as hended, hastily untying the storage pouch from his waist with a pitiful plea.
"Senior, s-spare me! Everything I have is here!"
Noting the kneeling rogue cultivator''s shaky voice but stable hand on the ground, Li Yuanjiao chuckled. He took the pouch,ughing hoarsely as he mocked, "No mediocre cultivator could escape from Mount Dongli. Drop the act... You''re just afraid I''ll kill you."
The rogue cultivator''s heart pounded as he repeatedly pressed his forehead to the ground. Li Yuanjiao peered into the pouch, finding only a Yang Nourishing Technique¡ªa cultivation method from Dongli Sect, a portion of Fire Baleful Qi, and nothing else useful save for a bunch of insignificant items owned by the rogue cultivator.
Chapter 452: Respective Benefits (I)
Chapter 452: Respective Benefits (I)
Li Yuanjiao carefully stowed away the two items before tossing the storage pouch back to the rogue cultivator, who was still bowing while kneeling before him. Observing the man, Li Yuanjiao discerned that despite his ragged appearance, the man practiced a proper Qi cultivation method. His hands were unusually soft and fair, showing that he was likely versed in the arts of immortal cultivation.
This aroused Li Yuanjiao''s suspicion.
"Are you a rogue cultivator?" he asked.
Recognizing that Li Yuanjiao was no easy target to deceive, the rogue cultivator secretly thought to himself, This man is cautious and didn''t kill me outright... Surely, he isn''t a devil cultivator! Perhaps he belongs to one of the three sects or seven gates, or a prestigious immortal n... These people are knowledgeable; deceit would surely backfire...
Adjusting his strategy, the rogue cultivator lifted his head, shedding any previous semnce of cowardice, and exined in a respectful manner, "I was once a cultivator from Wu State. My sect was destroyed by devil cultivators, forcing me to seek refuge in Yue State..."
Li Yuanjiao, impressed by hisposed tone and demeanor, contemted recruiting him, thinking to himself, If I treat him with kindness, perhaps I could acquire the secret techniques of Wu State and an ally for my family...
However, Li Yuanjiao was inherently distrustful. Sensing the man''s true essence for a brief moment, he felt an unnerving familiarity. A chilling thought shed through his mind suddenly, causing him to mutter in shock, "ughter Jun Gate?!"
Startled at being recognized so quickly, the rogue cultivator immediately pressed his forehead to the ground again. Realizing that he could no longer conceal his identity, he replied solemnly, "Yes... May I inquire who Senior is...?"
Li Yuanjiao recalled the old monkey and the ughter Jun Kui Light technique he had acquired years ago.
He mused to himself, Such a coincidence! How could we dare to involve ourselves with them right now? The ughter Jun Gate was devastated during the devil gue... Who knows they might be scheming?!
Besides, this man is no ordinary character; he might be a serpent dragon with a significant fate!
Deciding against taking advantage of the situation, Li Yuanjiao dropped the damaged dharma artifact from the devil cultivator onto the ground and emptied his storage pouch.
Several bottles of the devil cultivator''s blood pills, over a dozen Spirit Stones, and a couple of low-quality dharma artifacts, along with the Fire Baleful Qi and Yang Nourishing Technique manual came tumbling out.
After a brief inspection of the manual, he hastily repacked them and said, "I have received favors from ughter Jun Gate... Consider these items as repayment. Take them and sell them after you leave!"
For the first time in their conversation, the rogue cultivator''sposure wavered, now stricken with genuine shock. After a stunned silence, he hurriedly asked, "Senior, may I ask for your name?"
Already riding on the wind, Li Yuanjiao simply replied, "This is not the time to talk, leave quickly!"
The rogue cultivator''s eyes reddened slightly, managing only to call out, "Tu Longjian will never forget the kindness you have shown him today! I shall repay you generously in the future!"
Eager to avoid trouble, Li Yuanjiao swiftly departed. Once hended safely back in his cave dwelling, he breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders.
He mused quietly, "I don''t really care about the repayment, I just hope he won''t bring danger to our family... Given that demon cultivators have the backing of an immortal sect, there must be more to the ughter Jun Gate incident than meets the eye, just like the mystery surrounding the Xiao Family... My family has received the two legacies with fear. Only those who have lost their minds would involve themselves with those from ughter Jun Gate..."
Li Yuanjiao had briefly examined the Yang Nourishing Technique in Tu Longjian''s possession. It appeared to be a method for converting one type of spirit fire into another, but it required numerous spirit items and extensive knowledge. However, the manual was thick with a lot of content. Cautious of potential traps, he dared not delve too deeply into it.
After thinking for a moment, he decided that it should be safe to examine the storage pouches, so he took out the three of them excitedly.
The storage pouches from the father and daughter were ordinary, but the final pouch from the daring demon cultivator seemed of superior quality. Li Yuanjiao looked at it for a bit and grew suspicious again as he mumbled, "I''ll have someone open this back at home rather than risking it myself..."
He had handed over the dharma artifacts from the father and daughter to Tu Longjian, so there was little left in his possession¡ªonly two jade bottles.
One was left by the fleeing demon cultivator. It was slender, about two fingers wide, and adorned with silver patterns. Although small, it looked exquisite. Li Yuanjiao channeled his true essence into it, watching as colorful brilliance danced across its surface before it released a white mist.
The mist continued to rise, gradually creating a faint veil of concealment around him. Under its cover, his body seemed to vanish, leaving the cave dwelling suddenly empty.
The mist, perhaps attuned to the Jing Dragon King immortal foundation, seemed to resonate intimately with him, swirling around him protectively. It was only then that realization dawned upon Li Yuanjiao.
This must be the dharma artifact that the demon cultivator used to conceal himself! I wonder where he got it from... The patterns on the bottle are definitely unusual. They''re nothing like what I''ve seen before.
He inverted the bottle and immediately heard the sound of rain before a stream of crystal-clear spring water poured out like flowing silk, weaving through the air like a snake.
Li Yuanjiao peered closer, intrigued.
Engraved at the bottom of the bottle were the words¡ªLi Qianyuan from the Li Family of the Wei State.
"Wei State... So the Li Family still existed in the ancient Wei State..."
No wonder I couldn''t detect that demon cultivator; this artifact is a Foundational Establishment Realm dharma artifact... He was decisive, cautious and even had such a prized item in his possession.
The Profound Patterned Bottle not only concealed one''s figure but also served as a protective dharma artifact when inverted. The mist within could ward off spells and enhance wind control, making it a truly versatile artifact.
"Excellent! I''ll name it the Profound Patterned Bottle."
Acquiring this artifact made Li Yuanjiao''s journey worthwhile. The Azure Manifestation, a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, was a generous gift from Yuan Tuan when she visited the Li Family. Although such artifacts were easily obtainable for peak masters of the three sects and seven gates, they were treasures to n cultivators.
Another jade bottle contained a spirit fire known as the Profound Yang Li Fire. Li Yuanjiao was unfamiliar with this bright golden-red me, but he could feel its intense heat painfully searing his spiritual senses.
Gazing toward the sky, he left the cave dwelling on a gust of wind, activating the Profound Patterned Bottle, and flew amidst the mist toward the Profound Peak Gate.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile in the Li Family...
Although Li Yuanjiao had been away for some time, news of his breakthrough had spread across the six mountains. The cultivators at home rejoiced, and a few guest cultivators breathed sighs of relief and could finally rest easy.
Li Tongya had been absent for over a decade, raising suspicions among the guest and external cultivators. However, given his formidable reputation, none dared to inquire further.
After all, he was Li Qiuyang and Chen Donghe''s mentor, and could subdue even An Zheyan. His prating gaze, having once swept over everyone, still lingered vividly in their memories even after more than ten years.
Li Yuanjiao''s breakthrough further solidified everyone''s confidence. Several families sent congrattory gifts, masking any jealousy with outward expressions of congrattions.
In the old central hall, Li Yuanping calcted the family''s finances meticulously, asionally writing something on his desk. Li Qinghong stood at his side with her spear. Having consumed a talisman pill, she now radiated the aura of a Qi Cultivator at the ninth heavenlyyer.
Li Yuanping reviewed the ledger, carefully exining the details to Li Qinghong, who was listening attentively.
"With this new system, our family''s surplus this year has decreased by seventeen or eighteen Spirit Stones," he reported.
The Li Family''s most productive territory was Mount Yue''s Wutu Mansion. With seventy Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators working tirelessly, it generated twenty Spirit Stones annually. After ounting for seven to eight hundred jin of Spirit Paddies as sries, a surplus of fourteen Spirit Stones remained.
Next was Huazhong Mansion, which earned sixteen Spirit Stones and after paying out six to seven hundred jin of Spirit Paddies as sries, and a surplus of about ten remained.
The remaining Lijing, Huaqian, and Yuting were less fertile, each yielding only seven or eight Spirit Stones. With fewer workers, these mountains managed a surplus of two to three Spirit Stones each, totaling eight altogether.
Chapter 453: Respective Benefits (II)
Chapter 453: Respective Benefits (II)
"The annual profit was a mere thirty-two Spirit Stones, totaling only one hundred and sixty over five years," Li Yuanping continued thoughtfully.
Fortunately, with the Peak Guardians appointed, they could be sent to the remote areas of Mount Dali to gather qi. With monthly rotations, this yields an additional seven Spirit Stones annually.
"With the inclusion of the gathered qi, the totales to one hundred and ny-five Spirit Stones, just about ten to twenty away from the required tribute amount," he added with a satisfied nod.
The gap of only three or four Spirit Stones annually was manageable. Since most talismans crafted by his father, Li Xuanxuan, were distributed as rewards, covering the deficit was rtively straightforward.
"Conversely, with the new system implemented, our control over our own territory has more than doubled. The number of personnel at our disposal has increased tenfold, significantly enhancing our influence over the neighboring families and those on the eastern shore..." he continued.
These developments¡ªdistributing benefits, stabilizing the cultivator groups under theirmand, and securing the popce''s loyalty¡ªwere all within Li Yuanping''s expectations. Just as he was pondering how to further capitalize on these changes, someone approached him.
"Seventh Uncle, Ximing is getting ready to break through to the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm," Li Xijun reported, bowing slightly.
Li Yuanping nodded silently, offering a smile but then gently asked, "Have you considered taking a wife, Jun''er?"
At the age of twenty-one, Li Xijun''s early advancements in Qi Cultivation Realm made him appear youthful. However, he was still at the first heavenlyyer, highlighting the growing gap in talent with his brother, Li Ximing, who was advancing even faster.
Li Xijun asionally brought joyous news to Li Yuanping, hoping to bridge the gap between the father and son. However, Li Yuanping seemed uninterested and instead posed a personal question to him.
"I''ve met the daughter from An Family...but I don''t think it''ll work out," Li Xijun replied truthfully.
Li Yuanping sighed, but did not ask if it was the girl or just that his nephew was not interested in the rtionship. He simply murmured, "You''ll have to decide for yourself... I hope you''ll at least leave an heir.
Li Xijun shook his head gently.
"Big Brother has many heirs, and the second lineage already has sessors. Xijun will leave it all to fate. Retaining Yang Essence and practicing certain secret techniques could also prove advantageous."[1]
After chatting briefly, Li Yuanping watched his nephew depart on the wind back to Mount Qingdu to focus on either his cultivation or swordsmanship.
He could not help but remark, "This child excels in many areas... He''s sharp, diligent, and always dedicated to his swordsmanship day and night. However, he''s emotionally reserved and harbors an inherent pride that makes it difficult for others to rte to him..."
Li Qinghong, standing nearby, pursed her lips.
"It''s partly my fault. When Jun''er was young, his father, Brother Yun, faced hardships. As a result, he was exposed to many two-faced people. This inevitably shaped his reserved and cautious nature..."
"With his remarkable appearance, innate talent, and early experiences that taught him to see through people, ites as no surprise that he''s prideful. Considering everything, I think he''s fine... he could have turned out to be way worse."
As Li Qinghong concluded, Li Yuanping stared into her almond-shaped eyes and suddenly chuckled.
"Jun''er truly takes after you. You''re really his aunt," he remarked.
Li Qinghong was taken aback, but as she saw Li Yuanping''s pale face breaking into a strained smile, he hoarsely added, "Someone in the family has also chosen to remain unmarried for life, even sacrificing her lifespan to pursue the dao. She has a remarkable appearance, innate talent, wits, and pride too... Yes, I''m talking about you, Li Qinghong!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Meanwhile, at Mount Dongli...
The Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven was approximately the size of a prefecture. This once-majestic realm, filled with immortal mountains and sprawling structures and pavilions, nowy in ruins. Vibrant spirit fires were spreading in every direction amidst billowing ck smoke.
Yuan Tuan, apanied by Li Xizhi and Yang Xiao''er,nded on a modest hill. The peak assigned to Yuan Tuan was notably smaller and less impressive due to Qingsui Peak''s declining power. It appeared that little of value could be found in this unassuming location.
Li Xizhi stepped into a small courtyard on the mountain. Yuan Tuan remained mounted on a deer as she instructed gently, "Go and search. Bring back Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Realm items to the peak. Items of the Purple Mansion Realm should be submitted to the main peak. Ensure pill recipes, cultivation and secret manuals are archived within the sect. Do not disseminate them widely, and avoid trying anything funny. Remember, the grand formations are watching us."
Yuan Tuan,cking strong backing within the n, knew better than to aim for the central peaks, where the most valuable treasures were likely kept. Instead, she chose not to vie for ess, avoiding unnecessary conflicts.
The courtyard was littered with broken bookshelves and various spirit items scattered on the ground, shimmering with spiritual energy. Yuan Tuan scanned the ce with her spiritual sense, then reached out to pick up a shimmery fragment from the ground.
With a tone of regret, she remarked, "A fine Crying Blood Stone... What a pity... Chu Yi''s greed has devastated the grotto heaven, destroying at least thirty percent of the spirit treasures within..."
Inside the courtyard, Li Xizhi sifted through the debris of copsed medicine cabs and found several stacks of prescriptions. Upon closer inspection, one was prominentlybeled¡ªThree Aspects Breaking Realm Pill, written by Cui Niexiang.
Dongli Sect preferred to use durable spirit cloth for their records to minimize damage. Li Xizhi swiftly scanned the information with his spiritual sense. Continuing his search, he found yet another prescription¡ªTwo Ways of Refining Renewal Spirit Pill, written by Cui Er.
It contained two methods of refining this spirit pill, one for the Qi Cultivation and the other for the Foundation Establishment Realm. This delighted Li Xizhi as he thought to himself, Ming''er is a skillful alchemist. This recipe will surely benefit our family!
Meanwhile, Yang Xiao''er approached, holding a stack of documents, looking as though realization had just dawned upon her.
"Brother! The Cui family of the Dongli Sect indeed originated from the north, and their heritage is deeply tied to the ancient Wei Kingdom. It''s no wonder they use Yang and Li Fire as their emblems..."
Li Xizhi immediately recalled the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual back home, authored by Cui Mu of the ancient Wei State. A surge of hope filled his heart as he wondered, Could this grotto heaven hold the key to my family''s destiny? If I can find the Purple Mansion Realm part of the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual here, it could revitalize Brother Ming''s Dao!
His heart raced with the possibility, but anxiety soon crept in. The three sects and seven gates had long divided this grotto heaven among themselves. How could he possibly find an opportunity there? He''d probably be killed by disciples of the same sect as soon as he left this peak...
Despite his concerns, he mused aloud, "I wonder if there are any Grade Five or Grade Six cultivation techniques hidden in this grotto heaven... Securing one would certainly be a remarkable feat."
Yuan Tuan, overhearing him, shook her head slightly and murmured softly, "Don''t get your hopes up. Aside from Chu Yi, the Li Fire Spear, no one else can unlock the Dongli Dao Collection."
After their brief exchange, they swiftly plundered the main courtyard atop the mountain before descending to continue their scavenging, as instructed by Master Yuan Tuan.
As Li Xizhi and Yang Xiao''er made their way down, Yuan Tuan''s brow furrowed in contemtion.
Yang Tianya imed that Li Mutian truly existed... Could it be that there was really a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator named Li Mutian in Yang Tianya''s forces? How did he meet an untimely end though? The n seems oblivious to this, and their records mention only three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in their family...
What was Daoist Master Yuan Su thinking when he chose Ning Hemian as Li Xuanfeng''s wife... Whose pawn is the Li Family..?
The deeper Yuan Tuan delved into these thoughts, the more bewildering the situation seemed. Meanwhile, down the mountain, Yang Xiao''er called out to Li Xizhi warmly and excitedly, drawing Yuan Tuan''s gaze downward.
Watching Li Xizhi and Yang Xiao''er, she reminisced about her senior brother who had long left the sect and was never to return, leaving her behind. Her eyes reddened slightly at Yang Xiao''er''s affection for Li Xizhi.
Regardless of the turmoil outside, my immediate priority is to protect the young ones at our peak.
1. Big brother here refers to Li Xicheng, and Yang Essence here refers to virginity. ?
Chapter 454: The Hooked Serpent (I)
Chapter 454: The Hooked Serpent (I)
Within the world of the mirror...
While Li Yuanjiao journeyed through the deste mountain temples to Shanji Prefecture, Lu Jiangxian had read 131 manuals on Embryonic Breathing Realm techniques, 36 on Qi Cultivation Realm, and two on Foundation Establishment Realm.
All these manuals were piled on the desk in front of Lu Jiangxian, forming a small mountain before him.
Two more Foundation Establishment Realm techniques: Yi Wood Talisman Technique and Mountain Mist and Sea Technique, corresponding to the Dao foundations of Yi Wood Wholeness and Mist Yin Reversion...
The scrolls before Lu Jiangxian had already formed a small hill. He was carefully reading the Yang Nourishing Technique from Tu Longjian, which was the longest secret technique he hade across, truly broadening his horizons.
This is the first time I''ve encountered someone naturally endowed with fate...
Li Yuanjiao had spared Tu Longjian,rgely because Lu Jiangxian had not intervened, allowing Li Yuanjiao to be swayed by his thoughts and let the man go.
Under the illumination of the mirror, Tu Longjian''s aura was a bright crimson, his presence incredibly formidable. Though Li Yuanjiao could not see it, Lu Jiangxian observed it clearly.
If Tu Longjian had died at Li Yuanjiao''s hands, thus disrupting the flow of fate and the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator traced it backward, it could have caused significant problems...
Lu Jiangxian had his fair share of encounters with many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. He knew they could not foresee every change in the world, nor could they monitor everyone constantly. However, having mastered the Life Divine Ability and formed alliances, they had a general sense of the forting situation.
Li Yuanjiao was not supposed to discover this person. It was only because fate was no match for the immortal mirror that he did. If he had killed Tu Longjian and taken the Yang Nourishing Technique, it could have potentially ruined important ns of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
Though the alliance between the Xiao and Li families might lead the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators to suspect Xiao Chuting, Xiao Chuting would naturally suspect the Li Family. However, Xiao Chuting was already walking on thin ice. Lu Jiangxian feared that the old man would not be able to withstand the pressure, and he also feared that some in the Purple Mansion Realm might directly suspect the Li Family.
But what exactly is this fate thing... it''s vastly different from divine abilities, affecting others without leaving a trace!
Lu Jiangxian had watched as the crimson fate behind Tu Longjian swirled, transforming Li Yuanjiao''s intent from one of murder to one of recruitment. Even Li Yuanjiao''s own aura waster also tinged with crimson, but due to his growing suspicion, he forcibly changed what could have led to his family''s ruin into a situation where they merely suffered financial loss to avoid greater disaster.
There''s a hint of Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit here, almost like... two fatespromising with each other... But if Li Yuanjiao also has fate on him, why have I never seen it?
Is fate manipting people, or are people manipting fate..?
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao flew leisurely on a cloud, the mist swirling around him as he traveled. He had recently acquired a new treasure, and he was so enamored with it that he could not bear to part with it. While he was carefully exploring its wonders, he had flown into the territory of the Profound Peak Gate without realizing it.
His mood was light and carefree, and he felt an inexplicable sense of relief, as if he had narrowly escaped disaster. This only strengthened his belief that Tu Longjian was indeed endowed with fate. He halted before the gate''s formation and put away his artifact.
A few momentster, Kong Tingyun came out to greet him. She had changed into a set of pale yellow feathered robes, appearing much more formal than when they hadst met. She smiled and greeted, "Brother Jiao has arrived! Tingyun has been waiting for quite some time."
Li Yuanjiao returned the gesture with a cupped fist, and Kong Tingyun said, "Fellow Daoist,e with me to Lake Xian; we can talk on the way."
The two of them ascended into the air, and Li Yuanjiao was the first to ask, "How did your faction fare at the sea entrance?"
Kong Tingyun smiled, her eyes curving as she replied, "We had a bountiful harvest for once. In such a major event as the division of the grotto heaven, even the crumbs that fall from Azure Pond''s fingers are enough to satisfy us!"
Seeing no unusual expression on her face, Li Yuanjiao nodded, looking ahead at the vast, darkke that reflected spots of golden light under the zing sun. Kong Tingyun continued, "I fought with the Hooked Serpent once; it was difficult to deal with. It feared the immortal sect backing me, so it did not dare to go all out and quickly fled a hundred li away to settle in a new location... I was afraid of scaring it away, so I did not pursue it further."
"We should search separately. The Hooked Serpent has a family and is not hard to find. It will only take half a day of searching, but we must be cautious not to rm this creature," she suggested.
Li Yuanjiao responded, "That won''t be necessary."
He shook his head and descended onto the surface of theke. Instantly, the water began to surge, and the faint movements of a serpent dragon could be seen beneath the waves, asionally revealing half of its ck scaly ws.
Before long, a dark blue crayfish jumped out of the water, curled up in fear, trembling as it was held aloft by the waves. Li Yuanjiao asked in a low voice, "Where is the Hooked Serpent?"
After listening closely, Li Yuanjiao tossed the crayfish back into Lake Xian and said with a smile, "Seventy-two li to the east, there''s a deste mountain in the middle of theke... The Hooked Serpent is in seclusion there."
"I almost forgot about the abilities of your Boundless Ocean!" Kong Tingyun praised in awe.
The two of them ascended into the air again, and Li Yuanjiao asked, "You mentioned earlier that the Hooked Serpent was driven away by the Azure Water Serpent Dragon... What kind of creature is this Azure Water Serpent Dragon?"
Kong Tingyun replied, "I inquired about it at Crimson Reef Ind overseas. The Azure Water Serpent Dragon is not particrly strong, but it was sent by a certain serpent dragon pce under the sea. It has a profound background and drove the Hooked Serpent away..."
Li Yuanjiao, still thinking about the nature of Foundation Establishment Realm creatures in the sea, asked in confusion, "Are there many creatures in the sea like this Hooked Serpent with no significant background?"
Kong Tingyun nodded and answered, "There are countless demonic creatures in the sea, and the Eastern Sea is full of demon dens... Not to mention the Eastern Sea, even Lake Xian has quite a few. The Hooked Serpent is simply the weakest among them."
As they conversed, the deste mountain soon came into view in the distance. Kong Tingyun performed a hand seal, clouds and mist began to rise beneath their feet.
Li Yuanjiao whispered, "I have an aura restraining artifact."
Kong Tingyun''s eyes lit up as she nodded in understanding and replied, "I will go first, and Brother Jiao can follow."
Li Yuanjiao watched as she rode the wind into the water, then activated the Profound Patterned Bottle to scan the surroundings. After ensuring there were no hidden people or creatures lying in ambush, he too descended into theke.
The waters were already churning, with various fish and shrimp scattering in all directions in a desperate bid to escape.
Li Yuanjiao caught sight of the emerald-green formation te before him and could not help but feel a twinge of envy as he thought to himself, As expected of the three sects and seven gates; even the formation tes they use are of the Foundation Establishment Realm...
He slowly approached with the formation trembling incessantly.
This woman is unlikely to collude with the demonic creature to kill me... With the mirror in hand, I''m not afraid.
And thus, he used the Profound Patterned Bottle to release a mist, concealing himself as he infiltrated the formation. There, he saw a massive, dirty serpent body, about two zhang thick and asrge as a water tank with scales gleaming brightly, each as big as a palm.
The Hooked Serpent''s voice trembled as itmented, "I have cultivated for many years and was fortunate to consume several spirit beasts to achieve my current Dao foundation. I came to Lake Xian only to feed on spirit creatures and had no intention of offending anyone... Could you consider the difficulty of my cultivation and spare my life, mydy? I will leave immediately and never return to Lake Xian!"
Kong Tingyun, knowing that Li Yuanjiao had entered the formation, remained silent and maintained her efforts. Li Yuanjiao quietly advanced. Seeing that it could not persuade her, the Hooked Serpent growled harshly, "How arrogant you are, little girl! Do you think you can kill me with this formation? I might as well eat you and then flee to the depths of the Eastern Sea! Can Changxi really chase me down from thousands of li away to seek revenge?"
As the serpent spoke, Li Yuanjiao moved to within a zhang of the massive snake. Any closer and he might rm the creature, so he gripped his sword and prepared to strike, waiting for the serpent to raise its head high before unleashing a sword arc.
Chapter 455: The Hooked Serpent (II)
Chapter 455: The Hooked Serpent (II)
Roar!
A sh of sword light flickered underwater, suddenly creating a burst of blood as it left a massive wound at the serpent''s vulnerable point.
Kong Tingyun was momentarily stunned, then sighed and she marveled to herself, "What a brilliant sword technique..."
The ck serpent dragon coiled upward, entangling itself with the Hooked Serpent. The serpent no longer had time to hate its opponent''s treachery as Kong Tingyun''s spells and Li Yuanjiao''s sword qi continued to rain down on it, battering it repeatedly.
The Hooked Serpent, unsure of what immortal foundation the attack stemmed from, spat out two green beams of light. The two venomous hooks on its forked tail also sprang up right away.
Kong Tingyunughed lightly and chirped, "I have been waiting for this!"
From her sleeve flew a small pale-gold pearl which wobbled as it flew over, releasing waves of golden light that pinned the serpent''s tail in ce. The two green beams were also blocked by her shield-shaped dharma artifact.
Kong Tingyun then said, "I will leave the rest to you, Brother Jiao!"
Using her artifact to immobilize the serpent''s most threatening twin tails and fend off the creature, Kong Tingyun gave Li Yuanjiao the opportunity to move in closer with his sword.
The serpent was in dire straits, and as ast resort, it opened its mouth and spat out a pearl.
The pearl whirled around, emitting a stream of cold, white mist that froze the surrounding area, causing shards of ice to form. However, Li Yuanjiao''s expression turned slightly strange.
He subtly curled his finger, activating his Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit, and instantly absorbed a small portion of the cold qi into his hand. He burst outughing as he said, "What a fine serpent pearl! Too bad you do not understand techniques and can only use cold qi to defend yourself... It is quite amusing!"
With both hands cupped together, the cold qi continuously flowed into his hands, causing the white pearl to lose its rotation and gravitate toward him. A storm of white qi surged into his hands, leaving a narrow ice pir in the water.
Disciples of immortal sects indeed possess many immortal techniques...
The Hooked Serpent, now in utter despair, had lost its serpent pearl.
Kong Tingyun threw out a golden mountain which pressed down on the serpent, further weakening it.
The serpent, now near death, cried out desperately, "There is only one portion of Nascent Origin True Water in the mountain''s depths... How do you two n to divide it?"
Hearing this, Kong Tingyun''s expression changed dramatically, a slight hint of anger crossing her face. She performed a hand seal, causing the golden mountain to shine even brighter, crushing the serpent further until it coughed up blood.
The female cultivator scolded, "Stop spouting nonsense!"
Li Yuanjiao, noticing her reaction, immediately understood the situation. He took a few steps forward and seized the serpent pearl in his hand, then severed its connection with the creature and stored it in his storage pouch. He then said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist, dispel the formation quickly."
As soon as these words left his lips, he was already standing in front of Kong Tingyun with one hand on his sword, his face full of vignce. Kong Tingyun pursed her lips and dispelled the formation while Li Yuanjiao, without hesitation, grabbed the formation te in his hand, finally letting out a small sigh of relief.
I fear she might let greed cloud her judgment and try to trap and kill me here. Although she certainly wouldn''t stand a chance against me, offending Profound Peak Gate would be a major issue.
Li Yuanjiao quicklynded in front of the mountain and sealed the Hooked Serpent''s Dao foundation. Only then did he turn back, speaking in a deep voice, "Care to exin, fellow Daoist?"
Kong Tingyun put away her pearl and golden mountain artifacts, saying apologetically, "I did indeed deceive you... Although the hooks on the serpent''s tail are also something I need, the real goal was this Nascent Origin True Water."
She exined softly, "Profound Peak Gate has a secret method. Years ago, I noticed changes in the water veins and realized that a spirit water would soon be born here. Fearing it would be taken by someone else, I secretly concealed the water veins, intending to retrieve itter. This ce waster unexpectedly upied by the Hooked Serpent. I just wanted to find someone to help remove this demonic creature so I could obtain the spirit water..."
Li Yuanjiao, being well-versed in deception himself, did not feel particrly angry. After all, everyone relied on their own abilities. He nodded and said, "So, in truth, you never fought the Hooked Serpent. You already knew it was here, and all those previous actions were just to disguise this deste mountain... And as for not seeking help from your fellow disciples, I assume it is because you were afraid they would see through your method of concealing the water veins?"
Kong Tingyun smiled and nodded, replying, "Exactly. Who would have thought that this demon serpent would also discover the spirit water? My efforts were in vain..."
The two exchanged nces, and Kong Tingyun spoke in a serious tone, "The Tail Hooks and the Nascent Origin True Water are both things I must obtain! I hope you can part with them, fellow Daoist..."
Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes slightly, lifting the weakened Hooked Serpent from theke as he replied, "I want the Hooked Serpent and the serpent pearl, and I will need another portion of spirit water topensate for my efforts."
Kong Tingyun shook her head and said, "You ask for too much, fellow Daoist. I do not have any other spirit water... Please, consider another reward..."
Li Yuanjiao pondered for a moment and then responded, "Does your gate have anyone who can cultivate a fire vein? I ask that you help my Li Family cultivate one."
Kong Tingyun smiled slightly and said, "We do have such people! My senior brother has already gone out, and when he returns in some time, he can visit your n to cultivate a fire vein. But... Why are you so confident that I will not go back on my word?"
With this, Kong Tingyun''s tone became slightly cunning as she blinked herrge eyes and smiled at him.
Li Yuanjiao shook his head, pulled out a green formation te from his storage pouch, and calmly said, "Your Foundation Establishment Realm formation te is still in my hands, and I am sure it is worth much more than a fire vein."
Kong Tingyun was taken aback. She had not expected that he had already thought several steps ahead when he made his first move. She bit her lip as she red at him, but then could not help butugh, saying, "Li Yuanjiao, you are indeed the most cunning person I have ever met!"
Li Yuanjiao retrieved the formation te, already calcting in his mind how he could maximize the benefits by borrowing this formation for a while. He responded, "You tter me. Under Azure Pond''s governance, those who are not cunning or ruthless are long dead."
Kong Tingyun smiled faintly, forming a hand seal as she silently searched for the spirit water. Li Yuanjiao took the opportunity to ask, "What kind of treasure is this Nascent Origin True Water?"
Kong Tingyun seemed to be in a good mood, humming a tune as she replied with a smile, "Brother Yuanjiao, this Nascent Origin True Water is a top-grade spirit water. You are cunning and decisive; I am actually afraid that if I tell you its use and value, you might turn around and rob me of it... With the formation still in your hands, this little girl is really quite scared."
Li Yuanjiao was momentarily taken aback, then backed off with a somewhat sheepish expression. Kong Tingyun nced at him and asked softly, "Does your n have any Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators? Perhaps someone with a simr temperament as you and has not yet married into the Xiao Family?"
Li Yuanjiao was baffled by this question and frowned.
"None."
Kong Tingyun sighed slightly, lowering her gaze as she began toment, "I spent years in seclusion during my youth, and in the blink of an eye, more than forty years have passed. It is difficult to find a kindred spirit within the gate, and the few Foundation Establishment Realm male cultivators are really quite unremarkable..."
Li Yuanjiao immediately understood and offered some advice, "Choosing a Daopanion is something that must be done with great care. It is better to wait a little longer. The Dao is full of dangers, and if you choose a fool, it could bring disaster for three generations and ruin for a century¡ªit is not something to take lightly."
"You''re right," Kong Tingyun said as she bit her lip and continued softly, "The ancient times are distant and their records are lost; even in more recent history, there have been Dao Embryos who were harmed by the Daopanions in their family... How could we, mere small cultivators, im to understand such matters? Perhaps remaining alone is the more prudent choice..."
Li Yuanjiao remained silent, which only deepened Kong Tingyun''s worries. She continued to cast her spell wordlessly, holding the jade bottle in the air until a light green spirit water emerged from the ground, bringing some joy to her face.
After erasing all traces in theke, Li Yuanjiao bade her farewell and left. Kong Tingyun watched him as he flew away, carrying the massive Hooked Serpent, until finally he disappeared on the horizon.
"What was I even thinking..?"
Kong Tingyun sighed. She patted her forehead with a wry smile and rode the wind back to face the gate''s internal affairs alone.
Chapter 456: Returning With The Serpent (I)
Chapter 456: Returning With The Serpent (I)
Li Yuanjiao carried the half-dead Hooked Serpent away from the southern shore of Lake Xian at Profound Peak Gate. With the help of the Profound Patterned Bottle, the air was filled with water mist. The Hooked Serpent continued squeaking futilely, begging for mercy.
The creature was enormous, and the mist from the Profound Patterned Bottle could barely conceal it. Li Yuanjiao had only reached the shore when he was forced tond with a frown.
It''s too conspicuous... This demon creature is also incredibly heavy. Putting aside the drain on my mana, it''s impractical to fly over the wilderness and temples like this.
He swiftly changed course, flying north for a while, intending to go upstream of the river flowing into Lake Xian, pass through the safer territory of the Yue Cultivating Sect, and then only return to Moongaze Lake''s northern shore via Xu State.
The travel journals left by Uncle Ling mentioned that the surging river aids those cultivating the Boundless Ocean, so this seems like a good opportunity to explore that.
Li Yuanjiao''s Jing Dragon King was a serpent dragon of theke, which allowed him to dive effortlessly into the water. Submerged, the weight of the Hooked Serpent lightened considerably due to natural buoyancy.
He first summoned several crab demons to inquire about the power dynamics at theke''s bottom and the locations of the demon kings. After nning his route, he dragged the Hooked Serpent slowly forward while pondering Kong Tingyun''s recent words.
The Profound Peak Gate could be useful as an ally. I wonder how strong Daoist Master Changxi is... He appears to have a backing.
This could be a good opportunity to form a connection... Too bad my familycks a suitable cultivator. Otherwise, things would be so much better with a strategic ally to watch over Mount Yue.
I wonder if this is truly Daoist Master Changxi''s intention... Whose pawn is he?
As Li Yuanjiao mused on, he ignored the demon creature''s chatter. The Hooked Serpent, observing his cautious demeanor, grew despondent and fell silent. After a lengthy pause, it sighed.
"Every demon said that thend is treacherous, yet I was skeptical. I coveted spirit items, only to face the fate of bing serpent soup!"
Li Yuanjiao nced at it and asked, "What is your Immortal Foundation?"
"Those at the Demon Pce call it Morning Cold Rain... I''m not sure what you all name it. I cultivate a feathered serpent while you cultivate a serpent dragon. I doubt I''m fit for consumption... If you desire so, I can find a serpent dragon for you, Exalted Immortal," the Hooked Serpent offered.
Li Yuanjiao listened quietly as he walked along the riverbed.
"You worry too much, fellow Daoist. I am neither from a demon den nor a dragon pce capable of binding spirits, nor am I from a temple with the means to purify demonic natures. How can I trust you? Once freed, you would surely flee."
The Hooked Serpent, fully aware of its predicament, curled up listlessly.
Li Yuanjiao pondered as he walked.
Although we subdued the Hooked Serpent in just a few moves, we''ve mostly relied on external power. The Qingche Sword and Profound Patterned Bottle, being Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifacts, yed a part, not to mention Kong Tingyun''s golden mountain and pearl, coupled with that powerful formation¡ªall of which helped suppress this Hooked Serpent.
He observed the serpent''s forked tail now without the hooks, unsightly from where Kong Tingyun had cut it.
I wonder if Senior White Banyan Fox is still beneath that tree... There''s no need to rush to sacrifice this serpent demon. It might be wise to consult it first.
As he continued along the river, the water shifted between darkness and light, revealingvish demon pces, towers made of shells, and white caves.
Encountering two Foundation Establishment Realm demon generals patrolling the area, they were so intimidated by the sight of Li Yuanjiao dragging the Hooked Serpent that they did not dare to even lift their heads before quickly scurrying away.
Li Yuanjiao did not encounter the river''s turbulent waves that Li Xuanling spoke of nor did he receive any cultivation enlightenment. Observing the river''s wide and lengthy expanse, he mused to himself, "The rivers are broad and long... there should be many treasures here."
Reaching the territory of the Yue Cultivating Sect, Li Yuanjiao emerged from the water with the Hooked Serpent. A cultivator in white, with a sword on his back, stood before him, appearing to be deducing something. Nevertheless, he did not seem to be upset by the interruption caused by Li Yuanjiao.
"Nian Yi from Yue Cultivating Sect greets Senior! Congrattions on capturing the demon general," he said.
Despite Nian Yi being a mere Qi Cultivator, Li Yuanjiao treated him with respect and said, "Apologies for the disturbance, fellow Daoist. I am just passing through your sect''s territory."
Nian Yi nodded, then grasped a wisp of spiritual qi and slowly closed his eyes, resuming his deduction.
Traveling southward, Li Yuanjiao observed that Xu State was peaceful¡ªa stark contrast to the chaos of years past. There were no signs of devil cultivators, and the cultivators flying about seemed open and unguarded.
The rogue cultivators he encountered were also courteous, congratting him on capturing the formidable demon.
"Yue Cultivating Sect is truly different," he sighed in amazement.
Li Yuanjiao pressed on until he finally returned to Moongaze Lake. Several Qi Cultivators from the Li Family came to greet him, led by Li Xuanxuan who looked visibly relieved and greeted him warmly, "Jiao''er, you''ve returned safely!"
This journey proved quite fruitful, and Li Yuanjiao could not help butugh as he deposited the Hooked Serpent on the shore. He swiftly reinforced several prohibitions, and soon, Li Family cultivators swarmed the area, sealing and setting up a formation to secure the demon.
Returning to the mountain, Li Yuanjiaoid out the treasures acquired from his expedition. Li Qinghong and the others could barely contain their joy and excitement.
The Profound Patterned Bottle and Profound Yang Li Fire were exceptional finds, and capturing a Foundation Establishment Realm serpent demon was indeed a significant achievement. Li Qinghong picked up the Profound Patterned Bottle carefully, admiring it while wistfully thinking, Too bad Big Brother has already named it. It''s such a magnificent Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, yet its name sounds like an Embryonic Breathing Realm qi gathering bottle... I guess we''ll just have to ept its basic name...
While the group examined the two treasures, an old man came in. He appeared to be over ny years old, his frame stooped with age. The cultivators kneeled and bowed deeply to him.
Li Qinghong quickly stepped forward to support him while Li Xuanxuan introduced the neer.
"This is rogue cultivator Qian... he''s ny-eight years old."
Handing over three storage pouches to the old man, Li Xuanxuan said, "As agreed before, please proceed, Elder."
Old Man Qian nodded and began to inspect the first pouch. He extended his spiritual sense into it, causing the shimmering treasures inside to spill out onto the floor.
Relieved, he opened the second pouch. After verifying its contents without encountering any traps, Li Xuanxuan handed him a Spirit Stone and a smile crossed the old man''s face.
Li Yuanjiao observed the proceedings with keen interest, his eyes narrowed slightly as Old Man Qian reached for the third pouch¡ªexceptional-looking and ck, previously owned by a daring devil cultivator.
As soon as the old man''s spiritual sense reached into it, a burst of ck gas erupted. Li Yuanjiao had already anticipated this and readied a spell to counter it. Old Man Qian could only scream in agony before he exploded, now reduced to a mere puddle of blood.
Li Xuanxuan swiftly cast a spell to remove the gruesome remains from the cave dwelling and called out in a calm voice, "Please get Elder Ding in here."
Li Yuanjiao murmured thoughtfully, "It appears to be a shamanic spell or blood art, devised by a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... It''s capable of eroding both spiritual sense and the body. No wonder an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator couldn''t even withstand it for a moment!"
Li Qinghong, who was standing by, shook her head solemnly and asked, "How much for his pension?"
"Three Spirit Stones to be sent to his son. We''ll also secure a position for him at the peak."
Chapter 457: Returning With The Serpent (II)
Chapter 457: Returning With The Serpent (II)
While Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong conversed, another elderly man approached from below. With a confident expression, he cupped his fist to the three Li Family members and extended his spiritual sense into the delicate ck brocade bag. With that, the contents within it finally spilled onto the ground.
Old Man Ding was taken aback.
"I thought it was protected by a shamanic spell!" he eximed.
Li Xuanxuan handed over a bag of Spirit Paddies and two n soldiers promptly escorted the elder away.
Li Qinghong frowned, remarking, "That rogue cultivator''s eldest son has attempted to reach the Qi Cultivation Realm with unrefined qi twice, but both attempts ended in failure. He''s now pinning his hopes on a single pill."
Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao had sorted through numerous items, setting aside the devil cultivator''s cultivation technique manuals and pills. He gathered all the spirit items and dharma artifacts of the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realms into a storage pouch.
There remained fifty-two Spirit Stones, most of which were looted from the devil cultivator. With a decisive wave, Li Yuanjiao deposited all into the family''s vault and gave the leftover items another look, but found them notably unremarkable.
"These trinkets are hardly useful to me now that I''ve reached the Foundation Establishment Realm," Li Yuanjiao mused, shaking his head as he distributed them away.
With my advancement to Foundation Establishment Realm and the Profound Patterned Bottle to conceal my presence, I needn''t fear detection by that pig demon... I can finally venture into the outskirts of Mount Dali and visit the White Banyan Fox.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven, atop the tallest Li Fire Peak, a formation was still activated, radiating a golden brilliance as countless mysterious runes continued flowing around. The gathered cultivators from various sects and gates remained silent.
"Attack!" Chi Zhiyunmanded, who was standing at the center in his shining green Daoist robe, his sword emitting a white glow.
At his casual order, disciples from three sects and seven gates immediately unleashed their spells and activated their dharma artifacts against the grand formation.
The formation was already fragile and the efforts of numerous Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators soon brought it to the brink of copse. It withstood their assaults for another hour before finally releasing a blinding golden sh and dissolvingpletely.
As the cultivators erupted into cheers and prepared to swarm forward, a figure emerged from the formation. Wearing a red Hornless Dragon mask and wielding a long spear, the imposing figureughed heartily.
"Thank you for aiding in the destruction of this formation, fellow Daoists. I shall gracefully ept this Dongli Dao Collection as a gift!" Chu Yi dered, his politeness tinged with unmistakable ridicule.
With a flick of his hand, he unleashed a talisman as someone from below shouted, "Purple Mansion Realm Talisman, Void Origin Escape Talisman!"
With a boomingugh, Chu Yi vanished into the void, leaving the crowd of stunned cultivators behind.
The cultivators were furious, feeling betrayed, yet they also questioned why the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators had not intervened. Chi Zhiyun, outwardly seething in the center of the group, secretly sneered after the man departed.
Why didn''t the Daoist Masters act? If Yuansu and Qiushui had coveted this Dao Collection and attempted to intercept him, not only would they risk offending Mount Luoxia, but they might also fail to stop him. Suffering humiliation and departing with crushed pride are the best oues for them... If the True Monarch of Mount Luoxia took offense, it wouldn''t be beyond him to strike down the Daoist Masters on the spot!
Chi Zhiyun then rose on the wind, directing people among the three sects and seven gates to enter in their pre-arranged order.
Hended atop the mountain and gazed at the deserted attic, thinking to himself, The Dongli Sect... The two peak Daoist Masters of the Purple Mansion Realm from Dongli''s Eastern Fire Heaven Grotto ended up dying with their sect destroyed... with their Dao lineage absorbed by Luoxia.
In the great void, Daoist Masters Yuan Su and Qiushui watched him depart but did nothing to stop him. They remained silent, watching him leave and until the crowd in the grotto heaven thinned.
"That''s enough," Yuan Su finally said, feeling the fluctuations in the great void subside before stepping out and entering the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven. Daoist Master Qiushui followed and remarked softly, "True to his Metallic Essence, Chu Yi is barely holding on after just three years... Judging by his appearance, he''s likely to burst and die soon."
Yuan Su quietly agreed, his gaze lifting to the sky, which seemed veiled in ayer of gray mist. Dark light drifted about, and scarcely a figure was visible.
The atmosphere within the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven grew increasingly somber, and the disciples from various sects, having profited, withdrew one by one. Only the two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators from the immortal sects remained aloft, observing the dim world below.
"Chu Yi has taken the Dongli Dao Collection," Daoist Master Yuan Su remarked calmly, poised in the air. The golden spring water beneath his feet continued to surge, its brilliance muted by his dim surroundings.
"What a pitiful man," Daoist Master Qiushui added quietly, but Yuan Su responded with a wry smile and said, "We are not in the position to feel sorry for a True Monarch. Cui Mu gambled and miscalcted, ruining the Bright Yang Dao Lineage... He brought this end upon himself."
Daoist Master Qiushui''s sleeves fluttered gently as she responded softly, "Mount Luoxia has oppressed Bright Yang for five hundred years, and now it has seized Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven. If this continues for another five centuries, perhaps it will be Huangtian of Ancient Wei that falls next, paving the way for Mount Luoxia to nurture another True Monarch¡ªor even an Exalted Immortal. Everyone in the region merely watches... isn''t anyone going to do something about this?"
Daoist Master Yuan Su listened, his expression a mix of both amusement and contemtion as he toyed with a small golden seal. Smiling, he teased, "Wasn''t your Golden Feather Sect most loyal to them, even referring to them as the Luoxia Upper Sect? Yet... your remarks don''t align with your sect''s loyalty. Your ever-changing stance is truly vexing!"
"Tiaoxiao!" Qiushui sighed, her face colored with slight embarrassment as she continued, "Immortal or mortal, no one finds servility appealing... No need to take it too seriously."
Yuan Su shook his head and replied, "I know, I know... I only say that to you."
Daoist Master Qiushui waved her slender hand, causing the golden spring water on the ground to ssh up into her grasp. She said softly, "You and I need not concern ourselves further with this. Let''s head north to Yue Cultivation Sect and Lotus Temple; let them handle the rest."
"Once this is over, the yang will fade from heaven and earth, and yin will find its bnce, ushering in the Profound Bnce Atmosphere. It will soon be time for Shangyuan''s breakthrough. By then, you and I will have much to do."
Daoist Master Yuan Su stood with his hands sped behind him as he watched her gather the spirit water before speaking again.
"Buzi has journeyed to the Eastern Sea, Yuan Xiu to the southern border, and Yuanwu is focusing on his own opportunities. What you suggest about troubling Junior Brother sounds fine in theory, but how many Purple Mansion Realm artifacts has Yuanwu Peak actually produced? I haven''t seen him contribute anything substantial. I''m the only one who has my cultivation severed and is busy running around."
Daoist Master Qiushui smiled slightly and responded, "I''m pretty sure you will be rewarded for all this trouble!"
A flicker of irritation crossed Yuan Su''s face as he replied, "It''s only here in Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven that I can speak freely... Those in Azure Pond Grotto Heaven are used to ordering others around. Whether their approach is effective is debatable, but one thing is for sure¡ªtheir methodsck purity."
Chapter 458: Return For A Visit (I)
Chapter 458: Return For A Visit (I)
Liu Changdie soared through the skies toward Mount Dali, fully propelled by the wind. However, a beam of light from the south intercepted his path before it could reach Mount Qingdu, forcing him toe to a sudden halt.
An Zheyan, who had been patrolling for some time, stopped Liu Changdie by theke. "Who goes there?" he called out.
Although An Zheyan was a Qi Cultivator of the eighth heavenlyyer and capable of handling most rogue cultivators, the aura of this person made him feel rather uneasy.
The man in question had an unassuming appearance but was at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Despite his youthful appearance, looking no older than thirty, his clothes were of fine quality. He cupped his fist, channeling his mana, and replied respectfully, "Liu Changdie hase to visit. Please..."
But before he could finish, a clear, melodious voice interrupted them.
"Daoist Changdie?"
Liu Changdie turned to see a striking figure¡ªa heroic face with a pair of bright almond eyes, d in jade armor and wielding a silver spear. He was momentarily stunned, then quickly cupped his fist again.
"Ah... it''s you, Daoist Qinghong!"
As he lowered his head, he thought to himself, She is truly a beauty... I never had the chance to see her in my previous life. I only heard she hadmitted suicide on Mount Yuting. With such demeanor and appearance, it''s no wonder she caught the eyes of the Lotus Temple''s Master Monk.
Li Qinghong, familiar with the strange reputation of this visitor, was not at all surprised by his reaction. Smiling, she said, "Follow me into the mountain, fellow Daoist!"
An Zheyan allowed him to pass, cupping his fist before quietly retreating.
Liu Changdie followed her into the mountain. In the hall, two figures awaited¡ªone old and frail, the other middle-aged but pale.
Li Yuanping was discussing n affairs with his father, Li Xuanxuan, and greeted Liu Changdie warmly.
Liu Changdie responded with a respectful nod, his face lighting up as he thought, It''s a relief to see both Li Qinghong and Li Yuanping still alive. At least Yuanjiao won''t be alone on Mount Wutu... drinking by himself all the time as he did in my previous life!
Li Xuanxuan smiled, inviting him to sit. After a brief conversation, he leaned in and whispered, "How much do you know about the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven?"
Liu Changdie sighed deeply and replied, "It''s a dismal ce. Soon, more rogue cultivators from the Eastern Sea will be able to enter... Striving for it is merelyboring to the benefit of the three sects and seven gates!"
Liu Changdie, having lived two lives now, had only seen the true nature of the three sects and seven gates just before his death in his previous life.
Naturally, he was averse to the idea of going to the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven.
"Fellow Daoist, you have keen insight!" Li Xuanxuan said approvingly and then asked, "Do you know if the Dao Collection from the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven has been leaked?"
Li Xuanxuan was deeply concerned about this. The Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual in their n was closely rted to the ancient Wei Kingdom, and since Dongli Sect was also a descendant of the Wei Kingdom, he was particrly anxious to know about the matter.
Liu Changdie,cking specific information, relied on his memories from his previous life and replied gravely, "The Dongli Dao Collection had been taken by Chu Yi. There is nothing particrly good or bad about it, just that the Grade Two and Three external cultivation techniques from the Dongli Sect, mostly rted to the Golden Yang, had been dispersed out there. They might be useful to the rogue cultivators though."
Li Xuanxuan was pleased with this news. "Good, good!" he said with an approving nod.
He had been worried about being unable to exin the origin of his family''s Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual. Now that the Golden Yang-rted techniques had been scattered out there, it could hide their family''s Radiant Origin Pass immortal foundation better.
Since none of the three sects obtained the Dao Collection, they likely did not possess Purple Mansion Realm cultivation techniques. Naturally, there were no disciples practicing such techniques, let alone pose a threat to his immortal foundation.
Moreover, in the future, we might be able to collect more techniques from this lineage, allowing for mutual verification and further advancement in cultivation.
Perhaps one day, the mirror might bestow upon us Purple Mansion Realm cultivation techniques... Once a Purple Mansion emerges from our family, this type of cultivation technique wille in handy!
With these promising prospects ahead, Li Xuanxuan felt quite pleased.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao rode the wind toward Mount Dali, flying past many mountains until a majestic white banyan tree appeared beneath him. He descended gracefully among the trees beforending on a soft carpet of grass and stowed away the Profound Patterned Bottle.
The area was devoid of any demonic presence. Golden sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a warm and inviting glow all around the ce.
He squinted slightly, surveying the clean slope thatcked even a single fallen leaf. Aware that the fox might be hiding nearby, he cupped his fist and called out respectfully, "Yuanjiao of the Li Family hase to pay his respects to the senior... Please reveal yourself!"
Li Yuanjiao waited patiently until a reddish demonic wind finally swirled into existence, revealing a fox half the height of a man. It stood not far from him, its dark eyes fixated on him warily.
Though much smaller now, the fox was at the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Li Yuanjiao cupped his fist respectfully again and said, "Congrattions on your cultivation progress, Senior."
The fox lowered its head slightly and replied from a distance, "This progress is nothingpared to yours. Establishing a foundation in just a few decades is quite remarkable, even among humans."
Li Yuanjiao responded modestly to the praise, noting the fox''s wariness toward him. He set down a bag of Spirit Paddies and continued humbly, "I''vee to seek your advice on a matter, Senior."
"I''ve captured a Hooked Serpent. First, I wish to know if it''s possible to tame this demon creature for my family''s use... Second, I''ve heard that the Hooked Serpent is a sea demon. Does it have any significant background?"
The fox scrutinized him closely before replying, "The art of spiritual control is a closely guarded secret of the Demon Den. If you wish to tame it, you''ll have to seek help from the Demon King of the Demon Den. However, you should perish the thought..."
"As for the Hooked Serpent, to trace their background, we''d have to delve into the primordial era. The tales of this creature are well-known, though they could only be regarded as mere stories."
The fox continued, "In the primordial era, the Hooked Serpents had a Demon Pce in the Eastern Sea. They followed the ways of Feathered Serpents and disregarded Serpent Dragon''smands. Eventually, the pce was destroyed by the Converging Water True Hornless Dragon... Their kind then wandered the sea, and thus, theyck a significant background."
Li Yuanjiao listened intently as the fox rxed slightly and added, "In that battle, the Pristine Water Feathered Serpent was devoured by the Hornless Dragon. Seven yearster, it gave birth to nine sons, who in turn devoured Hornless Dragon... The Pristine Water and Converging Water had been locked in conflict ever since. Presently, Pristine Water resides in the ind sea while Converging Water is out there, bringing a fragile peace."
Eager for more information, Li Yuanjiao was met with silence. The fox merely concluded his story by saying simply, "In short, the Hooked Serpent is not particrly formidable, and there are many such creatures in the seas."
Li Yuanjiao pressed on with a few more questions, but the fox remained tight-lipped. Reluctantly, he shifted topics.
"Senior, can we do something about the Foundation Establishment Realm pig demon in the mountains?" he asked.
The pig demon had been entrenched near the Li Family''s territory for a century, and Li Yuanjiao had never forgotten about it. With the formation te now in his possession, he began to have a few ideas formting in his mind.
"That stupid big guy..."
The fox demon seemed like it wanted toment more but stopped itself before saying, "You can kill it as long as you lure it out of Mount Dali. It''s not a big deal if it dies outside. You can gather some spirit items and Spirit Stones, and I''ll handle the den for you. Everything will be fine!"
"My only concern is it being a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. If you fail to kill it, it might return to the den and bring reinforcements which could spell trouble for your family."
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, understanding the situation. He asked a few more questions, but seeing that the fox demon was disinterested, he cupped his fist and took his leave.
As Li Yuanjiao departed on the wind, the fox demon sighed with relief, recliningzily under the tree.
That child is exceptionally talented, cautious, and a bit more ruthless than Tongya... Less generous, too. Tongya probably made a good choice handing over the n to him...
The fox demon then took out a piece of white quartz from its fur and murmured softly,
"Li Yuanjiao has established his foundation!"
Chapter 459: Return For A Visit (II)
Chapter 459: Return For A Visit (II)
Li Yuanjiao flew out from Mount Dali with a n already in his mind.
This senior fox demon is an ally of my family, so it probably won''t deceive me. I bet it''s no ordinary fox demon, given how knowledgeable it is!
When he descended on the mountain earlier, he had activated the Profound Patterned Bottle. That should have allowed him to remain undetected by even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, provided he kept his distance. Yet, the fox had detected him early and gone into hiding, leaving not even a trace beneath the banyan tree.
A Qi Cultivation Realm fox demon managed to detect me so quickly and escaped without leaving a trace... What was that all about? That felt too deliberate... Was it trying to warn me?
He stroked his chin and spected, "This must have something to do with the Demon Den of Mount Dali!"
I wonder how the ancestor became acquainted with this demon fox... Xiao Chuting is convinced that my family has a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Perhaps it''s rted to Mount Dali''s attitude...
Li Yuanjiao turned these thoughts over in his mind but had no solid clues. His focus then shifted back to the pig demon. Upon returning to the peak, he saw Li Qinghong conversing with another cultivator.
As Li Yuanjiao approached, the cultivator quickly rose and greeted him with a smile.
"Brother Yuanjiao! It''s been a long time!"
Li Yuanjiao was momentarily surprised before a smile appeared on his face.
"Ah, It''s you, Brother Changdie!"
Liu Changdie, now at the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, continued smiling warmly.
"I haven''t seen you in years, Brother. I never expected you to establish your foundation so soon!" he said.
Secretly, Liu Changdie felt a pang of disappointment.
I did not expect that Yuanjiao''s cultivation would progress so rapidly in this life... Even if I started a new life, I wouldn''t match his speed. How can the gap between two humans be this enormous?!
Li Yuanjiao responded modestly to his praise but his mind was preupied with the formation at Qingdu Peak.
The formation at Qingdu Peak hasn''t been set up yet. Now that Liu Changdie is here, we can finally get it done! Uncle Xuanfeng hasn''t been back for so many years now, this is also a good opportunity to ask for his news...
The two men settled into their seats, and Li Yuanjiao began with a smile, "I heard you went to Yi Mountain City. Have you heard any news about my uncle, Li Xuanfeng?"
Liu Changdie cupped his fist and replied, "Of course! Congrattions, Brother! Senior Xuanfeng and fellow Daoist Ning Hemian have married and are now highly respected. Their reputation in the city is soaring!"
As soon as Liu Changdie spoke, Li Yuanjiao was taken aback and Li Qinghong looked stunned, while Li Xuanxuan frowned. However, it was not appropriate for them to discuss anything in the presence of an outsider, so the room fell silent.
Li Qinghong quickly recovered and eximed, "This is indeed great news! Thank you for sharing it with us, fellow Daoist!"
Liu Changdie dared notment anything and remained quiet. As someone who had lived two lives, even he could sense that something was amiss. With a smile, he retrieved a storage pouch and a letter from his chest pocket, exining, "This is what Senior asked me to bring back..."
Li Yuanjiao thanked him and took the items, setting them aside before asking, "With your current cultivation, are you able to set up a Foundation Establishment Realm formation, Brother?"
The Li Family''s legacies now epassed formations, talismans, and alchemy. However, their expertise was limited to setting up formations at the Embryonic Breathing level. While they possessed numerous Qi Cultivation Realm formation diagrams, setting up one was challenging, especially whenpared to Liu Changdie''s proficiency. Consequently, setting up a Foundation Establishment Realm formation was far beyond their current capabilities.
The most highly skilled talisman crafter was Li Xuanxuan. Unfortunately, his disciples and nsmen only seeded in making Embryonic Breathing Realm talismans which frustrated Li Xuanxuan to no end.
The arts of Immortal Cultivation required considerable talent, and within the main family, only Li Xuanxuan and Li Ximing exhibited notable skill.
Liu Changdie nodded, looking slightly embarrassed, and replied, "I have made significant progress in restoring formations in Yi Mountain City over the years. If there is a formation diagram, I can give it a try, though it will be costly if I fail..."
Foundation Establishment Realm formations were rare, and Liu Changdie, being an average formation master, would find setting up one a rare opportunity.
He added eagerly, "If your esteemed n can offer me this opportunity, I can contribute some materials myself! The cost would be around four or five hundred Spirit Stones."
That''s ten years worth of tribute...
The price left everyone stunned. The Li Family''s maximum annual revenue was only forty Spirit Stones, barely covering the tribute they had to submit. Their savings came primarily from the Ebony Mine and Wanglin Blossoms, umting to only thirteen or fourteen Spirit Stones a year.
If they proceed, it would take forty to fifty years to afford the formation.
Although the recent defeat of the devil cultivators brought in significant ie, the family still has only fifty to sixty Spirit Stones in reserve, and that is not at all enough for such an expenditure.
Everyone fell silent. Liu Changdie, realizing the situation, shrank back and remained quiet.
After a pause, Li Yuanjiao responded, "That''s quite expensive... My family can''t afford it right now. It might be better to use a Qi Cultivation Realm formation for the time being."
Liu Changdie nodded quickly and said, "I will check the earth vein and spiritual energy distribution in the mountains and set up the formation in a few days."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement. He exchanged a few more words with Liu Changdie, and then watched him leave.
"Jiao''er!"
As soon as Liu Changdie departed, Li Xuanxuan looked uneasy as he wondered aloud, "What is Yuan Su plotting against our family...?"
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Li Xuanfeng''s sudden promotion and marriage into Daoist Master Yuan Su''s family raised concerns. The old man muttered for a while and asked, "W-What is Xuanfeng thinking?!"
Li Yuanjiao took out the letter brought back by Liu Changdie, decrypted it using the family''s secret technique, and read it carefully.
He soon frowned in puzzlement and murmured, "Li''s bloodline of Wei?"
Handing the letter over to the others, Li Yuanjiao pondered its contents. The letter mentioned Yuan Su''s attitude toward the family and his own spections of a few things he had heard there. The letter was ten pages long.
Everyone read the letter carefully. Li Qinghong vaguely felt it was good news and shared her views.
"Since Yuan Su mistakenly believes our family to be of the Li Family of Wei, we might be able to cover up the matter of the spiritual orifice. However, it seems he may want to do something with his own bloodline."
Initially, Yuan Su had only casually promoted Li Xuanfeng. Upon learning that they were the descendants of the Li Family of Wei State, he decided to form an alliance with the Li Family through marriage. This led the four of them to specte that his intention might be rted to their bloodline.
Li Yuanjiao thought deeply but had too little information to make a definitive guess. He reviewed the storage pouch, noting that Li Xuanfeng had sent back thirty Spirit Stones and an Essence Gathering Pill.
Li Yuanjiao took out a jade bottle and poured its contents out. It was a gray pill with intricate patterns on it.
"I knew it''d be a blood pill..." he said with a sigh.
Although Li Qinghong was preparing to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, this blood pill was unsuitable for her.
Li Yuanjiao considered for a moment and concluded, This pill may not be usable, but it''s still extremely valuable. Selling it at a great price could be as beneficial as using it for further cultivation!
Chapter 460: Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique (I)
Chapter 460: Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique (I)
Liu Changdie had long been immersed in the art of formations. Despite only performing two rounds of assessments, he could clearly discern the distribution of the earth veins. His eyes shone with a perceptive light, revealing his rity and insight.
This perception technique, known as the Spirit Eye Perception, was from the Li Family, though no one within the family had yet to master it.
Liu Changdie possessed a wealth of formation skills that allowed him to earn plenty of Spirit Stones with them. Even without a family to support him, he traveled across the state, searching for spirit water, and it took just over a decade for him to master this perception technique.
After a thorough study, Liu Changdie chose the Green Ox River Embrace Formation, a recent addition to his repertoire. This formation, which he developed in Linghai Prefecture, harnessed the power of theke water around Mount Qingdu,bining it with the earth and water veins to repel enemies.
Breaking this formation would be a prolonged endeavor without the power of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator would struggle to breach it within an hour, making it a superior Qi Cultivation Realm formation indeed.
Formations from Linghai Prefecture often incorporated shamanic spells, adding offensive capabilities to their defensive functions. The Green Ox River Embrace Formation was no exception; it could summon a Green Ox with mana to attack intruders.
Li Yuanjiao was pleased with the formation and inquired further. The Green Ox River Embrace Formation required a substantial amount of Ebony Ores, which the Li Family conveniently possessed, thus saving them some Spirit Stones. Ultimately, the cost would amount to only a hundred Spirit Stones.
"Brother Changdie, you''re too generous!" Li Yuanjiao said, frowning. If the cost were truly fixed at a hundred Spirit Stones, his family would owe Liu Changdie a favor. So, he insisted on giving Liu Changdie 115 Spirit Stones which Liu reluctantly epted.
Liu Changdie stayed for several months while the formation was set up on Mount Qingdu. Kong Yu had mentioned that small peaks would emerge near Qingdu Mountain over the next few years, so Li Yuanjiao made sure the formation''s coverage was huge enough to amodate those peaks as well.
After a drink to celebrate the project''spletion, Liu Changdie stayed for another half a month before heading north to the Yue Cultivating Sect''s territory to continue his study on formations and seek breakthroughs.
Despite Lu Changdie''s eagerness to remain with the Li Family as a guest cultivator, Li Yuanjiao was hesitant to let him stay permanently due to the mysteries surrounding him. Handling the situation diplomatically, Li Yuanjiao, along with Li Qinghong, escorted Liu Changdie out of their territory.
Liu Changdie, reluctant to leave, bade his goodbyes to Li Yuanjiao though he was sighing inwardly.
s, we have been together for more than ten years, and the Li Family still doesn''t fully trust me given how wary they have always been...
With a heavy heart, he flew out of Moongaze Lake, heading north.
After seeing him off, Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong flew over theke but were approached by a monk with narrow eyes. He sped his hands together and said to Li Yuanjiao, "Congrattions on establishing your immortal foundation, fellow Daoist."
This monk was none other than Kongheng, who had aided the Li family during the devil gue and continued his cultivation on theke. Though his motives were unclear, the Li Family remained grateful to him.
Li Yuanjiao replied warmly, "Thank you, Master."
Kongheng nodded, then addressed Li Qinghong.
"When I was traveling the world, I heard of a peak on the Mushroom Forest in named Heavenly Thunder Peak. If you''re looking to make a breakthrough, you might find it helpful to cultivate in seclusion there."
With that, Kongheng excused himself and floated back to theke. He rolled up the ends of his trousers and lowered his bald head, then began digging for lotus roots on the shore. His technique was unusual and the fact that he was rarely cultivating in seclusion suggested that he might be facing a bottleneck.
The siblings were puzzled and continued on their journey. Li Qinghong whispered, "What is that monk trying to say?"
Li Yuanjiao shook his head, skepticism evident in his voice as he replied, "Who knows?"
Li Qinghong paused before suggesting, "Let''s send someone to investigate. If it''s feasible, it might be worth a try."
"Mushroom Forest in is within the Yuan Family''s territory. If what the monk said is true, we should speak to the Yuan Family. A breakthrough on that peak could be beneficial..."
The two of them returned to the peak and dispatched someone to inquire with the Yuan Family. While Li Qinghong went off to cultivate and meditate, Li Yuanjiao took out the Foundation Establishment Realm formation te from his storage pouch and began to contemte the situation with the pig demon on Mount Dali.
Eliminating this demon would allow us to request the white talisman for Ximing and Xijun, as well as free up the northern foothills for qi and herbs gathering, thus improving the family''s situation.
Li Yuanjiao waited several days before finally receiving a reply from the Yuan Family. In fact, Yuan Huyuan came in person himself.
Yuan Huyuan, a peak Qi Cultivator, had aplex expression on his face. It was tinged with a hint of shame as he gazed nkly at Li Yuanjiao and mumbled, "You''ve actually reached the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Li Yuanjiao was puzzled by his huge reaction and simply replied slowly, "Yuanjiao greets Senior..."
He could not fully grasp the depth of Yuan Huyuan''s shock.
When Yuan Huyuan first arrived at Moongaze Lake, Li Chejing was only at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and Li Tongya had not even broken through the Jade Capital Stage.
When Li Chejing became a sword immortal and Li Tongya established his immortal foundation, Yuan Huyuan was already amazed. The sight of Li Yuanjiao, a junior, now reaching the Foundation Establishment, left this old man astounded.
After several attempts to call Yuan Huyuan''s attention, the elder finally came to his senses and sighed.
"I''ve hesitated too long... I kept waiting for the right opportunity, wasting years, and ended up like this!"
With renewed determination, Yuan Huyuan quietly resolved to himself, I shall attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm once I return!
Having made up his mind, Yuan Huyuan''s demeanor shifted. He smiled, cupping his fist as he said, "Congrattions on your breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, fellow Daoist!"
After exchanging a few words with Li Yuanjiao, Yuan Huyuan said, "I have investigated as you requested. There is indeed a peak on the Mushroom Forest in named Heavenly Thunder Peak. The peak is struck by lightning annually due to a thunder mine located there, and as a result, the entire mountain has been scorched ck."
"There are very few thunder cultivators in Jiangnan, and my family hadn''t considered that location until now. Otherwise, we would have informed you sooner..." he added.
Though Yuan Huyuan''s words were courteous, Li Yuanjiao did not take them too seriously. He nodded in agreement and resolved the matter in his heart.
Once we deal with the pig demon, I''ll send Qinghong to the Mushroom Forest in to cultivate in seclusion!
After Yuan Huyuan had exined everything, he presented a few modest spirit items as a gesture of goodwill. Li Yuanjiao naturally understood his intention and responded warmly. The two exchanged a few more words before Yuan Huyuan smiled and said, "You''re too kind, junior. It''s reassuring to see your family thriving."
As Yuan Huyuan prepared to leave, Li Yuanjiao escorted him out and thought to himself quietly, This pig demon is at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment Realm... I can''t handle it alone. I need to find a helper.
Li Yuanjiao initially wanted to dy this until Li Qinghong sessfullypleted her breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Then, he nned to invite another person to join them in dealing with the demon.
However, it was hard to find a Foundation Establishment Realm formation te and he had no idea when Kong Tingyun would send someone to retrieve it. Without the formation, even four or five people might struggle to subdue the pig demon.
After some contemtion, Li Yuanjiao considered asking the Xiao Family for assistance. However, he was reluctant to appear overly dependent on them.
Uncle Xuanfeng also requested an Essence Gathering Pill. Although it''s refined with humans and we have sworn not to consume it, it could be used to recruit help! There might be room for further negotiation for additional items as well.
Chapter 461: Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique (II)
Chapter 461: Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique (II)
ncing at Yuan Huyuan, Li Yuanjiao inquired cautiously, "Senior, are you nning to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?"
"Your guess is correct," Yuan Huyuan replied with a soft smile as he continued, "At my age, being ridiculed by the younger generation is unbearable... I must try for the Foundation Establishment Realm before this life ends!"
Li Yuanjiao continued asking further in concern, "Senior, do you have any special techniques or pills to aid in your breakthrough...?"
Yuan Huyuan hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly and replying, "Yes, the Yuan Family does. We have special secret techniques, forms, and pills thatplement each other, making it possible to achieve the breakthrough with only half the required effort."
As a century-old prestigious n, the Yuan Family was naturally wealthy. Li Yuanjiao listened and nodded.
"I''ve heard that the Essence Gathering Pill can aid in achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm. Does your n have it prepared?" he asked with a serious look.
Yuan Huyuan sighed softly as he raised his eyebrows, then replied vaguely, "Essence Gathering Pills are not ordinary pills..."
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly. Sensing that Li Yuanjiao seemed to know something, Yuan Huyuan decided to speak frankly.
"Ordinary pills wouldn''t allow Golden Feather and Azure Pond to maintain control for so long. There are various ways to refine Essence Gathering Pills... Some can assist in achieving breakthroughs with less than just half the effort. Unfortunately, my family does not possess it."
"If you need it, my family can provide one."
Li Yuanjiao offered, transmitting his voice with his mana.
Yuan Huyuan was caught off guard. His expression changed drastically, and he hesitated for several breaths before asking slowly, "Qinghong is preparing for a breakthrough too... won''t she need it?"
Li Yuanjiao shook his head with a smile and replied, "You worry too much, Senior. My family has already made arrangements for her."
Yuan Huyuan, tempted by the offer, nodded thoughtfully and asked nervously, "May I see the quality of the pill?"
Feeling confident enough to handle a peak Qi Cultivator like Yuan Huyuan if something went awry now that he was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Li Yuanjiao produced a jade bottle. He inverted it and a pill floated out from within it.
The pill was white with gray patterns on it, emitting a captivating aroma. Yuan Huyuan''s eyes sparkled at the sight of it as he eximed, "Excellent! Truly excellent!"
He quickly asked, "What do you want in exchange, fellow Daoist?"
Li Yuanjiao considered the options but could not think of an immediate need for his family, so he simply responded, "What can you offer in return, Senior?"
Yuan Huyuan was pleased to see that Li Yuanjiao was not being fussy. He patted his chest and assured, "Cultivation techniques, medicine, dharma artifacts...my family has plenty. I can also help you acquire any of them through our sect connections if needed!"
Yuan Huyuan struggled to determine Li Yuanjiao''s needs and requirements since he refused to speak. Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Are you able to obtain Heavenly Pure Essence, fellow Daoist?"
Heavenly Pure Essence was a highly prized spirit water. Not only was it an excellent healing medicine, but it could also purify true essence, alter Dao foundations, and elevate various unrefined Qi Cultivators to proper Qi Cultivators.
The Li Family did not have unrefined Qi Cultivators who needed this spirit water, but since Li Qinghong''s secret technique formed the Profound Thunderpool, Li Yuanjiao wanted to find this essence to further enhance her Dao foundation.
After making this request, Li Yuanjiao remembered that the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique was also modified. Altering her Dao foundation might severe her cultivation path.
Yuan Huyuan shook his head and replied, "Fellow Daoist, you overestimate my capabilities! Heavenly Pure Essence is a water essence of the Purple Mansion Realm... Only the three sects might have it. If any of the ancestors had acquired such a purifying essence, they would have used it themselves rather than leaving it for future generations."
Li Yuanjiao could only abandon the request and inquired, "Does your family have a method to capture and subdue spirit beasts or demon creatures then?"
Li Yuanjiao was still considering the Hooked Serpent, which was a rare Foundation Establishment Realmbat force. Taming such a creature without significant backing was appealing, and the cold qi it released could assist those cultivating the ughter Jun Kui Light, making it a tempting prospect.
Yuan Huyuan was taken aback by the unusual request and asked, "Is it for a small demon or a demon general?"
Li Yuanjiao was excited to see that Yuan Huyuan seemed to have a solution and responded eagerly, "A demon general! A Foundation Establishment Realm demon!"
Yuan Huyuan thought carefully before saying, "My family does have a method, but it''s quite difficult."
"Oh?"
Li Yuanjiao''s curiosity was piqued instantly.
Yuan Huyuan exined, "My ancestor once traveled far to the north and inherited a legacy from a temple known as the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique. It''s a Grade Four technique capable of suppressing demons and controlling spirits... However, this method has two major drawbacks."
Yuan Huyuan shook his head and continued, "First, this method is very costly to use. It requires six types of precious spirit items for the ritual. In the past, this cost ny Spirit Stones for a single casting, but now, with the materials being more expensive due to the distance from the north, you might need up to a hundred Spirit Stones."
"Second, the method requires a life-matching object, which must be significantly more powerful than the demon. Otherwise, not only will the spirit items be wasted, but the life-matching object will also be consumed."
Yuan Huyuan then added, somewhat awkwardly, "My family can''t obtain the Purple Mansion Realm spirit medicine, so we had to use a Foundation Establishment Realm panacea instead. It took two pieces to seed, costing a total of about seven or eight hundred Spirit Stones. Since then, my family has lost interest, and only very few still use this method for taming demons."
If the Li Family were not also a prestigious n with whom they had a strong rtionship and expected many future exchanges, Yuan Huyuan would not have been so honest. He would have just handed over the technique and called it a day.
"I see," Li Yuanjiao said, putting on a troubled look on his face. Although his heart raced with excitement, he deliberatelymented on, "Oh... Why must it be so difficult to tame a demon?"
Yuan Huyuan shook his head, sharing the sentiment.
Secret techniques are unlike elixirs or dharma artifacts. Once given, it''s no different than leaking the family''s legacy. It won''t be easy to get the ancestor''s approval, so it might be better to make him give up on this idea.
Noticing Yuan Huyuan''s expression, Li Yuanjiao decided to push forward. With a resolute look on his face, he said, "My home is close to Mount Dali... Finding a treasured panacea won''t be a significant issue. I''ll trade this pill for that secret technique!"
Yuan Huyuan had no choice but to nod.
Li Yuanjiao then added, "But this secret technique alone is not enough."
Yuan Huyuan, looking troubled, asked, "What else do you need, fellow Daoist?"
"Two methods for collecting cold qi, different from the method used in my family," he answered.
Yuan Huyuan shook his head and said, "We can only provide one. Qi gathering methods are n secrets. We can give you one that is not rare, but we can''t offer more than that."
"Understood!" Li Yuanjiao smiled and continued, "However, I will need your help to arrange for a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from your family to assist in capturing a Foundation Establishment Realm demon so I can use this secret technique."
Yuan Huyuan was slightly taken aback but, upon seeing Li Yuanjiao''s sincere expression, he nodded in agreement.
"That won''t be a problem. I''ll have a cultivator from my family assist with that."
Chapter 462: Muyun of Mount Yu (I)
Chapter 462: Muyun of Mount Yu (I)
Li Yuanjiao followed Yuan Huyuan to Mushroom Forest in. Yuan Huyuan led him to the mountain''s summit, then excused himself to return to his n to discuss the trade.
Li Yuanjiao waited on the summit for a while. During this time, he conversed with a direct descendant of the Yuan Family, a Qi Cultivator. The decent-looking young man was a good conversationalist, but Li Yuanjiao''s responses were distracted and vague as his mind was preupied with skepticism.
Hooked Serpent...unique life matching technique from north...
He tapped lightly on the table with his fingers, feeling uneasy. Noticing Li Yuanjiao''s preupation, the Yuan Family member fell silent, not daring to interrupt his thoughts. Li Yuanjiao took the time to piece together his thoughts with a rather unpleasant look on his face.
With the Purple Mansion Realm''s divine ability and tangled fates, everything seems suspicious... I need to thoroughly understand the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique before returning to investigate the Hooked Serpent again.
When Yuan Huyuan returned, Li Yuanjiao greeted him with a forced smile and asked eagerly, "Senior, how did it go?"
Yuan Huyuan swung his sleeve and replied with a grin, "All good."
Yuan Huyuan, being from the same lineage as Yuan Tuan, held significant sway within the Yuan Family. Despite being a Qi Cultivator, he had long overseen the family''s affairs.
He presented two jade slips, exining, "This is the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique. Read through it carefully, fellow Daoist! The other slip contains the required cold qi gathering method. Let me know if you already have this at home."
Li Yuanjiao examined the jade slips. The core content was sealed with a secret art, leaving only the information in front and at the end of it essible. After reading it for a moment, he began, "Senior, I have a few questions."
Yuan Huyuan, who was lost in thought, was startled by Li Yuanjiao''s intense gaze and responded quickly, "What is it?"
"The Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique only mentions the loss of the spirit items if the spell fails, but not the fate of the demon creature. Since your esteemed family has performed this ritual many times, do you mind sharing it with me?"
Yuan Huyuan was taken aback by the question and then offered a rueful smile as he replied, "At best, it might be injured and suffer a shortened lifespan; at worst, it could result in death..."
Li Yuanjiao''s smile faded slightly as he remarked, "This technique is indeed quite... costly to use."
Li Yuanjiao appeared slightly displeased on the surface, but inwardly, he was both relieved and satisfied.
The technique appealed to him greatly, not merely because of the Hooked Serpent it could tame. While the prospects of having a Foundation Establishment Realm ally were indeed enticing and the cold qi gathering method was useful for his family, these were only secondary concerns.
In Li Yuanjiao''s view, the primary benefit of this technique was its ability to conceal his family''s frequent captures of live demon creatures. The Li Family had long sought after a simr technique for this very reason.
After all, we often capture monsters alive for sacrifices. They disappear after being brought to the mountain, which might be alright once or twice, but if it bes a pattern, it will be difficult to avoid suspicion if someone decides to investigate.
With this spell, we can openly capture monsters and bring them back to the mountain. After the sacrifice, I can simply im that the ritual failed...
Moreover, Li Yuanjiao understood that the Yuan Family had failed several times in the past because they could not find a suitable Purple Mansion Realm spirit item, and resorted to using Foundation Establishment Realm spirit items.
Putting aside the seemingly endless supply of Supreme Yin Moonlight of unknown grade, the secret chamber at home was also filled with golden-white osmanthus and moonlit orchid grass when the immortal mirror reacted to Yu Muxian''s presence in Moongaze Lake.
Though the Li Family could not identify the grade of these spirit items, they still collected and stored them away. Despite theirck of knowledge about proper preservation methods which caused the item to gradually deteriorate, there were still many pieces left in the Purple Mansion Realm jade box.
With confidence in his heart, Li Yuanjiao immediately asked, "What is the origin of this technique, Senior? If it is some secret technique of unknown origin or an offensive nature, I wouldn''t dare to use it."
Li Yuanjiao had a guess in mind, but Yuan Huyuan, noticing his expression, felt guilty for withholding certain information and looked rather awkward. Upon hearing Li Yuanjiao''s question, Yuan Huyuan quickly answered, "This Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique was acquired by my ancestor from the northern Yanyang Temple. After obtaining this legacy, he rose to prominence and eventually established the Yuan Family. That was approximately..."
Yuan Huyuan counted on his fingers and finished his sentence, "I would say 1,600 years ago."
1,600 years?!
Li Yuanjiao repeated this number incredulously in his heart.
Yuan Huyuan then borated, "My ancestor was fortunate enough to establish a Dao lineage, but it was a dark age. The ancient Wei State had fallen, the Jie people migrated south, and Metallic Essence demons were rampant. Although he was a Daoist Master, he was only able to protect himself..."
"Later, my family was disced and migrated south. Unfortunately, the Daoist Master was captured and consumed by Metallic Essence demons. The surviving members fled in all directions, and much of the Dao lineage was lost. My branch eventually settled in Xu State six hundred years ago, with only two Qi Cultivators remaining."
Yuan Huyuan spoke with a touch of pride and continued, "My ancestors continued south, shing with the Chi Family''s ancestors many times. They eventually settled in the Mushroom Forest in. As descendants of the Purple Mansion Realm, they had Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators among them. After more than a hundred years, the Azure Chi Sect was founded, and my family became a member... At that time, four of the twelve peaks were upied, and the sect flourished for a period."
Li Yuanjiao continued to listen intently as Yuan Huyuan suddenly smiled awkwardly and spoke in a low voice, "It''s a pity my family failed several times in breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm, and we''ve gradually declined..."
Li Yuanjiao could easily sense his destion. The Jiangnan of today was not the same as it was hundreds of years ago. Back then, cultivators were rare, spirit items were abundant, and the Immortal Mansion had just retreated from the world.
At that time, the Yuan Family''s strength was not much different from what it is now. They were still prominent back then, so it was understandable that they now felt the frustration of being in decline.
Yuan Huyuan sighed deeply and said, "Back then, Purple Smoke was just a small temple, and the Kong Family was scrambling for a minor county magistrate position. Wanyu Sword Gate was under the rule of Dongli Sect. Chen Family of Lingyu Gate rented a cave dwelling on my family''s territory and had to lower their pride over thirty Spirit Stones. Thebined territories of those four sect and gates couldn''t even match the size of my family''s market... And now... now..."
In an era where snake dragons turned into pure dragons, the Yuan Family squandered their opportunities bit by bit. This has always been a source of pain for many of the Yuan Family''s elders. Yuan Huyuan could only sigh repeatedly, unable to finish his sentence.
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly. The Yuan Family''s luck had indeed been average, which eased his suspicions somewhat.
At least the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique itself isn''t a trap. This technique has a longer history than Azure Pond...
He moved on to the next technique provided by the Yuan Family, which could be used for gathering the Forest Dark Cold Qi. Stowing away both jade slips, he took out the pill and said softly, "Please send a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to assist me with capturing the demon creature, Senior. Once the task ispleted, I''ll hand over this pill, and you''ll help me unlock the secret techniques on the jade slip."
Yuan Huyuan quickly nodded and replied, "Sure. Please wait a moment, I''ve already invited a cultivator from the n to join us."
After a brief wait, a strong bearded man with thick eyebrowsnded in the yard. He gave Li Yuanjiao a quick look, then cupped his fist and greeted respectfully, "I am Yuan Chengdun. Greetings to n Head and fellow Daoist!"
Yuan Huyuan introduced him, "This is my n nephew, Yuan Chengdun. His immortal foundation is Sprawling Azure Mountain and he''s skilled in subduing demons. With him, capturing the little pig demon will be an easy task."
Yuan Chengdun was quite renowned during the devil gues. Li Yuanjiao had heard of him before and was thus very pleased. He stepped forward and cupped his fist respectfully, returning the gesture.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist!"
Yuan Chengdun, carrying two short sticks on his back, was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. He seemed like a reserved man, offering only a slight nod in response.
Li Yuanjiao asked a few casual questions before leading him to theke.
Chapter 463: Muyun of Mount Yu (II)
Chapter 463: Muyun of Mount Yu (II)
Li Family...
Li Yuanping sat in the central hall with a young man standing beside him. He was tall with broad shoulders and thick eyebrows.
It was Li Xicheng.
Those in the generation of Xi and Yue were all quite talented, except for Li Yuexiang, whose talent was yet to be determined. Li Yuanjiao had fathered this daughter in old age, and she was not even six years old yet.
Li Xicheng was over thirty now and had reached the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"...The issue at the mine has been resolved...It was a rat demon...We''ve sent Uncle Qiuyang over..." he informed respectfully.
Li Yuanping listened to his report carefully and said patiently, "Cheng''er, the Ebony Mine has the most output, so we must handle matters with our own hands. You''ve done the right thing to send Uncle Qiuyang... All the disturbances in the mine must be carefully investigated. Maybe someone is using the demon to fill the holes left from stealing from the mine..."
Li Xicheng lowered his head, then nodded thoughtfully.
"Junior understands."
"Good," Li Yuanping nodded in approval and continued, "Go to Mount Yue. I''ve found Li Jiman for you. Have a heart-to-heart talk with him. Mount Yue produces a lot..."
Li Xicheng nodded in response and Li Yuanping continued, saying, "Now that I think about it, most of those from the generation of Cheng and Ming should already be of age. There''s quite a number of them, are there any outstanding ones?"
Li Xicheng replied, "The children of the major and minor sects are all talented. Two concubine-born sons are brought back to the major sect because their children have spiritual orifices. Now there are eleven people in total, all practicing in the mountains. As for the outstanding ones..."
Li Xicheng paused and continued softly, "Each of them has the talent to be Qi Cultivator, but whether they are exceptional in terms of innate talent and character... that remains to be seen."
Li Yuanping did not seem to be in a rush and merely responded gently, "With the implementation of the new system, the four lineages are much closer. These children have been eating and living together since they went up the mountain. As long as they are loyal to the family and be Qi Cultivators as well as the backbone of the family in the future, they need not be overachievers. "
Li Yuanping nced at Li Xicheng beside him, who still seemed a little worried, prompting him to exin in further detail, "All the direct descendants of the family and those in the major and minor sects are going up the mountain to cultivate so that they can get to know each other and be sent out to govern the peaks in the future. As for Mount Qingdu, with you brothers in charge, there won''t be too many problems."
The uncle and nephew were both deep in discussion when a servant approached and announced respectfully, "Family Head, Xiao Muyun from Mount Yu is here to visit!"
"Xiao Muyun?" Li Yuanping was momentarily surprised but then smiled warmly and instructed, "Hurry up and bring him in!"
A teenager, no more than twelve or thirteen, soon entered. He was dressed in ck, exhibiting the calmposure of someone far beyond his age. He kneeled, bowed and respectfully greeted Li Yuanping.
"Muyun greets Uncle!"
This boy was none other than Xiao Muyun, the son of Li Qingxiao and Xiao Xian, now the young master of Mount Yu. Li Yuanping quickly approached to help him up, taking a closer look at the boy. He noted Muyun''s calm demeanor and bright, intelligent eyes and could not help but praise him, "Good... very good! You have an excellent bearing and appearance."
Xiao Muyun simply cupped his fist humbly. Reaching the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm at the age of twelve or thirteen was already an impressive achievement. Li Xicheng stepped forward with a smile and said, "Ah, so you are my younger cousin!"
The Li Family had rescued Li Qingxiao and Xiao Muyun, so their bond was naturally strong. Li Yuanping asked warmly, "How are things at Mount Yu? Your second uncle has already established his foundation... If you need anything, our family will support you!"
Xiao Muyun was visibly moved and replied, "Uncle, my father and grandfather passed away together back then, but it was our family that saved us. We traveled to many ces, and with the Spirit Stones and talismans we received, I was able to retain my position as the head of Mount Yu. Now, my mother and I oversee Mount Yu... Only a few old stubborn men still remain. I came this time to return the seventy Spirit Stones we borrowed."
He took out a storage pouch from his chest pocket and handed it over to Li Xicheng.
"If the family ever needs anything, the Mount Yu lineage will definitelye to your aid!" he promised sincerely.
Li Yuanping sighed and shook his head.
"Mount Yu is still in the hands of the Xiao Family. Excessive contact between us might give others a reason to criticize. Your focus should be on cultivation¡ªbreaking through to the Foundation Establishment as soon as possible would be the greatest help you could offer," he said.
"Yes!" Xiao Muyun replied earnestly.
Li Yuanping then turned to Li Xicheng and suggested, "Take your cousin for a walk and introduce him to his other cousins."
Li Xicheng cupped his fist in response, and the two departed. Afterward, Li Yuanping opened a storage pouch to find eighty Spirit Stones. Along with the ten extra stones, he also saw a small letter written by Li Qingxiao. Every word on it was sincere and heartfelt.
With these eighty stones, the gap left by the construction of the family''s formation is finally filled.
Li Yuanping felt a sense of relief as the burden that had weighed on him for so long was finally lifted. He put away the storage pouch, savoring a rare moment of contentment.
Just as he finished making some arrangements, a n soldier entered the hall swiftly and spoke in a low voice, "Family Head, the elder is asking if the n has any spirit items that could calm qi."
The elder in question was none other than Li Xuanxuan. The Li Family had suffered heavy losses, and he was the only one left who could be referred to as an elder.
Li Yuanping hesitated before replying softly, "If it''s truly necessary, I can send someone to Qingdu Peak to inquire."
Li Xuanxuan, though only seventy years old, had used life-shortening techniques multiple times and had suffered three or four severe injuries. He had aged significantly but spent year after year stubbornly toiling away at drawing talismans instead of taking it easy.
Li Xuanxuan had no hope of further advancement. His current cultivation was the result of numerous fortuitous encounters. Now, as he delved deeper into talisman crafting, his suspicions grew more and more intense.
Whenever he meditated, countless illusions gued him. He faced mental obstacles and relied on Tranquility Pills to find some semnce of calmness.
The old man could no longer even draw talismans with precision. He had been taking Tranquility Pills at home, but whenever he did, he felt guilty for wasting the family''s Spirit Stones and would furiously throw himself back into talisman crafting.
Li Yuanping closed his eyes and sighed. Li Xuanxuan was now the eldest in the family, and no one could persuade him to take a break.
Li Yuanping sighed internally.
The pills are not a major concern... I only fear that...
The Li Family had consulted with experts who deduced that Li Xuanxuan should have another eighty to ny years left to live. Despite only being halfway through his expected lifespan, his current madness made it seem like it could shorten his lifespan by another dozen years.
While Li Yuanping was lost in thought, he felt a chill settle over him and began to cough. He took a sip of medicinal tea made from spirit flowers and suddenly realized...
I don''t have many years left either.
Feeling dizzy, he sank back into his seat, silently tapping the table with his fingers.
Eleven people... all with the potential for reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm... Sister Hong is about to establish her foundation too. Ming''er should also be able to achieve his foundation in thirty years, and then we''ll have fifteen or sixteen direct descendants in the Qi Cultivation Realm...
For some reason, Li Yuanping thought of the Yu Family from the past, and his heart sank slightly.
Prosperity is fragile... I wonder if Xicheng will manage the family well...
Chapter 464: Setting Trap
Chapter 464: Setting Trap
While they hurried to Mount Dali, Li Yuanjiao ryed the crucial information about the pig demon to Yuan Chengdun, who listened intently with a frown on his face.
"Do you have a n to trap this pig demon?" Yuan Chengdun asked with a serious expression, "While my Immortal Foundation is adept at eliminating monsters, it''s not suited for pursuit. I doubt the two of us alone will seed."
Li Yuanjiao retrieved a green item from his storage pouch and replied, "I have a Foundation Establishment Realm formation te. Trapping the monster isn''t the issue; it''s getting it out of the mountain that concerns me."
Yuan Chengdun''s face lit up as he assured, "Don''t worry, fellow Daoist. Leave that to me."
He surveyed the mountain with Li Yuanjiao before eventually descending into a small valley.
"Does this demon eat humans?" Yuan Chengdun asked.
"Yes," Li Yuanjiao confirmed.
A smile spread across Yuan Chengdun''s face as he replied, "Perfect. This will be easy."
He pulled a jade bottle from his pouch and whispered, "The taste of human flesh is unforgettable. Once it''s had a taste, it''lle looking for more."
Yuan Chengdun tipped the jade bottle, spilling some dust onto the ground that eventually formed a small mound of red soil. He then took out another jade box and opened it carefully.
Insidey a small white flower, with white petals on top and green sepals on the bottom. It was about the size of a palm and looked quite ordinary though it was on the verge of blooming.
Yuan Chengdun nted the flower in the red soil and performed a spell. The flower instantly bloomed, its pretty petals now dripping with a reddish liquid. Soon, a peculiar fist-sized skull emerged on the top of it.
Li Yuanjiao looked at him with concern and asked, "Do you think this method will work, fellow Daoist? If the fragrance is too potent, it could attract all the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realm demons in the mountain and cause a hugemotion."
Yuan Chengdun responded calmly, "The Ancient Head Flower isn''t that potent, it will only attract a few demon creatures. Just wait and see."
While performing his spell under Li Yuanjiao''s gaze, Yuan Chengdun remarked with a smile, "The demon creatures in Mount Dali are nothing like those on the southern border. Most of them are quite foolish, having lived infort for so long that they''ve forgotten how to defend themselves."
Li Yuanjiao asked, "Does the Demon Den not care about this?"
Yuan Chengdun shook his head and replied, "Don''t be fooled by the ostentatious disy of demon generals outside the Demon Den. In reality, the outer areas are clearly marked. If any peak master from the three sects or seven gates wants to tame or collect these demons, they could do so anytime."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, feeling like a lot of questions in his heart had been answered.
Yuan Chengdun continued, "To those Purple Mansion Realm foxes, these pigs, dogs, snakes, and wolves are nothing more than livestock, much like cattle and sheep raised by mortals."
After chatting for a while, two Embryonic Breathing Realm demons approached. Yuan Chengdun dispatched them with a single palm strike and continued, "Those in the Demon Den kill just as many demons as those outside. In fact, apart from a few species, the ones in the den are even more brutal. There''s no restraint among them¡ªit''s natural for wolves to prey on deer and foxes to hunt rabbits."
"It''s said that immortals and demons in Jiangnan coexist in harmony, which is why the region is so renowned. However, the immortals they refer to are the immortals of the Purple Mansion Realm, and demons are those of the Purple Mansion Realm. What happens among those beneath the Purple Mansion Realm is of no concern to anyone," Yuan Chengdun added with a sneer.
Just then, a demon mist rolled in from the distance. A hoof was still visible through the ck mist, and a loud demonicugh echoed around their surroundings.
"Hahaha... Seems like I''ve found a treasure today!"
It turned out to be a sinister-looking ck deer demon. The demon had just devoured the Ancient Head Flower and was trying to assimte this newfound power.
Yuan Chengdun and Li Yuanjiao took cover and waited until the demon had fully digested the flower before making a move.
BAM!
Yuan Chengdun struck again with a powerful palm strike. The ck deer demon, cultivating in the mid-air, was caught off guard and instantly went lifeless. It plummeted and crashed into the ground with a loud crash.
Pointing at the fallen demon, Yuan Chengdun exined, "This deer demon ate the Ancient Head Flower, so its flesh and blood will be particrly vorful. We''ll just have to drag it back and use it as bait to lure the pig demon out."
Li Yuanjiao understood his n. Yuan Chengdun''s trap was straightforward and likely sufficient for dealing with ordinary demons. However, given his understanding of the pig demon in this mountain, Li Yuanjiao doubted that such a simple trap would work.
Although it was just a dumb pig, it was cautious enough to hide from Li Tongya for years. Hence, Li Yuanjiao believed that it would not be fooled so easily.
Li Yuanjiao cupped his hands and said softly, "That pig demon is cleverer than it seems... I don''t think this is enough to make it risk its life."
Yuan Chengdun thought Li Yuanjiao might be overly cautious but was willing to consider his opinion.
"What do you propose, fellow Daoist?" he asked.
"I need to leave for a bit, but I''ll be right back," Li Yuanjiao replied then flew into the mountain to look for the White Banyan Fox.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the Vermilion Cave...
The demon den was dim and oppressive, with several blood pools. A burly man was seated in the middle of one of them, and was cultivating in silence.
Each blood pool required the blood of a thousand people to fill, which was a terribly daunting task. Even though it was a demon general of the Foundation Establishment Realm, it had been a long time since it had enjoyed such luxury.
With the Li Family at the foot of the mountain back then, he had to venture into neighboring prefectures to kidnap humans for the sake of his cultivation. However, that was a dangerous endeavor.
Fortunately, the devil gue in recent years had driven down the price of blood qi, easing his plights.
"Which one has died?" he demanded, furrowing his brow.
The pig demon before the blood pool reported, "Great king! I went out of my way to investigate and found that the ck deer at the foot of the mountain is dead. No one dared approach... I came here to inform you as soon as I received the news!"
The burly figure rose from the blood pool, anger shing in his eyes as he yelled, "Where is the corpse?! Don''t tell me someone has eaten it without my permission?!"
The pig demon quickly presented the remains of the deer, trying its best not to drool as it replied, "Great king! The ck deer must have eaten something... Its corpse smells really delicious!"
The lesser pig demon hauled up the ck deer''s remains with two of its hooves bitten off.
The Foundation Establishment Realm pig demon paid no mind to this and eagerly devoured it, causing blood to stter everywhere messily as he bit into the flesh.
"It''s truly delicious, but I can''t tell what it ate... Send someone to investigate," the burly man ordered, his voice reflecting his satisfaction.
Another demon approached, reporting urgently, "Great king! The White Banyan Fox from the south has sent a message. It ims that a cultivator has died in the mountains and is requesting your assistance in locating him!"
The demon general was taken aback by the news. Ever since the White Banyan Fox hade to his domain, it had been distant and aloof. He was unsure of its background in the den and had only epted its tributes ceremonially, wary of making direct contact.
Now that the fox hade seeking his help and hinted that it might be a direct descendant of a great demon from the den, the demon general''s joy was palpable. Securing such a rtionship would alleviate his fears of being overpowered by intruders in the future.
His excitement caused his demonic power to surge, and his face, which had been maintaining a human appearance, reverted to its pig-like form.
Smiling broadly, he eximed, "No wonder it tasted so exquisite! It turns out it had consumed parts of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator! Where did you find the ck deer? Bring me there immediately!"
Eager to investigate, he quickly conjured up a demonic mist, and, with his subordinates in tow, swiftly flew toward the area outside Mount Dali.
Chapter 465: Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual (I)
Chapter 465: Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual (I)
Li Yuanjiao and Yuan Chengdun waited for a while. A fierce demonic wind blew in from the south, causing sand and pebbles to swirl in the valley. A ck demonic mist surged from the horizon, and at the forefront stood a burly man wielding a white bone hammer.
Behind him were several demonic creatures, all of various strange appearances¡ªa wolf and a deer nked a pig demon in the center as they descended to the ground. Hidden in the Profound Patterned Bottle''s mist, Li Yuanjiao performed a hand seal.
BOOM!
The group of demons joyouslynded, triggering the Foundation Establishment Realm formation. A green light barrier rose around them,pletely isting them from their surroundings.
The Foundation Establishment Realm demon barely managed to keep itsposure while the lesser demons, still in the Qi Cultivation Realm, were terrified. Some stumbled, and others tried to flee.
This Foundation Establishment Realm formation was from an artifact carried by Kong Tingyun, a direct disciple of Profound Peak Gate.
The lesser demons were instantly thrown into disarray. As they struggled in confusion, Yuan Chengdun silently emerged from the ck mist, removing the two short rods from his back and delivering a heavy strike without uttering a word.
Golden-blue light flickered around him as his immortal foundation Sprawling Azure Mountain activated. With a heavy stomp on the ground and a swing of his two short rods, Yuan Chengdun shattered the bones of the wolf demon, breaking it into pieces seemingly effortlessly. The other rod struck the deer demon, causing its head to shatter into fragments, its blood sttering everywhere.
They would have made good Qi Cultivation Realm sacrificial offerings!
Seeing Yuan Chengdun kill two demons so swiftly, Li Yuanjiao feared he might continue the ughter. He quickly maneuvered through the ck mist, extending his hand to draw the Qingche Sword from its sheath, the sharp green-white de gleaming menacingly.
Yuan Chengdun also rushed forward, his short rods gleaming with golden light as fine golden patterns emerged on his face. With a cold expression, he attacked the Foundation Establishment Realm pig demon which was shrouded in dark mist, angrily muttering and raising its bone hammer to block his attacks. The sh with Li Yuanjiao''s sword arc produced a harsh, grating sound.
Yuan Chengdun ignored the demon''s resistance, his short rods carrying formidable power as he skillfully executed his strikes.
The pig demon, caught between two formidable opponents, was in dire straits. It opened its mouth wide and unleashed a wave of demonic mist, hoping to fend off Yuan Chengdun''s assault.
"What crude demonic art! You dare show this off?!" Yuan Chengdunughed as the golden light of Sprawling Azure Mountain easily dispersed the mist. His rods then struck the pig demon''s chest, causing it to spit blood and struggle to maintain its form, its body beginning to swell as it reverted to its original form.
Li Yuanjiao was about to intervene when Yuan Chengdun called out, "No need to interfere, fellow Daoist! It has been a while since I have had the pleasure of pummeling such a clumsy and thick-skinned pig demon... Let me savor this!"
Li Yuanjiao paused for a moment before smiling and stepping back, allowing Yuan Chengdun to continue in his pleasures.
In the dark mist, a golden light shone brightly as the pig demon transformed into a massive creature the size of a grand hall, its ck fur-like armor with its green eyes glowing ominously.
Yuan Chengdun remained unfazed, wielding his short rods like hammers. Despite their rtively small sizepared to the pig demon, he struck with full force, and the demon, using all its strength, barely managed to block the attacks while shouting loudly, "Sprawling Azure Mountain?! What did I do to offend your Yuan Family that you traveled so far to ambush me?!"
The pig demon noticed Li Yuanjiao but did not associate him with the Li Family. After all, if the Li Family wanted him dead, Li Tongya would havee, and the pig demon would have already been chopped into pieces. There would be no need for such borate schemes.
Yuan Chengdun simply replied with a grin, "How many man-eating demons have fallen to my short rods? Whether you offended our family or not, it does not matter!"
The pig demon, with its tough skin and thick hide, could not escape and was beaten relentlessly, crying out in pain and spitting blood.
Sprawling Azure Mountain truly lives up to its reputation, Li Yuanjiao thought to himself.
Yuan Chengdun''s way of wielding the rods was unusual, holding them by the ends as if they were short hammers, striking with resounding force. Li Yuanjiao watched closely, noticing the skill in Yuan Chengdun''s technique, and could not help but advise, "Hold back a bit, fellow Daoist! Do not kill it!"
As he spoke, a spring of grayish-green water gushed from the ground beneath his feet as a ck water serpent coiled and spread out, capturing all the Qi Cultivation Realm demons trembling within the formation.
This rod technique is more than meets the eye... Li Yuanjiao thought as he observed more closely.
Yuan Chengdun''s rod technique was likely a legacy passed down from the Yuan Family''s connection with Yanyang Temple in the north and was at least a Grade Four technique. It was ancient and powerful, easily beating the pig demon into wailing submission.
Sprawling Azure Mountain must be an immortal foundation simr to Jade Court General, enhancing the body and excelling inbat arts...
After watching for a while, Li Yuanjiao heard the soft sounds of water as the Jing Dragon King returned, dragging along a few Qi Cultivation Realm demons.
"One at thete stage of Qi Cultivation Realm, and two at the early stage..."
The difference between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Qi Cultivation Realm was like that between mortals and immortals. Li Yuanjiao nced at them briefly and lost interest, focusing instead on the pig demon that was still howling in pain.
"Mymander is of the demon den''s direct lineage, sent here on a mission! You better know your ce... Ah!"
The pig demon was struck a few more times as its eyes reddened with fury, and its aura surged as it opened its mouth wide, spewing a blood-red torrent filled with countless skulls and bones that all rushed toward Yuan Chengdun.
Yuan Chengdun remained unperturbed, flicking his finger to release arge, crystalline hide. With just a flick, it captured the blood-red river, causing it to crash to the ground like a dead snake, writhing for a moment before going still.
Yuan Chengdun continued his onught, switching through several rod techniques as the pig demon, beaten within an inch of its life, copsed to the ground.
"In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn... Your rod technique is truly impressive, fellow Daoist!" Li Yuanjiao praised.
Yuan Chengdun, slightly perspiring but in high spirits, replied, "My immortal foundation disperses demonic essence, leaving it unable to cast spells or perform techniques. Its body and artifacts are inferior to mine, and with the formation blocking any escape, it naturally met this fate."
Li Yuanjiao descended lightly, sealing the acupoints and Dao foundation of the pig demon. The ck serpent dragon surged, binding all the small demons together before he stowed away the formation te.
Yuan Chengdun smiled slightly, just about to take his leave when both of them suddenly fell silent.
A man stood just outside the formation.
He appeared to be a middle-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation in histe thirties or early forties. He wore a mismatched Daoist robe, his skin slightly tanned, and his pupils were vertical slits like those of a serpent dragon, emitting a reddish-brown glow as he quietly observed the two men.
Li Yuanjiao and Yuan Chengdun immediately became vignt. The Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator spoke in a hoarse voice, "A member of the Li Family?"
Li Yuanjiao cupped his fist and nodded.
"And you are..?"
The man, wary of Yuan Chengdun, softened his tone, "An old acquaintance from Mount Yue... I am Fei Luoya. How is Daoist Tongya doing these days?"
"Ah, it''s you, Senior Fei Luoya! I am Li Yuanjiao."
Li Yuanjiao immediately understood. This man was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator left from Mount Wu and a close neighbor of the Li Family, the Mount Yue cultivator Fei Luoya.
Years ago, this person appeared when the Li Family made Eastern Mount Yue their vassal. Granduncle Li Tongya, borrowing the reputation of the sword immortal upheld by the families of Xiao and Fei, deterred him. Later, they even traded valuable medicines with him. They had some dealings in the past.
Having been fighting on someone else''s territory for quite a while, it was no surprise that this Mount Yue cultivator hade to investigate. Li Yuanjiao apologized a few times, but Fei Luoya waved it off, saying in a low voice, "And this is?"
"Yuan Chengdun of the Yuan Family from Mushroom Forest in," Yuan Chengdun replied steadily, "I was sent by the elders of my n to assist the Li Family in ying demons."
Fei Luoya nodded in understanding, his hoarse voice continuing, "As it happens, I have something I wish to discuss with you."
Yuan Chengdun cupped his fist and tactfully announced, "Now that this matter is resolved, I shall take my leave."
With the mirror in hand and a good sense of the character of the people of Mount Yue, Li Yuanjiao had no fear of letting him go.
Fei Luoya began, "Daoist Tongya''s fame for ying the Maha is truly impressive. Although I live in this poor and remote ce, I have heard of it as well. I wonder..."
Li Yuanjiao had avoided this topic once before, but seeing that Fei Luoya was fixated on it, he replied, "The ancestor is currently in seclusion."
Chapter 466: Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual (II)
Chapter 466: Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual (II)
Fei Luoya raised an eyebrow. His eyes, made more terrifying by his special cultivation method, stared at Li Yuanjiao as he let out a strangeugh.
"ying a Maha with a sword must have left Daoist Tongya gravely injured..."
Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes slightly, but before he could respond, Fei Luoya added, "To provoke a Maha... He must have done that under someone''s orders, right?"
Li Yuanjiao, sharp as ever, quickly pieced it together and thought to himself, Granduncle must have used some Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s name to protect himself back then!
His expression shifted as he said, "I see now that Senior shares a deep connection with my granduncle! I apologize for my earlier rudeness."
Thisment made Fei Luoya pause in surprise while Li Yuanjiao continued, "Though we are protected from above, there are certain orders... we must follow."
Having spent years doing dirty work under Duanmu Kui, Fei Luoya naturally empathized with this. He had always harbored a favorable impression of Li Tongya and weed Li Yuanjiao''s attempt to befriend him.
He then said, "Do you know when Li Tongya will leave seclusion? I have a business proposition for him."
Li Yuanjiao responded, "Please tell me, Senior."
"Naturally, it involves killing someone," Fei Luoya said as he paused, his voice turning serious, "I have a peer from the same faction named Fu Daimu, ate-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to my south. We have never gotten along. Recently, I heard that his Daopanion is about to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. I sense that this spells trouble for me, and more likely than not, he wille to kill me."
Fei Luoya shook his head as he continued in a graver tone, "Since he might try to kill me, I might as well find someone to kill him first. I have already enlisted the help of another peer from the same faction, but it is still not enough. I was hoping Daoist Tongya could lend a hand; with his help, sess would be almost certain."
Li Yuanjiao did not want to be inexplicably dragged into a conflict between Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, so he gently shook his head.
However, Fei Luoya, with his crimson eyes glowing, waved his hand dismissively and said, "If Daoist Tongya does not act, I will have to abandon this ce and leave. In the future, if there is ate-stage Foundation Establishment Realm shaman of Mount Yue lurking near your n, life won''t be easy for you either."
Li Yuanjiao raised his eyebrows and looked at the man. Fei Luoya''s expression was somewhat indifferent as he slowly continued, "Fu Daimu has a dharma artifact, Mountain of Human Heads, that requires blood qi for sacrificial refinement."
Li Yuanjiao exhaled lightly and asked, "Do the high shamans still have any connection with Azure Pond Sect? I am afraid Fu Daimu might have backing."
Fei Luoya rasped, "How could I, a down-and-out Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, know such things? Your n has deep connections, so naturally, it falls on your Li Family to investigate this."
Seeing Li Yuanjiao remain silent, Fei Luoya''s expression grew serious as he continued, "I did note here to provoke, but rather to urge your n to prepare in advance. I, Fei Luoya, simply do not want to leave my homnd and swallow this bitter pill, but your n cannot afford to relocate either!"
The Mount Yue cultivator paused and lowered his voice, saying, "I am sure you understand the way of the world¡ªwithout the protection of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators are just pawns... I have had enough of being tossed around, living in darkness, unable even to step outside my own mountain gate!"
"I have practiced shamanic spells for many years and consider myself to be rather courageous. Please put in a good word for me with that person, fellow Daoist. If we can work together in the future, it''ll indeed be a wonderful thing."
After leaving these words, Fei Luoya cupped his fist and took his leave, leaving Li Yuanjiao standing there in silence.
Inwardly smiling wryly, he thought to himself, You''re not the only one¡ªeven my family is tired of being pawns too... We also long for the protection of a Purple Mansion Realm master of our own!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Within the mirror world...
The jade slips piled high on Lu Jiangxian''s desk had formed a small mountain, with the apanying stone stool also overflowing with them. The floor beneath his white robe was simrly cluttered with various jade slips, rolling around and leaving no room to step.
"Li Yuanjiao''s journey running all over the ce this time has yielded quite a bounty!" Lu Jiangxian joyfully remarked.
Li Yuanjiao had truly ventured deep into the core of the Yuan Family''s territory, even venturing into the regions of the Yue Cultivating Sect, rogue cultivators, Profound Peak Gate, and various prefectures. He even traveled upstream along the Great River, reaching the borders of the Shen Family, a Purple Mansion Realm immortal n under the Yue Cultivating Sect''s governance.
At present, 668 Embryonic Breathing Realm techniques, 98 Qi Cultivation Realm techniques, 21 Foundation Establishment Realm techniques, and 15 misceneous arts had been recorded. Lu Jiangxian materialized them one by one, piling them up on the mountaintop.
Gazing at the vast collection of jade slips, Lu Jiangxian felt a deep sense of security. He slowly reached out, and a glowing blue jade slip materialized in his hand, the Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual¡ªa Grade Six cultivation method, directly leading to a Purple Mansion Realm immortal technique!
This was the first time Lu Jiangxian had acquired a Grade Six cultivation method, and it was also the firstplete series of Purple Mansion Realm immortal techniques he had obtained.
This was a legacy that the Yuan Family had secretly safeguarded for 1,600 years, hidden beneath Mount Yuan in their territory, protected by sevenyers of restrictive formations that even isted the great void, making it inessible to even Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
Of course, under Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense, whether it was sevenyers or seventyyers of formations, they were useless. The formations that could iste the great void only caused him a slight pause before he effortlessly bypassed them.
As the Yuan Family''s treasured legacy, the Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual was naturally encrypted with secret methods. Unfortunately for them, the jade slip containing the encryption was hidden beneath a memorial tablet, which Lu Jiangxian had also discovered.
After carefully studying this Purple Mansion Realm cultivation technique for a while, Lu Jiangxian was lost in thought.
The Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual centered around the Dao foundation known as Profound Goat, which could be cultivated all the way to form a Purple Mansion Realm divine ability.
This Grade Six cultivation method was the core, apanied by four rted immortal foundations for the Foundation Establishment Realm. Once these were cultivated after breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm, they could lead one to the peak of the realm.
These primary immortal foundations were Azure Crest Manifestation, Sprawling Azure Mountain, Almighty Crag, Abyss Observer, and Profound Goat.
They were all aligned with a single metallic essence, known as Azure Dam Divine Mountain Sprawling Essence.
At the end of the manual, there was an appendix that included a supplementary method, cultivating an immortal foundation called Lower Yang Essence, specifically prepared for cases where a particr immortal foundation could not be cultivated. This could substitute one of the immortal foundations in Azure Dam''s Metallic Essence to form the metallic essence.
"Indeed, this is aplete legacy; they even prepared a lower-level substitute Dao Partner... It seems the Yanyang Temple was once a decent Dao lineage..." Lu Jiangxian mumbled softly.
Yuan Huyuan had imed that much of the legacy from Yanyang Temple had been lost, but now, seeing thepleteness of the Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual, it was clear that this was merely a lie to keep things under wraps.
"But the Yuan Family clearly possesses a Purple Mansion Realm immortal technique... so how could they fail to produce a single Purple Mansion Realm cultivator for over a thousand years?!"
Lu Jiangxian studied the technique for a while longer before identifying the issue: ity in the core immortal foundation, Profound Goat, which required a specific form of Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth known as Variant Goat Profound Qi.
"Refined Yang Profound Qi had to be gathered from Azure Variant Mountain Stone exposed under the scorching sun. It took a year to gather a single wisp, and ten years to obtain a sufficient amount of Azure Variant Qi. Then, using a demon transformed from a sacrificial goat, the qi is repeatedly refined for ten years..."
Lu Jiangxian reviewed the refinement technique meticulously.
The method of gathering this Variant Goat Profound Qi was followed by a dense collection of attempts, all failed attempts to rece the required spiritual qi that were added byter generations.
"Ah, this exins everything... The Yuan Family, after migrating from the north, lost their source of Variant Goat Profound Qi long ago. Their stored spiritual qi gradually dwindled as one Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator after another failed to break through, leading to the decline of the technique...
"As a result, the supplementary Dao foundations became moremonly used by the Yuan Family... But no matter how much they practiced, they could only reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, with no path forward," Lu Jiangxian concluded.
Holding this Purple Mansion Realm immortal technique in his hand, Lu Jiangxian carefully read through the section on divine abilities, feeling a sudden enlightenment. He now had some ideas for the Purple Mansion Realm section of his Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual, which had been stalled.
"However, with so many cultivation methods, I cannot just hand them out freely. If the Li Family were to practice the Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual, it might lead to a conflict with the Yuan Family and attract unwanted attention..."
Lu Jiangxian reconsidered his options.
Chapter 467: Li Wushao (I)
Chapter 467: Li Wushao (I)
Fei Luoya finally departed, and after waiting for a few moments, Li Yuanjiao saw a man flying in from the distant valley. It was Yuan Chengdun, with his two short rods strapped to his back. Hended beside Li Yuanjiao who cupped his fist in greeting.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
Yuan Chengdunughed heartily and replied, "I could not stray too far without securing the pill! If that fellow had any ill intentions and something happened, I would have no way to exin myself."
Understanding his point, Li Yuanjiao took out the Essence Gathering Pill and handed it over. Yuan Chengdun then revealed two jade slips, saying warmly, "These are our n''s secret techniques... Please ensure they are used only within your n and not disseminated indiscriminately."
"Of course," Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement, adding, "In a few days, my younger sister wille to Mushroom Forest in. I''ll have to trouble your esteemed n to look after her."
Impressed by Yuan Chengdun''s formidable strength, Li Yuanjiao had kept the earlier events in mind. He recalled Fei Luoya''s words, and with a smile, he said, "Your strength is truly remarkable... I greatly admire you. If I encounter any difficulties in the future, might I call upon you for assistance, fellow Daoist?"
Yuan Chengdun nodded steadily and replied, "Your son is a disciple under my aunt''s tutge, and our families have been allies for many years. There is no need for formalities; just call on me if needed. A good fight followed by sharing the spoils is always wee."
"Great! Many thanks in advance, fellow Daoist!"
Li Yuanjiao now recognized Yuan Chengdun as a generous and honorable man, a rare genius of the Yuan Family. They exchanged a few warm words, leaving each with a favorable impression before parting ways.
As Li Yuanjiao flew onward, he thought to himself, This man has a grand bearing, a true hero! To have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm at thirty-seven is indeed quite impressive.
Reflecting on Yuan Huyuan''sints, he sighed, "What a pity though. Had he been born five hundred years earlier, the Yuan Family might have secured a ce among the three sects and seven gates... But having been born five hundred yearste, he can only protect them for a period of time."
As Li Yuanjiao flew on, he carefully reread the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique manual, noting that thest part referenced the Daoist Master Profound Goat which eased some of his doubts.
In the end, with Yuan Su, Xiao Chuting, and possibly Mount Dali supporting us, the bnce of power is maintained... The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators are unlikely to harbor ill intentions toward us as long as we pick our immortal foundation carefully.
Instead, it is the Buddhist cultivators manipting fate that are the real danger.
In this grand chessboard of Purple Mansion and Maha, the moves of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators were visible and could be guarded against. But when Maha wanted to kill, it was nearly impossible to defend against them once one''s fate was sealed.
Ultimately, it''s just a concealment technique... nothing too earth-shattering.
He then took out the storage pouch from the pig demon and sifted through its contents before finally letting out a sigh.
"A poor pig indeed..."
The pouch mostly contained various spirit materials with very few Spirit Stones¡ªonly thirty-two in total, leaving Li Yuanjiao speechless.
"My family is not part of the three sects and seven gates. The pig demon''s belongings had already been promised to the demon fox to smooth things over with the demon den, leaving little for anything extra..."
Dragging the Foundation Establishment Realm pig demon back to the mountain, Li Yuanjiao sealed the creature as usual and handed it over to the n''s cultivators for safekeeping. He then descended to the riverside where his spiritual sense swept over the area, quickly locating the Hooked Serpent.
The Hooked Serpent had an enormous iron shackle forged from ebony ore around its neck with iron chains piercing its body. Its originally dark scales were now caked with mud, appearing ck and brown as ity in the muck like a fallen giant tree.
An Zheyan was sitting cross-legged in midair and was surrounded by the Jade Court Guards, who were the elite among those at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Each of them was holding a metal chain in hand, standing quietly.
"Ancestor!"
An Zheyan quickly rose to his feet when he saw Li Yuanjiao approaching.
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly and asked, "You have reached the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... Do you have ns to establish your foundation?"
Since the fall of the An Family, An Zheyan had been cultivating with increasing diligence, following the guidance of his wife, Li Feiruo, and had settledfortably within the Li Family. Over the past twenty-four years, he had attained the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Hearing Li Yuanjiao''s question, he sighed and replied, "I am already one hundred and nine years old... Though I have made considerable progress over the past decade, I know my limits. I''m not made for Foundation Establishment Realm. I do not wish to risk my life either; I only seek a peaceful old age."
"Hmm."
Li Yuanjiao''s gaze moved from An Zheyan to the Hooked Serpent. The snake demon opened its massive, human head-sized ck eyes, and with a ttering of the ebony chains, it moved its head closer in a fawning manner and said, "Exalted Immortal! You''re here, Exalted Immortal! This humble demon has been waiting for so long... What are your orders?"
Li Yuanjiao asked, "This Dao foundation of yours, Morning Cold Rain... Which type of metallic essence is it associated with?"
The Hooked Serpent hesitated for a moment, fear shing across its face.
"I-It''s... It''s... of the Water Mansion system," it finally said.
Water Mansion?
Li Yuanjiao''s interest was instantly piqued, but the Hooked Serpent cried out in terror, "Spare me, Exalted Immortal! Small serpents like me number in the hundreds, if not thousands, in the Eastern Sea. My Dao foundation is impure and unfit for consumption... it would only fetch a low price!"
Seeing the serpent''s fearful demeanor, Li Yuanjiao suddenly recalled something Xiao Yuansi had once said¡ª
Dao foundations of the same system can be consumed by one another, but it will sever the path to the Purple Mansion Realm... However, it offers a unique advantage over the ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. No wonder this Hooked Serpent is so terrified... it fears I will sell it to an immortal cultivator of the Water Mansion system!
This serpent hails from overseas and is a demon. Without the three sects and seven gates withholding information to maintain better control over their cultivators, there''s much knowledge I can extract from it!
Feeling a sudden surge of excitement, Li Yuanjiao quickly asked, "How many metallic essences exist in the water system? What are their names? How many of them are iplete?"
The Hooked Serpent, eager to please, quickly responded with a smile, "ording to what I have heard from the Serpent Dragon Pce... this type of Golden Core Fruition Attainments is collectively known as the Water Virtue, consisting of what is referred to as the Five Waters¡ªPit, Valley, Pristine, Converge, and Mansion. Currently, only Pit Water and Water Mansion have yet to be imed. Exalted Immortal, your dragon serpent belongs to the Pit Water system... consuming me won''t do you any good."
"I see!"
Feeling enlightened, Li Yuanjiao realized, Pit Water... that''s the metallic essence Xiao Chuting was looking for!
He continued his line of questioning, asking, "If that is the case, where are the Valley, Pristine, and Converge Waters located?"
The Hooked Serpent quickly answered, "Pristine Water had been imed long ago by a True Monarch from the Azure Chi Devil Gate. Converge Water has always belonged to the Serpent Dragon Pce, but as for Valley Water... this lowly demon does not know. I only know that the position is upied..."
"Good."
Li Yuanjiao was pleased to uncover such secrets and pressed on, "Do you know the full names of these metallic essences?"
"This humble onecks a strong background and only knows bits and pieces... I am only aware of the five Fruition Attainments of the Water Virtue. There are also five Fruition Attainments for the Fire Virtue..."
The Hooked Serpent continued stammering, "I-I have heard rumors that within the maind, there are Three Gold with Fruition Attainments fully realized, leading to the flourishing of the Golden Stone system. Ebony Copper Essence and cold metal are now abundant, their Sharp Qi so potent that evenmon folk can afford to use iron tools and armor..."
Upon hearing this, a figure in white suddenly shed in Li Yuanjiao''s mind, and he was startled.
"That Wang Xun from back then... so he''s truly the descendant of a Golden Core Realm Immortal!"
Chapter 468: Li Wushao (II)
Chapter 468: Li Wushao (II)
Back in the day when Wang Xun had visited the Li Family, he mentioned that the Wang Family''s ancestor was the leader of the Maind''s Three Gold. Li Yuanjiao had only been half-convinced and skeptical, thinking that only three Golden Core Realm cultivators were left on the maind.
But now, upon reflection, these Three Gold were not three Golden Core Realm cultivators, but rather referring to the three Golden Stone Fruition Attainments!
The Azure Pond Sect alone had a Golden Core Realm cultivator overseeing it, and counting Wu and Yue States, there could be as many as ten Golden Core Realm cultivators on the maind.
"Good... good!" Li Yuanjiao nodded slowly, his thoughts turning over in his mind.
Suddenly, he leaned closer to the Hooked Serpent and whispered, "Oh? Since you say that the Golden Stone system''s Fruition Attainments had been fully realized, then why are there five Fruition Attainments in the Water Virtue, but only three in the Golden Stone?"
The Hooked Serpent was taken aback, having never thought deeply about this before. Caught off guard, it mumbled, "That is true... why is that? Five Waters, Five Fires, yet only Three Golds..."
Finally, it responded, "This lowly one truly does not know! May the Exalted Immortal discern the truth!"
After several rounds of intense questioning, it was clear the Hooked Serpent had no more valuable information to provide. Li Yuanjiao silently observed the serpent for a few moments, his gaze making the creature''s scales bristle with fear.
Knowing that this was a moment of life and death, the Hooked Serpent flicked its tongue nervously and pleaded, "This lowly one has struggled to cultivate for a hundred years just to gain sentience. I entered thesends only to seek spirit waters, with no intent to harm anyone. My spirit water, twin hooks, and serpent pearl have all been taken by the Exalted Immortal... Now, I only beg for my life to be spared..."
Li Yuanjiao, deep in thought, considered the matter.
The matter of the Hooked Serpent was entrusted by Kong Tingyun, who is connected to the Profound Peak. They''ve shown goodwill to our family many times; the situation should be manageable...
He lifted the serpent and said in a low voice, "I can spare your life, but you must serve my family for the rest of your days. I have borrowed a secret method, and you must cooperate in relinquishing your spirituality... Are you willing?"
The Hooked Serpent, relieved to see a way out, quickly responded, "Yes! I am willing!"
Li Yuanjiao adjusted his sleeves as Li Xicheng arrived with a group of Jade Court Guards. Stepping forward, Li Xicheng respectfully greeted, "Second Uncle."
Li Yuanjiao then asked, "How many Spirit Stones remain in the family?"
Li Xicheng quickly replied, "The family''s Spirit Stones are primarily reserved for tributes, leaving only fifty extra. The Green Ox River Embrace Formation cost one hundred and fifteen, with eighty sent from Mount Yu to cover the shortfall, leaving a surplus of fifteen Spirit Stones."
Li Yuanjiao fell silent for a moment.
The materials needed to tame this serpent were worth around ny spirit stones. The family had three of the necessary items, but the rest would have to be purchased from other families.
He took out fifty Spirit Stones and instructed, "These are from my personal savings along with what we gained from ying the demons. Gather sixty-five more... that should be enough. Bring them to me in a few days."
After a short pause, he added, "Your aunt is going to Mushroom Forest in to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Send a few people to apany her."
Li Qinghong was somewhat apprehensive of the prospect, but Li Yuanjiao had full confidence in her.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Snow fell regrly over Moongaze Lake. Qingdu Peak stood tall in theke''s center and was surrounded by several small hills. The ckish-brown stone peaks stood silently as the green formation barrier activated, isting the area from the outside world.
The Hooked Serpent coiled its deep-ck body atop one of the small stone peaks, raising its head and exhaling a series of white breaths that surged upward toward the mountain.
Li Yuanjiao had warned it several times that if the technique failed, it would suffer severe injuries, and the Li Family had no extra elixirs to spare. The serpent, naturally anxious, continued to exhale white breath.
Before long, a beam of white light rose from the mountaintop and pierced through the sky, then imprinted itself on the serpent''s head. It was asrge as a carriage. A white mark soon appeared and a portion of its spirituality was extracted, which flew toward Li Yuanjiao who was waiting on the mountain patiently.
Li Yuanjiao descended slowly, the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique smoothly functioning as expected. The Hooked Serpent, far from showing signs of weakness, was instead brimming with energy and continuously exhaling cold qi, clearly having benefited from the ritual.
"It seems this truly is a spirit material of the Purple Mansion Realm..." Li Yuanjiao mumbled in awe.
The six points of the Six Dams Life Matching formation naturally corresponded to the six types of spirit materials recorded. At the center, Li Yuanjiao ced a Supreme Yin Osmanthus Blossom, filled to the brim with Supreme Yin Moonlight, though much of it had dissipated wastefully.
With a flick of his hand, the Hooked Serpent''s Cold Jade Serpent Pearl shot out and into its gaping maw. The serpent''s aura surged dramatically, its scales deepening in color, once again exuding the presence of a demon general.
The Hooked Serpent continued exhaling cold air for an hour, its massive eyes flickering with a cold white light for three full breaths before finally calming down. The snake coiled around the mountain, its body shifting, causing a cascade of rocks to tumble down with a series of sharp, cracking sounds.
It took to the air, casting a shadow over the ground, and uponnding, its form shifted into that of a young man dressed in ck, with a dark and fierce demeanor. His eyes were narrow, his clothing tight and practical as he cupped his fist and bowed.
"This subordinate greets the master!"
Li Yuanjiao noticed that the serpent''s twin tails were still bare and asked, "Can the hooks on your tail grow back?"
The Hooked Serpent''s venom was infamous. Even Kong Tingyun needed to borrow an artifact in order to restrain the serpent''s tails. Without those poisonous hooks, its strength would be significantly diminished.
The young man in ck shook his head repeatedly and answered, "Master, unless I consume some treasured panacea or spirit water, it will take decades for my hooks to regrow..."
Li Yuanjiao frowned and said, "I will keep an eye out for them. Have you ever taken human form before?"
"Never. In the Eastern Sea, such things are not practiced," the young man replied meekly, "I only broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm about ten years ago and spent most of those years in seclusion at Lake Xian..."
Li Yuanjiao squinted at him. The young man''s dark, fierce features made him look vicious and threatening, as if he could devour a person at any moment. Li Yuanjiao remarked, "Why do you look like a viin, just like me?"
The young man seemed taken aback by thisment, pausing awkwardly before replying, "My spirituality is in your hands... so it''s only natural there''s a resemnce."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, feeling pleased that he had gained a Foundation Establishment Realm ally. His mood lifted as he let out augh, saying, "Since you have taken human form, it is time to give you a proper name... We cannot keep calling you Hooked Serpent all the time."
The fierce young man lowered his head in acknowledgment. After a moment of thought, Li Yuanjiao said, "You resemble a ck branch... Since you have joined my Li Family, I will name you Li Wushao.[1]"
Li Wushao cupped his fist and respectfully replied, "Thank you, Master!"
Li Yuanjiaoughed heartily, thinking to himself, It''s better to borrow names from others; otherwise, Qinghong willin about my naming sense and secretlyugh at me.
With a Foundation Establishment Realm demon cultivator on his side, many things would now be easier to manage. Feeling a sense of relief, Li Yuanjiao instructed Li Wushao, "Go and meet with Xicheng. Let him introduce you to the family members, so you will not mistake friend for foe in the future."
"Yes!" Li Wushao responded, taking flight right away and heading downward. Li Yuanjiao turned and entered the courtyard, picked up a brush, and began writing a letter to Qingsui Peak.
"I will ask Zhi''er about this Fu Daimu and whether he has any backing... If this can be done, I will enlist Yuan Chengdun or Senior Yuan Si to join us, and we will eliminate him with a five-person ambush..." Li Yuanjiao mumbled to himself as he formted a n to deal with Fu Daimu.
"This fellow has been in that region for so long; he must have collected quite a few valuable items¡ªtreasured panacea, shamanic spells, and even a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact. Killing him would not only remove a threat but also win over Fei Luoya..."
A rare, genuine smile appeared on his face as he thought to himself, Zhi''er... It has been years since his engagement with the Yang Family''s daughter. I wonder if they have any children yet... I must ask him about that.
1. "Wu" means ck, "shao" means the tip of a branch. ?
Chapter 469: The Meng Father and Daughter (I)
Chapter 469: The Meng Father and Daughter (I)
Moongaze Lake was a thousand li away from Mount Azure Pond. Even a Qi Cultivator flying at full speed without rest would need two days and two nights to make the journey. Including time spent in meditation and resting, it would take about six to seven days for a round trip, meaning half a month would easily pass by.
Moreover, the Azure Pond Sect''s territory was far from peaceful, with manyrge mountains that had to be avoided. Li Yuanjiao''s letter was entrusted to the Yuan Family to deliver, and it took more than a month to receive a reply.
The Yuan Family valued the Li Family greatly. Since Yuan Huyuan was in seclusion, the letter was delivered by his eldest son. He respectfully handed it over, exchanged a few polite words, and then took his leave.
"...Handwritten on the evening of the 28th of Spring. Congrattions to Father for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm... Does the family know about the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven? If you have acquired items from there, those below the Foundation Establishment Realm can safely be used, but any Purple Mansion Realm spirit medicines, secret techniques, or manuals must be sent to Azure Pond without dy...
...I have benefited greatly from the Eastern Fire. Yesterday, I reached the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Brother Ming is still young, so I hope Father will not be too harsh on him... I have also obtained several pill recipes in the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven, which I am enclosing with this letter. The family can profit from them, but do not spread them outside the family...
...As for Brother Jun''s Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique Manual, I have asked the Yang Family, and they said that there is no Purple Mansion Realm legacy of this technique in Yue State. However, there are some traces in the far northwest of Wu State, so he can continue his cultivation with peace of mind without worry."
After reading the letter, Li Yuanjiao exhaled deeply, a hint of satisfaction appearing on his face.
"Zhi''er has already investigated and found the answer before I could even ask about Xijun''s matter. With this information, Jun''er can cultivate that technique without any worries."
Attached to the end of the letter was a small bead containing several pill recipes. The bead was crystal clear and quite beautiful. Li Yuanjiao examined it thoughtfully, musing to himself, Azure Pond''s methods are indeed impressive... This bead is much more convenient to carry around than a jade slip.
He then channeled his spiritual sense into the bead and saw two pill recipes¡ªThree Aspects Breaking Realm Pill and Two Ways of Refining Renewal Spirit Pill, both of which were extremely difficult to refine and highly valuable.
Li Yuanjiao put the items away, thinking to himself, I should help Ximing break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm first and then study these two recipes... Azure Pond''s spiritual qi is abundant, and Zhi''er is highly talented. With focused cultivation, he has even surpassed Ming''er.
With that thought, he leaped into the air, passed through the formation on Qingdu Peak, and descended toward theke.
The weather was cold, and the dark green waters of theke were still covered with pieces of floating ice. As he approached theke''s surface, waves surged and the dark green water rose, sending the ice crashing together with a crackling sound.
Arge ck serpent''s head, as big as a carriage, slowly emerged from the water. Demonic qi surged, and spiritual light shed as Li Wushao transformed into a ck-d youth, cupping his fist in greeting.
"Wushao greets Master!"
He bowed his head, exuding a powerful aura, and respectfully reported, "As per your orders, I have swept the five peaks along the shore and tamed three Qi Cultivation Realm demons and twenty-five Embryonic Breathing Realm ones, collecting twenty-six types of spirit items."
The demon lightly pped his hands, stirring the water with his mana as he called out, "Come out, all of you!"
With that, the dark green waters split open as three demons flew out, clumsily standing upright in midair, suspended by demonic wind.
Li Yuanjiao nced at them¡ªa pair of fat green fish demons, onerge and one small, were at mid and early stages of Qi Cultivation Realm respectively, and there was also a ckke turtle at the early stage of Qi Cultivation Realm, hovering nervously in the air.
With a casual wave of his hand, the three demons were dismissed with great relief. Li Wushao cupped his fist and continued, "Your servant has scouted theke near the eastern shore and found no Foundation Establishment Realm demons. I have already sent some underlings to search deeper into theke."
"As for the matter Family Head mentioned, Wushao has already identified several areas along theke with strong spiritual energy. I have also sent the two green fish demons to seek out spirit juvenile fish that can channel spiritual energy for cultivation..."
Li Wushao continued, "I have also scouted thekebed twice with An Zheyan and identified three locations with underground spirit veins that may contain mineral deposits. I have sent a group of lesser demons to dig and investigate; news should arrive soon."
"Good!" Li Yuanjiao nodded with satisfaction.
It had not been easy to tame a Foundation Establishment Realm demon, and to use Li Wushao merely as a bodyguard would have been a waste. Water creatures naturally admired strength and loved to gather in groups, and a Foundation Establishment Realm demon like Li Wushao held significant influence around theke. Previously, theke had only been a source of spirit items, but now, it could finally be fully developed.
Breeding spirit fish, collecting spirit items, mining veins, and gathering intelligence... These Qi Cultivation and Embryonic Breathing Realm demons are different from human cultivators. They don''t need to rely on Water Avoidance Spell to move freely on thekebed, making them very efficient workers.
A small smile appeared on Li Yuanjiao''s face.
And most importantly, there''s no need to pay these demons a n stipend!
Li Wushao noticed that Li Yuanjiao appeared to be in a good mood and secretly breathed a sigh of relief before saying, "These little ones have already be my subordinates, but theyck any protective talismans. Whenever rogue cultivators pass by theke, they often catch one or two of them on a whim..."
Li Yuanjiao nodded and instructed, "Go to the Jade Court Guards and retrieve some identification jade tokens. Distribute them to the creatures of the Jade Capital Stage for protection. For those below the Jade Capital Stage, organize them into groups. Passing rogue cultivators will give our family some respect and no longer cause trouble."
"Understood!" Li Wushao responded promptly.
Li Yuanjiao then asked, "Since the demons in theke are difficult to track, in your opinion, are there any Foundation Establishment Realm creatures near the sea entrance of Lake Xian that we could capture?"
After recruiting Li Wushao, the Li Family now had one fewer Foundation Establishment Realm creature to offer as a sacrifice for Ximing and Xijun''s talisman qi. Li Yuanjiao had sent Li Wushao to search thekebed for a while, but the demons there were quite cunning and elusive. As a result, Li Yuanjiao decided to turn his attention to the Eastern Sea.
Li Wushao replied, "In my opinion, aside from that Azure Water Serpent Dragon, the others near the sea entrance are all mediocre. If you wish to capture one, I am afraid..."
Li Yuanjiao shook his head, and Li Wushao immediately understood.
"With the formation te in your hand, the creatures in theke won''t be an issue, Master. To kill or capture them is merely a matter of your will."
Li Yuanjiao nodded.
"In that case, capture a creature quickly before Kong Tingyunes."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
As Li Yuanjiao and Li Wushao flew eastward, Li Qinghong went to Mushroom Forest in to enter seclusion, leaving Qingdu Peak rather empty. Li Ximing spent his days cultivating in the courtyard, with only Li Xijun guarding the mountain.
As the cold had not yet receded, Qingdu Peak, being quite tall, still had some snow at its summit. Li Xijun, who cultivated the Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique, had taken advantage of the heavy snowfall in the previous months to break through to the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Having juste out of seclusion, he had not touched his sword for some time and was eager for a duel. He went around the mountain looking for opponents, eventually dragging Li Wen out of the Qingdu Cave Dwelling to spar with him.
Although Li Wen had reached the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, he was no match for Li Xijun inbat. His pair of heavy mace were particrly cumbersome while Li Xijun''s sword technique was swift and agile, leading to his repeated defeats.
Dressed in white, Li Xijun wielded his sword, parrying Li Wen''s two heavy maces to either side and then lightly tapping his sword against Li Wen''s chest. He won three matches in a row, giving the burly man a good thrashing.
The burly man muttered a word or two under his breath, unable toe up with any words of ttery. He simply dropped his maces and fell to the ground, then said, "Young master... you are truly formidable."
Having just broken through to the second heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Xijun''s eyes sparkled with vitality.
"Brother Wen, your cultivation ismendable. Among the family branches, you are the only outstanding one. I hope you will continue to cultivate diligently and not fall behind," he said warmly.
Chapter 470: The Meng Father and Daughter (II)
Chapter 470: The Meng Father and Daughter (II)
The Li Family did not have many members in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Besides Li Xuanxuan, Li Xicheng from the foot of the mountain, Li Xijun himself, and Li Ximing in the alchemy room, Li Wen was their most trusted member.
Li Wen practiced the rapid cultivation method, Guardian of the Courtly Path, and became a Qi Cultivator before the age of thirty. While progress slowed down after reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm, his straightforward mind and diligent pursuit of the Dao allowed him to reach the third heavenlyyer. He was on par with some of the external cultivators like Chen Mufeng.
Li Xijun had a positive opinion of this honest and loyal man, often seeking him out to practicebat techniques. Li Wen, in turn, did not disappoint, making significant progress over the past two years.
Li Wen nodded as he listened, his voice a low hum.
"I understand, young master."
Li Xijun smiled faintly as he sheathed his sword, and mentally calcted the days, thinking to himself, Ximing spends his days refining pills, yet his cultivation hasn''t fallen behind much. At twenty-three years old, he''s already at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. If I give him the white talisman from the pig demon, he might reach the fifth heavenlyyer. If he reaches the eighth within seven years, with the help of talisman pills, our family could have a genius achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm in his thirties!
Thinking of this, Li Xijun mumbled to himself, "Perhaps I should ask Uncle Ping to relieve him of some more burdens..."
As he pondered these thoughts, Li Xijun walked for a while on Qingdu Peak, eventually arriving at the Alchemy Pavilion. He paused at the entrance, his expression turning strange when he heard moanings and gruntinging from within.
"My dear..."
After some time, the woman in the courtyard withdrew, and only then did Li Xijun step inside. He saw Li Ximing looking very rxed while holding a jade slip, a satisfied expression on his face.
"Brother Ming," Li Xijun called out.
Li Ximing, seeing Li Xijun enter, put down the jade slip and tightened his belt, then smiled.
"What brings you here today?"
Li Xijun, who was naturally restrained in his behavior, frowned slightly, feeling the urge to reprimand him. However, seeing that Li Ximing was in a rare good mood, he decided not to spoil it and instead asked tactfully, "Where did that womane from?"
Li Ximing replied, "She''s a concubine from the Dou Family. It is difficult for cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm to have children... So, in my leisure time, I..."
Li Xijun let out a long breath as he noticed Li Ximing''s anxious expression, and could not help butugh.
"You are quite the lover of pleasures... I wonder who you take after."
Li Ximing forced a smile and said awkwardly, "Please, do not tease me."
Seeing that his brother''s cultivation had indeed progressed with a growing aura, Li Xijun could not resist asking, "How long until you break through to the fourth heavenlyyer?"
"About a year and a half," Li Ximing replied as if it were a matter of course.
Li Ximing had already broken through to the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and Li Xizhi was at the fourth heavenlyyer. Li Xijun sighed, "Your talent is truly enviable."
Li Xizhi was five or six years older than the two of them, so his higher cultivation level was expected. But with Li Ximing, who was of a simr age, it was different. He spent his days refining pills, asionally reading alchemy texts, and in his leisure time, invited performers to listen to music, and was truly living a carefree life.
Li Xijun, on the other hand, spent his days diligently cultivating and honing his swordsmanship, yet he was still overshadowed, falling further behind with each step.
The cultivation gap between them was growing.
Fortunately, Li Xijun had a strong will and despite his frustrations, he maintained a calm demeanor. Although the two brothers had once had a big argument, Li Xijun, feeling guilty, could not stay angry for long. Meanwhile, Li Ximing, who had thoroughly enjoyed himself, feltfortable, and there was no lingering resentment between them.
As Li Xijun pondered, Li Ximing shook his head thoughtfully and said, "Actually, every time I engage in such intimate acts, I feel an improvement in my cultivation. The radiant essence within me bes more active, like a zing fire... Perhaps that is why I have been able to break through to the third heavenlyyer so quickly."
"Is that so?" Li Xijun was slightly taken aback, looking at him skeptically. "Are you sure you are not just making excuses to indulge yourself?"
Li Ximing feigned anger. "What are you talking about!"
The twoughed for a while, but then Li Xijun suddenly gazed into the distance, noticing two beams of light approaching from the east. They were intercepted by the Jade Court Guards as they neared the boundary and hovered in the air for some time.
"I''ll go take a look," Li Xijun said softly before taking to the air. Due to the nature of his cultivation technique, the wind he summoned was cold and biting. In the lingering chill of the weather, he traveled swiftly and reached the Jade Court Guards within just two breaths.
The Jade Court Guard in front of him was from the Chen Family. Having just broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, he cupped his fist in salute upon seeing Li Xijun and reported in a steady voice, "My lord, these two im to have been sent by the Xiao Family. They say they are here to see the ancestor and have a letter personally written by the Xiao Family''s ancestor."
Li Xijun swept his spiritual sense over the two individuals, observing that one was an older man and the other a young woman. The old man had a dignified face with thick eyebrows andrge eyes, and had reached the ninth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm. The woman, with fair skin and good looks, was only at the Embryonic Breathing Realm. She stood slightly to the side, ncing at him discreetly.
Seeing that the old man was at the ninth heavenlyyer of his cultivation, Li Xijun subtly increased the distance between them before asking, "I am Li Xijun of the Li Family. May I ask which elder of the Xiao Family you have been sent by, and what is your purpose?"
The old man cupped his fist in response, saying, "I am Meng Taizhi, merely a rogue cultivator. Many years ago, while cultivating around the vicinity of the sword gate, I befriended ancestor Yuansi. Since my daughter''s cultivation progress wascking, he rmended that wee to theke to find a ce to gather the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth."
He then gestured to the young woman beside him. The woman, well-mannered andposed, bowed respectfully and said softly, "I am Meng Zhuoyun... Greetings, Senior."
Li Xijun epted the letter handed to him by the Jade Court Guard but did not open it immediately. Instead, he used his mana to inspect it and, upon recognizing the familiar style of it, believed their story a little more.
"Please wait here for a moment. I will consult with my elders."
He then pointed out a ce within the town for them to settle temporarily, instructing the Jade Court Guards to keep an eye on them before flying toward Lijing Town.
As a cultivator of Qingdu Peak, Li Xijun held a high status within the n. He passed through the central hall where his uncle Li Yuanping sat at the head, with Li Xicheng listening beside him attentively.
By the time Li Xijun finished reporting the situation, Dou Yi had already unfolded the letter and presented it to Li Yuanping.
"...The Meng father and daughter havee to gather spiritual qi under the favor of our family''s connection. They intend to stay for approximately twenty years. You need not treat them as guests out of regard for me, but they may be treated as guest cultivators and ced as you see fit. After twenty years, they may stay or leave at their discretion...
Daoist Taizhi is skilled in refining mineral essences, while his daughter, Zhuoyun, has trained under an alchemist overseas. They can both greatly contribute to your n..."
Li Yuanping scanned the letter, confirming it was indeed written in Xiao Yuansi''s handwriting. He then said, "Since it is at the request of ancestor Yuansi, send someone to ask the Meng father and daughter what they require and find a suitable ce for them to get settled in."
Li Xicheng nodded in agreement, saying, "I will first test their abilities, then report back to the n head."
Li Yuanping nodded. Xiao Yuansi''s intention was clear¡ªthis was a mutually beneficial arrangement for both the Meng Family and the Li Family, and it was a kind gesture. While the Li Family might not urgently need these two, it was a rare opportunity to repay Xiao Yuansi''s favor, and they should respond appropriately.
He coughed twice, frowning as he added, "Remember to have someone keep an eye on them."
Li Xicheng agreed, respectfully saying, "The family''s sacrificial ritual has already been arranged, awaiting only the return of Second Uncle and Senior Wushao."
Chapter 471: Generation of Xi and Yue Receives Talisman
Chapter 471: Generation of Xi and Yue Receives Talisman
Li Yuanjiao returned from the Eastern Sea after nearly half a year, standing atop the pitch-ck Hooked Serpent and holding a massive white crucian carp demon that was the size of a house. Together, they made their way back from the north.
It was the height of summer, and the air was thick with the stench of fish. Li Yuanjiao tossed the white crucian carp demon into theke and instructed Wushao to keep an eye on it before heading up the mountain.
Dressed in flowing white robes, Li Xijun rode the wind to meet him. The ever-stoic Li Yuanjiao had spent months chasing this demon fish with the Hooked Serpent across the vast Eastern Sea. At longst, they had captured the beast.
"The Eastern Sea is truly boundless! If one dives deep into it, even a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator might not be able to find their way about," Li Yuanjiao remarked.
If not for Li Wushao''s familiarity with the sea and the fact that they had prepared well with formations to seal their target, catching this demon would have likely taken much longer. If Li Yuanjiao had gone alone, he would have likely been worn down to death by the endless swarms of sea creatures.
Li Yuanjiao then reflected, "Even with my Jing Dragon King Dao Foundation, it was an exhausting effort... No wonder so few cultivators venture to the Eastern Sea."
After hearing this, Li Xijun softly reminded him, "Second Uncle, since we have captured the demon, should we not inquire about the Water Virtue matters to confirm whether Senior Wushao''s earlier ims were urate, just in case?"
Li Yuanjiao nodded, understanding his concerns.
"I have already questioned the demon. What Wushao mentioned aligns closely with the sea''smon knowledge."
He continued, "On this journey, I encountered a disciple of the Wanyu Sword Gate. He''s a carefree swordsman named Cheng Gao. He had aided me greatly by pointing out several harmful demon dens. You should remember this to treat any members of the Sword Gate with respect in the future."
"Understood," Li Xijun replied.
Li Yuanjiao then asked, "How many people know that our family sought the secret method for capturing spirituality from the Yuan Family?"
Li Xijun responded, "Anyone passing through and encountering Senior Wushao will likely inquire about it... Word should spread soon enough."
"Good." Li Yuanjiao nodded in satisfaction.
Li Xijun then reminded him, "Fei Luoya has visited twice already, urging us to deal with Fu Daimu as soon as possible. He mentioned that he would visit again in about a month."
Li Yuanjiao waved his hand, signaling that he was aware. He thought to himself, In these next few months, I will take care of this matter once and for all. Better to handle it now than let it fester and be a future threat...
Li Xijun smiled and added, "Everything is prepared within and outside the peak for the dual sacrificial rituals. We are only awaiting the offerings."
"Good, good. It ismendable that you younger ones can manage everything so well." Li Yuanjiao nodded, smiling.
"That is due to elder brother''s efforts in overseeing everything. I dare not take credit," Li Xijun responded humbly, then pulled out a letter from his sleeve as he continued, "A letter from the Azure Pond Sect¡ªmost likely about Brother Xizhi''s efforts in handling the Fu Daimu matter within the sect."
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"The Li Family of Lijing offers respect along with fine delicacies and wine with unwavering devotion year upon year... Observing the three yuan festivals and six regr festivals, we maintain reverence¡ªensuring to pay timely respects... Through the smoke of our offerings and the blood of our sacrifice..."
The prayer proceeded as usual.
Blood qi and incense surged into the mirror, transforming into flowing talisman qi. This was the first time the Li Family had offered such arge number of sacrifices. Lu Jiangxian gathered the talisman qi into a mass in his hand, intending to insert a few cultivation techniques into it.
In the past, talisman qi did note with attached cultivation techniques, but now Lu Jiangxian had amassed a mountain of cultivation methods, enough to bestow upon them for the next five hundred years¡ªif not more. He expected there would only be more in the future.
The recipients of the talisman qi were naturally Li Ximing and Li Xijun. However, holding the talisman qi in hand and with so many techniques to choose from, Lu Jiangxian found himself at a loss as to what to include.
Lu Jiangxian weighed his options thoughtfully.
The Li Family right now isn''t reallycking in various techniques... While there are many Foundation Establishment Realm techniques to choose from, gifting them might go to waste.
With Li Yuanjiao''s breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm, along with the addition of the Hooked Serpent and Li Qinghong as formidable assets, the family now had strong backing. Furthermore, Li Ximing, Li Xizhi, and Li Xijun also had the potential to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm. In another twenty to thirty years, these three could achieve their breakthroughs, finally solidifying the foundation of a prestigious n.
The next goal of striving for the Purple Mansion Realm will likely be much more difficult...
He originally intended to perfect the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual and use it to cultivate a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. As there was no established Dao lineage for it in Jiangnan, he would not have to worry about external interference.
However, the current situation was fraught with uncertainty. Although Lu Jiangxian now knew many secrets about Purple Mansion Realm matters, his understanding was still hazy, making it difficult to gauge the temperament of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in Jiangnan. It would likely require multiple approaches.
"If a new Purple Mansion Realm family were to emerge, the Purple Mansion immortal ns of Chen and Xiao would probably wee it... They''d be eager to see more Purple Mansion Realm cultivators to help alleviate the pressure on them. As for the three sects and seven gates, each has its own hidden agenda, making it difficult to predict the situation..."
His gaze shifted over the map of Yue State in front of him, eventually resting on the northern Yue Cultivating Sect.
"At the very least, neither the two sects nor the seven gates would want to see Shangyuan reach the Golden Core Realm. Though the Yue Cultivating Sect has always kept a low profile, Shangyuan has a righteous temperament. Which of the two sects and seven gates does not have some kind of shady dealings...? Another Golden Core Realm cultivator with a fierce sense of justice is not something they would wee... As for the Buddhist sects, they''d be even less thrilled..."
Lu Jiangxian surveyed the surroundings and could not help but sigh.
"Shangyuan really is beset by enemies on all sides. No wonder there has been no movement; they are likely still engaged in behind-the-scenes power struggles and bartering interests."
Looking over the various cultivation techniques, Lu Jiangxian dismissed the Six Dams Azure Cloud Technique Manual¡ªafter all, the Yuan Family was still an ally of the Li Family, so gifting it would be pointless. Among the remaining options, the best was Pheasant me''s Long March Technique, a Grade Four manual, but itcked the essential spiritual qi.
Long Marching Pheasant me was a type of Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, and the original qi gathering method required locating a type of spirit me called Long Marching Fire Essence. Only by using this fire essence to gather yang qi could one acquire the Long Marching Pheasant me. However, such mes were exceedingly rare in Jiangnan, making it difficult to extract the necessary qi.
"That should not be too difficult..."
Lu Jiangxian suddenly had an epiphany.
Li Yuanjiao still possessed a portion of Profound Yang Li Fire, which could be transformed into Long Marching Fire Essence through the Yang Nourishing Technique. Although this would be costly, the Li Family had changed considerably in recent years, and gathering the necessary resources should no longer be an issue.
"I am just not sure if this technique has any corresponding Dao Partners..."
Lu Jiangxian had studied many records from the ancestors of rogue cultivators, gradually piecing together much about the Purple Mansion Realms of the three sects and seven gates.
The Azure Pond Sect mostly followed the Water Virtue Dao, the Golden Feather Sect focused on metal, stone, sand and smoke, while the Yue Cultivating Sect practiced techniques involving true jade and cloud smoke.
Among the seven gates, only a few practiced the Fire Virtue Dao. Hengzhu Dao Gate to the south was the only one known for its mastery of fire techniques and blessing arts¡ªcing it among the stronger of the seven gates.
"While the Hengzhu Dao Gate has a good reputation, the Azure Pond Sect is fully capable of sending a Foundation Establishment Realm n under their governance to Hengzhu Dao Gate if they wanted to..."
For a moment, Lu Jiangxian felt a headacheing on. He set aside Pheasant me''s Long March Technique for now, allowing the Li Family to explore the matter themselves. He then sifted through the heap of techniques and found a secret technique''s manual¡ªChilling Snow Series.
Lu Jiangxian discovered this secret technique manual in a demon den while Li Yuanjiao was traveling along the Great River. It was a collection of three gathering methods for cold qi and a technique for searching for spirit water.
Though one of the cold qi collection methods ovepped with what the Li Family already possessed, it still provided an opportunity to help cultivate ughter Jun Kui Light to its entry level.
With the talisman qi carefully chosen, Lu Jiangxian refocused his efforts onpleting the Purple Mansion Realm section of the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual.
Chapter 472: Eliminating Fu Daimu (I)
Chapter 472: Eliminating Fu Daimu (I)
Mount Qingdu.
Li Ximing left his courtyard for once and stood on the green altar with Li Xijun. He still did not dare to face his father, Li Yuanping, and kept his gaze lowered in silence.
Li Yuanjiao had just ughtered the two demon creatures with the jade knife. He waited quietly until the auras of the two on the altar surged and only let out a sigh of relief when they finally sat down, cross-legged.
After all, the immortal mirror talisman was the one choosing its recipient. The two Foundation Establishment Realm monsters would be wasted if no talisman qi were provided. There were still more than ten Talisman Pills at home, which was enough tost them for now.
The Talisman Pills have the ability to aid in breaking through realms... Though not as effective for the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators as Qi Cultivators, they could be taken when breaking through to thete stage. When the Three Aspects Breaking Realm Pill can be refined, the chances of reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm will be greatly increased, and the process will be significantly expedited.
Li Yuanjiao mused to himself as he waited.
After meditating for a while, Li Xijun took a deep breath and opened his eyes first.
His eyebrows were sharp, highlighting the depth and intensity of his handsome eyes. Surrounded by a white mist, he exhaled a breath of white qi before standing up, announcing respectfully, "I have obtained Radiant Snow Pine Ridge and broken through to the fourth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation Realm!"
He paused, his demeanor calmer than before he received the talisman. Any hint of arrogance had faded, leaving a moreposed and stable presence.
"With this talisman, my heart is as still as water, dispelling illusions and discerning details. My true essence and mana are like frost and snow, allowing me to cultivate twice as effectively even with only half the effort."
Smiling and nodding, Li Yuanjiao looked at him with approval.
Meanwhile, Li Ximing radiated golden-red light which circted between his Shenyang Mansion and Juque Court. He opened his eyes and murmured softly, "I have broken through to the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Layer and obtained Valley Wind Leading Fire, which could use fire to attract qi and refine true essence."
He briefly introduced the skill and added with some surprise, "Not only did I break through, but I also acquired Pheasant me''s Long March, which is a Grade Four cultivation technique."
"Cultivation technique...?" Li Yuanjiao repeated as he delightfully took out a nk jade slip.
Li Xijun, standing beside him, added, "I obtained a secret technique known as Chilling Snow Series."
Li Yuanjiao was very pleased and instructed them to record the details. He took out yet another jade slip and handed it to Li Ximing, saying, "This is the Yang Nourishing Technique I learned from Tu Longjian. I have reviewed it thoroughly and memorized it. Since you''ll be working with fire to attract qi, it will benefit you to study this carefully."
He also presented a green jade bottle and exined, "This is Profound Yang Li Fire. You should take it and make use of it."
Li Ximing quickly epted the items, then read the jade slip carefully, and replied with great enthusiasm, "I''ve heard that the immortal sect possesses a method to cultivate spirit fire internally... It allows one to draw the spirit fire of heaven and earth into their Shenyang Mansion, where it can be used to refine pills internally or expelled for defense. With Valley Wind Leading Fire, I''ll be able to use it to refine pills too!"
"Profound Yang Li Fire is too vtile and intense for pill refinement. I n to convert it to Long Marching Fire Essence, which is more suitable for refining pills and practicing the Pheasant me''s Long March Technique," he added.
Li Yuanjiao smiled with satisfaction, nodding repeatedly as he said, "That''s exactly my intention!"
Li Ximing sighed in regret and continued, "It''s a pity that this technique requires Long Marching Fire Essence rather than Spring Sun Spirit Fire. The Yang Nourishing Technique Manual lists over a dozen types of spirit fires. Spring Sun Spirit Fire is like the gentle spring sun, warm and nurturing, making it ideal for alchemy... It would be perfect if we had both types of spirit fire..."
"Hahahaha!"
In good spirits, Li Yuanjiao patted his shoulder and reminded him, "Fortunately, we acquired the Yang Nourishing Technique and the Pheasant me''s Long March Technique manuals through the immortal mirror, which is beyond our destiny. If we could also have the best spirit fire for alchemy, I would suspect this is a trap set up by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators!"
Li Xijun had been standing close by, holding the Chilling Snow Series thoughtfully. Noticing Li Yuanjiao''s smile, he said, "I''ll descend the mountain to find someone to gather the necessary spiritual qi and cultivate this."
Li Yuanjiao nodded and addressed Li Ximing, "Don''t worry about the spirit fire for now. Gathering the required spirit items will take some time... I''ll send someone to look for them. You two should focus on stabilizing your cultivation in the meantime. There''s no need to rush things! Stay in seclusion on the mountain for a few years and find an excuse for the changes in your cultivation."
Li Ximing and Li Xijun both cupped their fists and replied in unison, "Understood! We will follow yourmand."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao had been cultivating on Mount Qingdu for over a month when Fei Luoya arrived as scheduled.
Fei Luoya called out in front of the green mountain gate. Li Wushao emerged from theke and, upon seeing Fei Luoya, called out loudly, "I am Li Wushao... What brings you here, Senior?"
"Hooked Serpent...?"
Fei Luoya, who was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, had bloodshot eyes that made him look rather intimidating.
He immediately recognized Li Wushao''s true form and replied, "Eastern Sea demon tribe... It is indeed a blessing for you to be part of the Li Family."
Fei Luoya, hailing from Mount Yue, usually spoke in an authoritative and somewhat arrogant manner. He only softened his tone when addressing Li Tongya.
Li Wushao nodded and praised, "Senior, you have sharp eyes."
Li Yuanjiao soon approached and cupped his fist, and greeted the man politely. However, Fei Luoya wasted no time and asked directly, "What news do you have? Can Li Tongya be of assistance? Shall we proceed with eliminating Fu Daimu immediately?"
Li Yuanjiao replied, "I''ve checked with people in the sect. Fu Daimu had a close friend who joined Azure Pond but died in the devil gue and has no significant backing. However, he does have a certain partnership with the peak master of Fuchen Peak among the thirty-six peaks."
Surprised to hear that the guy actually had connections with people in the Azure Pond Sect, Fei Luoya hurriedly asked, "What should we do then?"
Li Yuanjiao replied softly, "My son has looked into it. Their rtionship is strictly transactional and Fuchen Peak doesn''t want anything else to do with this person. After you and I deal with him, we can send some precious panacea to this fellow Daoist as a gesture of goodwill and forget about the whole thing."
Fei Luoya was delighted and eximed, "Thanks to the connections of your esteemed family, we now have many options!"
Li Yuanjiao smiled, already nning the next moves in his heart.
Fuchen Peak''s master, Li Encheng, also known as Water Wall Pearl, is one of the few middle-ss alchemists in the Azure Pond Sect and has been at the peak of Foundation Establishment Realm for many years. He will dismiss this small issue as he only views this person as a pawn for selling treasured panaceas.
Who knows, when we have Xizhi send a treasured panacea over, it could open up beneficial connections for him! If this young man has more influence in the sect, it will be advantageous for us too.
Most people from Mount Yue were fierce, and since Fei Luoya was eager to kill Fu Daimu, waiting for another day was no different than torturing him. He wanted to act immediately and urged anxiously, "What are we waiting for then, fellow Daoist? Let us set off immediately!"
Li Yuanjiao cupped his fist and exined, "Elders in the family are not permitted to act impulsively. We''ll have to wait for another Daoist friend with Sprawling Azure Mountain."
Fei Luoya had no choice but to wait patiently. After more than a day, he saw a red light shooting through the sky. Yuan Chengdun arrived in a red jade boat which he slowly docked in front of the mountain.
He disembarked and stowed the boat away, smiling apologetically as he said, "My apologies for beingte, I had to go to Helin Prefecture beforeing here."
"No problem!"
Li Yuanjiao looked at the two men. Li Wushao, who had been hovering above theke, also flew over and stood behind him.
Li Yuanjiao then nodded and said, "I have a powerful formation in hand. Fu Daimu won''t be able to escape."
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Chapter 473: Eliminating Fu Daimu (II)
Chapter 473: Eliminating Fu Daimu (II)
They all took off with the wind as Fei Luoya said, "Zhu Xian, my subordinate at the early stage of Foundation Establishment Realm, is keeping watch on Fu Daimu.
"With three in the early stage, two in the middle stage, and Yuan Chengdun''s particr strength along with this formation, we won''t fail!" Li Yuanjiao assured.
However, in his mind, he thought to himself, Even if this person were to change sides and ally with Fu Daimu against me, with Yuan Chengdun and the formation at my disposal, I would be well-positioned enough to advance or retreat without any issues.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Wu was where Duanmu Kui used to cultivate. He was a peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who had an immortal book in his possession, and his strength put him among the greatest Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in Jiangnan. Any Mount Yue cultivators who received pointers from him could be a formidable force.
Duanmu Kui never took these matters too seriously. He merely cultivated on Mount Wu where his disciples and descendants multiplied. He had been in seclusion there for over two hundred years, and there were twenty-nine Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators from Mount Yue under hismand.
When Duanmu Kui died suddenly, he left nothing for his disciples and descendants. The Mount Yue cultivators scattered like birds and beasts. Fu Daimu, Fei Luoya, and other powerful figures divided the territory of Mount Yue. The strongest among them, Jiao Zhongzi, took over Mount Wu, while Fu Daimu established himself in Great Jueting.
Fei Luoya, who was still riding the wind, exined, "Fu Daimu and I have had many conflicts over Mount Wu... He dislikes me and is far stronger. I''ve been secluding myself in my territory these years, ready to escape at any moment. But in today''s world... who knows what''s happening outside? I figured I should eliminate him as soon as possible."
The group chose anding spot. Fei Luoya''s subordinate, Zhu Xian, also arrived on the wind. He looked like a pure Easterner with nice facial features, and he was holding a rattan whip in hand.
"Zhu Xian greets fellow Daoists," he greeted while cupping his fist respectfully.
Li Yuanjiao returned the greeting along with others and then proceeded to set up the formation te.
Fei Luoya then said, "We still need to lure him here. Pleasee with me, Daoist Yuan. That guy is cautious, and if we''re not equally strong, he''ll be suspicious and won''t dare to chase after me."
Yuan Chengdun nodded in agreement.
"You and I will engage him inbat for a while, and Zhe Ledai, in the early stage of Foundation Establishment Realm, will definitely act. We''ll pretend not to know and lure the enemy into the trap..."
As he left, his conversation with Fei Luoya gradually faded.
Li Yuanjiao watched them depart, narrowing his eyes slightly. He discreetly activated the Profound Patterned Bottle and followed from a distance. When he saw bursts of shamanic spells and mana light shing in Great Jueting as well as Fei Luoya''s yell of feigned surprise and anger, he retreated.
Soon after, two mana lights pursued him. Fu Daimu, in thete stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, appeared as a wrinkled old man with a strong build and a long halberd. Zhe Ledai looked strong too, cursing as he wielded his dual swords with pride.
As the four men entered the formation, a green light quickly enveloped them and their expressions changed suddenly. Fei Luoyaughed wildly, and Fu Daimu, looking around, sneered at Zhu Xian.
"Junior brother...? I fear you''ve made a grave mistake!"
Zhu Xian, holding his long whip, replied calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. I came here today seeking additional resources for my cultivation."
Fu Daimu did not argue but instead nced at Li Wushao and remarked, "You''ve even found a Hooked Serpent! Two at the early stage, two at the mid stage, and a major formation... It seems you''re well prepared!"
Confident in his trump card, Fu Daimu entered the formation with no fear,ughing as he said, "Too bad, you''ve underestimated us!"
Zhe Ledai, wielding two swords, showed no change in his expression. He engaged Zhu Xian and Li Wushao directly, using his swords to block their oing attacks with steady precision.
Meanwhile, Fu Daimu fought against Yuan Chengdun and Fei Luoya. The sh was intense, filled with golden light and the scent of blood, and it was creating a hugemotion.
Li Yuanjiao, concealed by spirit mist, silently approached. Compared to the other three, Li Wushao''s group seemed more mediocre. Despite being Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, they were more like three rogue cultivators that were still wielding Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts.
Zhe Ledai and Zhu Xian seemed unfamiliar with powerful spells, relying instead on their immortal foundations to test each other''s strength. Although Li Wushao used to be formidable, he had grown weaker after losing the hooks on his tail.
Gradually, Li Yuanjiao closed in on the three men. He unsheathed the Qingche Sword, its green-white light shing brightly. Zhe Ledai''s expression changed as he raised his sword to block instantly.
"Not good!"
The Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifact in Zhe Ledai''s hand proved inadequate against the Qingche Sword. Li Yuanjiao had been gathering power for a long time, and the sword arc of the Celestial Moon sh technique zed brightly, striking Zhe Ledai''s swords with such a powerful impact that it shattered them with a loud crack, sending sword fragments flying everywhere in all directions.
As Zhe Ledai struggled to defend himself, Li Wushao''s snake tail sliced through the air powerfully, and Zhu Xian attacked relentlessly. Thebined assault forced Zhe Ledai to spit blood, and he struggled to fend off yet another deadly strike from the Qingche Sword.
At that moment, Zhe Ledai felt a chill at his neck, a sense of dread filling his bodypletely. With a horrified cry, he realized as he eximed out loud, "Oh no... It''s Jing Dragon King!"
His blood qi surged as he activated his shamanic spells. His true essence glowed a bright red as he nced back, just in time to see a massive bluish-gray serpent dragon hurtling straight toward him. He raised his sword in defense and shouted, "Senior Brother! Hurry up!"
As a newly promoted Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Zhe Ledai''s strength was formidable. He blocked Zhu Xian and Li Wushao with his two swords impressively. If Li Yuanjiao had to face him alone, it would definitely have been a challenging battle.
However, the ambush was sudden. Li Yuanjiao''s attack was immediate and extremely powerful, catching Zhe Ledai off guard. However, he was not seriously injured.
Fu Daimu, noticing Zhe Ledai''s struggle, knew that despite his best efforts, he could not force Yuan Chengdun''s immortal foundation out of its position. With a frustrated sigh, Fu Daimu raised his sleeve, releasing a ck and red artifact.
"Mountain of Human Heads!"
The dharma artifact expanded rapidly, its ck and red surface covered with thousands of human heads. They stared, drooled, and howled. Their long ck hair fluttered in the air, creating chilling gusts of wind.
Fei Luoya waved his hands and unleashed two streams of mana light, sneering as he said, "You went to the Jiang Family to seek cultivation methods, observed the Jade Smoke Mountain three times, and ended up making such a grotesque imitation of it?"
Despite his mockery, Fei Luoya remained vignt, activating his Immortal Foundation Untraceable Presence, and vanished from in sight.
The Mountain of Human Heads loomed menacingly, its filthy, eerie sounds filling the air.
Yuan Chengdun remained calm as the shadow of the enormous dharma artifact enveloped him. Holding his short rods tightly, golden patterns began to crawl up his face.
"Beast! Absurd! You dare use a demonic mountain to suppress me?"
With a burst of golden light, Yuan Chengdun activated his Sprawling Azure Mountain. He struck the massive mountain forcefully with his two rods, so fast that they turned into a golden blur.
RUMBLE!
The impact caused ck smoke to billow from the Mountain of Human Heads. The human heads on it all screamed in unison, creating a loud cacophony. Yuan Chengdun continued with his relentless assault, his short rods smashing the dharma artifact with increasing speed, causing it to continue rumbling loudly.
Meanwhile, Fu Daimu, having just rescued Zhe Ledai, swept Li Yuanjiao and the others aside with a wave of his sleeve.
His face turned pale as he looked back, stunned.
"Sprawling Azure Mountain?! You''re Yuan Chengdun!" he eximed in shock.
Chapter 474: Eliminating Fu Daimu (III)
Chapter 474: Eliminating Fu Daimu (III)
Yuan Chengdun''s reputation was built by eliminating adversaries one after another.
Back when devil cultivators ravaged Mushroom Forest in, he defeated three-figure devil cultivators single-handedly. Three Foundation Establishment Realm devil cultivators even attempted to ambush him within a formation, yet he overcame them effortlessly and escaped unscathed.
Inparison, Xiao Yongling, the Man on Mount Feather, also fought against three opponents simultaneously. Although he emerged victorious, he sustained serious injuries, and his reputation never reached the heights of Yuan Chengdun''s.
Fu Daimu recognized him from afar and, now with fear evident in his voice, called out, "You''re... Daoist Yuan! Please reconsider your actions, I have backers within the sect!"
Li Tongya had in the Maha with his sword, shocking the world, and became a renowned figure in Jiangnan. Yuan Chengdun''s Sprawling Azure Mountain ced him among the top ten Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in thest hundred years, so it was no wonder why Fu Daimu was momentarily thrown into disarray.
Yuan Chengdun did not respond, and only shook his head with a small smile. The Yuan Family had far more connections within the sect than the Li Family, so how could they not see through the trick? At that moment, he was just amused by Fu Daimu''s threat.
Sprawling Azure Mountain excels at attacking and subduing evil, and this person''s rod technique can be considered high-grade...
Fu Daimu''s face darkened. Despite his surging mana, he was contemting to escape. However, with the opponent''srge formation and physical prowess, the sess rate of his escape remained uncertain. His Dao Companion was still making breakthroughs in Great Jueting. Even if he could escape this time, they would still ambush him next time.
The odds stacked against him were just too high.
Li Yuanjiao and the others had no intention of giving him a chance to catch his breath, and various spells and sword techniques bombarded him relentlessly. Once again, Zhe Ledai lifted his broken dual swords to defend himself.
"Senior Brother, where did Fei Luoya find so many allies? I''m afraid we won''t be able to get away today..." he said grimly.
Fu Daimu''s spiritual sense continued to patrol the air, trying to locate Fei Luoya who had disappeared. With a surge of ck qi in his hand, he smashed the iing sword qi with his palm.
"I''ve underestimated this Fei Luoya! On one hand, he''s begging for forgiveness; on the other, he''s nning an ambush on me... If I had known, I wouldn''t have trusted him!"
His expression grew more somber as he squeezed these words through his gritted teeth.
Zhe Ledai remained fully focused, gathering mana light as he held his swords up in front of him, blocking the maw of a lunging serpent dragon.
"Senior Brother! This is getting out of hand, it''ll be difficult for both of us to escape alive. You have the Profound Light Escape Technique, please go quickly! I will stop them here for you," he transmitted his voice through mana.
Fu Daimu''s subordinate was known for his calm demeanor and high talent. Promoted and rmended by Fu Daimu to train on Mount Wu, Zhe Ledai had always been loyal to him. And at this moment, he was already prepared to sacrifice himself.
Fu Daimu gritted his teeth and shook his head. On the other end, Yuan Chengdun continued striking the Mountain of Human Heads relentlessly with his rods as if it were a drum. As Fu Daimu was about to speak, a stream of red light suddenly appeared before him, shocking him into sping his hands together in terror.
At that moment, Fu Daimu activated his immortal foundation, Descending Souls, his body releasing ck light that enveloped his entire body like a veil or mist. A shrill whistling sound echoed, momentarily stunning the few early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in their ces.
ng!
Fu Daimu''s hands radiated ck light as he pressed them against Fei Luoya''s dharma sword. The flowing red light from the dharma sword scorched his hands, causing ck smoke to rise from the contact. He spat out another stream of ck light from his mouth, forcing Fei Luoya to retreat, and only then could he finally catch his breath.
Although Fei Luoya was highly talented, he was still a rogue cultivator. Aside from Mount Wu''s shamanic spells, he had only learned a few Grade Two spells which were not very powerful. Hence, he could only rely on his immortal foundation to challenge Fu Daimu. At that moment, instead of being defeated, he chose to withdraw and disappear.
Zhe Ledai breathed a sigh of relief as he fended off Li Wushao''s attack, whispering urgently, "Senior brother, hurry up and go!"
Fu Daimu realized he could not afford to linger here any longer. He performed a hand seal to cast a spell, causing the ck light of the Mountain of Human Heads to blossom intensely, briefly overshadowing Yuan Chengdun''s golden light. With his other hand, he unleashed three talismans which illuminated a golden light as he activated the shamanic spell.
As Fu Daimu performed a series of maneuvers, Zhe Ledai''s body also radiated a surge of blood-red light. His life essence burned, and his dual swords shimmered with dazzling light. Shifting into a guarding stance instead, he attacked ferociously like a tiger.
Fei Luoya suddenly reappeared, the dharma sword in his hand dancing as red light erupted around him. He quickly shouted, "He''s going to use an escape technique! Don''t let him escape!"
During the gue, a devil cultivator had also used a simr escape technique, transforming into a red light and zooming away. The Li Family had no way to stop it and could only allow him to escape at the time.
The escape spells differed from escape techniques. Most escape techniques only enhanced speed, whereas most escape spells involved changing forms and shuttling back and forth, crossing dangerousnds andrge formations. However, they were very difficult to cultivate.
Li Yuanjiao saw Fu Daimu using defensive talismans and almost simultaneously guessed his intention. He pressed forward, calling out to the others, "Keep Fu Daimu from leaving!"
Allowing ate-stage Foundation Establishment Realm Mount Yue cultivator from Mount Wu to escape would spell disaster for the Li Family in the future.
Those from Mount Yue had nothing to lose, but Li Yuanjiao and Yuan Chengdun had families to consider. Hence, the two were most nervous about letting their enemies slip away.
Yuan Chengdun bellowed angrily as he summoned the strength to topple over the Mountain of Human Heads. The strain caused his face to turn red, but he dared not catch his breath and quickly flew to Li Yuanjiao''s side.
Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao pressed on, meeting the defense of a Foundation Establishment Realm talisman head-on. He activated his Jing Dragon King, conjuring a grayish-green serpent dragon that exploded into a series of mana water sshes upon colliding with the talisman.
Being quite versed in talisman cultivation, the three Foundation Establishment Realm talismans Fu Daimu had unleashed were powerful.
The series of attacks from Li Yuanjiao and Fei Luoya only managed to prate twoyers of Fu Daimu''s defense. Holding his ground, Fu Daimu seized this opportunity to cast his spells.
Fei Luoya''s face paled as he clenched his teeth, biting off a piece of his tongue. Puffing up his cheeks, he spat out a blood arrow, shaking the golden light shield.
Seizing the moment to act, Li Yuanjiao sprang to his feet and thrust his Qingche Sword forward with ferocious intensity.
Rumble!
A ball of blood light exploded in the air. Despite being an early Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Zhe Ledai relied on his own strength to repel both Li Wushao and Zhu Xian. Still possessing enough power to counterattack, he drove his dual swords into Li Yuanjiao''s back with all his might.
Li Yuanjiao was unwilling to give up on the rare opportunity he had been waiting for. As he seemed on the verge of surrender, the Six-Stone Cloud te suddenly appeared behind him.
Amidst the earth-yellow glow, the Profound Patterned Bottle released a profound spirit mist, effectively blocking the iing swords.
ng!
The Qingche Sword pierced through the remaining spell shield. The greenish-white sword light surged directly toward Fu Daimu''s face.
Pfft!
Fu Daimu caught the Qingche Sword firmly with his hand but the sharp sword qi pierced through the back of his hand. The old man from Mount Yue was furious, his eyes reddening even more as the spell in his hand had been interrupted.
Li Yuanjiao was also taking a beating as he had concentrated all his mana and true essence into the Qingche Sword. Although the Six-Stone Cloud te and Profound Patterned Bottle were still activated, Zhe Ledai''s dual sword prated them easily, causing Li Yuanjiao to spit out fresh blood with the vibration of their mana.
Fu Daimu''s heart filled with rage. After such a dy, Yuan Chengdun, having toppled over the Mountain of Human Heads, had already arrived in front of him. His murderous aura was intense as he swung the two golden rods that were aimed directly at Fu Daimu.
The oue has been decided.
Chapter 475: Eliminating Fu Daimu (IV)
Chapter 475: Eliminating Fu Daimu (IV)
Li Yuanjiao stepped back as he took a healing pill, and quietly observed the ensuing battle.
Zhe Ledai was already in a dire situation under the siege of Li Wushao and Zhu Xian. Fu Daimu was retreating from Yuan Chengdun''s relentless attacks, and he also had to guard against Fei Luoya. The tide had clearly turned against him.
We''ll just have to watch out for any desperate counterattack in his final moments.
Li Yuanjiao advanced with his sword, a profound spirit mist enveloping his body as he hovered on the edge of the battlefield, silently waiting for his opponents to exhaust their strength.
Zhe Ledai was already using secret techniques. Being surrounded by the three adversaries, he was soon covered in wounds and bloody holes, wilting under the assault. Li Wushao transformed into his true form, crushing Zhe Ledai''s lower body with his tail while Zhu Xianshed out with a rattan whip, tearing off his opponent''s head.
"Junior Brother!!"
Fu Daimu had been his friend for over a hundred years. At that moment, tears welled up in his eyes and he nearly lost his mind from the grief. He had pushed the spell in his hand and his immortal foundation to its limit, yet he still could not escape.
Yuan Chengdun''s power had grown increasingly formidable, and each strike he delivered was enhanced by the power of his immortal foundation. Unable to unleash his spell, Fu Daimu began showing signs of despair and madness.
Li Yuanjiao watched Fu Daimu''s expression change repeatedly as if he were fighting for his life. He stood back in the air, secretly praying that this Old Mount Yue man would not break the formation as he could not afford to pay for it.
Fortunately, Kong Tingyun''s formation te was exceptionally durable, being a jade heirloom that could maintain a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm defense in any environment. In this battle, he lost only five or six Spirit Stones and more than a dozen jade stones. Li Yuanjiao was very delighted and yearned to possess this formation te.
I wonder how many Spirit Stones this formation te costs... If it''s identally destroyed, I might really have to empty our family''s vault.
While Li Yuanjiao was preupied with his thoughts, Fu Daimu had enveloped himself in a blood mist while fighting desperately.
Li Yuanjiao withdrew and continued waiting amongst the spirit mist. He did not have to wait long before a gust of blood wind swept past him.
The old Mount Yue man''s head had been crushed into pieces.
"Brother Jiao, are you all right?"
Although Yuan Chengdun had depleted a significant amount of true essence in this battle, he still managed to fly toward Li Yuanjiao out of concern. Li Yuanjiao nodded and thanked him, then put away the formation te.
As soon as therge formation was undone, they saw white insects filling the surrounding mountains, densely swarming with nowhere tond.
Fei Luoya nodded with a satisfied smile and remarked, "They are definitely dead! This is the phenomenon of Descending Souls."
Li Yuanjiao drew his sword and dered, "Now that the evil has been eliminated, I''ll stay here to defend this ce for a while. Great Jueting still has remnants¡ªgo and quickly eliminate them. If anyone hears of this, they''ll definitely retaliate."
Fei Luoya nodded and threw Fu Daimu''s storage pouch toward Li Yuanjiao, who took it with a nod and said simply, "We''ll divide the spoils after we''re done."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Great Jueting was an ancient, majestic city, once filled with a poption of a hundred thousand at its peak. Fu Daimu had only ruled it for decades, but now fewer than ten thousand remained, mostly women dedicated to childbearing.
The fertile soil and abundant water of Jiangnan nurtured thend effectively¡ªseeds scattered today would germinate tomorrow, and an acre ofnd could easily support a family. People settled down here, cultivating crop after crop. Fu Daimu had been cultivating here for decades, reaping significant benefits.
The boulder was polished smooth and t with a few Mount Yue soldiers scattered atop it, standing in silence. A group of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators flew past, and all the mortals kneeled and bowed in submission.
In Great Jueting''s royal court, only a few hundredrge copper pirs stood tall. On top of them were sporadically tied individuals, most reduced to desated corpses, with a small number of them still breathing.
All of them were Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators.
Li Yuanjiao and the others swiftly entered the hall, breaking the formation and searching for several secret chambers. One by one, they opened each chamber until they found Fu Daimu''s Dao Companion in the deepest part of the pce. To their surprise, it was an old woman who was sitting cross-legged. Fei Luoya marched into the room and twisted her head off.
Fu Daimu was highly attentive; the indoor shielding formation was exquisitely crafted, so much so that when the group arrived, the woman remained unaware of their presence. She had a smile on her face, likely because her cultivation had reached a critical point.
In front of hery a collection of evil, bloody objects. Li Yuanjiao nced over them, knowing that all of them were gathered by Zhu Xian.
The group dispersed to search further. Fu Daimu had not established a Dao lineage; instead, he kept all his shamanic spells and secret techniques memorized in his mind, much to Fei Luoya''s dismay. They only found a few spells in Zhe Ledai''s secret chamber, which was better than nothing.
They opened the storage pouches of the Mount Yue men, spilling spirit items across the ground. Most of the items weremon, but among them were five treasured panaceas and five glittering jade boxes that would make anyone''s eyes gleam with greed.
The group of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators returned to gather together. They first exchanged a few small secret arts and recorded them down, thenid out what they had obtained.
All their gazes were then drawn toward the Mountain of Human Heads, which after suffering considerable damage, had shrunk to the size of a human skull. The smaller human heads on it were densely packed, looking extremely terrifying.
Although Fu Daimu was not particrly skilled at refining weapons, his cultivation was built on this dharma weapon, sacrificing around eighty to a hundred thousand human lives which could threaten Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
Even in the face of Sprawling Azure Mountain, it managed to hold out for the time it took for a stick of incense to burn... What a powerful weapon...
"This object should no longer be used. I will take it back to the n to refashion it," Yuan Chengdun remarked casually as he picked up the item.
Having dealt the most damage during the siege, Yuan Chengdun naturally had the right to make the first pick.
Fei Luoya merely cupped his fist and said, "Brother Jiao, please go ahead!"
Li Yuanjiao epted the invitation. He swept his eyes over the items, then said, "Let''s take out a few types of treasured panaceas first. These are needed to establish connections with those on Fuchen Peak in the sect. If the Peak Master needs treasured panaceas in the future, I''ll have to trouble you two, fellow Daoists."
"Of course."
Zhu Xian and Fei Luoya nodded in agreement, while Yuan Chengdun seemed thoughtful.
Li Yuanjiao collected three treasured panaceas, after making it clear that these were for building connections. He then took a Clear Cloud Elk Fruit, which could be used to solidify true essence and regenerate severed limbs.
Watching Li Yuanjiao take the fruit, Li Wushao finally breathed a silent sigh of relief. Since he would be thest to pick the spoils, he knew he would not be able to secure any treasured panacea.
As long as this panacea is in the master''s hands, there''s still hope of obtaining it... maybe I won''t need to spend decades repairing my tail hooks... he thought quietly to himself.
Fei Luoya took thest treasured panacea, the Wall Mountain Essence Flower, which could assist in cultivation and increase mana. The remaining misceneous items were split equally between Li Wushao and Zhu Xian. Although their value was not high, at least they did not return empty-handed.
Yuan Chengdun had managed to obtain a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, and Fei Luoya''s territory had doubled, leaving them in high spirits.
They rode the wind and departed, and Yuan Chengdun bade farewell to everyone with a bright smile before leaving. Fei Luoya stared at Great Jueting''s remains in satisfaction.
Li Yuanjiao, fearing he might follow Fu Daimu''s example, reminded him, "Fellow Daoist... don''t follow Fu Daimu''s path if you intend to align with us. That person in my family... abhors that path. Please be very mindful."
Fei Luoya was slightly stunned and hurriedly replied, "Of course! I understand."
Chapter 476: Meng Taizhi (I)
Chapter 476: Meng Taizhi (I)
Li Yuanjiao and Fei Luoya exchanged a few words, both clearly in high spirits as they left the Great Jueting with smiles on their faces. Zhu Xian and Li Wushao, their followers, trailed behind.
Li Yuanjiao noticed Fei Luoya surveying the surroundings with keen interest and asked, "What ns do you have for the stretch of lush forests and fertilends between Great Jueting and Eastern Mount Yue?"
Fei Luoya''s slit eyes met Li Yuanjiao''s gaze sharply as he replied, "When Fu Daimu was still around, all I could think of was running away at a moment''s notice... I''ve never thought of overseeing Mount Yue. However, now that I have such a huge territory, I''ll have to appoint several of my men to help gather spirit items, hunt demons, cultivate Spirit Paddies, and earn a certain amount of Spirit Stones annually..."
Li Yuanjiao chuckled and suggested, "My family excels in these endeavors. Why don''t we share thend? Since the territory is yours, my family will manage the operations for you. I''m confident that in ten years, we''ll see profits exceeding twenty Spirit Stones annually."
"Oh?"
Fei Luoya nodded slightly then asked a few more questions before subtly shifting the topic toward the Azure Pond Sect''s Fuchen Peak. Noticing Fei Luoya''s disinterest in a partnership, Li Yuanjiao exchanged a few more pleasantries before taking his leave.
Li Wushao, who had been silent, spoke only after they had flown a hundred li.
"Master, how severe is your injury?"
When Li Yuanjiao endured a dual sword strike from Zhe Ledai, Li Wushao feared for his life. Since his spirit was bound to Li Yuanjiao, any harm that befell him would spell the end for Li Wushao too.
Li Yuanjiao waved dismissively as he replied, "I''m fine. Once we return to the peak, you should enter seclusion and take the Clear Cloud Elk Fruit to regrow the two hooks on your tail."
"Thank you, Master!"
Li Wushao expressed his gratitude repeatedly, to which Li Yuanjiao simply responded, "You''re part of the Li Family now; there''s no need for such formalities."
Just then, a handsome young man in white approached them. With a sword slung across his back, he cupped his fist and greeted Li Yuanjiao.
"Congrattions on your sess in exterminating another evil, Second Uncle!"
This young man was none other than Li Xijun.
Li Yuanjiao, eyeing him suspiciously, asked, "Is something amiss at home? What brings you all the way out here?"
Li Xijun replied softly, "I feared that Fei Luoya might attempt deceit or worse, so I couldn''t help but watch from afar."
Li Yuanjiao turned to him with a puzzled look and asked slowly, "We were more than a hundred li away from here within a grand formation... You can see all the way over there?"
Li Xijun nodded, the frost and snow qi in his eyes swirling densely. He replied, "Thanks to the Radiant Snow Pine Ridge I received, my vision is exceedingly sharp, capable of dispelling illusions and discerning details. Even through formidable formations, I can glimpse the flowing mana lights and thus gauge the situation."
Li Yuanjiao''s face lit up with pride as he nodded in approval.
"Excellent! You must try cultivating the Spirit Eye Perception when we return. With such a talent, you might be able to master it easily and wield it effectively."
As Li Xijun nodded in agreement, Li Yuanjiao continued, "Fei Luoya refuses to let our family intervene even though his territory could yield significant profits with our manpower..."
Li Xijun paused thoughtfully before realizing something and said, "Uncle, do not worry! Fei Luoya does not grasp theplexities of governance... He is alone; how will he manage every aspect by himself? He may think appointing a few Qi Cultivators will suffice, but when reality hits, he''ll soon realize that he needs our help."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, adding, "Exactly. The ways of Mount Yue are entrenched¡ªgreed and fearlessness run deep. In Eastern Mount Yue, it took two Qi Cultivators and twelve Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators at Jade Capital from the Jade Court Guards enforcing strict discipline day and night to achieve what we have... Fei Luoya has no experience in these things and will definitely struggle."
The uncle and nephew conversed for a while before descending on Qingdu Peak. Uponnding, Li Xijun, with a solemn tone, said, "n Uncle! Our family has settled into Qingdu. Rogue cultivators now refer to us as the Li Family of Qingdu, thus solidifying our position. The old suffix Lijing no longer suits us... perhaps it''s time for a change."
Whether Qingdu or Lijing, Li Yuanjiao was not concerned with titles and replied with a tone of indifference.
"As you wish, set it as you see fit."
As the groupnded on the peak, a little girl squatting in front of the courtyard sprang up, smiling and running toward them.
"Father! Brother!"
"Xiang''er," Li Yuanjiao greeted. His daughter, whom he cherished deeply, had seen him rarely due to his years of seclusion and breakthroughs. This distance had caused some estrangement, and her bond with her cousin was evidently stronger, given how she grabbed Li Xijun''s hand happily.
Observing them, Li Yuanjiao remarked with a chuckle, "Jun''er seems much more mature now."
With a warm smile, Li Xijun replied, "Uncle, Xiang''er will be tested for her spiritual orifice next year. I wonder if she will have one..."
Li Xijun wore a gentle and doting expression on his face. It was at this moment Li Yuanjiao realized that Li Xicheng and Li Ximing also had a gentle and subdued demeanor, which was strikingly different from his own fierce nature.
This generation is bing more and more like those from the other prestigious ns out there... Li Yuanjiao mused silently with pride.
The Li Family''s rapid ascent from humble beginnings to prominence meant theycked the necessary wealth and connections. Due to various insecurities, the members of the first three generations were far from saints.
However, members of the generation of Xi and Yue, particrly Li Xicheng at the foot of the mountain, disyed a generosity and calmness typical of members from prestigious ns.
Li Xicheng, along with Li Xizhi and Li Ximing, were approachable and easy to converse with, but Li Yuanjiao was still uncertain as to whether this was their strength or weakness.
Yuan Chengdun and Xiao Ruyu also carry an air of submission, thanks to their substantial family backgrounds and influential connections... This made them adept at forming alliances and maintaining harmony.
These younger members had been fortunate to receive training in both cultivation and politics from an early age. It was only natural that they found the world to be sweet as honey, given that others deferred to them, showing respect to avoid conflict. They were also lucky to have the guidance of elders to keep them disciplined.
It''s hard to determine whether being easygoing and generous or ruthless and cautious is better. Life is full of uncertainties, and it''s challenging to make definitive judgments. As for Xijun...
Li Yuanjiao''s thoughts trailed off as he turned his narrow gaze toward Li Xijun and suddenly called out to him.
"Jun''er."
Li Xijun lifted his head, his face noticeably more handsome than Li Yuanjiao. Frowning slightly in confusion, he tilted his head to express that he was waiting for him to continue.
Li Yuanjiao said softly, "It''s often wise to keep a low profile. There''s no need to be perfect. Make minor errors, suffer small setbacks..."
Li Xijun grew even more confused as he stared at his uncle, only to hear him say, "Even Ximing and Xicheng make mistakes, but I never worry because they always correct themselves. Yet you... I noticed that you have never faltered, and even hold a disdain for the world."
For the first time, Li Xijun felt the shock of being thoroughly understood. He could only stare back nkly, wordlessly.
Li Yuanjiao continued hoarsely, "My Big Brother was also a bright and gifted child since birth. He had only made one mistake in his life¡ªpicking up that thunder pearl. Good fortune often punishes the bold... Never underestimate this world."
The tragic fate of Li Yuanxiu served as a life lesson for all of them. His error had since introduced numerous troublesome rules to the Li Family and had shaped Li Yuanjiao into the skeptical and anxious man he was today.
Li Xijun bowed deeply, acknowledging his uncle''s advice.
"I shall heed your wisdom, Uncle."
Chapter 477: Meng Taizhi (II)
Chapter 477: Meng Taizhi (II)
After imparting his advice, Li Yuanjiao felt a sharp pain in his back and tightness in his chest, and was reminded of the wound Zhe Ledai had inflicted on him. He knew he needed to address it urgently.
"I''ve sustained a minor injury and must recuperate. The seclusion of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator is long, and so I might be unavable for a few years. Manage the family well in my absence, your brothers will follow your lead. Always consult with your seventh uncle on any matter."
Li Xijun nodded thoughtfully and, as Li Yuanjiao left, he lifted Li Yuexiang from the ground, saying softly, "Come. Big Brother will take you on a walk."
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On Mount Lijing...
Dressed in brocade fur, Li Yuanping sat at the end of the hall as usual. Despite his pale face and slightly sunken eyes, he looked in better health after consuming a talisman pill, which had aided in his breakthrough to the Jade Capital stage recently.
This is as far as I can go...
Though the talisman pill had facilitated his breakthrough, it was but a fleeting reprieve. His cultivation still hung in a precarious bnce, and another attempt at advancement could hasten his demise.
Setting aside the letter he had been reading without any apparent change in his expression, he motioned for Li Xicheng at his side and whispered, "Is Meng Taizhi and his daughter around...?"
Li Xicheng cupped his fist and replied, "Meng Taizhi had ventured out to gather qi and has only just returned. I have already sent someone to summon them."
As soon as he finished speaking, an old Qi Cultivator at the ninth heavenlyyer, with a dignified demeanor, entered the hall. He came up, cupping his fist as he greeted, "Rogue cultivator Meng Taizhi greets Family Head."
Li Yuanping acknowledged him with a wave of his hand and then got straight to the point. "No need for such formality, Elder Meng. I heard that you can craft Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts... Is that true?"
Meng Taizhi nodded and replied confidently, "I have some expertise in crafting artifacts and am quite skilled with Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts. If you wish, I can craft such artifacts for your family to offset the cost of gathering Qi."
Li Yuanping smiled and inquired further, "Refining artifacts is no small feat, Elder Meng. How much time can you dedicate to this task?"
Meng Taizhi responded with a bow, "Should your n provide the materials, producing one artifact every two months is feasible."
Li Yuanping nodded thoughtfully and remarked, "That''s sixty artifacts over ten years... That''s quite an impressive number."
The Li Family typically acquired dharma artifacts by looting or purchasing them at a high price. These artifacts were crucial for distributing power within the peak''s hierarchy and rewarding the younger members. If they could secure this batch of artifacts, it would greatly ease their future endeavors.
Our family possesses Ebony Ores, which are ideal materials for crafting Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts... With these, setting up new offices on future peaks will be more convenient!
Yet, he harbored suspicions about Meng Taizhi''s seemingly generous offer and wondered about his ulterior motives. Clutching Xiao Yuansi''s letter, he spected, Meng Taizhi and his daughter could gather qi themselves... Their willingness to assist us might be concealing deeper intentions.
Li Yuanping was reluctant to owe anyone a favor. ncing at Li Xicheng beside him, he offered a diplomatic smile and said, "It would be improper to trouble you, Senior, especially after your long journey. Fortunately, my family still has some reserves. Perhaps we couldmission your services for now and offer somepensation, Elder Meng."
Meng Taizhi cupped his fist and replied, "You''re too kind, Family Head. Assisting with such a modest task is hardly a problem. However..."
Having already anticipated the "however" from Meng Taizhi, Li Yuanping waited for him to continue.
"My daughter possesses the talent to conjure core me necessary for refining pills, but s, as a lowly cksmith, Ick the skills to guide her further..."
He bowed deeply and added, "At the age of one hundred and eighty, my years are numbered. My greatest concern is my daughter''s future, particrly in securing an alchemy legacy to establish herself... Should we acquire your family''s alchemy legacy, we promise to maintain secrecy!"
"Refining a dharma artifact for your family is merely one way to express our gratitude. I''ll be happy to help in any way I can, as long as it is within my capabilities!"
So this is his intention!
Feeling a sense of rity, Li Yuanping ced the letter he had been holding on the desk and spoke calmly, "Elder Meng, there is nothing else my family needs right now. I understand your urgency to secure the alchemy legacy, however, I must consult with the ancestor of my family first."
"Yes, Family Head!" Meng Taizhi said right away, thanking him several times. Li Yuanping inquired about a few more details, discussed unrted matters briefly, then dismissed him.
Li Xicheng, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward and suggested, "Family Head, given that Elder Meng and his daughter possess unique talents and skills, why not consider recruiting them into our family? Once Meng Zhuoyun attains the status of an alchemist, Brother Ming''s burdens will be significantly alleviated..."
"Hmm," Li Yuanping murmured thoughtfully. He gathered the small letters scattered on the desk, sliding them to the corner, and then said, "Take a look at these."
Li Xicheng approached the desk and began to read through the small pile of letters.
"I have reached the Crimson Reef Ind Market of the Eastern Sea... there is no alchemist surnamed Meng here... nor have anyone heard of any by that surname leaving the area..."
"I am now at Chunyi Ind of the Eastern Sea..."
"I am now at Bamboo Creek Ind of the Eastern Sea..."
After Li Xicheng finished reading all the letters, Li Yuanping exined, "I''ve already sent people to each of the inds to trace the origins of Meng Zhuoyun and other spirit items, but there''s no record of any cultivator surnamed Meng skilled in crafting artifacts, nor any recent departures of such cultivator from the Eastern Sea."
"Even the locations Meng Taizhi mentioned led nowhere," Li Yuanping added, tapping the desk.
"His background remains a mystery, making it difficult to trace his origins. Without definitive information about his past, can we just simply recruit him into our family?" he asked, prompting his junior to think.
Seeing the contemtive look on Li Xicheng''s face, Li Yuanping continued, "There''s no rush. We have a decade to investigate this matter thoroughly. Just stay vignt and patient, and we''ll eventually uncover the truth."
"I''ve arranged for a team to assist you once you assume leadership of our house. They will methodically follow up on these leads," he said.
Li Xicheng nodded, feeling the weight of his responsibilities. Having observed Li Yuanping navigate simr challenges over the years, he now understood the difficulties his cousin, Li Ximing, had faced.
Although he had only taken over the restructured Li Family, he could already imagine how much harder it must have been for Li Ximing to handle everything in the past.
Just then, a n soldier approached to report that An Zheyan and his two sons had returned from their survey of the ore vein on the southern shore.
"Excellent! Bring them in immediately," Li Yuanping responded, his spirits lifted as he coughed lightly.
Soon, three men entered the hall together, led by a Qi Cultivator with a shiny shaved head, who was at the ninth heavenlyyer.
He cupped his fist and greeted, "An Zheyan greets Family Head!"
Li Yuanping nodded.
Despite looking like a strong bear, An Zheyan''s tone was deferential as he continued reporting, "I havepleted my investigation on the fourteen anomalies along the southern shore, two were ore veins and seven water veins of high value. Congrattions are in order, Family Head!"
"Two ore veins?!" Li Yuanping eximed, rising quickly to his feet.
"What type of ore veins are they?"
Chapter 478: Li Encheng (I)
Chapter 478: Li Encheng (I)
An Zheyan offered his congrattions and said, "I discovered two mineral veins in theke. One is Radiant Spirit Lead, an Embryonic Breathing Realm spirit ore, with reserves of about four hundred thousand jin. The other is Ni Water Frost Iron, at the Qi Cultivation Realm, with around two hundred thousand jin."
His face was filled with excitement as he continued, "These two veins are quite substantial, enough tost us for several hundred years!"
Li Yuanping was visibly shaken by the news, and an expression of sheer joy shed across his face. He immediately grasped the key point and continued to ask, "Radiant Spirit Lead and Ni Water Frost Iron are not like Ebony Ore, which can be used immediately after extraction... They probably need to be refined first, right?"
An Zheyan nodded and replied, "Radiant Spirit Lead is a spirit material often used in crafting. It takes one hundred jin of ore to extract a finger-sized amount of powder, but even that can sell for a single Spirit Stone!"
He took out two pieces of ore from his chest pocket. One was earthy yellow with grayish hues and covered in circr patterns, while the other was quite beautiful, covered by blue and white patterns, looking almost like a gemstone.
Handing them to Li Xicheng, he continued, "Ni Water Frost Iron is more valuable. Though the vein is a bit poor, two hundred jin of ore can still yield a fist-sized piece of Frost Iron, which is worth several Spirit Stones."
"Good!"
Li Yuanping nodded after hearing this. Manpower was currently the least of the Li Family''s concerns. In fact, the Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators from the various mountains were quite free. With these two mineral veins, the refining work could be arranged, saving those cultivators from idleness.
He then added, "You have also met Li Wushao. With the help of these demonic creatures, how much ore can be mined each year?"
An Zheyan replied, "About a thousand jin of Radiant Spirit Lead. As for Ni Water Frost Iron, it''s harder to mine and requires Qi Cultivators to personally dig it out. If we could extract two hundred jin a year, that would already be impressive."
An annual ie of more than ten Spirit Stones, nearly a hundred in five years... that is quite good!
Li Yuanping smiled slightly. Radiant Spirit Lead was fairlymon, as most Embryonic Breathing Realm artifacts could use it. Selling it would not be an issue, but Ni Water Frost Iron was extremely valuable, so it would be best to save it for the family''s use.
Having made up his mind, he arranged for the Jade Court Guards to apany An Zheyan, and said to Li Xicheng who was by his side, "Go and summon Li Wushao. If we are going tomand the demons at the bottom of theke to mine, we will need the Hooked Serpent''s help."
Li Xicheng nodded and withdrew, while Li Yuanping calcted carefully, "In a few years, the spirit fish we are breeding will gradually yield returns. The two types of minerals will produce at least a dozen Spirit Stones annually. This way, Xicheng will not need to worry about the finances of the household in the future."
If it were not for the need for Spirit Stones, Li Yuanping would not have been willing to sell these minerals. Once they produced their own weaponsmith, the price difference between selling raw materials and selling finished artifacts would be worlds apart.
The Li Family did possess a few smithing techniques that were acquired from rogue cultivators, but they were not easy to use. They required fire veins to barely forge Embryonic Breathing Realm artifacts, and the cost was enormous. Since the family did not have any fire veins, they had to abandon the idea for now.
Li Yuanping silently calcted, "I wonder if we can obtain Meng Taizhi''s smithing legacy... From the looks of it, he seems to be able to craft artifacts without fire veins. The old man does not have many years left; getting my hands on the legacy should not be too difficult..."
He recalled Meng Taizhi''s words and expressions earlier and could not quite figure them out.
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Thekeshore.
Meng Taizhi descended from the air, riding the wind back to the shore. The small cabin by theke was still lit, and he pushed open the door to enter. Inside, Meng Zhuoyun was silently cultivating.
"Yun''er," Meng Taizhi called out.
Meng Zhuoyun, with her delicate features and skin fairer than snow, appeared rather young. She was meditating on the bed.
When she saw Meng Taizhi enter the room, she quietly asked, "How is the Li Family? Although Xiao Yuansi has ties with grandfather, he is a lord from a prestigious n, unacquainted with the harshness of the world..."
Meng Taizhi shook his head, speaking in a deep tone, "The Li Family may be a rising power, but their discipline is strict. The Li Family''s ancestor is probably an old-fashioned traditionalist, keeping everything under tight control and governance. And with the Xiao Family ancestor''s letter, they surely will not harm us."
Meng Taizhi pondered for a moment before continuing, "I have not met Li Yuanjiao yet, but Li Yuanping is quite a figure. Unfortunately... his face seems pale and his breath is weak. He''s likely gravely injured. I''m afraid he does not have many years left to live."
Meng Zhuoyun furrowed her brow slightly, puzzled as she asked, "How could a sword immortal n like the Li Family have such a frail n head? There must be something wrong... Devil cultivators have run rampant for years; I refuse to believe they do not have secret techniques!"
Meng Taizhi shook his head, stroking the long beard on his chin as he responded thoughtfully, "The Li Family is ruthless toward cultivators, but they have a peculiarpassion for mortals. Bound by worldly morals, they refuse to use secret techniques to save their own kin. They merely stand by and watch such individuals die. It is truly a pity..."
After a pause, the old man continued, "Perhaps it is for the best. That man is highly skilled, and if he were to take control of the family, we would still feel ill at ease even if we did not harbor any ulterior motives toward them."
Meng Zhuoyun, now confused, asked, "Seriously? The lives of a hundred unrted mortals versus a capable, trustworthy brother¡ªhow could anyone not see the difference? It''s hard to believe that a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator like Li Yuanjiao cannot tell which is more important. It has been a thousand years since the great war between the immortals and devils, yet such families still exist... I''d heard rumors in the Eastern Sea of conservative sects and families clinging to outdated ways, but I never thought it was true!"
"Best not to speak too much!" Meng Taizhi cautioned, then said, "I have made things clear with Li Yuanping. Gaining the alchemy legacy should not be an issue, but Li Yuanping still does not trust me, and he has not shown any intention of taking me in. When I die, I am afraid you will be forced to wander the Yue State."
A look of regret crossed his face as he continued, "I had hoped the Li Family, now flourishing, would be the best option. Li Tongya is a renowned sword cultivator, and Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong are incredibly gifted, with more talent emerging in their lineage. If I could pledge allegiance to this family, it would be ideal. But sadly, he does not trust me."
Meng Zhuoyun remained silent, and Meng Taizhi sighed as he continued sorrowfully, "If Li Yuanping still does not trust me when my time is almost up, I will stop holding back. I will offer all my smithing knowledge to the Li Family, asking only that you learn a few alchemy secret techniques from Li Ximing. At least that way, you will have something to rely on for your future. The Azure Pond Sect''s territories are much like the Eastern Sea. You should head for the Golden Feather Sect instead... It is safer there."
As Meng Zhuoyun listened, she tightened her grip on a dark golden, bronze mirror and said softly with a sigh, "It is a shame that my husband was killed by that rogue cultivator. If not for that, with his abilities, I would not have to live such a life of constant wandering."
"It''s pointless to talk about that now... "
Meng Taizhi let out several deep sighs, his face filled with despair as he continued, "Who could have predicted such a thing..? That a cultivator at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm would be in by a mere early-stage Qi Cultivator? On top of that, he actually died at the hands of a rogue cultivator during his journey!"
The old man raised his white-haired head, tears streaking down his cheeks as hemented, "I regret everything... We should not have provoked Tu Longjian! It has led us to this downfall!"
But Meng Zhuoyun''s expression remained cold as she spoke softly, "I have no regrets. I''ll kill him sooner orter."
Chapter 479: Li Encheng (II)
Chapter 479: Li Encheng (II)
Azure Pond Sect.
In the bamboo forest atop Qingsui Peak, a young man d in feathered robes sat cross-legged. As a gentle breeze stirred, he opened his eyes, a smile slowly spreading across his face.
"I''ve mastered the Dawn Imperial Movement!"
The Dawn Dew Gathering Technique was a cultivation method perfected over five hundred years by the Azure Pond Sect. It came with aplete set of techniques and was considered one of the best among Grade Four techniques. Li Xizhi was one of those who practiced it, particrly the levitation technique it included.
Unfortunately, this method could only be cultivated to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Every disciple of the Azure Pond Sect aspired to reach the Purple Mansion Realm. Since this technique offered no benefits in alchemy or smithing, very few chose to practice it.
Li Xizhi had often been looked down upon by his peers for following this path, but he never took it to heart, focusing only on his cultivation.
Rising to his feet, a six-colored aura of vibrant energy swirled beneath him, lifting him into the air. d in a ck feathered robe gifted to him by Yang Xiao''er, he truly appeared like an immortal.
Flying above Qingsui Peak for a while, he felt quite satisfied with himself.
With the River Crossing Torrential Step for quick movement and the Dawn Imperial Movement for levitation, even a peak Qi Cultivator would have a hard time killing me. Once I master the Six-Colored Essence Evasion, I will hardly have to fear any danger while traveling outside with a few talismans on hand.
Looking at the swirling six-colored qi beneath his feet, he sighed regretfully.
Everything about this technique is excellent, except for its brilliance. It is far too conspicuous... Anyone can tell it is a mystical technique at a nce¡ªdefinitely not discreet enough.
Li Xizhi chuckled at his own dissatisfaction and descended on the wind, only to see Yang Xiao''er flying toward him, holding a tiny storage pouch in her hand.
At the start, she had been anxious, but Li Xizhi had always treated her kindly, and over time, the girl had grown more at ease in his presence. She was now smiling radiantly, her eyes filled with affection for him.
"My dear, there is news from home!" Yang Xiao''er announced happily.
Li Xizhi quickly took the pouch, probing it with his spiritual sense. He found three jade boxes sealed within. After reading the small letter tucked inside, he fell silent.
Yang Xiao''er stepped forward and asked softly, "What does it say?"
Li Xizhi led her back down to the bamboo forest, taking her hand and speaking in a low voice, "Things at home have gone well. It seems I will need to make a trip to Fuchen Peak and see if I can make a connection there... After all, that person is a peak Foundation Establishment Realm alchemist."
Yang Xiao''er pursed her lips and said, "Li Encheng has a strange temper and has never aligned himself with any faction... Making amends is one thing, but it will not be easy to build a connection with him. You might end up humiliated instead..."
The Azure Pond Sect was a grand sect with a five-hundred-year history and a colossal presence in Yue State. It dominated the southern two prefectures and the Azure Pond Mountain Range, influenced the five gates to the east, and suppressed the thriving Changxiao Gate to the west. In border regions like Moongaze and Lixia, it maintained control through heavy taxes and bloodshed. Every territory was strictly governed, and the sect''s stability was unrivaled.
However, within the Azure Pond Sect, factions flourished. The Yuan Xiu and Yuanwu factions were thergest, but many smaller factions existed as well. Peak masters, elders, and Daoist Masters were locked in constant power struggles, with Sect Master Chi Zhiyun barely managing to maintain a precarious bnce.
"No, I still have to try."
Li Xizhi thought carefully and responded, "The Chi Family''s numbers are dwindling within the sect. They have been relying on the Ning Family to control the various peaks, but it is bing increasingly difficult to face the Yuanwu faction. Furthermore, the recent imbnce in the distribution of resources from the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven has only led to more provocations from Yuan Xiu''s side... Chi Zhiyun has been sidelined for the most part and cannot manage everything."
With a slight pause, he continued, "If I want my family to have a foothold in Yue State through the Azure Pond Sect, I need to build a few connections here. At the very least, I want us to be seen as dogs, not just fodder. This is a great opportunity¡ªI cannot afford to miss it!"
Yang Xiao''er gazed at him with concern, her ordinary features brought to life by the tenderness in her eyes.
"But... Master''s Yuan Family belongs to the Daoist Master Buzi''s lineage. My family''s status is delicate; we have never dared to form alliances. If you go through with this..."
Yang Xiao''er hesitated and the rest of her words were left unspoken.
The Yuan Family''s ancestor made a mistake in his youth and was exiled from the sect. His time is almost up now, and their influence within the sect weakens by the year. If there were any favors left, Master would have already introduced me to the people of Tianzi Peak!
Li Xizhi understood her concern. Yuan Tuan had hinted at this multiple times in private, but it was not something he could say aloud. Instead, he simply assured, "Do not worry. Master is also on the peak."
Hearing this, Yang Xiao''er realized that Yuan Tuan must have had a hand in this as well, so she said nothing more and simply nodded in agreement.
Li Xizhi flew off from Qingsui Peak, his thoughts running through everything twice over. "Granduncle has gained the favor of a Daoist Master in Yi Mountain City, and he already has the Ning Family backing him... But Daoist Master Yuan Su always keeps to himself in Yi Mountain City, never meddling in sect affairs..."
Li Xizhi knew that the Ning Family held his own family in high regard, but he still did not consider relying on them as the best option.
If I can establish a rtionship with Li Encheng, everything will fall into ce. My family needs a voice of its own in the Azure Pond Sect. Afterward, we can align with the Ning Family in a cooperative manner, rather than bing their vassals...
He understood the vast difference in status between them. After drifting in the clouds for a while, he descended in front of Fuchen Peak. A young Daoist boy from the peak approached and asked, "May I ask if the immortal seeks pills? What guidance do you require?"
Li Xizhi dared not act with arrogance. He cupped his fist and said softly, "Li Xizhi of the Li Family from Moongaze Lake, I am here to pay my respects."
He did not mention Qingsui Peak but instead came under the name of the Li Family, subtly implying that if he could not even get past this gate, he might as well give up and leave.
The Daoist boy went up to report, and soon the clouds and mist of the formation parted. Li Xizhinded on the peak and saw the ground covered in a crimson hue, not knowing how many fire veinsy buried beneath it. Jagged boulders were scattered about, and the pce ahead stood tall and proud, resembling a massive cauldron.
He entered the great hall respectfully. Seated at the head of the room was a tall, thin old man in white robes, his frame gaunt. He was holding a white jade wine jug, drinking to his heart''s content.
Upon seeing Li Xizhi, the old man frowned deeply and spoke bluntly, "The Li Family..? I have never had dealings with your n. What business do you seek with me?"
Li Xizhi noticed the man''s impatience and his heart sank. Still, he kept his tone humble and deferential as he said, "Xizhi greets Peak Master. I have heard that a Mount Yue cultivator from Moongaze Lake often gathered precious herbs for you..."
Li Encheng paused for a full breath, then finally remembered, "Ah, yes... that is true."
Li Encheng''s thin cheeks twitched as he frowned and drank. Li Xizhi continued, "That Mount Yue cultivator recently broke through to thete stage of Foundation Establishment Realm and became quite arrogant. A few days ago, he intruded upon my family''s territory and was in by my family in alliance with the Yuan Family. I havee to inform the Peak Master of this matter."
"And I thought it was something important!"
Li Encheng had nearly forgotten about this person. The smell of alcohol hung heavy around him as he waved his hand dismissively and said, "So, he is dead. It makes no difference, really. At most, it will just take a bit more time to find more herbs. You did not need to make this trip... Now, go back!"
Li Xizhi quickly responded, "My family feels deeply remorseful and wishes to make amends to the Peak Master..."
"Oh?"
Li Encheng then took a slow sip of wine, his eyes narrowing into a smile as he asked, "How do you propose to make amends?"
Li Xizhi kneeled and respectfully replied, "My Li Family resides by thekeside, with Mount Dali behind us, the great desert to the west, Xu and Zhao States to the north, and the sea to the east. We have many opportunities to acquire various spirit treasures. If the Peak Master has any needs, my family would be honored to handle them on your behalf!"
Chapter 480: Arrival of the Kong Family (I)
Chapter 480: Arrival of the Kong Family (I)
Li Encheng sat still, studying Li Xizhi''s expression for a while before replying calmly, "I have my own people to handle this. Your family is an esteemed sword immortal n, I can''t possibly have you do such a thing. I''m merely looking for a sample of the Blood Sun Fruit on Mount Yue, and that Mount Yue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator named..."
He paused for a moment, as if unsure what that Mount Yue cultivator''s name even was. Fortunately, Li Xizhi stepped in, reminding Li Encheng of his name.
"Ah yes, Fu Daimu. He somehow found out about this and approached my manager at Xuanyuan Market and brought him there. In any case, it is not a big deal. I will have someone else continue the search, there''s no need to trouble your esteemed n!"
"As for the others..."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, lowering his voice before continuing, "I have no desire to cultivate friendships with any peaks. Please return to where you came from, back to Qingsui Peak."
"Understood," Li Xizhi replied. He offered an apology, then exited the hall without a change in his expression. As soon as he reached the steps outside, a middle-aged man approached him.
It was Li Encheng''s second disciple. The man attempted to say something nice to Li Xizhi on behalf of his master, to which Li Xizhi smiled in response before leaving with the wind.
The middle-aged man entered the hall and saw Li Encheng sipping from a wine cup at the top. He lowered his voice and said, "Father! This is..."
Li Encheng shot him a re, prompting the middle-aged man to close the door hastily and activate an isting formation before continuing.
"This Li Family is our own, and it is very weak¡ªmerely a name at this point. They are just what we needed right now! The Azure Pond has had a firm hold over our people for so long and you''ve been thinking this for quite a while... Why drive them away?"
Li Encheng shrugged dismissively and replied, "Why does it matter? I''ve told him everything necessary. It doesn''t matter whether my tone is harsh or not. Don''t confuse Yuan Tuan and Li Xizhi with Si Yuanbai... Even Xiao Yuansi has his own agenda."
The middle-aged man recalled Li Xizhi''s expression and nodded hesitantly.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Qingsui Peak.
Li Xizhi rode the wind back to the courtyard, closing the door behind him. Yang Xiao''er then asked, "What did Water Wall Pearl say?"
"It''s settled."
Li Xizhi nodded with a smile. He then picked up a brush from the table and began writing a letter.
"... Have our prominent ns find the Blood Sun Fruit... Send it to the Azure Pond''s sect manager at Xuanyuan Market. This person is Li Encheng''s subordinate..."
Li Encheng was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator; how could he not remember a name? Moreover, Li Xizhi had clearly mentioned Fu Daimu''s name. Li Encheng''s behavior seemed intended to downy this person''s significance which was an unmistakable hint of his willingness to forge a connection with them.
He had also made his requests clear¡ªfirst, to acquire the Blood Sun Fruit, and second, to contact him through his man at Xuanyuan Market, rather than return to Fuchen Peak.
"This person has kept to himself in the sect for many years; he certainly has his own reason..." Li Xizhi mused.
After a moment of contemtion, he set down his brush and turned to Yang Xiao''er.
"Xiao''er, I''m afraid I''ll have to trouble you to head to the Imperial Cloud Peak to investigate what transpired before and after Li Encheng joined the sect... whether he offended anyone, and why he might feel silenced even in his own peak."
Although Li Encheng was a master alchemist, he was entirely at the mercy of Yundan Peak. Most of the favors he sought were funneled through them. He poured effort into refining pills and elixirs, only for the majority of the credits and benefits to be imed by Yundan Peak.
His behavior had always been peculiar, leading others to believe he was indifferent. But now, Li Xizhi found this odd and did not want his father to act impulsively¡ªhe nned to uncover the truth first.
Yang Tianya must have covered for my family; he likely has ties to us or some connection to the Xiao Family. Going to Imperial Cloud Peak can help us gather real information without revealing our intentions.
He put aside his brush and took out the jade slip titled Six-Colored Essence Evasion. The senior who created this escape spell was obviously a vain person as the jade slip was colorful and engraved with intricate patterns.
When ites to the brilliance of true essence, the Dawn Dew Gathering Technique is truly top-tier...
Li Xizhi spent the entire night studying the slip until Yang Xiao''er eventually returned with a frown.
"Li Encheng... has indeed offended someone!" she said seriously.
"Who?" Li Xizhi asked, looking up quickly.
He noticed the strange expression on Yang Xiao''er''s face as she whispered, "Chi Wei!"
"Chi Wei?!"
Li Xizhi was taken aback, disbelief shing across his features as he continued asking, "How is that possible?!"
Yang Xiao''er carefully checked the doors and windows, then used a secret technique to transmit her voice.
"Chi Wei was still at the Foundation Establishment Realm when he went out with Li Encheng, and they discovered an alchemy legacy in a ruin. Li Encheng, tempted by profit, injured Chi Wei and locked him in a secret realm to seize this Dao for himself...
"He never expected that Chi Wei would gain significant benefits in the secret realm andter return to the sect. Li Encheng was apprehended for interrogation, relying solely on the backing of Fuchen Peak''s Master, who defended him. Chi Wei, in a show of generosity, chose not to pursue the matter.
"The two reached an uneasy peace, and from that point on, Li Encheng never left the sect again. He spent his days refining pills on the peak, trying to atone for his past misdeeds..."
Li Xizhi shook his head upon hearing this and murmured, "I see, so that''s why..."
Yang Xiao''er added, "Now that Chi Wei is dead, Li Encheng has be a cash cow for the sect. They''ve erased this part from the records and no longer mention it. It was the ancestor who informed me."
Li Xizhi nodded and reflected, "That certainly exins why Li Encheng rarely leaves his peak... It may not be that he''s unwilling to go out, but that he dares not."
He retrieved a jade slip from the shelf and examined it closely before realization dawned upon him.
He whispered, "Ah, there''s a brief record here. It was an alchemy legacy from the Mifan Sect... So that''s the backstory of this legacy."
Yang Xiao''er nodded, reminding him, "This happened a very long time ago. Except for a few elders in the Purple Mansion Realm, most peak masters and disciples in the sect today are unaware of it, so we should be safe. My ancestor was just a lowly disciple back then. No one knows how much of what transpired in that secret realm ording to the sect is true... We should just take it with a grain of salt."
Li Xizhi nodded thoughtfully, then picked up his brush to add a few more words to the letter before silently folding it. After sealing it with his family''s secret technique, it was ready to be sent out.
The three treasured panaceas he received from Li Yuanjiao remained unused. Although his father had stated in the letter that if there was no hope of forming connections, he should keep them for his own use, Li Xizhi hesitated to pocket them all.
After considering his options, he carefully extracted one of the Cloud Vine Spirit Peppers, nning to have the Yundan Peak refine them into a batch of pills. As for the other two he set them aside, cing them in a small bag to be sent back home along with the letter.
Chapter 481: Arrival of the Kong Family (II)
Chapter 481: Arrival of the Kong Family (II)
Qingdu Peak.
Li Ximing sat by the furnace, a golden me flickering across his face. With a light gesture, he drew the Profound Yang Li Fire to the tip of his finger.
The spirit fire was usually explosive and challenging to control, yet in his hands, it danced gracefully like an obedient spirit. Originally, it was a great spirit fire forbat, but unfortunately, they had only a portion at home and it had to be transformed into Long Marching Fire Essence.
As Li Ximing yed with the fire, feeling its raw power and heat, a sense of regret washed over him.
He had received a talisman seed and having reached the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Ximing was just one step away from the sixth heavenlyyer.
After a four-month seclusion, he had easily broken through, breathing smoothly and effortlessly.
Talisman qi is indeed wonderful; it''s a pity I can only take one dose. It would be wonderful if I could take several...
As soon as he emerged from seclusion after two months, Li Ximing felt restless. He called the servants from outside the courtyard and ordered, "Get Dou and the others here."
The servant, familiar with his intentions, was about to bow and take his leave when Li Ximing quickly stopped him, "Wait! Someone ising."
The courtyard door creaked open, revealing a young man in a white robe. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his true essence radiated a chill that was as cold as snow. He smiled and said, "What a coincidence! You''ve emerged from your seclusion, Ximing!"
Li Xijun, now also at the fifth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation, had received a Foundation Establishment Realm talisman alongside Li Ximing. After a series of breakthroughs, both were a level above Li Xizhi in the sect and firmly established themselves as mid-stage Qi Cultivators. Only Li Xicheng, who was at the foot of the mountain, remained at the second heavenlyyer.
The two brothers sat down. Li Ximing still felt slightly awkward, but Li Xijun did not address it directly; instead, he shared everything that had happened during Li Ximing''s seclusion, including details about two ore veins.
Li Ximing listened, genuinely pleased.
"That''s great news!" he eximed.
Li Xijun continued, "Second Uncle has been in seclusion to recover from his injuries. I spent thest two months gathering qi and practicing the ughter Jun Kui Light. I visited two markets and bought all the spirit items and spirit herbs you need for the Yang Nourishing Technique."
He then produced an array of items from his storage pouch¡ªA spirit stone with a phoenix tail pattern, a warm jade bottle, and a red spirit herb among them.
"This is the Phoenix Tail Stone, this is Dark Gray Smoke, and this is Yang Essence Spirit Herb..." he exined, handing them to Li Ximing one by one.
He noticed Li Xijun''s travel-worn appearance and quickly thanked him, cing the items on the table. Feeling shy about expressing more, he only managed to convey his gratitude.
Li Xijun waved his hands, dismissing the formality.
Now that his cultivation had improved, Li Xijun had begun practicing Spirit Eye Perception. His eyes shimmered as if he could see right through people.
He spoke softly, "Granduncle has been looking very exhaustedtely. He must be haunted by his inner demons, though he refuses to say a word about it. You should refine more pills that can help to rx him. I''ll try to ask a few people to go to the southern prefecture to search for other simr medicines... It just so happens that I need to find a type of spirit water, so I can handle both tasks together while I''m at it."
Li Ximing heeded the instruction with a nod. Li Xuanxuan was his grandfather, and he should have been the one most concerned for him. Yet, he had been practicing in seclusion, wasting precious time.
Feeling a pang of shame, he replied, "I''ll get to work right away and be more attentive to Grandfather''s needs in the future so you don''t have to worry about it."
Li Xijun smiled and nodded. Curious, Li Ximing asked, "Is the ughter Jun Kui Light really that difficult to practice? We already have cold water and cold qi at home, and also obtained one from the Yuan Family. With three cold qi from the Chilling Snow Series and a method for finding cold water... Do you really need to go out?"
"The only thing missing now is the cold water. My Radiant Snow Pine Ridge excels at using spells, and ughter Jun Kui Light is exceptionally powerful in my hands," Li Xijun replied with a smile.
He extended two fingers. Positioning his thumb at the base of his index finger, he began to chant the incantation. Suddenly, strands of white cold light scattered from his fingertip, glowing brightly in the air.
Li Ximing felt a chill wash over him, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up. Ayer of white frost quickly formed on the ground beneath him, and the flow of true essence within his body soon became sluggish.
Since there were spirit materials on the table, Li Xijun suppressed his power and only demonstrated a fraction of his power before waving his hand to dispel the spell.
"ughter Jun Kui Light is not just cold; it''s also infused with Yin energy. Once I acquire the spirit water, I can elevate my abilities further. By then, even if my opponent''s cultivation is significantly higher, they''ll still suffer terribly if caught off guard during battles."
Li Ximing looked on enviously and remarked, "It''s a pity that my skills are rooted in the Golden Yang lineage and I can''t practice that... While the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual is excellent, itckspatible spells and escape techniques."
As they conversed, a delicate shout resonated from outside Mount Qingdu''s formation.
"Kong Family of Profound Peak Gate has arrived as promised. Please open the mountain gate!"
The two brothers exchanged surprised nces and swiftly flew upward.
Outside the formation stood a graceful woman in in clothes, adorned with a golden pearl at her waist and two curved des hanging by her side. She was apanied by an ordinary middle-aged man who remained silent.
What a beautiful woman!
Li Ximing had a calm demeanor. Although he still felt attracted to beautiful women, he was not so lustful as to lose hisposure. Recognizing that she was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, he lowered his gaze and dared not look directly at her.
Li Xijun cupped his fist and asked, "Are you Senior Kong Tingyun?"
"Yes, and you are...?" Kong Tingyun nced at him, secretly impressed, and exined politely, "I have once promised Brother Jiao to establish a fire vein for your esteemed family, and I''vee as promised."
Ssh...!
Suddenly, the dark green surface of Moongaze Lake broke open, and a young man in a ck robe soared into the air. He silently stared at Kong Tingyun, his gaze lingering on the two curved des hanging at her waist. His face darkened, and he stood there in silence.
Kong Tingyun cast a nce at him and felt a sense of familiarity. The next moment, she eximed in surprise, "You''re that Hooked Serpent?!"
Li Wushao took a deep breath and replied humbly, "The Hooked Serpent is dead. I am Li Wushao of Qingdu... Greetings, Exalted Immortal."
Kong Tingyun''s response was somewhat awkward. The long-buried doubts in her mind began to resolve by themselves.
So that''s why Li Yuanjiao brought this Hooked Serpent back to the Li Family without anyints... It seems he has a way to control demonic creatures. Given their family''s proximity to the north, it''s not entirely surprising.
Although it was awkward that the Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifacts at her waist were made from the Hooked Serpent''s tail hooks, she had to be courteous toward the serpent who was now a member of the Li Family.
She silently stowed the dharma artifact in her storage pouch and replied, "Kong Tingyun of Profound Peak greets fellow Daoist."
Li Wushao''s expression visibly improved as he quietly retreated to stand behind Li Xijun.
With Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong in seclusion, this responsibility naturally fell on Li Xijun.
He informed politely, "I''m afraid you will have to wait for a bit, Senior. My elders are currently cultivating in seclusion and unable toe out to greet you..."
Kong Tingyun waved her hand dismissively and did not seem to mind as she said, "I don''t need to meet Li Yuanjiao. You can just show me the way to the mountain so I can open the fire vein for you. Once that''s done, return the formation te to me, and I''ll take my leave. I don''t have much time to waste here."
After a brief pause, Kong Tingyun asked with some concern, "Is Li Yuanjiao hesitant to see me because he has damaged the formation te? That''s a valuable item. If it''s damaged, I expect a hugepensation from your family!"
"Don''t worry, Senior. The formation te is still in perfect condition," Li Xijun assured her.
The fire vein''s location had been nned by the Li Family, specifically chosen at Mount Wutu.
Changes to the fire vein would affect the surrounding spirit fields. While the other peaks hadrge spirit fields, Mount Wutu was isted in the mountains and forests, making it the only viable choice.
Kong Tingyun signaled, and the middle-aged man at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm flew toward Mount Wutu. Li Xijun and his brother followed suit, watching from the air.
Chapter 482: Releasing Kongheng (I)
Chapter 482: Releasing Kongheng (I)
Kong Tingyun stood in the air.
The townspeople at the foot of the mountain bustled about, looking up at her with little fear. She nced around and asked, "Your territory may not berge, but your poption is prosperous... I noticed that there are many Embryonic Breathing Realm and unrefined Qi Cultivators."
Li Xijun nodded and said a few words in response, but Kong Tingyun reminded him, "Having many people and cultivators isn''t always good, you''ll still need to control them."
Kong Tingyun''s tactful reminder was made in good faith. Li Xijun nodded again, replying softly, "Thank you for your reminder, Senior. My family has been selecting spiritual orifices... It''s rare for ordinary talents to enter my family."
While they were speaking, the middle-aged man from Profound Peak Gate hadpleted his survey and returned with the wind. His tone was calm as he reported, "Peak Master, this ce has a good fire vein! A t baleful fire can be obtained if drawn out from the earth. It can be used to craft tools and pills, but gathering qi will be slow."
The middle-aged man stepped back and Kong Tingyun remarked, "Pretty good... considering it is by ake. If there are no issues, we can proceed to draw out this fire vein."
Li Xijun bowed and replied, "I''ll leave it up to you, Senior."
Kong Tingyun tilted her head slightly, instructing her subordinate to proceed. The middle-aged man received the order and got busy right away. Meanwhile, Li Xicheng stepped forward and asked a few questions, then bowed to Kong Tingyun and joined the middle-aged man.
Li Xijun could not keep Kong Tingyun waiting around, so he politely led her to Mount Qingdu. As soon as Kong Tingyun took a seat, she remarked, "I heard that there''s a female thunder cultivator in your family... I wonder if I might have the chance to meet her."
"Aunt Qinghong is currently cultivating in seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment Realm, Senior," Li Xijun replied respectfully.
Kong Tingyun sighed softly before replying, "What a pity. In recent years, several thunder techniques have emerged in the world. The Proud Peak heard that the Yu Family also has a thunder cultivator."
She paused and smiled before continuing.
"I made a bet with the others from my gate that the Li Family''s thunder cultivator would be the first to establish her foundation... It seems like I''ll likely win."
Li Xijun listened intently, not daring toment further after her statement.
Kong Tingyun continued, "The destiny of Buzi from the Azure Pond must have arrived. He has been wandering around in the Eastern Sea for the past few years and rarely returns to the sect. The Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven is now being overseen by the Golden Feather Sect. The Azure Pond Grotto Heaven probably couldn''t bear it any longer and dered that they would send ate-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator named Daoist Master Suiguan to guard the sect."
Li Xijun was secretly surprised by this news despite maintaining a calm exterior. He nodded and asked, "Late-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator huh...? The upper sect is truly powerful."
"Of course," Kong Tingyun replied, curling her lips as continued softly, "Every ten years, two or three cultivators sessfully establish their foundations among the thirty-six peaks of Azure Pond. In the past five hundred years, four Purple Mansion Realm cultivators that are not surnamed Chi have emerged. Although Azure Pond Grotto Heaven is about the size of a prefecture, it is filled with opportunities... Can you imagine how many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators are in there?"
"I''m sure it''s an impressive number," Li Xijun praised, lowering his head then saying nothing more. Meanwhile, Kong Tingyun leaned back and yed with her golden pearl.
After a moment, Mount Wutu shook powerfully.
"The fire vein has begun to move. My senior brother will stay here to manage the earth vein for a year and a half and watch over it for three years. Since Li Yuanjiao won''t emerge from his seclusion for a while, I''ll take my leave now," she remarked simply.
She then stretched out her delicate hand and asked, "Can you return my Emerald Jade te to me now?"
It was only at this moment that Li Xijun finally knew the formation te''s name. He took it out and handed it to Kong Tingyun, albeit reluctantly.
"Senior, can I rent this formation te?" he asked respectfully.
Kong Tingyun saw the hope in his eyes and smiled gently.
"Tough. The sect has ordered me to go to the Eastern Sea, and I''ll be moving around... Besides, when I get to the ind, I also need this formation te to protect myself and fight the enemy, so I can''t lend it out," she said with a slight shrug.
As she put away the formation te, Li Xijun apologized for making the troubling request before escorting her out of the Li Family''s territory.
When he returned, riding on the chilly wind, arge clearing had been created on Mount Wutu. Many light red lines were engraved on the smooth ground, and arge hole in the middle of it was spewing out thick smoke.
Li Ximing was holding a jade gourd by his side. As soon as ck smoke rose from the hole, it was immediately sucked and absorbed into it. The middle-aged man stood beside the pit, performing hand seals to control the formation.
The man from Profound Peak Gate looked like he was so done with life as he stared at the fire in his hand, not caring about anything else. When Li Xijunnded, his expression changed slightly as he said hoarsely, "Kong Gusun from Profound Peak greets fellow Daoist."
"Li Xijun of Qingdu," Li Xijun answered in a friendly manner, and Kong Gusun nodded as he continued working with the fire vein.
Li Ximing, who was standing by, also had the ability to control fire. He was tempted to try but did not want to expose his talent, so he held back. Li Xijun watched for a while but could not understand what the middle-aged man was doing.
It was at this moment Li Xicheng arrived on the wind. He stood a head taller than his younger brother and had nice facial features, though he always wore a serious expression.
"Jun''er, that monk is leaving!" he informed in a small voice.
He was over a dozen years older than his younger brothers, and could practically be old enough to be their father. Li Yuanyun did not care about the family, and he had been the one to raise Li Xijun, so he called him by his nickname.
Since Li Qinghong heeded the monk''s advice to cultivate at the Heavenly Thunder Peak, Li Xijun had sent people to keep a close watch on the monk. Upon hearing the news, he asked hurriedly, "Did you stop him?"
"We did, but the monk refused to obey," Li Xicheng replied helplessly.
Li Xijun immediately dragged his brother along and flew out to theke together. As expected, he saw a ball of golden light on it, surrounded by several cultivators from the Li Family.
Xu Gongming was fighting within and wielded a pair of short halberds. Half of his face was masked to cover the injuries he had sustained during the devil gue. In recent years, he had made great progress and reached the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Behind him were two talents¡ªAn Siming and An Siwei¡ªone holding a spear and the other holding a sword. They were both Qi Cultivators, protecting Xu Gongming''s left and right nks.
An Zheyan did not aplish much, but he had talented sons. Although these two brothers were not as gifted as An Jingming, they were also around twenty-five and twenty-six years old, very sensible, and always humble.
Surrounded by the crowd, Kongheng squinted his narrow eyes, holding the monk staff in his fair hands and speaking softly. Li Xijun had good eyesight and managed to read his lips.
"Why are you stopping me?" he asked.
Li Xijun sighed and thought to himself, He has appeared a bit early and has not been around for a few years.... It''s hard for him to exin himself.
He pulled the hem of his older brother''s clothes and whispered, "Big Brother, please get all of them to leave and bring Kongheng to Mount Qingdu."
Li Xicheng was stunned for a moment, then realized that Li Xijun beside him had already reached the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He felt both happy and surprised, and followed his orders while Li Xijun then flew back to the mountain.
He found a small forest on Mount Qingdu, set out a stone table and a few chairs, and then quietly brewed tea.
The Li Family hade to understand Kongheng''s personality over the years, so Li Xijun was not worried that he would not show up. After waiting for a while, sure enough, Kongheng arrived at the mountain as expected.
The monk was slightly stunned at first, looking at him in disbelief. After saying two long honorific titles, he added, "Your cultivation progress is improving rapidly, my friend."
"I am just lucky," Li Xijun replied. He and Kongheng had only met a few times many years ago. Kongheng quickly changed the subject and requested politely, "I have to go out for a while; please let me go, fellow Daoist."
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Chapter 483: Releasing Kongheng (II)
Chapter 483: Releasing Kongheng (II)
Li Xijun had already grasped his character. Staring straight into his eyes, he said solemnly, "Master Monk cultivates the true art of Buddhism... I only ask Master Monk one question¡ªare you going to Heavenly Thunder Peak?"
Kongheng was stunned for two breaths before finally nodding with a bitter smile. Li Xijun continued calmly, "My elder is breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm there, as suggested by Master Monk... If you can''t state your reason for going there now, I''m afraid I can''t let you go."
Kongheng sighed softly and had no choice but to say, "I practice an ancient technique and the opportunity for a breakthrough is there. Since you trust me, I hope you can help me and let me go, fellow Daoist. I will only build a hut at the foot of Heavenly Thunder Peak to cultivate."
Li Xijun looked into Kongheng''s sincere eyes and gritted his teeth in frustration. He was in a true dilemma.
"It''s not that I don''t want to help Master Monk, but it''s difficult to tell if you speak the truth or lie. Xijun can''t afford to gamble."
After saying that, he pressed his hand on his sword and asked again, "Must you go, Master Monk?"
Kongheng stared at him with his narrow eyes and nodded.
"Yes."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Green Ox River Embrace Formation on Mount Qingdu suddenly activated, and nine green lights rose up and intertwined with each other instantly. Li Xijun then drew his sword and pointed it directly at Kongheng.
"Master Monk, I suggest you perish the thought!" he dered softly.
Kongheng''s body also radiated golden light, and the rings on his staff jingled as he blocked Li Xijun''s sword light with a solemn face.
"If I dare speak a word of deceit, my cultivation shall be destroyed!" he swore.
Li Xijun swung his sword, unleashing several white sword qi. However, every single one was blocked by Kongheng''s monk staff with great ease. A huge patterned green ox appeared behind Kongheng. It raised its two front hooves and was about to stomp on his back.
Within the formation, Kongheng could not even leave by riding the wind; he could only pull out his staff and turn to block the attacks. The impact from the ox''s kick pushed him back several steps, causing him to lose momentum and forcing him into a passive stance.
Li Xijun hadpleted performing his hand seal. A cold light emitted from his hand as several white threads flowed out of it, wrapping around Kongheng.
"Does Master Monk have other intentions? My family does not want to provoke anyone from the Buddhist Sect either... If you can tell me, I will spare your life and even let you go north!"
As Li Xijun said this, a bright white light shone in his eyes. He looked carefully at Kongheng''s face to detect changes in his expression, only to see his face paling from the cold.
Seeing that the green bull was about to hit him, the monk gritted his teeth and still insisted firmly, "Kongheng is sincere and never lies!"
BAM!
As soon as he finished speaking, the spell, green ox, and sword qi in front of him all dissipated in the blink of an eye. Kongheng staggered, and Li Xijun quickly helped him up, whispering, "Xijun dares not believe your word easily, I hope Master Monk can understand... My family has suffered greatly due to the Wrathful Maha and we truly can''t weather through another storm like that..."
Kongheng could not react for a moment and just stared at him nkly. Li Xijun then added, "Please wait outside the formation, Master Monk... I''ll get Senior Wushao to escort you!"
Kongheng was overjoyed, his expression faltering due to the sudden change of events.
"Thank you for your help, fellow Daoist! Thank you!" he said repeatedly.
Regaining a lost opportunity and hope for a breakthrough after a near-death situation shattered the tranquility of the monk''s heart. He could not restrain himself and said seriously, "If your esteemed family has any requests in the future, Kongheng will make sure to assist personally! If Brother Xijun has a request, Kongheng will not refuse even if he has to risk his life!"
Kongheng was very sincere, knowing he truly owed Li Xijun a favor this time. After reassuring Li Xijun again, he happily rode the wind out.
When he disappeared into the distance, a young man in ck slowly emerged from the shadows. Li Xijun said softly, "Senior, please go and keep an eye on him. The Yuan Family is also watching him. If there is any unusual activity, let them know first."
"Understood."
Li Wushao looked at him with lingering fear in his eyes but still also rode out on the wind, leaving Li Xijun alone. His face changed several times as he glumly threw the sword in his hand onto a branch.
The sword lodged in the pine wood, still shaking and buzzing from the impact. Li Xijun rubbed his temples and murmured, "If anything happens... I will never be able to redeem myself!"
Li Xijun had always been very urate in judging people. Among the Li Family, he was the one who trusted Kongheng the most and held the best impression of him. He had gone to great lengths to test Kongheng only for the sake of reassuring himself.
The monk was very sincere, and his eyes were full of gratitude before he left. In order to do him a favor, Li Xijun let him go easily.
"If Kongheng really keeps his word, I can trust him a little more in the future..." he murmured to himself.
Despite saying that, Li Xijun felt all the pressure on him now that Kongheng was gone. Although he was confident, sweat broke out on his cheeks because the stakes were far too high.
He called over a person and asked tiredly, "Has the ancestor emerged from his seclusion yet?"
Li Yuanjiao had secluded himself this time to heal himself instead of cultivating as usual. If this was not the case, Li Xijun would have called him out when Kong Tingyun arrived, instead of not daring to disturb him and feeling as uneasy as he did now.
Seeing his confidant shake his head, Li Xijun let out a long sigh and said to himself, "I-If... anything happens to Aunt Qinghong, I''ll never be able to atone for this sin even if I kill myself..."
He did not dare to think about it and sat on the stone bench in the forest in a daze. After several breaths, he saw Li Ximing fly toward him in a hurry and eximed urgently, "What''s going on? Why did you open the formation?"
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Li Xijun opened his mouth but could not find his voice. Li Ximing was even more indecisive than he was. If he told him about this, it would only cause one more person to worry and make things worse.
He only sighed and assured, "Everything is under control... Just focus on your cultivation and leave the rest to me."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
It was snowing in Yi Mountain City for once. Everything was covered in snow and Li Xuanfeng stood quietly on the city wall, dressed in golden armor with a longbow in hand.
He had finally mastered Spirit Eye Perception after practicing it for decades. The mana light in his eyes flowed strongly as he swept through the snow. By just standing quietly on the city wall, his presence alone could intimidate the demon creatures outside, causing them to retreat in fear.
Li Xuanfeng might not be that well-known in Yue State, but he was renowned in the southern border. Every time the bowstring of his golden bow sounded, the arrow he let loose would either kill or seriously injure his opponent. The number of demon generals he had already killed had reached double digits.
Li Xuanfeng looked on absent-mindedly, unmoving. The years had not left many traces on his face, but they had ravaged his mind and thoughts. He could no longer disy the wild attitude he once had.
After a moment, a clear light came from the north and fell beside him¡ªit was a woman wearing a ck-patterned flowing dress. Her slender waist was tied with a white sash made of gauze.
She had a somewhat mncholic look in her eyes as she whispered to him softly.
"My dear..."
Chapter 484: The Madam (I)
Chapter 484: The Madam (I)
Snow fell heavily. The sound of the words my dear rang sweetly in the air, catching Li Xuanfeng''s attention as his gaze lingered on the soft, graceful figure before him. He responded politely, "Hemian, is the Daoist Master looking for me?"
Ning Hemian gave a brief nod then shook her head, saying, "Someone from the grotto heaven has arrived. The Daoist Master has already returned to Azure Pond Peak to pay his respects."
Ning Hemian had been married to him for five or six years now. Initially, Li Xuanfeng had reluctantly agreed to the marriage, but in the blink of an eye, those years had passed. They had always treated each other with mutual respect. Ning Hemian''s mind was mostly on her cultivation, so their rtionship was pretty harmonious.
Li Xuanfeng slung his bow over his shoulder and walked alongside her. Ning Hemian was always courteous toward him. After all, they had shared the same bed for several years. To say there were no feelings at all would be untrue, yet there was always something unresolved between them.
Li Xuanfeng harbored deep resentment toward the Azure Pond Sect. The deaths of many of his close rtives were tied to the sect. His wife and child had also perished in a deal between the Azure Pond Sect and Golden Tang Gate.
Originally, after seeing Chi Wei''s death, Li Xuanfeng had thought that the Azure Pond Sect was in trouble, with an outsider Purple Mansion Realm cultivator proving too powerful for them to handle. He had secretly encouraged himself, sensing an opportunity, as Yuan Su seemed disdainful of the Chi Family and eager to act. His mind was filled with calctions.
However, a few months ago, Yuan Su had summoned him. He was informed that the Daoist Master would be leaving Yi Mountain City to pay respects to another Daoist Master named Suiguan, sent by the Azure Pond Grotto Heaven.
Another Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from Azure Pond Grotto Heaven... What is this?
The news that the grotto heaven had sent someone to the sect¡ªate-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, no less¡ªleft him feeling dejected. This meant that there were likely more of them in the grotto heaven. For ten consecutive days, he vented his frustrations on demons atop the city walls, pacing through the snow in silence.
His mind raced with countless thoughts as snow continued to fall from the sky. Beside him, Ning Hemian followed quietly. After a moment''s pause, Li Xuanfeng decided to ask, "Hemian, do you know the origin of this grotto heaven?"
Ning Hemian nodded and, with polite formality, replied, "My family knows a bit about it. I can tell you about it but you mustn''t spread it out, my dear."
Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod in agreement, Ning Hemian softly went on to exin, "My father once apanied the Daoist Master inside. Outsiders call it Azure Pond Grotto Heaven, but that is not quite urate... Its true name is Pristine Cadence Heaven. Very few people have entered, and there are hardly any people inside."
She hesitated slightly, as if pondering something, then continued, "The True Monarch who created the grotto heaven had strange intentions back then. There is no sky, nond, no sun, and no moon inside¡ªonly endless turquoise waters. To be honest... it is not truly the property of the Azure Pond Sect."
"Oh?" Li Xuanfeng was taken aback by this and asked, "Then whose treasure is it?"
Ning Hemian smiled reluctantly and lowered her voice, "Whose..? Perhaps some True Monarch''s. In this world, Golden Core Realm cultivators are already immortal. Maybe he is hidden somewhere within the grotto heaven, or perhaps he has left to seclude himself in the heavens beyond. In any case, the Azure Pond Sect cannot fully control Pristine Cadence Heaven..."
Ning Hemian continued, "Moreover, it is impossible to stay long inside Pristine Cadence Heaven. It is not just mortals¡ªeven Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators who stay for a few days will dissolve into blood. Purple Mansion Realm cultivators who stay for a year or two will lose their minds, their divine abilities will be exhausted, and they will turn into mortals."
Ning Hemian''s expression grew more worried, her voice softening further as she continued, "asionally, a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from the sect makes a trip there on order. My father once entered due to his unique cultivation method... but there was no one inside. Yet, someone suddenly stepped out of such a grotto heaven, wearing fresh clothes, iming to be Daoist Master Suiguan, bearing the surname Chi."
Li Xuanfeng pondered this deeply, feeling a chill down his spine. Ning Hemian whispered, "My cousin also saw this Daoist Master Suiguan. He could not tell which lineage or family he belonged to, nor did he mention any ancestral ties. He said his surname was Chi, and Chi Zhiyun would not dare question him."
Li Xuanfeng stared at her, dumbfounded, "Are you saying..."
Her smile seemed hollow as she spoke, "Every move the Azure Pond Sect makeses from orders within the grotto heaven. I used to think they could note out, but now it seems they simply did not want to."
Ning Hemian''s voice dropped as she added somberly, "Perhaps the grotto heaven is not the property of the Azure Pond Sect. Maybe... the Azure Pond Sect is the property of the grotto heaven."
Li Xuanfeng opened his mouth, but before he could respond, Ning Hemian pulled him into the house. She shut the door tightly, and the barrier formation activated automatically. As she helped him out of his robe, she whispered softly, "I am telling you all this in secret because, truthfully, I have my own selfish reasons..."
Ning Hemian paused briefly and continued, "My dear, I havee to sense certain things after sharing a bed with you for so long... The Azure Pond Sect is a colossal force that brings despair, clinging to the void itself... Please, let go of your hatred..."
Li Xuanfeng sat down on the couch as Ning Hemian nestled into his arms, undoing her clothes as her eyes brimmed with tears.
"I know you hate it... My Ning Family did not have it easy in earlier years either. If it were not for a Daoist Master''s achievements, I don''t know how miserable things would have been for us now."
"Does the Yang Family not hate the Azure Pond Sect? What about the Deng Family? Or the Yu Family? Azure Pond once had only sixteen peaks... Now, it has thirty-six. The younger generation of these families take great pride in identifying with Azure Pond."
Ning Hemian observed his expression, trying to guess his thoughts, and continued, "The Deng Family endured such hardship, yet only a few direct descendants hold resentment. Does Chi Zhiyun not know this? He simply does not care... Among the Deng Family, who does not identify themselves with Azure Pond? Who truly represents the Deng Family?"
Li Xuanfeng clenched his teeth as he held her, watching as her delicate face flushed with a shade of pink. Ning Hemian''s eyes were filled with affection as she looked at him, speaking softly, "Do you think that Li Xizhi and Yang Xiao''er''s children will hate Azure Pond for some long-past grievance involving Li Chejing from generations ago? I may not know how you managed to deceive your family''s ancestor, but I doubt everyone in the Li Family possesses such abilities..."
Ning Hemian continued, "Today, the Yang and Yu families could be the target, and tomorrow the Li Family. Otherwise, it could be the Qi or Deng families. This scheme of Azure Pond can break down family bonds, turn enemies into allies, or assimte them into the sect..."
Li Xuanfeng''s palm was so hot that it left a red mark on her pale arm. Ning Hemian gazed at him lovingly, but the man''s sharp eyes burned with intensity as he stared at her.
"Those within the sect are not necessarily friends, and those outside it are not necessarily enemies," he said.
Ning Hemian chuckled softly, resting her head against his chest as she whispered, "My Ning Family is a friend of your esteemed n. As for who the enemy is... you and I both know that well."
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Li Xuanfeng let her nestle in his arms for a long time, his passion already stirred. Finally, he lifted her with a growl, grumbling, "Stop talking about ''my Ning Family''... You are already married to me¡ªnow we are one. No more talk of two separate families!"
"Mm!" Ning Hemian responded gently. For the first time, the distance between their hearts vanished. She lifted her head and smiled affectionately.
Chapter 485: The Madam (II)
Chapter 485: The Madam (II)
Qingdu Peak was once covered in white irises, but now, in the depths of winter, heavy snow had fallen, nketing the entire peak in white. As the snow ceased, the sun shone brightly in the clear sky.
Xiao Guiluan was in her quiet chamber cultivating, her elegant phoenix eyes giving her a charming look. She wore a simple ck dress.
Xiao Guiluan had reached the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. She possessed considerable talent and had advanced steadily over the years. Though she could not keep up with her husband, Li Yuanjiao, she had made remarkable progress.
Xiao Guiluan did not particrly like the color ck, but since Li Yuanjiao favored dark, ck-patterned robes, she followed his preference and dressed ordingly.
In the Li Family, Xiao Guiluan had always maintained a low profile. If Li Yuanjiao had been the n head, her influence and status would undoubtedly be much greater. However, understanding that her husband disliked ostentation, she quietly focused on her cultivation atop the mountain.
As she exhaled a breath of pure qi, Li Yuexiang entered from the courtyard. ncing at her mother, she asked, "Mother, where is Father?"
For as long as Li Yuexiang could remember, she had very few opportunities to spend time with her father. Although this wasn''t ideal, Xiao Guiluan understood his reasons and raised Li Yuexiang on her own.
They were chatting andughing together when the cave dwelling''s doors suddenly creaked open. Li Yuanjiao strode out, looking rxed, his cultivation seemingly having advanced.
"My dear!"
Xiao Guiluan joyfully approached him.
Li Yuanjiao embraced her, equally pleased after their time apart, though his first words were still the same.
"How are things at home?"
Xiao Guiluan replied, "Kong Tingyun has arrived as promised. She opened the fire vein on Wutu and left someone from Profound Peak Gate to guard it... The formation te has been taken as well."
Although Li Yuanjiao had anticipated this, he still felt a pang of regret. After carefully inquiring about the details, he sighed and said, "What a pity! If I had not been injured by that Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from Mount Yue, capturing a demon from the Eastern Sea would have been no problem! The timing would have been perfect."
All of this had been within Li Yuanjiao''s expectations. He then asked, "Anything else?"
In the two years of his seclusion, several significant matters had arisen. Xiao Guiluan lowered her voice and said, "Madam Lu failed to break through the Qi Cultivation Realm years ago and lost much of her lifespan... She is nearly seventy years old now... There is no chance for her to advance any further. Just a few days ago, word arrived¡ªshe has passed away."
With an air of mncholy, Xiao Guiluan continued, "She died on her bed, holding a meal box and two jade chopsticks. She had been cultivating in seclusion in the forest, with only two elderly servants by her side."
"Madam Lu...?"
Li Yuanjiao paused, momentarily stunned, before recalling that Madam Lu''s full name was Lu Wanrong, the widow of Li Xuanling. She had lived alone in the mountains for many years.
Li Xuanling had been killed by the Maha, and Lu Wanrong, devastated by grief, had nearly taken her own life. She had remained stuck at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm for ten years.
With the potential to break through to Qi Cultivation Realm, those ten years of stagnation had effectively cut off her cultivation path. Later, her youngest son, Li Yuanyun, died in the market, pushing her to the brink of despair.
Although her daughter, Li Qinghong, had shown some promise, Lu Wanrong had lost all hope, retreating to the mountains to await her end.
Upon hearing this news, Li Yuanjiao could only sigh sadly.
"Qinghong will probably need another year to break through. I fear... she will not make it in time. Let Xijun and Xicheng see her off."
Xiao Guiluan nodded and, after carefully considering her words, added softly, "Your mother... likely does not have many days left either."
The mother she referred to was not Madam Dou, but instead Li Yuanjiao''s birth mother, Mu Yalu, a concubine of Li Xuanxuan. She had married into the family from Mount Yue many years ago and was now approaching seventy.
"What?!"
The words struck Li Yuanjiao like a bolt from the blue, his face turning pale as he struggled to contain himself. Without a second thought, he soared into the air, riding the wind swiftly toward the town.
Xiao Guiluan followed closely behind, offering a few words offort, but Li Yuanjiao could not register them. He quickly descended into the courtyard of therge estate. An elderly servant, holding a basin, surprisingly still recognized him and called out, "Young Master!"
Li Yuanjiao waved at her and hurried inside. An old woman was lying on the bed.
When Mu Yalu had married into the Li Family, she was in her prime, but now she had grown frail and aged. Although she was a mortal, her high status and careful maintenance had allowed her to live more than ten years beyond the average lifespan.
She had been lying listlessly on the bed, but upon seeing Li Yuanjiao enter, her spirit visibly lifted. She struggled to sit up, speaking urgently, "Jiao''er... I heard you were injured by a Mount Yue cultivator... Are you alright?!"
Despite Li Yuanjiao''s ruthless and gloomy nature when dealing with the outside world, he could no longer hold back upon hearing her words. He copsed to his knees in front of her, choking back tears, "Mother! I''m fine!"
Mu Yalu smiled as she gazed at him, studying his expression and demeanor.
To others, Li Yuanjiao was always associated with suspicion and ruthlessness, and even his appearance had earned him a reputation as someone untrustworthy. But in Mu Yalu''s eyes, he was exceptional. She grasped his hand,ughing constantly.
Xiao Guiluan ushered the servants out and closed the door. It was only then that Li Yuanjiao noticed another person sitting on a chair nearby¡ªso emaciated that he looked like a piece of dead log draped in gray clothing, silently leaning against the side.
"Father."
Li Xuanxuan opened his eyes and nodded, his gaze lingering on Li Yuanjiao. Over the years, he had struggled with hallucinations, and he was squinting as he stared at Li Yuanjiao, as if trying to recall something.
The atmosphere between the three of them was unbearably heavy. Li Yuanjiao, not one for warm words, simply kneeled there in silence, watching as Mu Yalu''s breath grew morebored.
Mu Yalu smiled at him the whole time, seemingly having no more to say, or perhaps having said it all. Eventually, her lips grew cold, her limbs icy, and her arms turned dark and bruised.
Li Xuanxuan silently smoked a pipe, the thin white smoke wafting through the air as the three sat in silence. They watched on quietly as Mu Yalu''s breathing became shallower, her life force gradually slipping away.
"Hack!"
Li Xuanxuan coughed and stood, as if preparing to say something, but Li Yuanjiao only held his mother''s lifeless body and walked out of the room, leaving him alone inside, surrounded by the haze of smoke.
The midday sun was at its peak, its harsh light filtering through the windows and illuminating his haggard face. Li Xuanxuan''s expression was nk, but his trembling hands betrayed the deep turmoil within him.
After coughing twice more, he approached Xiao Guiluan, pulling three stacks of talismans from his storage pouch. The patterns wereplex and colorful, representing a wide variety of talisman types. He then said loudly, "Guiluan! These are the talismans I drew this year!"
Xiao Guiluan, still stunned, took the talismans. Li Xuanxuan, muttering to himself, rode the wind and flew off, heading toward Mount Lijing to fetch more nk talisman paper.
For a moment, Xiao Guiluan stood there alone, not sure whether to hold onto the talismans or put them away. Her heart ached with grief and agitation. After cing them on the desk, she hurried off to follow Li Yuanjiao.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Xiao Guiluan soared through the sky, searching for her husband, and finally found him.
Li Yuanjiao stood before Li Tongya''s grave, his expression already calm and devoid of sorrow. He rested his hand on his sword, gazing silently ahead.
The grave behind him was his older brother''s, Li Yuanxiu. The headstone was covered in ash, and its edges had been worn smooth over time by years of touch. Many of the graves in the Li Family cemetery were cenotaphs, and this one was no different.
Li Yuanjiao exhaled slowly, ncing briefly at Xiao Guiluan before asking, "Is there anything else at home?"
Xiao Guiluan nodded, unsure of his current state, and after a hesitant pause, she said softly, "Kongheng... the monk, has left."
"Did he now?"
Li Yuanjiao showed no surprise, simply replying, "Did he return to the north or head for Heavenly Thunder Peak? And what of Li Xijun?"
Xiao Guiluan quietly replied, "He went to Heavenly Thunder Peak."
"Heavenly Thunder Peak huh...?"
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Li Yuanjiao''s expression darkened slightly. He spoke in a low voice, "Let us go. We will return to Qingdu Peak and ask Xijun about it."
Chapter 486: Breakthrough (I)
Chapter 486: Breakthrough (I)
Li Yuanjiao waited for only a short while before Li Xijun arrived on the wind. He had been consolidating his cultivation during this period. Since he often had to go out, he was not in a hurry to break through and remained at the fifth heavenlyyer of Qi Cultivation, mostly practicing swordsmanship and spells.
"Second Uncle... my condolences."
Upon seeing Li Yuanjiao, Li Xijun bowed and offered a few words offort.
Li Yuanjiao nodded and asked in a serious tone, "You let Kongheng go, huh?"
Li Xijun took a deep breath and replied respectfully, "I have faith in my decision. Kongheng is practicing ancient Buddhist techniques... and isn''t that strong. Although he is a Master Monk, his strength is only at the early stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm... Furthermore, he is an open-hearted person..."
Li Yuanjiao could no longer listen and his face contorted with slight anger. Without drawing the Qingche Sword, he struck Li Xijun on the back with it, causing him to stagger from the impact.
"How can you wager on something like this?!" he shouted.
Li Xijun bowed again and said, "Please have faith in me, Second Uncle. Kongheng is a good person. Xijun is certain about this! He has been caring for the people and curing diseases for many years at the foot of the mountain, waiting for this opportunity..."
Li Yuanjiao frowned and replied coldly, "What does Kongheng''s opportunity have to do with me? Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with my family! Why should my family take the risk?"
"I don''t care how long he has waited for this opportunity... Buddhist cultivators are people who devour lives! You may have a good personal rtionship with him and are willing to help him, but not me!"
Li Xijun raised his head meekly and replied, "If Kongheng can break through, even if he is a Master Monk, he will still be very powerfulpared to Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators... Since he has received great favor from us... he will be a powerful ally to us!"
He quickly continued, "I understand the resentment Second Uncle feels toward them, but there are many Buddhist cultivators now in our region. You can easily find six of them among ten people. My family has made enemies with the Wrathful Dao lineage and can no longer go north. Must we offend another orthodox sect like the Liao River Temple...?"
"That''s your aunt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm!" Li Yuanjiao reminded him angrily.
Li Xijun kneeled and assured softly, "Uncle! Aunt will definitely be fine and seed in establishing her foundation! No matter who wants to use, consume, or manipte fate..."
He raised his head and continued, "They''ll only do it to those who have already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm! If Kongheng were possessed by a Maha, he couldn''t possibly evade the eyes of the Yuan Family and Senior Wushao! If he were a Maha, he would wait for Aunt to break through before eating her life. He would have already discussed this with all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators; our family wouldn''t be able to escape this tragedy!"
"Besides, if he intended to harm her, what difference would there be between Moongaze Lake and Heavenly Thunder Peak?" he challenged.
Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes at him and asked coldly, "How do you know for sure?"
In that moment, he seized Li Xijun, sealed his cultivation, and then forcefully flew him to the ancestral hall. He pushed open the wooden door with a creak, threw Li Xijun into the hall, andmanded in a deep voice, "Kneel here while I bring Kongheng back!"
Li Xijun lowered his head and nodded. Li Yuanjiao turned to leave, riding the wind down the mountain. Realizing his intention, Li Ximing chased after Li Yuanjiao hurriedly, wanting to dissuade him, only to be stopped by Xiao Guiluan.
"Madam! Nothing even happened on Heavenly Thunder Peak... There is no need for him to be that angry!"
Li Ximing tried to reason with her, but Xiao Guiluan shook her head helplessly and urged softly, "Just go back... Those two are just putting on a show for Kongheng. You shouldn''t get involved."
"Ah!"
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Li Ximing was taken aback for a moment and realization dawned upon him. Though less disciplined, he was no fool; he understood the situation and decided to return.
After persuading Li Ximing to return, Xiao Guiluannded on her peak and picked up Li Yuexiang with a sigh, who hade to greet her.
My husband still resents Buddhist cultivators...
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The central hall of Lijing Town.
An old man kneeled at the bottom of the steps. His hair and beard were entirely white, and he was at the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He looked very solemn as he bowed respectfully and spoke in a deep voice.
"Thank you for all the kindness you have shown my daughter and me over the years, Family Head. The Meng Family is grateful. Now that I am old, I fear I can no longer refine dharma artifacts for your esteemed family. Hence, I would like to offer my legacy!"
"Offer your legacy?"
Li Yuanping frowned as he looked at the old man before him.
"Elder Meng, you must be joking. My family does not covet your legacy," he exined.
Meng Taizhi lowered his head and replied, "I believe I have only a few years left. I n to enter seclusion and attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. This is a desperate move¡ªa gamble before death. I only hope to find a way forward for my daughter... I am willing to exchange my legacy for your protection."
Li Yuanping was still perplexed by the man''s actions and shook his head slightly.
However, Meng Taizhi continued, "My legacyes from the Eastern Sea''s Jiaozhu Gate, and it''s definitely not an ordinary thing. Please listen to me first, Family Head..."
The old man kneeled on the ground and exined respectfully, "The legacy I received is from Jiaozhu Gate, which has been destroyed for a thousand years. All grudges are long gone, leaving no cause for concern. You can use it with confidence."
"Furthermore, this method involves nine refinements and six castings, which makes it an extraordinary casting technique. As long as you have the talent in this dao and practice diligently, you will surely achieve significant achievements and be able to craft Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts, or maybe even Foundation Establishment Realm artifacts," he added.
"Oh?"
Li Yuanping looked at him quietly and asked, "What do you want in exchange, old man? Are you hoping to marry your daughter off?"
Meng Taizhi bowed again and humbly replied, "I wouldn''t dare... My daughter was married to a hero in the Eastern Sea. Unfortunately, he waster killed and she was injured by mana light. Our lineage is pretty much severed..."
Li Yuanping nodded, his expression softening slightly. Meng Taizhi then continued, "I only ask for two things. First, I hope my daughter can learn alchemy from your family, so she can make a living and defend herself."
"Second, I hope your esteemed family can offer this sole daughter of mine some protection after my death. Once she bes stronger, she will stop troubling your family and seek her own way in life."
Li Yuanping looked at him and asked, "Since youe from the Eastern Sea, did you encounter some kind of trouble...?"
Meng Taizhi shook his head and replied frankly, "My family members are merely rogue cultivators from the Eastern Sea. We wereter destroyed by devil cultivators. My ancestors had some connections with the Xiao Family and went to them to seek refuge... but only my daughter and I were left along the way. Even my son-inw died during the journey..."
"I see," Li Yuanping replied indifferently as he continued, "But I investigated and found no trace of cksmiths surnamed Meng in the Eastern Sea or any leaving that area recently."
Meng Taizhi smiled bitterly, shaking his head.
"My family was originally guest cultivators of a minor sect on Yuanting Ind. After we were destroyed by the devil cultivators, we found ourselves wandering outside. You can verify this, Family Head; the Xiao Family knows the truth," he exined patiently and humbly.
Li Yuanping nodded and asked again, "Why not pass this legacy to the Xiao Family? Wouldn''t it be better to have a Purple Mansion immortal n protect it? My family is just a normal n, we can''tpare to them."
Chapter 487: Breakthrough (II)
Chapter 487: Breakthrough (II)
Meng Taizhi shook his head helplessly and replied with a wry smile, "Of course, I have approached them, which is why I had the opportunity toe to theke. But what can a minor connection from hundreds of years ago do? I can''t even step into the threshold of the immortal n."
Li Yuanping stared at him and nodded.
"Since you have entrusted the legacy to me, you may send your daughter up the mountain, old man. I will contact the Xiao Family."
"Thank you! Thank you, Family Head!"
Meng Taizhi felt relief wash over him as he smiled in gratitude, then hurriedly retreated. Li Yuanping then called over Li Xicheng and said, "Have Ximing write a letter to Senior Yuansi to inquire if this is true. If it is, take this legacy."
Li Xicheng hesitated for a moment, looking concerned.
"But Brother Ming... is easily swayed by beauty... If he develops feelings for this woman from the Meng Family... It could lead to trouble, especially if these people from the Meng Family had kept their troubled past a secret from us."
"Let''s not worry about this first and confirm with Senior Yuansi. As long as this person''s exnation is correct, then all is well. Meng Zhuoyun is naturally not a problem, and she will leave in a few years," Li Yuanping replied.
Li Xicheng hesitated and said, "I''m only worried that when the timees, Brother Ming will be reluctant to let her go and will want to keep her..."
Li Yuanping sneered and replied, "What kind of feelings can this bastard have? He is extremely heartless. He had fooled around with several girls in the Xiao Family and might have even left a few children behind... Do you think he ever cared? He has many concubines, but have you ever seen him say a word to any of them?"
He shook his head and concluded, "The most important thing in that kid''s heart is his own dao. Women are merely a pastime. Everything else must take a backseat to his ambitions... After raising him for so many years, I know him well."
Li Yuanping coughed twice and bent down in pain. Li Xicheng hurried to support him, channeling some true essence into him. After a moment of rest, Li Yuanping slowly recovered.
He then said calmly, "Let him do what he wants. That girl from the Meng Family can''t have an heir anyway. Whether they are close or involved in an affair, let him do as he wishes. When the time is right, let that girl leave."
Li Yuanping looked calm as he spoke with a fatherly certainty.
"He is more heartless than anyone else and will not hesitate to cut ties."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao had always been cautious while riding the wind. Wrapped in the spirit mist and blessed by Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit, he moved with remarkable speed.
The greatest benefit of Li Yuanjiao''s Flowing Qi Swallowing Spirit was the increase in his cultivation speed. Although he had never matched Li Qinghong''s rapid progress since childhood, this talisman had allowed him to catch up significantly.
Xijun... really trusts this monk, huh?
As he flew amidst the mist, Li Yuanjiao was preupied with his own thoughts.
He had inquired extensively with the Xiao Family about Kongheng and had also spoken privately with several fellow Daoists. In ancient times, there was a saying among Buddhist cultivators about oveing tribtions; if several Mahas from the north were to incarnate, it would not escape the immortal mirror''s notice.
Despite this knowledge, Li Yuanjiao still felt a flicker of anger though he was only acting. It was not directed at Kongheng, but rather at Li Xijun''s insistence on protecting the monk.
Your grandfather and great-grandfather died at the hands of a Buddhist cultivator! How could you protect a Buddhist cultivator like this?!
Li Yuanjiao understood what kind of person Kongheng was, but Li Xijun''s actions were still difficult for him to fully ept. With a sigh, hended on the Mushroom Forest in.
The Mushroom Forest in has fertile soil, and was lush with green forests. Beyond the trees, dark peaks loomed on all sides, dotted with caves of various sizes.
The ores in these mountains were purple and ck and were faintly crackling with energy, and thunder struck down from time to time, creating violent roars. A protective formation surrounded the mountain, and Li Qinghong must be among them.
As Li Yuanjiaonded at the foot of the mountain, a man hurried over. The Qi Cultivator, appearing slightly nervous, said respectfully, "Senior, this is my Yuan Family''s territory... How may I assist you?"
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Li Yuanjiao waved his sleeve and replied solemnly, "I am Li Yuanjiao of Qingdu."
The Qi Cultivator from the Yuan Family immediately understood and said, "Please proceed up the mountain, Senior. Senior Wushao is in the yard."
Li Yuanjiao nodded and flew upward, cloaked in the mysterious spirit mist that concealed his figure. From a distance, he heard a roar.
"Stupid monk, what are you reciting again?"
The corner of Li Yuanjiao''s mouth twitched slightly. Li Wushao typically appeared fierce and brooding, so it was rare to see him lose hisposure like this. Looking up, he spotted a young man in ck standing against the courtyard wall with anger etched on his face.
"Fellow Daoist Wushao... this is called Respected Cultivator''s Subduing Words. The seven Daos of the north excel at using this sutra to subdue demons. Please listen closely; it will prepare you for the future."
Kongheng stood in the courtyard, bare from the waist up, smiling peacefully as he held a golden light in his hand. Li Yuanjiao was slightly stunned; in less than three years, this person had already be a Master Monk!
Li Wushao gritted his teeth and appeared to be suffering from a terrible headache. Kongheng then remarked in a peaceful tone, "Remember to calm down and concentrate your mind, fellow Daoist... I will teach you a few ways to resist this."
"Fuck you," Li Wushao cursed, but he did notsh out physically. Instead, he listened obediently. Kongheng proceeded to recite hundreds of words, and Li Wushao memorized every single one of them.
"Monk, I''ve heard that Buddhist cultivators in the north enjoy capturing and taming demonic creatures, making them lose their minds... Is that true?" he asked curiously.
"Of course," Kongheng replied as he frowned and continued in a serious tone, "Once controlled by this spell, the affected are notparable to spiritual beings... They lose themselves andpletely transform into what is referred to as a spirit beast."
Li Wushao shook his head, visibly shaken by this piece of information. He then asked further, "Then don''t you also want to capture demon creatures?"
"No," Kongheng said firmly, shaking his head, "Spells and techniques are meant to change yourself, not others. Using them to confuse people''s minds is an evil Dao and one cannot be a Revered One on that path."
Li Wushao nced at him, then nodded with a smile.
"You truly are an ancient cultivator. No wonder you say that the River Temple is declining day by day... But it''s so difficult to practice and break through. If you have a spell but can''t use it, you naturally can''tpete with others."
"That''s right," Kongheng agreed, appearing unconcerned about his own Dao lineage. He sat cross-legged and remarked thoughtfully, "I hope Xijun won''t be in trouble because of me..."
Li Wushao, who was still sitting nearby, offered him some advice.
"If you ask me, since you''ve just broken through, you might as well return early and avoid causing trouble here. I''ve already sent news about your breakthrough back."
Kongheng insisted softly, "I''ll keep watch here. If anything happens, I can take care of her. I''m a Master Monk and I can deal with a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator by myself."
After hearing this, Li Yuanjiao flew down and revealed himself, startling both Kongheng and Li Wushao. Thetter jumped up in surprise and nearly reverted to his true form.
"Wushao greets Master!" he eximed.
Stealing a nce at Li Yuanjiao and noticing that he appeared normal, he breathed a sigh of relief. Kongheng looked at him with a hint of unease and replied softly, "This humble monk greets fellow Daoist."
"You are too polite, Master Monk," Li Yuanjiao said calmly.
"Since you have sessfully broken through, why not return with me?"
"Sure," Kongheng responded respectfully.
"My temple''s secret technique required the activation of the Supreme Void Yin Thunder. I made use of the Profound Thunderpool condensed by Daoist Qinghong while she was establishing her foundation. Since I have already made my breakthrough, I believe Daoist Qinghong will seed soon as well."
Chapter 488: Li Qinghong of Qingdu (I)
Chapter 488: Li Qinghong of Qingdu (I)
"Qinghong will seed soon?"
Li Yuanjiao felt a surge of quiet delight upon hearing this though he maintained aposed exterior, merely nodding as he said softly, "Master Monk, please return with me."
While Kongheng was quite talkative in front of Li Wushao, he only nodded in Li Yuanjiao''s presence, rising to join him. Together, they ascended into the air, riding the wind back along the path Li Yuanjiao hade.
The journey was silent. Kongheng, surrounded by a golden glow, held his monk staff which emitted a mana light, giving him an ethereal appearance.
Li Yuanjiao shot him a nce and inquired, "Now that you''ve made a breakthrough, what are your future ns?"
Kongheng lowered his head slightly and replied, "If your esteemed family has any requests, I will do my utmost to fulfill them. Otherwise, I will continue cultivating peacefully at Moongaze Lake."
Upon reaching the peak, Kongheng excused himself and settled down to meditate, while Li Yuanjiao stood contemtively in the forest instead of resuming his cultivation in seclusion.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, an urgent call came from outside the formation¡ªit was Kongheng''s voice ringing with eagerness.
"I wish to see Benefactor Yuanjiao! Please open the formation!"
When the monk descended before Li Yuanjiao, he pleaded, "Senior! I can''t possibly let Xijun suffer because of me! It''s my fault that I was focused solely on the secrets of my cultivation secrets and refused to disclose much... Now that I have seeded, I must express my gratitude to your esteemed family for their support."
Kongheng spoke at length, defending Li Xijun. Li Yuanjiao merely nced at him and remained silent. Having been with the Li Family for over a decade, Kongheng''s character was well-regarded by all.
Although Li Yuanjiao was not fond of Buddhist cultivators, he recognized that the strength of such a skilled individual should not be wasted.
After hearing all this, perhaps he can really be an asset to our family...
"This is my family''s affair, Master Monk. Do not trouble yourself with it. Once I have finished punishing him, he will be released," Li Yuanjiao stated simply and decisively.
Kongheng shook his head and was about to interject when Li Yuanjiao asked, "You are a Master Monk who cultivates authentic technique from Liao River Temple; what makes you different from typical Buddhist cultivators from Zhao State? I''m guessing your current strength is no lesser than a standard Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, right?"
Kongheng responded with a shake of his head, "Benefactor does not practice Buddhism; it''s veryplicated. I can''t fully exin it, but I can only say that it isparable to the Foundation Establishment Realm of the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao. However,pared to the seven Buddhist Dao of the north, it falls a bit short."
Li Yuanjiao, having once encountered the ancient immortal cultivator Wang Xun from the Wang Family, had assumed ancient Buddhist cultivators would be much stronger.
"You''re saying that ancient techniques are not as effective as today''s techniques?" he asked in surprise.
"Indeed."
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Kongheng sighed deeply, then exined, "Master Monk and Maha of Buddhism Dao correspond to the Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion Realm. Master Monk practices internal cultivation techniques, seeking rity and insight... However, today''s Buddhist cultivators in Zhao State have taken a shortcut.
"Master Monk doesn''t cultivate but venerates Maha and Dharma Master, reciting their names daily to borrow divine abilities and share Metallic Essence for constructing a giant statue, which aids in their cultivation. Hence, their strength is considerable, surpassing that of the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators."
Li Yuanjiao listened intently to this seldom-shared insight. Kongheng continued, "This path bypasses self-cultivation, resulting in the creation of the Merciful One¡ªpretty much a stronger version of Master Monk. But without any divine abilities, Merciful Ones are thus weaker against the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators!"
"Conversely, the Mahas, less constrained by the Heavenly Dao and able to reincarnate freely from life to life, turn what was once a perilous existence into a stable one, and are stronger than Purple Mansion Realm cultivators."
"I see!" Li Yuanjiao eximed, his long-standing confusion about the strength of these Buddhist cultivators finally cleared. His expression soon rxed as Kongheng sighed deeply.
"Because those Master Monks from Zhao State derive their power from Mahas, their methods are particrly mystical. They can beguile and ensnare their targets, performing all manners of deceptions. Both monk soldiers andmoners are brainwashed and controlled by these Master Monks, who themselves are under the control of the Mahas'' influences. Everyone in Zhao State obeyed readily; none dared to act out or express their discontent.
"The Master Monkmands from above and below, and the peopleply joyfully; acts of violence are seen as justified, even cannibalism is weed, with elders eagerly awaiting their turn, and children wishing only to grow up faster to reach this so-called ultimate bliss..."
Tears welled in Kongheng''s eyes as he whispered quietly, "Such a world... and all Master Monks call it the Buddhist State On Earth."
Kongheng looked rather lost as he murmured, "The Buddhist ancestors once envisioned a utopia¡ªa world free from evil and sorrow, without killing or strife. They''ve achieved it and the people of Zhao State live in happiness and joy every day."
At these words, Li Yuanjiao felt a suffocating sense of foreboding and asked in a deep voice, "Then... What about the Emperor of Zhao State?"
"Those Jie people..." Kongheng lowered his head and continued, "A thousand years ago, the Jie people invaded the state with formidable power, blessed by heavenly fate and bearing the emperor''s visage, aspiring to reign for generations. Zhao Zhaowu Emperor Fu Qiyan[1], who had been suppressing Buddhism forcefully, died suddenly overnight. His descendantssted only a hundred years before falling under Maha''s sway."
"After offering up the Metallic Essence and weing Maha to the capital, the current Emperor of Zhao State behaves like a mere ve... kneeling and worshiping the Maha!"
Li Yuanjiao then murmured in silence, "No wonder it is said that Zhao State will never be sessful... and that the Emperor will die achieving nothing. His mind is not his own; how could he possibly ever achieve greatness?"
Kongheng sighed softly.
"Forgive me for losing myposure, Benefactor. My Dao lineage originates from the north, and though Zhao State''s Buddhism conflicts with ours, I have always grieved for Zhao State."
"Who can say who is right or wrong? Night after night, people under my Liao River Temple''s rule flee and smuggle themselves into Zhao State. Some even used my temple of being an evil sect," he said sadly.
Kongheng paused, as though he was at the peak of his emotion. Li Yuanjiao asked a few more probing questions, then waved his hand and dismissed him.
Kongheng was a reasonable monk. Although he wished to continue appealing for Li Xijun, he ultimately sighed softly and remarked guiltily, "Xijun has indeed suffered because of me."
With that, he rode away on the wind, leaving Li Yuanjiao standing alone with his hand resting on the Qingche Sword.
"Second Uncle!"
While Li Yuanjiao was lost in thought, Li Ximing approached, riding the wind from behind him. He cupped his fist and bowed respectfully before saying, "Congrattions on your achievement in cultivation, Second Uncle! May you achieve the Purple Mansion Realm soon!"
This was his first time meeting Li Yuanjiao after he emerged from seclusion. Li Ximing hade to pay his respects, his tone earnest as he continued, "I believe Xijun has his reasons for what he has done..."
"Sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm... not bad."
Without responding to his remark, Li Yuanjiao assessed Li Ximing''s cultivation with a hint of satisfaction and continued, "It seems you''re not far from breaking through to the seventh heavenlyyer. You should be ready to attempt establishing your foundation by the age of thirty."
Li Ximing shared everything about his cultivation journey, both significant and minor. Li Yuanjiao listened intently, then pressed him on with a question, his tone thick with incredulity and disbelief.
"You''re saying that... bedroom activities can aid in cultivation?!"
Li Ximing, visibly embarrassed, nodded. Li Yuanjiao, however, was not one to gloss over such details. He pulled out a jade slip from his storage pouch, studied it intently, and finally said in a deep voice, "It seems there is some truth to this! While I''m not familiar with which Metallic Essence is used in the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual, it is rted to the Radiant Yang, so it makes sense."
With a nod, he dismissed the topic.
"I understand now... you may go."
Watching Li Ximing depart, Li Yuanjiao picked up a small letter on the desk. It had arrived early that morning from the Azure Pond Sect. Li Xizhi had always been reliable and managed to extract much information within the sect.
"Blood Sun Fruit."
Li Yuanjiao had never heard of this spirit medicine before, so he had to dispatch his men to gather more information about it. As for acquiring it, it seemed likely that a deeper expedition into Mount Yue would be necessary.
"I shall cultivate in seclusion first and address this matter when Qinghong returns after her breakthrough!" he decided.
1. Emperor''s name is Fu Qiyan, Zhao Zhaowu Emperor is his posthumous title. ?
Chapter 489: Li Qinghong of Qingdu (II)
Chapter 489: Li Qinghong of Qingdu (II)
Li Ximing returned to the courtyard and opened the lid of the ckened furnace, revealing the medicinal liquid inside. It was crystal clear, slightly gray, and somewhat sticky.
"Phew! It''s still alright!"
The process was quick, and the elixir in the furnace had not yet solidified enough to ruin this batch¡ªproof of Li Ximing''s high talent and the teachings of Xiao Yuansi. Since returning home, he had yet to spoil a single batch of elixir.
Afterpletely refining the pills, six emerged sessfully from the furnace. Li Ximing stored them in a jade bottle when he was suddenly interrupted by two knocks at the door.
Li Ximing frowned slightly as the door creaked open and a person entered, respectfully announcing, "My lord, there''s a female cultivator outside who was sent by the family head. She is seeking guidance."
"Seeking guidance...?" Li Ximing echoed. Despite being a bit startled, hemanded softly, "Bring her over."
The attendant retreated, and soon after, a woman entered the courtyard.
This woman appeared no older than twenty, with a graceful posture and fair skin, and was dressed in a green gown. With an innocent blink of her eyes, she bowed and said, "Meng greets Senior."
Li Ximing regarded her quietly and replied softly, "Ah, so you''re from the Meng Family."
Meng Zhuoyun, sensing Li Ximing''s slightly inappropriate gaze, maintained her respectful demeanor and exined, "I was ordered to seek Senior''s guidance on the dao of alchemy... The family head has approved this arrangement."
"Good," Li Ximing replied, observing her with an intrigued expression before instructing, "Call forth your core me so I can examine it."
His conversation with Li Yuanjiao had just concluded when Meng Zhuoyun arrived, arousing his suspicion.
Unsure and a bit cautious, Li Ximing thought to himself, Could it be that the Meng Family is ready to join our family, using this woman''s charms as a tactic? She''s close to breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm... She could be quite beneficial to my cultivation.
Meng Zhuoyun was a beauty with soft skin and fine features. It was no surprise that Li Ximing had no immunity against her. While he shared the secrets of alchemy, his mind was preupied with something else.
Meng Zhuoyun was no longer a naive girl; her sharp mind was already at work.
This Li Ximing seems different from the rest of the Li Family. I''ve heard he''s quite taken with beauty... If I can endear myself to him, perhaps I could secure a better position within the Li Family.
Both harboring their own motives, they exchanged nces that were filled with unspoken intentions, their voices softening as they spoke.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xijun did not have to kneel in the ancestral hall for long. He was allowed to resume his cultivation after just a few days.
Yet, Kongheng, concerned, visited often to check on him.
The Li Family operated smoothly until the arrival of spring. When the snow had melted, mana light hurriedly approached from the west amidst clouds and fog.
It halted at the boundary of the Li Family''s territory. Xu Gongming, a mid-stage Qi Cultivator, immediately flew out to greet the visitor, cupping his fist as he began, "Fellow Daoist..."
The figure within the light materialized, revealing a burly man with an intense re who was fully dressed in leather armor. He barked, "Is this the Li Family of Lijing?"
Xu Gongming, clearly taken aback by his tone, corrected him, "It''s known as Li Family of Qingdu..."
The burly man''s eyes reddened with intensity as he demanded, "I don''t care whether it''s Qingdu or whatever! I want to know if your family has the Wanglin Blossom!"
Realizing the man was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Xu Gongming was shocked and stammered hastily, "M-My family does possess this item... May I know why you''re looking for it, Senior...?"
The burly visitor was delighted by the response. He grabbed Xu Gongming by the cor and said forcefully, "Bring it to me quickly... or I''ll make you miserable!"
Captured in his grip, Xu Gongming felt intense pain shooting through his limbs. His lungs felt like they were on fire as he barely managed to gasp out, "Please wait a moment, Senior... I''ll inform the elders!"
The man reluctantly released him and urged, "Go, go, go!"
Xu Gongming wasted no time, quickly descending to alert the family. The Jade Court Guards had already noticed themotion and gathered around.
Li Xicheng arrived, propelled by the wind, demanded in a stern voice, "What''s going on here? Why is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from another n here?"
After Xu Gongming exined the situation, Li Xicheng frowned and said, "What nonsense is this! We''re due to submit our tributes next year... The recent harvests of Wanglin Blossoms had long been sold to other ns. There''s none reserved for him."
"Although we have kept a few for personal use, they are stored in the old ancestor''s cave dwelling, and he has long retreated into seclusion!" he added.
While the two men were still discussing, the burly man above interrupted impatiently, "Enough talking! Does your family have the flower or not? Don''t waste my time!"
His urgency was palpable as he stepped forward, reaching outmandingly. A group of cultivators, sensing a potential threat, rushed to surround Li Xicheng protectively.
Chen Mufeng, who was standing nearby, called out, "I''d advise you to think carefully before you act, Senior!"
The burly man halted abruptly. Though anxious, he was rational. With a stern look, he gritted his teeth and demanded, "Then bring out the flower, quickly!"
Li Xicheng was equally nervous as hemanded, "Go to Qingdu and summon the old ancestor immediately!"
As soon as he had finished speaking, thunder rolled, echoing across the heavens and earth, drowning out the rest of his voice with its resonant boom.
Rumble!
Dark clouds amassed from the south, apanied by thunder that had been suppressed throughout the long winter. As the first thunderp of spring reverberated, a brilliant purple light surged forward from the south.
"Fellow Daoist, you seek favor yet act so imperiously... It seems you hold little regard for my family!"
From the south, a Foundation Establishment Realm female cultivator in jade armor arrived amidst the storm, her heroic presencemanding respect. Her fine eyebrows above her beautiful almond eyes knitted together, conveying her warning.
Her long ck hair fluttered in the wind, entuating her delicate ears. Strands of purple electricity flickered through her hair, casting silver-white halos that captivated everyone present, rendering them speechless.
Holding her silver-whitence upside down, Li Qinghong descended valiantly before them.
"Auntie!" Li Xicheng eximed joyously, overwhelmed with emotion. He was visibly excited and failed to contain hisughter.
Li Qinghong nodded slightly, her gaze softening as she looked at her family members. She stepped on the rolling thunder and lightning beneath her feet, closing the distance between them.
Behind her, Li Wushao stood in awe, bowing slightly as he respectfully retreated a step. His clothes seemed scorched and tattered, as if he had been beaten up not long ago.
The previously belligerent man was initially offended, yet when his gazended on her, he was struck by her stunning presence.
His confidence waned slightly as he asked in a softer tone, "And who might you be?"
Li Qinghong was dressed neatly, her appearance heroic and unadorned by makeup. The lively purple lightning around her lent an air of majesty and invincibility to her alreadymanding presence.
With dense purple electricity flickering in her eyes, she announced her name proudly.
n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Li Qinghong from the Li Family of Qingdu."
Chapter 490: Cry (I)
Chapter 490: Cry (I)
The burly man in front of Li Qinghong was momentarily stunned before recalling his purpose. Realizing the tough stance she had taken, he could only humble himself and soften his tone.
"I was indeed rude and offensive before... I wish only for a Wanglin Blossom! Please help me, fellow Daoist!"
Seeing him relent, Li Qinghong pulled a jade box from her storage pouch and replied kindly, "Saving lives is important. You can take it first."
The burly man''s face lit up instantly with joy. Without pausing to express his gratitude or discuss any rewards, he nodded vigorously and took the flower, then dashed away like the wind.
Once he was gone, Li Qinghong lowered her spear and descended to the ground. Purple lightning flickered all around her, and below, Li Xicheng beamed with joy.
"Congrattions, Auntie!" he eximed, beaming.
She chuckled softly, ruffling Li Xicheng''s hair.
"When I entered seclusion on the mountain, you were still a boy who dropped his spear because of thunder... Now, in the blink of an eye, you''re already thirty years old. I can hardly recognize you!"
Li Xicheng also chuckled and could barely contain his happiness.
"I''m just d you broke through sessfully, Auntie!"
"Where''s Brother Jiao?" Li Qinghong asked as she tightened her grip on the spear, "Now that I''ve finally reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, I''m itching to challenge him!"
"Hahaha..."
Laughter echoed from afar as a man in ck rode in on the wind, his expression full of pride.
"You''ve really seeded, Qinghong!"
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
It turned out to be Li Yuanjiao, who had been summoned by the person whom Li Xicheng had sent to summon him. All the cultivators bowed in haste.
Li Yuanjiao rarely showed such joy,ughing heartily.
"This is great!"
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the external cultivators. He then looked Li Qinghong up and down, and upon seeing her gentle smile, praised, "I expected no less of an ancient method like the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique. The thunder and lightning you can harness, along with purple light flowing around you, give you a more powerful aura than me."
Li Qinghongughed and replied, "I''ve achieved the Profound Thunderpool immortal foundation. I''ve transformed my sea of qi into a thunderpool, with purple and silver qi rising and thunder crackling everywhere around me¡ªit''s quite impressive."
With that, she brushed her hair back with a satisfied smile on her face.
"I''ve studied several spells at home, and the Profound Thunderpool is unsophisticated yet amazing. It was likely created at the same time as the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao. However, there are some differencespared to today''s immortal foundations."
She extended her hand, summoning purple thunder that coalesced into a deep purple rune. It shimmered with a radiant purple light, bobbing lightly above her palm.
Li Qinghong had clearly expended considerable energy to form this Thunder Rune, as her face turned slightly pale. She then went on to exin, "This is the Secret Origin Profound Thunder. It''s extremely effective for killing and banishing demons and can be supplemented by the thunder of heaven and earth. Combined with the Purple Talisman Origin Light Secret Technique from the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique, its power is astonishing!"
"This Profound Thunder is difficult to preserve; the only way to store it is in my sea of qi''s Thunder Pool using the Purple Talisman Origin Light Secret Technique. I can then unleash it during battle, catching opponents off guard and posing a significant threat."
The Profound Thunder emanated a menacing aura, making Li Wushao gulp nervously as he thought quietly to himself, When the fairy first emerged, the thunder in her hands repelled me. I assumed it was incredibly powerful, but I didn''t realize she still had the Profound Thunder in reserve... In a life-and-death battle, I could easily be caught off guard and easily be killed in just two strikes.
Li Yuanjiao''s eyelids twitched with excitement, and a look of delight sparkled in his eyes.
"The Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique may be challenging to master, but it''s worth it! With this secret technique and the methods to supplement it, it significantly enhancesbat power."
Li Qinghong sped her palms together, returning the Thunder Talisman to the Thunder Pool.
"The Profound Thunderpool also can create an altar for spellcasting, allowingmunication with heaven and earth to summon heavenly thunder."
Her fine eyebrows suddenly knitted slightly as she hesitated.
"However, I''ve heard that heaven and earth are different nowpared to ancient times, so I''m uncertain if this spell will still work..."
As they spoke, Kongheng appeared out of the blue, riding the wind with a smile on his pale face. He lowered his gaze and addressed Li Yuanjiao before the woman.
"Kongheng greets Benefactor. Congrattions on establishing your immortal foundation too, Benefactor!"
Li Yuanjiao nodded politely, while Li Qinghong responded with a quick nod.
"Master Monk, you''ve also made significant progress in your cultivation. Congrattions to you as well," shemended.
"Yes... yes..." Kongheng replied, lowering his gaze as he chanted a sutra under his breath diligently, excusing himself as he continued his descent.
Li Yuanjiao observed Li Qinghong''s furrowed brow and exined everything to her. After listening thoughtfully, she replied, "My techniquees from Thundercloud Temple. It seems to have some origins in Liao River Temple... but I still have a lingering doubt."
Tilting his head, Li Yuanjiao prompted her to continue her train of thought.
"This Thundercloud Temple is clearly associated with ancient Buddhist cultivators, yet the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique belongs to the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao! It makes no sense that it doesn''t require reciting Dao scriptures while tapping on a wooden fish."
Li Yuanjiao frowned in confusion. After contemting for a while, he still could not find an answer and decided to note it down.
"I''ll ask Kongheng about it one day," he affirmed.
Li Qinghong nodded, then descended the mountain with her brother. She then asked, "How did an extra demon general find its way to our home during my absence?"
Li Wushao, who had been hiding behind them, finally seized the opportunity to speak.
"I''m Li Wushao, a lesser demon born in the Eastern Sea. I mistakenly entered Lake Xian and was fortunate to be taken in by the master to join Qingdu..."
Li Yuanjiao''s mouth twitched as he sighed and interrupted him, "Where did you learn to sugarcoat things like that? That''s not what happened. The Kong Family from Profound Peak Gate requested my help to eliminate this demon. Our family happens to be in need of Foundation Establishment Realmbat power, so I asked for a suitable technique to tame it."
"I see," Li Qinghong replied with a nod.
Li Wushao chuckled awkwardly, but Li Qinghong scrutinized him and teased, "Can''t you transform into someone better looking or at least one that will make others feel at ease? You don''t look trustworthy right now, so you can''t me me for being cautious when I first saw you."
Both Li Yuanjiao and Li Wushao paused. Li Yuanjiao shook his head helplessly at his sister''s teasing smile.
"Do you have to always make fun of me?" he sighed.
Li Qinghong grabbed him, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she urged, "Come on, let''s spar!"
Li Yuanjiao nodded, and the two of them soared into the air. Li Qinghong, not in a hurry to draw her spear, summoned a purple thunderstorm in the middle of her palm. With a flick of her wrist, a brilliant purple light surged forth.
A grayish-green serpent dragon coiled around Li Yuanjiao. Since his cultivation progress had improved in recent years, the serpent dragon looked even more vivid and fierce this time, its ws and fangs bared as its scales shimmered. With a roar, it leaped into action.
Boom!
The purple thunder struck the serpent dragon, causing it to roar in pain. Deep green water sshed down like rain, drenching their surroundings. Li Yuanjiao then advanced, wielding his sword under the protection of his immortal foundation.
The Jing Dragon King was unique; not only did it possess strong true essence, but it could also control water. Whenbined, it formed a water serpent dragon; and when separated, it transformed into snakes, shrimps, crabs, turtles, swords, axes, and halberds. This meant Li Yuanjiao did not need to bear the brunt of Li Qinghong''s thunder, as he could simply leap away.
N?v(el)B\\jnn
Despite his slight advantage with his immortal foundation, Li Yuanjiao did not let his guard down, and treated it as though he were facing a formidable opponent.
Others might underestimate his sister, thinking that getting close to a thunder cultivator like her would force her to defend herself and refrain from casting spells. However, Li Yuanjiao knew better. He had not seen Li Qinghong''s spear skills in years now, and he was uncertain of her current prowess.
Chapter 491: Cry (II)
Chapter 491: Cry (II)
Sure enough, Li Qinghong smiled and drew her Duruo Spear. A pale purple light erupted from it as she thrust it fiercely forward at the speed of lightning. The spear turned into a blur, darting toward him sessively like birds.
ng!
Li Yuanjiao unleashed a dazzling green-white sword light. However, instead of shing directly with him, Li Qinghong pivoted, using a deflection to redirect the force. She spun her spear and struck heavily to the side.
Oh no, she has read our family''s sword techniques before and is very familiar with the Celestial Moon sh technique!
Li Qinghong''s talent with weapons far surpassed Li Yuanjiao''s. With a thrust, a lift, and a swing, the purple lightning scattered. Li Qinghong retreated quite a distance but her pale purple spear shadow moved in direction, attacking Li Yuanjiao relentlessly.
Years of training had refined her skills. No longer limited to the Wing Clipper Spear Technique and Dragon Reflection, she wielded both spear techniques and spear energy with ease. Understanding that Li Yuanjiao relied heavily on a single, powerful sword strike, she closed the distance.
Li Yuanjiao''s vulnerabilities were bing evident. He struggled to keep up, using only his sword qi defensively. With each of Li Qinghong''s attacks, the pressure intensified, forcing him to retreat.
His expression darkened as the sword light in his hand flowed like water, splitting into three pure white streams of light¡ªsharp and agile.
"Threefold Moonlight!" he yelled out fiercely.
The three sword qi condensed, moving autonomously like spirits, each glowing with a bright white light. Li Qinghong recognized the technique and a grin broke out across her face as she twirled her spear in excitement.
"Brother, you''ve mastered it!" she eximed.
Li Yuanjiao did not respond. Instead, he seized the moment to sheath his sword, then drew it again to execute another Celestial Moon sh technique. Li Qinghong danced with her spear to defend herself, but the three streams of light flowed and flew toward her forehead.
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Her eyes ignited a fierce purple as the spear in her hand crackled with silver-white and dark purple lightning, roaring violently through the air. With a sweeping motion, she struck out, shattering the sword light before her.
Two pure white sword lights sprang from the rising lightning,nding on her wrist before abruptly dispersing.
"If you keep fighting, you''ll bleed!" Li Yuanjiao warned with a smile.
Li Qinghong lowered her weapon, sighing with some regret.
"I''ve underestimated the Law of Celestial Moon! I guess it''s impossible to ovee a Grade Five sword technique with brute force!"
"No need to be so modest, Qinghong. You might have been able to withstand those two sword lights. I''ve only just mastered it, but my strength has increased significantly. If you had returned a month earlier, I doubt I would have been able to hurt you at all," Li Yuanjiao replied, shaking his head.
"This time I got lucky. If you had unleashed the profound thunder as soon as you arrived or used the Purple Talisman Origin Light Secret Technique when I approached, I would have been in serious trouble. I would be injured before the fight even started and wouldn''t even stand a chance against you," he added.
Li Qinghong put away her spear, offering a respectful bow.
"In the past, I was able to focus on practicing secret techniques and spearmanship because Brother Ping and you managed the household... Now that I''ve reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, I can share your burden!"
"It''s great that you feel this way, but we can still manage for the next few years," Li Yuanjiao replied, looking at her warmly.
"Perhaps you can look into the Blood Sun Fruit and... spend more time with Brother Ping," he suggested.
Li Qinghong bowed her head silently and responded with a soft hum, understanding her brother''s unspoken concern.
Suddenly, someone approached, announcing respectfully, "Report to the ancestor, we have news from the desert in the west!"
"From Uncle?"
It was rare for Chen Donghe to bring news, and Li Yuanjiao quickly calcted the time. Realizing that it had not been long enough for Chen Donghe to finish gathering a portion of Golden Yang Radiant Origin spiritual qi, he felt a sudden unease in his chest.
Sure enough, the man bowed again and continued, "It''s news about a death..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Smoke Valley Temple.
The weather in the desert was perpetually dry. Chen Donghe had been living here for over ten years now and had long grown ustomed to it. One early morning, he called out softly, but there was no response.
His keen eyesight as a Qi Cultivator allowed him to see the frail figure of the old woman even in the dim light¡ªseemingly lifeless, like a pile of firewood on the bed.
He stood frozen for a moment in silence.
"I suppose it''s time to go home..." he murmured quietly to himself.
He gathered his belongings from the table and the wall, storing them in his storage pouch.
Carefully, he lifted Li Jingtian from the bed and stepped out into the yard. The sand scorched his feet, and he recalled how Li Jingtian always wanted to be carried.
"It''s pretty cloudy today. It''s rare to get such good weather in the desert... What a pity."
As he carried her on his back, he thought of how Li Jingtian had longed for a ce with more rain, only to have passed away during the night in this barrenndscape of yellow sand.
"Fellow Daoist Donghe!"
Bai Yinzi, the master of Smoke Valley Temple, hade to see him off. The man had tears glistening in his eyes as he whispered softly, "My condolences... My condolences..."
Chen Donghe maintained a stoic expression as he bid farewell to everyone. The cultivators of Smoke Valley looked at him with sorrowful pity, and he offered polite nods in return, carrying his wife on his back as he made his way through the wind.
It took several days to traverse the desert. Chen Donghe stopped midway to wipe the dew from Li Jingtian''s face. Her skin felt stiff where he touched it, as hard as cowhide, and even frostbitten. She looked terrible.
Li Jingtian had been gone for a long time, yet no one had noticed.
Chen Donghe had ventured out during the evening, hoping to gather energy at sunset, but he had missed her critical moment. When he returned, he found her clutching the sheets at the edge of the bed, with a pained look on her face yet already devoid of breath.
Tian''er...
While Chen Donghe was lost in thought, he found himself at Mount Xiping. The earth veins here were thin, and the spiritual energy felt cut off. Although clouds and mist enveloped the mountain, and the sunset glow painted the sky beautifully, it was ultimately just an ordinary mountain.
No one would choose to linger in such a ce. No matter how steep and towering Mount Xiping stood, how it blocked the southeast water veins and shaped the Smoke Valley Desert with its presence, it remained unrecorded and overlooked.
However, Li Jingtian loved this mountain.
Chen Donghended on the mountain and navigated it with familiarity, pushing aside the bushes and trees on the summit. There, he found two small ck rocks and engraved them, making them into two stone tablets. They stood out remarkably against the mist and moisture of the mountain fog. Tilting his head, he gazed down at the endless sea of clouds and fog swirling beneath him.
From this vantage point, he could see the entirety of Moongaze Lake, several renowned immortal mountains, and even Mount Lijing and Mount Qingdu, looming hazily in the distance.
This was a spot Li Jingtian often visited, but the long journey back and forth took several days, and Chen Donghe could not always find the time to apany her. Every visit brought her immense joy as if they were celebrating a festival together.
He gentlyid her down on one of the stone tforms, exhaling softly, and leaned back against the stone wall wearily. Resting her head on his shoulder, they both stared into the distance in silence.
The wind howled around them, and the mountain felt cold and lonely today. Chen Donghe had always been quiet. He never spoke unless Li Jingtian did.
In the distance, the vast white clouds gradually transformed into a golden and red ocean under the morning glow, rolling and surging into various shapes.
The clouds flowed from afar, and the dark cliffs began to vanish into the whiteness, along with a pale, stiff corpse and an old man.
Sob...
A cry broke the silence, echoing from the boundless white clouds.
It was the heart-wrenching wail of an old man, choked with grief.
Chapter 492: Deer Demons Invitation (I)
Chapter 492: Deer Demon''s Invitation (I)
When news of Li Jingtian''s death reached their ears, the Li Family entered a period of mourning. Although she was merely a mortal, she was still the daughter of Li Xiangping, the sister of Li Xuanfeng, and one of the family''s oldest members.
Chen Donghe hurried back, carrying his wife''s frail body in his arms. He seemed normal, and Li Yuanjiao received him at the border solemnly. Together, they walked back to the residence in silence.
Chen Donghe was seventy years old. Since he had only begun his Qi Cultivation at thirty, he retained his appearance in his early fifties. Nevertheless, he was still an elder in the family and stood tall at the funeral.
Li Qinghong had just learned of her mother Lu Wanrong''s death, and now the body of her aunt Li Jingtian was being returned to the Li Family. With two rtives lost in such quick session, she was engulfed in grief. The happiness on her face from the afterglow of her breakthrough was now overshadowed by sorrow.
After a busy period of six months, everything was finally settled. Since Li Qinghong was affected by grief right after her breakthrough, she needed another period of seclusion to stabilize her cultivation, leaving Li Yuanjiao to look after the family.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
On Mount Qingdu.
Li Yuanjiao guided Chen Donghe into Mount Qingdu. Observing his uncle''s steady demeanor and good health, he felt relieved and began politely, "We''ve caused you a great deal of trouble all these years, Uncle... Now that the younger generation has grown, you don''t need to stay in that deste ce. You can leave the qi gathering task to them and focus on your cultivation."
"It''s no trouble," Chen Donghe replied, bowing politely. He sighed before continuing, "Who do you n to send there?"
Li Yuanjiao responded, "An Zheyan has two sons, both married to the daughters of the Li Family. They''re mid-stage Qi Cultivators now¡ªreliable and loyal. I n to have them take turns gathering qi."
Chen Donghe nodded and responded, "I will write a letter to Bai Yinzi, then."
He paused shortly, then added, "Bai Yinzi is keen to form connections. He can send a few of his people to help us. Within twenty years, they should be our family''s wings and pawns in the desert."
"Yes," Li Yuanjiao agreed readily. With a quick scan using his spiritual sense, he noticed that Chen Donghe had already reached the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Politely, he said, "Uncle has worked hard for many years, so I must reward you... I have a secret Barrier Breaking Pill at home. If you take it, you could break through to the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm."
"That... I''m already an old man. It hardly seems worth it to take such a precious pill! It would be better to save it for Ximing or Xijun," Chen Donghe replied with a frown on his face. He spoke sincerely, not out of politeness.
"I''m over seventy years old! What difference does it make whether I break through to the ninth heavenlyyer now orter? It''s better to give it to the younger generation," he emphasized.
Li Yuanjiao could only force the pill into his hand and assured, "I''ve left enough for the children. How can you inspire confidence in others if you don''t take this?"
Reluctantly, Chen Donghe epted the pill, mumbling a few words of the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath before heading off to find a ce to cultivate in seclusion.
Li Yuanjiao sat on a stone bench, gazing at the old books that Chen Donghe had brought back which were now piled on top of the table. These were all collected and annotated by Li Jingtian while she was still alive. He sighed softly as he put them away.
"Auntie... what a pity..." he murmured quietly.
He sat for a while in the courtyard before a tall man entered and bowed.
"Xicheng greets the ancestor."
Li Yuanjiao hummed in reply, raising his hand to help Li Xicheng up with his mana. Li Yuanping''s health had gradually declined over the past six months, and most of the family''s affairs were now in Li Xicheng''s hands.
Li Xicheng cupped his fist and reported, "The family''s output is increasing. The first batch of spirit fish raised through the demon beasts in theke has been harvested and sold for seven Spirit Stones. In the future, we expect even more ie¡ªat least an additional four or five Spirit Stones every year."
"As for the two ore veins, they''ve been deeply excavated, but not many ores have been found yet. However, we should see output in a few years," he added.
When Li Yuanping took over the Li Family, it was facing annual deficits, and the family was in a state of financial turmoil. By the time it was handed over to Li Xicheng, the family had turned over a profit of over ten Spirit Stones each year. Li Yuanjiao nodded in approval at the news of the increased ie.
"In recent years, the family has weed three new Qi Cultivators and five unrefined Qi Cultivators, recing several Embryonic Breathing Realm members among the five peaks."
The Li Family was now showing signs of bing a real n with unrefined Qi Cultivators springing up like mushrooms after rain, alongside many pure Qi Cultivators. Li Xicheng himself had also reached the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"An Zheyan is the strongest Qi Cultivator at the ninth heavenlyyer. Chen Donghe and Uncle Xuanxuan are both in thete stage, while Tian Zhongqing, Xu Gongming, White Monkey, Chen Mufeng, Li Wen, and others are in the mid-stage. In addition, there are eleven early-stage Qi Cultivators from other families and the Jade Court Guards, making a total of twenty-seven pure and forty-one unrefined Qi Cultivators."
"As for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, there are four members¡ªSecond Uncle, Aunt Qinghong, Senior Wushao, and Master Monk Kongheng. The Li Family has now caught up with the former Yu Family and has be the overlord of theke!"
With a sigh, Li Xicheng continued, "Our family now oversees more than 450,000 people, but our spirit fields are limited and we''ve done our best to manage them. Since we''re bound by the oaths among the three families, we can''t move north. Otherwise, we could sweep through Moongaze, Milin, and cial Cloud... The Fei and Yu families wouldn''t be able to stop us!"
The Li Family was thriving with newly promoted Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, as well as increasing numbers of pure and unrefined Qi Cultivators. However, as the seats of authority on the five peaks were gradually filled, a situation akin to that of ''too many monks and too little porridge'' began to emerge.
Li Yuanjiao listened to Li Xicheng before nodding slightly and replied, "If we want to move north, we must first eliminate Yu Muxian, secure a position in the Azure Pond Sect, and make Moongaze Lake subordinate to Qingsui Peak to achieve sess. Azure Pond rotates its management every seventy years, and Yuanwu Peak only has twenty years left."
Li Xicheng responded with a hum, prompting Li Yuanjiao to continue, "Now that our family has four Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, we should consider setting up a branch overseas. Most of the local Foundation Establishment Realm demon generals already have some background, making it unwise to capture them. Moreover, establishing a branch out there will allow us tomunicate with the outside world, obtain spirit items, and absorb the poption."
Li Xicheng listened intently, waiting for his uncle to make a decision. However, Li Yuanjiao remained concerned and mumbled to himself, "Most of therge and small inds overseas already have owners, making it difficult to find a safe and spacious ce to settle. Additionally, we need at least two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to maintain a foothold. Whoever we send out... might not be appropriate."
Li Wushao was the local power in the Eastern Sea and would be the most suitable choice for this task, but the excavation of the mine in Moongaze Lake had just begun. Without a demon general to oversee it, the demons might not follow anyone else''s orders. If Li Wushao were to leave for an extended period, problems could arise.
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As Li Yuanjiao calcted in his mind silently, An Zheyan hurried in, reporting respectfully, "Ancestor! A fox sent a letter."
"Huh..? Bring it here quickly!"
Upon hearing that it was from a fox, Li Yuanjiao eagerly responded, knowing that it must be a letter from the White Banyan Fox. An Zheyan wore a strange expression on his face as he nodded and exited.
Not long after, An Zheyan returned, gliding in on the wind while cradling a pillow-sized red fox in his arms. The fox had striking green eyes and held a jade slip in its mouth, appearing quite well-behaved.
Chapter 493: Deer Demons Invitation (II)
Chapter 493: Deer Demon''s Invitation (II)
"Oh, it''s an actual fox... not a fox demon," Li Yuanjiao mumbled upon this realization, epting the jade slip and reading it carefully.
"...The den has already sent a demon general... It''s a deer demon... at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm. It has prepared a gift... and wants to speak with our family..."
So, a new demon general has been appointed... The demon den''s response is surprisingly slow!
Li Yuanjiao nodded in understanding, then handed over the jade slip to Li Xicheng who quickly read through it and wondered aloud, "This deer demon... is it afraid of our family?"
"How can it not be afraid?" Li Yuanjiaoughed as he went on to exin, "The previous generals died at our family''s hands, and the White Banyan Fox has handled everything quietly. That''s typically how the three sects and seven gates operate!"
"Since this new demon general is forced to guard this ce, it naturally wishes to negotiate with us. Otherwise, it''d just be sitting there, waiting for us to take its life."
Li Yuanjiao turned his gaze to the obedient little red fox before him and added softly, "Let''s see what kind of creature this deer demon really is."
Li Xicheng nodded slightly, allowing An Zheyan to take the fox away. He then reminded, "Ancestor... Uncle Xuanxuan''s inner demon is growing stronger with each passing day. Although the old man doesn''t speak of it... we can''t just stand by and watch."
Li Yuanjiao''s expression turned grim as he heard this. He shook his sleeves and replied in a deep voice, "Xijun has mentioned it to me several times... I''ve been inquiring about it for a while now. I''ve heard that the Hengzhu Dao Gate has a way to resolve it. Find someone to take him there!"
With that, Li Yuanjiao turned away and left indifferently.
Li Xicheng stood stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly as he watched his ancestor float away, murmuring to himself, "But... it costs a lot, and Uncle Xuanxuan will probably refuse to go!"
Caught in a dilemma, he nced at the Jade Court Guards standing silently beside him. After a moment of contemtion, he then said softly, "I can only ask Brother Jun!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Ancestral Hall.
Li Xijun spent another half a year on the mountain. Since many assumed he had been grounded, no one dared to disturb him. He focused on his training with his sword and spells during this peaceful period and was able to improve significantly in both.
When news of Li Jingtian''s passing arrived, Li Yuanjiao visited him several times to chat. Even in the ancestral hall, Li Xijun was dressed all in white. He was still worried about Li Xuanxuan.
"The old man hasn''t been mentally healthy... I wonder if he can bear this news."
After another half month of cultivating in the ancestral hall, Li Xijun nned to leave once his three-year term was up. Just then, Li Xicheng rushed in with news, and Li Xijun found it difficult to sit still.
Both sides are unwilling to give in...
Concerned about Li Xuanxuan, he learned that Li Qinghong was in seclusion and Li Yuanjiao had left yet again. Unable to contain himself, he finally exited the ancestral hall and flew to the Alchemy Pavilion.
Upon arriving at the entrance, he noticed a woman standing quietly by the door¡ªa fair-skinned and beautiful Qi Cultivator. As her gaze fell upon him, she said respectfully, "Greetings, Senior."
"Ah... it''s you, Meng," Li Xijun replied, his tone distant. He then went on to knock on the door before him.
Inside, Li Ximing was manipting a vermillion me¡ªLong Marching Fire Essence. With a push of his hands, six pills flew out, and he stored them away while asking simultaneously, "Who is it?"
Li Xijun waited until Li Ximing had put away his pill me before entering the hall, pleased to receive a guest when he was focused on his alchemy.
"You''ve holed yourself up for a year and are finally willing toe out?" he asked with a teasing smile.
Li Xijun shook his head and inquired, "Let me ask you... how many pills did Uncle take this year? Is it a normal amount?"
Li Ximing''s expression soured as he replied softly, "That''s a difficult question. He''s taken many of them¡ªTranquility Pills, Jade Ice Pills, and Turning Cloud Pills, but their effectiveness is diminishing... I''m afraid we can''t dy it any longer. Grandfather refuses to speak of his trouble and Second Uncle rarely inquires..."
Li Xijun gently shook his head and said, "Second Uncle hase several times to the ancestral hall, waiting for me to bring this up. Although the two of them may not seem very close, they are still father and son."
Li Ximing felt a wave of sadness as he remarked, "He just can''t set aside his pride and speak up..."
His words were unclear, leaving Li Xijun unsure of whom he was referring to. Li Xijun simply looked at him, shaking his head with a sigh.
Having carefully reviewed the Family History in the ancestral hall over the years, Li Xijun could only say, "There''s a gap between father and son, and the only uncle[1] who could resolve it died early. And so... they continue to drift apart. Uncle Xuanxuan can''t swallow his pride, and Uncle Jiao can''t bring himself to express his feelings. Yet, both of them are hurting inside..."
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Li Xijun took a jade slip from his robe and added softly, "Uncle Jiao may not say it, but he''s obviously worried. He has sent someone to inquire about a cure some time ago. Uncle''s condition can no longer be cured by ordinary pills and medicine... There''s a calming spell at Hengzhu Dao Gate that should be able to help."
"I know that too, however, that spell requires many spirit items and costs forty or fifty Spirit Stones each time. Grandfather is used to being frugal; how can he agree to that?" Li Ximing asked helplessly.
"That''s easy¡ªwe''ll just do it without asking for his opinion. I''ll trick him intoing along under the pretense of looking for spirit water. Once we reach Hengdong Prefecture, I''ll invite the people from Hengzhu Dao Gate. By then, Granduncle will have no choice but toply," Li Xijun whispered.
Li Ximing nodded repeatedly, rather excited by the n.
"Good idea! But with so many devil cultivators around now, I''m afraid something might happen if only both of you were to travel south..."
"Don''t worry, Kongheng will apany us there. He''s an orthodox Buddhist cultivator and excels at calming the mind and nurturing qi, so there shouldn''t be any issues along the way," Li Xijun reassured him.
He winked at Li Ximing with a smile and said, "I shouldn''t be the one making this suggestion. You''ll need to present it as your own idea to Uncle Jiao."
Li Ximing nodded and replied, "I understand."
With that, Li Xijun said nothing more. He nodded, then flew directly to the cave dwelling on the mountain to invite Li Xuanxuan.
Left sitting in the Alchemy Pavilion in a daze, Li Ximing was soon interrupted by Meng Zhuoyun, who gently pushed the door open and said softly, "Brother Ming..."
Li Ximing breathed a sigh of relief and led her inside. The two exchanged nces, and Meng Zhuoyun sat beside him. Both of them had spent more than a year together, and having already done the deed long ago, there was no longer the need for formality between them.
Li Ximing skillfully pulled open the cor of her white robe and caressed her smooth, delicate shoulders, but his mind was elsewhere.
His gaze lingered on Meng Zhuoyun''s beautiful eyebrows, and he noticed the dark blue osmanthus hairpin in her hair. It appeared to be a dharma artifact thatplimented her white attire wonderfully.
Meng Zhuoyun seemed to sense his gaze and spoke softly, "This was what my father left me before he passed away. He spent several days crafting it."
Li Ximing''s heart sank.
"Elder Meng has passed?! When did it happen?"
"Last night," she replied quietly, "He didn''t know his limits and died after only three months of secluding himself to attempt a breakthrough."
Li Ximing immediately released her shoulders andforted her.
"My condolences..."
Meng Zhuoyun chuckled softly and asked tenderly, "What? You don''t want to do it today?"
Li Ximing murmured, "It''s a pity for Elder Meng... s, life and death are like this; there''s nothing we can do. He lived for over 190 years, longer than many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Not many can live to two hundred years old..."
As Meng Zhuoyun listened to his endless rambling, she could not help but find it rather amusing. Tears filled her eyes as she leaned in and kissed him, biting his lower lip.
Li Ximing tasted saltiness on his lips, realizing it was her sadness. He tried to console her, but she finally stopped pretending, her tears flowing freely as she cried out loud, "Are you going to do it or not?"
He looked at her in confusion, then pulled her into his embrace as she broke downpletely.
"Think about how many can live to two hundred years old..." he repeated with a long sigh.
Meng Zhuoyun cried andughed through her whirlwind of emotions. After a long moment, she finally let out a soft sigh.
1. Referring to Li Yuanxiu, Li Yuanjiao''s big brother who is dead. ?
Chapter 494: Luken (I)
Chapter 494: Luken (I)
Li Yuanjiao rode the wind along the northern foothills of Mount Dali, the mountains and rivers passing swiftly beneath him. Spirit mist poured out of the Profound Patterned Bottle, shrouding him as he flew onward with his hands sped behind his back, his expression calm andposed.
Xijun should be able to manage it... Although the old man is stubborn, he is aging and in poor health. A little tact might coax him out.
Li Yuanjiao''s face darkened. He had always felt dissatisfied with Li Xuanxuan''s neglect of his own health.
He really likes dragging things out...
Li Yuanjiao suddenly recalled a moment from his youth when his mother, Mu Yalu, had sat with him alone in the yard. She was still young then, with her flowing silky hair draping over her shoulders.
She always told him gently¡ª"Your father... is a very boring man. He loves only one thing in this life¡ªthe Li Family. Even Xiu''er barely made it to the list. Li Xuanxuan doesn''t even love himself, maybe he''s even disappointed in himself. He never takes care of himself and looks down on himself, thinking that his life is probably worth less than a few pieces of Spirit Stones."
At the time, Li Yuanjiao still did not understand what she meant, but now, witnessing his father''s state, the truth finally dawned upon him.
Among all the members of the Li Family, he only looks down on himself. After the old ancestor''s death, he has lost all interest in living. He keeps drawing talismans day and night, longing for death yet afraid to embrace it.
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Li Yuanjiao felt a pang in his heart, but yet could not bring himself to say those words out loud.
Before his mother drew her final breath, she refused to look at Li Xuanxuan. He never shed a tear for her either. Li Yuanjiao stood between them at the time, feeling a mix of both sadness and anger.
"Forget it," he mumbled.
Not wanting to dwell on it further, he pushed his thoughts aside and continued flying through the mountains.
Soon enough, he spotted two brown deer demons flying toward him, their smooth, delicate fur glistening in the light. They stood together and spoke earnestly, "Greetings, Exalted Immortal!"
These two deer demons were bothte-stage Qi Cultivators, bowing so low that their heads were nearly buried in the clouds. They dared not look directly at him, only ncing nervously at his Qingche Sword.
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, and the deer demon on the left exined hurriedly, "I serve the demon general. The general has specially prepared a banquet and would like to invite the Exalted Immortal to join us!"
Their politeness caused Li Yuanjiao to grow suspicious. He quietly tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword. Although the White Banyan Fox was a guarantor, he was not certain of the deer demon''s strength. If they harbored ill intentions, a peaceful resolution could be difficult.
He had not brought the mirror with him this time, but fortunately, the Qingche Sword retained a sword intent within it, so dispatching a deer demon would not be a problem.
Since I''ve asked the White Banyan Fox to introduce me, they shouldn''t ambush me. If they do, I''ll have no choice but to use my sword intent.
When he rode the wind closer, Li Yuanjiao noticed that both sides were lined with demons bowing their heads in respect. Most were deer species, their fur simr in color and perfectly symmetrical, having fully adopted the ways of the human race.
As he rode along, he spotted three tables set up beneath a massive white banyan tree. The White Banyan Fox loungedfortably on the table at the front, munching on a spirit peach.
Next to him stood a middle-aged man with brown hair and ck eyes. His long hair cascaded past his shoulders, over arge shield that he carried on his back. Li Yuanjiao sensed that he was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator and guessed that he was the demon general.
The tables were filled with an array of peaches, apricots, fruit wine, and fresh flowers. As soon as Li Yuanjiaonded, the middle-aged deer demon approached him with a polite greeting.
"Luken of Mount Dali greets fellow Daoist," he said.
Luken had a small face, round eyes, and a rare yellowish-brown hair color¡ªremnants from his transformation. His clear eyes held no trace of bloodlust or cruelty.
"Li Yuanjiao of Qingdu."
Li Yuanjiao observed Luken, noting the clear aura between his eyebrows, which set him apart from the pig demon before. Having a better impression of him, Li Yuanjiao bowed respectfully to the White Banyan Fox.
"Greetings, Senior."
Although he had witnessed the White Banyan Fox''s abilities in the cave, the friendship between the fox and Li Tongya alonepelled him to show respect. Despite his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he remained humble and courteous.
The fox nodded, flipped over, and slid behind the table.
"I''ve taken care of the pig demon''s issue. Since his background wascking, I added a few more Spirit Stones and invited this Daoist friend to join us."
Pointing to the deer demon, it continued, "This is Luken, a kind demon and my friend from the den. You can interact freely with him in the future."
Li Yuanjiao thanked him and quickly retrieved ten Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch to offer to the White Banyan Fox. The fox epted six pieces and tucked them away, reaching for another spirit peach to munch on while saying, "Carry on, both of you; I have some other matter to attend to."
With that, he took off. Luken then turned to Li Yuanjiao and said, "When I was cultivating on the southern foothill, I''d already heard about your esteemed n. Now that I see you, it''s clear you are indeed exceptional."
Li Yuanjiao merely nodded in acknowledgment. Luken then led the others to sit down, producing a jade box.
Presenting it with a smile, he said, "This is the Qianyan Radiant Fruit, a treasured panacea. It''s a gift for you. I''ll be cultivating in the northern foothills from now on and I would appreciate any guidance you might offer..."
Li Yuanjiao opened the jade box to find an orange-red stone bead inside. It had no distinct smell, and its light was faint.
Luken quickly exined, "Don''t be fooled by its unassuming appearance, fellow Daoist! This fruit is highly beneficial for cultivators practicing earth and stone techniques. It can aid in cultivation and breakthroughs, and it has many miraculous effects when used to craft dharma artifacts. If consumed, it can also stop bleeding and prolong lives."
Li Yuanjiao shook his head slightly and replied, "Fellow Daoist, you must have been cultivating for quite some time to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. It''s quite rare to find any earth and stone cultivators in Yue State, aside from those in the Profound Peak Gate. This treasured panacea... it''s not particrly useful to me as I also have a Wanglin Blossom at home, which is also quite well-known... It can also be used to prolong lives."
Luken''s expression fell slightly as he lowered his head. He rummaged through his sleeves and pulled out tworge deer antlers that resembled small trees rather than twigs.
He said warmly, "I didn''t mean to present such a meager gift! These antlers were shed when I reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. They''re substantial enough to be made into weapons or dozens of Qi Cultivation Realm dharma artifacts."
Though Luken had kept these antlers all this time with the intention of crafting them into dharma artifacts for himself, he reluctantly offered them instead.
Li Yuanjiao had no desire to embarrass him. Since the White Banyan Fox had made it clear that the deer was its friend, he had to be courteous toward the deer too and instead asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you know anything about the Blood Sun Fruit?"
"Blood Sun Fruit? That sounds unfamiliar," Luken replied with a slight frown.
However, he visibly rxed when he received the request from Li Yuanjiao.
"While I haven''t heard of that treasured panacea, you''vee to the right person. I''m older and hold some sway among the other demons. I''ll ask around for you¡ªit''s no trouble at all!"
Li Yuanjiao nodded and described the Blood Sun Fruit as outlined in the letter from Li Xizhi, detailing its appearance and characteristics for Luken to note. He then inquired, "How old are you, fellow Daoist?"
Feeling reassured after receiving clear instructions, Luken replied, "I am over five hundred years old. If we count from when I gained intelligence, I''ve been around for more than four hundred years."
"That''s pretty impressive!" Li Yuanjiao responded.
Chapter 495: Luken (II)
Chapter 495: Luken (II)
Although Luken was over five hundred years old, he still appeared middle-aged and in his prime, suggesting a lifespan of around a thousand years¡ªsomething many would envy.
Luken sighed and said, "Fellow Daoist, you''re correct. Despite our long lifespans, few of us live to see a full life. Many without backing are captured or killed early on, and even those with backgrounds are often treated asmodities with clear price tags."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in understanding, thinking to himself, It seems that most of these demon generals are quite aware of their circumstances, yet they remain powerless to change their situation.
Luken smiled and continued politely, "When I was still uncivilized, I cultivated alongside other deers in the Mushroom Forest in. Azure Pond Sect had just been established at that time, and the Yuan Family had only been based there for a few decades. When the Yuan Familyter destroyed the Mushroom Forest Demon Den, I moved to Mount Dali.
"I had a close friend in the Dali Demon Den, and he had kept me safe for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, he failed to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm and perished. After that, I was released to be a demon general, and I''ve held that position for several decades now."
Though this deer demon had lived for a long time, he spent most of his time cultivating in the forest. He did not seem to be a cunning person and was rather pleasant to talk to.
Li Yuanjiao cupped his fist and remarked, "It seems like you have quite a strong background in the demon den, fellow Daoist."
Luken shook his head and quickly replied, "Nothing like that! Forgive me for saying this, fellow Daoist, but the sword immortal of your esteemed n also served Azure Pond... did the sect take care of him? It''s the same with the demon den but even more ruthless. If I hadn''t requested to leave the den, I would have been eaten sooner orter."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in understanding. His interest was piqued after hearing that Luken was five hundred years old.
"Fellow Daoist, do you also know about... the war four hundred years ago?" he asked carefully.
"Of course I do! It was a significant event. My old friends died one after another, and now there are only a few who know of it."
Luken nodded, looking at Li Yuanjiao''s expectant gaze, then continued, "The Golden Feather Sect and Azure Chi Gate surrounded Li Jiangqun and killed him; the sun and moon darkened and the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators formed a formation to block the supreme void. The Azure Chi Devil Gate had been established for five hundred years, but this battle drained its strength and shook its foundation."
Li Yuanjiao frowned and asked, "Wasn''t it the three sects and seven gates?"
"Three sects and seven gates..?"
Luken was taken aback before saying, "Of course not! Yue Cultivating Sect and Snow Ji Gate were never involved... Profound Peak Gate and Changxiao Gate weren''t established untilter. Apart from Lingyu Gate on Li Jiangqun''s side, only the Golden Feather Sect and Azure Chi Devil Gate joined forces with Hongxue, Lichi, and Wuzhu Gates."
"Please borate, fellow Daoist!" Li Yuanjiao urged.
Luken nodded and continued, "It was an intense battle. The Golden Feather Sect and the Devil Gate were better off. Most of the Daoist Masters from Hongxue, Lichi, and Wuzhu Gates were killed by Daoist Master Donghua... One of the Daoist Masters from Wuzhu Gate managed to escape thousands of li to the Eastern Sea, but he still vomited blood and died in the end, which was great for the Eastern Sea cultivators."[1]
"The surviving Daoist Master of Hongxue Gate obtained the immortal sword of Daoist Master Donghua, but he also died on the way back. Since then, the immortal sword has been missing, and the cultivators of Jiangnan and Jiangbei have searched for it everywhere. Imaginations roamed."
Luken then lowered his voice and whispered apprehensively, "Although Daoist Master Donghua is dead, he managed to wipe out the three Dao lineages single-handedly. Those from Azure Pond Sects and Golden Feather Sects lived in fear for a hundred years... He was truly a genius!"
Li Yuanjiao processed the information and asked softly, "But... Why did they have to kill Li Jiangqun?"
Luken shook his head, confusion etched on his face as he replied, "No one knows. Li Jiangqun cultivated on theke by himself, and The Golden Feather Sect and the Devil Gate would even asionally seek his help. Daoist Master Donghua had always assisted them... He was praised for his contributions but then the sects suddenly turned hostile overnight! They wanted him dead no matter what!"
The deer demon sighed.
"The thoughts of Purple Mansion and Golden Core Relm cultivators are beyond the understanding of others. Just like this devil gue... Jiangnan''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivators only watched without intervening. Who knows what their true intentions are?"
Li Yuanjiao nodded, considering this. He then asked casually, "What dharma artifact did Daoist Master Donghua use?"
"What else could it be?" Luken smiled before answering, "A sword, of course..."
"Just one sword...?" Li Yuanjiao asked again.
"Only that one sword," Luken confirmed with a nod.
"One that could kill a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator and dispel his divine abilities. It caused leaves to fall from Mount Dali like rain and raised the water level of Moongaze Lake by three chi. I was still at the Qi Cultivator back then but I remember everything vividly," Luken said, gazing off into the distance.
Luken paused, seemingly lost in his own memories.
"Daoist Master Donghua had already reached the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm, yet he died overnight. For three nights, no moon was sighted in the region; the sky was as ck as ink. I couldn''t cultivate for those three whole nights. I hid in the cave, gripped by only fear."
No moon...
Li Yuanjiao felt a sense of relief mixed with regret as he remarked, "This phenomenon showed that he must have been close to achieving the Golden Core Realm."
Although that was what he said, he pondered inwardly to himself, Daoist Master Donghua had only a sword... So the immortal mirror isn''t Lu Jiangqun''s dharma artifact! If it belongs to the Moonlight Origin Mansion... who else could it belong to if not Li Jiangqun?
After a few more absent-minded exchanges with Luken, Li Yuanjiao reminded, "Fellow Daoist, about the Blood Sun Fruit¡ªplease help me locate it. If you find one, my family will reward you generously!"
"Rest assured..." Luken replied readily.
Li Yuanjiao nodded then added, "Please do your best then. My family needs more than one, so don''t worry."
Luken understood his implication and nodded repeatedly. With that, Li Yuanjiao departed on the wind.
As he flew away on a cloud of mist, Luken sighed with relief and returned to his seat. He nced at his bewildered subordinates and waved his hand.
"You''re all dismissed!"
The lesser demons bid farewell. Luken eyed the untouched fruit wine that Li Yuanjiao had left behind, poured it back into his jade cup, and took a sip. Just then, the White Banyan Fox approached on demonic wind andnded gracefully before him.
"Greetings, young master!" Luken said, bowing hurriedly.
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The White Banyan Fox shook his head indifferently.
"I''m no longer a young master. Since my adoptive father died, neither of us has any backing... We''re just lingering here..."
Luken replied in a hushed tone, "As long as you break through to Foundation Establishment Realm, you''ll earn the surname of the fox n and return to the demon den once again. Don''t underestimate yourself..."
The White Banyan Fox did not respond to Luken''s remarks but insteady down under the tree with its legs propped on the table, and changed the subject.
"How do you find Li Yuanjiao?"
Luken pondered for a moment before answering, "I''ve seen many demons, but I rarely interact with humans. This one reminds me of a serpent dragon¡ªunwise to offend... and being targeted would be even more troublesome. It''s best to stay on good terms with him."
The White Banyan Fox flicked its tail and replied, "Fortunately, you don''t eat people and with my favor, he won''t trouble you... Once I go into seclusion, just take care of yourself and cooperate more."
Luken nodded as the White Banyan Fox yawned and murmured, "My cultivation has improved rapidly over the past ten years. I can choose a day to enter seclusion soon... It would be great if I could break through. If I fail, you should just join the Li Family as long as your spirit remains intact..."
With that, the fox dozed off, leaving Luken to sit at the table alone, sipping the fruit wine and lost in his own thoughts.
1. Recap: Daoist Master Donghua is Li Jiangqun''s title. ?
Chapter 496: Generation Of Cheng and Ming (I)
Chapter 496: Generation Of Cheng and Ming (I)
Mount Qingdu had been here for nearly ten years now. The earth vein had shifted, and three small peaks had emerged on either side, varying in height. The tallest of these mountains rose about a hundred ren, reaching halfway up the main Qingdu Peak, while the shortest stood at fifty to sixty ren. Many houses had been constructed on these slopes. [1]
The highest secondary peak was Talisman Peak which was reserved all year round for Li Xuanxuan, along with several apprentices that were practicing the Talisman Dao.
As for the lower peaks, they were upied by the brothers from the minor sect of the Li Family¡ªLi Chengchu and Li Chengyou.
By now, those two brothers had sessfully condensed the Jade Capital Chakra. They had been working alongside Li Xicheng to manage family affairs and were considered reliable.
Xicheng conducts himself well... The two brothers have been raised in Qingdu Cave Dwelling since childhood as well; they are both loyal and dependable.
Li Yuanjiao rode the wind andnded back at Mount Qingdu. The cave entrance atop the mountain was brightly lit, and guarded by two men. The stone steps he descended led to a huge cave dwelling.
The former Snake Demon Cave Dwelling was now known as Qingdu Cave Dwelling, having been renovated by the Li Family over the decades. The holes in the walls were neatly arranged, and though the spiritual energy here was not particrly strong, it was extremely spacious and capable of amodating several Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
Supporting Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators was a challenge for many prestigious ns. Thanks to Li Tongya''s foresight in iming this site years ago, the Li Family faces no shortage of space even with an increasing number of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators now.
The fire vein on Mount Wutu has been developed, and Kong Gusun of the Profound Peak Gate is still overseeing it, ensuring its stability. Ximing has started to relocate there... Qinghong is in seclusion again; no wonder it feels so deserted here.
As he was observing the scenery before him, Li Xijun approached on the wind and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Second Uncle."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in response and asked, "When do you n to attempt a breakthrough in seclusion?"
Although Li Xijun had always been dependable when it came to work, he had lingered at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm for some time now, umting his cultivation. Given the majestic aura he now possessed, he seemed ready for a breakthrough.
"Probably within these few days," he replied respectfully.
Li Xijun and Li Yuanjiao wandered around the Qingdu Cave Dwelling for a while when a faint sound suddenly caught their attention.
Li Yuanjiao remarked, "Ahead is..."
"Most of the children of the Cheng and Ming generation are cultivating in this cave dwelling," Li Xijun replied.
It was only at this moment that realization dawned upon Li Yuanjiao.
"More than ten years have passed without us noticing, and the children from the generation of Cheng and Ming have grown up..."
The two of them rode the wind forward and found a group of teenagers gathered in the courtyard, sparring with each other in excitement.
These boys and girls were, of course, the children of the Cheng and Ming generation in the family.
This was the first time Li Yuanjiao had seen this group of children. He gently observed them, concealing his presence. Since these children had yet to reach the Jade Capital Stage, he could easily hide himself without using the power of his Profound Patterned Bottle.
Li Xijun had been in seclusion for several years, dedicating himself to rigorous cultivation with little time to spend with family, so he had only seen the children a few times before. He too performed a hand seal to conceal his presence, then stood among the clouds and watched them.
The youngest among them was only six, while the oldest was about fifteen or sixteen. Their cultivation levels ranged from the first to the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm.
"No wonder Brother Cheng said there''s no one who particrly stands out... Most of these children can only be considered slightly above average."
Li Xicheng, the least talented among the Xi and Yue generation, had already reached the Celestial Whirl Stage at fifteen. Although the generation of Cheng and Ming was flourishing, most of its members in the major sect were promoted from the minor sect. Li Xicheng and a few cultivators of the Xi and Yue generation were yet to have children, leaving no one with extraordinary talent.
Li Xijun''s gaze lingered on the group in the courtyard. While none was particrly outstanding, the oldest boy was tall and spoke with an air of confidence.
With thick eyebrows and sparkling eyes, he held a spear in his hand and stood in the center of the courtyard, managing his younger brothers and sisters, who all seemed to respect him.
Li Xijun observed him closely as he organized the matches among the children, instructed his younger siblings, and helped the injured ones. He found him rather interesting.
Li Yuanjiao, focused intently on the scene below him, noticed the boys and girls chatting together and felt a swell of happiness as he floated down.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
"Brother Liao!"
Li Chengliao, now sixteen, was the oldest among the children. With thick eyebrows, he appeared unremarkable butmanded attention as he stood with a sword in hand. He had just finished training with the other disciples and invited them to sit together.
Once they were seated, Li Chengliao took a central position. One of the younger disciples asked, "Brother Liao, what are you discussing today? Immortal Foundation?"
Li Chengliao replied, "You alle to me for answers, but there are only a few paths to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm in our family. If you want to find out how miraculous it is, you should just cultivate it yourself."
"Big Brother, you''re being unreasonable!"
The girl beside him smiled, her round eyes sparkling and her eyebrows gracefully arched.
"Not many in our family managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. You''re a direct descendant with exceptional talent, capable of seeding in anything you cultivate. We may not be as gifted as you, so we listen for fun... How can we realistically hope to achieve it?" she remarked.
The other boys and girls nodded in agreement glumly. However, a child in the corner piped up, his voice clear and assertive.
"Sister Gong, what you said isn''t necessarily true. My father told me that our great-great-grandfather didn''t break through to Jade Capital Stage until he was over twenty, and he still managed to establish Boundless Ocean! Foundation Establishment isn''t just about talent."
For this group of teenagers, achieving Foundation Establishment was a rare feat, a mark of a great master. The miracle tales of the immortal foundations were passed down through generations, growing more enigmatic with each retelling. Naturally, they all aspired to establish one.
Li Chengliao nodded, adopting the tone of an elder.
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"Chenghui is right! Everyone should cultivate diligently. We''re all disciples of the major sect and have entered Qingdu. Even if we cannot achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm, we must at least be Qi Cultivators at all costs. We cannot disgrace our lineages!"
The disciples responded with murmurs of agreement. Although a few teenagers exchangedpetitive nces, the overall atmosphere among their generation remained harmonious.
Li Chengliao smiled at his brothers and sisters and continued, "I heard our n has a new method called the Pheasant me''s Long March Technique, a Grade Four cultivation manual. After consuming the Long Marching Pheasant me spiritual qi, one would be able to establish an immortal foundation known as Pheasant Li March."
The girl named Li Minggong eagerly asked, "What''s so special about it?"
"How should I know?" Li Chengliao replied, somewhat annoyed. The teenagers erupted intoughter, their eyes filled with longing as they began discussing the technique. Meanwhile, Li Chengyu fell into deep thought.
Standing beside Li Yuanjiao, Li Xijun remarked softly, "Not bad, they all conduct themselves properly... At least they''ve grown up in Qingdu Cave Dwelling and receive teachings every day."
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly. His nephew, who was still standing nearby, added with a touch of regret, "It''s a pity that although these children are far more talented than their parents, they still seem mediocre. Their chances of achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm are slim."
Li Xijun''s words were tactful. However, without encountering any opportunities, these children were unlikely to reach even the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Li Yuanjiao hummed softly, a rare tenderness filling his eyes as he smiled and said, "In the past, my granduncle was also the most mediocre among his three surviving brothers, with only the hope of reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm. Who would have thought he would be so famous in Jiangnan today? As long as one possesses a spiritual orifice, there is always hope."
He paused before remarking, "It''s a pity that the immortal mirror has never favored these children. They can be pirs of support, but never leaders."
Li Xijun lowered his gaze in silence. With a smile, Li Yuanjiao suggested, "Let''s go down and have a look."
1. Ren is an ancient Chinese measurement unit. 1 ren = approximately 1.6 meters. ?
Chapter 497: Generation Of Cheng and Ming (II)
Chapter 497: Generation Of Cheng and Ming (II)
Li Chengliao was busy picking up wooden weapons scattered on the ground when the lively chatter of his brothers and sisters suddenly fell silent. The quietness was so profound that one could hear a pin drop, with only Li Minggong''s nervous voice breaking the stillness.
"Brother Liao... Brother Liao..." she called.
Li Chengliao looked up and saw a young man standing before him, dressed in white with a sword at his back, exuding an extraordinary aura.
The teenager''s eyes immediately sparkled with excitement as he nervously eximed, "Liao''er greets Youngest Uncle!"
Li Xijun was momentarily taken aback, only now realizing that this child was the eldest son of Li Xicheng. He had seen him before, though the boy had not been named at birth. A decade had passed, and he could hardly recognize him.
"Your name is Li Chengliao?" he asked, slightly embarrassed before quickly introducing Li Yuanjiao. In a gentle voice, he said, "Come, Liao''er... Meet your granduncle."
Li Chengliao then noticed a middle-aged man standing beside Li Xijun. He had eyebrows that were close to each other above his sharp eyes and was d in a simple ck robe with a sword at his back.
Granduncle?!
Who else could be referred to as granduncle by Li Xijun so respectfully?
Upon seeing Li Yuanjiao''s attire, Li Chengliao felt a surge of awe and excitement. He kneeled and bowed deeply, trembling slightly.
"Chengliao greets... Granduncle!"
The other teenagers, who had just raised their gazes, lowered their heads again, not daring to make eye contact. They bowed together and said in unison, "Junior greets Granduncle!"
Li Chengliao''s gaze was fanatical, forcing Li Yuanjiao to look away slightly. He raised his palm gently, gesturing for everyone to stand up.
If Granduncle Tongya were here, these kids would be so overjoyed they''d lose their minds!
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Despite his inner thoughts, Li Yuanjiao had always regarded his family members with kindness.
"Which lineage of the major sect are you all from?" he asked gently.
"Li Chengliao, eldest, directly from the second lineage!"
Li Chengliao spoke first, and the girl next to him, Li Minggong, the eldest girl in the group, added respectfully, "Li Minggong, the eldest sister, and granddaughter of Yuanwan from the first lineage."[1]
"Li Chenghui, grandson of Yuanyun from the second lineage."[2]
The twelve children introduced themselves in order of age. Li Yuanjiao nodded, calcting their ages. The most talented, Li Minggong and Li Chengyi, were about the same as Li Xicheng.
He gently encouraged them, "Cultivate diligently. There are many cultivation techniques avable in the n. Aside from a few that require spiritual qi that are too difficult to gather, you can read through them and choose the techniques you wish to practice."
The teenagers responded eagerly.
Li Yuanjiao nced at the weapons scattered on the ground, which were mainly spears and swords, with very few bows.
"You can practice with any weapon you like; you don''t have to limit yourselves to these three. We wish to have people wielding all sorts of different weapons. The n can also acquire specific cultivation techniques for you from the market," he added.
"Have any of you ever killed anyone? Have you ever in a demon?" he asked.
When he saw all the children shake their heads, Li Yuanjiao formted a n in his mind. He turned to Li Xijun and said, "Inform Xicheng that there are many Qi Cultivators in the family now. Tell the others not to kill the Embryonic Breathing Realm demons caught in various prefectures and towns... Send them over for the kids to train with."
"Understood," Li Xijun replied with a smile. The generation of Cheng and Ming did not seem scared; instead, they all looked eager for the new experience.
Li Yuanjiao paused before saying, "As for killing people... there will be plenty of opportunities for that in the future. There''s no need to rush into it so early..."
Putting aside the direct descendants of the Li Family who had perished, there were now more than fifty guest cultivators who had died¡ªsome by demonic beast attacks, others at the hands of rogue cultivators and devil cultivators.
Although Jiangnan was calmer than the Eastern Sea, incidents of killing and robbery were still prevalent.
Li Yuanjiao instructed the children on their cultivation. Under Li Xijun''s excited persuasion, he also reluctantly demonstrated the Jing Dragon King to the younger generation.
At first, Li Chengliao and the others cheered, but when the grayish-green serpent dragon bared its fangs and ws, fear gripped them instantly. They dropped their weapons and slumped to the ground with pale faces.
Rejecting Li Xijun''s suggestion to divide his immortal foundation into snakes, shrimps, crabs, and fish to torment the kids from the Cheng and Ming generation, Li Yuanjiao departed with Li Xijun. They flew on clouds and mist, disappearing over the cave dwelling.
The children took a long time to calm down after the two left, but they were now more envious of the power of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
Li Chengliao''s heart raced as he looked at his brothers and sisters beside him, all of them visibly excited.
"Come on, let''s cultivate!" he urged.
Li Yuanjiao, observing Li Xijun''s amused face, could not help but chuckle softly.
"You really are Qinghong''s nephew... Both of you are the same when fooling around! What a handful."
He continued with a fond smile, "When she was a child, she insisted on using a spear to hook peaches, tricking Brother Yun into catching them. The peaches hit Brother Yun, causing him to cry loudly while sheughed joyfully, refusing to stop until Brother Xiu came to scold her."
Li Xijun smiled, clearly seeing the warmth in Li Yuanjiao''s eyes. Since Yuanjiao was talking about Li Xijun''s other elders, he merely listened and refrained frommenting.
After reminiscing for a moment, Li Yuanjiao snapped back to his senses and realized he had lost hisposure. He returned to his usual serious demeanor, but his tone softened as he remarked, "The children are all good and very adorable."
Li Xijun cupped his fist and replied gently, "I''ve spoken with Brother Ming about Uncle Xuanxuan; he''s been wanting to meet you."
"All right, I''ll go and see him now," Li Yuanjiao replied simply.
Li Xijun nodded and left, heading to Mount Wutu first to inform Li Ximing, ensuring that Li Yuanjiao would not walk in on any embarrassing situation.
Li Yuanjiao was fully aware of the situation but chose not to talk about it. Instead, he waited for the right moment before slowly descending onto Mount Wutu.
On Mount Wutu...
Li Ximing had already tidied up the ce and was waiting for his arrival. Once the uncle and nephew were seated, Li Yuanjiao listened as Li Ximing respectfully recounted the events.
He resisted the urge to ask, "Did Xijun teach you that?" and spoke in a deep voice, "That''s not a bad idea... Hengzhu Gate has been established for many years. What did your grandfather say?"
Li Ximing quickly replied, "Xijun asked him, and the old man insisted on finishing the talismans for the next two years before leaving. It will take some time."
"As long as he''s willing to go," Li Yuanjiao said.
He looked Li Ximing up and down before nodding in approval.
"Not bad. You''re almost at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm."
Li Ximing quickly exined, "I could have made a breakthrough, but I feel that I''ve been progressing too quicklytely. I worry that my foundation isn''t stable, so I haven''t attempted to break through yet."
"Hmm."
Li Yuanjiao nodded. Given that Li Ximing had received the teachings from both the Xiao and Li families in his cultivation, Li Yuanjiao believed that he would not make such a simple mistake.
As he nced around the courtyard, he noticed a painting hanging in the corner, mostlypleted. It depicted Li Ximing seated in a white robe, his expression calm and serene.
Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes slightly andmented, "That painting is very lifelike."
Li Ximing nodded awkwardly, prompting Li Yuanjiao to turn to him and ask, "Do you like it?"
Li Ximing was taken aback by the question and replied, "It''s just a painting..."
With a sigh, Li Yuanjiao turned and left, hands sped behind his back.
1. This is the first time Li Yuanwan has been mentioned. He is the child of Li Xuanxuan and one of his concubines. So Li Minggong is Li Changhu''s lineage. ?
2. Li Chenghui is the child of the child of Li Yuanyun and one of his concubines. So he is from Tongya''s lineage. Likewise, Li Chengyou and Li Chengchu are also children of the child of Li Yuanyun with ANOTHER concubine. These children with grandmothers who are concubines are all from minor sect. ?
Chapter 498: Han Shizhen (I)
Chapter 498: Han Shizhen (I)
Li Yuanjiao had been cultivating on Mount Qingdu for more than half a year now, and though his cultivation had improved, he was still far from breaking through to the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. After all, the Foundation Establishment Realm was unlike the Qi Cultivation Realm; it wasmon for breakthroughs to take decades.
"Father still hasn''t set off... He always worries so much and insists on making sure everything is well before he''s willing to leave," Li Yuanjiao murmured to himself with a soft sigh.
Li Xuanxuan has been preparing for more than half a year, yet still has not departed. Li Xijun did not rush him and just waited patiently instead. After all, collecting cold water was not urgent, and pushing too hard on the matter might rouse suspicion.
With Li Qinghong in seclusion and no one else guarding the family, Li Yuanjiao could not afford to immerse himself too deeply in his cultivation. He would asionally emerge and practice his spells and swordsmanship.
While reading a sword technique manual, he saw Li Wushao descending from the sky, riding the wind and all d in ck.
After Li Wushao had gratefully received the Clear Cloud Elk Fruit from Li Yuanjiao, he consumed it before resuming his cultivation. Two dark shadows had already appeared underneath his ck robe. Likely, within a year or so, the two hooks would eventually grow out.
"Family Head, two peoplended in front of the mountain. They say they''re from the Han Family of Dongliu Ind," Li Wushao reported.
Li Yuanjiao was slightly taken aback as he asked, "The Han Family of Dongliu...?"
He had heard of the Han Family before. The Foundation Establishment Realm demon creatures the Li Family used in their rituals now were often captured around Dongliu Ind. Li Yuanjiao had also spent some time on the ind before.
The Han Family of Dongliu was an old n, simr to the Yuan Family. They had many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and established a strong presence in the Eastern Sea.
Knowing their reputation, Li Yuanjiao felt it appropriate to receive them personally. He smoothened his clothes and flew out of the cave dwelling.
In the courtyard stood two figures, both Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. The leader was a young cultivator with an unassuming appearance and simply dressed, while behind him stood a tall, broad-shouldered man.
Li Xijun apanied the young man, smiling and chatting with him amiably. They seemed to be having a pleasant time.
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Upon seeing the tough-looking man, Li Yuanjiao quickly understood the situation. He stepped forward, cupping his fist as he introduced himself.
"Li Yuanjiao of Qingdu greets you, fellow Daoist."
The young man''s eyes flicked over Li Yuanjiao''s face as he responded, "Ah, my apologies for not noticing. I am Han Shizhen of Dongliu, the young master of the Han Family. Greetings, fellow Daoist!"
Li Yuanjiao nodded in acknowledgment and invited them to sit. Han Shizhen smiled warmly and spoke politely.
"A few days ago, my n uncle fell seriously ill, and my n brother visited your esteemed family to seek medicine but offended your family in the process. I havee today specifically to apologize. I brought a few small gifts, which I hope you will ept."
He then gestured to the tough-looking man and exined, "My n brother has always had a bit of a temper. He had spoken rudely due to the urgency of a life-or-death situation... I hope you can forgive him."
It turned out that the tough-looking man was the same Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator who hade to request medicine a few days ago. Back then, his rudeness and arrogance had triggered Li Qinghong.
Now, however, he hung his head and apologized repeatedly.
Since both parties were from prominent ns, they would not hold a grudge over such a minor incident. Li Yuanjiao waved it off, saying simply, "No need to apologize. I understand that you were eager to obtain the medicine. It''s no problem."
Han Shizhen then handed over a jade box. Li Yuanjiao gestured for Li Xijun to ept it and then asked, "If I may ask, how''s that elder from your esteemed family...?"
"Ah..."
Han Shizhen shook his head slightly and continued, "He didn''t make it. Despite taking many life-extending herbs, his injuries were too severe. In the end, his immortal foundation copsed, and he passed on."
Li Yuanjiao, seeing that the two men were not dressed in white mourning attire, had assumed their elder man had managed to recover and was even ready to offer his congrattions.
Realizing his mistake, he quickly apologized.
"My condolences..."
"It''s alright. Though my n uncle passed, he brought back treasures that are of far greater value to our family than a single Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. In a way, it was a good thing!" Han Shizhen replied with a soft smile.
Li Yuanjiao and his nephew paused momentarily at this unexpected statement. Sensing their difort, Han Shizhen quickly exined, not wanting to make a negative impression on them.
"This is a custom in our Eastern Sea, which may be a little different from those here on the maind... I apologize if I have caused any difort!" he exined hastily.
Li Yuanjiao nodded, understanding that Han Shizhen would not have traveled all this way just to apologize. He waited patiently for his guests to reveal the real purpose of their visit.
Sure enough, after the brief exchange of pleasantries, Han Shizhen got to the point, asking, "How many Wanglin Blossoms does your esteemed family produce each year?"
So, that''s what this is about!
Li Yuanjiao immediately grasped the situation. Realizing he held the upper hand in this discussion, he rxed slightly and answered in a steady tone, "It blooms once every three years, yielding fourteen flowers each time."
"Perfect!" Han Shizhen nodded happily then asked, "How much do you sell this flower for on the maind?"
Li Yuanjiao had already guessed where this conversation was headed and replied calmly, "The price has risen in recent years¡ªaround two Spirit Stones per flower."
"Ah!"
Upon hearing this, Han Shizhen, who had just lifted his jade cup, ced it back down heavily without even tasting a sip of the tea.
"That price is far too low, fellow Daoist! We are talking about a life-saving item here!" he remarked regretfully.
He leaned in, advising, "The maind is peaceful and prosperous, with no major cmities to speak of. The rogue cultivators may be ignorant, but surely you and I, who belong to prestigious ns, know better. That so-called devil gue is nothing but a farce!"
Han Shizhen continued, "It''s just a way for the three sects and seven gates to deal with the inted price of blood qi by the sects in the Eastern Sect! How can something as precious as Wanglin Blossom be sold in such a bright and peacefulnd?"
Bright and peaceful...
Li Yuanjiao''s lips twitched at the description but his attention was quickly drawn to Han Shizhen''s words. He mused softly, "A way to deal with inted prices..."
Han Shizhen sighed deeply.
"Exactly! In recent years, the demand from overseas demons for sustenance has surged, driving up the prices of blood qi, resentment qi, souls, spirit, and water. The Eastern Sea cultivators barely have enough to use themselves, how could we possibly afford to export these resources to the maind?
"So the three sects and seven gates loosened their control over the seaports, allowing rogue cultivators from overseas to enter. They then orchestrated the so-called devil gue¡ªusing their high-level devil cultivators to ughter mortals and rogue cultivators alike. This allowed them to eliminate opposition, consolidate their power, and still reap their rewards."
As Han Shizhen spoke animatedly, he discreetly watched for any changes in Li Yuanjiao''s expression. Li Yuanjiao simply sipped his tea and nodded along, listening carefully.
"In this way, the sects feast, the ns sip the soup, and they maintain the moral high ground. I''ve heard that such righteousness is highly valued on the maind..." Han Shizhen chuckled before adding with a yful grin, "Your esteemed family must have consumed quite a few devil cultivators over the years, right? I hear everyone earned a lot; even an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator was worth more than ten Spirit Stones... We''re truly envious!"
"We''ve indeed killed a few devil cultivators," Li Yuanjiao replied with a small smile.
Han Shizhen nced at Li Xijun, noting that the young man was also nodding and smiling, looking even more natural than Li Yuanjiao.
This confirmed Han Shizhen''s suspicions.
The Li Family must have some serious backing in Azure Pond. Li Yuanjiao is difficult to read, but Li Xijun is young and clearly knows more than he lets on.
With renewed enthusiasm, Han Shizhen continued, "That''s exactly what I mean! The spiritual energy in your region is concentrated in those immortal mountains, while the rest of thend is filled with mortals... How many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators could there possibly be? How many are truly fighting to the death? You should really consider exporting these Wanglin Blossoms to the Eastern Sea!"
Chapter 499: Han Shizhen (II)
Chapter 499: Han Shizhen (II)
Li Yuanjiao nodded, following Han Shizhen''s line of thought. He asked calmly, "And how do you propose we divide the profits?"
Han Shizhen grinned.
"Now we''re talking! Ten Spirit Stones per flower... I take seventy, and you get thirty!"
Li Yuanjiao and Li Xijun were both stunned and shocked at the notion of reselling the flowers at five times its original price. Li Yuanjiao remained silent, but Li Xijun immediately protested, "Senior, that''s far too greedy!"
Han Shizhen shook his head confidently and said, "You can certainly try selling it yourself, but if word gets out today, your esteemed family could be attacked and destroyed tomorrow. The Eastern Sea doesn''t deal in pleasantries or negotiations!"
"My family takes on the risk of selling this spirit item, drawing the attention of every covetous eye. I wouldn''t dare to be involved if my family didn''t have some standing in the Eastern Sea!"
Li Yuanjiao, who had been to the Eastern Sea and was already calcting the risks, quickly countered his offer.
"Fifty-fifty split."
"Sixty-forty; that''s the most I can offer. I don''t like haggling¡ªwhatever we decide will be finalized," Han Shizhen replied firmly.
Li Yuanjiao nodded and conceded, "Fine, but I have a condition."
Han Shizhen looked at him intently before saying, "Go ahead, fellow Daoist."
Li Yuanjiao remained calm as he exined, "I want forty percent of the proceeds from the sale of Wanglin Blossoms. You can''t pay me four Spirit Stones and then resell these flowers at an inted price."
Han Shizhen was momentarily stunned as if Li Yuanjiao had read his mind. Laughing to cover his embarrassment, he said, "All right, all right! Fellow Daoist, you don''t seem like a typical maind cultivator... Your thinking is more like ours in the Eastern Sea!"
They discussed the details for a while longer, eventually agreeing on the quantity for the next year.
"Remember, these flowers must not hear crying¡ªif they do, they will wither. They also must note into contact with gold or jade," Li Yuanjiao reminded.
Han Shizhen nodded, indicating that he understood, and after exchanging some polite words, he asked abruptly, "By the way... is your sister, Li Qinghong, married?"
By now, Li Yuanjiao had gotten used to Han Shizhen''s straightforwardness, and answered bluntly, "My little sister follows a unique cultivation path, and she is not able to marry. I hope you understand."
"I apologize for my rudeness," Han Shizhen replied calmly, nodding slightly.
Li Yuanjiao took a sip of tea and lowered his voice to ask, "Fellow Daoist Han... Are there any prominent maind ns setting up branches in the Eastern Sea?"
During his visit to the Eastern Sea, Li Yuanjiao had tried searching for such ns. However, given the dominance of the three sects and seven gates, these ns could not openly establish themselves overseas, and likely operated under different names.
Now that Han Shizhen, a knowledgeable local, was here, it was the perfect opportunity to ask.
"Of course there are," Han Shizhen responded with a casual shrug.
"But not many. Most are Purple Mansion Realm immortal ns. Even if ordinary ns have enough Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, they rarely manage to secure a foothold overseas... At most, they only have a presence in the market."
He continued, "The Eastern Sea is quite different from the maind. You can''t grow Spirit Paddies on the inds, and danger lurks everywhere. The markets are tightly controlled by the three sects and seven gates. Once a n establishes power overseas, they''re no longer affiliated with the sects or gates. The three sects and seven gates aren''t foolish¡ªthey wouldn''t let youe back."
Han Shizhen nced at Li Yuanjiao and shook his head gently.
"Although there are some leeways and the three sects and seven gates aren''t overly strict, the benefits of doing such are minimal. Many ns keep a branch overseas as a precaution, but very few actually invest the effort to manage it carefully."
Li Yuanjiao nodded thoughtfully as he gathered this information from Han Shizhen. After answering all his questions, Han Shizhen bid farewell and left with hispanion.
Li Yuanjiao escorted them out of the territory and returned to the mountain with a satisfied smile.
Li Xijun congratted him and remarked, "With this additional ie, our family will have a surplus of close to twenty Spirit Stones annually! Managing the family affairs will be much more convenient now."
"Yes!" Li Yuanjiao agreed, nodding approvingly. Then, with a more serious tone, he added, "That bit about the devil gue... It''s quite intriguing. It seems to reflect the views of the overseas ns on the matter. We should keep it in mind."
"True. Even though the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in the maind collude with each other, they''re not entirely unified. The devil gue is being driven by Azure Pond, but there are many factions at y, each with its own agenda," Li Xijun replied with a nod.
The two continued their discussion for a while longer. Then Li Xijun suddenly said, "Granduncle is finally almost done with drawing his talismans..."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in understanding and instructed, "I''ll need you to take care of Granduncle''s matters. Once you''vepleted your breakthrough, you can set off."
"Yes, Second Uncle, don''t worry about it!" Li Xijun responded readily before heading off to cultivate in seclusion in Qingdu Cave Dwelling.
Left alone in the courtyard, Li Yuanjiao sipped his tea and reflected solemnly to himself, Qinghong will soon emerge from her seclusion... and Kongheng is now as powerful as a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Those two will only be gone for less than half a year, so nothing should go wrong...
He sat for a few moments, gently setting down the jade cup before making up his mind.
Although it''s only half a year, I should apany them with the spirit mist to be safe. We have yet to identify any exceptional talent among the generation of Cheng and Ming. Xijun is the bridge between the older and younger generations... he must be protected at all costs.
n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
With his decision now made, he called Li Wushao over, gave him a few instructions, and entrusted him with the task of looking after the family. He then pulled out the sword manual and began reading again, awaiting the moment when Li Xijun and Li Xuanxuan were ready to set off.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
After leaving Mount Qingdu, Han Shizhen and hispanions headed north. The tough-looking man behind him was the first to speak up.
"Young Master, it seems like the Li Family is interested in establishing a foothold overseas."
Han Shizhen nodded, replying softly, "It''s hardly surprising. The Li Family has backings in Azure Pond and can easily ess the Eastern Sea... It''s only natural they''d think of this. Just think about how many forces in the Eastern Sea are from the maind!"
He continued, "With the Wanyu Sword Gate, Pure Dao Gate, and Crimson Rock Ind battling over the Green Pine Temple Ruins, it''s a good time to venture into the sea. If I were Li Yuanjiao, I''d also be thinking about the same thing."
The burly man nodded in agreement but expressed some concern, "I just hope his family is sensible enough not to settle too close to us... We''ve built a friendship, but we don''t want that to turn sour."
Han Shizhen shook his head, answering decisively, "Absolutely not. Li Yuanjiao strikes me as a cautious and discreet man. If his family chooses to establish themselves there, they''ll find a remote, sparsely popted ind. They''d rather endure hardship and remain hidden than risk exposure."
The man sighed and remarked, "This poor and deste ce... I wonder when our family will be able to secure a foothold on the maind."
"Once our ancestor reaches the Purple Mansion Realm!" Han Shizhen replied with a confident smile.
"It''s not impossible... The maind is peaceful and prosperous, with the three sects maintaining order. Who wouldn''t envy that? Look at Tang Yuanwu and Chang Xiaozi¡ªthey came from overseas, and now they''ve joined the Seven Gates. Maybe someday the Dongliu Gate will be added, and our Han Family will rise."
Han Shizhen added, "As for the Li Family, they''re a local power. It''s wise to maintain good rtions with them. If our family ever manages to establish itself onshore, we''ll need the support of these ns... And if our ancestor fails to break through, we can at least call upon a few Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to help guard the ind."
"Yes, Young Master! You are truly farsighted," the man praised him respectfully.
Han Shizhen ignored the ttery, his thoughts elsewhere.
"The situation with the Green Pine Temple Ruins is growing moreplicated... I just hope the three sects don''t intervene. It would be best if the Wanyu Sword Gate, Pure Dao Gate, and Crimson Rock Ind¡ªthe three Purple Mansion Realm forces¡ªcontinue to sh with one another. It would make life much easier for us."
Chapter 500: Arrival of News (I)
Chapter 500: Arrival of News (I)
Qingdu Cave Dwelling.
The tightly shut stone door slowly creaked open as Li Qinghong stepped out, her aura steady and strong. The once-vivid lightning that had surrounded her was now more subdued, with only faint traces of electricity flickering at the edges of her hair and robes.
During her seclusion, Li Qinghong had managed to stabilize her cultivation. The dazzling brilliance that had marked her recent breakthrough had dimmed, making it harder to immediately discern her immortal foundation.
Li Yuanjiao had already informed her that he would apany Li Xuanxuan and Li Xijun to the Hengzhu Dao Gate in Hengdong Prefecture with the protection of the profound spirit mist, leaving Li Qinghong to oversee matters at home.
She flew for a while before descending gracefully, her jade boots lightly touching down on the ground as she rode on purple lightning. In the central hall, Li Xicheng was busy at his desk, surrounded by two piles of letters.
As soon as Li Qinghong entered, the people in the hall immediately kneeled in respect. Li Xicheng also quickly stood and greeted her respectfully.
"Auntie, you''ve emerged from seclusion already! The thunder altar is already under construction. We are sixty percent through the process and should be able toplete it within a year."
"Good," Li Qinghong replied kindly. Her immortal foundation, the Profound Thunderpool, had the potential to channel thunder and draw down lightning, but its effectiveness had yet to be proven. She had therefore ordered the construction of a high tform as a testing ground for her abilities.
The altar was aplex endeavor, requiring engraved array formations, spirit items, and the crafting of thirty-six hexagonal bronze pieces. Even for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, it was no small task.
Fortunately, the Li Family had ample manpower. Li Qinghong only needed to engrave the necessary array formations while Li Xicheng took care of the rest.
Li Xicheng retrieved two small letters from the table and said, "The Jade Court Guards from Xu State and Zhao State have sent news for the family. Please review them, Auntie."
With a wave of her slender hand, the letters unfolded before Li Qinghong.
The first was from Zhao State. It reported that Chu Yi, the Li Fire Spear, had traveled north across Zhao State, where he eliminated three Jie noble families, razed six temples of various sizes, and managed to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm despite being pursued. He then retreated to a peak in Luoxia, where he continued his cultivation.
Li Qinghong was stunned by the news. For most Foundation Establishment cultivators, breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm required painstaking preparation. One needed to find an ideal location to enter seclusion, gather numerous spirit items to create array formations and wait for the right alignment of heaven and earth''s spirit energies with one''s immortal foundation.
Even after such meticulous nning, sess demanded years of seclusion with the protection of powerful formations and potent elixirs.
Chu Yi''s breakthrough seems almost effortless... He has ascended to the Purple Mansion Realm after just a few months of seclusion. The ease with which he aplished this was astonishing¡ªit is virtually unheard of!
He has only taken about... only ten years to reach the Purple Mansion Realm... To break through so quickly... He must be the reincarnation of a Golden Core Realm cultivator!
Chu Yi''s swift ascension from Foundation Establishment to the Purple Mansion made it almost certain to the world that he was the reincarnation of a Golden Core Realm cultivator.
The three Jie nobles and the six temples he destroyed were mere pawns and ignorantmoners who had no understanding of the true situation, pushed forward by Buddhist cultivators.
"Ten years... yes, that''s only doable for a former Golden Core Realm cultivator," Li Qinghong murmured quietly with a small frown.
However, the letter offered no details about Chu Yi''s immortal foundation or his divine abilities, likely because such information was impossible to uncover. Li Qinghong could not help but feel a twinge of disappointment.
Mount Luoxia and Jiangnan rarely have any contact. Now that Chu Yi has entered the mountain, he must be reiming his Golden Core''s Fruition Attainment and is unlikely to return.
n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
As for the ns in Yufu Prefecture that had been destroyed and the forces that had been eradicated, no one paid them much mind. Li Qinghong quickly scanned through the letter, memorized the key points, and then turned her attention to the next one.
This one reported that a group of devil cultivators had appeared in the barren mountains near the great river in the north, upying several small hills. Initially, this seemed inconsequential. If not for a rogue cultivator who had escaped from the area, the Li Family might not have even known about it.
The rogue cultivator shared that most of the devil cultivators were not particrly strong, except for one that wielded a blood-colored mirror. Additional details were appended at the end of the letter.
Li Qinghong''s eyes narrowed as she wondered aloud, "A blood mirror? Zhang Huaide?!"
Li Xicheng nodded and replied, "ording to the rogue cultivator''s description, that seems to be him!"
During the Devil gue, a group of devil cultivators, including Zhang Huaide and Qiu Ji, hade from the west. They had killed Tian Youdao, injured Li Xuanxuan and Xu Gongming before they fled.
Zhang Huaide, who seemed to have powerful connections, had escaped unscathed, using his blood mirror artifact and an escape spell.
Li Qinghong did not particrly care about Zhang Huaide. Qiu Ji was the one who had killed Li Yuanyun, her younger brother, and nearly killed Li Xuanxuan. Her hatred for him ran deep.
"How strong is he now?" she asked in a low voice.
"It''s said that he has reached the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. All of the devil cultivators are at the Qi Cultivation Realm, with most of them in the middle orte stages," Li Xicheng replied, his expression tense.
While he was trying to think of a way to dissuade his aunt, Li Qinghong''s expression had already turned pensive.
Why does Zhang Huaide have to return just when Big Brother and half of the family''s fighting force are away?
Despite the hatred in her heart, Li Qinghong knew this was likely not a coincidence. She took a deep breath andposed herself before instructing softly, "This is too strange. Send someone to investigate."
"Understood!" Li Xicheng replied promptly, relieved by her calmness.
Li Qinghong added, "Find out their exact location. I''ll have Wushao go and investigate further. Zhang Huaide has an unusual backing¡ªhe could be a spy for the three sects. There''s something odd about him lingering here."
Li Xicheng responded respectfully. Before leaving on the wind, Li Qinghong repeated her instructions.
"Be sure to get to the bottom of this! It''s too much of a coincidence for that rogue cultivator toe to our doorstep at this time... Do not trust his story too easily."
Li Xicheng nodded, watching her depart before returning to his seat. He opened the ount book and nced at Dou Yi, who was standing at the side of the room. In a low voice, he remarked, "181 jin... Is this all the Ni Water Cold Iron we''ve collected this year?"
Along with his gray hair, Dou Yi now looked a lot more mature and reliable than he was in the past.
"Yes, Young Master. This is all of it," he replied with a nod.
"Alright," Li Xicheng said, waving his hand to dismiss him kindly.
As Dou Yi left, Chen Mufeng stepped forward. Li Xicheng remarked softly, "This amount of Ni Water Cold Iron doesn''t match the figures reported from the ore vein by An Zheyan. Send the Jade Court Guards to investigate this matter discreetly. If they uncover anything, report directly to me first."
Chen Mufeng, a trusted ally for many years, replied in a deep voice, "This seems like a foolish method to embezzle resources. The ore vein reserves can be checked easily. If the quantity mined doesn''t match the reported figures, it''s clear there''s a discrepancy... How could they hide it?"
The Li Family possessed the Earthly Court Detection Technique, which made tracking the changes in ore veins straightforward. Most ns like the Xiao Family relied heavily on this method as it allowed them to entrust their ore veins to their subordinate families for mining, leaving no room for deceit.
Li Xicheng shook his head, exining, "The official report says the ore vein produced 181 jin, but I secretly sent people to check the warehouse¡ªit actually holds 190 jin of iron, so no one has taken anything yet."
"They must be testing me since I''m new at managing the family. If I made any drastic moves, they''d simply recount the stock and correct the amount to 190 jin. In that case, at worst, I could only use them of carelessness, and they''d likely scapegoat a minor sect cultivator from ounting while they were trying to throw me off."
After having assisted Li Yuanping for nearly a decade, Li Xicheng has gained a great deal of experience. Though his capabilities remained to be seen, he understood the covert politics at y.
He thought for a moment before adding, "You can investigate first and report back once you have news. Auntie''s matter is more pressing, so we can dy this for now."
Chapter 501: Arrival of News (II)
Chapter 501: Arrival of News (II)
Chen Mufeng epted his task and left. Li Xicheng stood in contemtion for a moment before riding the wind up to Mount Qingdu. After making a big around, he gentlynded in an unassuming courtyard.
He knocked on the door and entered. Inside, Li Yuanping was seated on a stone bench, carefully recording something with a brush in his hand.
Though he appeared fine, his hand trembled slightly, and he was struggling to hold the brush steadily.
As soon as Li Xicheng stepped forward, Li Yuanping nced up and asked, "How do you n to handle it?"
Li Xicheng hesitated for a moment before replying, "About that... a minor sect cultivator was used as a scapegoat. I''ll have the minor sect investigate this. Many of the brothers listen to me, so it shouldn''t be too difficult to uncover who altered the numbers in the report..."
Li Yuanping shook his head and spoke softly, "But you will only find yet another scapegoat. I will teach you one final lesson..."
"This whole incident is a test¡ªto gauge your preferences and to probe your limits. All the forces under yourmand share in the benefits and silently acquiesce to support this. That minor sect cultivator was just a convenient scapegoat for them... If you rely on them for the investigation, you''ll expose your closeness and trust toward the branch families. Whether you rely on the Jade Court Guards, the Dou Family, or peak offices, your inclinations be clear."
He continued in a low voice, "The greatest danger here is that the interests of the cultivators under yourmand align against yours. On the surface, the minor sect appears as the victim, but in reality, it isplicit. The only truly innocent party is the cultivator that had been made a scapegoat."
Li Xicheng listened intently, only to see Li Yuanping smile coldly before saying, "All you need to do is send someone to the warehouse and quietly adjust the 190 jin to match the reported 181 jin. Once the numbers align, this coalition of opportunists will copse under their own weight!"
Li Xicheng was stunned, but then realization dawned upon him. He nodded eagerly, a smile spreading across his face as he eximed in delight, "That''s brilliant!"
He nodded repeatedly, murmuring to himself, "That will really stir the pot! The minor sect will panic and they''ll start suspecting each other, wondering which faction turned the false report into reality. Inevitably, they''ll start pointing fingers and tear each other apart. All I''ll need to do is sit back and arbitrate¡ªsuppress the strong, support the weak, and maintain the bnce of power..."
Li Yuanping did not respond, continuing to write in silence. With his n set, Li Xicheng bowed deeply and took his leave.
Li Yuanping was counting the days as he meticulously updated the Family History. After a short while, he noticed Li Qinghong arrive, her form subtly crackling with electricity as she sat down beside him gracefully. She pursed her vermillion lips and simply sat in silence.
The two siblings faced each other quietly, with the early spring breeze gently sweeping through the courtyard. Li Yuanping had never spent much time with this elder sister as they had never grown up together.
After a long pause, he finally broke the silence bymenting, "There''s indeed something suspicious about Zhang Huaide. Please be patient, Big Sister... You mustn''t act impulsively."
Li Qinghong merely replied softly, "I know. I''ve been patient for so many years... I''m just afraid that if I keep holding back, I''ll eventually forget about this resentment."
Li Yuanping snorted, setting his brush down.
"WelI... Isn''t that why we record history?"
Li Qinghong nced at the sheets in front of him.
"Xicheng may not be the strongest, but he''s trying his best. I''ve seen how much he''s changed over the past ten years. He''s apletely different person now," she remarked.
Li Yuanping nodded in agreement.
"I noticed."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Qinghong had spent several days practicing with her spear on the mountain. Before she could uncover anything about the devil cultivators in the north, a deer demon arrived from the south andnded at the foot of the mountain politely. He waited for An Zheyan and the others to inform the family about his arrival first before entering the mountain.
The deer demon was looking for Li Yuanjiao. Since he was away from home, Li Qinghong was the one to receive him.
The deer demon deer kneeled on all fours before her and, in a human voice, said, "Exalted Immortal, my master has discovered a clue regarding the Blood Sun Fruit. Please follow me to the mountain to discuss the details with him."
"Very well," Li Qinghong replied with a smile and a nod. She summoned Li Wushao from theke, instructing him to take care of the household before following the deer demon into the mountain.
Li Yuanjiao had mentioned to Li Qinghong about the Foundation Establishment Realm deer demon named Luken before. Hence, she knew that he had picked a mountain that was not particrly tall and set up a demon den on its northern slope. The foot of the mountain was t, so many deer had been relocated there.
When Li Qinghong and the lesser demon reached the cave, Luken himself came out to greet them. He had brown hair, ck eyes, and was slightly taken aback by the sight of her.
"You are...?"
"I am Li Qinghong. My brother, Li Yuanjiao, is currently away from home, so I''vee in his ce," she replied with a smile.
The deer demon blinked and nodded.
"I am Luken. It''s a pleasure to meet you, fellow Daoist."
Without beating around the bush further, Luken cupped his fist and exined, "Your brother asked me to track down a treasured panacea known as Blood Sun Fruit. Now that I''ve found a lead, I wanted to inform your esteemed family."
Li Qinghong nodded.
"I''ve received multiple reports. A fellow Daoist from the southern slope once wrote to me, iming to have seen a tiger demon from Mount Quanwu Demon Den possessing this fruit. The description in the letter matches what we know of the Blood Sun Fruit... I believe it to be genuine."
Li Qinghong simply nodded in agreement without saying a word.
Luken shook his sleeves and continued, "That tiger demon holds some sway within the Quanwu Demon Den, though it isn''t an important figure and is often bullied."
"Better to act sooner thanter. Why don''t we ride the wind to Mount Quanwu and seize the panacea before circumstances change?" he suggested.
"Let''s seize the spirit fruit first, and if possible, kill the demon. If we manage to y it, all the better. If not, no harm is done. If we can''t take it by force, we''ll try to buy it," Luken spoke matter-of-factly.
Li Qinghong had no choice but to nod in agreement. After all, dealing with demon creatures was different; they acted openly and without pretense.
"What is the cultivation level of this tiger demon?" she asked.
"Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm," Luken replied, noticing the concern on her face.
"But don''t worry, fairy. He''s just a demon general without a proper Dao lineage. He hasn''t learned the spells of the human race and relies solely on his raw demon power," he exined.
He smiled reassuringly and continued, "Give it a month, and you''ll see for yourself."
Li Qinghong nodded. Sensing the profound thunder swirling in the thunder pool within her Qihai acupoint, she felt confident in her own strength.
"Lead the way, please," she responded politely.
With that, she followed Luken, and the two soared up into the clouds.
As they flew on, Luken seemed to be mulling over her age and sighed, "The legacy of your esteemed family is truly remarkable... The cultivation speed of you and your elder brother is astonishing, evenpared to other ns. It makes us old-timers, who''ve been cultivating for hundreds of years, feel ashamed."
Li Qinghong offered a few modest words in return. Luken then said, "Which Dao foundation have you cultivated? Since we''ll be fighting together soon, we should get to know each other''s abilities first."
He activated his mana, and a pair ofrge antlers appeared on his head. His voice grew deeper and more resonant while the demonic wind he summoned was fresh and filled with renewed vitality.
"Mine is Lingyun Wood. It allows me to heal, control qi, nurture spirit nts, cultivate earth veins, and even transform into nts..." he exined.
As soon as he revealed his immortal foundation, his speed on the wind quickened significantly.
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Li Qinghong nodded lightly, and a crackle of purple lightning appeared beneath her feet. Her speed increased even further, her jade armor shing with violet sparks as she replied softly, "Profound Thunderpool, I can wield thunder and lightning to eliminate demons and suppress evil."
Chapter 502: Obtaining The Fruit (I)
Chapter 502: Obtaining The Fruit (I)
Although Li Yuanjiao had mentioned this deer demon to her before, this was the first time Li Qinghong had met the deer demon. Not wanting to reveal too much to him, she kept the exnation of her abilities short.
Realization dawned upon Luken as he said solemnly, "Ah, so Fairy is the Li Family''s thunder cultivator... Please excuse my rudeness!"
His attitude became much more respectful as he politely said, "Your Profound Thunderpool is the nemesis of the tiger demon''s Hurricane Ghost Yin... It is as good as caught already."
Li Qinghong slowed down to keep pace with the deer demon.
"Is it really that easy to deal with the Quanwu Demon Den...?"
Luken nodded and exined, "Yue State is unlike the southern border and the Eastern Sea. Mount Quanwu or Quanwu Demon Den is called Mount Zuiliu by the demonic creatures in the southern border."[1]
He then added slowly, "Quanwu was originally the residence of a Purple Mansion Realm demon king. This demon was once the mount of a Golden Core Realm cultivator and had some influence over the southern border and Jiangnan. He lived in Quanwu... Whenever a demon den was destroyed in the southern border, the demon king of Quanwu would entice the suffering demons to Quanwu with pills and elixirs."
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"At that time, Dongli Immortal Sect was still around. Yue State had four sects and twelve gates. If a disciple needed to find a mount, kill a demon, practice spells, or refine a dharma artifact, they would go to Mount Quanwu. Later, the demon king disappeared, and the mountain gradually declined after being reced by Dali Demon Den. Nevertheless, there are still demons seeking refuge on Mount Quanwu from time to time... It became the ce where the demons that escaped from the southern border stayed."
After hearing this exnation, Li Qinghong was not surprised one bit and merely remarked, "Ah... so they''re demons that have escaped from the southern border. I guess The Azure Pond Sect is leaving them be because this is what they want."
"Yes," Luken smiled, feeling a little emotional as he said, "That ce is also a treasure trove. The Azure Pond Sect deliberately kept it, waiting for these demons to escape and take out the treasures. No matter how they are circted, they will eventually fall into the hands of the three sects, seven gates, and ns."
"Besides, if they catch an important demon, they can use it as a bargaining chip to threaten the southern border. At worst, they can make it into a spirit beast... There are just too many benefits, so they have been secretly supporting it," he added.
Li Qinghong frowned and whispered, "Then doesn''t that mean that ce is the backyard of the Azure Pond Sect? If we kill the tiger demon, I guess we''ll have to take care of things within the sect too..."
Luken was momentarily taken aback, then waved his hand dismissively.
"No worries, I''ve already investigated and made sure that this tiger demon is a nobody. Otherwise, I wouldn''t dare bring you there, Fairy..."
He then grumbled to himself inwardly, How could I not investigate first? Your Li Family has backing in Azure Pond Sect, so there''s a way to resolve matters even if you offend someone. I''m just an insignificant deer demon; I can''t afford to make enemies!
Li Qinghong considered the implications for a moment and thought, If we can rob it, we won''t kill it. It''s best to avoid more trouble...
Both of them began discussing significant events from recent years and found the conversation to be enlightening. Ahead of them, Mount Quanwu soon came into view.
While Mount Quanwu was not particrly tall, it was vast and imposing, located near the Mushroom Forest in, as well as the Cangwu and Helin Prefectures. Surrounded by arge in, the mountains stood out prominently, concealing many demons within their depths and making them hard to detect.
As the deer demon led her into the mountain, they wound around until they reached an inconspicuous peak. As soon as he descended, he was surprised.
The cave entrance was wide open, and it was dark and foreboding inside. After scanning with his spiritual sense, Luken said awkwardly, "Fairy, this tiger demon is quite cautious. He''s likely moved to a new cave and isn''t here anymore!"
"Huh...?"
Li Qinghong was surprised too.
However, Luken rolled his sleeves up and said, "Don''t worry; just watch me."
Hended, listened attentively, and conversed with the surrounding trees for a while. After walking more than ten li, they spotted a mountain persimmon tree hidden among the vines with yellow fruits hanging from its branches.
Luken performed a hand seal, and almost instantly, the fruits jumped off from the branches one by one and chatted for a moment. With a smile, the deer demon turned to Li Qinghong and said, "Fairy, the tiger demon has gone north."
"Good!" Li Qinghong praised, her gaze shifting to the yellow mountain persimmon''s branches and leaves. A rustling noise ensued.
Luken listened for a moment and then ryed the message to her with a smile, "She said she is thirty-seven years away from gaining sentience and begs Fairy to spare her life and a hundred years of hard work..."
Li Qinghong had indeed considered bringing the spirit mountain persimmon back with her. Hearing Luken''s message, she paused in surprise.
"I can''t believe it has intelligence! Fellow Daoist, you canmunicate with nts and trees?! How many spirit trees like this are there?"
"Not many..." Luken replied, but continued regretfully in a soft voice, "What good is gaining sentience? She needs thirty-seven years to be a Qi Cultivation Realm spirit root. After that, she will require hundreds of years to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm... Having to live under the mercy of others for so long with spiritual awareness will just increase her suffering."
Li Qinghong observed the tree for a while, realizing an Embryonic Breathing Realm spirit root was indeed not that useful to the Li Familypared to one that would be of the Qi Cultivation Realm. With that in mind, she said softly, "Then I''lle back in thirty-seven years..."
With a wave of her hand, a formation te flew out of her pouch andnded in front of the tree. A small Embryonic Breathing illusory formation sprang up around it. She flipped her hand and inserted three Spirit Stones, enough to sustain it for many years.
Luken stroked his beard, watching from the side. Li Qinghong smiled and added, "With the current situation, I may not be able to wait for thirty-seven years. By that time, my Li family''s descendants wille."
"You''re being too modest, Fairy. You are blessed and have the potential to reach the Purple Mansion Realm," Lukenmented, shaking his head.
The two of them continued riding the wind together, conversing until they soon arrived in front of a small hill. Luken nced at it and whispered, "Yes, it should be here."
Li Qinghong addressed him directly, "How do you n to handle this, fellow Daoist?"
"I''m afraid the tiger demon will escape, and it will be difficult to pursue it. Although we are swift in riding the wind, the tiger demon''s Hurricane Ghost Yin is equally fast. Why don''t I go in first and engage it? Once the monster has exhausted most of its strength, you can intervene and catch it off guard, Fairy. Your thunder technique is powerful and we''ll surely seed," he suggested.
Li Qinghong was not entirely convinced by his proposal. She sighed inwardly, If only I still had Kong Tingyun''s Emerald Jade te formation artifact with me... It would make things so much easier!
However, Luken had already flown forward, wielding an ax that shimmered with turquoise light. In an instant, it grew to the size of a house and came crashing down onto the low hill, shaking it with a thunderous rumble. Rubble cascaded down instantly, and a thickyer of dust filled the air.
I knew it, these demonsck legacies and rely solely on their brute strength and dharma artifacts which is quite simplistic... This technique seems to have been developed by himself, and it''s not half bad.
Luken had indeed crafted the ax in his hand himself. He had likely read a few low-grade manuals on refining artifacts and dedicated years to mastering it. However, it still could notpare to the Duruo Spear she wielded.
Awoooooooooo...!
A tiger roar echoed in the air, and a powerful man with a bare upper body rose from the mountain. ck mist swirled around him as he bellowed in a deep voice, "Demon general! We are never enemies; whye to my den and provoke me?!"
Luken, who had been kind and respectful in Li Qinghong''s presence, now revealed his arrogant side and sneered.
"Hand over the treasured panacea you possess and save ourselves from a fight! If you refuse toply, I''ll have to kill you and take it myself!"
1. Mount Zuiliu can be interpreted in two ways¡ªMount Flowing Sin or Mount Refuge ?
Chapter 503: Obtaining The Fruit (II)
Chapter 503: Obtaining The Fruit (II)
Luken, being in the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm himself, exuded a powerful aura that was rather imposing.
The tiger demon looked at him with doubt, frowning as he replied, "I do not wish to provoke nor fight you."
The tiger demon was unwilling to even fight. As his immortal foundation surged, gusts of yin wind enveloped him, and with the aid of the ck mist, he shot away like an arrow.
Luken was taken aback; the tiger demons he had encountered in the demon den were typically reckless and short-tempered. He had not expected one to be so cautious.
Stunned for a moment, he jumped up and cursed, "Cowardly tiger!"
He swung the ax in his hand, unleashing a few ax qi the size of horse carriages at the tiger demon, who nimbly evaded the attacks and continued to flee.
"Gosh... I knew this would happen!" Li Qinghong sighed loudly as she shook her head helplessly, seeing the scenario she had feared finally unfold before her very eyes.
Despite Luken''s advanced age, he had spent years in the demon den, sheltered by others while focusing on his cultivation. He believed the tiger demon would be impulsive enough to fight to the death over a few provocations.
How could he possibly be a reckless creature and still manage to survive in this mountain? Luken''s decisiveness and confidence were even more surprising to me.
She hooked her slender finger, causing her jade-like digits to glow with purple light as she drew a talisman in the air. Thunder suddenly rumbled and ck smoke billowed as her thunder talisman was gradually condensed.
Purple Talisman Origin Light Secret Technique!
Li Qinghong focused intently on her spell, stepping onto a bolt of lightning as she chased after the tiger demon at an incredible speed, the thunder talisman in her hand ready to be unleashed.
Swoosh!
The tiger demon swayed in the wind, distancing himself and avoiding Luken''s attack. Intent on escaping, he had not anticipated that a beautiful female cultivator would fly toward him, wielding a surge of thunderlight. The purple glow surrounding her radiated great power.
"Fairy... Ah...!"
ck qi surged in the tiger demon''s hands as he shouted in confusion, not daring to take a direct hit. He attempted to put distance between himself and his pursuers, trying to ward off the attacks by pushing ck qi forward.
Suddenly, lightning shed, igniting his hands and leaving his face scorched and bloodied, nearly revealing his true form.
Shit! This deer demon specifically brought a thunder cultivator to target me!
As a cultivator who practiced the Hurricane Ghost Yin, he was inherently weak against attacks involving light and thunder.
His apprehension deepened when he saw the long spear in Li Qinghong''s hand, its white jade-like appearance indicated it was no ordinary weapon.
His courage faltered.
Wielding a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact and top-tier spell; she must belong to one of the three sects!
As ck tiger fur began sprouting on his face and his body began to swell, he cried out miserably, "I am willing to hand over the treasure!"
Luken frowned but continued swinging his ax. Li Qinghong''s thunder spear transformed into a shadow, circling him and cutting off his escape route as she urged, "Hand over the treasured panacea quickly, and you shall be spared!"
The tiger demon reacted swiftly. With one hand, he produced a jade box while using the other to channel ck qi to resist Luken''s ax, retreating several steps in the process.
Li Qinghongunched the jade box into the air with her Duruo Spear and soared up into the sky to retrieve it. She scanned it with her spiritual sense, confirming that it indeed contained the Blood Sun Fruit. With a quick flick of her wrist, she stored it away just as the tiger demon surged a li away, propelled by the wind.
Li Qinghong propelled herself forward amidst purple light, still chasing after him. As the ck qi flowed in the tiger demon''s palms, he transformed into his original form.
The ck tiger loomed asrge as a hill, surrounded by a strong wind and swirling ck qi. Its bloodshot eyes glinted with malevolence, and dark yin energy clung to it. Roaring, it unleashed sound waves that shocked both Luken and Li Qinghong.
"Since it is the Exalted Immortal who demands the treasured panacea, you can have it as I cannot afford to offend you. However..."
The tiger demon adopted a desperate demeanor, growling fiercely as he continued, "You two will be sorry If you continue to push me further!"
Although this tiger demon had a higher cultivation level than Li Qinghong, he had witnessed the strength of a disciple from the three sects. Fearful of Li Qinghong, he seemed restless, gritting his teeth as he attempted to intimidate Luken.
What a tiger demon...
Li Qinghong nced at Luken beside her and noticed his fear. Previously, he had been the one who suggested killing the tiger demon, but now, he was the first to show fear.
She could not help but snicker inwardly to herself in amusement.
Most demon cultivators are indeed bullies... The tiger demon is more domineering in a low-key manner but bes fearful when pushed.
Li Qinghong raised an eyebrow and assured calmly, "Don''t be nervous, fellow Daoist. I simply want to ask where you have obtained this spirit fruit."
The ck tiger visibly rxed, and he became noticeably more polite in speech as he asked, "Which sect do you represent, Fairy?"
Li Qinghongughed and replied ambiguously, "I came from the north."
Realization dawned upon the tiger demon as he breathed a sigh of relief.
So, she''s a mountain master from the Yue Cultivating Sect. No wonder she spared my life... I guess she wouldn''t have wasted her breath talking to me if she were from the devil gate...
He promptly replied respectfully, "Mountain Master, I came from the southern border. I obtained this fruit from the Wu State on the southern border..."
He then transformed into his human form and told the story of how he had obtained the fruit in detail. It was just an ordinary treasure hunting story that shed no useful information.
Li Qinghong frowned and said, "Since you are familiar with the southern border, do keep an eye out for news of this treasure in the future... Maybe I wille again in a few years. If you obtain more of this fruit, you''ll be rewarded."
The tiger demon was overjoyed. Li Qinghong did not want to make an enemy, so she was not going toin. This treasured panacea was just a tonic for him, saving him ten years of cultivation. He had no one to rely on in Yue State, and it was rare for a disciple from the upper sect to befriend him.
"I understand. Well, this fruit shall be a gift for meeting you," he replied politely.
Li Qinghong nced at him and felt that this tiger demon behaved more like a human rather than a demon.
"How thoughtful, fellow Daoist..." shemented with an arched brow.
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The tiger demon lowered his head and did not answer. Li Qinghong was naturally delighted to be able to obtain the treasure by simply just demanding it. She waved her hand happily and said, "Let''s go!"
Luken nodded and followed, and the two rode out on the wind. Li Qinghong got the treasure without much effort and was in a good mood.
Luken stroked his beard and found the entire situation to be strange.
Is this how prominent ns work? The human race is truly strange in their ways... To think that they even turn enemies into friends!
Although he was old, he had been cultivating in the cave for many years and every seclusionsted at least a decade. Not only that, but the interactions between demons were usually straightforward, hence they were not sophisticated creatures.
Now that he had been out of the cave as a demon general for only more than ten years, he had even less time to deal with people. Combined with the childish mistakes he had made before, regret welled into his heart.
No wonder... No wonder this tiger demon can cultivate in Mount Quanwu for so long... It could survive all this time probably because he is tactful... There is indeed a lot I can learn from these two individuals!
At this moment, he suddenly became much more enthusiastic. Li Qinghong did not understand the sudden shift in the deer demon''s demeanor, but she continued chatting with him.
She took the Blood Sun Fruit out from the jade box and carefully checked it several times. Upon verifying that it was of good quality and she did not make a mistake, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
The two flew toward Mount Qingdu, and the deer demon finally left, albeit reluctantly. Li Qinghongnded in front of the mountain and counted the days.
Only more than a month had passed.
Chapter 504: Hengzhu Dao (I)
Chapter 504: Hengzhu Dao (I)
Li Xijun and Kongheng rode the wind southward, traversing through Mushroom Forest in with Li Xuanxuan flying closely behind them.
Suddenly, Li Xijun recalled something and pulled Kongheng aside. "Master Monk, since you''re using Thunderpool as an opportunity to cultivate, why didn''t you mention it earlier?" he whispered.
"I have heard that Jiangnan was dangerous so I truly didn''t dare to take the risk as my cultivation technique is of a high grade. While your esteemed family suspects I harbor ill intentions, I''m also afraid you might rob me and kill me..." Kongheng admitted, rubbing his smooth bald head.
He opened his narrow eyes and let out a sigh before continuing, "Allow me to rify, fellow Daoist... The cultivation method I practice requires the nine thunders of heaven and earth. However, the fruition attainment of this cultivation technique is still suspended between heaven and earth, and the thunders I require are difficult to locate. Only when a thunder cultivator breaks through can one of the nine thunders be born during the establishment of the immortal foundation.
"Before the elder of my temple passed away, he spent a considerable time deducing the future and finally learned that one of these thunders would be born in Jiangnan within the next hundred years. He advised me toe here and also predicted a cmity that could help hone my mind..."
He then lowered his gaze, adding softly, "Fellow Daoist Yuanjiao always doubts me, but to be honest... My Liao River Temple is even worse off than your esteemed family. After the Abbot''s passing... I''ve felt like a lost dog, with nowhere to turn."
Li Xijun nodded slightly, feeling a sense of alertness rise within him. "How long has it been since the elder of your esteemed temple passed away?" he asked.
"It has been... more than forty years," Kongheng replied.
Li Xijun calcted silently, realizing that this was around the time when Lingyanzi from the Purple Smoke Gate fled to his home, where his ancestor rescued him and their family acquired the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique.
"More than forty years... Jiangnan now has several thunder cultivators. If this is part of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s scheme, it must have beenid down more than forty years ago..."
Although Li Xijun had never seen Lingyanzi, he had read about him in the Family History and knew that Li Tongya was the one who dealt with him back then.
Lingyanzi... could not have deceived the ancestor. This means Lingyanzi might be unaware that he has inadvertently be someone else''s pawn... Purple Smoke Gate... Could this be the scheme of their Daoist Master?
He then asked, "Master Monk, do you know of Thundercloud Temple?"
Kongheng shook his head slightly, indicating that he did not know. Li Xijun contemted this information.
It seems I must find an opportunity to visit the Purple Smoke Gate and speak with Lingyanzi, he resolved silently.
Li Xijun guessed the worst possible scenario and thought to himself, The abbot of the Liao River Temple likely deduced that Lingyanzi and the others would bring this item from Thundercloud Temple, so he sent Kongheng out into the mountains!
As Li Xijun mulled over this silently, they had already passed through Changxiao Gate''s Helin Prefecture. Theynded in the mountains at the other end of the prefecture and took a brief respite.
Li Xijun harnessed the power of his eye technique and noted the swirling snow qi as he surveyed thendscape. He then said softly, "This should be the ce. We just crossed Mount Quanwu, and ahead lies the Helin Mountain Range, where the earth veins converge and several types of water veins described in the Chilling Snow Series meet."
The purpose of this trip was a mix of both truth and deception; on the surface, Li Xijun was here to gather cold water.
Li Xuanxuan wore a gray coat and followed behind with a stern expression.
Kongheng gazed at the beauty of the mountains and rivers before him, eximing, "Jiangnan is indeed rich in water veins!"
Li Xijun nodded in agreement, then turned to Li Xuanxuan and said respectfully,
"Granduncle, you''ve also read the Chilling Snow Series while on the way here. The Helin Mountain Range is vast. We should split up to search for it; we might find it sooner that way."
Li Xuanxuan nodded at the suggestion. Li Xijun then looked at Kongheng and said, "Although the spiritual energy in the Helin Mountain Range isn''t particrly strong, and there are no famous spirit items or demonic creatures, there may still be some roaming devil cultivators. I would appreciate it if Master Monk could keep an eye out for them while my granduncle and I scout the area."
"Sure," Kongheng replied.
Seeing that Li Xijun was acting thoughtfully and methodically, Li Xuanxuan nodded approvingly before choosing a direction to start his search.
After watching him leave, Li Xijun turned to Kongheng, saying, "Master Monk, please keep an eye on my family''s elder while I head to Hengdong Prefecture."
Kongheng nodded in agreement and offered him a few words of advice.
Li Xijun then rode the wind northward, passing through the tworge mountains of the Helin Mountain Range as he made his way to Hengdong Prefecture of the Hengzhu Dao Gate.
As soon as he flew out of Helin Prefecture, he was greeted by a vast in that was peppered with clusters of buildings and pavilions of various sizes. Hengdong Prefecture was arge ce with millions of inhabitants, overseen by Hengzhu Dao Gate for many years, making it one of the most affluent prefectures in Yue State.
After flying for a while and taking in the view of the expansive and fertile fields around him, Li Xijun felt puzzled.
"Hengzhu Dao Gate... has no immortal mountain?" he wondered aloud.
As he was contemting this, a figure approached from the front, gliding effortlessly on a cloud. Dressed in white adorned with gold and red cloud patterns, the person had thin lips andrge eyes below long brow bones that set him apart from typical Jiangnan people.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist... I am Bi Chengjuan from the Hengzhu Dao. May I ask which sect or gate you represent?"
Bi Chengjuan''s deep eyes and sharp nose made it difficult to read his expression. After scrutinizing Li Xijun from head to toe, he quickly deduced that Li Xijun did not belong to any of the three sects or seven gates. However, he chose to phrase his question diplomatically.
"Li Xijun of the Qingdu Li Family. I am a humble cultivator from Moongaze Lake," Li Xijun replied warmly.
Bi Chengjuan''s surprise was evident as he nodded in acknowledgment and said, "Ah, the Li Family... I saw the surprisingly clear aura in your eyes and thought you hailed from a certain Dao lineage in Wu State."
Li Xijun humbly downyed thepliment and Bi Chengjuan continued politely, "Have you traveled far to visit us? What brings you here?"
"I''ve heard that the Hengzhu Immortal Dao possesses the Tranquil Purification Technique, which can eliminate inner demons and resolve mental burdens. I have an elder who is gued by his own inner demons, so I''vee to seek a cure," Li Xijun replied earnestly,
Bi Chengjuan was clearly experienced and was not surprised by such a request.
"I have no issue with helping out another fellow Daoist, but I must rify one point first..."
He paused before continuing in a serious tone, "The Tranquil Purification Technique is not a superior immortal method; it''s only a Grade Five cultivation technique and might not be effective for some inner demons. If you seek a cure, you must prepare for that possibility, fellow Daoist!"
"Of course, I understand that some limitations exist," Li Xijun replied matter-of-factly.
Bi Chengjuan nodded, then apologized for being blunt as he went on to exin, "Over the years, people who were not cured by the spell have med the disciples who performed it. Some even med the Hengzhu Dao... Our Dao has faced criticism over the years so we have no choice but to exercise extra caution."
Seeing Bi Chengjuan''s demeanor, Li Xijun felt more positive about him.
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This Hengzhu Dao is quite different from Azure Pond; it surpasses all the other gates in the northern part of Yue State... That''s truly rare!
After clearing the air, Bi Chengjuan warmed up a lot more, smiling as he asked, "This is your first time visiting Hengzhu Dao, right?"
"That''s correct," Li Xijun replied.
Bi Chengjuan exined, "The Hengzhu Dao has a long history. Over generations, we have been known simply as Hengzhu Dao. However, some busybodiester began categorizing various institutions into sects and gates, which led people to refer to us as Hengzhu Dao Gate. This term gradually became widespread, making it difficult to change."
He looked somewhat frustrated as he continued, "The Daoists from the north all refer to us as a Dao Sect. In truth, it is not so. My Hengzhu Dao cannot bepared to Azure Pond or Golden Feather. Although we all follow the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, Hengzhu Dao follows the path of ancient cultivation!"
Chapter 505: Hengzhu Dao (II)
Chapter 505: Hengzhu Dao (II)
Li Xijun listened attentively as Bi Chengjuan continued exining in detail, "To be honest, the cultivation methods of my Dao are closer to those of the Great Xiukui Temple in the east. Both Hengzhu Dao and Xikui Dao were established many years ago as sub-mansions of the Moonlight Immortal Mansion."
He chuckled lightly and said, "Because of this, the Great Xiukui Temple is also facing the same situation and is frequently referred to as the Xikui Dao Gate. The Daoists there are much more ferocious, they''ll give anyone who referred to them with the wrong name a good beating."
Li Xijun nodded thoughtfully, noting that Bi Chengjuan seemed to care a lot about speeches. He then looked at the faces of those under the rule of Hengzhu and praised, "Your esteemed Dao is indeed quite ancient!"
"Don''t mention it..." Bi Chengjuan replied sadly before changing the subject by asking, "Could you please stay for a few days? I need to return to set up the formation and prepare the necessary pills."
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"Of course... how many Spirit Stones will that be?" Li Xijun replied, cupping his fist.
Bi Chengjuan remained polite, but his price was firm.
"Only fifty Spirit Stones will do," he replied.
Li Xijun felt a twinge of pain at the cost but had no choice but to nod in agreement. He took out twenty-five Spirit Stones from his storage pouch as a deposit before taking to the wind again.
Once outside the Hengzhu''s territory, Li Xijun grew anxious, unsure of how to bring this up to Li Xuanxuan. His granduncle had been in a position of power for a long time, and although he now bore the weight of spiritual turmoil, he still looked intimidating whenever he wore a stern expression on his face.
Uponnding in Helin Mountain Range again, Li Xijun took out the jade pendant and tried locating his granduncle and the monk. However, the distance between them was probably too great so he could not pinpoint his exact location. After circling around, he finally found them.
He saw Li Xuanxuan standing by a small hill, silently casting spells, while Kongheng stood beside him, guarding him. Li Xijun approached and scanned the terrain with the secret technique in the Chilling Snow Series.
He felt a rush of joy and eximed, "So, there is indeed cold water hidden in the water vein underneath here!"
The two performed a series of hand seals and worked together for a while, causing the ground to tremble slightly as a crack as big as a hole the size of a baby''s mouth was created in it. Shimmering blue water surged forth, and Li Xijun quickly took out a jade bottle to collect it.
"It''s Forest Cold Water... capable of nourishing true essence with cold qi," he remarked.
This spirit water of heaven and earth, while not particrly rare, was located at the intersection of the earth veins. Compared to the Heavenly Pure Essence, it hardly measured up to it.
Yet for Li Xijun, it was a treasure¡ªit could be used to refine true essence and practice the ughter Jun Kui Light. He stored it away carefully, feeling his mood improving significantly.
A rare smile also appeared on Li Xuanxuan''s face as he suggested, "I''m lucky to have found it so quickly. It''s only been a day; we can find some more to keep at home..."
Li Xijun apologized first, then got on his knees and said, "I''ve heard that Hengzhu Dao has methods to exorcize demons... Why don''t we go and take a look first, thene back to search for more?"
Li Xuanxuan red at him and shouted, "No! What''s the big deal? I''ll just take two pills before drawing talismans as I usually do... That has always worked!"
Li Xijun gritted his teeth and said firmly, "I have already flown to Hengdong Prefecture and paid the fee earlier. Pleasee with me, Granduncle."
"YOU!"
It was only at this moment that realization dawned upon Li Xuanxuan. He was too stunned to speak for a moment before finally eximing, "I can''t believe you and Ming''er are teaming up against me!"
Li Xijun simply bowed his head and replied, "I was too impulsive... If Granduncle refuses to go, everything will be wasted."
Of course, Li Xuanxuan understood what Li Xijun was trying to say. After a long pause, he finally said, "Don''t do that again!"
He nced at Li Xijun thenunched into a long-winded lecture about his father, Li Yuanyun, then his grandfather, Li Xuanling, and finally recounted how frugal Li Tongya was when he was still alive¡ªwho was too cautious to spend even a single Spirit Stone.
Li Xijun listened silently until he finished speaking before saying, "If Great-grandfather were alive, he wouldn''t want to see you torturing yourself like this."
Li Xuanxuan stopped talking immediately and flew in silence for a while. Finally, he murmured, "I didn''t notice it back then... If only I could go to Zhenhui Temple in my younger brother''s ce..."
He turned his head, his aged face stained with tears.
"I, Li Xuanxuan... I will never say another word!"
The old man covered his face and continuedmenting, "I owe him too much... I owe him too much... If Brother Ling were alive, he would have reached the Foundation Establishment Realm by now, unlike me... I am useless! As a result, your father died right in front of me, and I fled alone! How can I face you?! How can I face him?! It would be better for me to die!"
Li Xijun was moved and tried tofort him, saying, "But our family is doing a lot better now..."
Kongheng, who was standing nearby, had always been an empathetic person. Hearing the old man''s distress, he thought to himself, I always thought Li Xuanxuan was a pedantic and stubborn old man... I never realized there was such a story behind him. Clearly, my cultivation is stillcking...
The three of them rode the wind toward the territory of Hengzhu Dao. Bi Chengjuan quickly approached, sweeping his gaze over the three men before eyeing Kongheng warily. His tone turned somewhat cold as he asked, "Where are you from, Master Monk?"
Confused by his attitude, Kongheng replied, "I used to be a Buddhist cultivator from the north but I''m now a guest cultivator of the Li Family."
"Guest cultivator of the Li Family..?"
Bi Chengjuan''s expression darkened, but fortunately, he did not show hostility immediately. He merely continued coldly, "Ah yes, Moongaze Lake is near the Great River... I supposed it isn''t surprising that the Li Family would take in a few monks."
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Li Xijun quickly rified, "This is Master Monk Kongheng from Liao River Temple. He practiced in Mobei and followed ancient Buddhist cultivation techniques, strictly adhering to the precepts... Please forgive any misunderstandings..."
Bi Chengjuan realized his mistake and his expression finally softened as he sighed and apologized, "I was too impulsive... I''m truly sorry!"
With a mournful face, he continued, "Many years ago, Murong Xia traveled south, wreaking havoc and eating people everywhere... He even killed my eldest sister! My ancestor fought valiantly, rming the Azure Pond Sect to intervene, but in the end, nothing came of it."
Bi Chengjuan gritted his teeth and added, "Two of the three Purple Mansions Realm cultivators from my family were dispatched, yet we were still humiliated!"
Master Kongheng then mumbled quietly, "The Murong Family... They seem to practice the Compassion Dharma Form."
"Compassion my ass!"
Bi Chengjuan appeared to be offended by thatment and seethed with anger, saying hatefully, "That Murong Xia killed my eldest sister! H-He... even allowed her soul to appear and persuade my ancestor... Can you believe such a thing is possible in this world?!"
Li Xijun felt a pang of grievance at this revtion, secretly astonished by the strength of the Murong Family.
Hengzhu Dao''s Purple Mansion Realm cultivator actually endured such humiliation...?
Bi Chengjuan sighed, then apologized again for letting his emotions get the better of him. He took out five shimmering golden pills from his chest pocket and then said softly, "Please prepare yourself, fellow Daoist..."
He then pulled out a jade knife and exined in a dull tone, "These are body pills that correspond to the five acupoints of the mind... It is part of the ancient cultivation method. I''ll cut open your skin and flesh, insert the pills, and then use a secret technique to seal the wounds."
Noticing the surprised expressions on the faces of those around him, he exined, "These pills are engraved with tiny formations. When you enter my Dao''s Tranquil Profound Conversion Formation shortly, they will dissolve naturally and help eliminate your inner demons."
Chapter 506: Xizhi Leaves The Sect (I)
Chapter 506: Xizhi Leaves The Sect (I)
"Come with me, Senior."
Bi Chengjuan nced at Li Xuanxuan, estimating that he was over a hundred years old. He called out to the elder and led the three of them down.
The mountain gate of Hengzhu Dao was underground, with a cliff-like entrance in the prefecture where cultivators came and went. Hengzhu cultivators utilized an ancient form of flying, distinct from the current method of riding on the wind, allowing them greater flexibility in their movements.
The mountain gate of Hengzhu was known as the Blessed Land of Hengzhu, a site that was established by ancient cultivators. Bi Chengjuan did not take the three into the main area but instead led them to a hole in the wall that opened into a small secret chamber.
"It''s going to hurt quite a bit since we''re cutting into your flesh... Please bear with it, Senior," he instructed.
With a jade knife in hand, Bi Chengjuan prepared to make the necessary incisions. Li Xuanxuan, having endured much in his life, was naturally able to withstand the pain. He removed his clothing, allowing Bi Chengjuan to make cuts on his face, chest, and back. The acupoints were sealed to stop the bleeding before inserting a golden pill into each of the wounds.
Li Xuanxuan grunted softly as Bi Chengjuan gently stroked his back. The five cuts, each about the size of a baby''s mouth, slowly closed.
Bi Chengjuan then led him further, opened the secret chamber, and instructed softly, "Senior, please go in and sit cross-legged. Wait for the formation to activate."
Li Xuanxuan nodded and stepped inside obediently.
As the heavy door mmed shut, Bi Chengjuan turned to the two remainingpanions and whispered, "You two should wait here for three days and don''t go out. My people are still upset about what happened in the past... If Master Monk wanders around, it might cause trouble."
Kongheng nodded, watching Bi Chengjuan leave, and then sighed softly.
"Murong... How could he do such a thing?!"
Li Xijun nced at him and replied, "Isn''t he always like that? He is proud of the paradise in his belly and forces you to be grateful after he finishes eating you."
Kongheng fell silent and looked as though he had a stomach full of words to share.
After a long pause, he said, "When I was eight years old, the abbot was good friends with a Buddhist cultivator from Yan State. He used his divine ability and gave me a tour of his belly. I saw a shimmering pool, merits flowing like water, golden sand spreading across the ground, and colored ze forming steps. The lotus flowers were asrge as wheels, in the colors of blue, red, white, and purple, while countless birds and beasts chanted the Buddha¡¯s name, seeking truth. The people were joyous, free from suffering, trouble, disaster, or evil. It was quiet and serene."
The monk appeared lost in thought as he continued, "The Daoist sects regard this as devil cultivation... but I can''t discern right from wrong. The Buddhist cultivators of Zhao State seek the ultimate truth and strive to establish a Buddhist State on Earth, while those of Yan State relieve suffering and create a paradise within themselves. The Buddhist cultivators of Yan State enable thousands to find bliss after death, and those in Zhao State alleviate suffering in life, yet ancient cultivators like me simply continued ringing the bell and preaching in the temple."
"Every time the Yan and Zhao State¡¯s Buddhist cultivators arrived, the people of Liao River flocked to them, leaving thousands of houses empty. Everyone was smiling and happy, while ancient cultivators like me remained in the temple nting vegetables.
"The host said that using divine abilities to confuse and control the people is an unorthodox practice that will prevent one from bing the Revered One. But... I clearly practice Buddhism for the people. As long as the people are happy, I will do it. I can use my divine ability to make unptable steamed buns seem like delicacies and simple clothes appear rich and luxurious, but if I focus solely on whether I can be the Revered One and ignore the people''s needs, how can I be considered a great person?"
"Fellow Daoist, if youe across a mortal in great pain, would you cast a spell to relieve their suffering?" he asked.
Li Xijun frowned and replied, "Of course, I would..."
Kongheng¡¯s usually gentle face betrayed a hint of fear as he murmured, "If there are true paradises within the bellies and Buddhist State on Earth... Why should the people of Liao River be drowned in suffering?"
Li Xijun was taken aback by the sight of Kongheng sweating profusely, his pallor indicating sheer terror, and even his legs were trembling slightly. The golden light that had previously coiled around him dissipated, now reced by swirling rings of colorful light that were emanating from behind his head.
Fearing that Kongheng might suddenly shout, I''ve been enlightened! and transform into a Yan State Buddist cultivator with a paradise in his belly, Li Xijun quickly made a decision.
He struck Kongheng on the back and shouted, "Monk Kongheng!"
Using the Pine Snow True Essence, he sent a wave of cold through Kongheng¡¯s body, causing him to cough up ck blood. The colorful light behind his head vanished as if startled, and his eyes immediately cleared.
The monk closed his eyes and began chanting a sutra shakily. After a long while, he said, "Thank you, fellow Daoist..."
However, after expressing his gratitude, he panted heavily, narrowed his eyes, and murmured, "My Liao River enjoys a bountiful harvest every year, and the people live better than those in Yan and Zhao States... Yet, the rich and the poor remain unhappy. The abbot told us not to be bothered by such matters..."
His expression turned somber, and he no longer showed signs of changing to another Dao lineage. Yet, he could not hide the anguish on his face.
"But how can I not be bothered when the wailing cries of the Liao River shook the heavens?!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Azure Pond Sect, General Affairs Hall.
Li Xizhi soared through the air with colorful lights beneath his feet beforending on the peak of the mountain. As a Qi Cultivator, he was required to undertake a mission every ten years. He had alreadye seven times in thest decade but had yet to find one he wanted.
I won¡¯t have many years left to wait if I still can''t find a suitable one this time.
The Azure Pond Sect did not have many disciples who were truly part of a peak, making it often difficult to encounter fellow cultivators of the same faction in the mountains. Only in the General Affairs Hall could one witness a bustling scene. Stepping inside, Li Xizhi found many cultivators chatting andughing together.
Qingsui Peak was not particrly popr, and since Li Xizhi seldom ventured out, he did not really have friends. He scanned the hall and noticed several bounty hunts that either required targets to be captured or killed.
Although the rewards for such missions were generous, Li Xizhi never epted any. His family was in Moongaze Lake, and he dared not offend anyone.
After skimming through requests rted to ying demons and various missions that required one to travel across the four seas or to the northern and southern borders, he finally spotted a few local missions concerning the search for spirit items in Yue State.
The first one that caught his attention read: Supreme Yin Moonlight... Those who find it will receive thirty great merits and three Essence Gathering Pills...
Heavenly Pure Essence... Those who find it will receive...
A long list of rewards followed.
Li Xizhi sighed as he considered them. Such missions were often impossible to fulfill, so he quickly moved on and found a few entries at the bottom that involved long-term assignments.
"Market in Libu Prefecture... Guard... Gather Qi... Approximately five years."
While others viewed such missions as troublesome and a waste of time, Li Xizhi found them appealing. Overjoyed, he quickly removed the jade pendant hanging at the side of the post.
So what if it takes some time? This is a perfect opportunity to return home! I can receive a talisman, take a pill, and help out a little.
He closely inspected the removed jade pendant, only to discover a name written on the back of it. It turned out it had been hanging for too long without being imed, so it had been assigned to Lingdou Peak.N?v(el)B\\jnn
Chapter 507: Xizhi Leaves The Sect (II)
Chapter 507: Xizhi Leaves The Sect (II)
Lingdou Peak was weaker than Qingsui Peak, with its peak master reaching only the Qi Cultivation Realm. Li Xizhi sighed with regret. He stared at the jade pendant in his hand for a moment before making up his mind.
He took off on a rainbow, guiding the colorful light through the mountains for a while until he soon spotted the low and short Lingdou Peak. Upon arriving at the mountain, he inquired about the peak master, who hurried out to greet him.
"Yu Fuyu greets fellow Daoist."
"I am Li Xizhi of Qingsui Peak."
Yu Fuyu was short and stout. Li Xizhi had heard some rumors about him; he was a cultivator from the Yu Family. However, due to various scandals associated with the family, Yu Fuyu''s branch had long been extinguished, leading him to sever ties with the Yu Family and live a humble life.
"Ah, Li Family of Qingdu... Your reputation precedes you!" Yu Fuyu remarked humbly.
When Li Xizhi exined the purpose of his visit, Yu Fuyu immediately replied, "That''s not a big problem!"
He then took out another jade pendant and handed it to Li Xizhi, who nodded politely and expressed his gratitude. Not wanting to linger any longer, he made his way back to the General Affairs Hall toplete the necessary procedures before returning to Qingsui Peak.
As soon as hended, Yang Xiao''er approached, cradling a swaddled bundle in her arms. Li Xizhi gently embraced her and said softly, "I¡¯ve just epted a mission from general affairs, and will take Huai''er back with me."
Yang Xiao''er held the child close, saying nothing. Li Xizhi felt guilty but said softly, "Huai''er must not remain in the sect, no matter what... He belongs to my Li Family, not to Azure Pond Sect."
Tears welled in Yang Xiao''er¡¯s eyes as she replied, "I understand... but he¡¯s only one year old. Having to leave us fills me with reluctance and worry!"
Despite saying that, Yang Xiao''er would be even more worried about keeping him in Azure Pond Sect. She ced Li Chenghuai into Li Xizhi¡¯s arms, then removed the jade pendant she wore around her neck and tied it around the child.
With that, she finally said, "Please take care of yourself out there, my dear."
Li Xizhi nodded, nting a kiss on her smooth forehead as he whispered, "Take care of yourself in the sect too."
The couple had already nned this long ago. They exchanged a few intimate words before Li Xizhi gathered his belongings and took flight, leaving Yang Xiao''er in a poignant silence.
Soaring through theyers of clouds, Li Xizhi activated a jade token and passed through the Heavenly Essence Dao Spirit Formation. After a brief flight, Simin County came into view.
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Simin was thergest prefecture in Yue State and the foundation of Azure Pond. As Li Xizhi departed from Azure Pond, he felt his spiritual energy wane two or three times. Yet, he flew faster on the rainbow, feeling an exhrating sense of freedom.
"It¡¯s been twenty years... I¡¯m finally out here again..."
The scenery below rushed past him like a blur, and Li Xizhi, eager to reunite with his family, quickened his pace.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Qingdu Peak.
Li Qinghongnded on Qingdu Peak, where Li Wushao was already waiting. The ck-d man bowed and respectfully reported, "I have gone north to investigate. There is indeed a group of devil cultivators stationed in that temple... They seem to be setting up a formation and have been cultivating there for some time. Among them, there are two in thete-stage Qi Cultivation Realm, six in the middle stage, and three in the early stage. They all seem to work well with each other."
Li Wushao paused before adding, "I didn''t want to spook them so I didn¡¯t get too close. I only observed strange ck clouds forming above that ce... It seems like something is going on there."
Li Qinghong nodded, contemting for a moment before saying, "I¡¯ll go and take a look from a distance."
Li Wushao hurriedly followed her as they both rode the wind and took flight, with Li Wushao leading the way.
Unexpectedly, as they exited their territory, a middle-aged man appeared before them, flying at an astonishing speed straight toward them.
Li Qinghong quickly drew her Duruo Spear, eyeing the middle-aged man warily.
"May I ask why you are stopping us, Senior?"
The middle-aged man, dressed in golden robes that were adorned with white cloud patterns, had an unassuming appearance. A sword hung at his waist, and his dharma robe was sovish that Li Qinghong could not gauge his cultivation level at first.
The man nced at Li Wushao, causing him to feel a chill down his spine. He felt as though the man could see through his true form.
Li Qinghong grew vignt and instinctively stepped back. However, the man remained silent and reached out to Li Qinghong without drawing his weapon.
His hand, pale as jade, suddenly loomedrge before them, emanating a vague pulling force that captivated their spiritual senses, making it difficult to look away.
Rumble!
Since Li Qinghong had been on guard and gathering power in her hands, a bolt of purple lightning split the air. Underneath Li Wushao''s ck robe, two shadows silently emerged, their presence barely noticeable.
"A thunder cultivator, huh?" the middle-aged man remarked casually.
He brought his fingers together and instantly dispersed the purple thunderstrike, revealing his cultivation level¡ªsurprisingly, he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment Realm. Even without activating his immortal foundation, Li Qinghong and Li Wushao were already filled with dread.
The middle-aged man¡¯s shimmery golden eyes revealed that he had clearly mastered a perception technique before. Though Li Wushao''s tail hooks were devious, he spotted them right through the shadows. With a swift motion of his golden sleeve, he struck Li Wushao, leaving him pale with shock.
Seizing the opening that Li Wushao had created, Li Qinghong¡¯s eyes filled with a fierce purple light. Her jade armor glowed with crackling purple lightning, and parting her vermillion lips, she spat out a speck of purple light which rapidly expanded to the size of a fist, radiating a brilliant white glow.
Swoosh!
Crackle!
Complex purple lines manifested in the air, unleashing an overwhelming aura of destruction.
The middle-aged man¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and he remarked with a hint of appreciation, "Looks like Li Tongya has a sessor!"
Li Qinghong was slightly puzzled, yet refused to be distracted. She directed the profound thunder toward the man, and quickly pulled away from him with Li Wushao, propelling purple lightning backward for several li.
The middle-aged man in golden robes made no attempt to evade or chase them. Instead, he stared at the thunder talisman before him with keen interest. He finally touched the long sword at his waist, exhaling softly before drawing it from its sheath.
BOOM!!
A brilliant white light erupted in the sky. The thunder roared like an avnche, shaking theke and causing rocks on the nearby mountain to tumble down. The white thunder turned into dense purple lightning, cascading down like a waterfall in a show of power.
CLANG!
A brilliant sword light cleaved the thunder waterfall, splitting it into two easily. The middle-aged man strolled forward leisurely, performing a hand seal.
"Disperse," hemanded with a smile.
The thunder in the sky and the turbulence in theke dissipated like mist. Li Qinghong and the others had already reached the foot of the mountain when the middle-aged man altered the spell in his hand and whispered softly, "Come."
Suddenly, they felt their bodies freeze, the wind around them spiraling out of control. Li Qinghong made their escape with the Blood Escape Technique, halting just a step away from the mountain gate.
The middle-aged man in gold used an escape spell too and effortlessly closed the distance, reaching them in just two strides and fixing his gaze on Li Qinghong.
This is no ordinary peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator... He is likely close to ascending to the Purple Mansion Realm! He must be a direct descendant of one of the three sects... The spells he uses are definitely not of Grade Three or Four... He¡¯s truly a significant figure!
Fei Wangbai, who was defeated in just twenty or thirty moves, shed through Li Qinghong¡¯s mind. She quickly regained herposure and said softly, "Li Qinghong of Qingdu greets Senior... Which sect do you hail from?"
He raised his eyebrows with a smile and replied, "Li Tongya truly taught his junior well! What a thunder talisman! Had I just entered Foundation Establishment Realm and been caught off guard by that move, I might have sustained some serious injuries..."
The middle-aged man regarded Li Qinghong with interest and continued, "As for me? I am Zhang Yun, just a swordsman from Jiangnan. Today, I am here to look after you, and is taking the opportunity to visit the Li Family."[1]
1. Recap: Zhang Yun was a disciple from the Golden Feather Sect who met Li Tongya and rogue cultivators Xu Yangping and his wife in the Snake Demon Cave back then. ?
Chapter 508: Inquiries (I)
Chapter 508: Inquiries (I)
He''s from the Golden Feather Immortal Sect, huh...
Upon hearing that his surname was Zhang and taking in the attire he wore, Li Qinghong immediately understood that Zhang Yun wanted to remain incognito by referring to himself as a swordsman of Jiangnan, so she chose not to expose him.
Zhang Yun...
The name was familiar, andbined with his tone, it immediately brought someone to mind.
When Li Tongya infiltrated the Snake Demon Cave Dwelling back then, he had to share the spoils with a swordsman named Zhang Yun.
Zhang Yun picked the snake demon''s inner core and the Blood Dharma Manual, while Li Tongya received the River Mountain Sutra and the Duruo Spear that she still wielded today.
Li Qinghong deduced that this was likely the same Zhang Yun from years past. Now, seventy or eighty yearster, he was about to reach the Purple Mansion Realm.
This man... is a direct descendant of the three sects!
She cupped her fist and introduced herself.
"Greetings, Senior. I am Li Qinghong. Li Tongya is my grandfather."
"Ah, so you are the descendant of an old friend of mine," Zhang Yun replied, ncing at her while his golden robe fluttered in the wind.
"Your immortal foundation is good. The thunder talisman is decent, too. However, your spear technique is average. As for your escape techniques, spells, and secret arts, theyck substance. They might intimidate prominent ns since they are on par with those from the seven gates. Yet, against the Golden Feather and Azure Pond, they would struggle to prevail."
Li Qinghong nodded in acknowledgment. Zhang Yun studied the two of them, standing with his hands behind his back, and then inquired, "Since you know of my friendship with your elder, why don''t you invite me in?"
n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
After hearing this blunt request, Li Qinghong had no choice but to lead him inside. The Green Ox River Embrace Formation on Qingdu Peak was likely just mere decoration in his presence. If he had intended to harm her, he could have done so long ago.
Zhang Yun seemed oblivious to her concerns, or perhaps he simply did not care. Hended on the mountain, surveying the White Irises that peppered thendscape, and said softly, "Li Tongya... What a pity. When I heard he had broken through to Foundation Establishment Realm, I thought we would eventually have a formal duel! But it seems that chance has passed."
Li Qinghong remained cautious and held her tongue as she walked with Zhang Yun, who continued to muse aloud, "The younger generation taught by Li Tongya is quite impressive, far better than I was at their age. Although my three sons are gifted, theyck discipline since I''m always in long seclusions... They have grown into rather arrogant boys."
Zhang Yun seemed to suddenly realize he had strayed from the topic and quickly added, "But... I came here this time to remind you of one thing..."
"Don''t concern yourself with Zhang Huaide''s affairs or any other incidents urring along the riverbank. I was sent to oversee this matter personally. I consider Li Tongya a friend, which is why I made this trip. Just take care of yourselves," he said.
Li Qinghong thanked him softly, but Zhang Yun suddenly stopped, standing with his hands behind his back as he asked, "The River Mountain Sutra is still in your family''s possession, correct?"
After a brief pause, Li Qinghong replied, "Yes, Senior, that''s correct."
Although Zhang Yun was no longer a young man, he still had a yful demeanor. With a smile, he simplymented, "Great."
Then, his expression shifted to one of curiosity as he asked, "Is the Wanglin Blossom also from your family?"
Li Qinghong was taken aback by the sudden question but quickly understood the implications.
It''s said that the Wanglin Blossoms have been extinct in Jiangnan for hundreds of years. The three sects monitor everything in Jiangnan closely. They must have heard about my family suddenly acquiring one...
"Yes!" she replied respectfully.
Zhang Yun''s demeanor turned serious as he pressed on, "Where did ite from?"
Li Qinghong''s mind raced. Zhang Yun clearly understood the significance of the Wanglin Blossom, which was why he was inquiring about it. Yet, her family knew little about it.
This must be connected to the Wang Family!
Her familycked critical information, and their status was not equal to that of the three sects. If she tried anything funny, it might backfire. Thus, Li Qinghong could only be as vague as possible in her response.
"It was left by a Daoist from the north. My family assisted him, and in gratitude, he gifted us with the spirit root."
Zhang Yun, who appeared somewhat frivolous moments ago, now looked very serious as he asked, "What is their cultivation level and surname?"
Li Qinghong hesitated before replying, "That senior is quite strange. He has a majestic aura, yet you can''t discern his cultivation level. His surname... is Wang!"
She was smart, choosing her words carefully. While Wang Xun treated her as an equal, she respectfully referred to him as a senior. Hence, her description painted the picture of a formidable northerner, prompting a frown from Zhang Yun.
"I had a feeling his surname would be Wang!" he eximed, exhaling deeply as realization struck.
Wang Family of Yinghua Wang! A Golden Core Realm n!
Shocked, he asked in confusion, "That is an immortal n from the north... How can someone from a small n help him?"
"My elder left behind a sword named Qingche, which contains his sword intent. The senior merely wished to take a look at it," Li Qinghong exined softly.
Understanding dawned on Zhang Yun.
"Ah, yes, that''s indeed the only rather interesting thing about your Li Family... Where is the sword?"
"It has been taken by my brother on his trip to the south," she replied.
Zhang Yun could only give up. He nodded, acknowledging the situation then suddenly chuckled softly, saying, "This is your family''s opportunity, but don''t overthink it... Wang Family of Yinghua is most afraid of being tainted by worldly karma. The fact he bestowed this spirit root upon your family means he has already calcted everything and ensured that your paths will not cross again!"
Li Qinghong raised an eyebrow slightly at his words, and Zhang Yun''s clear eyes indicated he had seen through the calctions at y.
She sighed inwardly.
The direct descendants of the Golden Feather Sect are indeed difficult to deal with...
Unbeknownst to her, Zhang Yun felt a pang of regret as he thought to himself, So, it was given by the Wang Family of Yinghua! What a pity. Since the Wanglin Blossom is immensely useful, I intended toe to the Li Family to take this Foundation Establishment Realm spirit root for my own use at the sect... But it seems that I truly can''t take it.
After all, the gift from the Wang Family of Yinghua represented a culmination of cause and effect. If Zhang Yun were to snatch it away after just a few years, the Wang Family would inevitably be displeased. Although the Foundation Establishment Realm spirit root was precious, it was not essential for Zhang Yun, and he had no desire to offend the Wang Family.
He looked at Li Qinghong and suddenly asked, "Has your brother also reached the Foundation Establishment Realm?"
Li Qinghong did not dare to lie about such an obvious question and simply nodded.
Zhang Yun smiled and murmured, "Interesting... interesting... Three generations of a family with five Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators¡ªthere must be something unusual about that."
After a moment''s reflection, he continued, "Ning Tiaoxiao also personally arranged the marriage. He must have discovered something about the Li Family, hmm..."
"Li Qinghong... does your brother also practice Boundless Ocean?" Zhang Yun asked.
"Yes," Li Qinghong replied softly.
Zhang Yun chuckled and nodded.
"Good... very good!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he ignored the Li Family members entirely and enveloped himself in golden light. With that, he passed through their family''s formation effortlessly and headed north on his own.
Li Qinghong bowed her head and saw him off, watching as he walked awayughing. It was only then did she release a sigh of relief, her back damp with sweat.
When she noticed Li Xicheng rushing into the yard, she said urgently, "Stop the news immediately. Don''t let anyone know about Zhang Yun''s visit!"
Li Xicheng nodded in agreement.
"Don''t worry, Auntie... The fight just now happened too quickly! We only know that someone used a thunder spell. I''ll inform everyone that you were practicing your spells."
Chapter 509: Inquiries (II)
Chapter 509: Inquiries (II)
Hengdong Prefecture.
"This is far enough, fellow Daoist. There''s no need to be so formal," Li Xijun said softly as he and hispanions reached the edge of Hengzhu Prefecture.
They cupped their fists to Bi Chengjuan and added, "Let''s bid each other farewell here!"
Bi Chengjuan nodded and replied, "If you pass through Hengzhu in the future, just mention my name, and I will personallye to receive you."
With a grateful smile, Li Xijun took his leave. Though Li Xuanxuan still appeared old and frail, he now seemed much more energized, his eyes clearer, and a smile had returned to his face.
"This Hengzhu''s Tranquil Purification Technique is truly effective! The heaviness in my heart has lifted significantly, and I can wield my true essence more easily," he remarked.
Li Xijun smiled and responded, "That''s a good sign. Granduncle, you must follow the instructions and avoid fighting for the next few years. Otherwise, it could interfere with your cultivation."
Concerned that Li Xuanxuan might disregard his advice, he quickly added, "If a fight breaks out, those Spirit Stones we spent would all have gone to waste!"
"I understand... Of course, I know..." Li Xuanxuan replied, then mumbled trivialities. The atmosphere lightened significantly. Kongheng chanted scriptures as they flew on, watching the old and young man chatter amiably.
After arriving at the Helin Mountain Range, the twonded and began their separate searches for spirit items. They spent two months scouring the area, discovering only one or two minor spirit items with no significant finds.
Li Xijun reunited with Li Xuanxuan at the appointed time, who looked increasingly rxed over the past two months. The old man held a handful of plums, offering a few to Li Xijun.
Amused, Li Xijun epted them but remarked regretfully, "I never expected the spiritual energy of Mount Helin to be so poor... No wonder there haven''t been any notable spirit items here in all these years."
Li Xuanxuan took a few plums and handed them to Kongheng, who received them with a smile.
"There aren''t even many demons in this Helin Mountain Range; it can''tpare to Mount Dali," Li Xuanxuan remarked.
Li Xijun took out a map and suggested, "We still have plenty of time. Why don''t we cross the prefecture and head to the mountain ranges of Quanwu and Dongli?"
Li Xuanxuan naturally had no objections. The three of them quickly finalized their itinerary and set off to the east, preparing to head northeast to Quanwu Mountain Range first.
"Quanwu Mountain Range is truly vast," Kongheng remarked, gazing at the distant peaks faintly visible through the clouds.
"When we traveled south, we crossed the western foothill of this mountain. Now, after making a huge round, we''ve only reached its eastern foothill."
Seizing the opportunity, Li Xijun asked, "How does itpare to Mount Luoxia?"
Kongheng pondered for a moment before replying, "It''s hard to make a directparison. There are also majestic mountains to the north, most of which are renowned for their high elevation and abundant spiritual energy. However, they differ from this mountain, which stretches continuously for tens of thousands of li..."
"However, if we''re onlyparing spiritual energy, Mount Luoxia is undoubtedly the best. No other ce canpare to it," he concluded with decisiveness.
"Mount Luoxia is without a doubt the location with the most abundant spiritual energy in the world, followed by the grotto heavens or blessednds of various sects. The rest of the mountains are at the end of the list," Kongheng stated with rare confidence.
"What Dao lineage is associated with Mount Luoxia?" Li Xijun asked curiously.
Kongheng seemed momentarily lost in thought before he responded, "The name Luoxiaes from a True Monarch who resides there. He forged his Dao through Heavenly Glow. It''s said all Heavenly Glows in this world must yield to his control... When the sun and moon rece each other, the first ray of light emerges from Mount Luoxia."
"Only when this first ray descends upon the mountain can various other Heavenly Glows be born. It is said there are seventy-two types of Heavenly Glows in the world, and forty-eight of them are the creations of this True Monarch''s divine ability."[1]
Li Xijun then inquired, "Since Mount Luoxia is the strongest Dao lineage in the north, I assume there must be more than one True Monarch, right?"
Kongheng replied softly, "As for how many True Monarchs exist in Mount Luoxia, how many are on the maind, how many are overseas, and how many have departed thisnd¡ªthere have always been differing opinions, and no one knows for certain. Only in the past few hundred years have three True Monarchs emerged and made their presence known. These are real Golden Core Realm True Monarchs!"
Noticing that the Li Family members were listening intently, he added, "But I''ve also heard rumors that the True Monarch who forged his Dao with Heavenly Glow had be an immortal."
"Became an immortal?!"
Jiangnan Daoist cultivators often referred to these immortals as Fairies or Exalted Immortals, while northern Buddhist cultivators often spoke of attaining enlightenment or achieving the Dao.
However, Li Xijun understood that the term be an immortal, as used by Kongheng, carried a much deeper meaning.
"You''re referring to... Dao Embryo?" he asked softly.
"Yes..." Kongheng nodded, with a slight envious expression on his face, and continued softly, "I heard that he has already gained the immortal body of Dao Embryo and be truly immortal... for as long as the heaven and earth still exist, and as long as the sun and the moon still shines. I wonder if he is still on Mount Luoxia..."
N?v(el)B\\jnn
"What an impressive divine ability master," Li Xijun praised, but Kongheng shook his head slightly and then asked, "Isn''t there also an immortal in the south, where you are from?
Seeing Li Xijun and the others looking puzzled, Kongheng asked curiously, "Well... I heard that whenever the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in your south break through to the Golden Core Realm, that person will send someone to collect metallic essence. Is that true?"
Realization finally dawned upon Li Xijun and he replied, "Ah, so that''s what you''re talking about! Yes, it''s true!"
"Yes!" Kongheng eximed, before asking, "What level of cultivation does this immortal have? How did he be an immortal? Where is his immortal mansion?"
Li Xijun could only shake his head helplessly in response to the monk''s series of questions, and said softly, "To be honest, the three sects have always controlled the cirction of news in Jiangnan. It is said that they once destroyed books in a concentrated manner, blurring out a lot of information about the achievements of Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion Realms. My family has a shallow foundation, and I have to rely on overseas cultivators just to learn about Jiangnan, let alone any immortals..."
Kongheng nodded thoughtfully and apologized.
The group traveled day and night and flew for half a month before they finally arrived at the other side of Mount Quanwu, which was adjacent to Libu Prefecture in the north and Mount Dongli in the east. It was an area with fewer demons and much safer.
They promptly dispersed to look for water veins and spirit items.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Xizhi left the sect and flew north quickly on the wind. On the way, he clumsily coaxed Huai''er in his arms to sleep and settled in a small town.
Although Cheng Huai was very obedient, he could no longer hold it back after lying in his arms for two days. He iled around, wanting to go down for a walk. Li Xizhi tried feeding him some fruits, but he refused to eat.
"I guess we''ll rest for a while... Libu Prefecture is still a long way to go. "
By the time Li Xizhi descended, the sky was already dark, but there were still lights flickering in the town below him. He stopped to look and found that the people in the town were gathered in a group, holding up fire torches.
1. For Luoxia (Âäϼ), "Luo" (Âä) means "to descend" and "xia"(ϼ) could mean either the "glow of sunrise or sunset". Since the context of "xia" here is vague, I tranted Xiaguang (ϼ¹â, literal tl: light/glow of sunrise/sunset) as "Heavenly Glow". ?
Chapter 510: Situ Mo (I)
Chapter 510: Situ Mo (I)
Li Xizhi immediately sensed something was amiss, and stealthily approached while concealing his presence. He saw a group of vigers gathered around a low stone altar, where an old man in ck stood, his face dark and sinister, holding a sword and muttering incessantly.
The vigers below began chanting as well, their voices growing louder and louder. ck mist spread across the altar, causing Li Xizhi to frown.
"A mere unrefined Qi Cultivator, yet he is putting on such a grand disy!" Li Xizhi scoffed.
The ck-robed old man had chaotic true essence and weak energy, a clear sign of his origins as a rogue cultivator. In the cultivation world of Yue State, such people were at the bottom of the hierarchy. Li Xizhi, being from a great sect, could see this clearly with just a nce.
Yin qi is everywhere... He must have acquired some kind of devil dao legacy and used it to deceive the vigers so he could conduct blood sacrifices.
As expected, the vigers below brought forward a young boy. The ck-robed old man raised his sword, preparing to stab him in a ritual.
Li Xizhi watched on silently as the old man brought his sword down toward the boy, but when the de touched the boy, it was as if it hit an iron wall¡ªthere was a sharp metallic ng that rang out, and the sword could not move any further.
A sh of doubt crossed the old man''s face. He scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense but could not detect anything. How could a rogue cultivator like him see through the concealment technique of someone as skilled as Li Xizhi?
Finding nothing, the old man trembled and called out in a shaky voice, "Which Senior... is ying a joke on this humble one?"
Rainbow light began to shimmer around Li Xizhi as he revealed himself above the altar, staring at the old man. The ck-robed elder took one look at him and was instantly terrified. He fell to his knees, trembling as he said, "This humble one is Yuan Huzhong... Greetings to you, immortal of the exalted sect!"
Li Xizhi''s hand, glowing with rainbow light, was about to strike him, but those words made him pause. Frowning, he asked, "You recognize my attire? You must be quite knowledgeable. Which Yuan Family do you belong to?"
Yuan Huzhong, who was shaking all over now, replied, "I am originally from the Yuan Family of Mushroom Forest in, though I have not returned in many years..."
So, he is truly from the Yuan Family of Mushroom Forest in!
Li Xizhi felt a bit awkward since this devil cultivator was somehow connected to his master, Yuan Tuan. In a deep voice, he scolded, "Coming from such a great family, how dare you engage in such filthy deeds! You have utterly disgraced the Yuan Family!"
With a flick of his hand, a stream of multicolored light appeared, swirling and flickering like a mirage. With a swish, it snatched away both the sword and the pouch from Yuan Huzhong''s waist.
This technique, called Floating Light Gathering, was recorded in the Dawn Dew Gathering Technique and was a Grade Four spell. It was particrly effective at seizing dharma artifacts and treasures. The multicolored light swept over everything cleanly, leaving Yuan Huzhong trembling with cold terror.
The vigers below craned their necks, thinking Li Xizhi had acted against the old man. They immediately broke into wails, begging for mercy, leaving Li Xizhi puzzled.
Li Xizhi examined Yuan Huzhong and, confirming that he was indeed from the Yuan Family, decided to be patient.
"Exin yourself!" he demanded.
Just as Yuan Huzhong was about to speak, ck winds suddenly whipped through the air. A massive creature, the size of a house and covered in feathers, descended with a boomingugh, calling out evilly, "Daoist Yuan! How is this year''s blood offering?"
Li Xizhi''s feet were already surrounded by rainbow light. He scanned the creature with his spiritual sense and quickly realized it was merely a Qi Cultivation Realm demon at the fourth heavenlyyer¡ªfar weaker than him, who was in the sixth heavenlyyer. Feeling confident, he stayed in ce, studying the demon.
Yuan Huzhong, terrified, dared not reply. Instead, he shot the demon a look and muttered under his breath, "T-This... is a lord from the exalted Azure Pond Sect, Daoist Wu... Hurry up and pay your respects."
A member of the Azure Chi Devil Gate!
Daoist Wu was horrified, copsing to the ground with a thud that shook the earth. His voice was muffled as he choked out, "This lowly demon greets the exalted immortal!"
Li Xizhi, someone who disliked unnecessary conflict, felt his head throb as the situation became moreplicated. Waving his hand, he said, "I have important matters to attend to. Spare me trouble and exin everything quickly so I can be on my way!"
Yuan Huzhong hurriedly exined, "Lord, I truly am from the main branch of the Yuan Family, but my talent iscking and I have only a single spiritual orifice... After thirty years of hard cultivation and many spirit resources, I have only reached the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
In his youth, Yuan Huzhong had been diligent, but his poor talent meant he had to rely on the favors of his elders to obtain cultivation resources. Over time, he exhausted those connections, and the Yuan Family no longer wished to pour resources into what they saw as a lost cause. Helpless, Yuan Huzhong left the family and wandered the world.
Continuing where he left off, Yuan Huzhong borated, "Later, I found a temple run by rogue cultivators... I received a few legacies, but my cultivation still stagnated, and I had no further breakthroughs. Disheartened, I passed through here and found an Embryonic Breathing Realm demon wreaking havoc, so I dealt with it."
"The vigers begged me for help, and I felt pity for them, so I stayed to protect them..." Yuan Huzhongughed bitterly and added, "This area is near Mount Quanwu, a ce where many demons pass through. They regrlye here to feast on humans. So, I pledged myself to a demon general and, in exchange for providing a special blood offering each year, the demons no longer harass the vige."
He proudly pointed to the vigers below him and smiled. "When I first arrived here, this ce had just over a thousand people... Now, fifty years have passed, and there are more than five thousand!"
Li Xizhi remained silent, ncing at the boy kneeling on the ground. The boy, his breath weak and uneven, clearly had been consuming medicine from a young age¡ªlikely the special blood offering that Yuan Huzhong mentioned. The child did not cry or make a fuss, remaining obedient.
Nearby, the demon trembled with fear upon hearing that Yuan Huzhong was a disciple of the devil gate, not daring to lift its head. Yuan Huzhong, after finishing his exnation, cautiously nced at Li Xizhi, hesitating before adding, "The offerings to the immortal sect from this ce... they have been supplied year after year without fail..."
Li Xizhi nced once more at the vigers below and understood that what Yuan Huzhong said was likely true. The rainbow light in his hand flickered slightly as he responded, "I see."
He stood with his hands behind his back, silently and without any further interest in conversation. Then, in an instant, he soared away on the wind, his feet surrounded by swirling rainbow light, drifting off like an immortal being.
Yuan Huzhong wiped the cold sweat from his brow and copsed to the ground with relief. He sighed toward the demon beside him, who was equally terrified and trembling, muttering, "Thank the heavens! Luckily, it was a disciple from the Azure Pond Sect... If it had been someone from the Yue Cultivating Sect, who is less tolerant, there would not have been any room for exnation. Not only would you and I have lost our lives, but even my great king would have been in!"
Yuan Huzhong let out a sigh of relief and added, "If luck had truly been against us, what could we have done? If those sect disciples had in the demon and left, these five thousand vigers would have been nothing but food for a horde of demons, after you and I were killed."
Li Xizhi soared away on the wind, feeling a slight heaviness in his heart. Although he knew such things weremon in Jiangnan, this was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes. After hearing Yuan Huzhong''s exnation, he realized he was powerless to change the situation.
At least it''s better than overseas... After all, thisnd was once under the rule of an immortal mansion. Now, the immortal sects, out of caution or perhaps moral scruples, refrain from overt wickedness. Even the devil gates have to put on a false front... Some Dao lineages here still uphold certain principles.
Li Xizhi let out a self-deprecating chuckle. If he had been in Yuan Huzhong''s position, he likely would have handled it the same way. He realized how foolish it had been to have thoughts of killing him earlier.
Li Xizhi had far too much on his mind regarding his family''s pressures to indulge in any further pity. Soon, he cast the matter aside, flying through the area around Mount Quanwu. Suddenly, the jade pendant at his waist grew warm, emitting a soft white light.
"Hmm?"
N?v(el)B\\jnn
Li Xizhi was overjoyed and thought to himself, One of my n''s brothers or elders must be nearby!
Chapter 511: Situ Mo (II)
Chapter 511: Situ Mo (II)
Li Xijun and the others had been traveling through the mountains of the Quanwu range for several days now. With Kongheng leading the way, they had acquired a few spirit items and had encountered no Foundation Establishment Realm demons, and were merely wandering through the forest.
Li Xuanxuan and another cultivator were performing incantations and surveying the earth veins. After some time, they found a clue near a deep pool. Li Xijun then remarked, "Granduncle, ording to the descriptions and techniques from the Chilling Snow Series, there should be a type of spirit water within this pool."
Li Xuanxuan, holding a bundle of mountain fruits, sorted through them and handed Li Xijun a plum before nodding slightly. After performing some calctions with a hand seal, he said quietly, "We may need to wait a few more days. The water vein runs deep, and it will not be easy to retrieve the spirit water quickly."
Li Xijun ced the fruit in his pouch and, along with Li Xuanxuan, continued casting spells, working together to draw out the spirit water. They alternated, one resting while the other maintained the spell. After about five or six days, a golden light finally appeared in the sky, descending rapidly.
When the golden lightnded, it transformed into a man dressed in radiant feathered robes, holding a golden ring. His aura was overwhelming, indicating that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. The moment hended, the pressure from his presence made the group feel as though their faces were being cut by sharp des.
The man nced at the surface of the pool, his face expressionless, and he was clearly here for the spirit water.
He held the golden ring in his hand and had a rather handsome face. His clothing¡ªwith golden hooks, rings, and diamond-patterned robe¡ªimmediately gave away his identity as a disciple of the Golden Tang Gate.
"Greetings, Senior..." The Li Family members greeted, cupping their fists.
The Golden Tang Gate cultivator looked down on them arrogantly, his expression showing a hint of excitement. After ncing at the three of them, he drawled, "Where are you three from? This spirit water now belongs to the Golden Tang Gate."
Li Xuanxuan and Li Xijun exchanged nces, while Kongheng frowned deeply and retorted, "But we were here first..."
Li Xijun quickly interrupted him and pulled him back, replying politely, "We are from the Li Family of Qingdu Peak. Since Senior desires it, we will leave this pool to you."
"No." The man''s smile was cold and mocking as he said sharply, "You will retrieve the spirit water for me before you leave."
Li Xuanxuan studied the man''s face, finding it vaguely familiar. Then, he suddenly recalled that they had crossed paths years ago when he had sought out Kong Yu to help move a mountain, only to encounter this same arrogant Golden Tang Gate disciple.
"Situ Mo!"
This man had a notoriously bad temper. He had mocked Kong Yu mercilessly at the time, making fun of him for being from a small, insignificant family. Li Xuanxuan had not known the full story until then. Back then, Situ Mo had been at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm, but now, he had just entered the Foundation Establishment Realm.
This kind of person... is only relying on his family''s connections!
Li Xuanxuan cursed inwardly. Situ Mo''s face was full of contempt as he stared at Li Xuanxuan, with an expression betraying his intense dislike.
Li Xuanxuan quickly realized, Damn it! He recognizes me... I have been dragged into this because of the Kong Family... But what kind of grudge does he have against them for him to hate them this much?
Sure enough, when Li Xijun politely responded, Situ Mo only sneered and said in a low voice, "I remember your family... Years ago, my elders collected qi in your n''s territory! They lured a demon sparrow, causing quite a mess. Your ancestors were mortals back then, they probably even bowed before my elders back then."
Li Xijun had thought at first that this man was merely a spoiled and rich young master, but after hearing that remark, he immediately realized that this was an enemy. The polite smile disappeared from his face, now reced by a cold expression.
Li Xuanxuan, though filled with anger, was even more perplexed.
Where does this young man''s deep hatrede from? This must be about more than the Profound Peak Gate...
He truly could not understand where Situ Mo''s deep hatred stemmed from, and the man''s words were venomous and harsh, fueling the fire of Li Xuanxuan''s anger. The elder''s face had already darkened with displeasure.
Situ Mo coldly eyed Li Xuanxuan and spoke in a low voice, "That day we met in the wilderness¡ªif I had known that you hideous old thing were from the Li Family, I would have killed you on the spot... you..."
He gritted his teeth and continued viciously, "The An Family and the Lu Family made deals with a tiger, and in the end, your Li Family wiped them out. It was indeed satisfying to watch! But because of your family''s deeds, my mother fell into despair and took her own life... Now, I have waited long enough for this day, to make your family suffer as my mother did!"
Li Xijun stood frozen in shock, while Kongheng''s eyes widened in disbelief. Li Xuanxuan''s mind buzzed as one image after another shed before him, finally settling on a face that had long worried Li Xiangping and Li Tongya...
"Ji Dengqi!" Li Xuanxuan blurted out, "You... you are the son of that Ji Family woman!"
"Haha! Exactly..."
Situ Mo had not even finished his sentence when Li Xijun, having already understood the situation, grabbed Kongheng''s sleeve and, in a sh of red light,unched himself into the sky, fleeing at great speed. Even Situ Mo was briefly stunned before he roared in anger, "Just like Li Tongya''s spawn! Crafty like a snake!"
Kongheng and Li Xuanxuan were still in shock, but as they realized what was happening, they prepared to follow. Just then, a golden light rose around the pool, sealing the area and trapping them inside.
Situ Mo sneered at Li Xijun''s retreating figure and said, "Did you really think I was talking all this time for nothing?"
In the distance, Li Xijun, who was enveloped in red light, was just about to break through the formation when a golden weapon, lying in ambush, shot forward, piercing him straight through the chest and pinning him to the ground.
Blood sttered as the teenager fell to the earth with a heavy thud. The sight sent chills down Li Xuanxuan''s spine. His mana-enhanced sight allowed him to see clearly as a bloodstained plum fruit rolled out of the boy''s chest pocket, bouncing twice on the ground.
"The little one ran fast, but he fell to the Dinglin Piercer, and died a bit sooner!" A sh of pleasure crossed Situ Mo''s face before he turned his attention to the two remaining men.
His voice was icy as he said, "You old fool, you may have some experience, but my mother was Ji Dengyu! The head of the Ji Family back then, Ji Dengqi, was my uncle! When Lu Sisi and An Zheyan ughtered my Ji Family, they thought my father had been killed, but they did not know my mother was already carrying me in her womb..."
"I thought you would return the same way, but you kept twisting and turning, ending up in Mount Quanwu. I searched for so long, and now that I''ve found you, I won''t let you all leave!"
His expression was cruel and ferocious, but there was a twisted joy in his voice, the kind that onlyes from vengeance.
Laughing maniacally, he said coldly, "I know how ruthless the Li Family is, and Li Tongya was a Foundation Establishment Realm sword cultivator, so my mother never dared speak of this, raising me in secret... But now that I have established an immortal foundation, it is time to settle this grudge!"
Li Xuanxuan was in utter shock. His mind raced, his eyes reddening with anger as he tried to exin through gritted teeth, "The destruction of the Ji Family was due to the An and Lu families seizing the two mountains¡ªit had nothing to do with my family!"
"Nothing to do with you?" Situ Mo sneered.
Since he was not in any hurry and felt certain of his victory, he could not resist arguing back. His voice filled with hatred as he said, "My Ji Family had nted someone close to Lu Yuanlu, and that loose-tongued fool was consumed with jealousy over Li Tongya! He revealed everything! Who do you think you are fooling?"
That idiot! It was that idiot all along!
Li Xuanxuan felt an icy chill sweep over him, making it hard to breathe. His chest burned with rage, and all he could think about was Li Xijun outside. The wound on his face began to crack, revealing a faint golden pill beneath.
Blood began to flow from his seven orifices, and the six old wounds on his body burst open, spraying blood everywhere. His eyes bulged, and he was rendered speechless.
Suddenly, a hand rested on his shoulder, emitting a soft, warm golden light that quickly calmed his emotions and slowly healed his wounds.
Kongheng, with a slight bow of his head, spoke gently, "Elder, you are still not recovered yet, please quell your anger. This humble monk is here... there is nothing for you to worry about."N?v(el)B\\jnn
Chapter 512: Battle with Situ Mo (I)
Chapter 512: Battle with Situ Mo (I)
Boom!
The golden formation trembled faintly, shaking the forest and causing leaves to fall like rain. A young man in whitey on the ground, facing the sky.
Boom!
Li Xijun listened silently, confirming that Situ Mo had already engaged in battle with Kongheng and had no time to focus on anything else. Only then did he press his hands against the ground and sit up.
White light flowed through Li Xijun''s eyes, but there was no sign of pain. He gathered his mana in his hands and, with a steady motion, grasped the radiant, golden Dinglin Piercer and slowly pulled it out of his chest.
The talisman he received before was the Radiant Snow Pine Ridge, which kept him calm at all times. Though the situation had been dire, and the Dinglin Piercer had struck quickly, Li Xijun had not reacted slowly either.
His eyes, capable of piercing illusions and seeing through falsehoods, allowed him to calcte the trajectory of the Dinglin Piercer quickly. Using the River Crossing Torrential Step, he skillfully dodged its most dangerous points. Although the weapon had pierced through his body, it had not struck a vital area, leaving him with only a wound.
As talisman qi circted through his body, he pulled the piercer out without flinching and began to wonder, "Even so, this Dinglin Piercer is a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact. It seems really weak... Even if I avoided the vital point, it should have left me seriously wounded. Could it be that Kongheng had intervened...?"
While pondering this, the piercer was fully removed from his body. He wiped away the blood, and examined the weapon. The Dinglin Piercer was about seven chi long, covered in ridges, and shining with golden light. It struggled in Li Xijun''s hands, trying to break free and fly into the sky. He had to use considerable effort to just hold onto it.
After sealing the piercer with several Spirit Sealing Techniques, Li Xijun was finally able to free his hands to heal himself. He applied some ointment on the wound, swallowed a pill, and sighed with relief as his strength recovered by sixty percent.
The Dinglin Piercer fluttered weakly in the air before falling to the ground, trembling slightly. Li Xijun''s thoughts raced as he pondered to himself, This is trouble... Situ Mo is a direct descendant of the Golden Tang Sect. I am not sure if Kongheng will be able to handle him...
The Quanwu Mountain Range, located in the center of Yue State, was several days'' journey from Moongaze Lake, the Xiao Family, or the Profound Peak Gate, making it impossible to call for aid.
Li Xijun turned back to the golden formation, and white light appeared in his eyes. The brilliant light of the formation gradually blurred, revealing the scene within it.
BOOM!
Kongheng was wielding a bronze monk''s staff, emitting golden light to resist Situ Mo''s dharma artifact. His mana light was soft yet immense, while Situ Mo''s was sharp and intense. The sh of their golden lights echoed with thunderous force.
As Li Xijun pushed his talisman qi to the limit, a figure cloaked in the mysterious spirit mist within the formation was also revealed.
"That''s... Second Uncle?!" Li Xijun gasped.
The ck-robed middle-aged man stood cautiously at the edge of the formation, his face dark. In his hand, a green-white sword light flickered, growing stronger with each passing moment as he waited for a w in Situ Mo''s defense.
"So, it was him who intervened to protect me!" Li Xijun let out a breath of relief, realizing why the Dinglin Piercer''s power had been so weak. He felt more at ease now and confidently began castingyers of spells, keeping the peculiar dharma artifact pinned under his foot.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Within the golden formation, Kongheng steadied Li Xuanxuan, showing no signs of panic. As the formation activated, Li Yuanjiao''s voice had already reached Kongheng.
Kongheng''s surprise stemmed not only from Situ Mo''s revtions but also from the unexpected timing of Li Yuanjiao''s intervention.
With Li Yuanjiao silently intervening, Kongheng no longer had to worry about Li Xijun. Though the blow Li Xijun suffered seemed severe, Kongheng, with his knowledge as a Buddhist cultivator, did not consider it a serious concern.
As a sharp golden light surged toward him, Kongheng used his monk''s staff to repel Situ Mo''s attacks, silently reflecting to himself, He''s indeed cautious, following us all the way here...
Although Kongheng had some tricks up his sleeve, more than enough for survival but not for killing, he was not afraid of Situ Mo and remained confident that he could protect both himself and Li Xuanxuan.
Yet, he still sighed at Li Yuanjiao''s caution, thinking to himself, He was worried about rming Situ Mo, so he even deceived his own people... Since Senior Xuanxuan hasn''t noticed anything, it''s even less likely that Situ Mo would suspect a thing!
Situ Mo tested with two attacks, but the monk before him remained as calm as still water, his defense unyielding like an immovable mountain.
Situ Mo sneered and taunted, "Found yourself a bald monk to y guard dog, eh?"
Situ Mo understood that the monk''s methods were strange and was careful not to underestimate him. Three golden shields floated around him, covering himpletely while he held a saber, watching for an opening. After a moment''s thought, he performed a hand seal and muttered, "Come!"
Outside the formation, the Dinglin Piercer began to struggle violently, thrashing on the ground. Li Xijun had long been prepared for this and had covered the weapon with spirit-sealing talismans. He stomped down on it with his foot, brought his fingers together, and released a sh of cold light.
Grade Four spell, ughter Jun Kui Light!
True to its reputation as one of the Li Family''s highest-graded spells, the white light burst forth, releasing a chilling energy that froze the Dinglin Piercer solid, cutting off the flow of mana and suppressing itpletely.
Inside the formation, Situ Mo''s expression changed. Li Xijun, only at the Qi Cultivation Realm, should not have been able to resist his dharma artifact, and should have already been killed by the Dinglin Piercer. Now, with the weapon unresponsive, he felt deep unease growing within him, sensing things were slipping out of his control.
Yet, Li Xuanxuan''s earlier behavior had seemedpletely genuine, and Kongheng''s shock had also been real. Situ Mo, who had grown up surviving on his wits, could see through pretense, and now found himself hesitant and unsure.
Meanwhile, Li Xuanxuan, seeing Situ Mo''s hesitation, began to piece things together based on Kongheng''s demeanor. A hint of relief crossed his face, which only made him look more pleased in Situ Mo''s eyes, adding to thetter''s irritation.
Situ Mo''s eyes flickered suddenly as he made up his mind. He pulled out a talisman from his robe, sped it between his hands, and began to cast a spell.
Kongheng, naturally, could not just stand by idly. He quickly raised his bronze staff, focusing on protecting Li Xuanxuan from afar by disrupting Situ Mo with bursts of golden light. However, his defensive nature made it hard to break through Situ Mo''s golden shields.
Situ Mo cast a mocking nce at Kongheng before shaking his wrist and releasing six streams of light thatnded on his own body. The tiny streams glimmered over his acupoints¡ªZanzhu, Tongziliao, and Chengqi¡ªgradually lighting up his eyes with a golden glow.[1]
In this life-and-death confrontation, Situ Mo was not foolish enough to announce his techniques aloud. However, Li Yuanjiao, who was still observing from the shadows, had read the Spirit Eye Perception manual and recognized these critical eye acupoints. He realized Situ Mo had sensed that something was amiss.
What a shame! His dharma artifact is formidable, and he hasn''t shown any openings!
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Knowing he could not stay hidden much longer without being discovered, Li Yuanjiao seized this fleeting opportunity. His sword flew out of its sheath as he raced toward Situ Mo, executing the Celestial Moon sh technique.
ng!
A sharp green-white light filled the air. Situ Mo''s spell was interrupted, yet he seemed more pleased than surprised. The golden saber at his waist, which had been umting power, suddenly shot forward as heughed.
"I knew it!"
Li Yuanjiao''s sword arc shifted, shattering Situ Mo''s golden shield, but was met by the saber qi he had been gathering for a long time. Internally, Li Yuanjiao couldn''t help but admire Situ Mo''s slyness.
What a cunning man!
Situ Mo''s ability to stop his own spell midway and secretly charge his saber qi showed that he had anticipated Li Yuanjiao''s move. It was possible that Situ Mo had never cultivated perception techniques seriously and had only acted to lure out a hidden enemy.
"It really is you, Li Yuanjiao!"
Though Situ Mo had forced Li Yuanjiao to reveal himself, the power of the Celestial Moon sh technique still exceeded his expectations. His saber qi only managed to block it for a moment before shattering like brittle wood.
1. Acupoint locations: Zanzhu is at the start of the eyebrow, Tongziliao is near the tear duct, and Chengqi is near the outer corner of the eye. ?
Chapter 513: Battle with Situ Mo (II)
Chapter 513: Battle with Situ Mo (II)
Situ Mo shouted, "Ha!"
Before the words even left his mouth, three golden shields materialized before him while he instantly moved several zhang away, spitting out a small, round red pill. The pill spun once in the air and dissolved into smoke.
"The techniques of the Golden Tang Gate!" Li Yuanjiao sighed as he watched. Situ Mo had not yet had time to feel relief when he felt a cold sensation behind him. A grayish-green serpent dragon materialized, its jaws snapping toward his neck.
ng!
Li Yuanjiao struck aside the three golden shields, but the serpent dragon was blocked by the light emitted from Situ Mo''s dharma robes. Situ Mo quickly formed a hand seal, sending out a burst of golden light that shattered the dragon.
With a venomous tone, he growled, "Some Celestial Moon sh technique... hardly impressive!"
But before he could even finish speaking, three more streams of silver light darted toward him, gleaming brilliantly like the moon. They spun and danced in the air, weaving through the gaps between his three golden shields, aiming for his upper, middle, and lower body.
Situ Mo was startled, and golden patterns appeared on his hands as he tried to grab the iing light, but his grasp closed on nothing but air.
The three sword lights moved too swiftly, slipping between his defenses like snakes slithering inside his robes. Unable to cast another spell in time, Situ Mo could do nothing as the sword lights struck his body.
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His golden robe once again emitted light, releasing a surge of white mist that dissolved the three sword lights that were aimed at him, forcing Li Yuanjiao to withdraw his attack in vain.
Situ Mo let out a sigh of relief, now drenched in sweat, and spat sarcastically, "Well... well... quite the sword technique!"
At the same time, deep green serpent dragons rose beneath Li Yuanjiao''s feet while sword qi churned in his hands. Inwardly, he felt helpless.
I''m afraid I won''t be able to take him down... My mastery of the Threefold Moonlight iscking...agile but not powerful enough. What a pity.
Situ Mo stepped forward, his hand performing seals as he cautiously engaged Li Yuanjiao in back-and-forth attacks. Sword qi and saber qi shed, producing resounding explosions.
Kongheng, not skilled in offensive techniques, stood nearby, his monk''s staff emitting golden light within a one-zhang radius around him. Though he used the golden light to strike at Situ Mo, it merely distracted him for a moment, failing to cause any real harm.
The Golden Tang Gate has been in Xu State for years, once a major power that frequently shed with Azure Pond... Even though they''ve declined, their foundation runs deep and they''re hard to deal with.
Kongheng knew it wasn''t just the Golden Tang Gate¡ªeven Situ Mo himself was no easy opponent.
Li Yuanjiao had missed his chance for an overwhelming strike, and with his most powerful sword technique already used, he found himself unable to gain the upper hand.
Sure enough, Situ Mo scattered two of Li Yuanjiao''s sword qi with a wave of his hand and sneered.
"Is that all your family''s swordsmanship has to offer? You were lucky enough to have a sword immortal as an ancestor, which barely elevated your family to a prestigious n... You are nothing but a bunch of opportunists."
While mocking him, Situ Mo''s hands did not slow down. He raised his Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact to fend off Li Yuanjiao, rapidly forming six seals in session. Finally, he sped his hands together, his ring finger hooking over the middle finger while his index fingers crossed, leaving the other three fingers pressed together.
With a loud bang, golden light burst from Situ Mo''s palm, forming a small dagger about the size of a finger that darted into the air, circling once before streaking toward Li Yuanjiao with the speed and force of lightning, shrieking as it cut through the air.
Situ Mo knew all about the Li Family, but Li Yuanjiao knew little about him. Feeling an intense sense of danger, Li Yuanjiao''s back went cold. Quickly, he pped his pouch and summoned arge brown shield¡ªSix-Stone Cloud te!
The golden saber came too fast¡ªLi Yuanjiao didn''t even have time to retrieve a talisman. He poured all his mana into the shield, and the deep green serpent dragon coiled around it protectively.
BOOM!
"Ugh..."
A tremendous force hit his arm, and the Six-Stone Cloud te shuddered under the impact. A sharp pain shot through his wrist as the golden light pierced through, forcing him to retreat with gritted teeth.
The Six-Stone Cloud te let out a mournful sound as a bloody hole appeared in Li Yuanjiao''s wrist. He had no time to assess the injury before the golden saber, having circled behind him, streaked back toward his heart.
Situ Mo, after releasing the golden saber, took only a moment to catch his breath before charging forward with his sword. He swung down with a sweep of golden light, while the Six-Stone Cloud te, now with a small hole in it, struggled to block the cold, piercing advance of the golden saber.
Li Yuanjiao spun around, drawing his Qingche Sword to parry Situ Mo''s strike, barely managing to deflect the blow. The Six-Stone Cloud te shot upward to block the golden saber.
Creak...
Though the golden saber was not as terrifying as when it first appeared, it still caused Li Yuanjiao to stumble backward. He retreated several steps, shrouding himself in Profound Patterned Spirit Mist, trying to put some distance between himself and the deadly golden saber that coiled like a viper, ready to strike again.
Hum!
Li Yuanjiao braced himself, clutching a talisman and preparing to counterattack. But just as the golden saber was about to strike again, Kongheng recited a mantra, and the saber suddenly froze midair.
Situ Mo''s face twisted with rage as he shouted out angrily, "You damned monk! Must you interfere?"
With Kongheng''s intervention, Li Yuanjiao had enough time to activate his Profound Patterned Bottle, concealing his presence and disappearing from sight.
Situ Mo immediately grew cautious. Li Yuanjiao was no ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator¡ªif caught off guard, he could be dangerous.
Scanning the area with a venomous gaze, Situ Mo quickly performed another hand seal. The golden saber obediently returned to his hand and vanished.
I should''ve mastered a perception technique... Wasting time on this Golden ze Saber cost me. Otherwise, I could''ve killed all three of them today!
Situ Mo exhaled deeply. Knowing he had missed his chance, he was not willing to risk further conflict and exhaust himself.
Then, a sudden sense of impending doom gnawed at his heart.
This is not good...
He did not waste time on empty threats, simply raising his hand. In the forest, the formation gs rose from the ground, returning to his grasp as the golden formation vanished.
Golden light surged beneath his feet, and several golden shields floated around him for protection. Tall and imposing, he spoke with a cold, ominous tone.
"We will settle this another time!"
Before his voice had even fully faded away, Situ Mo had transformed into a streak of golden light and flew away at incredible speed, disappearing over the horizon in mere moments.
"Granduncle!" Li Xijun hurried into the formation, calling out twice.
Li Xuanxuan quickly pulled him into an embrace, carefully looking him over before letting out a long breath of relief.
"You nearly scared me to death!"
Li Yuanjiao''s face was pale, the glow of the Qingche Sword in his hand dimming as he sealed away the remaining sword intent. The hole in his wrist wasrge, revealing a glimpse of bone beneath.
Without saying a word, he summoned a stream of water from the nearby pool, filling the wound before cing a hand over it, making it appear fully healed.
Kongheng, knowing this was merely a temporary fix, gently advised, "These wounds cannot be left untreated. Please use some healing pills and medicine to heal it as soon as you can, or it may hinder your future cultivation."
Grateful for Kongheng''s help, Li Yuanjiao''s expression softened as he responded, "Thank you for saving me, Master Monk."
Meanwhile, Li Xuanxuan, having checked Li Xijun''s wounds, rushed to his son''s side and carefully examined him. But with Li Yuanjiao''s Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, the elder could not tell how serious the injuries were. He could only mutter anxiously, "Oh dear! Oh dear..."
Li Yuanjiao nced at him in surprise, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upward for a brief moment, before turning back with a sigh of regret.
"It is a pity... That man had quite the skill. I could not gain the upper hand."
"Second Uncle!"
Li Xijun smiled and pulled out a gleaming golden artifact from his storage pouch, presenting it with both hands as he bowed his head respectfully.
"...That may not be the case."
Chapter 514: Reunion (I)
Chapter 514: Reunion (I)
Li Yuanjiao took the Dinglin Piercer from his hand. The Golden Tang Gate favored techniques for piercers, daggers, and sabers. This Dinglin Piercer had a peculiar appearance and was about six cun long, resembling a thin stick with sharpened ends, designed for prating surfaces with precision.[1]
Gazing at Li Xijun, Li Yuanjiao frowned and spoke in a deep voice.
"We were fighting in the formation before... You should have left early instead of staying here. If I failed to defeat Situ Mo, at least you could still get away safely."
Kongheng was present, and Li Xijun did not dare im he could see through the situation in the formation. So, he simply nodded in response.
Li Yuanjiao''s expression darkened as he instructed the others to bring forth the spirit water that was just within their reach. He whispered to Kongheng, "I''ve been following behind all of you this whole time, so I know Situ Mo did not follow us all the way here. He flew straight to the edge of this pool... and seems to know that we are here!"
Kongheng released his mantra and replied, "Are you suggesting that... the man is acting on a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s order, Benefactor?"
Li Yuanjiao''s expression shifted as he considered the possibility. He was about sixty percent certain about it. Earlier, he had used the Qingche Sword''s intent, aiming to end the man''s life for good. However, he quickly vanished. This made him even more convinced of his spection.
"It may not be an order... The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of the Golden Tang Gate hasn''t been seen in a long time, and most of its territory has fallen under the control of the Yue Cultivating Sect. It''s possible some force bears a grudge against my Li Family and is secretly aiding him," Li Yuanjiao said, his voice grave.
Kongheng fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "Maybe... it''s the Wrathful Dao lineage..."
As they spoke, the pool of water before them began to roll as if boiling, slowly parting to reveal a stream of white, crystal-clear spirit water that leaped out. It spun in a circle before filling up the jade bottle in Li Xijun''s hand.
Li Xijun''s face was still somewhat pale, but he quickly eximed with joy, "Granduncle! It''s Pure Essence Spirit Water!"
Li Xuanxuan hurried forward to take a closer look before nodding in approval.
"It is indeed the Pure Essence Spirit Water! With this, more people can benefit from the Grade Three Spirit Eye Perception at home!"
This spirit water would significantly aid those who cultivated the Spirit Eye Perception. After mastering the technique, he would also be able to find an exnation for any peculiar phenomena he encountered.
Li Xijun carefully stored it away as Li Yuanjiao urged, "We shouldn''t linger! Let''s leave quickly."
The group obeyed and rode the wind as they took to the skies. Li Yuanjiao felt a mix of worry and unease when suddenly the jade pendants at their waists illuminated, emitting a gentle light.
"Huh?"
They all paused in surprise. Li Xijun asked curiously, "Could it be that Auntie was worried and followed us?"
"No..." Li Yuanjiao shook his head. He had specifically asked Li Qinghong to stay behind and watch over the family.
While he pondered this, a mysterious spirit mist enveloped him, momentarily hiding him from view.
Just then, a burst of colorful light approached the group, revealing a young man riding a rainbow. He wore a ck feathered robe, his ck hair fastened with a jade crow. He held a swaddled bundle in his arms.
Heughed heartily and greeted, "Xizhi greets elders and brothers! I was just wondering who was here!"
Li Xuanxuan nearly jumped with joy, eximing, "It''s my Zhi''er!"
Li Xijun blinked in surprise. He focused intently on the neer for three breaths, using the white qi in his eyes to detect any traces of illusion. When he found none, he gasped almost incredulously, "It''s really Third Brother!"
Seeing Li Xuanxuan rush forward, Li Xizhi''s face lit up with shock as he asked, "That''s... Grandfather?"
He pulled Li Xuanxuan closer, his voice filled with disbelief as he continued, "It''s only been twenty years since I left; why have you aged so much, Grandfather? This is..."
Li Xuanxuan, now just over eighty, appeared to be well over a hundred years old. Li Xizhi stared at him, dumbfounded. Li Xuanxuan waved his hand dismissively, then looked at his grandson, beaming with pride as he praised, "Good... Good!"
Li Xijun, who was standing behind, stifled augh before stepping forward and cupping his fist.
"Xijun greets Third Brother!"
"Y-Y-You!"
Li Xizhi''s heart swelled with emotion, his eyes glistening with tears as he smiled and said, "My good younger brother! It''s been twenty years since west met, and you look like an immortal now!"
The two young men exchanged nces, each filled with a multitude of unspoken thoughts, unsure of how to begin. Li Xuanxuan quickly pulled Li Xizhi over, gesturing to the child in his arms as he asked, "T-This... this is?"
Li Xizhi chuckled.
"Li Chenghuai."
"Ah!"
N?v(el)B\\jnn
"Oh my!" Li Xuanxuan''s face lit up with joy instantly. But before he could say another word, the mysterious spirit mist beside them dissipated. Li Yuanjiao, d in a ck robe, could no longer contain himself.
His face flushed as he scolded, "Why didn''t you write to your family about such an important matter, boy?!"
Li Xizhi was taken aback, allowing Li Xuanxuan to take Li Chenghuai from his arms. Despite being scolded by his father, he felt a mix of happiness and sorrow as he eximed, "Father!"
Li Yuanjiao raised an eyebrow and scrutinized him for a long moment. The brilliance of the rainbow light and the shimmer of the feather robe danced across his face. Finally, he uttered two words in a hoarse voice.
"Not bad."
Having left home at the tender age of ten to journey into the Azure Pond Sect, Li Xizhi had not seen his father in twenty years.
Li Yuanjiao''s letters had always been serious and solemn; he had never spoken to him like he was his child. Hearing his father''s words now brought tears to Li Xizhi''s eyes as he said, "I have walked on thin ice in Azure Pond for twenty years, striving to live up to my family''s trust!"
Silence enveloped the family as Li Yuanjiao gently stroked his back without a word. Li Xizhi quicklyposed himself, wiping his face and smiling.
"I''ve received a mission from the sect to protect Libu Prefecture, which is just up ahead! Please,e with me and rest for a while there."
He nced at Li Xijun, noticing that his eighth brother looked somewhat pale.
"This is..."
"Just a scratch," Li Xijun reassured him.
Li Xizhi frowned and rummaged through his storage pouch, producing several jade bottles filled with high-quality medicine.
"Take these quickly! Come with me to rest and heal your injuries... You shouldn''t dy this!" he urged.
The group exchanged nces, agreeing to his suggestion as they headed north together. Li Xizhi inquired about the injury, and Li Xijun recounted the encounter with Situ Mo.
Hearing this, Li Xizhi''s frown deepened.
"I know of this man! Situ Mo is one of the top three disciples from this generation of the Golden Tang Gate. He has a domineering temperament and a notorious reputation."
"However..." His expression turned decisive as he continued, "Based on Eighth Brother''s description, this man is definitely far from ordinary. Despite his arrogance, he is not easy to deal with. We should find an opportunity to eliminate him!"
Li Yuanjiao cradled Li Chenghuai, carefully looking at the baby''s face with a thoughtful expression as he remarked softly, "That person came straight to us. He either has a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator backing him or has received some critical information. If he were to die, the Golden Tang Gate would surely know and it would lead to trouble."
He voiced his spection with a hint of doubt in his tone, "Back then, Situ Mo''s lineage was defeated. It was rumored that the entire lineage was destroyed, prompting the elders to unite against the Ji Family. Given Situ Mo''s appearance, I fear those rumors may not be true."
Li Xijun nodded, coughing lightly as he inferred, "This individual possesses many treasures and a deep mastery of spells. He likely has a powerful backer within Golden Tang Gate, and he doesn''t seem to be alone..."
1. Lord have mercy on me, the author is very inconsistent about this weapon. When it first appeared, it was described as a "golden sword" that "pinned/nailed" Li Xijun to the ground in the raws. Then in a previous chapter, it was described as a weapon about seven chi long (about 233cm long). Now in this chapter, it is described as a "thin stick with sharpened ends" about six cun long (20 cm long). I have revised these chapters a few times before publishing them but I am still unsure if this is a 233 cm or 20 cm weapon due to another future chapter. I can''t imagine Li Xijun pulling out a 233 cm long weapon, I can''t imagine him being pinned to the ground by a 20 cm long weapon either. So I have decided to trante this as it is in the raws. Maybe it could shapeshift? ?
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continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 515: Reunion (II)
Chapter 515: Reunion (II)
Li Xizhi recalled the records he had read in the sect and said softly, "I have studied Golden Tang Gate thoroughly. There are many secrets revolving around it. He had probably joined the Azure Pond after his lineage was destroyed because he had no other choice... It''s no surprise for them to raise an orphan to preserve the lineage. Situ Mo should be the son of Situ Yi. As the survivor of his lineage, it''s understandable that he would be valued."
Li Xuanxuan interjected quietly, "If that''s the case, he will be even more difficult to deal with. If we openly kill him, we risk inciting a furious retaliation from Golden Tang Gate. It would be best to devise a n..."
Li Xuanxuan''s implication was clear, and Li Yuanjiao had his own opinions. Though the family preferred to keep a low profile, they were never hesitant. The appearance of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator did not instill fear or impatience; rather, they contemted the ways they could deal with him discreetly.
Troubled, Li Xuanxuan murmured, "But we can''t confront him directly... Even if Master Monk and your siblings join forces, they can only stand a chance to take him down. Besides, we don''t know how many trump cards he has up his sleeve. As a direct descendant of Golden Tang, he''s bound to have many life-saving artifacts!"
Everyone fell silent, lost in their thoughts as they arrived at Libu Prefecture, where rolling hills and various viges peppered thendscape. Li Xizhi illuminated a jade talisman, infusing it with mana as he instructed his family, "Wait a moment."
After a brief pause, they spotted two figures riding the wind toward them. Both appeared to be at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm, more mature and possessed an air of grace as if they had been raised in luxury.
They stopped before the group as one of them asked respectfully, "May I ask which of you is the envoy of the immortal sect?"
Li Xizhi tossed the jade token over to them and replied softly, "Qingdu Li Xizhi of Qingsui Peak... My master is Yuan Tuan, from the Yuan Family of Mushroom Forest!"
After hearing these words, the two men immediately grasped Li Xizhi''s background. They bowed their heads respectfully and said, "Greetings, my lord! Please follow us... The helpers in the market are ready for your inspection..."
Li Xizhi waved his hand dismissively and replied, "No hurry, let them wait for now... These are my family members; they were attacked by bandits on the road and suffered some minor injuries. Please take care of them first. Arrange for the best spirit medicine and put the expenses on my ount."
The two men quickly replied, "You must be joking, my lord... We can''t possibly put the expenses on your ount! We''ll handle that right away!"
Li Xizhi smiled as he said, "I insist."
The two exchanged nces, their expressions shifting to one of obedience as they stammered, "Y-Yes... understood..."
Li Xizhi had no intention of leaving anything behind here that could be used against him in the future. He was not a direct descendant of the Chi Family and had not aligned himself with any faction within the n, so he could not afford to exploit the situation without hesitation.
What a grand disy!
Li Xijun and Li Xuanxuan looked at each other before following one of the attendants downstairs. The old man turned to Li Xuanxuan, a look of uncertainty crossing his face.
"Have we met before, Senior?"
Li Xuanxuan smiled and replied, "I once ran a small store at Cloud Crowned Peak."
"Oh... oh! I was in charge of that ce back then!" the old man eximed, recognition dawning on him.
As the old man recalled the past, he paused awkwardly. Li Xuanxuan utilized a secret technique tomunicate quietly, "I remember those two... Back then, my family wasn''t a n yet, and I was selling talismans. They came to my store before... and were full of arrogance! But now..."
Li Xuanxuan could not help but snicker inwardly. The old man soon presented several spirit items. Li Yuanjiao selected a few inexpensive ones and said in a deep voice, "I''ll take some time to rest in seclusion and prepare to depart in a few days."
Li Xijun nodded and followed him into seclusion. Meanwhile, Li Xuanxuan remained in the hall, dealing with the man''s ttery, thinking to himself, "Azure Pond Sect''s disciples... are truly cool!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Family, Wutu Peak.
Li Ximing guided the me in the furnace gently. It leaped into his palm and turned into Long Marching Fire Essence, and he opened his mouth, swallowing the me into his belly.
"It''s been a while since I reached the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm!"
He had stabilized his cultivation over the past few days and found the opportunity to break through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, entering thete stage and now bing a powerful asset of the Li Family. He was another step closer to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
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Meng Zhuoyun, who was standing nearby, was half undressed, revealing her snow-white skin. She loungedzily on the ground, supporting herself with her elbows. In her left hand, she held a slender brush, while the other hand pressed down on a portrait.
She appeared quite rxed, adding strokes to her artwork from time to time. Her feet were high up in the air, half of her body basking in the sun, her delicate skin glowing and her waist slender.
Li Ximing loosened the cor of his robe, rolling up his sleeves to reveal his own snow-white skin before pulling her into an embrace.
Meng Zhuoyun groaned as he turned her to face him, her brush momentarily forgotten.
"You''ve made another breakthrough... With your talent, it''s no wonder the Li Family keeps a close eye on you," she remarked softly.
Li Ximing was usually quiet during intimate moments, but Meng Zhuoyun was always chattering. Her red lips and pearly whites glinted in the sunlight like blood-red jade as she spoke, captivating Li Ximing''s attention.
"Don''t seek revenge. He''s dead already; just stay in here and live a peaceful life," he murmured.
"Hm?" Meng Zhuoyun exhaled softly, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she teased him, "What? Be your cauldron for life..?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Li Ximing brushed a wet strand of hair from her forehead, revealing her smooth forehead. He rarely offered advice but now said with tenderness, "It''s not a bad life for you... Your ex-husband was only with you for half a year due to a matchmaker''s arrangement. Is he stronger than me?"
A trace of sadness crossed Meng Zhuoyun''s face as she replied softly, "You are a genius; he can''t possiblypare to you."
"That''s right. Since you don''t have any strong feelings for him, what''s the point of clinging to revenge...?"
Li Ximing was about to offer more advice when his thoughts shifted abruptly.
This woman has a rare talent for alchemy. If she joins my family, her cultivation will elerate year after year. On top of that, I won''t have to waste my time refining those Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realm pills! It''s a win-win situation!
"You''re right, I didn''t spend that much time with him... I only married him because it was arranged by the matchmaker," she replied, gasping for breath.
Her tone changed as she continued softly, "But he treated me like a person..."
Her soulful eyes locked onto his as she gently exined, "He was an intelligent man, but had no powerful background. He wasn''t exceptional and the Foundation Establishment Realm was beyond his reach. Naturally, he couldn''tpare to you... but he treated me like a human being, unlike you... You never show me any sincerity."
Li Ximing froze for a moment, staring into her eyes, which had suddenly regained their rity amidst the haze of pleasure and intoxication.
"You treat me like a dog, like a tool... like an object. When I screamed in pain, you merely coaxed me. Once your needs are met, you cast me aside. I can only regain some dignity once you''re happy..." she added with a hint of bitterness.
Li Ximing did not respond to her. But instead, he strangled her. Both of them groaned at the same time¡ªone of pain and one of pleasure.
Li Ximing took a few moments topose himself before casting a Purifying Spell to clean himself up.
"The pills needed today are Tranquility, Qi Nourishment, and Mind Calming. Don''t forget to refine them," he instructed softly.
After saying that, he turned away without looking at her expression. Meng Zhuoyun, too weary to clean up herself,id on her back for a moment before turning over to retrieve her half-wet painting. She picked up her brush and added a few more strokes.
The ck ink melted away, leaving a finger-sized blotch on the paper. As Meng Zhuoyun sat up naked, beads of sweat glistened on her snow-white skin, rolling down the delicate curves of her legs.
She hung the painting up and scrutinized it closely. It depicted Li Ximing sittingfortably in arge chair with her standing beside him, both smiling sweetly.
"Heh..."
She let out a lingering coldugh that sounded almost like a groan. The pale blue orchid in her hair shimmered in the sunlight.
Chapter 516: The Secret Of Spells And Techniques (I)
Chapter 516: The Secret Of Spells And Techniques (I)
Li Xizhi casually navigated through the bustling market, taking a moment to visit the courtyard where his grandfather, Li Xuanxuan, was diligently sketching with a talisman brush dipped in spirit ink.
Having drawn talismans for over seventy years, the old man could draw them perfectly even with his eyes closed. Without stopping his hand, he raised his gray eyebrows and nced at Li Xizhi. A smile broke across his face as he said, "You''re here, Zhi''er."
Li Xizhi responded respectfully, observing as his grandfather skillfullypleted a talisman. The finished product was a Returning Origin Shield snow-white talisman of thete-stage Qi Cultivation Realm.
Noticing the curious look on his grandson''s face, Li Xuanxuan remarked, "It''s just amon talisman and can''tpare to those avable in your sect..."
Li Xizhi took another closer look at it and replied softly, "It''s true that it falls short. Grandfather''s talisman art is remarkably refined, but without a superior legacy, it''s wasted on these simpler designs."
"The threshold for talisman art is low, and many rogue cultivators like me squander their potential here in Yue State," Li Xuanxuan chuckled, waving his hand dismissively.
He then retrieved the Dinglin Piercer from his storage pouch and handed the golden dharma artifact to him.
"This Dinglin Piercer is inscribed with Situ Mo''s name and the seal of Golden Tang Gate. We dare not use this, so we hope to find a cksmith in the market to melt and modify it. At least then, it would be usable."
He stroked his beard and sighed before continuing, "I took a trip when I had the chance, but the few cksmiths who could handle it were afraid of offending the Golden Tang Gate, so they turned me away. The only one willing to take it on quoted an outrageous price! I can''t believe it...!"
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Li Xizhi immediately understood the situation. Taking the dharma artifact into his hands, he assured, "Leave it to me, Grandfather. While I can''t act recklessly in this market, I can leverage my power and influence to open a few backdoors... I may be able to solve our family''s trouble easily."
Li Xuanxuan nodded repeatedly with a look of appreciation on his face.
"A few years ago, I had a disagreement with your youngest uncle. If you had stayed home, you would have been the perfect person to manage the family. Unfortunately, you had to join the sect as you were the only candidate to fill that role. If only we could dy it a few years back then..."
Li Xizhi shook his head, but Li Xuanxuan continued, "Yes, you were indeed the best candidate to join the sect. Ximing can be heartless; if someone with his personality joined, it could spell trouble! Xijun is too sharp, and Xicheng is too serious. You''re the only one who can navigate these waters patiently and with goodwill..."
"I heard you married someone from the Yang Family. Does she take good care of you? Bring her back to meet Grandfather if opportunity allows..."
Li Xuanxuan, now old and prone to rambling, chatted on as Li Xizhi listened with a smile.
Eventually, he said softly, "Just a moment, Grandfather. I''ll find someone to recast the dharma artifact."
Li Xuanxuan waved, motioning for him to go. As Li Xizhi stepped outside, he heard a couple of creaking sounds from the backyard. Li Xijun entered, looking noticeably better, but with a hint of concern on his face.
"Granduncle, you should really consider heading home earlier. While we''re safe in this market, I''m worried that Situ Mo could still pose a threat. Auntie is alone at home. If he goes to Mount Qingdu, I fear she won''t be able to handle him," he urged.
"That''s a good point," Li Xuanxuan replied, pausing in his work. He set down the talisman brush and added, "When Jiao''er finishes his retreat, we can all return together. We''ll have Xizhi take care of the dharma artifact and deliver it to us when it''s done."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
When Li Xizhi left the courtyard, the two older men, who had been waiting attentively, approached him.
"Who''s the best at refining artifacts in this market?" he asked them.
One of the old men stepped forward with a fawning smile as he replied, "There''s a cultivator from the Sword Gate here who specializes in crafting dharma artifacts, but... he''s also a disciple of the immortal sect and has secluded himself for quite some time. He isn''t very friendly, so we dare not approach him. I fear you might need to visit him personally, my lord..."
"From Wanyu Sword Gate, huh? That''s fine. Take me there," Li Xizhi replied decisively with a nod.
He set off, riding the rainbow as the two men followed closely behind, admiring and fearing the vibrant light beneath his feet.
One of them whispered through mana voice transmission, "This man is quite fortunate to be born as the direct descendant of Qingdu and be a disciple of Azure Pond Sect. His master is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from the Yuan Family of Mushroom Forest in, and his father is the ancestor of the Li Family. His family has Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators for three generations... He''s truly been above us since birth..."
The other old man nodded in agreement, replying in the same manner, "Indeed. I suspect this lord''s background in the sect ys a significant role too... He doesn''t get involved in the market dealings. Perhaps he even looks down on them!"
Of course, Li Xizhi could not hear their conversation. When he stepped into the courtyard, he saw a young man sitting on the ground, studying a blueprint. Sensing Li Xizhi''s presence, he raised his drooping eyelids and nced at him.
"I am Cheng Jinzhu of Wanyu Sword Gate. Which peak of Azure Pond do youe from?" the young man asked.
Although Wanyu Sword Gate and Azure Pond Sect did not have the best rtionship, the man''s sideways nce felt rather rude. Sensing the arrogance in his demeanor, Li Xizhi guessed that this situation might be challenging.
Nevertheless, he responded humbly, "I''m Li Xizhi from Qingsui Peak."
"Qingsui Peak? Never heard of it!" Cheng Jinzhu replied, his tone initially calm. But then he suddenly frowned, straightened his posture, and asked with confusion, "Li Family... Aren''t you from the Li Family of Fuchen Peak? This Qingsui you speak of... is it the Qingsui connected to the Sword Immortal?"
"I''m from the Li Family of Qingdu at Moongaze Lake," Li Xizhi exined.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Cheng Jinzhu jumped up from the ground, his expression shifting drastically.
His smile became enthusiastic, and he said with a hint of embarrassment, "My apologies, fellow Daoist! I saw how young you looked and thought you were a direct descendant of the Devil Gate... It turns out you''re the descendant of the Sword Immortal n! I am truly sorry!"
Although Cheng Jinzhu could openly refer to the Azure Pond Sect as the Devil Gate, Li Xizhi did not dare to acknowledge it. He felt a wave of relief wash over him, but could only bow his head silently and pretend he had not heard the young man''s remark.
"The influence of my predecessors is hardly worth mentioning," he replied modestly.
Cheng Jinzhu''s attitude changedpletely. He pulled Li Xizhi closer and eximed cheerfully, "What do you mean by hardly worth mentioning? When Celestial Moon Sword Intent first emerged, it was recorded even in the Wanyu Sword Book of my sect! The sword''s name is Qingche, and the sword intent is Celestial Moon¡ªethereal and unpredictable. With just a nce, anyone could tell that it embodies the true Dao!"
"We don''t like to refer to it by the name of the immortal peak in the Devil Gate. So, whenever we talk about the Sword Immortal, we refer to him by his sword''s name," he added.
A somber look appeared on his face as he continued, "It''s a pity he fell in the southern border. Such a shame..."
Cheng Jinzhu took Li Xizhi''s hand and said, "Your family hails from Azure Pond; otherwise, my sword gate would be the closest to your family. In recent years, my gate has been fighting everywhere, and the situation isn''t good. We can barely protect ourselves. Otherwise, we would definitely invite the descendants of your family to join us..."
He continued softly, "As for the Wrathful Maha, although my elder has never engaged in the dirty dealings of Buddhist cultivators, they made an exception in the great void, secretly trying to rescue the victims. Although his actions have yielded some unexpected results, things ultimately didn''t work out..."
Cheng Jinzhu seemed to be filled with frustration as he spilled out all these words that he had been suppressing all this while. Li Xizhi listened intently until he finished speaking, feeling slightly touched by his emotive expressions.
Cheng Jinzhu then noticed the expression on his face and smiled brightly as he said, "Come, fellow Daoist! Your family''s techniques are impressive. Let''s have a quick spar with swords!"
Chapter 517: The Secret Of Spells And Techniques (II)
Chapter 517: The Secret Of Spells And Techniques (II)
Li Xizhi understood that Cheng Jinzhu was likely wary of him pretending to be a member of the Li Family to deceive him. He ced his right hand on the hilt of his sword, gathering his energy before saying calmly, "All right, but I''ll only demonstrate one move."
After all, I only know this single move from the Law of Celestial Moon...
While Li Xizhi was thinking to himself, Cheng Jinzhu grew serious. He drew his sword, its brilliant sword qi already shimmering and flowing, signaling that he was ready for battle.
Wanyu''s sword technique legacy had been passed down through generations. As Cheng Jinzhu activated his sword, he observed Li Xizhi''s movements keenly. Suddenly, the sword hanging at Li Xizhi''s waist leaped into action, unleashing a massive sword arc that rushed toward him.
ng...!
Cheng Jinzhu retracted his sword, shaking it to dispel the energy of the sword arc that had surged toward him. He stepped back a few paces with a thoughtful look on his face.
Li Xizhi felt a pang of unease in his heart.
He moved really quickly with his sword! Despite being in thete stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, he effortlessly neutralized my strike, and that speaks volumes about his strength!
Meanwhile, Cheng Jinzhu stroked his chin andmented, "Your swordsmanship is quite peculiar... It''s very interesting."
He was eager to see more of Li Xizhi''s sword technique, but Li Xizhi refused and cut to the chase.
"I obtained a dharma artifact from Golden Tang Gate, and I would like to ask you to recast it so that my family can use it."
"Golden Tang Gate, huh? No problem, but is it a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact?" Cheng Jinzhu asked nonchntly.
Li Xizhi handed him the Dinglin Piercer. Cheng Jinzhu took it and examined it before praising it.
"Very interesting design... it''s a good treasure."
"Do you want to make it into a sword? What type of true essence can control it?"
The questions he asked showed his experience in his trade.
"Snow and pine," Li Xizhi replied.
Cheng Jinzhu considered this for a moment before nodding thoughtfully.
"Just bring all the cold jade or cold stone you have and I will recast it for you. It will take about... two to three years! This golden material is excellent. It would be a waste to keep it in its current form. It can easily be converted into a Foundation Establishment Realm sword!"
Li Xizhi thanked him gratefully and then asked, "How many Spirit Stones will it cost?"
Cheng Jinzhu casually stroked the Dinglin Piercer in his hand and said, "Just pay me however you wish. I won''t take advantage of you. However, I do have one request¡ªI must be the one to name this dharma artifact once it''s done."
Li Xizhi did not mind this term at all and nodded in agreement. After exchanging a few more words, they bid farewell and parted ways.
Upon returning to the courtyard, Li Xizhi found his family preparing to leave. He felt a pang of reluctance, having only spent half a month with them.
He hurried over to Li Yuanjiao and asked, "Has your wound healed, Father? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Li Yuanjiao replied gently, "My condition has stabilized, but I have hurt my tendons and bones... Such an injury cannot be healed in a day or two. I still need to go home and stay in seclusion for three to five years."
He adjusted his ck robe and added in a serious voice, "I have a few things to discuss with you."
Li Xizhi nodded, but did not expect what Li Yuanjiao said next.
"You need to spar with your younger brother."
"Huh...?"
Li Xizhi immediately nced at Li Xijun, who was holding a sword in his arms and was equally stunned. However, understanding quickly dawned on him.
As expected, Li Yuanjiao exined, "Let us see how my family''s descendantpares to the disciple of the Azure Pond Sect!"
Feeling slightly awkward, Li Xizhinded and noticed that Li Xijun, dressed simply in white, had long been stuck in the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. In contrast, he had just recently broken through and was wearing a brocade robe.
After a brief moment of thought, he removed his feathered robe and nodded at his younger brother.
"Please excuse me, Brother!"
Li Xijun soared into the air and executed the River Crossing Torrential Step, closing the distance between them while pressing his hand on the hilt of his sword. His expression was serious as flew toward Li Xizhi, white qi swirling in his eyes.
Li Xizhi, standing in midair with his sheath in hand, felt the colorful light beneath his feet growing dense and calm. He turned sideways and instantly pulled several feet away, shocking Li Xijun.
This footwork technique is too advanced! I can''t seem to close the distance...
Resolving to act quickly, he drew his sword and unleashed a powerful white sword arc. Li Xizhi, not intending to overwhelm his brother, also drew his sword, responding with a Celestial Moon Sword Arc.
Li Xijun''s sword was ordinary, but Li Xizhi''s shone with mana light, dazzling and eye-catching¡ªclearly indicating that it was far from ordinary. When their sword arcs collided, a loud explosion reverberated through the air.
Boom...!
The two sword arcs shed in midair, sending smoke and dust swirling around them. Li Xizhi dispersed a wisp of sword qi with a wave of his sleeve, revealing a hint of surprise on his face as he nodded approvingly.
"Good!" he praised.
Though Li Xizhi was older and had trained for longer, while also possessing superior sword talent, his extensive study of spells in the sect meant he had dedicated less time to swordsmanship than Li Xijun. Despite having the advantage of a dharma artifact, he found himself at a slight disadvantage.
Li Xijun seized the upper hand with that one move, eager to close in and unleash sword qi. However, Li Xizhi shook his head with a smile, performed a hand seal, and a vibrant light burst forth.
Floating Light Gathering.
Colorful lights floated about, shimmering and flickering like lightning. In an instant, Li Xijun felt his grip empty and realized that his sword had flown into Li Xizhi''s hand.
"What kind of spell was that?!" Li Xijun eximed in shock.
Li Yuanjiao, who had been quietly observing the fight, was taken aback. When he saw Li Xizhi snatch the sword from Li Xijun with a swift motion, his expression shifted to one of rm.
I knew it... there''s a method to counter weapon arts!
Rogue and n cultivators typically could not practice these spells or techniques, relying instead on weapon skills like swords, spears, and sabers to fight against the immortal sects. These skills were easy to learn but had high potential.
Hence, Li Yuanjiao had long suspected that the Azure Pond Sect possessed spells specifically designed to counter them.
His heart raced.
If that''s the case, how can we possibly win? It takes just a spell for them to disarm us!
Although Li Xijun was caught off guard, he was quick to react. He swiftly brought his fingers together and unleashed ughter Jun Kui Light. White light surged forward, aimed directly at Li Xizhi.
"Good spell," Li Xizhiplimented. He quickly performed a hand seal, bending his middle and ring fingers into his palm, raising the others to form a triangle shape, and reciting a brief chant.
"Enter, me, heart, cauldron."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Kui Light formed a white line, swirling gracefully beforending in his palm. With a gentle twist, he redirected it, causing the white energy to flow and freeze the ground beneath them.
After witnessing this disy, Li Xijun could only sigh in resignation. Li Yuanjiao and Li Xuanxuan exchanged nces, both astonished.
Zhi''er is not a direct descendant of Azure Pond, yet the Dawn Dew Gathering Technique is aplete andprehensive manual even by the standards of the Azure Pond is already this powerful! If he were part of the Chi Family...
Li Xizhi cupped his fist to his younger brother. Noticing the silent expressions of the two elders, he assured softly, "Zhi''er is not weak in the sect..."
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Li Yuanjiao sighed and asked, "How many spells can an average Azure Pond disciple practice?"
Li Xizhi replied respectfully, "Three or four. If they attempt more, it might dy their foundation establishment."
ncing at his father, he hesitated before adding, "Disciples in the sect typically establish their foundation in their fifties or sixties. It''s not solely due to their talent but rather the time lost practicing spells while waiting for the opportunity to break through. If certain spells remain unpracticed during the Qi Cultivation Realm, achieving Foundation Establishment bes significantly more challenging."
"Why is that?" Li Yuanjiao asked, frowning slightly.
Li Xizhi exined, "Once a cultivator establishes their immortal foundation, many divine wonders naturally manifest. If the spells they intend to learn do not harmonize with them, improvement bes difficult..."
"Conversely, if those spells are learned before establishing the foundation, they may be influenced positively by the immortal foundation, leading to remarkable changes. Thus, disciples in the sect strive to push themselves as much as possible. Unfortunately, some end up aging without progress, resulting in numerous tragedies.
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Chapter 518: Returning To Qingdu (I)
Chapter 518: Returning To Qingdu (I)
"I see," Li Yuanjiao murmured.
Back then, Kong Tingyun did not use a single spell to deal with Wushao. Although Profound Peak Gate may not match Azure Pond, she should have one or two spells as a direct descendant. She must have been wary of me and did not use her full strength...
After Li Xizhi had finished exining, he nced at his younger brother and said, "This should be the Kui Light spell we got at home. It''s perfect for Eighth Brother''s cultivation path and will be even more effective when you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Although Li Xijun was defeated in just a few moves, he did not show any frustration. Instead, a spark of curiosity crossed his face.
"Brother Zhi! What are the limitations of your spell?"
"I was just about to share," Li Xizhi nodded with a small smile as he borated, "Heavenly Glow excels at both striking and snatching. Excluding direct lineage secret legacies, Floating Light Gathering ranks among the best in Azure Pond. However, the effectiveness of this spell relies on the opponent''s sword cultivation and the quality of the sword they wield."
"If you could unleash sword essence or wield a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact, it would have been challenging for me to snatch your sword," he exined.
He paused, ncing at Li Yuanjiao, and continued, "If it were the Qingche sword, not only would I fail to take it, but I might also end up with my fingers cut and bleeding profusely. Additionally, if the sword''s intent is still sealed within, I''d likely lose my cultivation along with two pieces of my flesh."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, feeling significantly reassured by this information, and asked, "What if an Azure Pond Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator casts this spell?"
"Well, it''s a sword that belonged to the Sword Immortal, so it should be quite difficult to take," Li Xizhi replied.
He thought for a moment, then added, "But the tactics of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator are unpredictable, and we don''t know their spell''s grade. It could likely still create a disturbance, affecting the opponent''s swordsmanship."
"I see," Li Yuanjiao replied thoughtfully and then asked, "Has Yu Muxian practiced this spell?"
Li Xizhi understood the concern in his question but replied respectfully, "I have no idea..."
Li Yuanjiao resolved seriously, "Then I hope I can keep the sword intent within the de, in case one of my descendants is talented enough toprehend it and be a sword immortal. At the very least, it can be used against Yu Muxian instead of being wasted..."
Li Xizhi sighed internally, bowing to his father as he said, "I have also been keeping an eye on Yu Muxian... He''s been quietly refining dharma artifacts in the sect this year. But he''s a genius, and he has already... broken through to the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
As expected...
Li Yuanjiao showed no surprise. He pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
His son continued, "Fei Qingyi, the female disciple of the Fei Family who trained at Yuanwu Peak, has broken through to the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm and mastered the Ni Water Pure Rite technique. She is well-liked by Yu Muxian and loyal to him. If this continues, it could spell trouble for us."
"Hmph!" Li Xuanxuan frowned, his anger palpable.
"The Fei Family hasn''t sent anyone to visit in years! They''ve likely forgotten how my second uncle saved their family with his sword and liberated cial Cloud Peak!"
Li Yuanjiao remained unfazed and replied softly, "This is how the world operates. The Fei Family is defending Fei Qingyi, and there''s nothing we can say about it. We can only focus on our own matters."
N?v(el)B\\jnn
Li Xizhi cupped his fist slightly, refraining from responding. He then hurried to change the subject, sharing details about the creation of the dharma artifact with Cheng Jinzhu. After a moment of thought, Li Yuanjiao took out a piece of blue-and-white ore from his storage pouch and asked, "Is this Ni Water Cold Iron suitable for crafting that dharma artifact?"
"Oh yes, now I remember," Li Xizhi replied, realization dawning on him, "Yes, of course. This will reduce some costs... When it''s finished, I''ll have someone send it home."
Li Xizhi implied that he would cover the expense of making the dharma artifact. Li Yuanjiao studied him for a moment before saying, "I''ll leave it to you then. When I return home, I''ll have someone send the cold iron here."
Li Xizhi nodded and said, "I''ll try to gather some news about Situ Mo in the market and report back to the family. Please take care of Huai''er..."
He nced at Li Chenghuai in his grandfather''s arms, showing a hint of reluctance in his eyes. Rolling up the hem of his feathered robe, he searched his pockets but could not find anything to leave for the child.
In the end, he could only blurt out a single sentence.
"I''ll choose one or two dharma artifacts and send them home for himter."
"Of course," Li Xuanxuan replied, still cradling his grandson tightly.
Li Yuanjiao added, "Your mother also gave you a younger sister in your absence. She has already condensed her Profound Scenery Chakra. Her name is Li Yuexiang, and she shows promising talent... I''ll send her to visit you soon."
"What?!"
Li Xizhi was taken aback, unable to hide his surprise. He smiled wryly and thought to himself, So much forining that I didn''t write to you when my wife gave birth to Huai''er! You didn''t even bother to tell me I have a younger sister! And she''s probably already seven or eight years old now...
Despite grumbling internally, he was delighted by the news. Of course, he dared not talk back to Li Yuanjiao and merely responded politely. Li Xuanxuan beamed with pride, mumbling something about ''like father, like son''.
After bidding their farewell, they fetched Kongheng from the side yard and set off into the night.
Li Xizhi escorted his family out of the prefecture and when he turned around, the two old men approached him with fawning smiles.
Resuming his courteous yet distant demeanor, he asked, "Does the Golden Tang Gate run any business in the market?"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao and his group did not linger, hastily departing on the wind. As they headed west, he worried that Situ Mo might be lurking in the shadows while they were flying out in the open. He nced at Kongheng and asked, "Master Monk, Situ Mo is likely colluding with Buddhist cultivators in Zhao State to plot against us. You''re a Buddhist cultivator of true Dao lineage, do you know of any way to protect us? I don''t expect us to remain undetected, but I would like an early warning if those in Zhao State manage to deduce our whereabouts."
"Benefactor..." Kongheng replied, looking a bit ashamed.
"The methods of Zhao''s Buddhist cultivators and their power of deduction with the support of Maha''s power surpass my own. I can only rely on my Dao lineage to protect myself from their schemes and deductions... There''s little else I can do..." he sighed dejectedly.
"No need to me yourself, Master Monk," Li Yuanjiao reassured him. It had been a casual question, yet Kongheng''s kindness stirred feelings of shame over his own perceived ipetence.
Li Yuanjiao nodded thoughtfully.
At least they can''t deduce Kongheng... there''s still some room for maneuver.
The group rode the wind until they reached the vicinity of Moongaze Lake, finally allowing themselves to breathe a sigh of relief. Mount Qingdu was peaceful. Its grand formation was intact, and the territories under their rule seemed tranquil, basking in the sunset.
Li Yuanjiao exhaled, and a young man in ck flew over from the distance. It was Li Wushao, who had sensed their approach through their spiritual connection. He cupped his fist in greeting,nding respectfully before them.
"Wushao greets Master."
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly as Kongheng excused himself and returned to the ind where he stayed. Li Xijun and Li Xuanxuan descended on the mountain together.
Li Qinghong flew out to meet them, d in her jade armor and carrying a spear behind her. As soon as the siblings met, they fell silent, though both were eager to share their updates. They eventually took turns recounting what had transpired during each other''s absence.
"Zhang Yun? Zhang Huaide?" Li Yuanjiao asked skeptically.
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Chapter 519: Returning To Qingdu (II)
Chapter 519: Returning To Qingdu (II)
Since Zhang Huaide was from the Zhang Family and seemed to have significant background resources, the Li Family had long suspected him to be a disciple of the immortal sect who had veered toward the devil dao. Now, with Zhang Yun personally protecting him, those suspicions were confirmed.
"Yes, it seems that the Golden Feather Sect was not only involved in the devil gue, their Purple Mansion Realm cultivator also closely monitored the incident, and even sent their own direct disciples to manipte the devil gue in their territory," Li Qinghong remarked.
"That''s to be expected. After so many years in the Golden Feather Realm, the treasures umted by the ns are certainly tempting. Moreover, the prominent ns have already monopolized the Golden Feather''s cultivation and secret techniques, and they''ve long been eager to eliminate anypetition," Li Xuanxuan replied with a small sigh.
"Aside from Golden Feather and Azure Pond, several of the other seven gates, such as Changxiao and Purple Smoke, have pushed disciples who have little hope of making further progress to pursue the devil dao. While they may not dominate the situation, they can certainly still benefit from the scraps," he added.
Li Qinghong then continued, "Since Zhang Yun''s departure, those devil cultivators have grown increasingly bold, capturing cultivators throughout the barren mountains. It''s not just our family; I heard that the Shen Family, an immortal n in the Yue Cultivating Sect bordering the northern barren mountains, had also sent people here... They must have been forced back by Zhang Yun."
Li Xuanxuan shook his head as he gave a word of caution.
"Don''t worry about them... just avoid provoking them."
Li Qinghong nodded in agreement before taking out a jade box, smiling as she presented it.
"Look at this!"
Li Yuanjiao took the box and scanned its contents with his spiritual sense. It was a red fruit wrapped in dark gray leaves, beating like a heart.
His expression shifted to one of delight as he remarked, "This is Blood Sun Fruit... Luken is truly efficient! Xizhi happens to be in Libu Prefecture right now; let him take this to the Foundation Establishment Realm alchemist."
Li Yuanjiao stored away the treasure carefully. With that, the matter was finally settled. Li Xijun still seemed concerned about the wound on his wrist and reminded Li Yuanjiao to rest. Upon hearing that, Li Qinghong also urged him to return to his cave dwelling for proper rest.
Li Yuanjiao acknowledged their advice but headed to Li Yuanping''s courtyard instead. He intended to take medicine and dy his seclusion for another year or two so that he could keep Li Yuanpingpany.
However, when Li Yuanping heard that he was injured, he closed his door and refused to meet Li Yuanjiao.
Unable to ovee the insistence of his siblings, Li Yuanjiao reluctantly retreated into seclusion to heal his wounds.
As Li Xijun flew toward the mountain''s peak, he spotted a girl of about eight or nine standing on a rock. Dressed in white, she squinted against the sun, a smile illuminating her face as she called out, "Brother!"
"Xiang''er!" Li Xijun replied with a warm grin.
Li Yuexiang resembled her mother, Xiao Guiluan, with her fine eyebrows and phoenix eyes. Even at a tender age, she exuded grace. Though still a child, she carried herself with the maturity expected of a teen.
She twiddled her thumbs nervously and said, "Father only came to see me once, then went into seclusion again..."
As the only girl in the Xi and Yue generation, Li Yuexiang was cherished by her elder brothers. However, her mother, Xiao Guiluan, had raised her with discipline, instilling a sense of humility in her. The frequent and prolonged absences of her father only heightened her unease.
Li Xijun sighed, fully understanding the situation. Many privileged children were born into ns where their parents were already Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. To these parents, what seemed like a brief period of seclusion often resulted in them emerging to find their children had already be teenagers. After yet another period of seclusion to polish their cultivation, they would realize their kids had grown into adults in the blink of an eye.
"In truth, Brother Xizhi and Uncle Jiao also don''t see each other often. Both of you are raised by your mother... Your father has a lot of responsibilities to the family. You must be understanding..." Li Xijun assured as he gently consoled the girl who looked like she was about to cry.
At this point, Li Yuexiang had already begun her training as an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator. Taking her hand, Li Xijun distracted her, smiling as he said, "I brought you a little nephew. How do you think your mother will feel about him?"
Li Yuexiang pouted, saying glumly, "He''s just another one who can''t see his father..."
Li Xijun could only respond with an awkward smile as he led her up the mountain.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At Lake Xian''s estuary...
d in a golden robe, Situ Mo rode the wind on golden light with a grim expression. He flew along the riverbank, hands sped behind his back while remaining silent.
The demonic creatures lurking in the river below saw the brilliance above and fell still, too intimidated to even move. Situ Mo''s expression darkened even more as thoughts raced through his mind.
What a missed opportunity! The Li Family will be on high alert now, making it even harder to deal with them. Catching them off guard like this is a rarity... Who knows when the next chance will arise?
While he was lost in his thoughts, a yellow light erupted from Lake Xian, revealing a muscr monk with a clean-shaven head and a flushed body. His fierce gaze bore down on Situ Mo as he eximed, "Situ Mo! What have you done? This is a disaster! It''s absurd!"
Situ Mo''s expression darkened, and he retorted through clenched teeth, "Better than you, old man! You''re too scared to even show your face! That pathetic Wrathful Dao lineage you cultivate should be called the Cowardly Dao lineage instead!"
"Watch your mouth! The Wrathful Dao lineage isn''t some cowardly Dao lineage! I''ve been deducing for three years... The Li Family has too many ways and secret tricks up their sleeves! Although they don''t dare to kill you, they could strike me down with some talisman or sword!"
Situ Mo sneered, but he did not deny it. He had indeed hidden a lot of trump cards up his sleeve too. He simplyughed and mocked, "You can only me your Wrath Dao lineage for being torn apart. How many even remember Maha''s death and are actually seeking revenge? If they cared, a little Master Monk wouldn''t even be here in the first ce."
"What do you know?! Nothing is more important than preserving the Dao lineage! When someone ascends to the position of Maha again, it will be easy to capture the Li Family!"
Situ Mo paused, realizing that the monk had made a valid point. He cast a wary nce at him and then shouted, "If that''s the case, why are you messing around in the south?!"
The big monk chuckled with a fierce glint in his eyes.
"Since the Li Family killed the Maha, perhaps the key to ascending to that position again lies within them... What''s wrong with giving it a try?" he asked.
The expression on his face suddenly darkened again, returning to its wrathful form as he reprimanded, "Do not question me! Besides, I explicitly told you to kill only Li Xijun, bring his body back, and leave that monk alone! Why did you set up an ambush and ruin the entire n?!"
A sinister expression crossed Situ Mo''s features as he replied, "What use is Li Xijun? If we''re going to kill, we should take out Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong instead!"
"You''re making a mistake! What do you know? ns fear nothing more than ack of sessors. Killing Li Xijun, even if he''s injured, would cause more anguish than seriously wounding Li Yuanjiao! If we crippled Li Xijun, the Li Family will resent us for fifty or sixty years and could even risk their downfall!" the monk yelled out furiously.
Situ Mo fell silent but was sneering inwardly.
You think I don''t know that? Monks like you are good at deducing. If I were to simply kill him, the cause and effect would be settled instantly. Would you still stay around and help me if you deduced that this wouldn''t help your breakthrough to Maha? You''d just wash your hands of this and walk away... Where else would I find a capable ally who isn''t afraid of the Li Family?
If I''m going to kill someone, I need to aim high!
The monk continued berating him but failed to vent all his frustration. In the end, he only asked, "How long will it take you to return this time?"
"Probably ten years..." Situ Mo replied, giving him a troubled look, "The Profound Peak Gate has sent a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to oversee things overseas. She is rather formidable... I think her name is Kong Tingyun. I have no choice but to deal with this situation."
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He widened his eyes and continued coldly, "It would be best to find a chance to eliminate her, so we won''t waste time... I have to stir the pot too. We can''t let Profound Peak and Golden Tang be on friendly terms again..."
Chapter 520: Contact In Wubu Market (I)
Chapter 520: Contact In Wubu Market (I)
Qingdu Peak.
Li Yuanjiao was cultivating in seclusion, healing his wounds. However, the Blood Sun Fruit needed to be delivered to Li Xizhi in Wubu Market of Libu Prefecture. With uncertainties surrounding Situ Mo''s movements, the Li Family decided to send Kongheng to fulfill the task.
Li Xijun briefly mentioned the matter, to which Kongheng nodded and solemnly put the treasure into his chest pocket. He was a man who took promises seriously,mitted to fulfilling them even if they were at the cost of his life.
Li Xijun''s eyelids twitched as he asked, "Master Monk... they can''t trace you, right?"
Seeing Kongheng nod in affirmation, Li Xijun finally realized that his Dao lineage truly emphasized on keeping promises. He saw Kongheng off with an amused smile at the border.
Yet, as he watched him leave, he sighed.
"Those who cultivated the ancient method are simple and honest, but those Buddhist cultivators who practiced the new way are cunning... The two could not be more different."
With this thought, Li Xijun smiled wryly, adding, "Then again, my family is also known for our cunningness..."
Initially nning to fly back to Mount Qingdu, Li Xijun changed his mind.
"It''s been a long time since I saw Ximing. I wonder if he''s been fooling around and neglecting his cultivation... I better go remind him."
He made a sharp turn in mid-air andnded on Mount Wutu. The scenery was lush on Wutu, and outside the forest courtyard and Alchemy Pavilion, a woman awaited, dressed in white and wearing a veiled hat that was adorned with pearls and jade.
Upon seeing Li Xijunnd, the woman quickly removed her hat and said softly, "An greets Senior."
Li Xijun paused briefly, recognizing her as An Zheyan''s daughter, Li Ximing''s new wife, and his sister-inw. He lowered his gaze and replied, "Sister-In-Law, there''s no need for such formality."
An nodded and said softly, "Since Brother-In-Law is here, I''ll take my leave."
Li Xijun nodded and then stepped into the cave dwelling in the backyard. Inside, Li Ximing sat, swallowing a me from the furnace. Upon seeing Li Xijun, he eximed with delight, "Come,e,e!"
Li Xijun''s spiritual sense swept through the area, and he immediately understood the situation.
His voice was filled with astonishment as he asked, "You''ve... broken through to the eighth heavenlyyer?"
Li Ximingughed, waving his hands dismissively as he replied, "I''ve been umting my strength for a while, and just happened to break through on a whim!"
Though Li Ximing spoke casually and with pride, Li Xijun understood him and the effort behind his achievement. He was clearly waiting to be praised, so Li Xijunplimented him a few times, eliciting augh from him before adding, "Take another Talisman pill, and you''ll be able to break through to the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and the Foundation Establishment will be just within your reach."
"Of course," Li Ximing replied with confidence.
With a serious tone, he continued, "Once Uncle Jiao emerges from seclusion, we can choose an ind to settle down overseas! Leave the family to me; I can handle it!"
I know you''re toozy to go overseas, Li Xijun grumbled inwardly.
"I saw An waiting outside. While she has a good temper, you shouldn''t take her for granted. The An Family members are talented; An Zheyan has worked hard and made significant contributions over the years. You can''t let her down," he reminded Li Ximing.
"Yes... of course... I do treat her very well! I''m always nice. I couldn''t meet her just now because I was refining pills," he exined.
Li Xijun nodded, hesitating for a moment before finally asking, "What about Meng Zhuoyun? How do you n to deal with her?"
Li Ximing paused, suddenly looking a bit awkward as he replied softly, "I''ve tried to persuade her many times. She refuses to give up on revenge and stay with me... I guess I''ll just send her away when the timese. There''s no need for further discussion on this matter..."
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Seeing Li Xijun frown, Li Ximing quickly added, "I haven''t treated her unfairly! I''ve given her all the resources she needed and imparted all the alchemy knowledge she should know. When the timees, everything will bnce out, and we can part ways without owing each other."
Li Xijun shook his head in disbelief.
"You! You''re truly heartless... I don''t think that''s what she''s after!."
"That..." Li Ximing began, feeling a mix of shock and irritation from having his affair exposed by his brother.
"That''s nonsense! Who do you think she is? Our rtionship is purely physical," he said with a sigh.
Li Xijun nced at him and gently reminded, "If you''re going to let her leave, then make sure she doesn''t take anything that has our family''s seal away with her. We don''t want trouble in the future."
"That''s true," Li Ximing replied absent-mindedly. With no furtherment, Li Xijun departed.
Li Ximing straightened up, noticing several paintings scattered across the courtyard. He picked them up, examined each one closely, and then set them aside.
He spat out Long Marching Fire Essence. Meng Zhuoyun caused only a brief flutter of emotions in his heart, which he quickly dismissed and quickly forgot.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Libu Prefecture, Wubu Market.
In just three months, Li Xizhi had established control over the entire market and organized its rules and regtions. He won over several shop owners who were rogue cultivators, then made things easier for the shops owned by Xiao, Yuan, and Yang Families.
"With Azure Pond''s support, taking over this ce is straightforward. No one dares to defy me."
If it were not for Azure Pond and the backing of three prominent ns, it would have taken Li Xizhi ten times longer to gain this level of control. Now, after giving just a few orders, he could focus on his own cultivation properly.
ording to the sect''s unspoken rules, he could now take over many marginal profits. Concerned about giving others leverage against him, Li Xizhi chose to hold off.
Due to this, visitors were rare in the market. Wubu was not arge market. The disciples from the peaks were wary of it, and direct disciples were not interested in it. Hence, only Li Xizhi and the relevant families were here.
The spiritual energy here is far inferior to that of Azure Pond, but we are free and rxed here, without the need for constant worry.
As he pondered these thoughts, someone approached and cupped his fist respectfully.
"My lord, the records for Golden Tang Gate are here," he reported with a bow.
Li Xizhi took the document and flipped through it, quickly locating information on Situ Mo, the current apparent head of the Golden Tang''s main lineage, who should be thest survivor of a lineage that had been wiped out long ago.
Originally, the Golden Tang Gate was run by the eldest son, Situ Li, who had marriage ties with Profound Peak Gate. After the founder, Situ Tang, died, his second son, Situ Nu, supported by the Golden Feather Sect, killed his elder brother and took control, achieving the Purple Mansion Realm.
After Situ Nu''s death, the Golden Tang Gate fractured into several factions. In the end, control was restored to those in the first lineage, who were aligned with the Azure Pond Sect. Those in Situ Nu''s lineage were ughtered, leaving only Situ Mo as the only survivor.
Howplicated.
Li Xizhi skimmed through the document. He could clearly see the traces of conflict between Azure Pond and Golden Feather. As for the repeated massacres and struggles with the Golden Tang Gate, that was merely a show between the two sects.
They were all forced to do this. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have bothered to secretly shelter Situ Mo.
Li Xizhi felt a jolt of surprise and turned to his subordinate.
"Where is Situ Mo now? What mission has he epted?"
"I heard he has taken on a mission to the Eastern Sea and may not return for several years," the man replied respectfully.
"Continue," Li Xizhi encouraged, and the man went on to exin, "ording to the cultivators from the Han, Fu, and He families who visited the market, the Kong Family of Profound Peak has sent two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to an overseas market. They''ve taken control of two more inds and blocked the sea route, causing the Golden Tang Gate''s poption to dwindle by more than half."
"The rtionship between Profound Gate and Golden Tang was once very good, with no conflicts. However, it has soured in recent years, leading to this situation. In response, Golden Tang Gate has dispatched Situ Mo," he added.
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Chapter 521: Contact In Wubu Market (II)
Chapter 521: Contact In Wubu Market (II)
With this new insight, Li Xizhi took out a small letter and wrote a message to his family before sending it off.
Momentster, the old man returned with news that a monk wished to see him.
"A monk¡?"
Li Xizhi was rmed. He carefully inquired about the monk''s appearance and confirmed it was indeed Kongheng. With a talisman ready in his hand, he left the sect to meet him.
The monk had fair skin, sharp eyes, a long face, and round ears. He greeted Li Xizhi solemnly, "Greetings, fellow Daoist. I have been entrusted by your esteemed family to deliver a treasured panacea."
Upon hearing the mention of a treasured panacea, Li Xizhi had already begun to piece things together.
However, Kongheng did not present it immediately. Instead, he studied Li Xizhi closely and said softly, "Please show me the jade pendant, fellow Daoist."
Quite a stubborn one!
Li Xizhi smiled. Though they had just met, both were cautious. Li Xizhi revealed the jade pendant that symbolized the direct lineage of the Li Family. After verifying his identity, Kongheng apologized and handed him a jade box.Li Xizhi scanned the box with his spiritual sense, confirming that it did indeed contain the Blood Sun Fruit.
"Master Monk, please stay for a moment. The sword is about to bepleted, and I would appreciate it if you could take it back with you," he said softly.
Kongheng nodded and departed, allowing Li Xizhi to breathe a sigh of relief.
The matter with Li Encheng has finally been resolved... Now, I''ll head to Xuanyuan Market to establish a connection with him first.
With Situ Mo away in the Eastern Sea, Li Xizhi felt much more at ease. He handed over the other responsibilities to the two elder men and set off for Xuanyuan Market.
Xuanyuan Market was located near Mount Dongli, not far from Libu Prefecture. As Li Xizhi approached, mist rose around him, obscuring his appearance. Uponnding outside the market, an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator greeted him, asking, "Senior, you are¡?"
Li Xizhi simply replied, "I am a rogue cultivator from the Mushroom Forest in, traveling here for now."
Since Li Xizhi came here for a personal matter, he could not use his identity as a member of Azure Pond and had to fabricate a random backstory instead. The Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator showed no surprise. He pulled out a round dharma artifact and said respectfully, "Please pass in a trace of true essence, Senior."
The devil gue had been rampant for some time, and major markets had taken precautions to prevent devil cultivators from entering, ensuring the safety of the markets from internal and external threats.
Li Xizhi nodded slowly, infused the artifact with his true essence, and watched as it immediately emitted a brilliant white light.
The cultivator''s eyes widened in surprise.
"A cultivator practicing authentic techniques..."
Li Xizhi acknowledged him with a nod, dismissing the ttery as he epted the jade token offered by the man. He stepped inside the bustling market and searched for a while before quickly locating the Enshui Alchemy Pavilion.
As soon as he entered, a servant approached. Li Xizhi waved his hand and said, "Please invite your shop manager to see me."
Despite having concealed his feathered robe and obscured his face, his calm demeanor and extraordinary presencemanded respect. The servant hurried off, and soon, a tall, thin man descended the stairs, dressed in a short coat.
He smiled and cupped his fist, introducing himself.
"I am Li Enxi. It''s an honor to meet you, fellow Daoist."
Although Li Enxi was only in the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, he showed great courtesy to Li Xizhi.
Li Xizhi returned the politeness, following him into a secret chamber. Once inside, he removed his disguise and revealed his true identity.
Recognition flickered in Li Enxi''s eyes right away.
"Ah, so you''re Xizhi. My elder brother has told me about you and I''ve been expecting you."
Li Xizhi presented the jade box and said softly, "It''s a small gift for our meeting. Please ept it."
Li Enxi took the box, and with a quick check through his spiritual sense, he understood its contents.
"Is your Li Family... from the Wei State?" he asked.
Li Xizhi nodded in response, and Li Enxi smiled warmly.
"So¡ you are from the main family. My brothers and I have suspected only the descendants of Wei State''s Li Family could produce such talent."
His demeanor grew more enthusiastic as he added, "Considering our lineage, we trace back at least to Ancestor Mutian... But let''s not dwell on that, as I don''t want to make you ufortable."
Li Xizhi nodded modestly. Given their shared lineage spanning thousands of years, it was difficult to trace back now. Li Enxi had merely brought that up as a way to bring both of them closer.
Ultimately, Li Encheng needed a reliable n, and the Li Family required a seasoned alchemist at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Li Xizhi understood this but maintained his polite demeanor.
Li Enxi leaned in and whispered, "My elder brother doesn''t have much time left. The only path forward is to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm. In the future, we will need more assistance from the main family."
Recognizing the conditions beingid out, Li Xizhi nodded politely and said, "Of course, but my family is weak, and I''m afraid we can''t offer much help at this moment¡ There are certain matters where we will require your assistance, Senior."
"Of course," Li Enxi replied.
They exchanged nces, reaching a tacit agreement. Li Xizhi continued, "When the timees, we will need Senior Encheng''s help within the sect¡"
"Yes."
Li Enxi paused, then took out a pill from his robe and smiled.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Take a look."
Li Xizhi swept his spiritual sense over the pill, seeing that the inside was white and thus confirming it was indeed an Essence Gathering Pill. He felt a surge of happiness, wondering if Li Encheng had secretly refined it himself without expending blood qi, or if he had specially asked around about the Li Family''s preferences and prepared it ordingly.
Li Xizhi expressed his gratitude repeatedly. Li Enxi chuckled, but then his expression darkened, and he said harshly, "The incident about the Wrathful Maha... is inevitable after all. After a whole thousand years, these Dao lineages still won''t let us go..."
There was finally a note of sincerity in his tone. Li Xizhi was taken aback as Li Enxi continued, "My eldest brother was also killed by a monk! This hatred is a shared animosity within the Li Family of Wei. As long as my Li Family remains, we will never forget the blood debt of our destroyed homnd and the lives taken. When my brother heard about Maha, he spected that it was connected to the Li lineage of Wei and was eager to meet you..."
Li Xizhi then realized there was another reason for how smoothly things had gone. He nodded solemnly, recalling the unresolved hatred between the Qingdu Li Family and Maha.
At that moment, he was struck by a thought and said, "Speaking of this, our whereabouts have recently been exposed, and we''ve been ambushed by our enemies¡ The Buddhist cultivators from Zhao seemed to be involved."
Li Enxi frowned, hesitating before responding, "If you find yourself in trouble with the monks, you can always ask me for help. I see that you''re a smart child who knows how to navigate these situations, so I won''t say more..."
Li Xizhi nodded. He knew he and Li Enxi were still not close enough for him to divulge information about Situ Mo, fearing it might frighten Li Enxi away. Instead, he replied, "If Ie across any trace of a Buddhist cultivator, I will certainly let you know."
After talking for a while, they established the rules for future meetings before Li Xizhi turned and left. He rode the wind, stroking the hilt of his sword and lost in his thoughts.
Azure Pond¡ Overseas¡ Moongaze¡
"Father is already preparing to make a move overseas. The family is growing stronger. Seventh and Eighth Brothers have a chance to establish their foundations; they are merely waiting for the right opportunity¡"
For the first time in twenty years of hiding and being submissive at Azure Pond, his expression shifted, revealing his ambition. He no longer concealed his desires.
With the support of Li Encheng, the Yuan, Xiao and Ning families, it would be entirely feasible to unify Moongaze Lake¡
Yu Muxian¡ Yu Muxian! As long as we eliminate this obstacle, we can quickly seize control of the entire Moongaze Lake.
Chapter 522: Hanlin
Chapter 522: Hanlin
Mount Qingdu.
Time flowed like a gentle stream. Mount Qingdu had fully established itself as a peak in theke, seamlessly connected to the earth veins beneath it. It was no longer possible to tell that the mountain was moved here.
Li Xijun was practicing swordsmanship on the mountain. Compared to his brothers, he was not particrly gifted with swords.
Over the past two years, Li Ximing had broken through to the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm with the help of pills, and his cultivation was progressing well. Li Xizhi had also reached the seventh heavenlyyer, while Li Xijun remained stuck at the sixth heavenlyyer.
Thest three heavenlyyers of the Qi Cultivation Realm are really challenging. I''m less talented than them and had only managed to keep pace before due to receiving some advantages¡ It''s only natural that I''ve fallen behind now.
Li Xijun remained positive, practicing his swordsmanship day and night. As he swung his long sword, he gradually developed a certain grace, thus attaining mastery of this technique.
"Threefold Moonlight is indeed difficult! After years of hard work, I''ve finally made some progress," he murmured happily to himself.
While he continued training, he noticed a monknding on the peak with a long jade box slung across his back, gazing at him warmly.
"Master Monk, you''re finally back!"Kongheng had been away for two years. If it was not for Li Xizhi writing home, Li Xijun might have feared something had happened to the monk during his journey.
He nced at the jade box on the monk''s back before his eyes lit up with excitement. He eximed joyfully, "The dharma sword is done?!"
Li Xijun currently possessed no valuable treasures. Li Yuanjiao had given him zed Dusk, a string of red beads before, but he had given the protective dharma artifact to his younger sister, Li Yuexiang. For now, a sword was all that he had.
Even a calm person like Li Xijun, who seldom disyed joy, was ted by the fact that his elder brother had crafted a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact for him.
"Indeed!" Kongheng replied, nodding in affirmation.
He removed the jade box from his back and carefully took out the long sword inside it. The de was thin, long, and white like fresh snow, gleaming coldly in the light.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Kongheng presented the sword with both hands.
"This sword measures three chi, nine cun, and three fen in length, weighing ny-two jin and twelve taels. It is a Foundation Establishment dharma artifact crafted from cold iron and metal essence. As shimmery as the flowing water and as pure as white frost, it is named Hanlin."[1]
Li Xijun was entranced, unable to tear his gaze away. With trembling hands, he epted the sword, nodding in awe.
"Good... Good..." he murmured in a daze.
The Hanlin Sword nged as Li Xijun held it in his hand. Suddenly, the two characters inscribed on the de lit up, emitting a radiant white light, as if rejoicing.
Turning his hand and holding the sharp sword upside down, the white tip touched his other shoulder, exuding a chilling aura. He measured the sword''s length for a moment before expressing his satisfaction once again.
"Good!"
He raised his eyebrow and swung the sword, summoning a gust of cold wind around him. A cold light danced in the air before transforming into three streams of white, crystalline light that twirled and swirled around him.
"Threefold Moonlight!" he eximed.
Li Xijun exhaled deeply, and the three streams of light vanished. After so many years, he could finally execute the sword technique he had honed with the Hanlin Sword in his hand. The technique froze the rock beneath his feet and caused it to shatter into pieces.
"Nice!"
A deep and hoarse voice interrupted him. Li Xijun recognized it instantly. He quickly sheathed the sword and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Li Yuanjiao emerged slowly from the stone path with a pleased smile.
"You have a natural talent for swordsmanship. Your diligence and passion for the sword will ultimately bear fruit," he praised softly.
He paused, continuing with a hint of nostalgia, "Ancestor Tongya practiced swordsmanship for thirty years before mastering this technique¡ You''ve caught up with him."
Li Xijun immediately refuted this with respect.
"How can I possiblypare to the ancestor? I''m slow-witted! I''ve studied this sword technique for twenty years¡ The Ancestor may have practiced swordsmanship for thirty years but he had learned this technique in less than ten, after receiving this sword manual¡ It''s unfair topare us like that!"
Seeing the terror in Li Xijun''s expression, Li Yuanjiao could tell that Li Xijun genuinely revered the ancestor and showed humility.
"Well, at least you''re doing better than I did!" he remarked, clearly pleased.
Li Xijun was about to respond but Li Yuanjiao interrupted him with a wave of his hand, then took the Hanlin Sword. He inspected it closely and remarked in a deep voice, "The material is excellent¡ I suspect it''s second only to the Qingche Sword. Its value will surely reflect that. Fortunately, it was modified and not forged from scratch¡ Send thirty Spirit Stones to Zhi''er. Make sure he doesn''t stubbornly refuse it, lest it hinders his cultivation."
Li Xijun nodded. The Li Family had been doing well, with hundreds of Spirit Stones umted over the past few years. Spending a few dozen wasn''t an issue for them now.
Li Yuanjiao returned the sharp sword to him and mumbled, "It''s a well-chosen name."
Li Xijun pursed his lips, while Kongheng remained silent too. After a moment, the monk excused himself and quickly left.
Li Yuanjiao took out a small letter and said in a serious tone, "This is the letter Zhi''er sent home. It''s been delivered to my cave dwelling for some time already¡ Take a look."
Li Xijun nodded, ncing at the letter briefly before replying, "In my opinion¡ I''d go overseas immediately. At least I can start looking for an ind to establish a foothold, and at the same time, I can ensure Situ Mo is too distracted to target Profound Peak Gate."
"After all, Profound Peak Gate has a good rtionship with our family, and Kong Tingyun is a friend of Second Uncle. We should join forces with her; at least we can ensure Situ Mo suffers a setback!" he added.
His mind raced as he made quick deductions.
"It would be best to identify Situ Mo''s allies or connections and eliminate them first. That way, he won''t be able to trace our whereabouts, greatly reducing the threat."
He continued softly, "Kongheng should stay here since he is the best at defense. With the family''s grand formation in ce and Situ Mo overseas and absent, we should have nothing to worry about."
While Li Xijun said that, he knew that once everything had been determined, the family would not necessarily need to be guarded by a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
However, he knew Li Yuanjiao was cautious by nature, so he held back from saying more.
Li Yuanjiao had been in seclusion for over two years, healing from his injuries. With the aid of numerous spirit pills, his cultivation had even improved slightly.
"That''s a feasible n¡ However, if Situ Mo''s ally is indeed a Buddhist cultivator from Zhao State, we may struggle to find this monk without Kongheng''s assistance, let alone confront him," hemented.
Li Xijun nodded slightly and replied, "Auntie is a powerfulbatant and must go. So, Uncle is suggesting that we should leave Senior Wushao behind instead?"
Li Yuanjiao simply nodded in confirmation.
"Yes. We''ll need that snake demon to guide us in the Eastern Sea, so we may as well deal with Situ Mo first, then let Qinghong return home to take his ce."
"I guess that''s the only way¡" Li Xijun sighed softly before continuing with a doubtful voice, "but I worry that as soon as we set out from here, that person will be able to deduce our ns!"
"I asked Kongheng about this before. That person will have to pay a certain price to deduce my position, so it''s not like he''ll immediately find out. In this case, it''s better to make a swift decision and leave immediately to catch Situ Mo off guard..."
Though Li Yuanjiao spoke confidently, a flicker of doubt lingered in his heart.
My family has gradually gained influence and can at least gather some news now¡ The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators likely won''t make any moves. However, my greatest concern is the possibility of a group of Master Monks from Zhao State lying in wait!
He pondered this for a moment before deciding to send Kongheng to the Eastern Sea first, deliver a letter to Kong Tingyun of Profound Peak Gate to inquire about the current situation, and then strategize from there.
1. Hanlin Sword is about 131 cm long and weighs 46.5 kg. Mortals like me can''t imagine swinging something this heavy around. ?
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Chapter 523: Setting Out for the Eastern Sea (I)
Chapter 523: Setting Out for the Eastern Sea (I)
Li Yuanjiao sat in the mountains, reading the Law of Celestial Moon for a while before taking a moment to reply to Li Xizhi''s letter, informing him of the situation back home.
The Li Family was preparing to head overseas, and with their current strength, capturing a Foundation Establishment Realm demon creature to be used for requesting talisman qi for Li Xizhi would not be too difficult. Li Yuanjiao had been thinking about this and decided to write to ask if they could carry out the task.
He waited for over a month, but Kongheng had not yet returned. Instead, a letter from Li Xizhi arrived first.
"...I have already broken through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and my foundation is solid. I should be able to reach the eighth heavenlyyer in three to five years. After taking some pills, I will be able to touch upon the Foundation Establishment Realm. Using that qi to increase my cultivation now would be a waste. It would be better to wait until I reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, and then I will return home."
Li Yuanjiao understood Li Xizhi''s point and nodded in approval. As a disciple of an immortal sect, Li Xizhi still had many spells and techniques to learn and was in no rush to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. He could even afford to dy it for a while longer. Thus, Li Yuanjiao dismissed the idea of requesting talisman qi for him and decided to wait until his son achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Reflecting on the passage of time, Li Yuanjiao suddenly realized that Li Xizhi was already thirty-five years old. He felt a moment of surprise, then realized that he himself was over fifty, though his early advancement in the Qi Cultivation Realm left him still looking like a man in his early mid-thirties.
"What a shame the repeated injuries have dyed my cultivation. Otherwise, I would have reached the edge of the mid-Foundation Establishment Realm by now..." Li Yuanjiao said as he let out a sigh.
Li Yuanjiao''s talisman qi had significantly enhanced his speed of cultivation during the Qi Cultivation Realm, but since the Foundation Establishment Realm only had three stages, its effects had not manifested yet, leaving him feeling somewhat behind.
"Well... it is inevitable."
He held a pale purple jade slip in his hand when a tall, broad-shouldered man with a square face approached him. In a respectful tone, he said, "Xicheng greets the ancestor."
Li Xicheng had already reached the fourth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He had been diligent and meticulous in his duties over the years, never making any serious mistakes.
In a gentle tone, Li Yuanjiao asked him a question, to which Li Xicheng replied, "Reporting to Ancestor, something has happened at the devilir in the east... I had stationed people to keep watch, and although it has been quiet for the past few years, there was constant fighting early this morning. Blood was spilled and the sounds of battle echoed through the sky. The returning scouts reported that the devilir has been destroyed."
"How many people were involved?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
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Li Xicheng hesitated before replying, "Just one."
"A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator?" Li Yuanjiao frowned.
Li Xicheng replied cautiously, "It is said that the man came from the east. The devil cultivators in their swarmed him, but he killed nearly all of them, leaving only three or five that managed to escape."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanjiao frowned even deeper.
"Not of the Foundation Establishment Realm..? Then he must be a Qi Cultivator..."
The devil cultivators were not fools. If they had encountered a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, they would have fled immediately rather than fight. If it had been a proper Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, there would not have been any survivors at all.
Li Xicheng nodded slightly and added, "The man wielded a golden hammer and breathed fire, fighting the devil cultivators for quite some time before scattering them. He might be a cultivator from the Eastern Sea..."
Just as he finished speaking, a purple bolt of lightning descended from the sky. Li Qinghong emerged from her seclusion, looking radiant and full of energy. Li Yuanjiao waved for Li Xicheng to leave and fell into deep thought.
Li Qinghong stopped Li Xicheng and listened closely to his report before letting him go. She then remarked, "Zhang Yun personally escorted someone and went out of his way to intimidate the nearby families, ensuring they would not interfere... It seemed he was expecting that man to show up!"
Li Yuanjiao nodded and analyzed further, saying, "Perhaps they intended to deliver some cultivation technique or dharma artifact to that person, setting up this scenario deliberately. Leaving such obvious clues was a clear ploy to pass the item into his hands. It was likely part of the Golden Feather Sect''s plot... they were either targeting someone or manipting him."
The Li Family, having be a n, had learned over the years how to navigate the schemes of the three sects and seven gates. In the past, they were inexperienced and got caught up in the schemes, but now Li Yuanjiao could see through them immediately.
He sighed, contemting, "When Maha set up their trap years ago, I am sure other ns saw our Li Family the same way... All we could do was remain silent, waiting in fear to see how things would unfold."
Li Qinghong nodded, now fully understanding. Whoever that person was, the Li Family would not dare to get involved, lest they bring ruin upon themselves. She spoke softly, "As long as there is an oue, that is all that matters. With the devilir dealt with and Zhang Yun gone, we can finally rx a little."
The siblings both sighed in relief. Just then, Kongheng arrived, looking travel-worn as he descended into the formation on a gust of wind. He chanted a Buddhist verse and said, "This humble monk is pleased to have fulfilled his duty."
Li Qinghong epted the letter being handed to her, ncing briefly at the monk who delivered it. He lowered his gaze, a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. After a few polite words, he hurriedly withdrew from the mountain.
Li Qinghong raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Beside her, Li Yuanjiao merely nced at the letter before reading through it quickly.
It was from Kong Tingyun. Her handwriting was elegant, and her tone casual. She began the letter byunching into a tirade against Situ Mo, calling him treacherous and deceitful, devoid of honor and loyalty. She then warmly invited the Li Family to visit her, mentioning that it would be a good way to vex Situ Mo.
Her tone felt as if she were smiling while saying it, without any sense of distance. At the end of the letter, she added, "Toward the end of June, a group of disciples from the sect will head overseas. If it is convenient, Brother Yuanjiao, why not join them and offer some protection to our disciples? It will save me another trip."
Not a bad idea, Li Yuanjiao thought, nodding quietly to himself. If they could travel alongside members of Profound Peak Gate, it would be safer, especially against any potential scheming from the Buddhist cultivators.
Li Qinghong took the letter from him and, after a brief nce, smiled and said, "Kong Tingyun seems quite agreeable."
Her almond-shaped eyes briefly lingered on her brother''s face. Seeing that Li Yuanjiao''s expression remained unchanged as he pondered and nned, she quietly exhaled in relief, thinking to herself, Sister-In-Law''s talent is slightly inferior. She''s only at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Once she breaks through, I should give her a talisman pill. Although my brother and his wife share deep affection, they shouldn''t be too far apart in strength...
Li Qinghong had known Xiao Guiluan for many years and had grown quite fond of her. Li Yuanjiao, being upright and impartial like his granduncle Li Tongya, had never granted Xiao Guiluan any special treatment or resources. It was only Li Qinghong who asionally sent her some pills.
As Li Qinghong was lost in thought, Li Yuanjiao quickly noticed her distraction and asked a question. She shook her head, snapping herself out of her own thoughts. Only then did Li Yuanjiao say, "The agreed date is approaching. Let us pack up and head out together."
Li Qinghong, still holding her spear, replied, "There is nothing much for me to pack. Let us go!"
Li Yuanjiao then summoned the brothers¡ªLi Xicheng and Li Xijun¡ªalong with Li Wushao, instructing them to manage the household carefully and avoid any rash actions.
Only after ensuring everything was in order did he and Li Qinghong, along with Kongheng, rise into the sky, riding the wind.
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Chapter 524: Setting Out for the Eastern Sea (II)
Chapter 524: Setting Out for the Eastern Sea (II)
Fearing any potential interference from Buddhist cultivators, they traveled quickly. By dawn the next day, the Profound Peak Gate''s territory in Shanji Prefecture soon came into view.
An elderly man greeted them, his appearance in with two small moles on his face. His body, adorned with various jade pendants, clinked as he moved. He greeted them with a heartyugh, "Kong Yu of Profound Peak Gate greets fellow Daoists!"
Years ago, when Kong Yu was invited by Li Xuanxuan to move mountains for the Li Family, he had told him about the One Stick of Incense n. This man could be considered a friend of Li Xuanxuan. At that time, Li Yuanjiao was in seclusion and had not met him, but Li Qinghong had.
"Greetings, Senior," she replied politely.
"Ah! Please do not call me that. You are ttering me too much!" Kong Yu smiled wryly.
When he first visited the Li Family, Li Qinghong was still in the Qi Cultivation Realm, and it had been reasonable for him to act like a senior. Now, in the blink of an eye, she had be a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and Kong Yu dared not act overly familiar, humbly declining the honor and asking, "How is Daoist Xuanxuan faring?"
"My father is in good health," Li Yuanjiao replied. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, several young disciples flew up from below, all at the Qi Cultivation Realm.
They gazed at the two of them with admiration and greeted them respectfully, "Greetings, Seniors!"
Li Qinghong, still looking youthful, was dressed in jade armor and silver boots, exuding a heroic spirit. The male disciples of Profound Peak could not help but stare, clearly both in awe and fear, making Kong Yu visibly embarrassed.
"Naturally, no one dared to look at Li Yuanjiao, whose more mature appearance gave him a viinous air. He quietly observed the group of disciples, thinking to himself, Their cultivation is even lower than Xijun''s, and they don''t look like disciples from a major sect... They must not be from the sect''s core lineage."
After everyone had gathered, they set out swiftly, riding the current downstream, heading toward the Eastern Sea.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Wutu Peak.
Li Ximing slowly exhaled, and it seemed as though two bright mes red up in his eyes, flickering and rising before turning into a golden light that gradually faded into nothingness. With a light inhale, he swallowed the Long Marching Fire Essence before him into his belly.
Two years ago, he had taken a talisman pill to break through to the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Afterward, he diligently cultivated, refining his strength, and now his cultivation was fully consolidated.
Li Tongya''s generationcked medicinal pills, and refining one''s cultivation was a slow and painstaking process that could take three to five years. By Li Ximing''s generation, however, pills were much more plentiful. Li Ximing himself had no shortage, so his progress was swift.
With a flick of his hand, he revealed a jade bottle containing an Essence Gathering Pill and thought to himself, Brother Zhi gave me this pill... but I don''t really need it. It would be better to leave it for Xijun...
Li Ximing was not one to boast, but when it came to cultivation, he was brimming with confidence. His heart was set on the Dao, and he had a spirit fire from heaven and earth in his belly. Over the years, through the practice of dual cultivation and absorbing fire, he had faintly sensed that he was in alignment with this path, giving him a strong assurance of sess in reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Despite his confidence, Li Ximing hesitated. Failing to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm meant the end of one''s life and Dao. If it were anyone else, even with a ny-nine percent chance of sess, he would keep the matter to himself and not risk letting it slip.
But Li Xijun was not just anyone. In Li Ximing''s life, there were very few things he truly cared about, and Li Xijun, the younger brother who visited him earnestly every day, was one of them. It was difficult for him to part with that bond.
Gritting his teeth, Li Ximing ced the jade bottle on the table, resisting the urge to take it. He locked the door behind him and turned to leave.
In front of him stood Meng Zhuoyun, her ck hair flowing loosely, with the ends tied in a red ribbon and adorned with a small blue-gold orchid. Needing a distraction from the Essence Gathering Pill, Li Ximing pulled her into his arms.
Meng Zhuoyun pouted slightly but began to undress, almost out of habit. Li Ximing muttered under his breath while she remained passive, hesitant as though making a decision.
Suddenly, she asked, "Brother Ming, will you keep me?"
Li Ximing frowned, as though repeating himself for the hundredth or two-hundredth time, "You can handle it on your own."
Lost in his own thoughts, Li Ximing''s actions were automatic. Their bodies had long since be ustomed to each other, moving naturally, yet both were distracted. Meng Zhuoyun ced her hands on his chest and suddenly spoke, "Li Ximing."
It was the first time she had called him by his full name, and he was taken aback. Softly, Meng Zhuoyun continued, "You are only relying on the Li Family... You think you are a genius? You are just living off the shadow of your forefathers, stripping away everything the Li Family has given you. What can you truly call your own? Hmm..?"
Sweat dripped down Meng Zhuoyun''s graceful face as she panted softly, yet her eyes remained calm. She spoke in a quiet voice, "Even without a prestigious background, Li Yuanjiao could be a fierce general, Li Xijun could be a swordsman, and Li Xicheng could be a manager... But you? You are nothing but a coward."
Li Ximing closed his eyes, as though her words had touched a sore spot. After several breaths, he whispered, "Stop... just stop talking..."
Meng Zhuoyun pushed his hands away, exhaling deeply before saying softly, "I will be leaving."
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Without hesitation, she stood up and emptied the contents of her storage pouch. Pills, secret technique manuals, paintings, and Li Ximing''s clothes¡ªall of it came tumbling down onto him.
Nearly overwhelmed by disbelief and caughtpletely off guard, Li Ximing watched as Meng Zhuoyun draped a robe over herself. She cast a Purification Spell on herself, then walked out of the courtyard, her ck hair flowing behind her, her expression resolute.
She had barely taken a few steps forward when she saw a white-robed young man standing in the forest, blocking her path.
With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he held a sword in his arms. Though Meng Zhuoyun looked disheveled, her pale skin exposed, the young man respectfully averted his gaze, his expression polite.
Meng Zhuoyun shook her head gently, the blue-gold orchid in her hair glinting under the moonlight. Her soft eyes were clear and filled with defiance as she asked, "What do you want, Senior?"
Li Xijun extended his hand politely and said, "I hope you would allow me to inspect your storage pouch."
Meng Zhuoyun bowed and handed over her storage pouch. Li Xijun examined it carefully and found nothing rted to his family. He apologized and returned the pouch but still did not move aside.
Left with no other option, Meng Zhuoyun cast a spell and swore a Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, vowing not to disclose any of the Li Family''s secrets. Still, Li Xijun did not relent, his gaze lowered in guilt as he added softly, "I have heard that you are skilled with a painter''s brush?"
Though his tone remained courteous, the Hanlin sword on his back glowed ominously. Meng Zhuoyun was not foolish and immediately understood, adding a few more assurances to her vow. Only then did Li Xijun apologize, "You have made many pills for our family over the years... It is Brother Ming''s fault for treating you unfairly. This is topensate you for all the pills you have refined."
He untied a storage pouch from his waist and respectfully handed it to her. Meng Zhuoyun''s face changed, a mix of shame and frustration rising within her. But seeing the genuine sincerity in Li Xijun''s eyes, she knew he did not intend to humiliate her. Silently, she epted it and whispered, "Thank you."
With that, she soared into the sky, vanishing into the distant horizon.
Li Xijun sighed and stepped into the courtyard, which remained in disarray. Li Ximing quietly fixed his attire. Li Xijun let out a bitterugh and said, "You made a mess, yet I have to be the one to clean it up..."
Li Ximing said nothing. Hanging high in the courtyard was a painting. In it, Li Ximing wore a smile, yet his expression was cold and emotionless. His eyes were indifferent, as though lost in deep thoughts.
Irritated by the sight of it, Li Ximing waved his hand, summoning the painting. He folded it and tucked it into his robe before waving his brother out.
Turning back, he gathered the scattered paintings in the courtyard. Suddenly losing interest, he pulled out his alchemy furnace and returned to refining pills.
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Chapter 525: Mutuo (I)
Chapter 525: Mutuo (I)
The Eastern Sea spanned thousands of li, with jagged rocks jutting out across its vast expanse. Waves surged endlessly from the boundless east, one after another, crashing upon each other. The inds scattered across the horizon were linked, theirndscapes vastly different from those ind. The brilliant morning sun began to rise from the edge of the sky, casting rays of light in all directions.
It was Li Qinghong''s first time venturing overseas, and she was deeply captivated by the sight. Unable to hold herself back, she asked, "Is this the end of the world... where immortals reside?"
Kong Yu stroked his beard with a smile and replied, "If you travel eastward all the way to the edge of the Eastern Sea, you will reach the Endless Void Abyss. There, the seawater reverses and falls into the abyss, descending slower and slower until it bes vapor, rising back up and returning to the sea."
Taking a moment to recount the past, Kong Yu continued, "There is no air, no spiritual qi, nor the great void. That ce is called Outer Heavens. In ancient times, cultivators and members of the demon race embarked on journeys to the Outer Heavens from the four seas, and none have ever returned."
Li Yuanjiao nodded. He had heard about this from Li Xizhi before and now asked, "If that is the case... why would anyone go there?"
Kong Yu sighed with a touch of sentiment. "When a cultivator attains the Golden Core Realm, they gain Fruition Attainment and can rece heaven''s will with their own. Beyond that is the Dao Embryo, but what lies beyond the Dao Embryo? There is no path left to take...
"It is said that in the past, it was impossible to leave. The four seas were bound by a heavenly barrier. But during the immortal-devil war at Pingming Ford, the heavens lowered by three zhang, and the earth rose by nine chi. Since then, the four seas became unbound, and the practice of cultivation became unrestricted. It is said that those with Dao Embryos sense that the true path lies in the Outer Heavens, so they journey there."
Li Yuanjiao silently nodded, while Kongheng, who had been listening intently, spoke up. "So that is how the immortal sects view it... Our Buddhist sect holds a different perspective."
He had an awkward look on his face and apologized first for what he was about to say. "ording to our scriptures, the battle at Pingming Ford is referred to as the Karmic Filth of Past Lives, marking the division between the previous and future incarnations of the Buddha. In the past, immortals and theirws ruled the world, with the Xia people reigning supreme. In the future life, the rise of Buddhism followed, as the Hu and Jie people reced the Xia."[1]
Kongheng had spoken cautiously, yet the faces of the group still darkened. Kong Yu, however, seemed to reflect on it thoughtfully and remarked, "After the battle of Pingming Ford, the Wei State was destroyed, and the states of Qi, Liang, Zhou, and Yan rose and fell¡ªall under the rule of the Hu and Jie people... Perhaps the Buddha''s words were a prophecy of fate."
Kong Yu gave a wry smile and murmured softly, "Five hundred years ago, the southern immortal mansions still had dreams of reiming the northernnds. But after the fall of several immortal mansions, all that is left is infighting in their own small corners. The Buddha''s words were not entirely wrong! Immortalw has copsed, and what remains in the south are the paths of devils!"
The Profound Peak disciples behind them exchanged puzzled looks, and one of them asked, "Master''s words do not make sense. We vanquish demons and eliminate evil, enjoying the freedom of the heavens and earth... How does that connect to devil paths?"
Kong Yu''s face was filled with bitterness. He tightened his grip on the wooden staff and nced at Li Yuanjiao before sighing. "All of you are still young... You do not understand the ways of the world yet. It is not just about vanquishing demons and eliminating evil. Take one wrong step, and you too will be a devil yourself. And as for the freedom you speak of... there is no such thing."
The disciples, some thoughtful, others defiant, remained silent. Kongheng chanted a Buddhist prayer, his face filled withpassion, as if deeply resonating with the sentiment.
Li Yuanjiao, observing Kongheng''s demeanor, surmised that the Profound Peak Gate had likely either been coerced or willingly participated in some unsavory deeds during the devil gue. He shook his head slightly and said in a gentle voice, "Your gate has done rather well under the circumstances."
Kong Yu chuckled grimly and pointed ahead, changing the subject with a smile, "Up ahead is Splitreed Ind, the firstnding point of the Eastern Sea!"
The Eastern Sea was divided into five major regions. Beyond Lake Xiany the Crimson Reef Sea, a region full of jagged rocks and home to countless inds. Looking ahead, the group saw a huge ind rising in the distance.
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This ind was vast, covered with various pavilions and towers. Countless cultivators flew up and down, and in the distance, parts of the ind were hidden within clouds and mist, its full extent unknown.
Kong Yu smiled and said, "This ce is called Splitreed Ind. The fire veins here are astonishingly active, surpassing even the volcanic deserts... It is one of the great wonders of the Eastern Sea."
The group was filled with awe, and the Profound Peak disciples bombarded Kong Yu with questions. The old man beamed with pride as he exined, "The ind gets its name from Immortal Yingze of the Moonlight Origin Mansion. Legend has it that the immortal captured the Lesser Yang Devil Monarch here, known as Kuaili!
"This Devil Monarch had attained the Lesser Yang Fruition Attainment, bing undying and indestructible. The immortal, unable to fully destroy him, forced him to reincarnate and start his cultivation anew. Using a white jade hairpin, the immortal divided him into three parts.
"One part was cast into a ce known as Beiming, where it transformed into a woman known as the Empress Beiyao. Another part was thrown into the western Great Western ins, bing the Devil Lord Xiyan. Thest part sank to the bottom of the Eastern Sea, where it was imed by the Dragon n, now known as the Dragon Monarch Xiyang of the Eastern Sea."
Li Yuanjiao, both astonished and unsettled by what he heard, silently reflected on the culture of the Eastern Sea. Such stories would never be spoken of so openly in the Azure Pond Sect, yet here in the Eastern Sea, they were freely shared.
He could only ask, "Are all three of them Golden Core Realm cultivators?"
Kong Yu replied, "It is known that Empress Beiyao and the Dragon Monarch are both Golden Core Realm cultivators, but the one in the Great Western ins is merely a legend..."
"If that is true... that means a single Lesser Yang Fruition Attainment was split into three Golden Cores, and all three became Golden Core Realm cultivators?"
One of the Profound Peak disciples then asked in confusion, "How is that possible?"
Kong Yu chuckled and answered, "What does a brat like you possibly understand? Back in the day, the nine offspring of the Converging Water Hornless Dragon were born from the dissolution of a single Golden Core into nine, each forming its own Golden Core... The mysteries of the Golden Core are far beyond the grasp of small cultivators like you!"
The group started chattering and discussing this. After a while, a female cultivator approached, radiating joy. She was dressed in a pale yellow-green feather robe and was riding on pink clouds. She first greeted Kong Yu as she cupped her fist, "Greetings, n Uncle!"
She then turned eagerly to Li Yuanjiao and said, "Brother Jiao, you are here! What a coincidence! Come with me, let''s rest over there."
The group of young disciples followed Kong Yu and were led away for their training. Kong Tingyun nced at Li Qinghong with surprise and admiration in her eyes. She then smiled and said, "So, this is Sister Qinghong... your reputation precedes you."
She exchanged a few friendly words, clearly taking a liking to Li Qinghong. The groupnded at the Profound Peak Gate''s station, where Kong Tingyun said, "Would you like to rest for a bit, or head quickly to the marketce out in the deep sea? Situ Mo is treacherous and devious. If I stay away too long, something might happen..."
Li Yuanjiao and the others were just as eager to get moving, so they all agreed and flew off together. Li Yuanjiao, not wanting to miss a chance to gather more information, asked, "When Senior shared the story of Splitreed Ind, he talked about Empress Beiyao and Dragon Monarch Xiyang as if they appear often... Do the Golden Core Realm True Monarchs often reveal themselves overseas?"
"They do not appear all the time, but they do show up asionally... Overseas, we can speak more freely... They are unlike the Pristine Water True Monarch, who has not dared to show his face for over a century," Kong Tingyun answered as they traveled.
Kong Tingyun chuckled lightly and continued, "He is totally shaking in his boots! The Pristine Water Fruition Attainment is no ordinary one... Many are keeping their eyes on him."
1. Jie people were members of a tribe of northern China in the fourth century. During the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, they were regarded by the Han people as one of the Five Barbarians.
Hu people were non-Han Chinese poptions.
Xia people was the ethnicity name of Han Chinese before the rise of the Han dynasty in the 2nd century BC. ?
Chapter 526: Mutuo (II)
Chapter 526: Mutuo (II)
Li Yuanjiao nodded thoughtfully, and his once terrifying impression of Pristine Water True Monarch faded significantly. The invincible aura surrounding him seemed to diminish, and he remarked quietly, "The Eastern Sea is truly a different world."
As they flew, Kong Tingyun reminded them, "There are a few powers in the Eastern Sea that you cannot provoke, and I am sure you are aware of them, but I will still mention them again."
After ascertaining that Li Yuanjiao was listening intently, Kong Tingyun began, "The first is the Dragon n... In the four seas, the Eastern Sea''s Dragon n is the most powerful, a top-tier force. The Dragon species are also fiercely protective of their own. As long as it is a True Dragon, you must not offend even a single one."
Everyone nodded in understanding as Kong Tingyun continued, "Next are the various demonic entities¡ªsometimes called Immortals, sometimes Ghost Officials¡ªor even strange, unnatural beings formed frombinations of metallic essences, fate, and ill omens."
She shook her head and added, "There is not much you can do when you encounter one. Even Purple Mansion Realm cultivators avoid some of them, while others might only make you sneeze."
"In the maind, there are emissaries of death who monitor these things so you rarely see them, but overseas, it is a different story. The Eastern Sea is vast and boundless, hiding countless unknowns..."
She paused before continuing, "As for the other factions, there has never been a day without bloodshed. In the end, it is all for their interests."
Kong Tingyun waited for a moment before leading them to the water. After calcting the time, she said softly, "The Eastern Sea is too vast. Just flying would take us forever. It is better to rely on the water veins, which not only save us mana but are also much faster."
Li Qinghong nced around and noticed several others nearby, warily watching each other as they waited. Kong Tingyun whispered, "In just a few breaths, the water veins of the sea will surge. When the water rushes in, we will use the Water Command Technique to ride the current to the Scarlet Pristine Sea, where my family''s marketce is located."
Just as she finished speaking, the surrounding waters began to tremble and rush eastward. Large and small bubbles rose, and the ground beneath them shook violently as lightning shed across the darkened sky.
Li Yuanjiao, having traveled the Eastern Sea for over a year, was well-versed in its ways. He calmly said, "My immortal foundation is Boundless Ocean... Let me handle the water control."
With that, a serpent dragon formed under his feet, coiling in the sea and transforming into a bluish-gray light ring that enveloped everyone, swiftly carrying them eastward with the surging current.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Scarlet Pristine Sea, Golden Sack Ind.
There were several inds in the Scarlet Pristine Sea, and Golden Sack Ind was a medium-sized one. The Golden Tang Gate had established a firm presence here, reinforcing it with great effort.
Situ Mo, dressed in gold, sat sternly at the head of the hall, his face dark. Below him, a man kneeled on the ground, trembling as he reported, "My lord... the crab hase to demand another thousand people... he says he will return in three days."
Situ Mo''s expression grew darker, and he replied in a low voice, "I see."
Although the Golden Tang Gate was an immortal gate, it still had to abide by the rules of the Eastern Sea. What was due had to be paid. The crab was merely at the Qi Cultivation Realm, but it had a serpent dragon backing it. As much as Situ Mo resented it, he had no choice but to swallow his anger.
His foul mood was not just because of this; the records on the table also vexed him. As the sole direct descendant on this ind, he had secretly obtained these sect records and had been reviewing the events from years ago.
"In the sixth lunar month, the Yu Family joined the gate, and Wan Huaqian became famous in the prefecture for his formation techniques... The Yu Family then ambushed and killed members of the Wan Family, framing the Ji Family... The Wan Family retaliated by attacking Mount Hua, and the Xiao Family sent a warning to the Yu Family... ughter ensued... and the prefecture was besieged..."
Throughout the destruction of the Ji Family, the real forces behind the scenes were the Yu and Xiao families, along with the broader power struggles between the Azure Pond and Golden Tang. In hindsight, it was clear that Li Tongya was merely a pawn in Xiao Chuting''srger scheme.
"Xiao Chuting manipted the situation brilliantly, weakening both the Jiang and Yu families and almost subjugating the entire eastern shore, while propping up the Li Family as a loyal supporter... truly masterful."
Situ Mo silently acknowledged the cunningness of Xiao Chuting but knew that hecked the strength to confront the Xiao Family for now. He filed away his grudges, awaiting a day when he could settle the score.
But Xiao Chuting is a formidable opponent... I must continue to feign ignorance for now, lest I end up caught in Man On Creek''s schemes. As he pondered, he suddenly realized that there had been no news from Kong Tingyun for quite some time. This raised rm bells in his mind.
That woman is never quiet for long. Could she be scheming something?
He quickly ordered, "Go fetch Master Monk Mutuo!"
Watching his subordinate leave, Situ Mo felt a chill of unease run down his spine. Not long ago, he had considered getting rid of her to reim control, but after probing her twice and suffering minor setbacks, he had to admit he had underestimated her.
Damn it... It is easy to fool the idiots in the sect, but once outside, none of them are simple... Situ Mo silently fumed.
Li Yuanjiao had been difficult enough, and even that monk seemed like no pushover. Kong Tingyun was sly, and even Li Xijun was quick-witted. Inside the Golden Tang Gate, he could fool his seniors and juniors, but outside, he had suffered one setback after another. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, cursing aloud, "No wonder the Golden Tang Gate is declining... It is full of idiots!"
As he was in the middle of cursing, a burly, bald man barged into the hall, his face red with irritation. He growled, "What now?"
Seeing him, Situ Mo''s temper red even more. He shouted, "You filthy monk! All you do is chase after skirts! Are you even keeping an eye on Kong Tingyun?!"
Mutuo shot him a sideways nce and muttered a mantra under his breath while retorting, "What do you know?! In the Great Zhao, as long as you are a monk, even princesses get on their knees and let you do what you want with them. But here in the south, at least they still know how to cry and run..."
Situ Mo''s face darkened further, but he restrained his disgust. Then, suddenly, Mutuo''s expression changed. He hesitated before asking tentatively, "She is not on the ind..?"
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Situ Mo had anticipated this, and his face remained unchanged. Mutuo hastily resumed divining, his face paling as he poured more energy into his divination. After a while, he finally muttered, "She is not in the Scarlet Pristine Sea!"
Situ Mo''s face showed a slight shift, his mind racing. Several names shed through his thoughts, and then a moment of realization struck him. He hesitated, then said, "I heard Splitreed Ind was attacked by some kind of demon creatures recently, with many casualties, right?"
Mutuo blinked, realization dawning on him.
"You are saying... Kong Tingyun went to pick up disciples from the sect?"
Situ Mo nodded hesitantly. Mutuo quickly eximed, "This is a perfect opportunity! We may not be able to break through the ind''s great formation, but we could ambush her on the sea route! Let us both go¡ªwhen we get close enough, I will do the divination again!"
Situ Mo immediately flew into action, rising into the air with Mutuo by his side. As they neared the coast, doubt crept into his mind.
That woman knows I have a Buddhist cultivator here¡ªwhy would she make such a mistake? Sect disciples... Does Profound Peak Gate not have other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to send? This is too convenient...
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he almost shouted, "Quick, check where Li Yuanjiao is!"
Mutuo blinked in confusion.
"Did we not agree we would not go after the Li Family for another ten years?"
"Just do it!" Situ Mo snapped.
Mutuo''s face twisted with frustration. "I am not even in the Yue State! How am I supposed to do that now? We are already close to the sea route... Why not just focus on Kong Tingyun?!"
Situ Mo gritted his teeth but relented, fixing his gaze on the approaching water surge. He growled, "Fine, but first check if Li Yuanjiao is in the Eastern Sea! Start with him!"
Chapter 527: Suppression and Injury (I)
Chapter 527: Suppression and Injury (I)
"That damned bastard!" Mutuo spat, his frustration boiling over. Despite his anger, he could not overpower his opponent. He activated his golden light and performed a series of hand seals. The red glow on his face dimmed momentarily.
After a while, he finally got a result and said impatiently, "I can''t deduce his whereabouts. How can he be in the Eastern Sea?!"
His crimson face contorted in anger as drops of blood trickled from his nostrils. Wiping it away with his hand, he gritted his teeth.
"Your paranoia has cost me... You better make it up to me when we get back!"
However, Situ Mo had fallen into deep thought, ignoring him. A whirlwind of doubts filled his mind.
How could this be possible? Could Kong Tingyun really have let her guard down? There are only one or two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators left in the Profound Peak Gate... Logically, she should be able to escape safely. She must have more than one Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator aiding her...
Mutuo called out to him three times before Situ Mo finally snapped back to reality. He murmured, "Mutuo, this may be a trap. You and I should retreat a hundred li for now and wait for an opportunity. It''ll be safer to stay close to Golden Sack Ind. If anything goes wrong, we can get away in time."
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"Y-Y-You...! That''s not far from Yuezhou Ind! Kong Tingyun can escape easily! What are you thinking?!" Mutuo scolded in disbelief.
Seeing the determination on Situ Mo''s face, Mutuo had no choice but to express his frustration.
"All of you from the southern immortal dao are damn cowards; so paranoid all the time..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The Li Family members rode the current all the way to the Scarlet Pristine Sea beforeing to a gradual stop. They broke through the water''s surface, and Li Yuanjiao deactivated his spell, gazing into the distance.
The sea here had gradually turned pale turquoise, its seabed covered in deep red reefs rich in iron. From above, it appeared a vibrant tapestry of turquoise and red, earning it its name Scarlet Pristine Sea.
Kong Tingyun admired the magnificent scenery before exining, "Two thousand years ago, this sea was known as Qunyi. Later, the eighth son of the Converging Water True Hornless Dragon was captured here. The dragon n punished him for matricide by binding him to a deep cliff at the bottom of the sea. They built nine cold iron pirs, nailed him to the cliff, dismembered him, and let the demons devour his remains. As a result, the sea turned turquoise overnight, and the demons within it gradually transformed, bing what they are today."
She smiled softly and continued, "The True Hornless Dragon had nine sons¡ªsix of converging and three of pristine. Now, only two remain in the world; the rest have perished."
Kong Tingyun paused, then added softly, "Some say that the dragon n did this to scatter the Pristine Water Metallic Essence throughout the Scarlet Pristine Sea, making it difficult to gather them."
Li Yuanjiao pondered for a moment before asking, "Why doesn''t the dragon n simply keep it for themselves to create a Golden Core...?"
Kong Tingyun stepped on a cloud and quietly replied, "The True Hornless Dragon swallowed the Pristine Water Feathered Serpent and died... The enmity between them remains unresolved. To this day, dragons still devour feathered serpents, and the eighth son is one such feathered serpent!"
"The Daoist Master of my family spected that perhaps the dragons fear that if they consume the Pristine Water Metallic Essence, they will soon grow feathers and turn into their enemy!" she added.
"Horrible..." Kongheng murmured a Buddhist chant before continuing in a low voice, "Feathered serpents and dragon species share the same origins; the only difference is that one is of Pristine Water and the other of Converging Water. It''s truly a sin that they''re killing each other like this..."
Li Yuanjiao looked thoughtful as he began to grasp the concept of the Golden Core.
Golden Core Realm cultivators... Are they those who obtained Metallic Essence... or are they those who achieved Fruition Attainment...?
Kong Tingyun''s voice interrupted his thoughts as she said seriously, "I have something to trouble fellow Daoists with."
"Situ Mo is cunning, and he has a Master Monk from Zhao State as his assistant. I will be gone for several months; he will undoubtedly learn of this and likely ambush me on my way back. Please keep your distance and conceal your presence..." she exined.
Li Yuanjiao immediately caught on and smiled inwardly.
So there''s indeed a Buddhist cultivator supporting him!
Realizing that the threat was only a Buddhist cultivator rather than a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, Li Yuanjiao felt much more at ease. He immediately replied, "I have a dharma artifact that can conceal presence. Perhaps Kongheng and my younger sister should keep their distance while I stay beside you? At least it''ll be easier for both of us to prevent them from escaping."
"All right!" Kong Tingyun nodded approvingly.
Li Yuanjiao activated the Profound Patterned Bottle, and a mysterious spiritual mist enveloped his body. He flew forward with Kong Tingyun, leaving Kongheng and Li Qinghong behind.
Kongheng felt slightly awkward being alone with her. He lowered his head and began chanting a Buddhist scripture, but Li Qinghong ignored him, her gaze fixed on the endless turquoise and red sea as a thought crossed her mind.
It would be wonderful if Father could see such magnificent scenery.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Li Yuanjiao and Kong Tingyun rode the wind together. Kong Tingyun remained silent, but she sensed that Li Yuanjiao was close by, flying leisurely alongside her. As they journeyed deeper into the Scarlet Pristine Sea, doubts began to creep in.
That guy is cautious. If fear the further we go, it''ll be more difficult to defeat him.
While she was lost in thought, several golden lights emerged from the reefs beneath them, and a golden streak suddenly shot up from the sea. Situ Mo broke through the water, squinting slightly as he fixed his gaze on Kong Tingyun.
The sea was vast, its water veins flowing seamlessly, with no solid ground to nt formation gs or harness spiritual energy. Few formations could be established in such an environment, and even if Situ Mo possessed a treasure formation, he had yet to set it up.
Kong Tingyun feigned surprise before sarcastically saying, "We are very close to the two inds right now! Do you think the guest cultivators on my ind are all blind?"
The sea was vast and both of them were direct descendants of immortal gates. Naturally, they were unwilling to grant each other the opportunity to use escape spells. The fierce battle would likely only end with one of them dead, eliminating the need for arge formation. Nevertheless, Kong Tingyun was fearless, given their proximity to the two inds.
Situ Mo stared at her for a moment, as if trying to discern something, before saying, "Fellow Daoist... you are quite brave. I don''t need to kill you; I only need to severely injure you..."
While Situ Mo distracted her with his words, he discreetly performed a series of hand seals. As hepleted the six seals, he hooked his index fingers while keeping the other three fingers together, summoning a golden saber that came out from his palm.
It''s that spell!
Li Yuanjiao recalled his past encounter with it and silently put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Suddenly, the sea below them erupted once more, and a burly monk with a clean-shaven head and a redplexion soared out, brandishing a staff with both hands and preparing to strike at Kong Tingyun.
Kong Tingyun remained calm, pping her storage pouch. A golden mountain emerged, flying toward the monk to suppress him. The monk sneered fearlessly as he attempted to catch it with his hands.
However, when Mutuo''s hands made contact with the golden mountain, his tongue unexpectedly went numb, and only four of his facial features remained¡ªhis lips had vanished, leaving a smooth space below his philtrum. Horror washed over him as Kong Tingyun sneered coldly.
"This golden mountain has been waiting for you, monk!"
With that, she produced another jade pearl that shone brightly, directing its light at the golden saber. Situ Mo''s spell suddenly faltered as his golden saber hummed and vibrated uncontrobly like a dragonfly that had its tail pinched.
Kong Tingyun remarked casually, "I would love to see how you n to seriously injure me."
Chapter 528: Suppression and Injury (II)
Chapter 528: Suppression and Injury (II)
This was the first time Situ Mo confronted her head-on, and he felt an impending headache.
I''ve heard that the Profound Peak Gate is filled with iron turtles... It seems like it''s true¡ªthey excel at defense. Kong Tingyun holds an extraordinary status, and her dharma artifacts are more powerful than others. This will be a tough battle!
Sure enough, Kong Tingyun swung her sleeves, unleashing a pair of ck hooks that flew toward him like crescent moons, circling and dancing as they hissed with turquoise smoke.
Situ Mo nced at the hooks and recognized them as ordinary dharma artifacts. He summoned three golden shields and easily blocked the attack.
Meanwhile, the golden saber spell on the other side broke through the protective barrier of the jade pearl, its speed increasing as it darted forward.
Kong Tingyun appeared to be in danger, yet she showed no fear, which secretly shocked Situ Mo.
At that moment, two streams of light appeared in the distance¡ªone purple and one brown. Situ Mo''s expression shifted, and golden light red beneath his feet. However, a chill suddenly crept down his spine. With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he detected a green-white sword light approaching.
Li Yuanjiao! They''ve really joined forces!
He broke out in a cold sweat, unable to determine how Li Yuanjiao had managed to evade the Buddhist cultivator''s detection. With the golden shield resisting Kong Tingyun''s dharma artifact, he had no choice but to quickly perform a hand seal and cast a spell, darting out of the impending attack''s way, albeit narrowly.
CLANG!
Qingche''s sword light sliced through the air, grazing his feathered robe instead of his neck and producing a piercing sound of mana being consumed. Situ Mo''s face paled as he coughed up a smooth, round red pill.
The pill spun in the air before dissolving into smoke.
Not this trick again!
It must be some sort of discement technique, specifically designed to counter sword and mana light.
Just as Situ Mo evaded the attack, he shouted hastily, "Retreat quickly!"
Li Yuanjiao''s sword did not wait for him. It split into three sword lights as it turned back, attacking him from above, the middle, and below. Situ Mo, having suffered a setback earlier, was well prepared. Demonstrating the confidence of an immortal sect disciple, he threw out three talismans with a flick of his hand, each bouncing off into three white circles to intercept the sword lights one by one.
Clearly, Situ Mo hade prepared. The white circles released by these three Foundation Establishment Realm talismans were smooth and agile. Though their strength was not great, they were designed to effectively counter Threefold Moonlight.
With this dy, Li Qinghong and Kongheng finally arrived on the scene. Although Situ Mo did not recognize the heroic-looking female cultivator, he identified Kongheng and guessed that she was Li Qinghong. The purple light in her eyes and the purple lightning dancing across her jade armor caught his attention.
Situ Mo barely had time to retreat before Li Qinghong parted her vermillion lips slightly and released a speck of purple light that almost instantly swelled to the size of a fist, glowing with a brilliant white light.
A sense of numbness washed over Situ Mo as he realized the power of the impending attack. He quickly deactivated his three golden shields, ignoring the double hooks that Kong Tingyun hadunched. He also swiftly withdrew the golden saber and disengaged with her.
Kong Tingyun hurriedly urged the jade pearl to give chase. The monk below watched on in shock and terror, bewildered by how Li Yuanjiao managed to evade his calction. Unable to voice his confusion, he could only muster his strength to try and push the golden mountain off of him.
Kong Tingyun had to lower her head and look at the situation below her as she retrieved a golden talisman from her sleeve. With a simple flick of her fingers, she sent it flying toward the golden mountain.
Mutuo was unfortunate; despite having an arsenal of spells and techniques, he had been suppressed by the golden mountain from the start. Crafted from an unknown material, the mountain had slowed him down, also causing his lips and teeth to disappear. Just as he finally managed to push it up a little, Kong Tingyun''s talismannded on the mountain.
The talisman shimmered with golden light, its yellow-brown surface adorned with vermilion characters in onerge line that read¡ª1,006,580,000 jin.
Mutuo felt a powerful force emanating from his hand. He had only time to let out a mournful cry as the light turquoise waters around him parted. The golden mountain fell, rumbling ominously, causing the waves to surge to heights of a hundred chi before slowly settling down again.
Boom!
The spectacle in the sky was equally breathtaking. A white light erupted from above, apanied by the roar of thunder that was like andslide. The white lightning transformed into dense purple bolts that cascaded down like a waterfall, suppressing all that was below.
Situ Mo''s golden shields were on their way back to assist him, but they were intercepted by Li Yuanjiao''s swift sword. To his dismay, his golden saber was also stalled by Kongheng''s spell. A golden light silently bloomed on his chest.
Rumble!
Amidst the raging thunder, Situ Mo was propelled backward, enveloped in golden light and dust, leaving only a thinyer of golden shield around him, almost resembling an eggshell.
Riding the wind, he noticed five or six streams of light approaching from the two inds, preparing for confrontation.
Situ Mo''s golden shield did not reach him in time, so he was struck by the thunder spell. His feathered robe was scorched gray, and his chest was bloody. Several Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators behind him caught him. Gasping, hemanded, "Let''s go!"
Situ Mo silently thanked himself for being cautious, though he feared that more people would soon emerge from the market and annihte his group. He did not dare linger and hurriedly retreated, enveloped in golden light.
Hispanions quickly followed suit without hesitation, fearful of being pursued. The guest cultivators of Profound Peak Gate approached to greet Kong Tingyun.
"Good... good! He wasted his life-saving trump card and is quite seriously injured; this trip wasn''t in vain!" she remarked with a smile.
She nced at Li Qinghong, who appeared slightly pale, and praised, "I didn''t expect you to possess such a powerful thunder spell... Truly impressive!"
Although the profound thunder had been condensed in advance in the thunder pool, it was still a draining spell for Li Qinghong to cast. She smiled modestly and replied softly, "It''s nothingpared to fellow Daoist''s golden mountain."
Situ Mo was a direct disciple highly valued by the Golden Tang Gate, making it unlikely to kill him so easily in one fell swoop. With the rightbination of timing and circumstances, this encounter was enough to prevent him from making any progress for many years toe.
Li Yuanjiao nodded approvingly but was more concerned about the monk and asked, "What about the monk?"
Kong Tingyun replied with a shrug, "He is no better off than Situ Mo."
The group dove deeper, navigating through the pale turquoise waters until they discovered the golden mountain resting on the seabed. Kong Tingyun stowed away the dharma artifact and examined the bloody remnants with care. After casting a few spells, she nced at Kongheng with some uncertainty.
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Kongheng understood her concern. He stepped forward, closed his eyes to sense the surroundings, and said in a deep voice, "He went back to the north."
Kong Tingyun sighed regretfully.
"It''s a pity he was in the sea, not onnd. He touched the earth vein toote, and managed to escape."
"He had indeed escaped but his body is ruined. He may have a backup at a temple in the north, perhaps another monk''s body to take over, but his cultivation has pretty much been devastated. He won''t be able topare to Situ Mo any longer; it will take him at least decades to recover."
Buddhist cultivators were notoriously difficult to kill, and Kong Tingyun never truly believed she could eliminate him. She extended her slender hand, summoning the golden mountain.
With a hint of resentment, she said, "The ancestor entrusted me with this dharma artifact and talisman specifically to deal with these cultivators from Zhao State... He''s just the first! Sooner orter, they will be driven back to their original forms, one by one!"
Li Yuanjiao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling his spirits lifting as he said, "Good, good! With this monk gone, we no longer need to worry about the enemy lurking in the shadows while we''re out in the open. The threat from Situ Mo is significantly reduced!"
Kongheng, who had contributed little throughout the encounter, looked guilty. He rubbed his bald head nervously, silently ncing at the others.
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Chapter 529: Zongquan Island (I)
Chapter 529: Zongquan Ind (I)
Although Situ Mo had only sustained injuries, the fortunate news was that the monk could no longer stir up trouble.
Li Yuanjiao declined Kong Tingyun''s invitation. The group did not linger on Yuezhou Ind; they headed straight north across the Scarlet Pristine Sea.
Kong Tingyun escorted them all the way out of her territory before returning on the clouds. In high spirits, she hummed a few tunes. When she saw her subordinates approaching respectfully, she quickly rposed herself.
It seemed like Mutuo had failed to deduce Brother Jiao''s strength! The Li Family is certainly impressive... Did Xiao Chuting secretly involve himself in this, or was it another Purple Mansion Realm cultivator behind this? Li Yuanjiao''s fate remains a mystery; I wonder if he''s like Liu Changdie and Tu Longjian...
In any case, Kong Tingyun had made a good move. Not only had she suppressed the enemy, but she had also solidified her rtionship with the Li Family, killing two birds with one stone. Riding the wind back to Yuezhou Ind, she was looking forward to a good night''s sleep.
Meanwhile, the Li Family flew toward their destination. Li Qinghong appeared rxed, but Li Yuanjiao''s expression darkened as they left the Kong Family''s territory. His brows knitted together in suspicion.
Noticing her brother''s unease, Li Qinghong whispered, "What''s wrong, Brother?"
Li Yuanjiao tightened his grip on his sword and replied in a deep voice, "Something''s off about Kong Tingyun''s strength... When I ambushed the Hooked Serpent with her in Lake Xian, she was far less powerful than she is today. If she had such strength then, a mere demon like the Hooked Serpent¡ªeven at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment Realm¡ªwouldn''t have stood a chance against her golden mountain. Why would she require my assistance and share the spoils?"
Li Qinghong considered this for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"I''m thinking that it might be the effect of that talisman. She uses it without any hesitation, so it''s clearly not a rare item for her. Her identity may be more significant than we realize."
Li Yuanjiao ran his fingers along his sword, murmuring, "Indeed. I believe Daoist Master Changxi is trying to show goodwill. Kong Tingyun may be his junior; but she was quite generous in lending the formation against the Hooked Serpent, onlying to take it back after two years... I thought it was just a coincidence at the time, but now there''s finally an exnation."
"It''s not necessarily a bad thing after all," Li Qinghongmented.
Whether Daoist Master Changxi was showing goodwill toward Xiao Chuting or toward himself, there was no malice present, and the Li Family could only ept it silently.
It''s confirmed that as long as one possesses the immortal mirror, they can not only break their fate but also thwart divine abilities and investigations... I wonder how high its inherent rank is.
Li Yuanjiao reflected, then nced at his younger sister, who was also deep in thought, evidently considering the same matters. Kongheng hung his head in silence the entire time.
After flying over the sea for a while, Li Yuanjiao took out the sea chart to study it carefully.
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Thergest ind in the Eastern Sea was as vast as Yue State. There were also numerous gates and powerful demons in Yinzhou in the east. The Li Family did not n to venture there; instead, they aimed to find a remote ind to the south.
Li Yuanjiao surveyed the area for a moment before summoning an Embryonic Breathing Realm fish demon with his immortal foundation. As it gurgled and released bubbles, he turned back to the group and said, "There''s a water vein flowing south not far from here; we can take that route."
The group followed the water vein and, after three days, broke through the surface of the sea, reaching the southernmost end of the Scarlet Pristine Sea where it connected to the coast of the Great Xiukui Temple. The sky was overcast, and distant thunder rumbled ominously.
Li Yuanjiao looked up to see the mountain gate of the Great Xiukui Temple to the west which was shrouded in ck rain, with faint thunder-like sounds echoing in the air.
"Someone is either breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm, or a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator has perished!" he remarked.
"Jun''er is at home. If someone truly breaks through the Purple Mansion Realm, he will send someone to offer congrattory gifts. There''s no need to worry," Li Qinghong replied.
It was the first time the group had witnessed such a vast celestial phenomenon, visible even across the Eastern Sea. Li Yuanjiao stared at it for a bit longer before returning his attention to the sea chart in his hand.
After a long pause, he said, "In this area, we''re far away from the disputed seas, at the corner of the Scarlet Pristine Sea. While it may be distant, it''s safe due to the sparse poption."
After discussing for a while, the group dispersed to search for suitable inds to settle on. Li Yuanjiao headed straight south, scanning the surroundings. He found several small inds; thergest was only the size of a town, while the smallest measured about ten li in radius.
Though the earth vein could be activated to expand the ind gradually, there were no experts like those in the Profound Peak Gate, and bringing someone over would be quite troublesome. As a result, Li Yuanjiao felt little inclination to pursue that option.
After flying for a considerable distance, a small ind soon came into view. It appeared rtively t and was covered by only a mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm formation.
Estimating that the ind was about half the size of the Li Family''s estate, hended on it and knocked on the ground tentatively.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Zong Yan rode the wind and toured the ind before returning to the hall where his subordinates brought forth a boy.
"Ind Master, this is the boy born on the night of Kuiyin, as recorded on the ind," they said respectfully.
Zong Yan lifted the boy''s clothes to confirm that he indeed had a belly button. He then took out two vials of blood qi from his storage pouch and said kindly, "You will live in the side hall from now on. Make sure you remember to take this medicine every three days. Do not forget about it."
The boy nodded obediently, and Zong Yan dismissed him.
Visibly rxed, he smiled as he remarked, "Fortunately, I''ve registered every single one of them back then; otherwise, I wouldn''t know how long it would take me to search for them on such short notice."
"My lord is wise," his subordinates replied, cupping his fist.
"After dealing with that bluefish, the rest will be much easier to handle," he added.
Zong Yan nodded repeatedly but was suddenly interrupted by a man scrambling into the hall. His eyes were red and choked with emotion as he wailed, "My lord! My lord! There is another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator outside! He looks sinister! Something bad is going to happen!"
Zong Yan''s face turned pale instantly, and he staggered backward. After a moment, he stepped forward, muttering, "Why is another one here? This is bad... I wonder how many people this one will take."
Pale and anxious, he hurried out to meet the neer. He deactivated the formation and looked up, spotting a figure hovering in the air.
The man indeed looked rather sinister, with gray eyes under eyebrows that were too close together. His eyes were slightly narrowed, resembling those of a serpent dragon. His ck robe fluttered in the wind, and a tightly wrapped sword hung at his waist, concealing its shape.
Zong Yan steeled himself and stepped forward, bowing as deeply as he could as he said humbly, "Zong Yan greets the Exalted Immortal. We are quite terrified that you havee to our ind..."
Li Yuanjiao nced at him, noting that the man was only at the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. The mortals on the ind looked up at him, and he estimated that there were over five thousand people present, which satisfied him greatly.
It is truly troublesome to move mortals here. There aren''t many ces to settle in this vast ocean... Five thousand people here is just right.
Zong Yan felt relieved to see that he was in good spirits. But when Li Yuanjiao observed the gathered mortals, Zong Yan grew nervous again.
He seems like one that cultivates the immortal foundation Realm. He has no injuries and doesn''t seem to be looking for people. Hopefully, he won''t demand for too many...
As Li Yuanjiaonded on the ind''s peak, all the mortals paused in their activities, looking up with concern. Zong Yan spoke tentatively, "My lord, this is Zongquan Ind, and I serve Dingyuan the Dragon Son under the jurisdiction of Water Mansion."
Every ind in the Eastern Sea was required to pay tribute to the demon ns. Having heard of these rules, Li Yuanjiao asked casually, "How much tribute does this Dragon Son demand at a time?"
Zong Yan replied, puzzled, "Three hundred mortals or three medicine-humans."
Li Yuanjiao frowned and asked, "He wants only humans?"
Chapter 530: Zongquan Island (II)
Chapter 530: Zongquan Ind (II)
Zong Yan was taken aback and suddenly realized, Could this person be from the maind? It seems he has only ventured overseas a few times and is unaware of the situation here...
With this thought, Zong Yan''s eyes grew eager, and he quickly exined, "Senior, you may not know this, but there are no minerals and spirit nts on my ind. Everything below the sea surface belongs to the demon n, and we aren''t allowed to touch it. The only thing we can offer is our poption..."
He continued, "Not just my small ind; even those guarded by Foundation Establishment Realm and the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators must pay both tributes in the form of humans and treasures to the dragon n. The difference is merely in the quantity..."
Li Yuanjiao, arriving in this remote ce, had not considered exploiting any ore veins or treasures. He simply nodded, feeling embarrassed and silent. Zong Yan interpreted his silence as a sign he had said something wrong, and a sense of dread washed over him.
"The maind seems to differentiate between immortals and devils! Aren''t there ancient cultivators too? What are they called again? Yue Cultivating... or was it Subjects of Wanyu..."
His doubt,bined with the aura radiating from Li Yuanjiao, caused Zong Yan to lose hisposure. He kneeled down in fear, his voice trembling as he pleaded, "Exalted Immortal, spare me! We are forced into this, and we never intended to do so!"
Li Yuanjiao merely nced at him. This man was not a disciple of the immortal sect or gate, and the murky qi surrounding him was impossible to hide.
Nheless, he held no expectations for overseas cultivators and responded in a deep, measured voice, "You have no choice but to pay tribute to the dragon n. However, I can see your true essence is vigorous and powerful, indicating you have consumed blood and resentment qi. What more can you say?"
Zong Yan paused for a moment, stunned, then pressed his forehead to the ground and humbly replied, "My elders also came from the orthodox path... I understand, but¡ª"
"But..."
He paused, raised his head, and looked at the people behind Li Yuanjiao before continuing sadly, "If I consume blood qi, I will deviate from the orthodox path forever... But if I stop taking it, I won''t be able to protect them. There are many demons in the sea, Zong Yan has been doing his best."
Li Yuanjiao regarded him thoughtfully and said softly, "There is no orthodox path in these times. Get up."
Zong Yan responded respectfully and stood by his side. Li Yuanjiao then looked up at the kneeling crowd. One or two children timidly raised their heads, their eyes filled with fear.
Li Yuanjiao reflected, It is inevitable to pay tribute to the Dragon Son on this ind... If we want to establish a foothold in the Eastern Sea, we must first appease the dragon n... But what should I do?
Thews of his own n were strict regarding this matter, and the immortal mirror in his arms still emitted a slight chill, sending a cold shiver through his heart. The Supreme Yin Profound Light had not failed him so far, and this was noughing matter.
I''ll call Qinghong over first.
Li Yuanjiaounched a talisman high into the sky that glowed faintly. Zong Yan flinched at the sight. Turning to Zong Yan, Li Yuanjiao asked, "Do you have any family or offspring?"
Zong Yan, having already surmised much, remembered hearing about maind cultivators settling overseas. However, it was rare to encounter them in his remote location. Noticing that Li Yuanjiao was not as fierce as he first appeared and seemed to have some principles, he felt a surge of relief and quickly replied, "I am a Son of Diyang, I cannot bear children."
"A Son of Diyang?" Li Yuanjiao frowned.
Zong Yan grew more confident in his assessment and exined respectfully, "The Scarlet Pristine Sea extends eastward, crossing the Qunyi Gorge. There''s an ind called Shiqi, where a state named Diyang exists. The springs in Diyang are known as Nurturing Springs. As long as you throw spirit items into them, babies will emerge."[1]
He lifted the hem of his robe, revealing a smooth abdomen devoid of a belly button.
"These babies are known as "Sons of Diyang", born without belly buttons and infertile. Their flesh tastes nd, like water, and as long as the spirit item thrown is precious enough, they are likely to possess a spiritual orifice."
He chuckled, adding, "Cultivating the Dao is challenging, and many cultivators end up without descendants. Unable to produce heirs, many go there for the sake of continuing their lineage. My father was one of them. He passed away many years ago, and I now manage this ind."
Li Yuanjiao found this information eye-opening. He regarded Zong Yan silently, who then lowered his head and said, "But people like me are not destined for greatness. Qi Cultivation Realm is the furthest I can reach. If I cultivate the Dao, I can''t establish an immortal foundation. If I cultivate Buddhism, I can''t obtain the dharma. If I cultivate the devil Dao, I can''t establish my own mansion. If I cultivate spells, I can''t create talismans..."
After hearing this, Li Yuanjiao found these limitations to be reasonable. Nevertheless, he was still amazed.
"This world is indeed a ce of great wonder..." he said quietly.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
On Mount Qingdu...
Li Xijun sat in the courtyard, dressed in a white robe, with Hanlin resting on his knees. The thin sword gleamed coldly in the light as he wiped it meticulously with a piece of white silk cloth.
Despite his focus, he was actually polishing the de absent-mindedly until it shone brightly. On the table before himy a jade bottle containing the Essence Gathering Pill.
Li Ximing had reluctantly handed him the pill before retreating into seclusion to meditate in preparation for establishing his foundation, leaving Li Xijun in charge of the household. Since the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were away, he now held the highest authority among those present.
While he continued to wipe the sword absentmindedly, an old man in in clothes approached. The man was at the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He cupped his fist and bent down slightly, preparing to kneel.
Li Xijun quickly urged him to rise and said politely, "What are you doing, n Elder? I can''t possibly ept such a gesture from a senior."
The old man was Chen Donghe, one of the most senior members of their family. As Li Xijun moved to assist him, Chen Donghe straightened up and said softly, "I received news that Daoist Houfu of the Great Xiukui Temple has broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm and attained mastery of a divine ability. The Family Head wants me to deliver a gift, so I came up to the mountain to retrieve it."
Li Xijun was just thinking about this matter. Since the Great Xiukui Temple had no connections with his family, there was no need to send an expensive gift. However, he had heard that Daoist Houfu cared about nothing else except for his image. He feared that choosing the wrong gift could lead to offense, and was troubled.
Now that Chen Donghe was here, he decided to ask for his counsel.
"What kind of gift do you think we should prepare, Elder?" he asked.
Chen Donghe pondered for a moment before responding hoarsely, "Our family gifted Daoist Master Chuting a treasured panacea, so this time, we cannot offer anything less than that. In my humble opinion, a dharma artifact of peak Qi Cultivation Realm should suffice."
"Daoist Master Houfu is well-off and probably doesn''t need anyvish gifts from our family. But since he is young and is rumored to care a lot about his reputation, we should send our oldest Family Head along with six Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators to present the gift. Showing enough respect with our gesture is most important; the gift itself is not as important," he exined.
After a moment of consideration, Li Xijun remarked, "This matter has spread too widely. It almost seems like someone is deliberately pushing it, or it''s rted to Houfu''s divine ability. Our family should give him the respect he deserves, but we must be cautious."
After another moment of consideration, he decided, "Let''s visit the Xiao Family first since they will also be going to congratte him. If our family goes with them, there''s nothing we have to worry about."
1. "Son of Diyang" can be literally tranted as "child born from the earth". The literal meaning of "Diyang" means "born/nurtured by earth", and Shiqi means "World''s Navel". ?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
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Chapter 531: Huiyao (I)
Chapter 531: Huiyao (I)
Li Yuanjiao stood with his hands behind his back, listening as Zong Yan introduced the ind to him.
"There are more than five thousand people on the ind, and most are fishermen. The ind also cultivates rice and fruit, but the fields are sparse, so women and children handle most of the work..."
"There are many demons in the area, some of whom are the Dragon Son''sckeys. They tend to be greedy, so when some of our people don''t return from venturing out to sea, we know they''ve been eaten."
After observing Zongquan Ind for a while, purple and golden lights streaked in from the east and west. Zong Yan quickly opened the formation, and Li Qinghong and Konghengnded one after the other.
Li Qinghong surveyed the surroundings andmented, "There are several inds to the east, but none are as good as this one. It''s a pretty good size but the spiritual energy is weak."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement, while Kongheng sped his hands together and spoke in a measured tone.
"I traveled westward. The sea was vast but without a suitable ce to establish ourselves."
After hearing their conversation, realization struck Zong Yan and he felt a surge of excitement.
So, these cultivators of orthodox Dao from the maind are looking for a ce to settle! Wonderful! They appear to be disciples of the immortal sect¡ªZongquan Ind''s time has finallye!
Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong exchanged nces and came to a decision. Noticing her brother''s stern expression, which made him appear fierce, Li Qinghong turned to Zong Yan, who seemed delighted.
"Fellow Daoist, as you can see, we intend to establish a base at sea. Zongquan Ind is quite suitable for us. We would like to investigate further and discuss this matter in detail with you."
Since Li Yuanjiao intended to take on the role of a viin, Li Qinghong stepped in to chair the negotiation. Although she spoke politely and expressed her intention to discuss the matter in detail, Zong Yan understood that there was little room for negotiation due to the stark disparity between their strengths. It all came down to whether this group would ultimately decide to take over this ind.
Zong Yan timidly agreed before Li Qinghong requested, "Well then, fellow Daoist, please apany Kongheng and the other guest cultivators to survey the earth vein and assess the spiritual energy."
Kongheng excused himself and went off with the rest, leaving Li Yuanjiao standing alongside his younger sister.
He voiced his concerns and Li Qinghong contemted for a moment before replying, "From what I''ve observed along the way, the Eastern Sea Dragon n treats the inds as fields and the people as livestock, much like raising pigs and cattle in a pen. Even the Golden Tang Gate and the Profound Peak Gate have to pay their tributes; it will be nearly impossible for us to avoid that."
"That''s true," Li Yuanjiao agreed, lowering his gaze before saying, "I wonder if I could meet the Dragon Son or find a way to negotiate the matter... perhaps use other resources to pay. Regardless, I need to try."
Li Qinghong shook her head and said softly, "It''ll likely be very difficult for you to meet the Dragon Son. Although he is only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, he is a noble dragon. I can''t even imagine how many demon generals hemands. Even if we manage to meet him, we can''t predict what kind of payment he might demand. It would be better to start with the lesser demons and bribe them with a generous sum, which may ultimately cost less."
The two of them rode the wind through the dark night, sinking into the sea without even realizing it.
Under the night sky, the Scarlet Pristine Sea sparkled with countless tiny green lights. The mana lights deep in the sea flickered like stars, creating a breathtaking sight in the darkness. The golden magnificence of the demon pces could be seen from the distance.
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly and remarked, "Only after leaving the Eastern Sea did I realize how small the maind is and how powerful the demons are. The strength of the Eastern Sea demon n alone can rival that of Jiangnan. It''s even rarer to see such a unifiedmand; they are deeply rooted and work together."
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Sighing, Li Yuanjiao turned back to nce at Zongquan Ind, while Li Qinghong said softly, "This ind has no fire veins or earth veins; it offers little benefit other than a few sources of incense. The important thing is to establish a foothold overseas. Our family is gradually stabilizing as a prominent n... we should consider reaching the Purple Mansion Realm."
"Without the right cultivation techniques and opportunities, it''s all just empty talk," Li Yuanjiao replied, shaking his head before continuing, "In my opinion, our family can only improve significantly by obtaining what Yu Muxian possesses."
Given Yu Muxian''s status, it was impossible for him to die on the maind. If the Li Family wished to plot against him, their only option was to ambush him in the Eastern Sea with the help of the mirror, in a way that they could avoid Daoist Master Yuanwu''s retaliation. This was also a troublesome matter.
Li Yuanjiao added, "Once the ind matters are settled, you should return home first. I will stay here to guard, cultivate in seclusion, and try my luck to break through to the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Meanwhile, send people to the major markets to gather all avable information about the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and their immortal foundations. These are ssified information on the maind, but there might still be opportunities to uncover them overseas," he said.
"All right," Li Qinghong replied.
Thunder immortal foundation was not highly coveted in Jiangnan, making it more suitable for her to remain on Qingdu. The siblings discussed for a while longer beforending back on the ind.
Kongheng approached them and reported politely, "There are three rtively strong earth veins on the ind, but the others are weak with shallow spiritual energy. It''s impossible to establish a Foundation Establishment Realm formation; at most, it can only support one that is at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Realm."
After hearing this, Li Yuanjiao turned to Zong Yan and asked, "When will the Dragon Son''s subordinates arrive?"
"In the next few days!" Zong Yan replied quickly.
At that moment, a cheer suddenly erupted on the ind. A man arrived on the wind and whispered something into Zong Yan''s ear. Li Yuanjiao cast a neutral nce at him and Zong Yan immediately caught on.
He bowed and said, "My lord, I practice the Six Yi All-In-One Technique on my ind. I follow the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao but wield the shamanic spells and talismans. There are many Dao paths to raise medicine-humans... All this was granted by the Dragon Son, for the sake of raising them..."
"And we just found a baby born on the required day..." he added.
Zong Yan spoke vaguely, wary of offending the others. He lowered his voice and continued, "Each time the tributes are collected, the Dragon Son keeps the one with a specific birthday for the next collection. If no suitable person is found, he will use a hundred others to offset it. So... each time a suitable child is discovered, it''s hard for us to contain our excitement."
Before Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong could respond, Kongheng could no longer restrain himself. He said in a sudden outburst of emotion, "Don''t you have an ounce ofpassion? Even if you''re sacrificing one to save many, you shouldn''t be so proud of it! Are you going to thank the evil dragon next year if it eats one less person next year?!"
Zong Yan dropped to his knees, horrified.
"Master Monk, you can''t say that! If it weren''t for the Dragon Son''s protection, we would have been killed by passing devil cultivators or devoured by the demon generals... How can we not be grateful?"
Kongheng was taken aback. He stared at Zong Yan in disbelief for a few breaths before eximing, "So, you''re saying that a minor crime isn''t a crime?"
Zong Yan was confused by the monk''s reaction. He raised his head in fear and mumbled, "But Lord Dragon Son saved us from a greater evil... Everyone knows we should choose the lesser of two evils. Why do you want to beat him down for it?"
"But he clearly eats people! How can you still be grateful toward him?"
"That''s enough..." Li Qinghong interjected, trying to mediate. The perspectives of Kongheng and Zong Yan were so different that they would probably continue to argue until dawn without an oue.
Zong Yan responded timidly, while Kongheng let out a long sigh before apologizing and appeared lost in thought.
Chapter 532: Huiyao (II)
Chapter 532: Huiyao (II)
The two men left and Li Yuanjiao stood with his hands behind his back, somewhat absent-minded before slowly closing his eyes. Li Qinghong looked back, and Li Yuanjiao murmured, "There is a demon outside."
The two of them rode the wind out and soon spotted a green fish hovering in the air. A pair of scaly wings grew from beneath its ribs, making it look particrly strange. Li Yuanjiao rode forward to meet it.
The fish''srge eyes locked onto the two cultivators, its mouth opening and closing as it spoke in a clear voice, "Where do youe from, fellow Daoists? This is the territory of my Zhunan Serpent Dragon Pce."
This fish demon was at the ninth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and had not yet achieved the Foundation Establishment. Both members of the Li Family were Foundation Establishment cultivators, and were much stronger than it was. The fish demon was quite polite, yet spoke to them as equals in conversation.
Li Qinghong spoke respectfully, "My brother and I were originally cultivators from a minor sect at Lake Xian. After our sect copsed, we passed through here and considered settling down here. However, we are unfamiliar with this ce and hope you can offer us some advice, fellow Daoist."
"You are too polite, fellow Daoist," the fish demon replied, folding its wings and stepping onto the demonic wind. Its fish lip curled up slightly as its scales flipped in the wind and dripped with mucus.
With a cryptic expression, it continued, "I am from the Hui n in the algae, patrolling the sea for the Serpent Dragon Pce. My name is Huiyao. If the two Daoists are willing to serve my Serpent Dragon Pce, I will naturally share everything I know."
The fish then retracted its tail and transformed into a half-man, half-fish figure, looking rather sinister and ugly. It wielded a fork and stared at the two of them. In this situation, the status of the cultivators from the maind and the overseas demons was reversed; Li Yuanjiao and the others were now asking for favors, like Luken the deer demon from the past.
Nevertheless, Li Yuanjiao was not one to blow his own horn. Despite the fish demon''s grotesque visage, he smiled and said in a deep voice, "This way please, fellow Daoist."
As soon as they descended together, Zong Yan approached and bowed, "Greetings, Grandpa Sea Patrol. I have prepared the tributes!"
Huiyao chuckled and happily replied, "Hehe! Good for you. After enduring for so many years, you''re finally in charge of this ce!"
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"Y-Yes..." Zong Yan nodded, ttered, and signaled for his men to fetch the tributes. They entered the hall, and the servants quickly served them tea. Zong Yan kneeled beside Huiyao and presented a jade bottle filled with red blood.
Huiyao waved his hands, scolding, "You blind fool! We have a distinguished guest today; it is inappropriate to drink this!"
Realization struck Zong Yan as he retracted the bottle respectfully. Li Yuanjiao''s expression remained unchanged, while Li Qinghong''s smile grew more pronounced.
Huiyao continued, "My subordinate has embarrassed himself. Please forgive him, both of you."
Huiyao was not foolish. The faces of these two were filled with pure qi, suggesting they were maind cultivators or disciples of some ancient sect. However, its own strength was currently inferior, and it was not foolish enough to offend these cultivators. If the two of them truly killed him and escaped, the Dragon Son might not necessarily chase them down.
After exchanging a few words with Huiyao, Li Yuanjiao cut to the chase.
"What is the expected tribute for Zongquan Ind?"
Huiyao regarded him calmly and replied, "This ce is barren, the Dragon Son has never bothered us. It has been given to my n, so the tributes are for me!"
The siblings exchanged nces, realizing that Huiyao had the upper hand in the negotiation now. Li Yuanjiao felt a headacheing on, but the fish demon continued, "Are you cultivating Pit Water, fellow Daoist? Can you show me your ability?"
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, summoning a grayish-blue serpent dragon that rose gracefully in the courtyard before them. Huiyao nced at it, nodded, and said, "I see, it''s the Jing Dragon King! No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity the moment I saw you, fellow Daoist... The Dragon Son also practices this method¡ªthe Jing Dragon King."
Huiyao pondered for a moment before speaking seriously.
"Since you would like to establish your base here, this arrangement is beneficial for both of us... I won''t make it hard for your esteemed n."
It stretched out its fish-like hand and casually continued, "One medicine-human each year, ten Embryonic Breathing Realm spirit items, and two Qi Cultivation Realm spirit items. Ores are eptable too. As for the passing demons that seek bribes, that''s for you two to handle."
The demon did not have much use for Spirit Stones, so most of its demands centered around spirit items and humans. This requirement was significantly greater than Zong Yan''s original demand of three hundred people over five years. Huiyao said that it would not make things difficult for them, but his demands were far from reasonable.
Before either of them could respond, Huiyao stated directly, "By the rules of my Serpent Dragon Pce... No matter where youe from, you must obey the Dragon n''s orders when you enter our territory."
Huiyao''s statement was no different than a reminder for Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong to drop their arrogance. The words were harsh, and Zong Yan began to sweat nervously, fearing the siblings might lose theirposure from this provocation.
He dropped to his knees, grasping Huiyao''s fish-like leg, and cried, "Grandpa Sea Patrol! It''s my fault for not gathering news properly. Please consider the many years of hard work I''ve put in and spare me..."
Huiyao pursed its lips and kicked him away. However, Li Yuanjiao remained calm and replied politely, "I understand your demands, fellow Daoist. It''s just that offering medicine-humans goes against my family''s rules. Can that be substituted with something else?"
"Substituted?" Huiyao repeated, thenughed sarcastically, "Others use medicine-humans as substitutions for spirit items, but you do the opposite. How foolish! Are you even aware of the cost? What can you offer year after year?"
Li Yuanjiao retrieved a jade box from his storage pouch and offered, "How about this?"
Hu Yao looked down to see a small flower resting inside the jade box. He sniffed it and eximed, "A Foundation Establishment Realm spirit item?!"
"Yes, one flower in exchange for five years'' worth of medicine-humans," Li Yuanjiao replied, putting it away before Huiyao could inspect it further.
Huiyao wiped his drool but protested, "Five years? That''s too much!"
"Think about it again, fellow Daoist. This is a spirit flower from the maind. It makes a good present for a demon general. I acquired it through some favors with the Han Family," Li Yuanjiao countered.
Huiyao''s face lit up with greed upon hearing that. Li Yuanjiao deliberately paused before asking, "Will this work?"
"Yes! Yes!" Huiyao replied eagerly, but Li Yuanjiao deliberately continued, "s, it''s a pity that this cannot be shown to others... On second thought... Perhaps I should go with medicine-humans!"
"Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by that?!" Huiyao''s expression shifted dramatically once more.
Li Yuanjiao exined in a low voice, "This flower was acquired through certain means... The Han Family has always kept its existence under wraps. If it bes public knowledge, it could lead to serious trouble!"
The Wanglin Blossom was not exclusive to his family. Li Yuanjiao was an overthinker, so it was impossible for him to overlook this, so he made up a story to tempt Huiyao.
"Ah!"
Huiyao''s expression changedpletely as various possibilities raced through his mind.
Li Yuanjiao smiled, adding, "I came to the Eastern Sea merely to find a ce to settle. If things don''t work out, the worst I can do is leave and return home. The Serpent Dragon Pce cannot extend its reach to the maind. Fellow Daoist, you better consider this carefully!"
His tone was gentle, but an underlying threat was evident. Huiyao fell silent for a moment, then realized that Li Yuanjiao had stepped closer, pressing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Huiyao started, catching a glimpse of the green and white sword light flowing in Li Yuanjiao''s grasp. For a moment, his legs turned to jelly, and panic set in.
The situation had shifted too quickly; in just a few exchanges, the power dynamic hadpletely changed. It seemed he had no choice but toply with this person.
Chapter 533: Threats And Promises
Chapter 533: Threats And Promises
All sorts of emotions flickered across Huiyao''s face until his expression ultimately softened as he forced himself tough.
"Fine; I can simply relocate those people to other inds and treat it as a friendly exchange!"
"Good," Li Yuanjiao replied, narrowing his eyes and saying nothing further.
Huiyao reluctantly swore the Profound Scenery Spiritual Oath, and only then did Li Yuanjiao remove his hand from the hilt of his sword.
Li Yuanjiao gave his younger sister a signal, and Li Qinghong produced a storage pouch, cing it into the demon''s hands. When Huiyao epted it, his expression became more sincere. After exchanging a few more words, he hurriedly excused himself, cradling the jade box in its arms.
He flew out of the formation in a daze. It took him some time to register the fact that he had just been manipted into taking an oath. Cold sweat trickled down his back and his mind was reeling.
Upon opening the storage pouch again, he discovered numerous spirit ores. The jade box in his hand felt icy, stirring feelings of excitement within him. Huiyao silently transformed back into his original form and dove deep into the sea.
As soon as Zong Yan respectfully sent Huiyao out of the formation, Li Qinghong sneered.
"As expected, they all fear power andck morals. Trying to tempt them will just make their appetite grow; raise a fist, and they''ll be silent immediately."
Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement and said, "Nevertheless, they should be given what they deserve. Thesep dogs may be useless but it''s easy for them to sabotage us. I''m just worried they may lead enemies here."
As soon as they finished speaking, Zong Yan came rushing back on the wind. He kneeled and prostrated himself before the siblings respectfully and said, "Greetings, my lord and mydy! From now on, Zongquan Ind shall follow your lead!"
Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, observing Zong Yan''s behavior. He was more adept than most, so Li Yuanjiao said softly, "Have you always been this humble all the time?"
Zong Yan sighed, yet his respectful expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands and replied earnestly, "Of course! By humbling myself and calling him Grandpa to gain his favor, I can save a few people on the ind from dying."
Li Yuanjiao fell silent, while Li Qinghong cast a silent nce at him and remarked softly, "Everyone says that the Eastern Sea is a dark ce, but you are much brighter than the so-called orthodox Daos in the maind."
Zong Yan humbly denied thepliment. Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao pulled several bags of Spirit Paddies from his storage pouch, cing them before the hall with a tter. He then took out several pills and handed them all to Zong Yan.
"You can use these resources for now and distribute the Spirit Paddies to the cultivators on the ind. There''s no need to consume blood qi from now on anymore."
Zong Yan kneeled and bowed deeply, his voice choked with emotion as he stammered, "Understood!"
In the eyes of the Li Family, these Spirit Paddies were just a drop in the bucket, but in this remote sea area, where they could not be grown, they were considered rare resources for Zong Yan and the others.
Clutching the items, he respectfully retreated. He checked a few of the pills, inhaling their fragrant scent, and felt his eyes watering. He hurriedly dragged a boy out from the side hall, shaking him excitedly as he eximed, "Good boy, let''s go home!"
The boy took two unsteady steps forward, causing Zong Yan to burst intoughter. He lifted him into his arm, then rode the wind as they sped away toward the distant town.
In the hall, Li Yuanjiao and the others smiled as they watched Zong Yan leave. Li Qinghong remarked, "This is truly a remote sea area that remains oblivious to the prosperity of the maind... Ten Embryonic Breathing Realm spirit items? What kind of request is that? When our family was an Embryonic Breathing Realm family, our tribute to the Azure Pond Sect was already far more than that!"
Li Yuanjiao sighed, shaking his head.
These spirit items from the maind will be recognized. I should exchange them for overseas spirit items in the market first to avoid raising any suspicions with that demon.
As for the Wanglin Blossom...
I''ve already inquired about it. Aside from being sold overseas by the Han Family, there are several others in the north. A couple can also be found in the sea. We only have to give one every five years, it shouldn''t be an issue, especially involving the Han Family...
Initially, Li Yuanjiao could not think of anything that would attract that demon''s attention, so he made Huiyao swear a spiritual oath and made it ept bribes from his family. With this, he could no longer oppress them with the Serpent Dragon Pce''s prestige. This was already a worthwhile exchange.
"Now that this is settled, I will return and look after our family now," Li Qinghong announced.
Li Yuanjiao nced at his sister, then said, "Kongheng and I will escort you all the way to Lake Xian. Don''t worry about troubling us. After the round trip, I n to enter seclusion to prepare for a breakthrough to the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"All right!" she agreed.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The formation on Mount Qingdu radiated a light green glow as always. Li Chengliao took a few steps on the water, crossed theke, andnded in the town.
The Jade Court Guard, Chen Mufeng, had been waiting on the shore for quite some time. With Li Xicheng''s recent ascension as the head of the family, Chen Mufeng had also gained the power and resources he had long desired.
He had now reached the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, which was pretty impressive.
The young master before him was the future pir of his lineage. Though Li Chengliao rarely visited Qingdu, Chen Mufeng had made time in his busy schedule to meet him. He greeted Li Chengliao with a smile, and Li Chengliao returned the gesture slightly, murmuring, "Battalion Commander."
"Greetings, young master."
At present, Li Chengliao was at the fourth heavenlyyer of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. While it wasn''t quite time for him to descend the mountain, his father, Li Xicheng, had found a betrothed for him, prompting him to make the trip to meet her.
As the eldest of his generation, Li Chengliao enjoyed a noble status in the family. Many prominent families were vying for his attention, but Li Xicheng had already chosen a girl from the Liu Family.
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The Liu Family had been in decline for some time, but they had recently produced a talented girl named Liu Lingzhen. She broke through to the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm at just fifteen, making her a genius in the town.
Despite her talent, the Liu Familycked the resources for proper training, making it a considerable achievement for her to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the prominent families on her own.
With such talent and her humble background, Li Xicheng was thrilled and consulted with the Liu Family to arrange an engagement for Li Chengliao.
The decision had been finalized, and Li Chengliao had seen the girl''s portrait. She was indeed beautiful and talented, so he had no objections. However, he felt it necessary to meet her in person to determine whether she was astute or simply a pretty face.
Following Chen Mufeng into the main hall, they turned a few corners and entered the side hall. Two cups of tea had been ced on the table, but no one was present.
"Hmm?"
Li Chengliao frowned slightly and seemed to be taken aback while Chen Mufeng was embarrassed. He quickly apologized, "I''ll go and check... Perhaps something has happened."
"No worries. Please do as you please, Battalion Commander," Li Chengliao assured him. As Chen Mufeng turned to leave, another Jade Court Guard rushed in, kneeling on one knee as he announced grimly, "Reporting to my lord..."
Although he spoke softly, Li Chengliao, yet to develop his spiritual sense, could only catch a few vague words.
"It''s useless... The Xu Family... refused toe after all... The news has been blocked..."
Li Chengliao''s frown deepened as he swirled the teacup on the table, ncing at Chen Mufeng''s back. He noticed the middle-aged man clenching his fists tightly, gritting his teeth as he forced himself to suppress his voice.
"Gather all the court guards for me!" he ordered.
Chapter 534: Xu Xiao (I)
Chapter 534: Xu Xiao (I)
The Jade Court Guard hurried and left, and Chen Mufeng''s expression was grim. Li Chengliao took a sip of tea and asked, "Battalion Commander... what happened?"
Chen Mufeng turned around and replied respectfully, "It''s just a few trivial matters, Young Master... Let me¡ª"
Li Chengliao happily poured him a cup of tea and responded, "There are no such things as trivial matters; they are all family affairs."
Chen Mufeng''s expression shifted slightly, and he hurriedly exined, "It''s about Lady Liu... She has a childhood sweetheart, the son of a family in town. His surname is Xu, and he has some family assets... His ancestor is the head of a town. The Liu Family wanted to use Lady Liu to elevate their status, but after hearing that Family Head is interested in her, they immediately changed their mind... and this caused some gossip..."
"Oh?"
An amused smile appeared on Li Chengliao''s face, and he joked, "Looks like I''ve be a scoundrel who stole someone''s wife!"
Chen Mufeng looked embarrassed and said, "We have sent two people to invite Lady Liu here but that man managed to beat them up and turn them away... Although those two are cultivators, they were no match for him."
At this, Li Chengliao''s smile vanished instantly. He fixed his gaze on the middle-aged man and said, "In my Li Family''s territory, I am the head of the second lineage. I sent people to bring her here, and he dared to beat them up and chase them away? Who does he take the Li Family for? We''ve never forced Lady Liu to agree to the marriage. She could have handled this in a more civilized manner instead of making things awkward!"
Chen Mufeng hung his head in silence and replied, "I have sent the Jade Court Guards over..."
"Wait..." Li Chengliao frowned and continued, "I finally made it down the mountain; let''s not create a scene. My n uncles dislike that and I don''t want to risk drawing their attention. That won''t end well."
Chen Mufeng nodded in agreement.
"Get two Jade Court Guards over here; I''ll go there and see for myself," Li Chengliao instructed.
He straightened his brocade robe and walked toward the door, apanied by Chen Mufeng.
"This young master from the Xu Family is also rather peculiar. He was mute and had been stuck at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm for many years. He only broke throughst month and now that he can speak, everyone showers him with praises..."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Liu Family''s courtyard.
Although the Liu Family had been in decline for many years, it once enjoyed a glorious past.
The courtyard was dark and old, but it upied arge area. An exquisite stone table sat in the center, where a woman with a cold aura around her leaned against it.
Her beautiful face was filled with radiance, but her slightly furrowed brow revealed a trace of sadness. At the other end of the table stood a strong, handsome young man who radiated vitality.
N?v(el)B\\jnn
"Xiao, you are acting too impulsively... The Li Family is powerful and well-established; the geniuses in their family are cultivating in the sect, and they are connected to immortal ns through marriage. How could you offend them like this..? Even if they came to my house, I could have just found an excuse to deal with them. By beating those two up and chasing them away, you''re essentially making this into a big issue!"
Xu Xiao crossed his arms and shook his head as he sneered coldly.
"You don''t understand! How many times will your excuses work? As long as their eldest son is interested in you, he''ll continue sending people to bother you. The Liu Family won''t miss the chance to climb the socialdder either. The only way to make him back down is to create a scene!"
"The Li Family values their reputation and enforces strict rules within their n. My only concern is that we won''t be able to create a big enough problem!" he added.
Liu Lingzhen shook her head and remarked softly. "You''ve been holed up in the courtyard for years and was mute before. You don''t understand the extent of the Li Family''s influence..."
Xu Xiaoughed proudly and assured, "Don''t worry! I''ve broken through to Qi Cultivation Realm! The great Dao is just right in front of me!"
"What?!"
Surprise and joy filled Liu Lingzhen''s face as she continued, "It''s only been a few years! You''ve made another breakthrough?!"
She paused, then added with a hint of regret, "It''s a pity it came two years toote. You''re already twenty-five, and the Xu Family has bestowed the spiritual qi of heaven and earth on your big brother..."
"It doesn''t matter. I don''t even want that! It''s just a portion of Cave Spring Clear Qi. I''ve used better," Xu Xiao replied, raising his eyebrows with disdain.
"It''s just that I''ve been breaking through too quickly, so I can''t reveal it to others yet. Though there''s a secret technique to conceal it, it''s hard to guarantee that the Li Family won''t have any perception technique to see through it. I''ll have to wait a few more years..."
He then changed the subject and continued coldly, "I''m just waiting for that pack of dogs toe and openly confront me. Even if he is Li Chengliao, the eldest son of this generation, the people in the n Affairs Courtyard are watching him closely... He''ll be in trouble if they report him directly to Qingdu!"
After hearing him, Liu Lingzhen calmed down significantly and murmured, "What if the n Affairs Courtyard covers up for him...?"
"Hahaha! I checked the records a few days ago. The n Affairs Courtyard has always targeted the powerful. If they made any mistake, they would be the first to be med," Xu Xiao replied confidently.
He chuckled coldly and continued, "As long as you and I stay calm, the Jade Court Guards can''t do anything to us! And with the immortal sect watching over all of us, I''m sure we''ll be fine!"
Liu Lingzhen nodded, somewhat naively, listening to the words of her beloved. Just then, Xu Xiao detected something with his spiritual sense and whispered, "Someone ising!"
Sure enough, an elder from the Liu Family called out from outside obsequiously. A series of knocks came from the courtyard door, followed by a creaking sound.
Madam Liu''s voice rang out, "Zhen''er! Open the door quickly!"
Liu Lingzhen''s face paled, and she grabbed Xu Xiao and urged him to leave. However, Xu Xiao refused to move and merely said, "It''s toote. I doubt he can see through my cultivation. Just let him in!"
Madam Liu had no intention of waiting for Liu Lingzhen to answer the door. With a creak, it was pushed open. However, it was a young man d in a pale-colored dharma robe who entered first with a spear slung across his back.
He nced at the two of them and waved casually.
The middle-aged man behind him, who was at the fifth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, pushed the group of elders and n uncles from the Liu Family out with ease. The door quickly mmed shut behind them.
The young man with a heroic face then said, "Li Chengliao from the Li Family greets fellow Daoists."
Liu Lingzhen felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, and Xu Xiao was momentarily stunned. He had never expected Li Chengliao toe in person.
"Xu Xiao from the Xu Family greets Young Master," he managed to reply.
Seeing the way the couple looked at each other, Li Chengliao quickly understood the situation. He continued, speaking with a smile, "Young Master Xu truly looks impressive. The Xu Family is a well-respected lineage; it''s about time a hero emerged among them."
Li Chengliao''s words caught Xu Xiao off guard and rendered him speechless, while Liu Lingzhen found herself in a difficult position.
After a brief pause, Li Chengliao rified, "It was the Liu Family who gave your name earlier, mydy. What a foolish mistake they have made! My subordinate also took their bribes and came to invite you over. Thankfully, Young Master Xu intervened; otherwise, it would have caused a misunderstanding!"
"This is certainly my office''s oversight. As an apology, I''ve reserved a quota on the peak for the Xu Family and you, mydy. I''ve also sent someone to your family to issue a formal apology. I hope you can forgive the ipetence of my subordinates," he added generously.
Chapter 535: Xu Xiao (II)
Chapter 535: Xu Xiao (II)
Not only was Xu Xiao stunned, but Liu Lingzhen was also taken aback for a moment. Her face then lit up with joy as she looked at him with newfound admiration and bowed to express her gratitude. Xu Xiao also lowered his head and did the same.
Li Chengliao''s gaze lingered on him for a moment before stepping outside. A group of Liu Family members immediately surrounded him, crying out in an effort to keep him there.
These individuals had been profligate sons when the Liu Family was in power. Now, as they aged and took on leadership roles, they had made a mess of things. Li Chengliao ignored their pleas and left the yard with Chen Mufeng right beside him.
Once outside, Chen Mufeng seemed eager to speak. When they finally returned to the hall, the middle-aged man leaned closer and whispered, "That Xu Xiao... is really at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
Li Chengliao''s smile vanished, reced by a puzzled expression as he murmured quietly, "Not only is the Liu Family ipetent, but Liu Lingzhen also seems naive and lovesick. Thankfully, this engagement hasn''t been finalized; otherwise, problems would arise sooner orter."
He then added thoughtfully, "As for Xu Xiao... his sudden rise is quite peculiar."
After a moment of contemtion, he said, "Tell me everything you know about Xu Xiao!"
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Chen Mufeng hurriedly replied, "He is twenty-five years old, born mute and rarely left his home. He remained at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm until he was twenty-one when he suddenly began to speak. His personality changed drastically, and he broke through in his cultivation, keeping it a secret until it was recently discovered that he reached the third stage."
Li Chengliao calcted silently, then voiced his suspicion, "Could he have encountered some opportunity?"
His doubt lingered, and he turned to ask, "I remember the head of the Liu Family... is an unrefined Qi Cultivator, right?"
"That''s correct," Chen Mufeng confirmed.
Li Chengliao considered this answer, cing his hands behind his back as he said thoughtfully, "Send someone to call him over. Offer him some spirit items as a bribe, and have him test Xu Xiao."
Chen Mufeng was momentarily taken aback, thinking Li Chengliao was being overly cautious.
Nheless, given Li Chengliao''s authority, he nodded and went off to execute the orders, leaving Li Chengliao standing in the hall, staring at the tea that had already grown cold in the wind.
"I would love to get to the bottom of this and see if this is the work of a demon," he murmured, his mouth set in a stern line.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Liu Family''s courtyard.
Once the Li Family members left, Liu Lingzhen eximed happily, "He doesn''t put on airs! What a good man!"
Good man..?
Xu Xiao sighed inwardly. Li Chengliao''s response hadpletely taken him by surprise.
What a clever move to turn an enemy into a friend! No wonder the Li Family dominates theke, monopolizes spirit fields, levies heavy taxes, and squeezes out everyst bit of Spirit Paddies. They rely on connections to control the quotas, ensuring only their n members can enter the immortal sect to train... and they''ve solidified their power within the family!
That young master may appear polite on the surface, but who knows if he holds a grudge in his heart? It seems we can''t stay here for long... It''s better to leave early and explore. Once we establish our immortal foundation and acquire divine abilities, we''ll return and overthrow this tyrant...
"Zhen''er, once you break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, we''ll go out and explore!" he said.
This had always been their goal, but now, Liu Lingzhen hesitated slightly.
"B-But... he has given me a ce to practice on the mountain! The devil gue is rampant out there! Isn''t it nice to stay in this safe haven and receive stipends? The Li Family is also quite nice... they never kill to collect blood qi!"
Xu Xiao sneered, transmitting his voice through mana, "Such a formidable family must have their dark secrets. Li Ximing can produce so many pills withoutpromising his cultivation progress¡ªhe might be relying on devil cultivation techniques and blood qi... He probably kills in secret behind the immortal sect''s back. If the immortal sect eventually finds out about it, he''ll certainly face dire consequences!"
Liu Lingzhen considered what he said carefully and felt that it made sense. She looked at him with admiration as Xu Xiao continued, "We''ll travel the world or join the immortal sect! Once we be Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, we''ll return and take over this family. Isn''t that a good n? By then, n stipends will mean little to us; and the entire southern shore will be ours!"
His strong confidence captivated Liu Lingzhen. Compared to Li Chengliao''s politeness and reluctance to cause trouble, Xu Xiao was far more charming. She smiled and nodded vigorously.
Xu Xiao paused, feeling that the situation was bing more challenging than expected as Li Chengliao had caught him off guard. He produced a pill and suggested, "You should go into seclusion and attempt a breakthrough now. Take this pill right away, don''t wait for the Qi Cultivation Realm. When you reach Jade Capital Stage, we''ll set off."
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Liu Lingzhen''s eyes lit up with excitement instantly, but she could not help but ask, "Where did you get this? You didn''t steal it from home, did you..?"
"Don''t worry," Xu Xiao assured softly.
After escorting Liu Lingzhen to the backyard, Xu Xiao prepared to leave. He had not mentioned his breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm to anyone, so he could not ride the wind as his means of travel. As he stepped out of the room, he encountered a fierce-looking old man blocking his path.
"Liu Family Head," he greeted, keeping his tone even for Liu Lingzhen''s sake, even though he had no respect for the man.
Yet, he had not anticipated the old man''s harsh words.
"Stop seducing my daughter, you motherless bastard!"
Anger welled up in Xu Xiao as he retorted sharply, "I''m only showing you respect because of your daughter, old man! You better know your ce!"
Old Liu, clearly enraged, lunged at him with an open palm, muttering curses under his breath. Xu Xiao swiftly grabbed the old man''s arm with one hand, his grip like an iron mp, preventing him from pulling away.
The old man made no attempt to pull his hand away either as he instinctively reached for the sword at his waist with his other hand.
With a sneer, Xu Xiao reacted faster than lightning, seizing the sword before the old man could even draw it. As he pulled and twisted, a dark me erupted from his lips.
Old Man Liu felt a sharp pain in his chest and quickly pulled out two talismans, but they were incinerated in the mes before he could even have time to use them. He felt weak all over, as if his very cultivation had been burned dry.
He screamed and teetered on the brink of copse. However, Xu Xiao had no intention of killing him; he calmly sucked the fire back into his stomach and warned coldly, "Annoy me again and you will die miserably."
With a swift motion, a small rune appeared in his hand. He pped it onto Old Man Liu''s chest and threatened, "If you dare to spread anything about me, this fire will reduce you to ashes as soon as you open your mouth!"
"Ah! D-Devil... Devil cultivator!"
Old Man Liu, having never encountered anything like that, was struck by how dark and eerie the spell was. He fearfully used Xu Xiao of being a devil cultivator, but quickly fell silent and copsed to the ground under Xu Xiao''s fierce gaze.
With a mocking smile, Xu Xiao turned and walked away. Old Man Liu shakily got to his feet, spitting in anger, before quietly slipping into the backyard and kneeling down, too frightened to speak.
A Jade Court Guardnded in the courtyard, his appearance resembling that of Chen Mufeng. Shocked, he murmured, "Just that one move... Just one move..."
Even a Qi Cultivator of the second heavenlyyer like him clearly felt the dangerous nature of the ck me, let alone Old Man Liu.
"Did he reincarnate, or did he inherit some sort of immortal legacy? I have never seen such a genius!" he murmured to himself.
Just as the Jade Court Guard finished speaking, he spotted a figure leaning against the backyard door. It was Xu Xiao, who had returned with a zing ck me in his hand as he regarded him with a sinister expression.
"Captain Chen... why must you meddle in other people''s affairs?"[1]
1. Trantor Note: The author did not give Captain Chen a name, but he is actually a Squadron Leader Chen in the raw. We''ll call him Captain Chen. Not to be confused with Commander Chen, Chen Mufeng, a battalion leader. ?
Chapter 536: Tremors (I)
Chapter 536: Tremors (I)
In the blink of an eye, Captain Chen felt an instant chilling sensation on his neck and when he reached for his waist, he found that the jade pendant he kept there had disappeared.
As he looked up again, a ck me materialized before him. He barely had time to raise his hands in defense before he was sent rolling on the ground. Xu Xiao nced at him with disdain as he sneered coldly.
"All you cultivate are worthless techniques."
Captain Chen was shocked to be so easily overpowered by a cultivator at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. rm bells rang in his mind¡ªhe suspected possession by a devil. As panic set in, he reached for hismunication talisman to call for help.
"Seize!"
Xu Xiao raised a crimsonmand token, its surface adorned with ancient runes. With a sharpmand, the token emitted a gentle red glow, shooting out like lightning right away.
Captain Chen let out two hoarse gasps before copsing to his knees, his arms hanging limp by his sides. In a single move, his mind had been subdued, leaving him helpless.
Fearing that dying would attract other Jade Court Guards, Xu Xiao acted swiftly. He formed a ck seal in his hand, calmly stepping forward and pressing his palm into Captain Chen''s chest.
Knowing that injuring or killing a Jade Court Guard would cause significant trouble, Xu Xiao had held back during their fight. Now, instead of striking a fatal blow, he nted a spell within Captain Chen''s body. Once the seal took hold, he withdrew his token and watched as the man slowly regained consciousness.
Captain Chen emerged from his stupor, confused and disoriented. When rity returned, his eyes filled with fear. Gripping his long de, he appeared ready to fight once more.
Xu Xiao sneered, "Captain Chen, think carefully. We are in the same boat now."
The realization dawned on Captain Chen and he quickly scanned his body with his spiritual sense. With a heavy heart, he dropped his de, despair washing over him. He thought bitterly to himself, I could die, but I can''t doom my family along with me!
He reluctantly asked, "Who... who are you?"
Xu Xiao''s expression remained calm.
"I know your family lives within the Li Family''s territory... I will not force you into anything. Just pretend none of this happened. That way, you save your life and your family stays safe."
Xu Xiao''s voice lowered, his tone measured and persuasive.
"Just turn a blind eye and let me leave. When the timees, I will take Lingzhen and be gone without causing any trouble."
With his words precisely calibrated and the token subtly influencing Captain Chen''s mind, Xu Xiao turned away confidently.
Caught in an agonizing inner struggle, Captain Chen watched Xu Xiao leave. Unable to resist the pull of self-preservation, he took off, flying toward the mountains as if nothing had happened.
Xu Xiao, observing his departure, smiled smugly, Whatever I want to do by the time I leave is beyond your control!
He then leisurely made his way back.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
In the grand hall, Li Chengliao sat at the head of the room, holding a jade slip. A white-furred monkey stood nearby. The tall creature carried a staff on its back and wore a stern expression.
This white monkey, now at the eighth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, seldom spoke and rarely interacted with others. Its unwavering loyalty to the Li Family made it the perfect guardian for Li Chengliao.
Kneeling below him was Chen Mufeng, bowing his head in submission as he made his report.
"You are telling me Xu Xiao took two strikes from Old Man Liu and left wounded?" Li Chengliao said aloud as he listened carefully, pondering for a moment before his expression softened with a trace of guilt. "Seems I have been too harsh, envious of his talents... I may have wronged him."
Chen Mufeng remained silent, not daring to speak. Li Chengliao, known for his mild temperament, continued calmly, "Since that is the case, let us put this dispute with the Liu Family to rest. However... I fear Old Man Liu may pressure his daughter. Bring him here¡ªI will exin the situation to him."
"Right away!" Chen Mufeng responded as he respectfully withdrew.
Li Chengliao sat in contemtion, considering how to smooth things over so he could return to his cultivation quickly.
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"Xu Xiao may have potential, but he is not one to submit to others. It is best to foster goodwill, give him some Spirit Stones, and let him leave. My humble house cannot shelter a grand figure like him."
As these thoughts ran through his mind, an elderly figure shuffled into the hall, trembling as he kneeled before Li Chengliao. It was none other than Old Man Liu, who, despite his usual arrogance within the estate, now prostrated himself in silence.
"Liu Yi of the Liu Family pays respects to Family Head!"
He bowed deeply, his forehead damp with sweat, his voice trembling with respect.
"Family Head Liu, since your daughter Lingzhen and Xu Xiao have mutual affection, you should do them the favor of allowing their union. Let them pick a date, and I shall y the role of matchmaker on their wedding day!" Li Chengliao said as he stayed seated at the head of the hall and read from the jade slip in his hand, sipping tea calmly.
In his younger days, Old Man Liu had been a notorious wastrel, yet he had witnessed and heard of the Li Family''s rise to power, leaving him deeply shaken. Due to Liu Rouxuan''s connection, he had even met Li Tongya once.
At the time, he was still young and kneeled trembling before Li Tongya, too terrified to even raise his head. He could only hear Li Tongya addressing him by his full name and asking a few questions about the Liu Family''s affairs, which had left his legs weak.
Now in his old age, Liu Yi had at leaste to understand the gravity of situations and the value of life. However, with his fate in the hands of another, he could not find the words to speak.
Li Chengliao, noticing the silence, raised his eyebrows and nced at him inquisitively.
"Hmm?"
That single sound shattered Liu Yi''s courage. Torn between covering for Xu Xiao to save him and trembling with indecision, sweat streamed down his face. Before Li Chengliao could say a word, Liu Yi had already pressed his forehead to the ground repeatedly, sobbing uncontrobly.
Li Chengliao''s smile slowly faded as he scrutinized the old man. Taking a step down from his seat, the crisp sound of his jade-tipped boots echoed on the steps below his robe.
He stood silently, watching as Liu Yi''s sweat soaked the ground, realizing that something must be terribly wrong. In a low, heavy voice, he asked, "Liu Yi... what is going on?"
The mention of his name hit Liu Yi like a thunderp, causing his legs to shake uncontrobly. Finally, the weight of the situation crushed him, and he wailed loudly, "Ancestor, Xu¡ª"
He had only managed to utter the first syble when the white monkey behind Li Chengliao opened its eyes, stepped forward, and reached for the old man.
But it was already toote. ck mes erupted from Liu Yi''s body, bursting from his chest and abdomen with a thunderous boom. Blood sttered throughout the hall, sending his organs flying in all directions.
ck blood spouted like a fountain, filling the air. Li Chengliao stumbled back in shock, yet ck stains still marred the hem of his robe, sttering across his chest and cor.
From within the boiling ck blood, a dark seal shot upward, attempting to escape. However, arge furry hand swiftly reached out and deftly grasped the ck light.
The ck light struggled to break free, thrashing wildly amidst the overwhelming demonic energy surrounding it. Although it held a higher power, it was relentlessly ground down by the furry hand''s immense force.
The white monkey withdrew its hand while Li Chengliao wiped the bloodstains from his cor. He removed his robe and draped it over his arm.
"Captain Chen!"
Li Chengliao''s sudden shout rang through the hall. Hanging his robe carefully on the back of a chair, he saw Chen Mufeng rush in, his pupils dting at the sight of the carnage.
Overwhelmed by fear, Chen Mufeng dropped to his knees with a thud, stammering, "I ept my punishment..."
Chapter 537: Tremors (II)
Chapter 537: Tremors (II)
Torn between fear and hatred toward Xu Xiao, Chen Mufeng also felt a flicker of relief that he was dealing with Li Chengliao. Had it been Li Yuanping, he would have kicked him to the ground without a word, leaving no room for exnations.
Facing away from him, Li Chengliao struggled to contain his anger, "Kneeling will not help. Gather the men immediately and secure the Xu Family... Xu Xiao might not even know yet."
Chen Mufeng leaped to his feet instantly and dashed out the door. Li Chengliao''s voice echoed after him, "If he escapes, do not bothering back."
Chen Mufeng responded with urgency, disappearing into the distance. Meanwhile, Li Chengliao was gued by unease, recalling the old matter with Chu Yi from Yufu Prefecture. He knew too many hidden truths, and his mind remained clear despite the circumstances¡ªXu Xiao was no Chu Yi.
"With the cautionary tales of the Kong Family and Chu Yi, I cannot afford to be careless."
Calling yet another attendant forward, he ordered, "Keep a close watch on the Liu Family, especially Liu Lingzhen."
At that moment, Li Chengliao abandoned any thoughts of saving face or fostering harmony. His mind was now consumed with fear and hatred. Wasting no time, he summoned the white monkey, and together they took to the skies, heading toward Mount Qingdu.
Upon arriving at the mountain, the hall stood empty except for a young woman seated in the courtyard,bing her hair. Her phoenix-like eyes and fine eyebrows gave her an elegant, noble appearance.
Seeing her, Li Chengliao''s heart sank. With a grim expression, he greeted her, "Auntie."
Although Li Yuexiang was younger than him, her seniority was much higher. Noticing his anxious demeanor, she asked, "Why the rush? My brother has already entered seclusion."
Hearing that Li Xijun was in seclusion, Li Chengliao''s heart sank further. Li Yuexiang continued, "He sensed an opportunity to break through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm a few days ago, so he hurried into seclusion. It is best not to disturb him."
This is bad!
Although Li Chengliao knew there was not much benefit in sharing all the details with Li Yuexiang, he still gave her a brief ount of the situation.
After listening, Li Yuexiang set down herb, her expression thoughtful.
"So, he carries a thread of fate within him... That is why our brother suddenly went into seclusion, and Grandfather and Elder Donghe led a group of Qi Cultivation Realm disciples eastward to congratte Daoist Master Houfu, leaving us with weakened defenses?"
Her words sent a chill through Li Chengliao as it was only then did he realize that many of their key Qi Cultivators had gone east. He responded grimly, "Can the thread of fate truly be so potent? Could this not all just be a coincidence?"
Li Yuexiang tied up her hair and answered, "Let us not lose ourposure. Before going into seclusion, Brother left me a jade. It can summon him. Do you want to try it?"
Li Chengliao nodded decisively and said in a low voice, "Please awaken Eighth Uncle. This matter is too important! It is better to err on the side of caution, even if it means striking preemptively... I will take full responsibility."
Li Yuexiang took a jade pendant from her sleeve and murmured, "Do not speak of taking responsibility like that."
With a light squeeze, she crushed the jade talisman into powder.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At the Qingdu Cave Dwelling.
Li Xijun, looking slightly pale, stepped out of the cave dwelling, where several people were already waiting for him. He scanned them briefly, took a letter, and one of the Jade Court Guards stepped forward, bowing respectfully, "My Lord. The n Affairs Courtyard has sent word... there seems to be trouble with Young Master Chengliao."
"Trouble with Chengliao..?" Li Xijun frowned. The Cheng and Ming generation of the Li Family were not particrly gifted, except for the promising young Li Chenghuai. The only other noteworthy member was Li Chengliao, who was known for being courteous and steady.
"What happened?" Li Xijun asked.
"It appears to involve a conflict with the Xu Family in town... all over a woman," the guard reported.
"What?!" Li Xijun''s expression darkened. Chengliao had always conducted himself well on the mountain; he never expected him to cause such trouble the moment he went down to town. However, without more details, Li Xijun held back his judgment and said quietly, "We will put this matter aside for now. Summon Yuexiang."
He figured that Yuexiang''s urgent summons had to mean something serious was unfolding. His thoughts immediately turned to the possibility that their elders overseas were in trouble, prompting the use of the jade talisman to request aid. A sense of unease weighed heavily on him.
As he was about to get up, another figure rushed in and reported, "My Lord, the youngdy and young master are here to see you."
Li Xijun sat back down and gestured with his hand.
"Let them in."
Li Yuexiang and Li Chengliao hurriedly stepped forward but without fully grasping the situation, Li Xijun calmly invited them to sit. However, Chengliao did not even take the time to sit before speaking urgently in a low voice, "Eighth Uncle! There is someone down in the town who might carry a thread of fate, just like what happened with Chu Yi."
This news was entirely beyond Li Xijun''s expectations and far more serious than he had anticipated. His brows shot up in shock, and he asked gravely, "Where is this person? Have they made contact? How far have they gone?"
"Chengliao has already controlled the situation," Li Chengliao replied. "Though not as terrifying as Chu Yi, there is still something unsettling about him. He may carry a thread of fate and cannot be taken lightly."
Li Xijun rubbed the jade pendant hanging from his waist, pondering briefly. Just then, theke beside Qingdu began to churn violently, and a gust of sinister wind swept through the courtyard. A young man dressed in ck descended hurriedly, his piercing snake-like eyes scanning the surroundings before bowing his head, "Master, do you have orders for me?"
This was Li Wushao, whose twin hooked tail had already reformed, solidifying hisbat prowess. Li Yuanjiao had assigned him to guard and train within the family grounds. Li Xijun spoke softly, "Something has gone wrong within the n. I must rely on you, Senior Wushao."
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Two streaks of ck light swirled within the shadow beneath Wushao''s feet. He nodded and stepped back behind Li Xijun.
"Let us go!" Li Xijunmanded.
Li Chengliao nodded in response, but Li Xijun hesitated momentarily and extended a hand to block his sister, Li Yuexiang. "You two must not go," he said solemnly, "People like this are often unpredictable and dangerous. I fear they might use underhanded means."
Li Yuexiang paused briefly, then retrieved a talisman from her sleeve and ced it into her brother''s hands gently.
"Brother, this was left to me by Father. Take it for your protection. You must be cautious¡ªwho knows how strong this person is."
Li Xijun gave a silent nod, then summoned the wind and flew swiftly toward the town. From a distance, he could already see several figures patrolling the air above, maintaining a loose but watchful presence. The Li estate appeared as usual on the surface, yet a subtle tension filled the air, as if it were braced for something.
A Jade Court Guard whispered the gathered intelligence in Li Xijun''s ear, guiding him toward the Xu Family estate from afar. "My Lord, the target is at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm... Should we send someone to provoke the devil cultivator from the Xu Family and lure him out for you to observe?" the guard asked quietly.
"There is no need for such trouble," Li Xijun responded, forming a concealment spell. He remained high in the clouds, refraining from probing with his spiritual senses. Instead, his eyes glimmered with a pale light, cold as frost and hazy as mist as he focused his gaze downward.
The Xu Family''s protective formation was rudimentary, designed merely to block external interference. With the enhancement of both his perception technique and talisman qi, the barrier quickly faded from his sight. In an instant, Li Xijun spotted a handsome youth standing within the courtyard.
"Third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm?!" he eximed in surprise.
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Chapter 538: Green Pine Temple (I)
Chapter 538: Green Pine Temple (I)
The robust young man sat upright in the courtyard, his fingers forming hand seals. ck mes churned from his palms, spreading in ripples around him. Dark runes flickered like streams of light around him, weaving and twisting through the air by his side.
Li Xijun cast a brief nce his way, wary of being noticed. He averted his gaze and monitored the young man from the corner of his eye.
Chengliao wasn''t affected by him, meaning this person isn''t on the same level as Chu Yi. There likely isn''t a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator behind the scenes controlling him either. It''s possible he carries a thread of fate, stumbled upon some hidden legacy, or received guidance from a skilled master.
Li Xijun refrained from acting hastily and first summoned Chen Mufeng.
"The Jade Court Guards patrolling the area are too concentrated¡ªit might raise suspicion. Spread them out along the borders. His lover is still on the mountain; I will have Senior Wushao personally keep an eye on Xu Xiao," he instructed.
Chen Mufeng''s heart was full of bitterness, thinking only of making amends and avoiding demotion.
At the time, he had only sent a trusted confidant, Captain Chen, his kinsman, to handle matters. Now, Chen Mufeng had quietly reassigned Captain Chen to Mount Yue to distance him from the events in town, intending to deal with him once the situation was resolved.
After voicing his acknowledgment, Chen Mufeng hurried off to carry out the orders.
Li Chengliao had initially granted Liu Lingzhen ess to cultivate on the mountain, intending to drive a wedge and win her over. Yet now, it had inadvertently ced her within the grasp of the Li Family. Li Xijun assigned two people to question her discreetly, then turned to Li Wushao, "Senior, do you know of any sect techniques involving ck mes, preferably ones capable of manipting minds or threatening lives?"
Li Xijun was well-acquainted with the factions in Wu and Yue States and knew them thoroughly. However, he had never seen anything like this ck me¡ªcapable of beguiling minds and toying with lives¡ªleading him to suspect it might originate from overseas influences.
Li Wushao thought for a moment, hissing as he spoke, "There are countless Dao lineages on the seas, and those sunken to the ocean floor are even more numerous. As for ck mes... there is indeed one that is quite famous."
He paused for a moment, then added gravely, "Crimson Reef Ind, a significant power on the seas. Their direct disciples cultivate Merging Fire, one of the Fire Virtue, and are known for breathing ck mesced with spells that confuse minds and cast sinister curses."
"Crimson Reef Ind..."
Li Xijun''s primary concern was whether this individual was a pawn of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. However, there had been no word from Li Xizhi''s end. Given the current strength of the Li Family, any Purple Mansion Realm cultivator would have informed them before taking action, rather than stirring trouble in secret.
With no iing news and given the limits of Xu Xiao''s abilities, murderous intent rose in Li Xijun''s heart. He suspected that someone was using Xu Xiao to disrupt his family. Yet, the Li Family had no prior conflict with Crimson Reef Ind, making the situation uncertain. He summoned one of his men and ordered, "Find a clever female cultivator and have her extract some information from Liu Lingzhen¡ªsubtly. Gauge her stance on the immortal sects and gates."
The subordinate hesitated but nodded, leaving with several capable assistants. It was clear that he did not fully grasp Li Xijun''s intent, prompting Li Xijun to borate, "Send a female cultivator to casually talk about some overseas sects. Drop a few deliberate errors¡ªmake it sound convincing but irritating. See if Liu Lingzhen can catch the mistakes and determine her attitude toward the sects."
After making these arrangements, Li Xijun refrained from acting hastily. He intended to probe further, dying matters until the ancestors returned.
"If he leaves without incident, that would be ideal... but if he bears a grudge, we cannot let him go."
Li Xijun lingered in the sky, feeling deeply unsettled. Only he possessed the perception technique needed to pierce through illusions. He found a vantage point on Lijing Peak, where he could oversee the entire town below.
The night passed.
The next morning, a subordinate arrived on a gust of wind and reported respectfully, "My Lord, as you instructed, we sent someone to speak with Liu Lingzhen. She has revealed some information."
Following Li Xijun''s orders, the female cultivator approached Liu Lingzhen arrogantly, showing off and casually mentioning some details about the outer seas. Liu Lingzhen, naive as she was, could not stand the boasting and retorted.
The subordinate reported, "She pointed out the mistakes made by the two agents we sent, exposing them easily. Once she started talking, she could not stop and spoke highly of the sects, even describing some of their artifacts in detail."
Xu Xiao may be cautious, but his lover is all appearance and no substance... she''s left us far too many clues.
These remarks were swiftly ryed to Li Xijun. The mention of the outer seas stirred thoughts in his mind, prompting him to mutter, "A girl who has never set foot outside this town somehow knows about the artifacts of overseas sects...?"
With this information in hand, many possibilities were eliminated. The most likely scenario was that Xu Xiao had a thread of fate upon him, stumbling upon Crimson Reef Ind''s inheritance and falling under its influence¡ªor he might even be a vessel possessed by someone from the ind.
If Xu Xiao truly had deep connections to Crimson Reef Ind, it could involve a rare technique for avoiding death through reincarnation, making him an even greater threat and harder to eliminate.
Li Xijun considered this possibility for a moment before dismissing it, "If it really is a reincarnation technique, the matter should have been made public. If he had informed us, the Li Family would have ensured his safe return to the ind... unless he is some kind of rogue disciple."
His thoughts raced, circling through numerous possibilities. The more he pondered, the harder it became to judge the situation. Exhaling slowly, he turned his mind to the enigma surrounding reincarnation.
"No matter what, it is clear that he is tied to Crimson Reef Ind."
Setting aside his concerns, Li Xijun flipped through the records handed to him by his subordinates, reviewing Xu Xiao''s recent activities in detail. He had to admit that Xu Xiao''s temperament and behavior suggested a growing resentment toward the Li Family¡ªperhaps even greed.
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Li Xijun found it intolerable for someone with a thread of fate to harbor ill will toward his family while remaining outside their control. Such a person posed a greater danger than a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator lurking nearby. If the situation escted to that point, offending Crimson Reef Ind might be unavoidable¡ªXu Xiao would have to be eliminated.
"Just because someone has a thread of fate does not mean they cannot be killed..."
As Li Xijun ran his hand along the hilt of his sword, murderous intent simmered within him. Suppressing it, he muttered to himself, "To deal with someone like this, you either hold back entirely or strike with full force, ensuring they have no chance to escape."
He stood up, calcting how long it would take for the senior family members to return. But with them far away on unpredictable journeys across the seas, Xu Xiao grew stronger with each passing day¡ªwaiting any longer might not be an option.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, another subordinate rushed in and reported, "My Lord, that devil cultivator just took arge barrel of medicinal herbs! We do not know what kind of spell he intends to perform!"
The Li Family treated Xu Xiao with great caution. While the core members understood the reason, most of the lower-ranking members were left puzzled. Following Li Xijun''s orders, word had spread that Xu Xiao was a devil cultivator who had seized another''s body. Coupled with the grisly and bizarre death of Old Man Liu, fear and hatred toward Xu Xiao simmered among the family members.
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Chapter 539: Green Pine Temple (II)
Chapter 539: Green Pine Temple (II)
Li Xijun rose swiftly upon hearing thetest report and rode the wind outside, where Wushao approached him with a hissing voice and reported, "He just left the courtyard."
Fixing his gaze on Xu Xiao, Li Xijun saw him sitting cross-legged, immersed in a bath of crimson medicinal liquid, seemingly preparing for a breakthrough. Li Xijun''s heart sank, thinking to himself worriedly, No, I cannot wait any longer! If I let this continue, he might break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm in just a few years! By the time the elders return from the vast Eastern Sea, he could already be too powerful. Who knows what methods he''ll have mastered by then? And if he slips away unnoticed, it''ll be toote... It''s better to strike now than regretter!
Without hesitation, Li Xijun waved his hand, "Everyone, gather here!"
He narrowed his eyes, activating both his perception technique and talisman qi to observe the spiritual qi flowing through the medicinal bath. He waited patiently for Xu Xiao to enter the critical stage of his breakthrough.
"When he reaches the tipping point, we will strike together," Li Xijun murmured, his hand already resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist. Behind him, the hem of Li Wushao''s robe shifted with an ominous, rolling motion, while the white monkey, Chen Mufeng, and the others stood at the ready, fully prepared for battle.
Li Xijun sighed inwardly, What a mess... Ever since our family achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm and rose to dominate theke, it has been years since we''ve had to assemble with such vignce... and now, all this, just for a mere Qi Cultivator!
Xu Xiao slowly calmed his mind, his breath bing unsteady as the medicinal liquid in the basin whirled faster and began to dissipate. With the cautionary tales of Chu Yi and the Kong Family still fresh in his mind, Li Xijun dared not be careless. He feared his guest cultivators might also lower their guard, so he repeatedly reminded them, "This person is most likely a reincarnated devil... Who knows how many secret treasures or forbidden techniques he carries? Do not underestimate him! A singlepse could cost us our lives!"
Sure enough, at these words, the expressions of those present grew serious. Even Li Wushao, who had stood stiffly with a stern face, showed a flicker of surprise and increased his vignce in his gaze toward the figure below.
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Xu Xiao''s aura surged.
Li Xijun held his breath, waiting for the critical moment to strike.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At the Eastern Sea.
Li Yuanjiao escorted Li Qinghong back to Lake Xian, ensuring she entered the river path leading to the Yue Cultivating Sect before heading eastward again.
Being a cautious person, he did not retrace his steps but instead took a different route with Kongheng to return to Zongquan Ind, adding a slight detour while staying safe.
They flew silently for a while, passing a long, pine-covered ind. From afar, the skies above were filled with shing spells and shes of light, creating an impressivemotion.
Based on his calctions, Li Yuanjiao determined that this location aligned with the notorious Green Pine Temple Ruins. For years, Sword Gate, Chunyi Dao Gate, and Crimson Reef Ind had been vying for control over it, yet no resolution had been reached.
As Li Yuanjiao looked toward the ruins, a thought suddenly urred to him. He turned to Kongheng and asked, "Master Monk, do the records of the Liao River''s teachings mention anything about the ancient gate known as Green Pine Temple?"
Kongheng pressed his palms together and replied softly, "Indeed! This immortal temple was founded before Moonlight Origin Mansion... It produced two True Monarchs. The first remains obscure but was known to cultivate in the Fire Virtue system, while the second realized the Swamp Gold attainment but was in by the Lesser Yang Devil Monarch."
Li Yuanjiao recalled the Lesser Yang Devil Monarch, whose name was linked to Splitreed Ind. He nodded and then asked, "So, the legacies of Swamp Gold and Fire Virtue lie within Green Pine Temple?"
"Correct," Kongheng affirmed.
Li Yuanjiao, however, remained skeptical.
"If two True Monarchs emerged from there, how did it fall into the hands of these mere Purple Mansion Realm immortal gates? Would any Golden Core Realm cultivator not be interested in it? Surely, there are True Monarchs attuned to Swamp Gold within the maind?"
Kongheng nodded and exined, "After the fall of Green Pine Temple, it was plundered by many factions, leaving it a deste ruin. There are no longer any truly valuable treasures, which is why it is now called the Green Pine Temple Ruins."
Kongheng continued, "However, even if the artifacts are gone, the records of its techniques remain in the hidden realm within it. Moreover, there are ancient spirit herbs cultivated for centuries there, which are of significant value to any sect."
As Li Yuanjiao listened, his gaze returned to the mountain. Following his nce, Kongheng continued in a calm tone, "The Sword Gate covets the Swamp Gold Dao, Crimson Reef Ind desires the Merging Fire arts, and Chunyi Gate ims to be the descendants of Green Pine Temple. Naturally, all of them want a piece. The great formation protecting Green Pine Temple remains sealed and has yet to be broken... They are all waiting for the arrival of a predestined person."
"A predestined person..?" Li Yuanjiao repeated thoughtfully, his brows furrowing.
Unwilling to get entangled in the conflict, Li Yuanjiao and Kongheng flew around the mountain. As they passed it, Li Yuanjiao murmured to himself, and Kongheng added, "This is also called fate... a subtle force, inexplicable yet undeniable. Without that destined person, not even Golden Core Realm cultivators can breach it, no matter how fiercely the three sects struggle."
Kongheng paused briefly before borating further, "Some formations open only when the destined person passes through it. Some treasures lie buried for millennia, waiting for one specific person to im them. And some individuals, no matter the danger they encounter, possess foreknowledge and cannot be easily killed¡ªall due to the force of fate."
"Fate is this powerful? Does that not make one invincible?" Li Yuanjiao pondered aloud, taking note of Kongheng''s words.
Kongheng responded with a serene expression, "Fate is not a tangible force, much like the metallic essence, which also has limits. Triumph and defeat alike can be attributed to fate. As one scripture puts it: Whatever lies beyond one''s strength to achieve, that is fate."
The words of a Buddhist cultivator were always cryptic. Li Yuanjiao pondered for a moment before quietly saying, "In my view, fate and Metallic Essence are very much alike. Both are forces beyond control¡ªsomething that defies strategy and clouds judgment."
The thought of his elder, Li Tongya, crossed Li Yuanjiao''s mind. Kongheng, hands sped in front of him, chanted softly, "It was not always like this. Back then, whether immortal, devil, or monk, they all pursued absolute freedom. Now that freedom is achieved, this is what we have be."
Ripples shimmered across the turquoise and red surface of the water beneath them. Li Yuanjiao did not respond, instead flew alongside Kongheng quietly. Before long, they arrived at Zongquan Ind. The people on the ind, seeing the two return, cheered loudly, their joyful voices filling the air.
Once theynded, Zong Yan stepped forward respectfully to greet them. Kongheng murmured a few quiet words before retreating. Li Yuanjiao leaned closer to Zong Yan and instructed in a low voice, "Send out a few trusted men to gather information across the various marketces. Choose only the most loyal ones and ensure everything is done discreetly."
Zong Yan bowed deeply and reassured him, "Rest assured, My Lord. Everyone on this ind has survived the jaws of monsters. Their loyalty is beyond question."
Li Yuanjiao''s tone grew serious, "There is an immortal foundation known as the Molten Metal Cave, capable of sensing artifacts and forging weapons. Investigate which of the Three Gold it belongs to and whether it has any Dao Partners. Report back to me once you know this."
Zong Yan nodded and withdrew. Now having a direction, Li Yuanjiao mulled over his next steps, "The Molten Metal Cave¡ªAzure Pond Sect has no known Dao Partners. Yu Muxian is a proud individual who would never allow his path to be severed. If I can gather information about rted techniques and tie them to the Green Pine Temple Ruins, I can surely lure Yu Muxian out."
With the initial steps in ce, Li Yuanjiao retreated to a secluded chamber. Activating the room''s protective formations, he still felt uneasy. He retrieved a formation te and meticulously rearranged the setup himself. Only then did he sit down, satisfied, ready to begin his meditation.
"Time to break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Chapter 540: Guo Hongyao (I)
Chapter 540: Guo Hongyao (I)
Lijing Town, Xu Family.
Xu Xiao stood topless, exposing his muscr shoulders and arms to the morning air. He had taken a walk early this morning and noticed several things that left him uneasy. It felt like a few silver needles were pricking at the space between his eyebrows.
Hiding in the house, he clutched a jade pearl in his sleeve and sat cross-legged, pretending to be calm. However, his breath wavered, and his thoughts flickered with uncertainty.
This morning, Captain Chen has not patrolled the streets as usual... Either something has happened, or he has been transferred. If the Li Family intends to make a significant move, they won''t be able to hide it from him, so they''ll move him away first...
Though Xu Xiao had both Old Man Liu and Captain Chen in his grasp, he stillcked confidence. Deep down, he felt a constant unease surging within him. Liu Lingzhen''s weak character was a concern; he had to put up a facade in front of her.
Though he looked down on them, he was acutely aware of the Li Family''s deep roots. Keeping these two under his control increased the risk of exposure, amplifying his anxiety.
After going out to buy medicinal herbs, he passed by the tavern to check if Old Liu was drinking as usual, only to find the shop vandalized and closed.
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He returned to the courtyard with doubt gnawing at him. A bad feeling welled up in his heart.
If the Li Family were truly plotting against me, they wouldn''t send just anyone to do it... But why would they go to such lengths? Who would act so obviously then so discreetly...?
He felt strange about this whole thing and was constantly on the edge. The urge to flee surged within him, but he hesitated; Liu Lingzhen was still on the mountain, and he could not bear to leave her behind.
Xu Xiao fantasized about returning home gloriously after a decade, overthrowing the Li Family''s tyrannical rule, and elevating his own family to a prestigious n. However, that was still far off, and for now, he could not afford to fall out with the Li Family.
As the jade pearl spun in his palm, many fantasies shed before his eyes. Pain shot through his chest and shoulder des. His heart raced as if an impending disaster awaited him. His left hand instinctively pressed against his storage pouch.
Hiss!
Suddenly, he felt a chill over half his face. Reacting quickly, he summoned the wind, retreating just in time. A sh of red armor materialized around him as the wall behind him crumbled, revealing a sinister ck light.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rang out and dust filled the air as the building copsed. A massive ck snake tail swept through the rubble, narrowly missing Xu Xiao and leaving him pale and shaken.
"A Foundation Establishment Realm demonic creature?!" he gasped in shock.
Before him stood a malevolent-looking youth, his ck robe billowing in the wind. Between his ck boots on the ground, two ck hooks writhed in the shadows, exuding a bone-chilling aura.
Xu Xiao, taken aback and filled with dread, eximed, "You''re that Hooked Serpent!"
Li Wushao was taken aback by the fact that Xu Xiao managed to dodge his attack, but he quickly suppressed his surprise.
"How strange. To think that a mere Qi Cultivator like you managed to dodge my attack," he murmured.
Battle cries filled the air, and several figures swung their swords, intent on cutting down Xu Xiao.
Reacting swiftly, Xu Xiao crushed the jade pearl in his grasp, conjuring a round Qi shield that enveloped him. He met Li Wushao''s gaze with a solemn expression and dered, "I have never offended you. I merely intervened to stop that young master of yours from forcefully taking amoner girl for a bride... Yet, here you are, trying to silence me!"
His words belied a tant disdain for the Li Family''s Qi Cultivators as he frowned and questioned their intentions. The Qi Cultivators surrounding him were inconsequential.
It''s just a group of small fries that can''t hurt me... They practice Grade Two or Three cultivation techniques and know no spells.
Since Xu Xiao''s Qi shield was of the Foundation Establishment Realm, the attacks from the Qi Cultivators were ineffective against it. The mana lights merely bounced off and dissipated into the air.
Li Xijun observed the entire scene quietly, hidden among the clouds in the distance.
Thank goodness Li Wushao is here. Otherwise, even if all the Qi Cultivation elders of our family were present, they couldn''t hope to touch him... It''s fortunate that Li Wushao stayed behind instead of Kongheng, and he''s repaired his tail hooks. If there were any missteps, he wouldn''t stand a chance against him today!
Li Wushao, a demonic creature from the Eastern Sea, did not understand what Xu Xiao meant by forcefully taking amoner girl for a bride and dismissed his words as mere nonsense. Ignoring himpletely, he continued to extend his tail hooks.
Chen Mufeng, determined to stop Xu Xiao from saying more, shouted, "Devil! You killed Liu Yi! You''ve used devil techniques to control hundreds of households! You''ve advanced from the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm to the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm in just two years! What else could it be if not devil cultivation techniques? Who knows how many lives you''ve consumed in secret!"
While he was speaking, Li Wushao''s tail hooks collided with Xu Xiao''s shield. The difference in strength between Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Realms was staggering.
Xu Xiao had no time to dodge and was struck by the tail hooks. Although the shield absorbed most of the impact, he still spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed into a section of the gate wall.
Li Wushao''s survival in the Eastern Sea relied on the tail hooks on his tail and a few powerful techniques that utilized them. Unfortunately, he had once been ensnared by Kong Tingyun''s dharma artifact and was defeated. Now, with his tail hooks repaired, his formidable performance excited Li Xijun.
Xu Xiao... He doesn''t seem to be that strong...
Just a single strike from Li Wushao was enough to make Xu Xiao spit blood and stagger backward. Li Xijun breathed a sigh of relief. While keeping a watchful eye on the unfolding situation, he carefully observed the changing expressions of those around him.
Yes... Even if he were the reincarnation of a Golden Core Realm cultivator, only a peak Qi Cultivator could withstand an incense stick of time against a Foundation Establishment Realm ancestor from the Kong Family... I must have been too cautious.
Li Xijun stood in the clouds, ming himself. He looked at the Foundation Establishment Realm shield protecting Xu Xiao, then fished out a talisman and sent it flying downward without hesitation.
The talisman flew through the air, transforming into an exquisite little hammer adorned with golden patterns. Its ends curved upward like sheep horns as it crashed down toward Xu Xiao with a resounding bang.
Li Wushao remained focused. Two shadows darted across the ground, moving swiftly like venomous snakes. As the two spells of the Foundation Establishment Realm collided, they struck with precision from both the front and back.
The little hammer talisman Li Xijun used was purchased from the Yuan Family. It was of exceptional quality¡ªintended as a life-saving talisman that he had nned to only use in desperate situations.
The little hammer flew through the air and collided loudly with Xu Xiao''s shield. To Li Xijun''s dismay, the light of the shield merely dimmed as it withstood the attack.
What a powerful talisman!
With fierce determination, Li Wushao coordinated his attack ording to the powerful strike of the Foundation Establishment Realm talisman. Initially nning to whittle away the strength of his opponent, he changed his battle strategy and struck hard from both directions.
"Devil cultivator?! You fools! This is the Profound me Merging Fire Secret Technique from the immortal sect!" Xu Xiao shouted, momentarily taken aback by the usation.
He wanted to retort more but was quickly silenced by the decisiveness of Li Xijun, who had unleashed a high-quality Foundation Establishment Realm talisman right off the bat.
In his hand, a ck and red token materialized. Upon activating it, a burst of red light was quickly unleashed. This was an attempt to block Li Wushao''s tail hooks, hoping it would buy enough time for his shield to recover.
However, the red light only managed to block the ck tail hooks momentarily. Xu Xiao''s mana was drained rapidly, at the speed of a whale sucking up water.
Facing a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator like Li Wushao, a mere Qi Cultivator like Xu Xiao stood no chance. Despite his mana being considerably more than most cultivators, he faltered within moments.
Li Wushao was taken aback, thinking to himself, So, it is indeed the Merging Fire secret technique from Crimson Reef Ind... How did it spread all the way here? If I kill this man, will it cause trouble for my master?
Gradually, Li Wushao increased his strength, and Xu Xiao found himself in a perilous predicament, screaming internally. The pressure from a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was unbearable. Without the shield, he knew he would notst more than a few exchanges against Li Wushao.
Desperation took hold, and he resorted to his most powerful attack. Biting his tongue, he sprayed a mouthful of blood onto the token.
As he cast the spell, the red light faded, and the shield creaked under the immense strain. Xu Xiao spat with venomous hatred, "Isn''t your family worried about being punished by the Azure Pond Immortal Sect for taking human lives this way here?"
Li Xijun was momentarily stunned by his words. He gave the man a bewildered look.
Who could possibly rival the Azure Pond Sect when ites to taking human life? Is this man truly clueless or is he feigning ignorance with such naive statements? The Azure Pond Sect would be delighted even if my family made buns with human flesh. They would even ask for a few...
Yet, as Li Xijun contemted this, a sense of certainty washed over him.
This person doesn''t seem to be a reincarnate but rather one who has inherited a legacy due to his fate...
In an instant, the token red to life, unleashing a grayish-red me that surged up and down, swirling like mist. Li Wushao''s pupils dted in rm, and his tail hooks recoiled like a frightened bird, though they were still grazed by the me.
Roar!!!
Li Wushao''s head swelled like a balloon, twisting and morphing until it transformed into a snake head the size of a house, supported only by his small human form. His eyes, asrge as a window, zed a furious red as he screamed in agony, unable to maintain his human guise due to the pain.
His tail hooks retreated beneath his robe. A corner of them was scorched and blood was dripping from the injuries.
Seeing that the me was effective, Xu Xiao''s spirits instantly lifted. He let out a triumphantugh, riding the wind as a red ring appeared beneath his feet, lifting him into the air.
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Chapter 542: Beheading
Chapter 542: Beheading
Guo Hongyao spoke with biting sarcasm while Li Xijun restrained the Hooked Snake before him.
The female cultivator was a disciple of the immortal gate and they were without the protection of a formation. If a fight were to break out, it could spell disaster. Hence, Li Xijun had no choice but to speak courteously.
"This is our fault, but the Hooked Serpent is my elder''s spirit beast, so I''m afraid we can''t simply surrender him to appease you. Please reconsider, Senior."
Hearing this, Guo Hongyao''s arrogance seemed to dete. She scanned the group before turning to Xu Xiao.
"Bring the Six Ding Merging Fire Token here," Guo Hongyao demanded.
The Li Family still had considerable influence, and Guo Hongyao was wary of the looming threat of sword qi or a talisman.
Intent on securing the artifact for herself after such a long journey, she reached out, but her hand closed in on air.
"Hmm?"
Guo Hongyao snapped her head and nced over quickly, only to see Xu Xiao smiling.
"Senior... this spirit artifact has already recognized me as its master. I''m afraid I can''t hand it over," he exined softly.
This spirit artifact was the source of Xu Xiao''s strength, and giving it up was naturally out of the question.
Although Guo Hongyao had saved his life, Xu Xiao knew that everyone coveted the Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact so he clearly was not going to hand it over so easily.
Guo Hongyao hummed in acknowledgment and feigned indifference. However, a flicker of impatience shed across her face as she turned away from Xu Xiao.
Hmph, you''re just a lucky guy... How dare you talk back to me here?! Without my Martial Granduncle''s method to enhance your cultivation, what threat could you possibly pose?
Turning back to the others, Guo Hongyao had to console him with a smile.
"Xu Xiao, what should their punishment be?" she asked.
Distracted by thoughts of Liu Lingzhen, Xu Xiao replied, "Someone I know is still waiting at the foot of the mountain. I need to bring her here first."
Guo Hongyao had not expected Xu Xiao to say that and suppressed her growing impatience. He shot a look at Li Xijun and snapped, "Make it quick then!"
Li Xijun saw his opportunity to escape the tension, but Guo Hongyao was not about to let him slip away. She gestured with her hand,manding, "You stay. Let the others go."
Chen Mufeng quietly descended the mountain to fetch Liu Lingzhen, and Xu Xiao immediately rushed over on the wind to meet her.
Seeing Xu Xiao leaving Guo Hongyao''s side, Li Xijun discreetly stepped aside.
Xu Xiao and Liu Lingzhen exchanged a few sweet words before Xu Xiao lifted his head and red at Li Xijun.
Guo Hongyao, observing the exchange, furrowed her brow and asked, "Anything else?"
Li Xijun was secretly worried but felt a sudden heat at his waist¡ªthe tracking jade pendant was warming up. He discreetly covered it with his sleeve, blocking the faint glow while suppressing his delight.
The elders areing!
As Xu Xiao was about to return to Guo Hongyao''s side, Li Xijun stepped forward, deliberately stalling him with a question.
"Does Lady Liu and the Xu Family have any friends or rtives in town? Perhaps we should bring them along as well?"
Xu Xiao frowned but Liu Lingzhen seemed delighted.
"Brother Xu, isn''t that wonderful? Why don''t you bring all your brothers to enjoy the splendors of the immortal gate?" she suggested.
Guo Hongyao''s expression soured. Sensing her displeasure, Xu Xiao quickly shook his head and said, "Haven''t you seen what kind of people they are? They have no ce in the immortal gate."
Growing annoyed by the couple''s exchange, Guo Hongyao turned to Li Xijun and demanded, "Give me that sword!"
Li Xijun feigned reluctance, but Guo Hongyao was in no mood for further dys. With a hand gesture, the sword on Li Xijun''s back rose to the air, struggling briefly before settling in her grasp.
"What a fine sword," she praised, admiring the beautiful sword that shimmered like a pool of cold water.
Yet, Li Xijun remained stoic, neither pleading nor begging her.
This vexed Guo Hongyao and she began wondering whether this punishment might have been too lenient.
Let''s see how long you can put up that act!
Raised in luxury, Guo Hongyao had never known defiance; others always bent to her will. Arrogant and domineering by nature, she now turned the gleaming de of her sharp sword toward Li Xijun, pointing it at his throat from a distance.
n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
The silent threat was palpable, hanging heavily in the air like a promise of violence.
Just then, a hiss filled the air.
Li Wushao, transformed into his true form¡ªa massive Hooked Serpent¡ªred at her dangerously with his eyes that were asrge as windows.
Guo Hongyao sneered at him.
"You think you can... hmm...? Who''s there?!"
Her words were cut off as a streak of violet light split the sky, illuminating the scene with a brilliant white and purple hue. Before she could react further, a cold voice thundered, "How dare you, bitch!"
Guo Hongyao was enraged. She turned to the source of the voice and her gazended on a female cultivator arriving on a thunderbolt.
She was d in jade armor and matching boots, and her long hair streamed with purple lightning, casting several silver-white halos around her.
She looked nothing short of heroic.
Her voice, clear and resonant, stunned everyone.
Guo Hongyao, feeling the sting of insult, lowered the sword and stared at the approaching purple light.
Li Qinghong had traveled thousands of li, only to find her nephew threatened by a sword held by a Foundation Establishment Realm female cultivator. His subordinates appeared deeply troubled as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
Ovee with shock and rage, Li Qinghong was at a loss for words. In her fury, she opened her mouth and unleashed a beam of white light.
BOOM!
The white light swelled instantly, radiating a destructive aura. Upon contact, purple lightning cascaded down like a waterfall.
Guo Hongyao was caught off guard. The thin jade piece in her hand glowed red faintly as she reached out in a futile attempt to defend herself.
"Aunt is here!"
Li Xijun, having prepared for this moment, quickly seized the Hooked Serpent and bellowed, "Kill him first! Kill him!"
Caught by surprise, Li Wushao immediately sprung into action with his long hooks. He had actually been umting his strength to attack Guo Hongyao, but now swiftly changed his target to Xu Xiao as instructed.
The hooks sliced through the air with a piercing shriek.
Xu Xiao, unable to react in time, stepped back and raised a token, emitting a burst of red light. The prolonged battle had depleted his sea of qi, leaving the red light flickering weakly. As a result, the hooks easily prated the barrier like it was just a piece of rotten tofu.
The shields that could once defend against Foundation Establishment Realm attacks were already spent against earlier assaults.
Xu Xiao felt a crushing blow to his chest as the tail of the Hooked Serpent impaled him mercilessly.
"BROTHER XU!"
Liu Lingzhen was even slower to react. As she lunged forward, a sharp, agonizing chill ran through Xu Xiao''s throat¡ªthe second tail of the Hooked Serpent had already sliced through his body, severing his head.
Xu Xiao''s eyes widened with terror as thest vestiges of his consciousness flickered through his mind, reying scenes like ephemeral dream bubbles.
Holding beauty in my arms... Trampling prestigious ns... Joining an immortal gate...
One moment he was conquering Mount Qingdu and crushing Lijing Town, and the next he was embracing Lingzhen and Hongyao in his arms.
In the end, thest thought that crossed his mind was...
Why did it end like this... Things shouldn''t have gone this way...
"MERCY!"
Guo Hongyao''s plea was lost in the roar of the thunderstorm, unheard over the chaos. Everyone watched as Xu Xiao''s head fell, disintegrating into ashes amidst the tempest.
His death was swift; Liu Lingzhen, losing the support of the dharma wind, screamed as she plummeted downward. Every bone in her body shattered into fragments upon impact with the ground beneath her.
Li Xijun heard a faint, crisp sound in his mind, like a string snapping. The world around him remained the same yet felt utterly altered.
"Damn it!"
Guo Hongyao emerged from the maelstrom of thunder, her body wreathed in ck smoke, teeth clenched in bitter fury.
Staring at Li Qinghong, sheughed through her anger.
"Good... good..."
Chapter 543: Sun Seeker Ring (I)
Chapter 543: Sun Seeker Ring (I)
"Good... very good..." Guo Hongyao hissed as her lips trembled with rage.
Li Qinghong, holding her spear steadily, nced around with flowing purple light and replied casually, "Yes, I agree."
"Bitch..."
Guo Hongyao could do nothing but repeat the insult. Unperturbed, Li Qinghong thrust her spear forward, transforming it into a barrage of pale purple shadows that surged forward with an overwhelming force.
Guo Hongyao shielded herself with a jade token, snarling, "How dare you ruin my ns. You will pay for this! I swear I will kill you, bitch!"
Li Qinghong found herself missing Kong Tingyun''s golden mountain, wondering when her own family might craft a simr artifact, and cast Guo Hongyao a sidelong look.
By now, Li Xijun and the others had scattered, leaving only the Hooked Serpent, which red with an ominous intensity. It had been thwarted time and time again, even failing to take down a single Qi Cultivator. With its dignity wounded, the Hooked Serpent''s hatred for Guo Hongyao only grew as her disdain mounted.
Caught off guard by one of Li Qinghong''s thunderous strikes, Guo Hongyao felt the blow reach her core, but her advanced techniques allowed her to circte her qi and hold off the worst of it. ncing warily at the menacing Hooked Serpent, a sense of fear began to creep over her.
With her hands free, Guo Hongyao performed a hand seal, only to hear Li Qinghong''s voice ring out as a surge of purple light erupted before her, causing her jade token to tremble and her arm to go numb. The spell broke in her hands.
Guo Hongyao faltered as she thought in shock, How could such a minor n produce someone this powerful?
Struggling to regain control, she shouted, "This... this was your family''s fault, ruining my ns! How can you now turn around and me me for it?!"
Growing bolder with every strike, Li Qinghong''s jade armor gleamed with purple light as she spoke softly, "An Eastern Sea cultivator speaking of right and wrong...? How amusing..."
N?v(el)B\\jnn
Guo Hongyao, fuming, pulled out a talisman to block Li Qinghong''s onught, buying herself a moment to act. She quickly chanted an incantation and performed a hand seal.
The Six Ding Merging Fire Token, which had slipped from Xu Xiao''s corpse and fallen into theke, finally rose, floating toward her hand.
As the Six Ding Merging Fire Token settled into her grip, Guo Hongyao''s expression turned strained, as though she were holding a scorching piece of coal. She dared to only pinch it between her two fingers as she invoked its me.
Fssh!
The grayish-red fire red out, barely the size of her palm¡ªnothing like the sweeping ze Xu Xiao had unleashed with a flick of his sleeve. However, it was enough to make Li Qinghong raise an eyebrow, as the me, like ash blowing from a forge, quickly consumed the purple lightning without leaving a trace of it behind.
Li Wushao''s expression darkened instantly; his demonic energy poured forth continuously, yet against this me, it burned only like kindling, causing the mes to grow stronger and leaving his entire body aching faintly.
What kind of spirit fire is this? It is specifically meant to counter demonic creatures...
Meanwhile, Guo Hongyao managed to stabilize herself using the me technique, but the air around her distorted as the fire intensified, and her own expression grew more grim. The gray me withdrew, reconsolidating into a token, while her internal injuries from the lightning strike earlier red up, sending pain through her organs.
She had no choice but to reveal her Dao Foundation. mes enveloped her entirely, hanging like ribbons from her clothing, as she brought her hands together in a seal, conjuring a red light that radiated from behind her head.
Once the red light appeared, it shone intensely, blinding the two Li Family members and dulling their spiritual senses as if they were moving through thick mercury.
With the me warding them off, Guo Hongyao took the opportunity to soar into the air, her hands covered in blisters, thinking to herself, The Six Ding Merging Fire Token is a Purple Mansion Realm artifact¡ªit drains life and damages vitality; I cannot use it lightly. I''d better retreat for now...
Though she had grown up training on the ind and had little realbat experience, she could assess the situation well enough. The two had already formed an encirclement; if she ended up in their grasp, they might not kill her, but she would certainly suffer greatly.
She spat a harsh parting threat, "You... you better hope I do not catch you next time!"
With that, she hastily ascended into the sky, flying at full speed. Once she had gained some distance and, seeing no one pursuing her, she tucked away the spirit artifact and, seething with resentment, muttered angrily, "If... if the Six Ding Merging Fire Token had not been mysteriously dyed from descending into the great void for a hundred years, there''d be no such thing as the Li Family... curse them!"
Although she had initiallye to the maind pleased to have discovered such a talent, this lightning cultivator had ruined her ns. Although she had still acquired the spirit artifact and would be rewarded on her ind, her mood was significantly dampened.
When I get back, I will find out who that bitch is.
With that thought, she flew off quietly, crossing Lake Xian, andnded on a smaller, subsidiary ind of Crimson Reef Ind to tend to her wounds, capturing several people to restore her vitality.
Just then, one of her subordinates approached to report, "Fairy... just a few days ago, a masked male cultivator raided several of our cargo ships..."
Guo Hongyao, already furious, snapped impatiently, "Exin it clearly!"
The subordinate trembled as he replied, "This cultivator is at the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm, wielding a golden hammer and following the immortal Dao, yet he employs numerous devil Dao artifacts... He acted alone, destroyed an entire immortal ship, murdered, looted... then vanished on the wind."
"Useless fools!"
Guo Hongyao usually cared little for such matters, but her anger against the Li Family left her eager to unleash her rage somewhere, and she shouted, "Notify me tomorrow before setting out to sea!"
Her subordinate hastilyplied and withdrew. Guo Hongyao consumed blood qi, feeling her internal injuries gradually healing, then shut herself inside her cave dwelling and sat cross-legged to cultivate.
Taking out the Six Ding Merging Fire Token and examining it closely, she noticed the elegant, intricate ck patterns on its surface. The more she looked, the more captivated she felt, and could not help but exim to herself, "What an extraordinary artifact... it is truly worthy of being a Purple Mansion Realm spiritual weapon! Just from its appearance alone, one can tell it is something remarkable."
She carefully stored the treasure, then sat down to regte her breathing. As she gradually entered a meditative state, the Six Ding Merging Fire Token at her waist began to emit a faint red glow, pulsating gently as if it were breathing.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At Mount Qingdu.
After driving Guo Hongyao away, Li Qinghong descended back onto the mountain. Li Xijun approached her with a storage pouch and a small, golden-red ring in hand, with the Hanlin Sword already slung across his back.
As Li Qinghong struck with a thunderbolt at the critical moment, Guo Hongyao, caught off guard, had not retrieved the sword but had left it floating in mid-air. The Hanlin Sword, being spiritually attuned, drifted back to Li Xijun on its own.
Li Chengliao respectfully withdrew, and Li Qinghong listened as Li Xijun recounted the events in detail, breaking into a cold sweat. She nodded in approval, saying, "Well done... As for your spection that this person may carry a thread of fate, how confident are you? To me, it seems he merely obtained the Purple Mansion Realm artifact without any evident effect on his mind."
Li Xijun considered her words briefly before replying with certainty, "I am quite sure. Though I did not notice it at first, looking back now, his mere appearance stirred in me an overwhelming hostility... I never once considered an open, civil discussion with him."
He paused, feeling that the events of the night were shrouded in a strange fog, and murmured, "But Chengliao... he started by trying to reason with him kindly. Had he not summoned Old Man Liu, our family''s lead would have ended up there. If fate did interfere, it seems Chengliao was affected far less."
"Or perhaps... something else altogether influenced Chengliao..."
Chapter 544: Sun Seeker Ring (II)
Chapter 544: Sun Seeker Ring (II)
The two pondered this for a while, then Li Qinghong spoke in a low voice, "Maybe another perspective is worth considering: was Xu Xiao''s death also destined? Could his death have ensured the Six Ding Merging Fire Token wouldnd in Guo Hongyao''s hands? Even if he had not died, he might not have parted with the artifact."
Li Xijun mulled over the sequence of events before asking, "Aunt, did you bring back the immortal mirror?"
"Of course I did. With such an extended stay overseas, Yuanjiao insisted."
Li Qinghong then produced the mirror.
Li Xijun nodded. "In that case, if Xu Xiao was indeed under a destined path, he would not have died here naturally. But since Auntie wielded the mirror, it fell outside the threads of fate and disturbed its influence, leading to his swift end."
Li Qinghong raised her brows in slight confusion and said gently, "Then why would a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from Crimson Reef Ind not im the Six Ding Merging Fire Token themselves? Not much time has passed since it fell from the great void..."
Li Xijun looked down.
"My guess is that Guo Hongyao was the nearest Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator of Crimson Reef Ind, but given the changes to the situation, the artifact is now beyond fate''s grasp. But what still puzzles me... is how Xu Xiao advanced so quickly, rising to such a significant level within only a year or so. Even Chu Yi took over a decade to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, and Xu Xiao''s skills fall short byparison."
The two exchanged a silent look. Although they had rid themselves of him, the entire family had been thrown into disarray. Li Qinghong took out the storage pouch, sifting through a stack of overseas pills and talismans.
"It seems the Six Ding Merging Fire Token contains its own storage; otherwise, Xu Xiao would not have amassed such wealth."
These items did not pique her interest. She only picked up the small, golden-red ring, roughly the width of a pinky finger, and neither metallic nor silver in appearance. Despite her experience, she could not discern anything special about it. The ring emitted a hazy red glow, and a faint inscription in small characters read: "Sun Seeker Ring, by Lu Jiangxian of the Green Pine Temple."
"A relic from the ancient Green Pine Temple¡ªhow exceedingly ancient. It is probably best not to disy it openly." Li Qinghong praised the ring briefly, unable to gauge its grade but guessing it was likely a unique flying shuttle. Just as she was about to store it, the Immortal Mirror on the table suddenly burst with a dazzling light.
The radiance was brilliant and clear, as if the sun had risen over thend, casting beams of resplendent light that filled the room. Unlike the mirror''s usual cool, moon-like glow, it now emanated the warmth of a vast desert sun, filling the chamber with a fragrance of gardenias.
"Ah!"
Li Qinghong cried out involuntarily, swiftly joining her hands to raise the mirror. She looked up to see the Sun Seeker Ring trembling as if it were crying orughing in joy, shaking free of Li Xijun''s grip and leaping into the air instantly, also bursting forth in radiant light.
The room grew stifling hot in an instant, with golden sands cascading down from above, filling the chamber. Faintly, the chirping of orioles and the calls of deer could be heard, apanied by the soft jingle of camel bells.
ng!
At the moment the golden light appeared, every nt on Mount Qingdu swelled with vigor, animals filled with vitality, and vegetation flourished. In the underground chamber, a sweaty Li Ximing suddenly looked relieved, his aura surging rapidly.
The light swiftly spread throughout the area. The Sun Seeker Ring on the table gave a gentle roll, and the mysterious energy abruptly receded, disappearing without a trace.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The inner world of the mirror...
As Lu Jiangxian followed Li Qinghong on her return, his expansive divine sense stretched out, observing the Li Family estate just as Guo Hongyao was descending. Scanning the area, he detected no trace of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.
Meanwhile, an ethereal golden aura shrouded the once-proud Xu Xiao, now faint and diminishing like water evaporating under the sun. On the other hand, the Six Ding Merging Fire Token in Guo Hongyao''s hand pulsed subtly with an unnatural liveliness that didn''t belong to an ordinary spirit artifact.
One nce told Lu Jiangxian everything he needed to know.
"This spirit artifact is far from ordinary... There must be some sinister aspect to it. Xu Xiao¡ªhe was likely just a source for its sustenance. Perhaps he once held a thread of fate, but after this ordeal, he has been nearly drained dry by this artifact."
With that, Lu Jiangxian figured out everything: it was likely that the spirit artifact or its master had forcibly elerated Xu Xiao''s cultivation, feeding him various elixirs to artificially raise his cultivation, only to drain him dry afterward. Now, having been taken by Guo Hongyao, she too was unlikely to escape a grim fate.
A Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact that can traverse the great void¡ªit could have returned to Crimson Reef Ind at any time. It seems to be deliberately avoiding other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators by wandering outside.
Considering how the artifact''s influence eroded the mind, Lu Jiangxian concluded that Guo Hongyao might not even survive the journey back. He nced at her briefly and dismissed her from his thoughts. Instead, he focused on observing the changes in Xu Xiao''s condition while thest vestiges of life remained in him.
"Too bad I cannot establish contact with him directly. If I could ess his memories, I''d likely find a wealth of information¡ªperhaps even techniques from the Merging Fire system."
The Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual, Purple Mansion Realm Edition, that he held in his hands was nearlyplete, though since he had not personally cultivated it, his understanding of the text fell short of the original author''s insights. The Purple Mansion Realm section could barely pass as adequate.
Just then, Li Xijun approached from outside, holding a golden red ring. As Lu Jiangxian''s divine sense scanned it, he read the small inscription inside the ring and froze.
"Lu Jiangxian of Green Pine Temple...! I... was a disciple of the Green Pine Temple?! That''s...!"
For the first time, the hazyyers of his inner world began to lift, and the space filled with countless rays of golden light. Lu Jiangxian stood there, momentarily stunned, gazing at the sky now painted in vibrant hues. He took in the name of the artifact, chewing over it slowly.
"The Sun Seeker Ring..?"
As the Sun Seeker Ring radiated golden light, fragments of his memories flickered within Lu Jiangxian''s mind, hazy and veiled in mist. He saw, faintly, mountain peaks nketed in pine and vast ins stretching as far as the eye could see.
Strange. The Green Pine Temple ruins are supposed to be on a coastal ind... Why do I see endless ins?
A brief wave of confusion swept over him, only to be drowned out by the subsequent flood of indistinct memories.
"Green Pine Temple... Yingze..."
For a brief moment, he froze, but the memories evaporated like mist, as though forcibly erased by some unseen power. Lu Jiangxian muttered a curse under his breath, his face flushing with frustration.
At that moment, the golden light above grew brighter, bing a piercing, almost blinding white. His consciousness reeled back from its intensity, unable to withstand the zing radiance. The Sun Seeker Ring itself transmitted an eager, jubnt energy, like that of a child discovering a new ything. It cast a fragment of golden light.
The beam drifted down like a bird and settled in his palm. Surrounding him, ethereal sounds began to echo around him¡ªbirdsong, the calls of deer...
This strange golden light seemed to emerge from a narrow aperture, projecting outward in a cone shape. Its sharp point grew so intensely bright that it turned white, trembling as it connected with the great void beyond.
Lu Jiangxian stared at the golden light in stunned silence, barely able to process what he saw. Almost speechless, he managed to murmur out in astonishment.
"Bright Yang Metallic Essence..?!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Chapter 545: Bright Radiant Yang Imperial Union Essence (I)
Chapter 545: Bright Radiant Yang Imperial Union Essence (I)
In front of him, the golden light spread out in countless radiances, drifting through the air lightly. Lu Jiangxian held it in his hand, feeling a warm, gentle sensation, as numerous illusions unfolded beside him, with all kinds of colors streaming gracefully.
These visions alternated between scenes of union between men and women, sparrows taking flight, and orioles chirping, to resplendent bursts of light, lonely smoke rising, and even images of emperors in reverence, receiving crowns and ascending thrones. Ultimately, they transformed into a pure, glowing orb.
A sudden insight dawned within him: this metallic essence was fully named Bright Radiant Yang Imperial Union Essence, embodying growth, union, the harmony of male and female, celestial light, bright fire... all things rted to the Bright Yang.
"The Sun Seeker Ring is indeed unusual... It is likely that Xu Xiao extracted it from the Six Ding Merging Fire Token. As for how it came to be within that token, I''d need to get my hands on the Purple Mansion Realm artifact to truly understand!" Lu Jiangxian pondered aloud.
His mind had already begun to linger on the Six Ding Merging Fire Token. As the metallic essence danced in his hand, a wealth of insights came to him¡ªthis essence could be used to transform demonic creatures, influence fate, and establish bonds between individuals. Its potential was powerful and expansive.
"So, this is the nature of metallic essence... it is astonishing to witness such marvels from just a single wisp!"
Holding the wisp of Bright Yang Metallic Essence, Lu Jiangxian''s initial amazement faded into a more pragmatic contemtion of how he might use it.
"First of all, this must not be given to anyone else..."
He quickly dismissed the idea of bestowing it upon anyone in the Li Family, because even if they had the capacity to wield it, this single wisp would likely cause significant trouble if released!
If his guess was correct¡ªif this metallic essence were to fall into the world, it would instantly lead to unchecked indulgence, spontaneous births, rampant growth of all things, and finally transform into a monstrous evil, bringing about wanton killing and attracting the wrath of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
"After all, metallic essence is a rare treasure to a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm, especially when the Bright Yang Fruition Attainment seems to be within the possession of Mount Luoxia..." Lu Jiangxian mumbled.
Having seen both the Six Ding Merging Fire Token and the Bright Yang Metallic Essence, Lu Jiangxian began to formte deeper insights. The crafting of Purple Mansion Realm artifacts was likely closely tied to metallic essences.
The Six Ding Merging Fire Token, for example, might have been forged through Merging Fire and thereby imbued with the qualities of a malevolent creature, which would exin its peculiar effects.
"If that is the case, then the Sun Seeker Ring contains the Bright Yang essence, while the Six Ding Merging Fire Token likely embodies the Merging Fire essence. By that logic, this mirror... should also contain an essence..."
Lu Jiangxian pondered thoughtfully to himself, recalling the mirror''s continuous outpouring of Supreme Yin Moonlight as he spected further, "It seems undeniably to be of Supreme Yin essence... Judging by its abundance, could it contain the entire Supreme Yin Fruition Attainment? It''s definitely more than just Supreme Yin, given how the Supreme Yin Moonlight flows endlessly; like an unending stream."
Lu Jiangxian had traveled widely over thest century, studying countless texts, yet he had never encountered a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator in the Supreme Yin system. The few Supreme Yin and Lesser Yin methods he found were of low grade, with none capable of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm.
He had never heard of a Golden Core Realm cultivator in the Supreme Yin system either; only one ancient immortal called Yingze seemed possibly rted to Supreme Yin or Yang systems, but that was several millennia ago.
"At the very least, this Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual could be refined a few more times!"
Looking over the Bright Yang Metallic Essence in his hand which was emanating a gentle warmth, Lu Jiangxian thought to himself, With this metallic essence in hand, I finally have some influence over the external world, though I must be cautious and remain discreet to avoid attracting the attention of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
After some deliberation, he acknowledged both the advantages and disadvantages of wielding the Bright Yang Metallic Essence. It could potentially manifest as divine light to injure enemies, but such use would squander its value, and he resolved to employ it sparingly.
As for members of the Li Family pursuing this path, there were no other Dao Partners in Yue State, and the Wei-Li bloodline obscured things well enough to prevent suspicion.
Only the north presented a concern as he thought silently, The Mahas in the north harbor an unshakable blood feud with the Wei-Li n, and now Mount Luoxia also has designs on Bright Yang Metallic Essence... the north is best avoided!
Fortunately, the Mahas seldom venture south unless they are reincarnated, and Luoxia remains aloof, unlikely to meddle across vast distances. The Eastern Sea contains several Bright Yang Dao lineages, so issues should be minimal.
n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Drawing his thoughts back from the metallic essence in hand, Lu Jiangxian began to reflect on the yield from his journey to the Eastern Sea.
During the trip, he apanied the Li Family, but spent most of his time drifting on the sea, rarely disembarking. When they did find the Green Pine Temple ruins, they bore traces of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, so Lu Jiangxian refrained from peering in too deeply.
Nevertheless, he had managed to gather a considerable number of techniques which supplemented his understanding of Metallic Essence, allowing him to piece together some key insights.
"Many of the techniques had ancient origins, often containing references to Metallic Essence Fruition Attainments."
These findings often mentioned various Yin and Yang Fruition Attainments. Some sources referred to three Yin and four Yang, while others cited five Yin and four Yang. However, one fact seemed consistent¡ªYin and Yang Fruition Attainments were not equal in number.
Simrly, many Fruition Attainments seemed isted, and suspiciously so. For example, Shamanic Talisman, Jade True, and Merging Owl... these Metallic Essences emerged independently and it was rare to find more than one associated cultivation technique.
With these questions resting in the back of his mind, he was quietly contemting when a familiar feedback suddenly came from the link within the great void. Lu Jiangxian understood immediately.
Li Ximing has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm!
At the time, Li Ximing had been cultivating on Mount Qingdu when the Bright Yang Essence had brushed past him. He cultivated the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual, the Bright Yang system. This was equivalent to having a peak Purple Mansion Realm expert use their divine abilities to secure his breakthrough. With the opportunityid so inly before him and if he still could not advance, he might as well find a rock to hit his head on.
"This child is indeed fortunate..."
Were it not that Li Ximingcked any apparent thread of fate, Lu Jiangxian might have really thought he was a Fated One.
Born into a n, nurtured by his entire family, innately gifted for alchemy, with a penchant for secluded cultivation that keeps him from venturing out unless in the direst circumstances... He seems almost like a Fated One. Throughout the entire n, only he has hope of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm.
Returning his focus to the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual before him, Lu Jiangxian was confident that with the assistance of the metallic essence, he could elevate the manual to an even higher level!
Once this manual is refined, I can explorebining Metallic Essence with talisman qi!
Time in the mirror world always seemed to flow like water. Back then, Lu Jiangxian always felt lonely and bored, now, time felt almost scarce.
Chapter 546: Bright Radiant Yang Imperial Union Essence (II)
Chapter 546: Bright Radiant Yang Imperial Union Essence (II)
Qingdu Cave Dwelling.
The Sun Seeker Ring spun once in midair before it lightly drifted down again. As it settled, all the extraordinary visions within the cave dwelling disappeared. Li Xijun caught the ring and examined it closely. It looked no different from before, and its materials remained indistinct. It also felt surprisingly light in his hand.
Inspecting it with his spiritual sense, the Sun Seeker Ring seemed quite ordinary, almost as if it were just a simple flying shuttle, though its materials were unknown. If Li Xijun had not witnessed the speed at which Xu Xiao rode on it, he never would have guessed it was a treasured artifact.
Nearby, Li Qinghong checked the mirror, finding no anomalies either. Li Xijun murmured, "Aunt... this should not be a bad thing."
"Indeed..." Li Qinghong nodded. The two studied the artifact for a while but gained no further insights.
Li Xijun then added, "Aunt, the altar described in your thunder technique has beenpleted... It has not been used since you went abroad. Now that you are back, you could test out the Celestial Thunder."
n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Li Qinghong cultivated an ancient technique, with an immortal foundation capable of summoning thunder from the heavens. Yet, with heaven and earth undergoing such changes, she was not certain if the attempt would work. After nodding lightly, she put away the Sun Seeker Ring and returned the immortal mirror.
With everything finally in order, Li Xijun felt no regret about the lost opportunity to break through to the seventh heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, having secured so many other crucial items. After leaving, he flew for a while beforending in Lijing Town.
Kneeling figures lined the steps of the central hall, and a cursory nce revealed many familiar faces, mostly from the Liu and Xu families, all bowing their heads with sobs filling the air.
Seeing this, Li Xijun descended, and a Liu Family member immediately crawled over, tearfully recounting old ties and grievances. Li Xijun offered politefort before quickly moving along.
As he approached, the Jade Court Guards on both sides kneeled in respect. He stepped into the central hall, which was simply but elegantly arranged. At the highest seat sat a middle-aged man with a square face and broad forehead.
Li Xijun greeted, "Elder Brother."
This was Li Xicheng, the current head of the family, who had served as the leader for several years. His experience had granted him a more tempered demeanor. He greeted his approaching younger brother with a quiet voice, "It''s been a while since Ist saw you... The Liu and Xu families have been kneeling here for an entire night. What do you think, Eighth Brother?"
Li Xijun stepped back and, with a gesture, replied respectfully, "Elder Brother manages the family, and I would not presume to advise."
Li Xicheng smiled, straightening his posture.
"The Liu Family will not receive heavy punishment; a night of kneeling is enough. They have fallen far and have little left to penalize. Let them disperse. As for the Xu Family, I n to split them into branches. Xu Xiao is dead, and his lineage will be removed from the records. The other Xu branches, having reported the devil cultivator, will receive rewards."
He continued, "Captain Chen was killed by Commander Chen Mufeng himself. We will report that he died from devil cultivation techniques. His family will receive protection, and Chen Mufeng will be demoted from a battalionmander to a court guard."
Li Xijun listened as his elder brother went on, "As for Elder Qiuyang, I sent him a reward, but he declined it and returned to farming... I can only pass it down to his son. Elder Qiuyang has contributed immensely, though none of his children have any spiritual orifice. He has received all the recognition we can offer, but with his dao path severed... there is little else we can give him."
Li Xijun nodded.
"Elder Brother handles these matters well; I need not say more. As for Chengliao, there are additional rewardsing from the mountain."
They spoke a while longer until Li Xijun cupped his fist, sensing weariness beneath his brother''sposed demeanor. After dismissing the Jade Court Guards, he spoke gently, "Elder Brother, appoint more assistants if needed... Do not exhaust yourself. Your health is important, as is maintaining your cultivation."
Li Xicheng hesitated before nodding slowly, his gaze dropping.
"I personally promoted Chen Mufeng... I bear some responsibility for this oue," he said softly with a regretful sigh.
Li Xijun was about to say something when he saw a servant from the n Affairs Courtyard approaching. The servant bowed deeply and said, "The old n head has summoned the two of you."
"Uncle Yuanping?"
The two brothers exchanged a nce, realizing something was amiss, and their expressions turned grave. Li Xicheng then whispered, "I will go up the mountain right away."
Neither dared to dy. They hurried up the mountain, and indeed, a solemn air greeted them. Entering the courtyard, they saw peopleing and going. As they stepped into the inner courtyard, they saw someone lying on a bed.
Li Yuanping''s face was pale as he leaned against the edge of the bed. Li Qinghong sat beside him, while his wife, Madam Ren, who had only reached the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, sat nearby. She was in her forties, with a few wrinkles lining her face, and she was quietly sobbing.
The two kneeled in fear, and Li Yuanping scanned them briefly. Though his voice was weak, it remained gentle.
"Years ago, my brother and I kneeled before Ancestor Tongya''s bed. His words still echo in my ears... In the blink of an eye, I cannot hold on any longer."
Li Xijun and Li Xicheng offered quiet words offort. Having studied under him for many years, Li Xicheng felt a deeper bond with him and could not help but tear up. Li Yuanping then asked, "Where is Li Ximing?"
Bracing himself, Li Xijun replied, "Brother Ming is currently in seclusion, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."
Li Yuanping gazed into the distance, his lips pale as he whispered, "It''s alright then..."
Madam Dou supported him, stricken with grief. She was Li Xuanxuan''s primary wife and had managed the household for a period of time. Now, at the third heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, she had reached her limit, with no path forward.
Madam Dou had borne two sons for Li Xuanxuan. One by one, both had died before her eyes. Decades ago, she had bid farewell to Li Yuanxiu, and now she was about to lose Li Yuanping as well. Her hair had turned white, and she was powerless.
Li Yuanping nced around, many words left unsaid, and could only murmur quietly, "Cheng''er, from now on... you will have to rely on yourself."
Li Xicheng could no longer hold back his tears. He bowed deeply while kneeling, striking his head on the ground twice. Li Yuanping waved a hand, silencing him, then looked toward Li Xijun, "Xijun, I will have to trouble you to clean up Ming''er''s mess... When the elders are gone, the family will depend on you."
Li Xijun lifted his head, locking eyes with Li Yuanping. He understood that Yuanping knew everything. His brows rxed, and he replied softly, "Xijun has only done what the younger generation should do."
Li Yuanping let out a faint, hollowugh, his voice weakening, "Elder Sister, I entrust the family affairs to you and Brother."
He gradually sank down, a faint, almost inaudible sigh escaping from his throat.
"Ancestor, it is not that I have failed you... the heavens simply did not grant me more time..."
In the stillness that followed, the light in his eyes dimmed. Beside his pillowy two handwritten books, which Li Qinghong, wiping away her tears, picked up. One was titled Tales of the Desert, aption of notes left by Li Jingtian, and the other was A Chronicle of Thirty-Two Years of Household Management.
He had only ordinary cultivation, worked tirelessly his entire life, and left behind no secret manuals or rare techniques. The only books he wrote contained merely his lifetime observations. Li Qinghong carefully put them away and rose to her feet.
Those kneeling below remained silent. Li Qinghong surveyed them and spoke softly, "Arrange everything well... I will take him to the ancestral hall."
Li Xicheng nodded with a choked reply while Li Xijun stood frozen to the spot, staring at Li Yuanping''s hand, as if recalling something. His hand slowly caressed the Hanlin sword without a word.
Li Qinghong then ascended on the wind and entered the ancestral hall, first reading the two books before storing them on top of a table.
The ancestral hall remained as quiet as ever. Rows upon rows of memorial tablets lined the walls, with incense smoke flowing between them. Li Qinghong stood silently for a moment, then spoke softly, "Grandfather... My brother and I have both reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet without you here, the family feels unsteady, and our hearts are empty."
Li Qinghong had heard every word Li Yuanping spoke on his deathbed. The sadness lingered in her heart. Usually reserved, she rarely spoke so much, but she muttered to the tablet of Li Tongya for a while before finally leaving in silence.
She did not have time to dwell on her grief. She bathed, changed clothes, and lit incense, praying continuously for three months to prepare to ascend the altar.
Chapter 547: Seizing The Light, Capturing The Flame
Chapter 547: Seizing The Light, Capturing The me
The Li Family conducted a modest funeral with all members d in white mourning garments. Following the deceased''s will, Li Xicheng kept the ceremonies understated. However, King Li Jiman of Mount Yue hurried back and mourned with evident sorrow.
Whether his grief was genuine or not, he at least showed the necessary respect. Li Xicheng helped him to his feet, observing that he had reached the sixth heavenlyyer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, which was proof that he had been diligently training over the years.
Yet, in today''s Li Family, a Qi Cultivator was no longer a key asset, and was merely part of the middle ranks that were in charge of helping with routine tasks. Each position on the spirit mountains was highlypetitive, and recently, the Jade Court Guards counted dozens of Qi Cultivators. At this level, his cultivation was far from exceptional.
Li Xijun kept vigil in the mountains for two months. One day, he looked up to see the sky aze with the dazzling sun, with not a single cloud in sight. Raising his arm, he dusted off his sleeve, flicking away traces of ash.
A thousand li ofke waves... where could this sandstorm havee from?
Suddenly, he paused, a look of astonishment crossing his face as he thought to himself, Brother Ming has seeded!
Li Xijun hurried down the mountain, where he indeed found the entrance of the cave dwelling radiating golden light. The wind whistled softly, and a young man stood inside, hands sped behind him, his face youthful.
Streams of golden light and me wove around him as he stepped forward with a smile and announced, "I have established my Dao Foundation! Six years of cultivation, and now, twenty-seven years in total¡ªI have achieved the Radiant Origin Pass."
Li Ximing had broken through to Foundation Establishment Realm half a month prior, spending some time stabilizing his cultivation before finally emerging from his seclusion. In front of him, Li Xijun calcted the time, surprised. "Only... about three years?! Was it difficult, or did it juste naturally? How did it happen so fast?!"
Li Ximing paused, considering, then replied, "At first, it was very difficult... Gathering my power was exhausting. Even with high hopes, I had expected it to take at least five years. But just a few months ago, I suddenly had visions filled with golden light. My Immortal Foundation began consolidating on its own, progressing at dozens of times the speed of my own efforts, until it was fully formed... I do not know what caused it."
As Li Xijun listened on, the golden light jogged his memory of the Sun Seeker Ring. With his thoughts churning, he looked on as Li Ximing began proudly exining, "This Immortal Foundation is called the Radiant Origin Pass. It draws down heavenly light and captures me, allows one to tread upon beams of light, banish evil, dispel cmities, nurture life, and... and..."
He paused, catching himself in his moment of pride, then continued more seriously, "Its main abilities include two great wonders. The first is Seizing Celestial Light, which could channel heavenly light into spells, surpassing most dharma lights."
He performed a hand seal and the light in his hand transformed into a vibrant, brilliant gold, appearing almost as if he had mastered some special spell.
Li Xijun, having been trained in perception technique, stared directly at it without averting his gaze, nodding approvingly. Li Ximing continued, "The second ability, called Bright Yang Gate, summons a zing gate that can suppress enemies. The more one''s cultivation advances, the taller and more imposing this gate bes."
Heughed, adding, "As for manipting fire, the blending of yin and yang, treading on beams of light¡ªthose are minor techniques, not worth mentioning!"
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After all, the Golden Pce Radiant Origin Manual was a Grade Four technique. The Immortal Foundation it formed was formidable, offeringprehensive enhancement across all aspects. Although itcked a specialized technique, it still surpassed Grade Three techniques by a significant margin.
He was brimming with pride, so much so that he failed to notice the white mourning clothes draped throughout the mountain until he finally caught sight of Li Xijun''s sorrowful expression, causing him to realize btedly.
"This is..."
He froze.
Li Xijun sighed, saying, "Please ept my condolences, Seventh Brother."
Li Ximing''s sleeves trembled as he came to the painful realization.
"Oh..."
His voice immediately choked with emotion. The joy in his heart dissipated, leaving him standing there in stunned silence for a few moments before asking, "When did it happen...? Has Father already beenid to rest?"
He murmured two questions, then began to cry, descending with Li Xijun as theynded on the mountainside. Li Ximingmented, "Eighth Brother... I only wanted to put it off until after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm to see him again."
Since that terrible argument after returning from the Xiao Family, Li Ximing had not seen his father again. Li Yuanping, filled with disappointment, had stubbornly refrained from seeking him out. Li Ximing, fearing the encounter, put it off day by day, unwilling to face his father''s expression. He had not expected that this dy would stretch into years, until his father had already passed away without them ever meeting again.
Walking through the graveyard now, gazing at the rows of gray headstones, Li Ximing''s face was wet with tears, his entire body trembling from head to toe. Cold sweat clung to his skin, unceasing.
He continued until he reached Li Yuanping''s tombstone. The inscription was newly engraved, detailing his life''s achievements. Li Ximing kneeled down weakly before it, and Li Xijun silently stepped back, intending to give him some privacy. But unexpectedly, Li Ximing choked out softly, "...Stay..."
So Li Xijun remained, standing quietly. In front of him, Li Ximing seemed more lost and fearful than truly sorrowful, crumpled before the gravestone. He kneeled there for a long time, until the full moon rose and soft raindrops began to fall from the sky, pattering down onto the earth. Only then did he snap out of his daze.
Li Ximing leaped up in a panic, ncing around before bolting away as if fleeing, rising into the wind in an unsteady flight back to his cave dwelling. Twice he stumbled over the doorstep, nearly falling t against the stone table inside.
On the tabley a stack of small letters, each ced there by others outside his secluded chamber during his period of seclusion. Dazed, he picked one up, which read, "When will Ximing emerge from seclusion? The family''s stock of thirteen types of medicinal pills requires sorting and distribution. If you have any free time, pleasee to see me."
The handwriting was firm, deliberate, suggesting careful thought. It was signed by his father, Li Yuanping, roughly six months earlier. He pulled out another letter, "If Ximing emerges from seclusion, pleasee see me."
This letter was more recent, only three months old. Li Ximing continued reading through all fifteen letters. Each was shorter and more urgent than thest.
The final letter was dated just half a month ago. Atst, Li Yuanping no longer addressed him by his full name. His handwriting, no longer neat, was crooked and uneven, with just a simple message, "My son,e quickly."
Previously, Li Ximing had felt only a vague numbness, with little real grief. But now, a surge of anguish rose within him, overwhelming and relentless, as he realized the full weight of these words.
He dropped the letter as if struck, gasping, "Father... Father... I was wrong... Father..."
His mind thundered, and everything around him began to spin, intensifying the agony within his mind and body. His whole body, from his fingers to his toes, shook uncontrobly as the world fell silent.
Thud.
Gradually, Li Ximing regained awareness, finding himself slumped over the table. With both arms spread wide, he gathered up the letters, clutching at them and scattering them over the floor. One letter remained caught on his sleeve, the four small characters on it unbearable to read.
He was lost in a haze for just a moment before his Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation restored his rity. He stood still, his face pale and expression nk.
All this time, he had been too afraid to see his father, choosing instead to wait for his father to summon him.
However, Li Yuanping had held out stubbornly until the end. In the fading light of his life, he had gone from issuing orders under pretense, to subtly inviting, to pleading for his son''s presence, and finally...to a sorrowful, dying gasp. Yet, not a single word had reached Li Ximing.
His mind was a blur, filled with confusion, but atst, he understood¡ªthose things he had been too afraid to face were now lost, and he would never have the chance to face them again.
Chapter 548: Escorting and Slaying Demons (I)
Chapter 548: Escorting and ying Demons (I)
Yi Mountain City.
A towering fortress stood firmly against the mountain, with streams of light flowing over it. A middle-aged man, d in ck-gold spirit armor, stood upon a golden shuttle, his sharp gaze under furrowed brows fixed on the distant horizon¡ªkeen as a falcon''s.
His armor, dark and glistening with ck-gold scales, blended seamlessly with the golden bow on his back. Beneath him, his diamond-shaped flying shuttle radiated a sharp golden Astral Qi.
Years of experience had tempered his once-unchecked ambition. His gaze was now slightly lowered, his eyes half-closed, with a calmness that concealed his sharp resolve, his spirit refined and poised for action.
Li Xuanfeng rose on the wind from the city walls, hovering for a moment. In the distant sea of trees, demons circled but showed no sign of advancing. He returned to the wall where a group of young, unfamiliar faces approached him from below.
Only one middle-aged man moved forward, his appearance dignified and schrly. He spoke softly, "Brother Feng, Fairy of the Autumn Lake is waiting in the city."
Most of those who had followed him south all those years ago had married, had children, and be casualties in repeated battles, devoured by demons. Only Fei Yihe remained at his side, now in his seventies, yet still cautious of taking a higher step in his cultivation.
Although the Azure Pond Sect had nevermented directly, the tragic massacre of the Fei Family years ago still remained vivid in his memory, so Fei Yihe dared not act recklessly. Li Xuanfeng nodded, not surprised at all.
If Ning Wan hase, then the Daoist Master must have emerged from seclusion.
Li Xuanfeng''s armored boots rang crisply as they struck the ground. Riding the wind down, he soon spotted a woman standing by a small stall in the marketce, gazing at the wares with interest.
Ning Wan had a unique presence. Although she used an Azure Pond''s spell to mask her cultivation, Li Xuanfeng, with his Spirit Eye Perception, sensed her cultivation level with a mere nce. With their cultivation close in level, he approached and greeted her softly, "Xuanfeng greets Senior."
Ning Wan, now at the peak of Foundation Establishment Realm and nearing the Purple Mansion Realm, looked back at him with a gentle smile.
"Not bad... So, when are you nning to enter seclusion for your breakthrough?"
Li Xuanfeng, who had been refining his cultivation since reaching the mid-Foundation Establishment Realm long ago, responded, "I fear my foundation may be unstable... there is no rush for a breakthrough."
Ning Wan nodded, smiling brightly.
"I have seen your archery skills! Thinking back, when that Golden Tang Gate disciple came south all those years ago, it was you who defeated him, was it not?" she asked with a knowing smile.
Li Xuanfeng had not expected her to bring up old events, but now it mattered little. He murmured an apology, while Ning Wan nodded and said, "You were so young then, yet you had already grasped the essence of the bow... At the time, I thought it was a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s doing, influenced as I was by Man On Creek or Jiang Boqing''s influence. But... it seems fate works strangely, and it led us to cross paths here."
Remembering those days, Li Xuanfeng felt a pang of mncholy, though he showed no outward change in his expression. Ning Wan continued, "There is some news I should share with you."
"I will be d to hear it," Li Xuanfeng quickly replied, instantly focusing his attention on her.
Ning Wan shook her head and said, "From the overseas Crimson Reef Ind, there was a female cultivator of the main bloodline, named Guo Hongyao. She flew to your family''s territory and caused quite a scene... Apparently, she wanted to take someone as her disciple, but things did not go well on either side, and they parted on poor terms."
"Crimson Reef Ind..?"
The mention of family matters instantly grabbed Li Xuanfeng''s attention.
Ning Wan gave him a knowing look, speaking softly, "As she returned overseas, the female cultivator suffered a severe ambush, barely escaping her own territory with her life. She managed to escape with talismans, but her prized artifact was stolen. The perpetrator was outrageously bold, and Crimson Reef Ind has already dispatched people to investigate."
Ning Wan''s lips curved in a slight smile, clearly amused by the news. Then, she suddenly added, "With the Green Pine Temple Ruins involved, the Crimson Reef Ind will likely not investigate thoroughly. The injury to that female cultivator though, will likely set her back for decades with little hope of progress."
Li Xuanfeng froze momentarily, his brows knitting in thought.
"To have robbed a direct disciple of an immortal sect on their own turf... Who would be so daring?"
Ning Wan smiled without responding. The two flew together for a while, thennded in unison in front of Yuan Su''s cave dwelling, as if by mutual understanding. They passed the oddly-shaped bronze beasts in the courtyard, surrounded by a swirling white mist that chilled their ankles. Daoist Master Yuan Suy rxed on a stone tform up ahead.
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"Greetings, Daoist Master!"
The both of them greeted as they cupped their fists respectfully.
Daoist Master Yuan Su''s face appeared smooth and round, alwayscking any sense of intimidation, and now seemed even more otherworldly. A faint golden seal swayed at his waist.
Li Xuanfeng and Ning Wan bowed respectfully. With a wave of his hand, Yuan Su gestured for them to rise, asking, "Wan''er... how are matters proceeding?"
Ning Wan answered with deference, "Honored Ancestor, those who were suspected of bearing a thread of fate have all received the news of Green Pine Temple and have each made their way to the sea. Noplications..."
"Hmm."
Yuan Su nodded, his fingers resting on the seal.
"After all, the descent of Fruition Attainment from Mount Luoxia has drawn together a few threads of fate¡ªit is to be expected. If these individuals can stand out, whether they truly bear a thread of fate or not, at least they have some skill... They should be able to bring back something from the ruins."
Ning Wan nodded and continued in a soft voice, "However... there is one major development. Daoist Master Suiguan recently visited Crimson Reef Ind and then Golden Feather Sect, where Zhang Tianyuan personally saw him off with great respect."
Daoist Master Suiguan was a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who had mysteriously emerged from the lifeless, emerald waters of the Azure Pond Grotto Heaven. Yuan Su''s expression darkened at the news, muttering, "What is he up to now?!"
Yuan Su found dealing with Suiguan exasperating. While Chi Buzi, despite his foul temper, was at least a familiar face and manageable with his not-so-high cultivation, Suiguan was utterly unpredictable.
Yuan Su had hidden himself in Yi Mountain City and even gone into seclusion to avoid encountering Suiguan. Now, upon hearing of him again, his expression soured. After a brief pause, Ning Wan hesitated, then continued somewhat awkwardly, "It is rumored, ording to the Chi Family, that he... took a portion of..."
She abruptly stopped speaking, but Yuan Su waved his hand, speaking softly, "Go ahead... say it freely."
As such, Ning Wan continued, "...a portion of Profound Radiant Dual Essence Qi."
Yuan Su sat up, contemting this information for a moment, then remarked, "Ah... yes, it must be Profound Radiant Qi. Only something of that nature wouldpel Suiguan to personally make the trip to Golden Feather Sect... He is at the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm... could he be attempting to break through to the Golden Core Realm?"
He made this deduction before furrowing his brows and reconsidering, "No... that does not seem right."
The two below remained silent. Yuan Su soon regained hisposure, falling quiet before he looked over to Li Xuanfeng and nodded approvingly, "Not bad... You are progressing faster than I expected."
"All thanks to the Daoist Master''s guidance," Li Xuanfeng responded politely as he offered his thanks. Over the past decade, Yuan Su had indeed been generous to him, providing spirit armor, precious medicines, Golden Stone Qi, and secret techniques¡ªessentially treating him as a junior disciple.
If not for the sensitivity of these items, which Yuan Su had bestowed upon him directly, Li Xuanfeng would have sent some of them to his family. In fact, Yuan Su''s kindness only made him feel more uneasy.
Yuan Su watched him thoughtfully for a moment, then said softly, "Very well. Your current strength is respectable enough to carry some authority. Take a trip to the Eastern Sea and handle two matters for me."
Li Xuanfeng was overjoyed, responding eagerly, "Daoist Master, please give me your instructions!"
He was overjoyed for two reasons. First, he had been confined to this ce for decades, and now he finally had the opportunity to venture out. Second, Yuan Su finally had a task for him. Without a purpose, the powerful spells and spirit treasures he had received felt almost burdensome, yet refusing them had never been an option.
Chapter 549: Escorting and Slaying Demons (II)
Chapter 549: Escorting and ying Demons (II)
epting the assignment promptly, Yuan Su exined, "First, I have a group of my disciples needing escorts to Splitreed Ind. That sea region has been turbulent recently, and Ning Wan cannot act freely, so you should take this trip."
He added a cautionary note, "Do not stir up trouble; just deliver them safely. If you do encounter resistance, feel free to kill anyone who is not of the dragon n."
Seeing Li Xuanfeng nodding in understanding, Yuan Su continued, "Once you reach Splitreed Ind, continue northward until you reach Unison Sea. There, a market run by my Ning Family has been harassed by a demon. Deal with it on your way back."
"Do we know what it is...?" Li Xuanfeng asked.
Yuan Su promptly replied, "No need for concern. It is only a water-dwelling monkey... a threat to ordinary folks but not to you."
Securing the jade seal at his waist, Yuan Su added softly, "I noticed it has been years since you returned home. Make the most of it and reconnect with your family."
"Thank you, Daoist Master!" Li Xuanfeng expressed his gratitude, and as he saw Yuan Su wave him off, he quietly departed.
After a brief pause, Ning Wan said softly, "Daoist Master... Li Xuanfeng''s cultivation has advanced rapidly in recent years. It seems it was merely theck of resources and techniques in the Li Family that slowed him down. He had achieved nothing remarkable before his breakthrough to thete Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Well, he is a descendant of the Wei-Li lineage," Yuan Su replied, "If he practiced a Bright Yang-aligned path, he would progress even faster... A thousand years ago, the Wei-Li lineage''s affinity with metallic essence was impressive¡ªthat was akin to the sun descending into the world."
They continued conversing as Li Xuanfeng exited the cave dwelling. Riding the wind, he flew a while before descending at his own cave dwelling.
Li Xuanfeng''s dwelling was among the finest in Yi Mountain City. As he pushed open the door, his wife, Ning Hemian, met him with their child in her arms, smiling as she greeted him softly.
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"What did the Daoist Master say?" she asked with a smile.
Ning Hemian, being from the Ning Family, often knew things even before he did, so he was not surprised at all by her question. He took the child in his arms and replied, "I will be heading to the Eastern Sea soon, escorting people and ying demons."
The boy in his arms pursed his lips, his eyes a deep gray, though his brows were softer than his father''s. Still young, he appeared rather gentle.
"Qin''er..." Li Xuanfeng called.
"Father!" the young boy called out in a cheery response.
Li Xuanfeng held him close and asked a few questions about recent events. Li Yuanqin responded with short affirmations, while Ning Hemian closed the stone door of the dwelling, voicing her concern, "What does the Daoist Master mean by this? Is he putting you at risk? Could this be dangerous?"
"It should not be," Li Xuanfeng replied thoughtfully, raising his brow as he continued, "I have already mastered Aura Rebound Technique and have the ck Gold Spirit Armor as protection. Mybat power is formidable. Unless I directly face the Foundation Establishment Realm heirs of the three sects, most would not stand a chance against me."
Li Xuanfeng continued, "If I can prepare and keep my distance, even ate-stage Foundation Establishment Realm direct disciple from one of the three sects would cough up blood under my arrows. Against ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators... they would fare no better than the demons torn apart by the dozens on the battlefront."
Li Xuanfeng''s tone was calm, though the underlying bloodlust beneath his words was strong. He added softly, "Only those in the southern borders know my reputation as the Golden Bowstring... It will be interesting to see what kind of cultivators I will encounter overseas."
Ning Hemian casually responded as she tidied spirit medicines around the cave dwelling, "Yes, yes... we all know how powerful you are!"
Li Xuanfeng, significantly older than her, could not help butugh when he noticed her youthful demeanor. He thought to himself, When should I take Qin''er back home for a visit? I wonder how Yuanjiao and Qinghong are doing these days...
Through the Ning Family''s connections, he had managed to gather various pieces of news about the Li Family, though most were only fragments. Now, with the opportunity to return home, he felt a growing warmth in his heart.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Mount Qingdu.
The ritual of burning incense and offering prayers was simple enough. In fact, simply meditating in front of the incense would suffice. Li Qinghong had carefully bathed, changed from her protective armor into Daoist robes, tied up her hair, and then trained before the incense for several months before flying on thunder toward Mount Yuting.
This immortal mountain was now covered in green pines, with snow piled atop its peaks. A sacrificial altar, over ten zhang tall, stood on the summit. It was adorned with carvings of mist, thunder, and rain patterns, primarily crafted from bluestone but reinforced with various metals like copper and iron.
At the top, twelve bronze and silver statues of various forms were arranged in a circle. Some statues captured thunder and dispersed clouds, while others held spears and bore fierce expressions. Eight of the statues had humanoid forms, while the remaining four took on shapes of dragons and serpents.
As Li Qinghong stepped onto this ritual tform, she felt the mana and thunderpool within her begin to stir, and the Profound Thunder Talisman pulsed, eager and active.
Sitting cross-legged at the center, she ced her hands, palms up, on her knees. Strands of violet lightning began to flow from her body, following and tracing along the patterns that were carved into the ground.
Now, the twelve statues should all light up. Dark clouds should gather in the sky, and thunder should appear... that would mark the beginning.
Li Qinghong activated her Immortal Foundation, waiting a full half hour. However, only the violet lightning circted, with no unusual phenomenon appearing, nor was there any sign of the so-called Heavenly Resonance. Instead, she felt her internal mana depleting significantly.
"Is it really this useless..?"
She waited a while longer, but not only was there no thunder, there was not even a single dark cloud in the sky. With a sigh, she abandoned the secret technique and switched to using thunder tomunicate with each statue in turn.
This was another function of the altar, allowing her to calcte where thunder would strike across thend, how many tribtion strikes had fallen recently, and who among wrongdoers was due for retribution by thunder.
"This is probably pointless too... There are not any tribtion strikes these days. Have not even heard of one... this technique is truly ancient."
After testing each statue in turn with no result, Li Qinghong''s unwillingness drove her to repeat the process twice. Finally, when she connected with thest dragon-shaped statue, she received a response.
Shiiing...
The eyes of the dragon-shaped bronze statue glowed faintly, and suddenly Li Qinghong had a clear vision.
"Yincheng Prefecture, Wei State... At midnight on the 24th day. Twisting Thunder Tail strikes the ancient cypress tree west of the prefecture."
The statue emitted a sh of thunder before dimming once more, offering no further response.
"Huh..?"
Li Qinghong blinked, feeling an odd mix of surprise and resignation. "It really is an ancient technique! But... what use is this?" she wondered aloud in confusion.
If it truly provided an exact location, Li Qinghong could ride her thunderbolt there and capture this falling lightning with her spells. Judging by the name of it, this was likely some form of spirit thunder of Heaven and Earth, a rare sight in this age.
In recent ages, thunder strikes had be rarer between Heaven and Earth, and as a result, thunder cultivators were increasingly umon. Furthermore, thunder was unlike spirit fire or water; it dispersed instantly upon impact. Unless one was extremely lucky or encountered it in the clouds by chance, capturing it was nearly impossible.
However, the information provided by this spell turned out to be the name of a now ancient ce, and even if she knew the location of it, finding it would be nearly impossible. Li Qinghong could only sigh in dejection.
"Moreover, this ce is likely far to the north in hostile territory under the Wrathful Dao lineage, where deep-seated enmity remains... entangled with threads of fate. It is strictly forbidden to go there."
Li Qinghong calcted that the next thunder invocation ritual was three months away. She nned thoughtfully, "The altar has already been built, and casting the spell consumes only a bit of mana. I will try every three months; who knows? One day, I might hit upon a Yue State city with a familiar name and be able to collect some thunder!"
Chapter 550: The Elder of Mount Yue
Chapter 550: The Elder of Mount Yue
Having made her decision, Li Qinghong was just about to sit down cross-legged when she noticed a faint light flickering outside the formation. Two young men, riding on the wind, entered. One was dressed in a white robe with a handsome face, while the other wore a golden Daoist robe, looking rather downcast.
"Aunt!"
The two were, of course, the Li brothers, Li Xijun and Li Ximing. Theynded one after the other, and Li Xijun cupped his fist and announced, "Seventh Brother has broken through to Foundation Establishment Realm! I have brought him here for you to see."
Li Qinghong nced at Li Ximing. He still had not recovered from his father''s passing, and seeing the sorrow on his face, she spoke to him softly, "The timing was unfortunate... Your father did not hold any me toward you, so you muste to terms with it."
Li Ximing lifted his sleeve and nodded, his expression far more subdued now. He replied quietly, "Now that I have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, I can bring forward the family''s ns for refining a few medicinal pills... I will head to the Alchemy Pavilion on Mount Wutu in theing days to study the form for the Barrier Breaking Pill. It would be highly beneficial for those advancing to both the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Realm."
Li Qinghong nodded approvingly. Her gaze shifted, catching sight of a few blue-gold embroidery patterns peeking out from under his sleeve. Women are often more sensitive to such symbols, and it reminded her of an orchid. She asked him briefly about matters at home, but seeing his low spirits, she held back her suggestions for sparring and let him depart to recover on his own.
Once Li Ximing had left, Li Qinghong turned to Li Xijun and asked, "Jun''er, does Ximing still have any contact with that woman surnamed Meng?"
Li Xijun lowered his gaze and replied quietly, "No, he does not."
Li Qinghong sighed. Not wanting her to press further, Li Xijun quickly changed the topic, asking about her thunder techniques. After Li Qinghong had exined, he nodded, "Indeed, most of it is obsolete, but it still holds some use. If you manage to capture a rare spirit thunder, it will have been worth the trouble."
"It is more than that," Li Qinghong replied softly, continuing, "I find cultivating here on this altar veryfortable... It allows me to summon lightning and channel my qi better than any other cave dwelling back home. You will not have to leave Qingdu Peak just to make space for me."
As they were speaking, a Jade Court Guard approached and reported, "My lords, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from Mount Yue has arrived at Qingdu."
Li Qinghong raised her brows slightly and ascended with a crackle of thunder, descending onto theke''s surface. There, she saw a cultivator waiting on a ck cloud, his eyes bloodshot and narrow, his vertically slit pupils giving him a rather fierce look. He wore a gray robe and had the appearance of a middle-aged man.
"Hm?"
The Mount Yue cultivator, who was at mid-Foundation Establishment Realm, fixed his gaze on Li Qinghong and spoke in a raspy voice, "Are you a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator of the Li Family?"
"Precisely."
Li Qinghong cupped her fist, recognizing him as Fei Luoya, and, remaining courteous, replied softly, "I am Li Qinghong, and Li Yuanjiao is my elder brother."
"I see."
The middle-aged man nodded just as theke''s surface split open. Li Wushao rode the wind out from below, shadows drifting darkly beneath his robe as he took a silent stance behind Li Qinghong.
From another direction, a golden light streaked upward. Li Ximing, d in a Daoist robe, arrived on a radiant path, his spell bright and imposing. Seeing the impressive gathering, Fei Luoya immediately grew cautious and stepped back slightly.
"Does the elder have business with us? Why note down and discuss it in detail?" Li Qinghong asked politely.
Fei Luoya, highly wary, declined to enter the formation, shaking his head repeatedly. After a brief struggle to find his words, he spoke awkwardly, "Well... what Li Yuanjiao promised back then... does it still hold?"
The group froze, unsure of his meaning, and Fei Luoya knew he had no choice but to exin.
It turned out that years ago, several individuals, including Yuan Chengdun, had in Fu Daimu to the west. His territory had been given entirely to Fei Luoya, who had decided to organize the Mount Yue people to cultivate some spirit paddies.
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Li Yuanjiao had suggested that the Li Family could take over thend and, in return, provide Fei Luoya with a portion of the annual harvest. However, Fei Luoya, who was greedy at the time, had refused his offer.
So, he had spent years managing the territory himself, only to realize that the yield was less than half of what Li Yuanjiao had promised. He had even sacrificed much of his cultivation time on the endeavor. Regretful, he had nowe seeking out the Li Family again.
Hearing this, the Li Family members were delighted and quickly agreed. They moved on to discuss the details, but Fei Luoya still refused to enter the formation, so they settled on a small courtyard in the town to finalize arrangements.
They had just settled into their seats when Fei Luoya appeared restless and uneasy, as though his true purpose foring had not yet been revealed. After several moments of awkward silence, he finally spoke, somewhat hesitantly.
"Your esteemed n seems to be thriving! However... regarding that matter I inquired about years ago... does your n have any news?"
With Li Yuanjiao absent, Li Qinghong had no idea what this Mount Yue cultivator was referring to. She could only respond diplomatically, "Perhaps my elder brother has already begun assisting you, Senior... But why not tell me about it again?"
Seeing the nk expressions on their faces, Fei Luoya looked briefly frustrated. With a sigh, he rified, "The Purple Mansion Realm cultivator backing your n... could they perhaps show me a clear path forward?"
s... he wants to join us!
This realization dawned on Li Qinghong finally. Fei Luoya could indeed be a valuable ally. His abilities were well-known¡ªskilled in a variety of shamanic spells learned on Mount Wu, and he was both knowledgeable and capable. The prospect of gaining his support was tempting indeed.
However, their n had no true Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Fei Luoya was no fool; he was not someone easily cated without concrete assurance.
Li Qinghong found herself in a predicament and, after a moment''s thought, spoke softly, "Ah, so that is the matter! My brother also wishes to introduce you to an appropriate guide, but... meeting a Daoist Master is not so easily arranged. Even we can only do so after rendering great merit... My brother has been sent on a mission and, for now, will not be able to give you a direct answer."
Aware she was speaking to someone from Mount Yue, Li Qinghong kept her words as straightforward as possible, watching his reaction closely.
Fei Luoya paused, seeming to ponder her words. His narrow, vertical pupils fixed on her as realization dawned on him, and he quickly replied, "I understand!"
This young girl means that only if I establish some merit for them will they be able to bring me into the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator''s fold... I see! So, this is one of thoseplex customs of the Easterners...
He appeared visibly relieved, managing an awkward smile as he nodded, "If your n ever needs anything, do not hesitate to ask me!"
Li Qinghong saw that he had understood her intentions. Despite his years of cultivation, Fei Luoya was somewhat inexperienced in dealing with people, but his cautious demeanor revealed his keen awareness.
Now that he had received a tentativemitment, Fei Luoya seemed noticeably more rxed and had little patience for further conversation. Waving his hand, he said casually, "I am getting closer to thete Foundation Establishment Realm and am focusing on refining my cultivation in preparation for a breakthrough. I will not be staying here any longer... In a few days, I will send Zhu Xian to discuss any further details with you all."
With that, he left without looking back, riding the wind away. Li Qinghong escorted him to the edge of her family''s territory, reflecting to herself, This old Mount Yue cultivator grows stronger with each passing year. For now, it''s best to stall him with this dy tactic... As for the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, I''ll discuss it with my brother once he returns to decide how best to handle it!
Chapter 551: Setting Out (I)
Chapter 551: Setting Out (I)
Fei Luoya departed, hands sped behind his back as he rode the wind, leaving the others with a rxed view of his retreating figure. Li Qinghong had managed to appease him, and with Li Ximing and the other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators filling the ranks, everyone dispersed, scratching their heads in bewilderment.
Li Qinghong returned to her senses and saw that only Li Wushao remained, his expression more troubled than ever. The wound on his tail stinger had yet to heal, prompting her to ask, "Is your injury serious?"
Li Wushao''s hooked tail had been singed by a gray-red me, leaving a pain that lingered, both in his body and in his spiritual sense. asionally, it would re up, and the difort left him looking visibly pained.
Li Qinghong noticed this and inquired out of concern. Li Wushao waved his hand and replied, "Thank you for your concern, mydy... This me appears to be Merging Fire, which merges body and spirit, harms one''s essence, and even burns away lifespan¡ª affecting the mind. All I can do is rest and recuperate."
His face was pale as he declined the medicinal pill Li Qinghong offered him, exining politely, "Ordinary pills are ineffective against this sacred fire. During my time in the Eastern Sea, several dragons tried to devour me. They cultivate in the Converging Water method, which, like Merging Fire, worsens injuries over time with even the slightest contact. I am used to it by now and have some experience in dealing with it, so there is no need to worry."
With a grim expression, Li Wushao withdrew to heal, leaving Li Qinghong alone to descend on thunder.
"Converging Water... Merging Fire... Supreme Yin and Yang... they really do correspond one-to-one."
Li Qinghong nodded thoughtfully. Many manifestations of Metallic Essence had corresponding fruition attainments with identifiable traits. She wondered about the nature of her own Profound Thunderpool cultivation.
"Profound Thunder...? Or perhaps some kind of Celestial Thunder..."
Shaking these thoughts from her mind, Li Qinghong retreated into seclusion to train.
Half a month passed, and though Fei Luoya''s subordinate, Zhu Xian, had yet to arrive, finally a group of travelers appeared in the distant sky. They were dressed in various robes and looked worn from their journey. Leading them was Li Xuanxuan, who was tugging at his beard as he rode the wind from afar.
"Granduncle!"
Li Xijun soared up to greet him, and Li Xuanxuan nodded slightly. Behind him, Chen Donghe and An Zheyan bowed in greeting.
Li Xuanxuan seemed to be in good spirits and said, "This old man went to Great Xiukui Temple and broadened his horizons significantly! That temple oversees seventy-two Dao lineages, preserving all kinds of ancient and shamanic spells, vastly different from modern techniques."
He reached into his storage pouch and drew out a few talismans. They appeared grayish with white inked symbols scrawled across them, and Li Xuanxuan beamed as he exined, "These are ancient spell talismans, infused with water essence to relieve pain and heal ailments... They will be quite useful to pass down to cultivators in the Embryonic Breathing Realm and to treatmon folk."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the crowd dispersed. Li Xijun guided him down, while Li Xuanxuan continued speaking cheerfully about the talismans in his hand.
Li Xuanxuan''s old eyes swept across the mountain, and he glimpsed the white mourning clothes draped everywhere. A momentary joy vanished from his face, which was reced by shock. His smile disappeared, and he fell silent.
Without a word, he allowed Li Xijun to lead him to the grave, where he sat heavily on the ground, murmuring to himself, "So, it is time... he managed to hold on all these years..."
His aged eyes took in the surrounding area. To his right stood the headstone of his eldest son, Li Yuanxiu, and to his left, his youngest, Li Yuanping. One was new, the other old, and both towered above him. Sitting between them, the gravestones loomed taller than he was.
Li Xijun withdrew quietly, retreating to the edge of the mountain path before ncing back.
The elderly man was slumped between the two graves, his legs spread in the wild grass, clutching one of the talismans in his hand without realizing it, and he was staring nkly at the sky with an expression of utter smallness... and unmistakable grief.
Li Xijun could not bear to look on any longer and lowered his head as he left. Chen Donghe led a person up the path, a man in a brown Daoist robe with a vine whip tied at his waist. Chen Donghe spoke softly, "This is Senior Zhu Xian."
Li Xijun quicklyposed himself. The earlier scene still lingered vividly in his memory, but he had no time to dwell on it. Forcing a smile, he greeted Zhu Xian in a soft tone, "Greetings, Senior."
Zhu Xian, one of Fei Luoya''s men, had just reached the early Foundation Establishment Realm.
His cultivation lineage was weak, and although he had established an Immortal Foundation, he was still inferior to even Li Wushao before he had gained his hooked tail. The skill he cultivated, Pure Essence Wind, was an ordinary technique formed of Minor Pure Spiritual Qi.
Despite having a higher cultivation level than Li Xijun, Zhu Xian dared not act superior in his presence and spoke softly, "My senior brother has sent me here to coordinate the handover of the territory."
Fei Luoya''s subordinates controlled a substantial amount ofnd. Although some barren areas at the edges were disregarded, the actual area was significantlyrger than Eastern Mount Yue. As Li Xijun watched him spread out the map, Zhu Xian remarked, "Over these past ten or so years, my territory here has developed a poption of just over fifty thousand..."
Li Xijun immediately felt a pang of surprise. On simr territory, their own Eastern Mount Yue had a poption numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Such a small poption in Zhu Xian''s territory exined theck of productivity.
ncing over the map and estimating briefly, he said softly, "For this region, Senior, I propose establishing thirty towns, strategically ced along thend''s spirit and earth veins. We can set up one or two immortal mountains and establish a governing system to oversee a poption of three hundred thousand."
"There are tworge ins here where we can establish major towns... Then, we can begin by setting up viges along the two rivers and gradually move people there."
As Li Xijun exined his n in detail, Zhu Xian could only nod in agreement, not entirely grasping the pros and cons or understanding much of what was being discussed.
Once Li Xijun had arranged everything from start to finish, there was not much left to negotiate.
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Zhu Xian had only one question.
"How much profit can this yield?" he asked.
Li Xijun calcted and answered, "After seven or eight years, annual profits could reach around twenty to thirty spirit stones, with our family taking a forty percent share."
After doing the math, Zhu Xian realized that this would meet Fei Luoya''s expectations. He rxed immediately, waving his hand in agreement, "Then let us proceed with that!"
Li Xijun then called Li Xicheng over for a thorough discussion. Zhu Xian, unable to sit still any longer, rode the wind back to report to Fei Luoya. Once Zhu Xian had left, Li Xijun asked, "Elder Brother, how much does our family have in reserves now?"
Li Xicheng replied, "Currently, we generate an annual ie of over sixty spirit stones. After deducting the tribute payments, we can save less than a hundred stones every five years. Adding in the forty stones from the sale of Wanling Blossoms by Han Shizhen of the Han Family, our savingse to about one hundred and thirty spirit stones every five years."
After calcting for a bit, Li Xicheng continued, "For the past decade, we have avoided major expenses, so we have about two hundred stones in reserve after ounting for minor expenditures."
"Two hundred spirit stones¡ªthat is more than enough to set up two Qi Cultivation Realm formations... And since we are establishing these for Fei Luoya, we may even be able to extract some resources from his side."
With confidence in his n, Li Xijun nodded and spoke softly, "Elder Brother, the expansion effort will need your coordination. We could consider moving Eastern Mount Yue westward, transferring the original dozen towns on the eastern side to be under Lijing Office. You have the insight to handle it as you see fit."
"Rest assured."
Li Xicheng''s reply was steady andposed, carrying an air of authority. However, as his gaze passed over the white mourning garments, a lingering sorrow remained in his eyes.
Chapter 552: Setting Out (II)
Chapter 552: Setting Out (II)
Li Xuanfeng gathered his belongings, stepped onto his flying shuttle, and, with two Ning Family cultivators in tow, set off with his golden bow slung over his back. They flew gracefully toward the Azure Pond Sect. The two Ning Family members, having grown ustomed to traveling with him, used the journey to brief him on the ns of the nearby prefectures.
These two brothers were from a branch of the Ning Family and had followed Li Xuanfeng for over a decade, deeply respecting him. Li Xuanfeng listened absently, uninterested in lingering along the way. They glided over thendscape, arriving at the Azure Pond Sect, where he instructed them, "Go ahead and gather all those who are heading to the Eastern Sea."
He waited patiently. ording to the practices of the Azure Pond Sect, most of those being sent to guard the Eastern Sea were likely cultivators with limited talents. Aside from members of the Chi and Ning families, disciples from Yuan Su, Yuanwu, and Yuan Xiu''s Peaks were often assigned to the southern borders or the Eastern Sea.
He waited for a while, choosing not to enter the mountain. Instead, he seated himself in a pavilion, watching the mist drift across Mount Azure Pond. After a short time, he heard amotion as the two Ning Family members returned, leading a group of cultivators.
The group of young men and women wore azure Daoist robes. Most of them were at the Qi Cultivation Realm, their faces filled with the fresh inexperience of novices. They lined up behind the two Ning Family members and called out in unison, "Greetings, Daoist!"
Within the Azure Pond Sect, those who held the title of Peak Master at the Foundation Establishment Realm were addressed as Peak Masters. If theycked this title, they were simply called Daoists¡ªafter all, within the Azure Pond Sect, Foundation Establishment Realm alone was not enough to earn the title of an ancestor.
Li Xuanfeng found this a little strange. Years ago, his family had treated disciples from Azure Pond Sect with the utmost respect, not daring to defy them. He recalled his visit to Cloud Crowned Peak of the Xiao Family back then, where even a mere sect attendant couldmand a small n''s family head at will.
Back then, he had been a lowly archer, serving under the sect''s disciples. Now, he had be a senior to the very members of Azure Pond, which made him chuckle quietly as he gave them a slight nod.
To the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Cultivation Realm disciples, however, Li Xuanfeng in his ck Gold Spirit Armor was an awe-inspiring sight. His armor''s elegant lines and fierce expression, with eyes sharp as a hawk, seemed to emit a golden glow. Combined with the ferocious longbow hanging from his golden robe, his imposing presence was undeniable!
Just by standing there, he exuded the aura of a veteran general who had guarded the wild borders for years. His slightly hoarse voice andmanding gaze added to his formidable image, with the gleam of his golden bow making the eyes of onlookers ache.
"I heard this senior was born with immense strength, able to wrestle tigers and wolves... Hees from a distinguished sword-wielding n, yet chose to abandon the sword and master the golden bow instead... single-handedly dispersing the clouds of demons in the Southern Border!"
The young disciples whispered among themselves, filled with admiration for the man.
Even though they were members of an immortal sect, Foundation Establishment Realm was still an uncertain achievement for many. With fierce internalpetition and frequent assignments to guard distant territories, bing someone of Li Xuanfeng''s stature was no small feat.
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Li Xuanfeng scanned the group; once he saw that everyone had gathered, he tapped the golden beast buckle on his belt and took out a jade ship.
Initially the size of a thumb, the spirit shuttle expanded rapidly, glowing with emerald light until it transformed into a great boat over ten zhang in length. It floated gently in the air.
"The Everflowing Jade Cloudliner."
The boat was not Li Xuanfeng''s possession; rather, Ning Wan had loaned it to him. When she had heard that he had no means of transport, she had provided the ship for him to carry the dozen or so disciples across Yue State.
Since she was in seclusion cultivating her divine abilities, she had no immediate need for it and was happy to lend it to him.
The Azure Pond disciples, ustomed to seeing spirit ships, showed little surprise as they boarded. The ship was spacious enough, and the two Ning Family brothers took it upon themselves to pilot it. Li Xuanfeng stood at the front of the vessel, gazing down at the sea of clouds and peaks below.
"If only I did not have these people with me, I would not need to dy. I have to finish my current task before I can return home for a visit... Otherwise, I would have stopped by the Lake Xian area to drop by home."
He watched the clouds part and gather, light and shadow shifting as they crossed over Mount Quanwu and reached Libu Prefecture.
The elder Ning brother at the front called out, "General, up ahead is Wubu Market!"
Li Xuanfeng understood what he meant; his grand-nephew Li Xizhi was stationed there as the local guardian. However, with all the disciples on board, stopping casually could cause misunderstandings, so he replied, "Keep going... no need to stop."
"Yes!"
They obeyed and continued steering the spirit ship, while Li Xuanfeng began to adjust his breathing and focus.
He cultivated the Golden Light Edge Technique, a Grade Three technique obtained from the Ji Family, which was practiced by a branch of the Situ Family. Compared to techniques passed down among the main lineages of the immortal sects, it was somewhatcking.
After reaching Foundation Establishment Realm, however, Ning Hemian had acquired a Grade Four manual for him from within the sect, called Golden Stone Lofty Skies Technique. It allowed him to cultivate to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, significantly speeding up his progress. Yet, since he had already formed his Immortal Foundation, he still could not match those who had fully cultivated the Golden Stone Lofty Skies Technique from the start.
Li Xuanfeng was rather indifferent about it; his Immortal Foundation had already been refined to its utmost limits, so a little more or less made no difference.
The Engraved Stone Dao foundation came from the Golden Tang Gate, with qi that could break through formations, split mountains, and destroy enemy artifacts. It specialized in targeting weaknesses, with its power growing stronger with each life taken, tempered by the blood qi of his fallen enemies.
And over the decades, Li Xuanfeng had in countless foes in the Southern Border. He had suffered many wounds in his early years, but with this spirit armor, he had be even more formidable. The number of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators who had fallen by his hand had long since entered the double digits.
In his qihai acupoint, a chaotic golden-red light swirled. He had refined it to its limit two years ago, reaching a point where further refinement was impossible. His confidence came from this source, a confidence grounded in hard-won strength.
Daoist Master Yuan Su promoted me likely because of this, he thought to himself.
Over the years, Li Xuanfeng had gained insight into Daoist Master Yuan Su''s intentions. Ning Tiaoxiao needed someone among the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators who was strong enough to crush any minor threats¡ªsomeone who could handle matters that he himself found inconvenient to attend to.
This Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator not only needed to be exceptionally powerful and loyal but also had to be without prospects for advancement, with weaknesses Yuan Su could exploit... and perhaps even be willing to sacrifice themselves in a critical moment.
Daoist Master Yuan Su was cunning to the core¡ªa master strategist. He had discerned Li Xuanfeng''s character perfectly, not only marrying him to a woman from the n but also cing members of the Ning Family around him, either as subordinates or as colleagues. The Ning Family members themselves did not fully realize it, yet they had alreadye to care for him genuinely.
"After all, he is a cultivator of several hundred years... His methods are impable. He does not need divine abilities or spells to manipte people."
d in the ck Gold Armor that his wife had sought for him, Li Xuanfeng stood quietly, gazing deeply at the setting sun descending in front of him.
"Boss, we are leaving the prefecture!"
The elder Ning brother, his forehead slightly sweaty, turned around and grinned, shing a set of white teeth. His younger brother looked up at Li Xuanfeng with a shy but admiring gaze.
"Got it," Li Xuanfeng replied.
The Ning brothers kept the ship steady, calling him "General" and "Boss" with utmost loyalty. Li Xuanfeng was not easily deceived, and for years, he had harbored doubts that these two were sent to monitor him. However, after several times when they had risked their lives to protect him, he hade to see them as his own people.
Now, as long as Li Xuanfeng could not, in good conscience, abandon his wife and subordinates, Yuan Su''s purpose had been fulfilled. Surveying his surroundings, Li Xuanfeng saw loyalty to his n, his wife, and his duty.
There was no other path forward but to serve Yuan Su.
Chapter 553: Crossing Lake Xian
Chapter 553: Crossing Lake Xian
Li Xuanfeng crossed borders on his conspicuous jade ship and soon entered the territory of the Profound Peak Gate.
While the Azure Pond Sect had its own coastal ess, the path to the Eastern Sea through Profound Peak''s Lake Xian was far closer to Splitreed Ind. Going through the southern exit of Azure Pond Sect would involve a long detour, so Li Xuanfeng had opted to travel through Profound Peak Sect''snd instead.
As Shanji Prefecture, controlled by Profound Peak Gate, came into view, a white barrier appeared before them. Li Xuanfeng halted the jade ship, and soon, a Profound Peak disciple rode the wind up to greet them. He disyed utmost courtesy as he asked softly, "May I ask, Senior..."
The elder Ning brother stepped forward and replied, "From Azure Pond, escorting disciples to Splitreed Ind."
Li Xuanfeng took a step forward, tapped his belt, and a jade token shot out from the beast-head buckle, radiating a brilliant light in midair.
The Profound Peak disciple, an elderly man dressed in white with well-defined features and moles on each cheek, was adorned with various jade essories. Bowing respectfully, he said hurriedly, "Junior Kong Yu greets Senior! Please... please follow me to theke!"
His deference was evident as he led the way, sneaking nces at Li Xuanfeng with a hint of hesitation before stammering, "Is this Senior... could you be the famed Golden Bowstring of the Southern Border? You match the description so closely..."
Li Xuanfeng was not surprised to be recognized so easily and nodded slightly. Kong Yu instantly grew excited, eximing, "Senior, I am Kong Yu of Profound Peak! Our gate has long been allied with the Li Family! I even visited Moongaze Lake to help Qingdu relocate a mountain. I am quite close with Daoist Xuanxuan..."
Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, his expression softening significantly as he responded gently, "Oh? My elder brother?"
A faint smile appeared on Li Xuanfeng''s face as he asked, "I have not seen him in many years... How is my elder brother doing these days?"
"Well... he is quite well!"
Under Li Xuanfeng''s gaze, Kong Yu felt a sudden pang of nervousness. After two hasty replies, he borated, "Daoist Xuanxuan has reachedte-stage Qi Cultivation Realm and has grown more adept with talismans. He has never been much forbat, but his skills in talisman arts are increasingly profound..."
"We traveled west together back then, discussing so much along the way. I learned a great deal," Kong Yu murmured as Li Xuangfeng looked off into the distance, listening quietly.
Kong Yu, digging through his memory, suddenly remembered another detail and quickly added, "And I heard... I heard that your n even went overseas and, along with Profound Peak''s Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators,unched a counterattack on Situ Mo, nearly obliterating that monk from the Wrathful Dao Lineage!"
"A counterattack..? Situ Mo? A Golden Tang Gate disciple?" Li Xuanfeng repeated as he frowned.
The Southern Border was often cut off from outside news. Li Xuanfeng, though he had received one update from home through Liu Changdie, knew little overall. Most of his information came through Ning Family channels.
The Ning Family was effective at gathering news, but they could not uncover everything, especially the more private matters. Kong Yu, on the other hand, had heard this news through Kong Tingyun, which exined why Li Xuanfeng had been unaware.
Li Xuanfeng''s interest was instantly piqued as he caught onto the essential details and asked further, prompting Kong Yu to ry what he had learned from Kong Tingyun.
"Yes, a Golden Tang Gate disciple! Apparently, Situ Mo somehow incurred your family''s wrath and colluded with the Wrathful Dao Lineage in the north, setting an ambush for your family''s younger members. Fortunately, the Li Family''s Foundation Establishment Realm experts arrived in time, preventing any mishap..."
Kong Yu continued, "Later, when your family needed to go to the Eastern Sea, they teamed up with our Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Kong Tingyun, for the journey. It just so happened that they encountered those two on the way, and in the ensuing battle, that monk..."
Kong Yu summarized the event. When he described Situ Mo''s ambush, Li Xuanfeng''s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of anger lighting up his gaze.
By the time Kong Yu finished, however, Li Xuanfeng''s expression had settled into a quiet calm, revealing no trace of emotion as he murmured evenly, "How bold."
Though spoken softly, his tone sent a chill through Kong Yu, who watched as Li Xuanfeng asked, "Is Situ Mo currently in the Eastern Sea?"
"He is indeed!" Kong Yu nodded eagerly, pleased with himself as he responded, "He is on Golden Sack Ind in the Scarlet Pristine Sea. Just head east from here, and you will find it easily with a few inquiries."
Li Xuanfeng nodded, standing with his hands sped behind him with his ck Gold Spirit Armor gleaming in the sunlight, his robes billowing around him. A few names crossed his mind, and he muttered coldly, "Situ Mo... Guo Hongyao..."
It would be best if they stayed hidden in Yue State or on Crimson Reef Ind... Because if I catch them in the Eastern Sea, they will learn the true taste of being pierced by thousands of arrows from head to toe!
As murderous intent surged in his heart, the old man before him, Kong Yu, felt a chilling sensation, as though his face were being shed by knives. Terrified, he dared not speak.
As for Kong Yu, he is clearly using me as a de here!
Li Xuanfeng nced briefly at the old man, though he was not particrly concerned. These enemies were shared adversaries, and this news was useful. Li Xuanfeng knew exactly how to handle it.
For Li Xuanxuan''s sake, he remained courteous, though even this restrained nce left Kong Yu visibly uneasy. The old man quickly tried to amend his words, adding, "But Situ Mo is a core disciple of the Golden Tang Gate; regardless of his strength, it would be unwise to cause too much trouble. If you intend to deal with him, Senior, a light punishment may be best..."
Li Xuanfeng nodded as he leaned on the edge of the ship, conversing politely yet absently. As they left Lake Xian, Kong Yu finally bid them farewell, "This is as far as this old man will escort you! The rest of your journey is your own."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" replied the elder Ning brother, nodding in acknowledgment.
Seeing Kong Yu''s familiarity with Li Xuanfeng, he remained polite as Kong Yu turned away, sweat beading on his brow as he flew off, thinking to himself, That was close! Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanxuan are like night and day! How can they even be brothers... they are worlds apart!
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To Kong Yu, Li Xuanxuan was like a mild, aging rabbit¡ªthough easily startled by even the slightest stir, he was serious, easy to talk to, andcked any intimidating presence.
They had not spent long together, but Kong Yu had felt a genuine sense of rapport, understanding the man well.
Li Xuanfeng, however, was like a hawk, polite on the surface but brimming with a fierce edge. Especially when the topic of Situ Mo''s ambush on Li Family juniors hade up, a single flicker of Li Xuanfeng''s gaze had felt like a de cutting across his face.
If he were merely a lone eagle, it might not be so concerning... but this man has endured the bitter winds of the Southern Border for decades, sharpening his ws to razor edges. Besides... he has built himself a nest within the mighty Ning Family¡ªhe''s truly terrifying!
Watching the emerald jade ship disappear into the distance, Kong Yu thought quietly, In less than ten years, Yue State will be buzzing with tales of this great eagle! Three generations back to back... the Li Family truly has people of talent, no wonder they are thriving!
Returning to his peak on the wind, deep in thought, Kong Yu hurried to rummage through his storage and pulled out a talisman, tracing it with meticulous detail.
"Oh right, I should let Tingyun know! She might be able to find a way to establish contact with the Li Family. It would be best if they could push Situ Mo back to Yue State; this would also be a good opportunity to earn the Li Family''s favor!"
The old man, well over a century in age and adept in such matters, quickly recorded his message in the talisman and called someone over.
"Go! Deliver this to Yuezhou Ind!"
Chapter 554: The Hornless and True Dragon (I)
Chapter 554: The Hornless and True Dragon (I)
Li Xuanfeng led the group across Lake Xian, finally arriving at the coastal waters. The waves surged as the sea stretched in endless blue, and Ning Dingbo, the elder Ning brother, stepped forward to gather the disciples.
Once the Azure Pond disciples had assembled, Ning Dingbo shed a smile, revealing his white teeth as he exined, "This area is called the Shallow Sea... The water here is not very deep; it got submerged during the great battles of ancient times. Most of the inds you see now were once immortal mountains, while the remaining few wereter transported here to fill the sea."
Li Xuanfeng stood with his hands behind his back, listening silently. Understanding his nature, Ning Dingbo continued with the introduction on his behalf, "In those days, this area was home to the six most densely popted southern prefectures, all of which were swallowed by the sea... leaving ruins beneath the waves. Since the water is shallow, cultivators have already scoured it clean over the years."
Ning Dingbo continued to exin patiently, "If you travel further, toward the Scarlet Pristine Sea and the Qunyi Gorge, you will reach what was once the Eastern Sea... Dragon Pces cover thendscape, with flood dragons and serpents roaming freely. Going deeper, you will encounter many dragon kin; do not offend them!"
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The disciples reacted with mixed expressions. Those dressed in fine robes seemed unaffected, already familiar with this knowledge, while the more simply dressed disciples looked enlightened.
Ning Dingbo continued, "The Scarlet Pristine Sea was named after the eighth child of the True Hornless Dragon, which involves the ancient Pristine Converging Water. The sea is filled with demons and treasures, most of which are controlled by the dragon kin. If you go in, proceed with caution."
A young man with a finely tailored robe and slender brows suddenly spoke up, respectfully asking, "May I ask, Instructor, why is it that... while the ruling beings here are of the dragon kin and hold the Converging Water Fruition Attainment, it is referred to as the True Hornless Dragon? Why not call it the Hornless Dragon?"
"Well..." Ning Dingbo hesitated, casting a reluctant nce at Li Xuanfeng before shaking his head, replying gravely, "That is an ancient matter... few would know the answer."
The group looked slightly disappointed, but then Li Xuanfeng stepped forward and spoke softly, "If not for the Pristine Converging Water, the True Hornless Dragon would have be a True Dragon."
Having spent years in the Southern Border, Li Xuanfeng hade across one or two of these ancient secrets.
He knew that Li Chejing had fallen victim to an old flood dragon in the Southern Border, so whenever he encountered snake or flood dragon-type demons in battle, he always tried to capture them alive and interrogate them for any information about the old flood dragon.
This old flood dragon, a well-known demon king in the Southern Border, was named Cen Lufu and cultivated the divine ability of Pristine Water. Supposedly also of dragon kin, Li Xuanfeng himself had harbored the same question as the young disciple, and he had eventually uncovered the answer through careful questioning.
As he began to speak, the young disciples looked up to him in admiration. The refined young man appeared somewhat bashful as he respectfully requested, "Daoist, may I trouble you for your exnation..."
Li Xuanfeng replied softly, "The True Hornless Dragon dominated the Eastern Sea, achieving Fruition Attainment for hundreds of years, and reportedly reached the peak of the Dao Embryo Realm. It believed itself to be the most perfect creature under Heaven, and called itself the Demon Emperor, establishing the Eastern Sea Demon Pce."
"It journeyed westward until it reached a small mountain temple and encountered an Immortal Lord..." Li Xuanfeng continued, "The True Hornless Dragon asked, Is there any creature under Heaven with a form more perfect than my own? The Immortal Lord replied, The dragon kin rise and fall in size, soaring through the universe, diving beneath waves, and transforming with the times. You are merely a demon dragon; you must transform into a true dragon."
Li Xuanfeng paused, then continued softly, "The Hornless Dragon carefully questioned the Immortal Lord about the characteristics of true dragon kin, then returned to the Eastern Sea, gathering forces and consuming a feathered serpent."
"With two Fruition Attainments in one body, it was impossible to manage both Converging Water and Pristine Water simultaneously. It eventually met a hasty end, its powers divided among its nine offspring, throwing the Eastern Sea into turmoil and an era of extreme chaos."
Li Xuanfeng gazed into the distance, a hint of reverence in his voice as he added quietly, "Only then did the world''s demons understand the difference between the Hornless and True Dragon, as well as those between flood dragons, snakes, and vipers¡ªknowledge thatter spread from the Dragon Pce itself."
"The Hornless Dragon may have been devoured by its nine offspring, but its descendants now call themselves dragon kin and have established the Eastern Sea Serpent Dragon Pce."
As Li Xuanfeng finished rting the story, not only were the disciples in awe, but even the Ning brothers were hearing this for the first time, marveling at the tale.
Li Xuanfeng shook his head.
"It is just a tale spun from the mouth of a mere snake; take it as a story for entertainment."
"Thank you, Daoist, for your teaching!" the disciples said in unison as they respectfully offered their thanks.
Li Xuanfeng waved it off, his eyes glinting with a cold light as he stared at the shadow approaching on the northern wind, murmuring, "Speak of the devil... here theye!"
Indeed, two streaks of light approached in the distance, onerge and one small. The creature in the lead was snake-like, with a twin-hooked tail in a pale white hue, trailing a streak of blood across the sky. The one following closely behind it was nearly twice asrge and was covered in bluish-gray scales, with a body resembling a tiger''s but with an unusually elongated torso and belly, gliding in a prowling stance.
The bluish-gray creature had four strong legs, with an elongated torso and a long tail trailing behind, giving it an unusual appearance. It followed the white snake ahead of it with an air of ease, almost like a cat toying with a mouse.
Ning Dingbo nced over and quickly directed his brother to steer the jade ship further away, lowering his voice as he said, "That is a dragon scion... Quickly move away... Do not disturb it."
Li Xuanfeng studied the scene closely. The creature in front seemed to be of the feathered serpent n, with a twin-hooked tail. It was likely a hooked serpent.
Its scales were broken, blood that was a pale blue hue dripped from its body, and its window-sized eyes were filled with despair, emitting pitiful howls.
"It looks like it has been injured by Converging Water! Even if it escapes, it will not live much longer..."
Everyone watched, entranced, as the Ning brothers hastened to put distance between them and the scene. Yet, they could not help but look back in curiosity as the dragon scion closed in on the white hooked serpent, dying the kill to toy with it instead.
Ning Dingbo''s expression shifted slightly, muttering a quiet curse and silently quickening their pace, thinking to himself, Truly typical of dragon kin... The Converging Water lineage loves ying such games... Regardless of kin, they always have to test each other.
The group of cultivators watched the scene with rapt attention, awestruck, as the hooked serpent wailed miserably. After a few breaths, a faint green rain began to fall from the sky.
The rain was translucent and a delicate shade of blue-greenish hue. Though its color was light, it drenched the area and cast the world into a misty haze.
A finely dressed young disciple activated his mana to shield himself, remarking, "This is the vision of a fallen Converging Water Foundation Establishment Realm... So this is the Eastern Sea, where a Foundation Establishment Realm expert can fall on any stretch of ocean just like that."
Li Xuanfeng, meanwhile, was reflecting on the aura and appearance of the dragon scion they had just seen, thinking to himself, Indeed, they are unique. The dragon kin of the Eastern Sea must have various spells at their disposal; defeating them would likely be no easy task... If I could lure one into a wide enough sea area, perhaps I could exhaust it to death.
Naturally, he would not provoke a dragon kin, but he was calcting the strength of both sides, forming a solid understanding of the two.
Ning Dingbo moved a step closer and whispered, "Boss, I doubt that dragon scion''s appearance here is just a coincidence; it is likely here to see who Azure Pond has sent to oversee Splitreed Ind."
Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly. His task was not only to escort but also to stay on the ind for a year or so to manage affairs. Splitreed Ind''s situation wasplicated, so a dragon scion''s curiosity was understandable.
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