Li Xuanling walked down the mountain. Having already broken through to the third layer of Embryonic Breathing, the Chengming Wheel, his green-hued blade was polished mirror-bright. Dressed in a simple robe, his appearance bore quite a few resemblances to Li Tongya.
Mountain folk matured and had children early. At thirteen or fourteen, the boy had grown considerably, with steady brows and eyes. Whenever his two older brothers, Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng, spoke with him, they could not help being reminded of Li Tongya, leaving them somewhat amused.
Late spring's spirit rice was lush and green. This crop of spirit rice had been growing for a year and a half and was finally ready for harvest. Villagers wielded large axes imbued with the Golden Light Technique to fell the stalks, while several Embryonic Breathing cultivators of other surnames formed hand seals beside them, preparing to dehusk the grains.
Watching the bustling crowd in the fields, Li Xuanling smiled faintly. Just as he was about to step closer for a look, an ear-splitting howl rang out, shaking the field laborers so hard they all clapped their hands over their ears.
"Who goes there?!"
Li Xuanling's expression turned stern. His right hand snapped to the hilt of his sword. Looking up toward the sound, he saw a golden figure treading on empty air and instantly frowned.
"Qi Refinement?"
His fingers had already retrieved a signal talisman from his robes, ready to cast it and alert the surroundings.
"Hahahahahaha!"
The figure let out a hearty laugh. Sharp, pale gold true essence was slowly withdrawn into his body, revealing his true features. In his hand, he held a pitch-black longbow.
"Brother Xuanfeng! You... you've ended your seclusion?!"
Li Xuanling blurted out, quickly putting away the talisman. Delight leapt onto his brows as he said repeatedly, "That's wonderful... wonderful!"
Li Xuanfeng laughed loudly. Having broken through to Qi Refinement, even his gaze had grown noticeably sharper. The true essence around him rustled the leaves on nearby branches. Dropping down to the ground, he teased, "Do you have so little confidence in me? It was just breaking through to Qi Refinement, easy as pie... nothing worth making a fuss about!"
Yet the triumphant pride on his face was impossible to hide. Grinning, Li Xuanfeng asked, "Has anything happened in the clan these past few months?"
"Only good news! The family discovered an ore vein!"
Li Xuanling's joy was plain to see as he beamed. "Pity Father is in secluded cultivation. I'll go inform him right away!"
"Wait!"
Li Xuanfeng caught hold of him and shook his head. "No rush. Just tell me what happened while I was away. What spirit mine?"
Just as Li Xuanling was about to answer, he saw Li Xuanfeng suddenly look up, staring into the sky and murmuring, "Who is that?"
Li Xuanling hurriedly looked up and saw someone riding the wind with clear, crisp true essence. Draped in a white robe, with crane-white hair and a youthful complexion, holding a jade ruyi sceptre in hand—it was none other than Lu Sisi.
"Greetings, Senior!"
Li Xuanling cupped his hands toward Lu Sisi, explaining in an undertone, "This is a senior from the Lu family to the east."
Realization dawned on Li Xuanfeng, and he smiled, cupping his hands. "Greetings, Senior!"
Lu Sisi raised an eyebrow at him, asking in uncertain surprise, "And you are...?"
Seeing that this man had completely ignored Li Xuanling, Li Xuanfeng felt a flicker of annoyance, replying impassively, "Li Xuanfeng of the Li family!"
Lu Sisi understood. He stroked his chin as he looked at Li Xuanfeng. Behind Lu Sisi stood a woman in a plain dress, her face concealed by a veil; hearing this, she too looked up at Li Xuanfeng.
"May I ask the purpose of Senior's visit this time?"
Li Xuanling cupped his hands respectfully. This time, Lu Sisi did not hold his head high and look down on him as he had on previous occasions. Instead, he looked at him and said with measured courtesy, "I have come to discuss a matter with your elders."
Li Xuanling naturally bowed and escorted Lu Sisi up the mountain. Having visited several times, Lu Sisi knew the way well and made himself at home in the courtyard atop the mountain. Li Xuanling ordered servants to serve tea and went off himself to invite Li Tongya.
Li Xuanxuan had already entered seclusion to break through to the fifth layer of Embryonic Breathing, leaving all the mountain's affairs to Li Xuanling, who was run off his feet with work.
Having brought Li Tongya over, Li Xuanling let out a soft sigh of relief outside the courtyard, only to find Li Xuanfeng standing silently beside him. Xuanfeng grinned and said, "That old fellow brought a girl in her teens along—he's most likely here to propose a marriage alliance! Clever enough of him."
Li Xuanling blinked, only then recalling the woman in plain clothes. He curled his lip. "Father might not agree..."
Li Xuanfeng chuckled and strode into the courtyard.
***
"Brother Tongya, I have prepared several spiritual items and three spells as a dowry. What do you think... of this proposal?"
Li Tongya frowned. Lu Sisi had come in person with generous gifts—several spiritual items and spells—stating he wished to offer them as a dowry to marry off a direct-line daughter of the Lu family, specifically insisting on marrying her to one of the two unmarried direct sons of the Xuan generation.
Li Tongya was filled with suspicion. The Lu family was lowering their posture far too much. Had it been a marriage into a lesser branch, Li Tongya would have agreed without a second thought. But marrying into the direct line forced him to proceed with caution.
What was truly baffling was that despite Lu Sisi humbling himself to such an extent, the Lu woman he brought actually possessed a spirit aperture. Although her talent was mediocre—at fourteen, she had not even broken through to the first layer of Embryonic Breathing, the Xuanjing Wheel—it still astonished Li Tongya.
*This Lu Sisi is likely planning far ahead...*
Nowadays, the Li family was growing stronger by the day, and eastward expansion was only a matter of time. Li Tongya was not without designs on the Lu family either. A direct daughter of the Lu family endowed with a spirit aperture could never be taken as a concubine, which left choosing between Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling for marriage.
If one of them wed this direct Lu daughter and fathered children over the next decade or two, it would complicate matters terribly—and the clan would bear the reputation of swallowing up their in-laws. It would look dreadful either way.
Yet looking up at Lu Sisi, whose smiling face could not conceal the deep worry in his eyes, Li Tongya feared that a flat refusal might provoke him into doing something reckless. Stroking his chin, he prevaricated:
"The youths of my household are still young. If Senior wishes to forge an alliance by marriage, we should wait a few more years."
Lu Sisi nodded with a smile, clearly having anticipated Li Tongya's response. Beaming, he said, "In that case, so be it. This old man will return in a year's time to propose again!"
Having said his piece, he chatted about matters regarding the Qingwu ore and shared some rambling gossip before finally taking his leave with the girl.
As the two stepped past the courtyard gate, Li Xuanling looked up slightly and caught a glimpse of mournful eyes beneath the veil. A pang of pity stirred in his heart, and he sighed inwardly, *A pitiable soul as well...*
Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling walked into the courtyard. Li Tongya looked up, surprised. "Xuanfeng?"
Sweeping his spiritual sense over him, Li Xuanfeng's cultivation at the first layer of Qi Refinement was laid completely bare. Li Tongya immediately broke into a smile, repeating, "Good, good!"
Li Xuanfeng raised his head and laughed. A wisp of sharp, pale gold true essence surfaced in his palm as he explained, "This is the gold-edge true essence condensed from the *Golden Radiance True Edge Formula*. This true essence is swift and keen, allowing one to ride the wind at incredible speed, though it falls slightly behind when it comes to prolonged endurance."
"Well done!"
Li Tongya nodded repeatedly, his face glowing with gratification as he praised, "You have truly made something of yourself. We can comfort Xiangping's spirit in heaven now!"
Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling fell silent at once. Realizing his slip, Li Tongya quickly changed the subject. "This matter regarding the Lu family... what do you two think?"
"The old fellow is scared."
Li Xuanfeng shook his head, a hint of smugness showing on his face as he continued, "The Lu family juniors are all useless, and he is well advanced in years. As we grow stronger each day, and since he cannot defeat our Li family in a fight, he is naturally scared to death!"
Li Xuanling nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "I investigated the matter Father tasked me with a few days ago. Word has it that someone from the Lu family's previous generation once cultivated in the Qingchi Sect, but that person died more than eighty years ago. Beyond that, I haven't heard of any backing they might have."
"So that's how it is."
Li Tongya took a seat and lifted his teacup, gazing toward the east, his thoughts known to none.
Chapter 112