Kindness and Enmity

In the lands of the Shanyue. The Shanyue had entrenched themselves throughout the regions of Wu and Yue, maintaining their own customs and living scattered in disparate settlements with a population exceeding ten million. The branch dwelling along the northern range of Mount Li numbered over a million souls and had once enjoyed the protection of Duanmu Kui. Now that Duanmu Kui was dead, the disciples of Mount Wu had either fled into distant wandering or sought shelter under various other sects. The territory had been carved up by Duanmu Kui’s four surviving disciples, each flogging the common folk and erecting grand palaces amid rampant turmoil and strife. Deep within the northern range, a dark cavern came into view through the woods. Inside lay a colossal beast, its fangs savage and fearsome, its hide covered in pale yellow scales. Two head-sized, brown eyeballs stared blankly into the air, lifeless. "We've finally slain this beast." Xiao Chuchou let out a long breath. He took an elixir pill from Xiao Yuansi’s hand, circulated his Qi, and swallowed it. A wave of relief washed over his entire body, easing his aches considerably. He gave a soft sigh and said with a chuckle, "My lifespan is running short, and my vitality is waning. Not only is my cultivation sluggish, but I've even grown clumsy in a fight. In my youth, I leaped across the Great River to the north and roamed the lands of Jin and Zhao with boundless vigor. Yet in the blink of an eye, I’ve turned into an old man." Xiao Yuansi looked at him with great concern. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and whispered, "Old Ancestor... regarding the blood-sacrifice longevity technique passed down in the sect... would you... consider trying it? It could prolong your life by several years and make your body feel better." Xiao Chuchou sneered coldly and replied, "There is no need. Back then, my father fought Chi Wei and was sacrificed by him in blood. In my youth, I swore an oath that in this life, I would stand entirely irreconcilable with the sacrificial path." "Chi Wei... is truly a demonic disciple." Xiao Yuansi muttered with deep hatred, his usually gentle demeanor shifting drastically. Xiao Chuchou looked at him, startled, before speaking with hesitation: "I know you hate him, but this is no longer the era of the clash between immortals and demons. Good and evil are murky... Chi Wei is a despicable villain, but he cannot truly be called a demonic disciple." "What good has he ever done?!" Xiao Yuansi cried out in righteous indignation. To his surprise, Xiao Chuchou’s expression grew complicated, and the elder whispered: "More than a hundred and fifty years ago, when I was merely a fledgling cultivator of Embryonic Breathing, the Demon King of Nanjiang invaded. Millions of people were on the verge of becoming blood food. The Three Sects and Seven Gates reaped profits from the crisis and stood idly by. Only Chi Wei and a handful of others, newly ascended to the Purple Palace, stood forth to stop it. They staked their very lives to compel the patriarchs of several sects, including the Qingchi Sect, to take action, finally turning the tide... He burned away his lifespan and damaged his foundation in that very war. Otherwise, he would never have had to wait until today to attempt a breakthrough to Golden Core..." "When all is said and done, he saved my Xiao family and nearly half of the State of Yue." "What?!" Xiao Yuansi had only heard vague tales of the demonic uprising over a century ago and knew little of the details. Hearing this now struck him like a bolt from the blue, leaving his mind blank in shock and confusion. He cried out, "How is that possible?!" Xiao Chuchou walked deeper into the cavern with him, sighing as he spoke in a heavy voice: "Everyone has days of youthful passion. Who hasn't dreamed of turning the tide and saving the world? But when you find yourself stuck before a cultivation bottleneck for decades, meditating day and night without advancing an inch, your obsession turning into madness as a century of cultivation threatens to turn to ash... all while enemies circle like wolves, waiting for your death to slaughter your descendants—and you could break through simply by killing a few people—would you kill, or would you not?" Xiao Chuchou’s eyes were filled with conflicting emotions, his aged face furrowing in pain as he looked upon the crestfallen Xiao Yuansi. He whispered, "Kill, and you preserve your house and keep your kin safe. Refuse to kill, and you cannot even protect yourself, leaving your family to be butchered. How many people can bear that? Killing one is murder; killing ten thousand is murder. Once an evil thought takes root, it cannot be curbed. Chi Wei devoured your junior martial brother, but truly, this transcends mere good and evil. If you want to weigh the scales, he devoured a few talented disciples, yet he saved millions of lives in the State of Yue." "Moreover, if Chi Wei dies, the Qingchi Sect will teeter on the brink of collapse. That junior brother of yours came from a clan; he could dust off his sleeves and return home, and no matter who rules above, it would make little difference to him. But for the Chi family, it would mean total ruin..." As Xiao Chuchou spoke, Xiao Yuansi could no longer contain himself. He raised his head in desolation and said in a heavy voice, "Old Ancestor, why must the world be like this? If good and evil are murky for everyone, if everyone is half-human and half-ghost, where can one find firm ground to stand on?" Xiao Chuchou nodded approvingly and whispered, "Beneath the radiance of the Golden Crow, cultivators of the immortal path have always been half-human and half-ghost. Where could any purity be found? Ever since the war between immortals and demons, the world no longer judges people by good and evil, but only by kindness and enmity..." Xiao Yuansi fell silent for several breaths. He let out a deep breath, yet the storm within his heart refused to settle. He had entered Qingsui Peak in his childhood, where Si Yuanbai had taught him to distinguish between good and evil, only for Chi Wei to turn that understanding upside down, and now for Xiao Chuchou’s words to shatter it entirely. For a moment, his emotions surged wildly, and the immortal foundation Vermilion Salvia within him radiated brilliant light, faintly advancing in cultivation. "Only by kindness and enmity..." As the two conversed, they finally reached the spacious chamber of the cavern. It was pitch-black without a sliver of light, though such darkness posed no obstacle to Foundation Establishment cultivators. Xiao Yuansi cast a glance around and saw a large, glowing yellow flower blooming deep within. Its cluster of stamen curled inward, holding a hanging droplet of dew that released a refreshing fragrance. "It is a precious herb—the Nine-Core Lingxuan." While Xiao Chuchou was still examining it, Xiao Yuansi, who had immersed himself in the dao of alchemy for years, recognized the flower's origins at first glance. Xiao Chuchou nodded in sudden realization and smiled. "We found nothing in several ruins, but obtaining this precious herb means our trip was not in vain." Once a cultivator reached the realm of Foundation Establishment or the Purple Palace, ordinary spiritual materials were no longer of much use; only precious herbs that had absorbed the quintessence of heaven and earth could provide miraculous effects. Thus, the two were quite pleased. Xiao Yuansi shook his sleeves, his hands surging with magical power yet without emitting any of the usual radiance of a spell. "Old Ancestor, be careful. This herb shuns light." Xiao Yuansi produced a specially crafted Dharma herb pouch and collected the plant. Looking at the chain of pouches slung across his body, Xiao Chuchou smiled and said, "You are indeed well-prepared." Dharma herb pouches and Qi-harvesting bottles contained their own dimensional space and could not be placed inside a storage bag, which was why Xiao Yuansi was burdened with carrying a whole string of them. Hearing this, Xiao Yuansi gave a wry smile. After harvesting the Nine-Core Lingxuan, the two exited the cavern and set to work processing the monster beast on the ground. Xiao Chuchou cast several Spirit-Sealing Arts before speaking again: "Given our Xiao family's current position, the Li family at Lake Wangyue can serve as our breakthrough point, guarding the west for us... After all, Lake Wangyue backs onto Mount Dali; it is a choice location. Even if Chi Wei perishes, the Qingchi Sect is unlikely to abandon Lake Wangyue. Given the ties between our two families, using the Li family as a buffer is most fitting." Xiao Yuansi lowered his head to cast his spell, nodding in agreement. "I've heard that Yongling maintains fairly good relations with Li Tongya, and Ruyu shares a friendship with Li Xuanfeng. It is indeed a good choice." Xiao Yuansi had promised Li Chijing to look after the Li family. Seeing that Xiao Chuchou and the other ancestors had no intentions of expanding westward, he felt relieved. Then Xiao Chuchou remarked in a grave voice: "The Li ancestor, Li Mutian, rose from an ordinary farmer to become an independent cultivator and finally attained Foundation Establishment. His character and faculties must have been top-tier in every aspect, so the children he raised would naturally not be lacking." "Though Li Tongya lacks high aptitude, his temperament is exceptional. Li Chijing must have inherited his sword talent from him... Still, I had never heard of anyone named Li Mutian before; he must not have made his name within the State of Yue." As Xiao Chuchou pondered this, his brow suddenly furrowed, and he asked, "Did all four of Li Mutian's sons possess spirit apertures?" Unaware of what he was getting at, Xiao Yuansi considered it for a moment before answering, "The eldest died young. The other three all possessed spirit apertures." "Oh?" Xiao Chuchou raised an eyebrow, the wrinkles on his aged face bunching together. He asked again, "What about the Xuan generation?" Xiao Yuansi recalled for a moment and said with slight uncertainty, "There are three sons and one daughter; all three sons possess spirit apertures." Xiao Chuchou lifted the spiritual beast by its tail, flipped the corpse over, and stored it inside his storage bag. Only then did he say, "And beneath them is the Yuan generation?" "Indeed," Xiao Yuansi nodded and replied. "I know less about the Yuan generation; their numbers should be greater. I only know that around three of them have spirit apertures." Only then did Xiao Chuchou nod, finding it slightly more normal. He waved his hand and said solemnly, "Li Mutian is by no means simple. Ten to one, he must have consumed some exceptional heavenly treasure. The Li family's bloodline does not look like one left behind by a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator—even a Purple Palace cultivator could boast no better!" "Oh?!" Xiao Yuansi had never considered it from that angle and felt immense surprise. His ancestor was widely traveled and knowledgeable. Back when the Xiao family had fallen into decline, Xiao Chuchou was at the peak of Qi Refinement; he had yielded the clan's precious herbs and Suiyuan Pill to Xiao Chuting and ventured out on his own to seek opportunities, which was why he knew so much. Xiao Yuansi recalled the conduct of Li Tongya and Li Xiangping from years past and nodded thoughtfully. "They are indeed not simple." The two rode the wind and took flight toward the Li family's territory. Xiao Chuchou gave an abrupt smile and said softly, "An idea comes to mind. Since the Li bloodline is so remarkable, our Xiao family might as well consider arranging a marriage alliance with them. On one hand, it will strengthen our ties; on the other, it might just produce a prodigy. If the Li family can unite Lake Wangyue, our house can do more than merely use them as a shield—we can form an alliance, as close as lips and teeth." Xiao Yuansi nodded with a warm smile and replied, "Does the Old Ancestor mean something like the Ning and Chi families in the Qingchi Sect back in the day, complementing each other's cultivation arts and leaning on one another to hold sway over Qingchi...?" "There is no need to be that close," Xiao Chuchou shook his head and said. "Interaction between clans is a good thing, but overly tight marriages bring the risk of usurping each other. Relying on shared interests and binding the two houses through master-disciple relations is quite enough." "Yes, this junior understands." As the two spoke, Mount Lijing appeared on the horizon. Lively smoke from cooking fires rose at the foot of the mountain, while a pale golden grand array gleamed faintly in the morning light, resembling an immortal realm. *** Li Tongya picked up the jade boxes on the table, examining each one carefully before stacking them atop one another. He shook his head with some regret. "These spiritual plants obtained from the Shanyue lands can take effect even at the Qi Refinement level. However, lacking both pill recipes and finished pills, consuming them raw will not only drastically reduce their efficacy, but will also cause harm, making future breakthroughs increasingly difficult." Spiritual materials not only offered various benefits, but they also harbored impurities and adverse effects. The art of alchemy relied on combining multiple spiritual ingredients to refine them into pills, minimizing negative repercussions while enhancing their potency. Handing the jade boxes to Li Xuanxuan, Li Tongya suddenly remembered something and inquired, "Is Qiuyang still not confident in making a breakthrough?" Li Xuanxuan nodded, feeling somewhat puzzled as well. "I asked Qiuyang, and he is indeed still falling slightly short. It truly shouldn't be so... By all rights, though Qiuyang's aptitude back then wasn't quite on par with Donghe's, it shouldn't have fallen to this state." Li Tongya pondered for a long time until a long-buried memory surfaced, and he had a sudden realization. He said softly, "Do you still remember the Shejiao tree in our clan?" "Naturally I remember." Li Xuanxuan nodded. The Shejiao tree could be considered the Li family's most precious treasure aside from the magical mirror and the Green Ruler Sword. Every five years, it bore a Shejiao Fruit, which they entrusted to Xiao Yuansi to refine into pills. Several members of the clan had relied on the power of these Sheyuan Pills to break through to Qi Refinement. Li Tongya shook his head and recounted the old tale in a gentle tone: "Back then, finding that precious tree was Qiuyang's achievement. That child possessed a touch of fortune. When he was young, he quietly slipped into the mountains and ate a Shejiao Fruit by mistake. Fortunately, the fruit's nature is mild. He remained unconscious for several days, and afterward, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds—it took him only a single year to condense the Xuanjing Wheel." Li Xuanxuan listened intently to these past events. Li Tongya sighed and continued, "Back then, we all thought it was the boy's good fortune, not realizing that fortune and misfortune go hand in hand. Qiuyang did cultivate faster, but rashly consuming a spiritual fruit before he had even begun formal cultivation ultimately left a hidden defect, causing him to be stuck at the peak of Embryonic Breathing today, unable to advance." Li Xuanxuan came to a sudden understanding and nodded. Li Tongya picked up the teacup from the table and said in a low voice: "Among our clan's mountains, the spiritual spring of Mount Huaqian has the richest spiritual energy. Go down and explain the cause and effect to him, then send him to Mount Huaqian to cultivate." "Understood!" Li Xuanxuan responded respectfully, but then snapped his head up as the grand array hummed. An aged voice drifted in through the formation: "Xiao Chuchou of the Xiao family comes to visit. I invite young friend Tongya to open the array." Li Tongya hastily deactivated the array and leapt into the air. He saw Xiao Chuchou and Xiao Yuansi entering with smiles, descending onto the mountaintop. Li Tongya cupped his hands and said respectfully, "Greetings to the two seniors!" "Young friend Tongya is as polite as ever." Xiao Chuchou followed him into the courtyard with a hearty chuckle and sat down alongside Xiao Yuansi. Accepting the tea offered to him, he chatted casually for a moment before remarking softly, "I have traveled far and wide across the north and south, and I know a fair bit about formations. This grand array of yours is ingeniously designed; it has real merit." "It was constructed by Master Liu Changdie," Li Tongya replied. Hearing that name, Xiao Yuansi raised an eyebrow and said warmly, "I have met Liu Changdie as well. An interesting man. His formation skills are seasoned, and when he speaks, he sounds like a scholar nearing a hundred years of age, though his connections are indeed wide." Xiao Chuchou had little interest in the subject and steered the conversation elsewhere. After sizing up Li Tongya for a moment, he asked in a low voice, "How confident is young friend Tongya in attaining Foundation Establishment?" "My cultivation is not yet consummate, so I cannot say for certain just yet." Not having felt the stirrings of forging an immortal foundation, Li Tongya could only reply with deference. Xiao Chuchou nodded and instructed him on several key points regarding Foundation Establishment. Having relied primarily on his own efforts throughout his life of cultivation, Li Tongya was overjoyed at such an opportunity, committing Xiao Chuchou’s words to memory as though they were priceless treasures. Xiao Yuansi listened along from the side, chiming in with occasional additions. When Li Tongya finished thanking him repeatedly, Xiao Chuchou chuckled and waved his hand. His gaze grew deep, staring intently at Li Tongya as he smiled and said: "Young friend Tongya must know a bit about our family's affairs as well!"