"In the east, the Ling River region was ceded; in Nanjiang, various treasures were offered to that old flood dragon; in the north, the Ziyan Gate has long been an ally and remains relatively well-behaved; but in the west, Xiao Chuting has severed away another corner..."
Chi Zhiyun sat quietly upon the radiant throne, holding his brow in silence, deeply uneasy. Only after taking this seat did he understand what Chi Wei had meant in life: the Qingchi Sect was currently sitting atop a volcano on the verge of erupting.
Chi Wei had barely died before the Xiao family declared itself an immortal clan. The other sects repeatedly tested their boundaries, and the clans across the commanderies grew restless. Had four Purple Mansion cultivators not been holding down the sect, catastrophic trouble would likely have erupted long ago.
"Now our only option is to appease and draw close to the Xiao family to keep them neutral, while ruthlessly suppressing the other clans. As long as the sect possesses four Purple Mansion cultivators, nothing truly disastrous can happen."
Chi Zhiyun ground his teeth in hatred at the thought of the four Foundation Establishment cultivators that had sprung from the Xiao family overnight. Striking the armrest with force, he snarled, "These clans are truly detestable!"
While Chi Zhiyun was still lost in thought, a man stepped forward from below and said respectfully, "Sect Master... Unrest has broken out in Linghai Commandery. A band of demonic cultivators incited rogue cultivators in the commandery to storm the market town established by our Qingchi Sect. Fortunately, several peak masters arrived in time, and the mob scattered. We only managed to capture a few penniless rogue cultivators."
Chi Zhiyun looked up in disbelief, his voice heavy. "How could that be! A few rogue cultivators dared to assault an immortal sect's market town?!"
The man hesitated for a moment before answering, "Sect Master! According to several peak masters, these people appeared to have been bewitched by demonic techniques, behaving like madmen. It is likely not so simple."
"Demonic techniques?"
Chi Zhiyun paused. In ancient times, people constantly spoke of slaying demons wherever they were found, but nowadays few distinguished between immortal and demonic. If pressed, it was most likely bizarre cursecraft at work; there was almost certainly a connection.
"Pay it no heed for now," he waved his hand and said in a low voice.
The man cupped his hands and spoke again. "Si Yuanbai has left the tower. He packed up his belongings from Qingchi Peak and went out of the peak on his own without speaking to that Real Person."
Chi Zhiyun let out a soft laugh and nodded. "Let him be."
***
Li Tongya took his leave of the fox and rode the wind eastward, landing in the Guanyun Peak market town. Now that Xiao Chuting had attained the Purple Mansion, the atmosphere here had completely transformed. From time to time, cultivators made special stops to discuss news of the Xiao family.
Li Tongya sought out a spiritual herb shop. Inside sat an apprentice at the Embryonic Breathing realm counting medicinal ingredients behind the counter. Seeing Li Tongya, he immediately stood up, hurried forward with an obsequious smile, and said, "Is the master looking to purchase herbs?"
"Yes." Li Tongya nodded and said in a low voice, "Precious herbs."
The apprentice froze, then dropped to his knees in a panic, trembling as he asked, "Pardon this lowly one's impudence, but may I ask... are you a Foundation Establishment senior?!"
"I am," Li Tongya answered softly.
With a thud, the apprentice knocked his head against the floor several times. His voice still shook as he stammered, "My lowly voice offends your esteemed ears! Please, senior, proceed upstairs!"
Li Tongya was rendered speechless for a moment. He had not realized Foundation Establishment cultivators commanded such immense reverence. He opened his mouth, but seeing the apprentice still trembling, he ultimately said nothing and quietly went upstairs.
The second floor was noticeably more luxurious. Several Qi Refinement cultivators stood before the counters inspecting and selecting herbs. As soon as Li Tongya stepped through the doorway, everyone looked over. When their spiritual senses brushed against Li Tongya, they recoiled in sheer terror and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior!"
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Seeing all the Qi Refinement cultivators looking at him with utter restraint, reducing the entire herb pavilion to dead silence, Li Tongya could only wave a hand and say, "Carry on as you were. I have only come seeking an ingredient."
"Yes!"
Hearing Li Tongya speak, the Qi Refinement cultivators could only force themselves to browse. Exchanging glances, they tacitly took turns withdrawing downstairs. Before long, Li Tongya was the only customer left on the vast floor. Although his business had been disrupted, the shopkeeper wore a fawning smile and said respectfully, "What instructions do you have, Senior?"
"Do you have precious herbs?"
The shopkeeper's brows twitched at Li Tongya's words. Trembling, he replied, "The sale of precious herbs is forbidden under Qingchi's rule; only the Qingchi Sect itself may trade in them. Senior must be joking with me."
Li Tongya paused. Looking at the behavior of the Qi Refinement cultivators, he made a guess and asked in a low voice, "It seems Foundation Establishment cultivators no longer have any use for this market town?"
The shopkeeper bowed respectfully and said, "Senior, the Guanyun Peak market town only supplies spiritual materials and magical instruments for the Embryonic Breathing and Qi Refinement realms. Foundation Establishment seniors rarely visit here. Senior might ask around among the nearby prominent clans; perhaps there will be word of precious herbs...
"In the entire State of Yue, only a handful of market towns can supply spiritual materials and magical instruments of the Foundation Establishment grade. Years ago, when the Lake Wangyue market town still existed, Foundation Establishment cultivators frequented it, but unfortunately it has now been destroyed."
Seeing Li Tongya sink into thought, the shopkeeper smiled ingratiatingly and said respectfully, "Senior had better inquire with the clans. The immortal clan atop the peak, the Yuan family of the Xunlin Plain, or the Yu and Fei families of Lake Wangyue—they should have news of precious herbs."
Li Tongya nodded, though he smiled wryly to himself. *Buying a precious herb from the Xiao family only to give it back to them as a congratulatory gift would be far too ridiculous.*
The shopkeeper glanced up at Li Tongya's expression and asked respectfully, "May I ask, Senior... which clan's ancestor are you, or upon which peak do you cultivate? This humble one is willing to inquire on your behalf, Ancestor, and deliver any news to Senior immediately once I have it."
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow. He had not expected this man to be so sharp and bold. He understood that the shopkeeper was trying to climb to higher branches and find a patron. However, news of his breakthrough was known only to a few direct lineages and allies; it was not fit to be spread around, nor was this the right time to intervene in this market town. He waved his hand and said, "A mere rogue cultivator."
The shopkeeper wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and apologized repeatedly. Li Tongya shook his head, unbothered. Seeing that the man was clever, he tossed out an open-ended remark: "Keep your ears open for news first. I shall return here in a few years to take a look."
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. Li Tongya took to the wind and vanished into the sky above the market town. Only then did the shopkeeper wipe away his sweat, his heart stirring as he murmured, "If we had a Foundation Establishment clan backing us, we could move closer to the center of the market town and wouldn't have to suffer being pushed around every single day."
The apprentice behind him stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Shopkeeper, how did you know? What if he really was a rogue cultivator... Wouldn't we have invited an overlord to exploit us?"
The shopkeeper chuckled softly and whispered, "The senior asked for a precious herb the moment he arrived. How could a rogue cultivator afford such a thing? Moreover, his bearing was grand and imposing; one glance tells you he holds a high position. Even at worst, he would have his own small monastery or temple... You lot still have much to learn!"
"Yes!" the apprentice acknowledged softly, and the group joyfully set about organizing the herbs.
***
Li Tongya rode the wind higher into the sky, watching the Guanyun Peak market town grow smaller beneath his feet. He thought to himself:
*Our family is backed by the great mountain and can produce plenty of medicinal herbs and spiritual materials; we will need a storefront in a market town sooner or later. Furthermore, now that we possess an alchemy manual and a cauldron, our clan will eventually need an alchemy lineage, making medicinal herbs utterly indispensable. This man is sharp and daring. Leaving him as an idle piece for now may well prove useful later.*
Recalling the reactions of the people around him, Li Tongya felt a deep swell of emotion. Previously, he had only known that Foundation Establishment cultivators were esteemed, but he had never imagined it reached such an extent. Years ago, when Si Yuanbai descended from the sky, the Li brothers could only put on a brave front while trembling inside. Now that he had achieved Foundation Establishment himself, he had reached that very same level. Everyone addressed him as an Ancestor, and even within the Qingchi Sect, he would rank among the peak masters.
*Among the Three Sects and Seven Gates, the thirty-six peaks of Qingchi have the most, roughly forty Foundation Establishment cultivators. I have heard the Jinyu Sect and Xiuyue Sect have over fifty between them, while the remaining seven gates have even fewer, around fifty or sixty in total. Adding in the various clans and rogue cultivators, there should be over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators in the entire State of Yue.*
Across the State of Yue's population of tens of millions, there were tens of thousands of cultivators, yet only two hundred-odd Foundation Establishment cultivators. That alone demonstrated their profound status. The Li family could not compare to the Xiao family, but compared to the other clans, they now possessed a decent foundation. With the support of the talisman seeds, Li Xuanfeng was the only one currently with Foundation Establishment within reach.
*As for the Purple Mansion...*
Li Tongya sighed inwardly. Having seen so many people throughout his life, aside from his fourth brother Li Chijing, only An Jingming possessed the aptitude for the Purple Mansion. If he counted those he had met only once, perhaps Ning Wan could be added as well.
*Xuanxuan and Xuanling originally had no spirit apertures, relying on the talisman seeds to cultivate. Reaching Qi Refinement was already the result of numerous blessings. Xuanfeng's temperament is too fierce, his mindset too wild; he is well suited for slaying men and slaying monsters, but reaching the Purple Mansion will likely be difficult for him.*
*Yuanjiao and Qinghong have better talent, yet neither has reached a monstrous level. With the blessing of the talisman seeds, they should have a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment, but the Purple Mansion remains remote. Who knows how many generations it will take for the Li family to produce such a figure.*
He sighed softly into the vast sky, secretly reproaching himself for being insatiable. He murmured, "With one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators, the clan can steadily endure and gradually accumulate its foundation. The Xiao family took three hundred years to produce one Purple Mansion; our family has not even reached a hundred years. Forcing it would be meaningless."
Pulling his thoughts back, Li Tongya turned his attention once more to the matter of the precious herb, pondering:
*Among these clans, I cannot ask the Xiao family or the Yu family. The Fei family is just as destitute as our family, and we have never had contact with the Yuan family. However...*
A thought suddenly struck Li Tongya, and a place surfaced in his mind. *I could go there to inquire, and have a chat with that person as well. After all, we live as neighbors; forging good relations would be ideal.*
Having made up his mind, Li Tongya rode the wind and headed westward.
***
"Li Yuanjiao!"
Li Qinghong approached with a beaming smile, her crisp voice startling Li Yuanjiao from his reverie. Li Yuanjiao grunted in annoyance and snapped, "Li Qinghong! We haven't seen each other in three years, and you can't even bring yourself to call me 'brother'?!"
"Hehe."
Li Qinghong planted her long spear into the ground, its red tassel dancing in the air as her bright crimson robes fluttered in the wind. She smiled and asked, "Were you thinking about my future sister-in-law?"
Li Yuanjiao looked embarrassed. He snorted, the corners of his mouth curling upward as he drew his sword. Laughing while feigning anger, he shouted, "Still cheeking me? Hurry up and call me brother!"
With that, he raised his sword to parry Li Qinghong's sudden thrust. The two sparred with smiles for dozens of exchanges. Li Qinghong's spear technique had improved dramatically, making Li Yuanjiao raise his eyebrows repeatedly, though his mouth showed no mercy as he called out, "After studying in a clan for all these years, is this all the skill you've managed to pick up?"
Li Qinghong did not retort with words, but her spear technique grew increasingly fierce. Both employed the River-Crossing Torrent Steps, though neither had mastered it fully. Trading thrusts and parries, each took turns gaining the upper hand. Deadlocked, they finally laughed, ceased their techniques, and sat down to talk.
"Qinghong, your spear technique has improved remarkably, and your cultivation has surged. Those three years with the Fei family were not wasted."
Li Yuanjiao spoke with genuine seriousness now, and Li Qinghong answered with a bright smile, "Brother, you have no idea. The concentration of spiritual energy on the Fei family's Hanyun Peak is something our home simply cannot match. Besides, their territory is vast, with many peaks. It is no wonder they can nurture so many Qi Refinement cultivators."
Li Yuanjiao wiped his sweat, sheathed his sword, and said with a chuckle, "Isn't that the truth? If not for Mount Huaqian and the Shanyue providing for us now, where would we get spirit rice for every meal? We wouldn't even be able to pay the family's tributes. Whether for our elders or for juniors like us, our breakthrough times would probably have been delayed by three or four years."
Their eyes met, and Li Qinghong said in a low voice, "Brother speaks the truth. As I see it, if not for the clan's expansion and growing wealth, how could the various branches and surnames be so obedient today? What men pursue is profit, and what they fear is death. For the Ancestor to deter them with authority and the elders to appease them with benefit—that is the path to endurance."
"I didn't expect a daughter of the clan to hold such insight," Li Yuanjiao teased lightly before turning serious. "You have hit the mark. With Eldest Brother no longer with us, going forward the Yuan-Qing generation will be led by the two of us. We must plan meticulously if we are to keep the various surnames and branches in check."
Seeing Li Qinghong nod in deep agreement, Li Yuanjiao felt profound approval, sensing a kindred spirit in her. Suddenly remembering something, his expression shifted, and he asked gravely, "I heard from the elders that you intend to cultivate that Purple Lightning Secret Origin Method? Father asked me to persuade you as well. If you have your reasons, Qinghong, you might as well share them."
Li Qinghong nodded slightly and answered softly, "Indeed. That method possesses immense power and pairs perfectly with the family's magical instruments. I have always loved the spear; how could my heart not be moved? Yuanyun already carries the succession for our lineage, so I have gained my freedom. It merely means I cannot serve as an heir, which is of no great consequence."
Li Yuanjiao could only nod. Both brother and sister had grown over the past three years. Through their conversation, as they evaluated figures and affairs, each came away with immense respect for the other. Li Yuanjiao looked up with a smile and saw a streak of light approaching from the east. He spoke up, "Clan Uncle has returned from hunting monsters. That Jin Geng longbow is truly dazzling."
Li Qinghong's expression dimmed slightly, and she said in a low voice, "Brother may laugh at me, but I too am an ambitious soul, so I understand him best. Clan Uncle possesses a consummate art of killing, yet he is trapped in the tiny world of Mount Lijing. He must feel stifled in his heart.
"A figure like him ought to ride far and wide like the protagonists of storybooks, seeking vengeance and gratitude as his heart desires. Being confined to the mountains is naturally suffocating, but he is a man who never lets a word of complaint slip out."
Li Yuanjiao was taken aback. It was the first time he had realized such a thing. Raising his eyebrows, he asked softly, "Do the elders... know?"
Li Qinghong pursed her lips and replied, "How could they not? They see it all. But forced by circumstances, none dare say much. Each elder has their own difficulties, and all is done for the clan."
Li Yuanjiao fell silent, his fingers tightening quietly around the hilt of his sword. After a long pause, he sighed:
"Through the strength of our single clan, plotted across generations to become an immortal clan."
Chapter 224