Finding the man’s face familiar yet unable to place him right away, Li Tongya raised a brow slightly, set down the jade cup in his hand, and said in a low voice, “I am solitary by nature and do not care to speak much, yet your face seems quite familiar. Have we met somewhere before?”
The cultivator clad in beast skins had narrow brows and dark skin, with a short bow slung across his back and a string of yellow gourds of various sizes hanging at his waist. His cultivation had reached the fifth layer of Qi Refinement. He cupped his hands with great deference, smiling, and said, “This humble one is a native of Jiachuan Commandery under Qingchi’s domain—Lingu Lie of Jiachuan. Years ago, beneath Guanyun Peak, I sold you a few Wuzuo worms, Senior. I was still young back then, and my looks have changed quite a bit, which is why you do not recognize me now.”
“So it is you!”
Realization dawned on Li Tongya. Back then, this man had been an immature boy with a timid look about him. When haggling over the deal, he had been rendered speechless by Li Tongya. Now he had grown into a middle-aged man, his appearance weathered by the hardships of life. Li Tongya nodded slightly and replied, “Those Wuzuo worms of yours were indeed fine creatures. For a time, they did me quite a few favors.”
With a gesture of invitation, he signaled for the man to take a seat at the other end of the low table. Lingu Lie was overjoyed. He bowed respectfully and sat down with some restraint, his face brimming with envy as he said, “Senior’s cultivation has truly advanced with astonishing speed. In a mere thirty-odd years, you have already forged an immortal foundation! It fills this junior with utmost admiration.”
Li Tongya gave a soft chuckle, nodding noncommittally. He had purchased several items at the Guanyun Peak market all those years ago, and Lingu Lie was only one of those encounters. Later, he had met Xu Yangping and his wife, who ultimately perished at the hands of Zhang Yun in the serpent cave.
Recalling Zhang Yun, Li Tongya saw the image of that arrogant youth surface before his eyes. As a direct disciple of Jinyu Sect, one of the Three Sects, he must have achieved Foundation Establishment long ago and cultivated numerous secret arts of his sect. During his Qi Refinement days, Li Tongya could still rely on the single sword technique Li Chijing had left behind to bluff and trade a move with him, but now he was likely far from Zhang Yun’s match.
Pulling his thoughts back, Li Tongya looked at the constrained middle-aged man before him and inquired, “Those Wuzuo worms are fine beasts, but their reproduction is far too slow. When my clan was still a small Embryonic Breathing household, they could still be considered a help. Yet now, over thirty years have passed, and they have only birthed a few. It is merely that the earliest batch developed a slightly larger appetite. Being unable to breed them in greater numbers makes them somewhat of a chicken rib—too meager to be truly useful.”
Lingu Lie froze for a moment, parting his lips as though gathering his words before speaking hesitantly. “The mother Wuzuo worm resides with my Lingu clan, Senior. What you obtained were offspring. Perhaps once every dozen years or so, a solitary female might be stirred by spiritual qi to produce one or two young, but they will never reproduce in large numbers…”
“Oh? Then I was being presumptuous!”
Li Tongya had already suspected as much, though he had not expected the Wuzuo worm to truly be the Lingu family’s exclusive livelihood. He lightly apologized, which sent Lingu Lie panicking so much that he almost rose from his seat in deference. Li Tongya then assumed a serious tone and asked, “I wonder if you could sell my family a few more, Brother? They are still quite useful.”
“That is naturally no problem!”
Cupping his hands, Lingu Lie untied a wooden gourd from his waist and answered, “I do not have living larvae with me, only forty worm eggs inside this gourd. If you are willing to take them, Senior, ten spirit stones will suffice.”
After all, Li Tongya was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Lingu Lie kept his attitude humble and did not dare raise the price, offering them even cheaper than he had all those years ago. Li Tongya nodded slightly and asked, “How are they to be hatched?”
“Cover them with moist spirit rice leaves or stalks, keep them shielded from light and fire, sprinkle clean water over them daily, and change the bedding once every three days. Within fifteen days, they will hatch.”
Lingu Lie explained in detail, cupping his hands again to offer his guarantee. “These Wuzuo worms have tenacious vitality and are extremely easy to keep alive. If the incubation fails, bring the dead worms to the Lingu clan, and my family will compensate you for however many have died.”
Lingu Lie was certainly no fool; while he made generous promises, he insisted on seeing the carcasses, guarding against anyone concealing the eggs to cheat them out of extra worms.
Li Tongya nodded gently, counted out ten spirit stones, and handed them over without hesitation. Lingu Lie was thrilled. Ten spirit stones constituted the entire liquid wealth of an ordinary rogue cultivator at the Qi Refinement stage, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators could not part with them so casually. Only because Li Tongya had his clan backing him could he casually produce ten spirit stones right after spending two hundred spirit stones with Feiluoya.
Taking the gourd, Li Tongya spoke softly. “Is your noble clan adept at rearing venomous worms and serpents? Please enlighten me a bit; we may well have opportunities for cooperation in the future.”
“Right away!”
Lingu Lie nodded repeatedly and said respectfully, “My family is also an established clan of Jiachuan Commandery. Our ancestor was a great cultivator of the Shanyue. Later, when the Qingchi Sect expanded southward, my ancestor submitted to the sect. Through diligence and hard work, he established widespread connections, allowing us to hold our place as a prominent clan of Jiachuan Commandery for hundreds of years.”
Li Tongya nodded slightly, resolving a long-held curiosity in his heart. He thought to himself, *No wonder I had never heard of the surname Lingu—so it is of Shanyue descent. That explains it.*
Looking closer at Lingu Lie, his skin was hairy and his irises dull in color, typical traits of the Shanyue. Baring his bright white teeth, Lingu Lie continued in a deep voice, “Though our family is of Shanyue descent, we nonetheless walk the path of the Purple Mansion and Golden Core. We merely inherited our ancestors’ arts of worms and serpents, which rank among the very best throughout the entire State of Yue.”
A touch of pride surfaced on Lingu Lie’s face as he continued, “Our clan also has a rule: each branch must have someone travel the realm to collect all manner of venomous serpents and insects. That is why my uncle and I have spent decades traveling between the Xunlin Plain and Lixia Commandery, which led to our fateful meeting with you, Senior.”
“So you hail from an eminent clan! No wonder your speech is so tactful and your demeanor so poised, carrying quite an impressive air.”
Li Tongya cupped his hands and offered a few words of praise, making Lingu Lie chuckle happily. Li Tongya then asked again, “Are there many enduring great clans like yours under the Qingchi Sect?”
“Not many!”
Born of an established clan, Lingu Lie knew many secrets and explained thoroughly, “Qingchi arose from the north and produced several True Persons at the peak of the Purple Mansion. They integrated the southern powers, uniting them into thirty-six peaks. As a result, the north consists of chaotic small clans, whereas the south is home to many established clans, shamanic temples, and rogue cultivators. These prominent clans are deeply entwined with the Qingchi Sect, standing and falling as one, enduring unbroken for hundreds of years.”
“I see.”
With just a turn of thought, Li Tongya grasped the Qingchi Sect’s intention behind this arrangement. The south was populated predominantly by the Shanyue and steeped in shamanic curses; tribes flourished there rather than families. By absorbing these people and conceding a portion of authority, the Qingchi Sect effortlessly brought the entire south under its control.
The Li family was currently playing the exact same game with the Eastern Shanyue, though it had only just begun. While Shamoli appeared thoroughly obedient, he still harbored divided loyalties. Several decades later, once his offspring carrying Li bloodline took power, their allegiance would be heartfelt. Then, by using the maternal Li clan members to control the Eastern Shanyue, the territory would naturally become a self-governing domain bound to the Li family.
Returning to the present, Li Tongya nodded slightly and transmitted his voice using magic power: “Should you ever pass across Lake Wangyue, Brother, you are most welcome to rest your feet at Mount Lijing. We would receive you warmly.”
Lingu Lie beamed with delight. Although he was a scion of an established clan, he had been assigned outside for decades, living a solitary life far removed from his clan’s political center. Being able to attach himself to a Foundation Establishment cultivator was a great boon, and he repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Li Tongya lifted his cup and took silent sips. After over a dozen breaths of silence, Lingu Lie immediately took the hint, cupped his hands, and excused himself. Li Tongya turned back to look at the cultivators on his side of the gathering; they were already flushed red from arguing and had completely cast dignity aside. He let out a soft laugh and set his cup down, which instantly alarmed the group into quieting down, meekly taking their seats and conversing in hushed whispers.
Even while speaking with Lingu Lie, Li Tongya had kept an eye on the True Persons seated at the top. The sword-bearing Master Shangyuan had merely raised his cup before vanishing from his seat. He had been the sole representative from the Xiuyue Sect, and his departure left the seat completely vacant.
Once Master Shangyuan left, the other True Persons at the head of the hall drank two cups merely for form’s sake before departing via their respective arts. Only two True Persons, who appeared to belong to Purple Mansion immortal clans, chatted smilingly with Xiao Chuting for a few moments before taking their leave as well. Xiao Chuting then concealed his presence. With the masters gone, the disciples of the Three Sects and Seven Gates no longer felt restrained. Most departed directly, while those remaining either conversed loudly or drew swords for friendly bouts, creating a bustling scene.
Li Tongya paid particular attention to that old fellow Lingyanzi. From the moment he had taken his seat, his mouth had never stopped moving. He had done nothing but stuff food into his maw, smacking his lips continuously without speaking a word to those beside him. He did not stop until he had devoured everything before him, licking the plates clean, before looking longingly at the table beside him.
The cultivator sitting next to him was a maiden from the Ziyan Gate, who bluntly rebuffed his attempts. Lingyanzi laughed awkwardly, having no choice but to sit blankly in place and drink his wine, looking utterly forlorn.
*Lingyanzi… doesn’t seem to be doing well in the Ziyan Gate either… living such a miserable existence.*
Watching this, Li Tongya shook his head repeatedly, beginning to doubt whether Lingyanzi could even produce a hundred spirit stones from his storage bag.
Li Tongya waited for another dozen breaths or so until he saw that Lingyanzi could sit still no longer and rode the wind toward the outside of the formation. Li Tongya swiftly rode the wind to follow. Just as they cleared the formation, Lingyanzi turned around alertly, his white beard fluttering as he barked in a deep voice, “Who dares spy on and tail me?”
Li Tongya revealed his form, smiled slightly, and replied, “Senior Lingyanzi, Wan has not seen you for many years. Do you still remember me?”
“You…”
Lingyanzi’s expression shook. He let out a single word before quickly swallowing the rest. Having lived for over a hundred years, his mind moved quickly; he realized Li Tongya did not wish to leave any trace of what had happened back then, which was why he referred to himself as Wan. He marveled inwardly, *This Li Tongya is damn well cautious!*
With those thoughts in mind, Lingyanzi forced a bitter smile onto his face and said, “It has indeed been many years since I last saw you, Brother Wan…”
“Would you do me the honor of sharing a couple of cups, Senior?”
Li Tongya asked with a smile. Lingyanzi had no choice but to nod and bite the bullet, descending back into the formation alongside Li Tongya. They found a spot among the rear seats and sat down together. Only then did Lingyanzi belatedly register reality, exclaiming in shock, “You’ve achieved Foundation Establishment?!”
Li Tongya nodded. Lingyanzi sighed in admiration and murmured, “Congratulations, Brother Wan!”
“Likewise!”
Lingyanzi was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator now. Li Tongya congratulated him in kind, then said with a faint smile, “I have waited so long for your news, Senior.”
Lingyanzi felt thoroughly embarrassed. He gave a dry laugh and explained in a low voice, “All those spoils of war of ours—I converted every bit into spirit stones. But seeing that Foundation Establishment was within reach, I couldn't resist selling everything off for spiritual medicines to break through… To break my promise after you saved my life, it truly is… hard to speak of!”
“I see.”
Li Tongya nodded. He could understand Lingyanzi’s choice; hardly anyone could resist such temptation. Had Li Tongya been in that position, he too would have used the spirit stones to make the breakthrough without hesitation, only thinking about repaying the debt after succeeding. He said gently, “You need not overthink it, Senior. Were our positions reversed, I too would have chosen to break through. It is only human nature.”
Lingyanzi let out a low sigh, his eyes turning slightly moist with genuine touch of emotion as he replied, “Brother Wan is truly reasonable and understanding; Lingyan is filled with admiration…”
Taking a sip of wine, he continued, “All these years, I have lived frugally, scrimping and saving. On one hand, I had to maintain the expenses of my peak, and on the other, I had to sustain my own cultivation. Everything left over was saved up. I… I…”
Lingyanzi took out the magical sword at his waist and placed the gleaming, white sword on the table, speaking with heartfelt earnestness: “To this day, Lingyan still uses a Qi Refinement magical artifact, all just to scrape together these spirit stones for you, Brother Wan!”
Li Tongya nodded slightly, acknowledging his intentions. Inwardly, however, he felt a mix of emotion, amusement, and bitterness, musing to himself, *So this is what the Three Sects and Seven Gates are like. In my Li family, Embryonic Breathing cultivators use mortal tools, and only Qi Refinement cultivators get to use Embryonic Breathing magical artifacts. As the sole Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Li clan, aside from the Green Ruler Sword on my back, I too have been using Qi Refinement artifacts to this day. Yet in Lingyanzi’s eyes, a Foundation Establishment cultivator using a Qi Refinement artifact is already the height of misery!*
Looking at Lingyanzi’s teary-eyed appearance, Li Tongya could sense his grievance. Although he found it difficult to empathize, he displayed a well-measured look of being moved and said in a deep voice, “There is no need to rush, Senior. I can collect the spirit stones whenever; you need not mistreat yourself so!”
Lingyanzi nodded with deep feeling, wiped his aged face, and said, “Lingyan cultivates a peculiar method. I must frequently drink spiritual wine and consume spiritual ingredients; otherwise, at best, my mouth will parch and my cultivation will stagnate, while at worst, I will suffer qi deviation and see my cultivation regress. Were it not for such unspeakable difficulties, Lingyan would never have had to run around every single day!”
*To think such a cultivation method exists!* Li Tongya paused, secretly astonished. Only the Three Sects and Seven Gates could afford to practice such a method. Seeing Lingyanzi’s aggrieved expression, Li Tongya felt he could understand why the man had such poor popularity within the Ziyan Gate. He smiled awkwardly and asked, “May I ask how many spirit stones you have managed to save after all this time, Senior?”
This question instantly caused Lingyanzi to lower his head. Despite his advanced age, he looked just like an embarrassed child as he mumbled sheepishly, “Twenty spirit stones…”
Li Tongya was rendered speechless for a moment. Still, unwilling to let him off so easily, he raised his hand and unceremoniously accepted the spirit stones Lingyanzi reluctantly handed over, whispering, “How about this: does Senior possess any items of equivalent value that could be exchanged to offset the spirit stones? That way, you won't have to scrimp and save year after year.”
“This…”
Lingyanzi was immediately tempted. After hesitating for a few breaths, he took off his storage bag and emptied a clattering pile of items onto the table, replying, “Aside from my sect’s secret techniques and my peak’s heirloom treasure, the Ziyan Spiritual Shroud, feel free to pick anything else you like, Brother Wan!”
Chapter 231