When Li Tongya regained consciousness, the world was dim and dusky. He had fallen beside a small river on Mount Bianyan, half his body soaked in the river water. Several green river crabs scuttled to and fro, lingering around the soles of his feet because of his Vast Sea immortal foundation.
"Cough, cough..."
Li Tongya slowly climbed to his feet. Orange-red clouds drifted across the sky; the iridescent glows and the golden body atop Mount Bianyan had completely vanished, leaving only a few carrion crows perched upon the broken walls and ruins, cawing harshly.
"It's over..."
Resentment, guilt, powerlessness—all surged into his heart. Barefoot beside the river, Li Tongya stared blankly at the distant clouds, then slowly closed his eyes.
The film of water over his lower abdomen slowly dissolved. Li Tongya's flesh squirmed on its own, covering over that gruesome, gaping hole until it no longer appeared so alarming.
Yet only Li Tongya knew that not a single one of his internal organs remained intact. He was holding onto his life entirely by the strength of his Foundation Establishment immortal foundation. From now on, he feared he would never advance an inch further—even maintaining his cultivation would be a struggle.
Immortal cultivators were not like Shakya cultivators. The Shakya believed the physical body was merely a boat across the sea of suffering; once they attained the rank of Master, their internal organs turned to white clay, and at even higher realms, they could swap bodies at will.
Immortal cultivators, however, sought the transcendence of true nature. At least before attaining gold nature, the physical vessel was the very foundation of cultivation. Back then, Yu Yufeng's cultivation had stagnated just from taking a single sword strike from Yu Yuxie, to say nothing of having all one's vital organs shredded.
Before the pain swelling in Li Tongya's heart could subside, he felt a heavy weight pulling at his waist. Realizing what it was, he untied the robe around his waist, and a rounded head tumbled out.
"Ling'er."
The bridge of Li Xuanling's nose was broken—perhaps fractured back in the Daoist abbey. It leaned dispiritedly across his calm, honest face. Li Tongya reached out to straighten it, but it went limp and tilted outward again. Li Tongya straightened it once more, repeating the motion several times until thick blood welled out and trickled down the crushed cheek.
"Ling'er."
Li Tongya had not wept when he watched Li Xuanling die before his eyes, nor had he wept while being tortured and subjected to the Maha's arts. Yet now, a broken nose so easily brought this old man—who had shouldered sixty years of family vengeance and clan hatred—to wail aloud. A stream of tears rolled down his cheeks and splashed into Li Xuanling's lifeless eyes.
"It's my fault... I failed you and your mother..."
Li Tongya choked out a few words. Trembling all over, filled with shame and helplessness, the old man roared as if trying to defend himself:
"Our family... our family... rose from humble peasant stock, born into this turbulent age of great contention where heavenly fate is muddled! Slaying demons... purging fiends, maneuvering across factions..."
"Father never rested for a single moment, never slacked off for an instant... Father did everything he could, Father tried his best! Ling'er..."
His inner robe, once white, was now plastered with muddy water, stained a filthy yellow-gray. Cradling Li Xuanling's head, he muttered to himself at times and wept aloud at others. Bathed in the radiant sunset glow, he stumbled forward with uneven steps.
"Purple Mansions and Mahas, schemes spanning centuries... How could a single clan, a single generation, match them? Human strength has its limits! Human strength has its limits..."
Draped in his flimsy white robe, hair disheveled, Li Tongya's gray eyes brimmed with tears that sparkled in the setting sun.
"Xuanling... Xuanling... one day—"
Li Tongya's lips trembled. Step by step, he made his way deeper into the darkening woods. The pitch-black canopy gradually cloaked his robes, and as his figure was swallowed by the dark, his voice faded into the hum of insects and the calls of birds.
***
Lijing Town.
"Congratulations! Congratulations to the Clan Head!"
Li Yuanping sat high in the seat of honor, dressed in white robes. His complexion was pale, and the brush in his hand continued to sketch across the desk. Without even glancing at the man below, he simply remarked flatly:
"What is there to congratulate?"
Li Tongya had not returned for several days. Those sent to gather news had only managed to find out that the ground had shaken and mountains had trembled in the south of the State of Xu, accompanied by the roar of a golden-bodied giant, but nothing else could be learned. Li Yuanping had been liaising with various parties and burning with anxiety over the matter, going without sleep for days.
Wearing a fawning smile, the middle-aged cultivator below repeatedly cupped his hands and replied, "This lowly one is an itinerant cultivator from under the rule of the Tangjin Gate. A few days ago, I crossed south onto this lake, never expecting to run right into the fabled Lijing Li family, so I hurried over to offer my congratulations."
With a thud, he dropped to his knees, presenting a wooden box with both hands as he said respectfully, "This is a congratulatory gift—a specialty of the State of Xu, the Yunhua Fruit. It is an Embryonic Breathing spirit item of mild and gentle medicinal nature, capable of stabilizing cultivation and boosting magical power..."
The Li family was already an established clan and frequently received such itinerant cultivators. Some came offering medicinal formulas, others spiritual herbs or magical artifacts, all simply seeking a place of shelter. Li Yuanping had seen plenty of this. Seeing that the man was still trying to build suspense, he said warmly:
"Set the gift aside for now. Fellow Daoist, please tell me about this joyous matter. If the news carries weight, we will not be stingy."
The cultivator nodded repeatedly and said with reverence, "Your noble clan's ancestor slew Master Fahui, the reincarnation of the Duanchen Temple Maha, at Zhenhui Temple! His pale-blue sword light shook heaven and earth, sending shockwaves through the State of Xu! Now, all Three Sects and Seven Gates marvel at his name, acclaiming him as the 'Moon Crescent Sword'!"
"What?!"
Li Yuanping froze for a moment, a flush of crimson rushing to his face. He quickly cast aside his brush and hurried down the steps in two strides. His face was filled with pleasant shock and lingering disbelief as he grabbed the man's hand, asking urgently, "Which ancestor? Which ancestor do you speak of?!"
Seeing Li Yuanping's dramatic reaction, the cultivator also showed delight. Not daring to utter Li Tongya's name directly, he said respectfully, "The ancestor is of the Tong generation, taboo name Ya! He is skilled in swordsmanship and travels riding a flood dragon..."
"That's him!"
This man did not understand the Li family's generation names, assuming Li Tongya belonged to a "Tong" generation, but Li Yuanping understood immediately. His face flushed bright crimson, and he threw his head back in uproarious laughter. The rush of blood and qi forced a couple of coughs from him, so he slapped the table and bowed his head, chuckling in stifled glee.
"Hahahaha!"
Dou Yi, ever adept at reading the room, stepped forward delightedly and asked, "Young Master, should we send word to Mount Wutu?"
Hearing this, Li Yuanping coughed twice and suddenly straightened his posture, frightening the two beside him into hurriedly lowering their heads. Looking at the itinerant cultivator, Li Yuanping smiled and asked, "May I ask where Fellow Daoist obtained this news?"
The cultivator promptly cupped his hands and began recounting the story in full detail.
As it turned out, this man was a shop hand in a market of the Tangjin Gate. Overhearing a conversation between two Tangjin Gate disciples and learning that the Li family was asking around about Mount Bianyan, his heart had leaped, sensing an opportunity.
He had decisively abandoned his job in the market, spent his entire savings to purchase the spirit fruit, and rushed overnight to Lake Wangyue to take his gamble. Upon arriving at Lake Wangyue, he found that the Li family indeed did not yet know of the matter, so he had boldly clamored his way in to deliver the news.
"There is indeed some credibility to this..."
After listening attentively, Li Yuanping nodded to himself, patted the man's shoulder, and said amiably, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist. Please wait a short while. Once I have confirmed the truth of this news, you will be handsomely rewarded."
The cultivator repeatedly nodded and offered his thanks before scurrying off in high spirits. Only then did Li Yuanping beckon with his hand, prompting Dou Yi to lean in eagerly, and whispered:
"Go and invite Brother Jiao to make a trip back."
Chapter 302