Li Yuanjiao had been cultivating on Mount Wutu for a long time, hardly concerning himself with family affairs anymore as he focused whole-heartedly on cultivation. [Circulate Qi and Devour Spirit] had quickened his breathing and spiritual intake several times over, allowing him to advance his cultivation once more in a mere half-year.
Xiao Guiluan, meanwhile, had returned to her maiden home. Her cultivation had reached a critical juncture, and to obtain the subsequent mantras and learn the techniques leading up to Qi Refinement, she had to return to the Xiao family to swear the Xuanjing Spiritual Oath.
Nearby, Li Xizhi was now eight years old. The boy grew slowly and did not even reach Li Yuanjiao's waist. Clutching a wooden slip as he read, he possessed delicate, handsome features, though his brow was still marked by the tender innocence of youth.
"Father..."
Clutching the wooden slip in his hands, Li Xizhi looked up at his father with a bewildered expression and asked, "Why do I have to read the *Record of Prominent Clans Ascending to Immortality*? Brother Xicheng has already begun practicing with the spear... yet I'm the only one reading these strange books all day long."
Li Yuanjiao patted Li Xizhi's head. Parting his lips, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your mother borrowed this book. It records the relationships between the thirty-six peaks of Qingchi and the various prominent clans. You must memorize these ties thoroughly so that in the future, you can navigate the sect like a fish in water, find a faction to rely upon, and avoid offending anyone for no reason."
Li Xizhi rolled the wooden slip back and forth in his hands, looking somewhat restless. Suddenly, he raised his head and asked, "Father... are you truly going to send me to the Qingchi Sect?"
Li Yuanjiao sighed inwardly. Seeing his son's aggrieved look, he ultimately spoke up: "Be good, Zhi'er... The Qingchi Sect’s heritage is profound and its spiritual energy is abundant, far better than on the lake. You have great talent. In the future, you must achieve Qi Refinement and establish an immortal foundation in the sect. The family will still depend on you..."
By nature, Li Yuanjiao was not one who knew how to coax children. He rambled on and on, but Li Xizhi's eyes gradually reddened. The boy nodded hard, yet tears streamed down his cheeks uncontrollably.
Li Yuanjiao felt both ashamed and troubled, caught at a complete loss. Just then, a clan soldier came up from below and said respectfully, "Young Master, please return home. Young Master Yuanping has an urgent matter to discuss!"
As if granted an imperial pardon, Li Yuanjiao reached out to wipe away Li Xizhi's tears and said gently, "Wait for me on the peak. Father will be right back."
With that, he rode the wind into the sky, leaving Li Xizhi turning the wooden slip over and over in his hands. The boy read through it carefully from beginning to end, before finally tossing the slip aside in a huff and heading inside to sleep.
***
Lijing Town.
Li Yuanjiao rode the wind down into the courtyard. Li Yuanping was toying with a jade bracelet, closely studying the fine patterns upon it. Seeing Li Yuanjiao enter dressed in black robes, he hurried down to greet him.
"Brother, there is news of [Tianyi Pure Element]!"
"What?!"
Li Yuanjiao was overjoyed at first and pressed for details. But once Li Yuanping finished explaining the entire sequence of events, the joy on his face faded, replaced by a deep frown. Taking the jade bracelet, he closed his eyes and began sensing it.
As his spiritual sense flowed along the carved patterns into the jade ring, an epiphany suddenly arose in Li Yuanjiao's heart, and he faintly felt a guidance beckoning from afar.
Several breaths later, Li Yuanjiao opened his eyes, the confusion on his face deepening. "This person is still on a mountain not far from here..." he replied.
Li Yuanping had not yet developed spiritual sense and could not use the jade bracelet. Hearing Li Yuanjiao's words, he was taken aback as well and murmured, "That is peculiar indeed... Having obtained such precious spiritual water of heaven and earth, he still dares to linger nearby."
"According to that old rogue cultivator," Li Yuanjiao remarked, "the newcomer was shimmering with magical light from head to toe, and the art he cultivated was also an orthodox technique. Yet despite being only at the second layer of Qi Refinement, he fought many opponents alone and slaughtered them all... He is likely a disciple of an immortal sect!"
Li Yuanping pondered carefully, looking somewhat unsettled. "We do not know his background or identity. If he acts so openly and unreservedly, he most likely has powerful backing and origins. He may not be easy to deal with."
Li Yuanjiao made no comment, merely holding the jade bracelet and inspecting it in silence.
"Have you sent anyone to that cave?" Li Yuanjiao asked.
Li Yuanping nodded. "I already asked Uncle-in-Law to make a trip. By my reckoning, he should be returning shortly."
As they spoke, Chen Donghe strode in. His robes hung straight and neat, the green sword at his waist swaying slightly. Halting and cupping his hands, he said, "I have already visited that cave. It was shattered to pieces by the clash of spells, covered everywhere in scratches, scrape marks, and stalactite fragments. Nothing can be discerned anymore."
"Thank you for the trouble, Uncle-in-Law."
Chen Donghe cupped his hands and withdrew. Only then did Li Yuanping turn back to his brother and say, "I originally thought to investigate it thoroughly. [Tianyi Pure Element] is nurtured by heaven and earth, so that cave was bound to be extraordinary..."
Li Yuanjiao took two steps up to the head seat. Staring blankly at the jade bracelet, he stroked its patterns and suddenly said, "It is too coincidental."
Li Yuanping glanced at his brother and sank into contemplation as well.
Li Yuanjiao continued, "The Old Ancestor often says: 'In managing family affairs, prudence must guide everything.' I have always kept this in mind. This entire matter is full of coincidences. The person appeared abruptly and vanished abruptly, yet after snatching the spiritual water, he did not flee far away..."
"Broth—"
Li Yuanjiao waved his hand to cut Li Yuanping off. Forming a hand seal, he cast a spell, and layers of true essence descended upon the jade bracelet. River true essence enveloped it tightly like deep azure lake water before he stored it into his storage bag. He explained, "I heard from Guiluan that there are many secret arts that can be attached to magical artifacts to influence a person's mind and incite desires. This matter is far too strange; it is better to be prudent."
"Indeed," Li Yuanping responded thoughtfully. "[Tianyi Pure Element] is simply too enticing... For a moment, even I was moved by impulse. Hearing Brother put it this way, it truly is far too suspicious."
Li Yuanjiao nodded and replied, "Given that our family has governed this territory for many years, it might be plausible that we never discovered this spiritual item before. But this jade bracelet came far too opportunely—so conveniently that one dares not believe it."
Having gone through the ordeal of Li Tongya being made a sacrifice for the reincarnation of a Maha, the two brothers had long seen through the harsh realities of the world, and their state of mind was completely different from a year ago. Li Yuanjiao merely sneered coldly and said, "So-called opportunities—nine times out of ten, they are bait meant for you to swallow in wild ecstasy, while the hook behind them is razor-sharp... Right now, the Old Ancestor is severely wounded. If it were any other spiritual water, it might still have a shred of credibility. But why must it be [Tianyi Pure Element]?"
The two brothers exchanged a look. Li Yuanping sighed, "It is just that this item is far too enticing... Who knows what the truth really is? If this truly is a fortune meant for us, letting it slip away in vain would be agonizing."
"No matter."
Li Yuanjiao smiled, an enigmatic expression appearing on his face as he transmitted his voice with magic power: "Do you still remember that our family possesses an immortal artifact? It can observe from a thousand li away, colorless and formless, unimpeded by mountains and unsevered by waters."
"Brilliant!"
Li Yuanping had only ever regarded the magical mirror as a heritage heirloom, a clan-protecting treasure for moments of dire crisis, completely forgetting that it also possessed the power to observe from a thousand li away. Clapping his hands at once, he smiled broadly and said, "You and I shall go up the mountain at once to invite it!"
Chapter 312