As soon as Li Qinghong arrived before the courtyard, she saw a female cultivator standing quietly, holding the hand of a little girl, a hazy spiritual gauze wrapped around her wrist. Seeing Li Qinghong descend into the courtyard, she smiled and said, "Qinghong is here!"
The cultivator before her was Xiao Guiluan. Though she was now in her forties, she still looked like a young woman in her twenties. The Xiao clan was an immortal family after all, and she possessed a cultivation at the third tier of Qi Refinement.
"Greetings, Sister-in-law."
Li Qinghong nodded gently, a smile unwittingly gracing her face. The bonds among the Yuan-Qing generation ran deep, and Xiao Guiluan was both tactful in conversation and remarkably capable, keeping the relationship between sisters-in-law harmonious. Li Qinghong asked softly, "Is Yuexiang studying diligently?"
The girl was Li Yuanjiao's youngest daughter, Li Yuexiang. At the moment, she merely called out "Auntie" and clung affectionately to Li Qinghong. Xiao Guiluan looked at Li Qinghong with a beaming smile and said, "Qinghong has reached the eighth tier of Qi Refinement, yet you are only forty-two or forty-three, aren't you?"
"Indeed," Li Qinghong replied.
Xiao Guiluan praised, "You have hopes of reaching Foundation Establishment by fifty—truly a genius."
The final tiers of Qi Refinement demanded prolonged tempering, taking at least five years even for a swift breakthrough. Xiao Guiluan knew nothing of the talisman pills and estimated Li Qinghong would achieve Foundation Establishment at fifty, whereas Li Qinghong privately calculated she would reach it by forty-five.
After chatting for a while, Li Qinghong furrowed her brow. "I wonder why Brother... entered secluded cultivation without a word. It does not seem like him."
Xiao Guiluan shook her head. "The chronicles of the Xiao family record three hundred and seventy-six Qi Refinement cultivators who broke through to Foundation Establishment. One hundred and seventy of them began their breakthroughs suddenly, without making a sound. Once spiritual inspiration arrives, unless one possesses secret methods from the immortal sects to suppress it and await an opportune time, it is better to break through on the spot."
Li Qinghong frowned slightly. Seeing her confusion, Xiao Guiluan explained, "The clan elders were puzzled as well. After inquiring for many years, they learned only of rumors within the three sects that it might be related to the activity of the golden nature... Within the same lineage, several people often forge the exact same immortal foundation within a few years, whereas in other years, several may fail entirely..."
Li Qinghong nodded gently. Being quick-witted, her eyes lit up at once, and she murmured thoughtfully, "If one could grasp the activity of the golden nature, one could vastly increase the chances of their juniors' breakthroughs. Then, if one cultivates a golden nature, wouldn't they..."
'Can they control their lineage at will? Allowing whomever they wish to break through...'
She suddenly clamped her mouth shut and glanced at Xiao Guiluan's face. Xiao Guiluan's expression had changed slightly as well. The two exchanged a silent gaze. Li Qinghong thought to herself, 'No wonder the Kong family, an eminent noble clan of Daxu, was tormented to ruin and scattered by a reincarnated lord... Glimpsing even a corner of the golden nature is enough to instill terror...'
The two stood in the courtyard for a moment while the spring water on the ground flowed quietly, tinkling pleasantly. Xiao Guiluan said softly, "That shouldn't be possible... In the ancient texts of the sects from three hundred years ago, no lineage could grant Foundation Establishment on a whim."
The two were merely speculating. As they looked at the rippling sheen of water within the cave dwelling, a sudden blast thundered in their ears:
"Rumble!"
The sky beyond the courtyard abruptly brightened. The clouds above turned dazzlingly golden and luminous, wisps of light streaming across them as several rays of magical light streaked through the air. Li Qinghong jerked her head up and rode the wind into the sky.
Golden radiance swirled in the heavens, set against the crimson glow of the distant setting sun. The glow in the east was especially dense, burning brightly for several breaths before slowly dimming.
More and more streaks of magical light filled the sky—cultivators of all ranks riding the wind in shades of black, white, gold, and red, all flying toward the east.
She waited on the wind for a moment. When an early-stage Qi Refinement cultivator flew past nearby, Li Qinghong stepped forward with spear in hand and barred his path.
Rushing on his way, the cultivator grew irritated at being intercepted out of nowhere. But upon seeing an eighth-tier Qi Refinement cultivator—a spirited, valiant woman—his attitude instantly softened. He called out, "What guidance does Fairy seek?"
Li Qinghong asked, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what has happened in the east?"
The cultivator studied her, reluctant to waste time, and answered hurriedly, "Senior must have been in seclusion for a long time. This phenomenon marks the descent of a grotto-heaven—most likely the widely rumored Donghuo Grotto-Heaven in Yufu Commandery! If Senior intends to go, I hope you might carry this junior along for the ride."
"Donghuo Grotto-Heaven?"
Li Xuanxuan had heard this news from Kong Yu and had drilled it into the clan's juniors countless times. Hearing it was in Yufu Commandery, Li Qinghong shook her head slightly and concocted an excuse off the cuff. "How could things be so simple? The Three Sects and Seven Gates have surely monopolized it all. The restrictions and mechanisms within the grotto-heaven remain intact, so people like us would be nothing more than path-clearing pebbles if we went."
The rogue cultivator shook his head and replied, "Senior jests. How could the likes of us ever enter the grotto-heaven? It is just that when it descends, its spiritual energy disperses. Mount Dongli is bound to have abundant spiritual qi, spiritual waters, and spiritual fires. If we take a sip of the leftover broth at the periphery, gather a few spiritual materials, and leave immediately, there should be no great harm."
Li Qinghong furrowed her brow and let him go. Xiao Guiluan caught up on the wind, looked in that direction, and explained, "It must be that Chu Yi, the Lihuo Spear, opening Donghuo Grotto-Heaven. This affair has caused an uproar; counting the days, the time has indeed come."
Li Qinghong countered, "Where did this Foundation Establishment cultivator, the Lihuo Spear, come from? I have never heard of him."
Someone like Li Qinghong loved spear techniques; had there been a Foundation Establishment cultivator renowned for the spear, how could she not have kept him in mind? A doubt arose in her heart.
Xiao Guiluan explained, "You might not know, Qinghong, but this figure only gained renown in recent years. In his youth, he obtained the legacy of the Dongli Sect, and he achieved Foundation Establishment at thirty-one—a genius of the highest caliber.
"Chu Yi was originally a rogue cultivator in Yufu Commandery. Later, when his inheritance was exposed, he was framed by the Han family, a local noble clan. In just a few years, he broke through and slew two Foundation Establishment ancestors of Jiangnan in succession. His fame spread throughout Jiangnan, earning him the title of the Lihuo Spear."
She paused, then continued, "He killed them, but now all of Jiangnan knows he inherited the legacy of the Dongli Sect. Word spread that there is a Donghuo Grotto-Heaven in Yufu Commandery, and that Chu Yi would enter it any day now."
Hearing this, Li Qinghong understood everything clearly. She thought to herself, 'What genius... He is surely a reincarnated figure on the level of a True Monarch...'
As Li Qinghong was pondering, an old man rode the wind up from below. His face was covered in wrinkles, his hair stark white, and his expression filled with nervous anxiety. He cried out, "Hong'er, you must not go! Hong'er, you must not go!"
Li Qinghong hurriedly rode the wind to meet him and answered with a bright smile, "Eldest Uncle, you worry too much! How could I be someone blinded by greed?"
Xiao Guiluan also stepped forward respectfully and greeted warmly, "Father!"
Li Xuanxuan sighed softly and answered, "Of course you are not rash. It is just that divine abilities have no eyes, and I fear you might end up like Yu Yufeng, ensnared and lured away."
Worry covered his face as he said, "The moment I heard that Chu Yi was called the Lihuo Spear, I was scared half to death. Even though our family gathered so much intelligence, I never dared awaken you..."
The three descended and took their seats in the small courtyard. Xiao Guiluan carried Li Yuexiang inside and excused herself. Li Xuanxuan said, "You have heard it from Guiluan as well. Nine times out of ten, this Chu Yi, the Lihuo Spear, is the True Monarch whom the Qingchi Sect has been waiting for. As for the Han family, they are merely a replica of the Kong family.
"Apart from the Three Sects, Seven Gates, and a few immortal clans, most of the other noble families are kept in the dark. Who knows how tangled things have become by now..."
Li Qinghong stared at the streaks of magical light in the sky for a moment, shaking her head in puzzlement. "Disciples of the Three Sects and Seven Gates are heading there. Those rosy glows are empowered by escape techniques... Where would so many noble families get escape techniques?"
Li Xuanxuan froze, then looked closely as well. It was indeed just as Li Qinghong said. Puzzled, he remarked, "Kong Yu did not seem to be lying."
Li Qinghong pondered for a moment and said, "Kong Yu said disciples of the Three Sects and Seven Gates were forbidden to enter for three years. Three years have already passed."
Li Xuanxuan let out a breath, catching the unspoken implication in Li Qinghong's words, and answered, "You mean... this Chu Yi, the Lihuo Spear, was at his most dangerous before he reached Foundation Establishment... Once Chu Yi achieved Foundation Establishment and opened Donghuo Grotto-Heaven, it became far safer..."
Li Qinghong nodded and said softly, "I have also thought about what happened with Kong Yu. To say that this reincarnation was merely a Golden Core True Monarch playing out a play for amusement... I find that rather hard to believe.
"Even the Realized Ones of Jiangnan are farsighted and profoundly shrewd, are they not? A Golden Core True Monarch stands above even the Purple Palace. Would such a being descend into the mortal realm merely for amusement? Is a reincarnated vessel not fragile?"
Li Xuanxuan nodded more and more as he listened. Li Qinghong continued, "That person only described things from the perspective of a Qi Refinement cultivator. From the vantage of the Purple Palace or the Golden Core, matters must appear entirely different...
"Purple Palace immortal clans exist, yet how many of them have founded sects? Why was it that as soon as the Kong family collapsed overnight, Realized One Changxi was able to immediately establish Xuanyue Gate and secure a foothold in Yue?"
Li Xuanxuan felt a chill run down his spine and muttered, "Could Changxi be... this... this..."
Li Qinghong whispered, "In the eyes of the Kong family, this was a humiliation... Yet who is to say it was not the very foundation by which Realized One Changxi ingratiated himself with that eminent being!"
Cold sweat broke out on Li Xuanxuan. He sighed, "Go on..."
Li Qinghong hummed in agreement and said gently, "I believe that the so-called meteoric rise of Chu Yi, the Lihuo Spear, is on the surface a True Monarch reincarnating to play in the mortal dust. In truth, that True Monarch must be driving something forward behind the scenes. As for Donghuo Grotto-Heaven, it is likely the reward promised to the three sects...
"As for the Seven Gates, they merely have the privilege of being informed..."
Enlightened, Li Xuanxuan sighed, "As for rogue cultivators, they cannot even see the surface; they simply think the prodigy Chu Yi soared into the sky in a single bound... Had Kong Yu not informed us, our family would have been kept in the dark as well..."
Having untangled the matter, Li Qinghong pursed her lips. "As for why Kong Yu told you, Eldest Uncle... part of his intention was likely extending goodwill to our family.
"That the Kong clan of Xuanyue Gate harbors some goodwill toward us is plain to see."
Li Xuanxuan hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Still... in this game, does our Li family... have any chance of profiting from it?"
***
Qingchi Sect, Qingsui Peak.
The bamboo grove on Qingsui Peak swayed gently. Li Xizhi stood amidst it, the true essence within him radiating a faint purplish-red rosy glow that bathed the entire grove in shimmering hues.
The Morning Glow Dew Plucking Incantation he practiced was a fourth-grade cultivation method, containing six spells and three secret arts. From the accompanying movement technique Morning Glow Carriage to the spell Golden Drop Amid Clouds, it was fully equipped with footwork, escape techniques, spells, and more.
Though Li Xizhi had broken through to Qi Refinement only two years ago, he could take on three or four early-stage Qi Refinement rogue cultivators with one hand tied behind his back.
"Such is the heritage of the three sects..."
He took out the short letter from home and looked at it again, chuckling softly to himself. "The family is well-off this year, even moving an entire mountain and naming it Mount Qingdu. Father certainly didn't choose that name... I wonder when I'll be able to go back and visit..."
Just as he was thinking, a soft call came from the grove:
"Senior Brother!"
Li Xizhi looked back to see a young woman in a dark-patterned dress walking up. She appeared no more than seventeen or eighteen, with a reasonably delicate face. Her countenance beamed with a warm, lively smile as she gazed into his eyes. Li Xizhi cupped his hands in greeting: "Junior Sister Yang..."
This woman was the very one Yuan Tuan had approached the Yang family for on Li Xizhi's behalf. As the master of Diyun Peak, Yang Tianya, was in secluded cultivation and could not meet, after much shunting back and forth, they sent her over.
Yang Xiao'er's talent was unremarkable, her appearance ordinary, and she rarely made a fuss. On the few occasions they met, she had spoken warmly and charmingly, but Li Xizhi was occupied with secluded cultivation and had hardly interacted with her.
Though Li Xizhi's tone sounded somewhat distant, the girl showed no sign of taking offense. Still lively and affectionate, she said with a beam, "Senior Brother is always in seclusion; it's so rare for Xiao'er to see you."
Li Xizhi nodded slightly. Yang Xiao'er stepped forward and asked, "Ripples of unrest have been stirring outside the sect lately. I wonder if Senior Brother has heard of Donghuo Grotto-Heaven?"
"Donghuo Grotto-Heaven?"
Li Xizhi raised his brows in surprise. "I have indeed heard a little. I heard there is a Foundation Establishment cultivator called Chu Yi, the Lihuo Spear? Is there really such a person?"
Yang Xiao'er nodded gently and replied, "As a mere rogue cultivator, Chu Yi managed to turn Yufu upside down—truly an extraordinary genius! My father said this person is rather eerie and warned us not to provoke him, saying he must be carrying a fateful destiny."
Li Xizhi nodded, secretly thinking of writing a letter to warn his family. Yang Xiao'er continued, "Back then, when the immortal sects of Wei fled south, one branch founded the Dongli Sect. Donghuo Grotto-Heaven was widely renowned, and now that it has finally manifested, cultivators across Wu and Yue have been stirred.
"The Three Sects and Seven Gates have already moved to lock down the grotto-heaven, waiting to break the formation and enter... Only Chu Yi has used a secret art to enter ahead of time..."
Li Xizhi sat quietly upon a bluestone, listening to Yang Xiao'er chatter about the news she had gathered. After listening for a while, Yang Xiao'er asked, "I wonder how many slots our Qingsui Peak has?"
Li Xizhi calculated for a moment and replied, "Likely just the two of us."
"All right..." Yang Xiao'er nodded. A look of resolve surfaced on her face as she looked directly at him.
Yang Xiao'er's features were not particularly attractive, yet she had dressed herself with great care to achieve a modest, delicate charm. Raising her brows, she looked at him uneasily and said with a strained voice, "Senior Brother comes from a sword immortal clan. You are handsome and exceptionally gifted. Xiao'er knows herself to be an unworthy match. Though I once dared to dream... I do not wish to waste time in vain."
Li Xizhi was caught completely off guard. Yang Xiao'er said softly, "I have been on this peak for two years... yet Senior Brother never looks me in the eye... Xiao'er has modest talent and lacks pretty looks. If Senior Brother is willing, we can support each other through the rest of our lives. If you have no such intention, Xiao'er will go plead with Father for a divorce right away."
Li Xizhi never expected that she, always so bright and lively, would speak such words. He stared blankly at her for a breath before saying in a solemn voice, "I am not that sort of man. Since we have shared the nuptial cup, we are husband and wife for this life, and I have no second thoughts. These past two years were merely spent stabilizing my cultivation..." Giving an embarrassed smile, he added, "And second... I was afraid you might find me too forward."
Yang Xiao'er had expected him to seize the chance to let her down gently. Caught unprepared by his answer, she froze. Seeing the solemn sincerity on his face, she stepped forward and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
Right after, she eagerly retrieved a white feathered robe covered in dark runes from her storage bag and said, "This is a feathered robe I pleaded with my clan for. It can save a life at a critical moment. Senior Brother, please..."
"How could I accept this...?"
Li Xizhi's face flushed slightly. Before he could recover, his breath hitched as he looked at the snow-white feathered robe. He whispered, "This is a middle-grade Qi Refinement feathered robe?!"
Feathered robes and armored vests were rare to begin with. In the entire Li clan, there was only a single jade armor of the Embryonic Breathing grade, which had long since been treasured and presented to Li Qinghong...
Now that such a precious magical robe was placed in his hands, Li Xizhi felt as though he were holding two great heaps of spirit stones. 'Would two hundred spirit stones be enough? Three hundred?'
Yang Xiao'er simply shoved the feathered robe into his hands and giggled, "This is the dowry my father gave me..."
"You..."
Looking at the unvarnished joy in her eyes and brows, Li Xizhi felt a faint tightness in his chest.
'With the innocent warmth of a young woman, she holds nothing but devotion for me...'
Chapter 376