"So that is how it was."
Li Yuanjiao pondered inwardly:
'Back then... when Kong Tingyun dealt with Wushao, she did not cast a single spell. Xuanyue Gate may not be the equal of Qingchi, but as a member of the direct lineage, she ought to have possessed a spell or two. She was likely wary of me and held back.'
Having finished his explanation, Li Xizhi turned toward his younger brother and said softly, "This must be the Sunflower Light spell the family obtained. It suits Eighth Brother's cultivation method perfectly, and once you achieve Foundation Establishment, it will surely be even more marvelous!"
Though Li Xijun had been subdued in just a few moves, he showed no sign of discouragement. Instead, his mind stirred, and he asked, "Brother Zhi, what are the limitations of your seizing spell?"
"I was just about to tell you." Li Xizhi nodded and explained, "Haze light is naturally adept at striking things down and snatching them away. Setting aside the secret transmissions of the direct lineage, [Floating Light Object Retrieval] ranks among the finest in Qingchi. Spells of this nature depend on the opponent's mastery of the sword path and the grade of the blade in their hand. If you had cultivated sword origin, or if the magical artifact in your hand reached Foundation Establishment grade, it would be very difficult for me to wrench it away."
He paused, turning toward Li Yuanjiao. "If it were [Qingchi], not only would I fail to seize it, but my fingers would feel as though they were being slashed to ribbons, bleeding endlessly. Furthermore, with the sword intent sealed inside the blade, my spell would likely backfire, tearing chunks of flesh right off my hand."
Li Yuanjiao nodded, feeling much relieved, and asked, "What if a Qingchi Foundation Establishment cultivator casts this spell?"
"After all, it is the sidearm of a sword immortal; even they shouldn't be able to seize it." Li Xizhi hesitated for a moment. "However, the means of a Foundation Establishment cultivator are hard to predict, nor can one know what grade of spell they might use. It would inevitably cause some disturbance, rattling one's sword path."
"Good," Li Yuanjiao replied. After pondering for a moment, he asked in a low voice, "Has Yu Muxian practiced this spell?"
Li Xizhi understood his thought and said respectfully, "Your son does not know..."
Li Yuanjiao's voice was deep: "I only hope to preserve the sword intent within the blade. If some talented descendant among our offspring emerges, they might comprehend the sword intent within and become a sword immortal. Failing that, it should at least be used against Yu Muxian so it will not go to waste..."
Li Xizhi sighed inwardly, bowed to his father, and answered, "I have been keeping an eye on Yu Muxian as well. In recent years, he has been forging magical artifacts within the sect and keeping a low profile. But he is a genius after all, and he has now already... broken through to mid-Foundation Establishment!"
'As expected...'
Li Yuanjiao was not surprised. Resting his hand on his sword, he remained silent.
His eldest son continued, "Fei Qingyi, the Fei family's female disciple who entered Yuanwu Peak... has already broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refinement. She cultivates the Mishui Pure Decorum Method and has found great favor with Yu Muxian. She is utterly submissive to him, and in the long run, I fear this bodes ill."
"Hmph!" Li Xuanxuan's brows furrowed, anger showing on his face. "The Fei family hasn't sent anyone to pay respects for years! I fear they've long forgotten how Second Uncle preserved their entire family with a single sword strike, and how he showed mercy regarding Hanyun Peak!"
Li Yuanjiao, however, showed no disappointment. He said softly, "Such is the way of the world. The Fei family wants to avoid suspicion for Fei Qingyi's sake, so there is nothing more for us to say. We shall simply go our separate ways."
Li Xizhi cupped his hands slightly without responding, then shifted the conversation, recounting everything regarding Cheng Jinzhu reforging the artifact.
Li Yuanjiao pondered briefly, drew a blue-and-white ore from his storage bag, and asked, "This is the family's [Mishui Cold Iron]. Can it be used in forging that artifact?"
"Ah, of course, there is still the [Mishui Cold Iron]." Li Xizhi came to an understanding and nodded. "Naturally it can. It will cut down on some expenses... Once the forging is complete, I will have someone deliver it to our family."
Between the lines, Li Xizhi meant that he would shoulder the cost of reforging the artifact. Li Yuanjiao looked at him and replied, "As long as you know your limits. Once we return home, I will have someone transport the cold iron over."
Li Xizhi nodded. "I will try to inquire about Situ Mo in the market and report back to the family as well. As for Huai'er... I must ask the family to help look after him..."
He looked at Li Chenghuai in his grandfather's arms, a look of reluctance in his eyes. Pinching the hem of his feather robe, he searched all over his person, only to find nothing suitable to leave for the child. He could only murmur, "In some time, I will select an artifact or two and send them home for this boy."
"Of course," Li Xuanxuan replied repeatedly, still cradling his great-grandson and refusing to let go for even a moment.
Li Yuanjiao remarked, "Your mother bore you a younger sister as well. She has already condensed Xuan Scenery and is named Li Yuexiang. Her talent is passable. In time, I will send her over for you to see."
"What?!"
Li Xizhi froze, caught between tears and laughter, thinking inwardly:
'And you grumbled about me not writing to tell you about Huai'er! When did you go and give me a younger sister? She must be seven or eight already, and you're only telling me now!'
Though muttering internally, he was still overjoyed. Naturally, he did not dare contradict his father and politely agreed. Li Xuanxuan watched merrily from the side, muttering something about "like father, like son."
The three took their leave, summoned Kongheng from the side courtyard, and rode the wind away into the night.
Li Xizhi saw them off all the way out of the commandery. When he turned back, the two old men flatteringly rushed forward to greet him. Resuming his polite yet distant demeanor, he said softly, "Does Tangjin Gate possess any properties in this market?"
***
Li Yuanjiao's group dared not linger, hastily riding the wind westward. Anxious that Situ Mo was in the dark while his family was in the open, Li Yuanjiao glanced at Kongheng and asked, "Master... Situ Mo is most likely colluding with the Zhao Shakya, using their power to calculate our movements. As an orthodox Shakya cultivator, do you have any means of shielding us? I don't ask to conceal us from their divinations entirely, only for an early warning whenever the Zhao Shakya calculate our whereabouts."
"Benefactor..."
Kongheng looked rather ashamed and answered, "The Zhao Shakya cultivate the contemporary teachings, drawing upon the power of Maha. Their divinations are far beyond what I can match. This humble monk can only rely on the power of my own lineage to protect myself from being calculated by them... Beyond that, there is nothing else I can do..."
"Master need not blame yourself."
Kongheng was tender-hearted by nature, and Li Yuanjiao's mere mention had already made him feel inexplicably ashamed. Li Yuanjiao nodded thoughtfully, reflecting:
'At least they cannot divine Kongheng's movements, so there is still some room to maneuver.'
The group flew tirelessly until they reached the vicinity of Lake Wangyue before finally letting out a breath of relief. Mount Qingdu was very peaceful; the great array showed no signs of damage, and the territory under their rule was calm and orderly, serene in the setting sun.
Li Yuanjiao breathed a sigh of relief. A youth clad in black flew over from the distance—it was Li Wushao, following the spiritual bond between them. Dropping down with cupped fists, he greeted respectfully, "Wushao pays respects to the Master."
Li Yuanjiao gave a slight nod. Kongheng chanted a Buddhist verse and descended back to the islet, while Li Xijun and Li Xuanxuan landed on the mountain together.
Donning jade armor with a spear slung across her back, Li Qinghong flew out riding thunder. Brother and sister met, words catching in their throats; each had a bellyful of things to say. They took turns recounting recent events, and Li Yuanjiao asked suspiciously, "Zhang Yun? Zhang Huaide?"
Zhang Huaide bore the surname Zhang and possessed quite an impressive background and methods. The Li clan had long suspected him of being an immortal sect disciple who converted to the demonic path, and now that Zhang Yun had personally stepped in to shield him, their suspicion was confirmed.
"Indeed. This shows that in this demonic tribulation, Jinyu Sect not only released demonic cultivation methods with the Violet Palace paying close attention, but they even dispatched members of their direct lineage to guide it in person. The demonic tribulation on Jinyu's own territory was undoubtedly directed by them as well," Li Qinghong deduced.
Nearby, Li Xuanxuan chimed in, "It is only natural. For so many years on Jinyu's territory, the treasures amassed by the noble clans have become tempting enough to make anyone salivate... What's more, the dominant clans have infringed upon Jinyu's monopoly over cultivation methods and secret arts; the sect has long wanted to eliminate them."
"Apart from Jinyu and Qingchi, several of the remaining seven sects have also sent disciples with no hope of advancement to convert to the demonic path, such as Changxiao, Ziyan, and a few others. Though they can hardly control the situation, they can still grab some leftovers."
Li Qinghong said, "Ever since Zhang Yun left, that band of demonic cultivators has grown even more brazen, hunting down cultivators throughout the desolate mountains. Not only our family... I heard that the Shen family, an immortal clan under Xiuyue bordering the northern edge of the desolate hills, also sent people over, but they were likely repelled by Zhang Yun."
Li Xuanxuan shook his head. "We cannot meddle with them; just do not provoke them."
Li Qinghong nodded gently, flipped her hand, and produced a jade box, smiling. "Have a look!"
Li Yuanjiao took it, sweeping his spiritual sense across it. The fruit was crimson all over, throbbing like a heart against gray-black leaves. A look of delight immediately appeared on his face: "[Blood Sun Fruit]... Lu Ken certainly works swiftly! Xizhi happens to be in Libu Commandery, so we can have him deliver it to that Foundation Establishment alchemist."
Stowing away the treasure, Li Yuanjiao felt the matters were largely settled for now. Li Xijun, still worried about the wound on his wrist, stepped forward to softly persuade him to rest, and Li Qinghong was all the more eager to chase him into his immortal's cave upon hearing of it.
Li Yuanjiao agreed with gentle words, but instead headed toward Li Yuanping's courtyard. He had intended to keep Li Yuanping company and delay tending to his injury for another year or two after taking medicine. Who would have guessed that when Li Yuanping heard he was injured, he firmly shut his doors and refused to see him?
Unable to win against his siblings in the end, Li Yuanjiao had no choice but to enter seclusion to heal.
Meanwhile, Li Xijun touched down before the mountain. Standing on a boulder in front of him was an eight- or nine-year-old girl in white, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled, calling softly, "Brother!"
"Xiang'er," Li Xijun responded with a smile.
Li Yuexiang resembled Xiao Guiluan more closely, with willow-leaf brows and phoenix eyes, graceful and dignified. Though she had not yet fully grown, she already carried the poise of an adolescent.
Twisting her hands together, Li Yuexiang said, "Father only saw me for a moment before entering seclusion again..."
Li Yuexiang was the only girl of the Xi-Yue generation, and the Li clan brothers all doted on her dearly. Fortunately, Xiao Guiluan had raised her well, so she was not spoiled or arrogant; rather, because she rarely saw her father year-round, she seemed somewhat insecure.
"Ah..."
Li Xijun knew this was inevitable. Many profligate sons of prominent clans and sects turned out that way—often, when they were born, their parents were already Foundation Establishment cultivators; after a brief seclusion, the child was half-grown, and after another seclusion to comprehend some magical laws, in the blink of an eye the child had practically reached adulthood.
'Actually, Brother Xizhi didn't see Uncle Jiao very often either; both children were raised by Lady Xiao...'
Li Xijun merely comforted his teary-eyed sister, saying softly, "Your father has the clan to look after; please understand him..."
Li Yuexiang was already an Embryonic Breathing cultivator. Taking her hand to distract her, Li Xijun smiled and said, "We brought back a little nephew for you. Was your mother pleased when she saw him?"
Li Yuexiang pouted and murmured, "Yet another one who won't get to see his father..."
Li Xijun could only let out an awkward chuckle, taking her hand as they walked up the mountain.
***
The estuary of the Salt Lake.
Situ Mo, dressed in golden robes, arrived riding the wind, his expression dark and sullen. He traveled along the river, hands behind his back as he rode a golden beam of light in silence.
Seeing the golden radiance overhead, the monsters in the great river below all went into hiding, not daring to move a muscle. With a gloomy face, he mused:
'What a pity. Having missed this opportunity, the Li family will be on guard, making them even harder to deal with... It was a rare chance to catch a few of them during this mission... Who knows how long I will have to wait for the next.'
Even as the thought crossed his mind, a yellow light suddenly raced over the Salt Lake. It was a burly monk with lean, sinewy muscles, a clean-shaven pate, and skin entirely crimson. Widening his large eyes, he bellowed the moment he opened his mouth, "Situ Mo! What a mess you've made! A complete disaster! Downright laughable!"
Situ Mo's face darkened. Gritting his teeth, he fired back, "Still better than an old bastard like you who doesn't even dare show his face! What bullshit Wrath lineage are you cultivating? Cowardice lineage is more like it!"
"Fuck your mother! I belong to the Wrath lineage, not the idiot dog lineage! I've been calculating for three years. The Li family has heaps of trump cards up their sleeves! They wouldn't dare kill you, but they wouldn't hesitate to unleash some talisman sword or dharmic sword to cut me down!"
Situ Mo sneered, though he did not deny it. Even he carried plenty of hidden trump cards. He merely mocked, "Who told your Wrath lineage to shatter to pieces, fighting each other until dog brains spilled out? How many of you even remember the death of the Maha? How many think of revenge? Otherwise, why would only a petty Master like you show up?"
"What do you know! Preserving the lineage is what matters! Once someone ascends to the seat of Maha again, won't crushing the Li family be as easy as turning over a palm?"
Situ Mo froze, finding some sense in the words. Glaring at him warily, he barked, "If that's the case, what are you fooling around in the south for?"
"Heh heh..." The burly monk gave a sinister laugh, his tone turning vicious. "Since it was someone from the Li clan who killed the Maha, perhaps the key to reclaiming the seat of Maha lies with the Li family. What harm is there in trying?"
His expression shifted, reverting to an enraged glare as he barked, "Stop asking about this and that! I only ask you: I clearly told you to just kill Li Xijun, leave that country monk alone, take the corpse, and come straight back! Why did you set up formations and lay ambushes, only to mess up the whole damn thing?!"
Situ Mo's expression turned sinister as he replied, "What good is Li Xijun? If you're going to kill, you kill Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong..."
"You fool!" The monk cursed loudly. "What do you know! What noble clans fear most is a gap between generations! Even if you took injuries to force a kill on Li Xijun, that would hurt Li Yuanjiao worse than inflicting heavy wounds upon himself! Even if you merely crippled Li Xijun, it would torment the Li family for fifty or sixty years, and might even put them at risk of ruin!"
Situ Mo kept silent, sneering inwardly:
'How could I not know that? You're a monk skilled in divination. If I killed him so easily and severed the karmic knot, and you deduced it offered no benefit to breaking through to Maha, why would you stay to help me? If you patted your backside and took off, where would I find such a capable helper who doesn't fear the Li clan?'
'If I'm going to kill, I must kill someone of consequence!'
The monk gave him a relentless tongue-lashing before finally saying in frustration, "How long before you return from this trip?"
"Probably around ten years..." Situ Mo seemed to have a headache over it. "Xuanyue Gate dispatched a Foundation Establishment cultivator to oversee the overseas regions... She possesses considerable skills... named Kong Tingyun or something. I have no choice but to deal with this matter."
Widening his eyes, he added coldly, "It would be best if I could find a chance to kill her, so I won't have to waste time there... and it would also make trouble for that cousin of mine. We cannot let Xuanyue and Tangjin reconcile..."
Chapter 413