Mount Qingdu.
Li Yuanjiao had entered seclusion to heal his wounds and cultivate, but the Blood Sun Fruit still had to be delivered to Li Xizhi at Wubu Market in Libu Commandery. Unaware of Situ Mo's movements, the Li family could only dispatch Kongheng to deliver it.
When Li Xijun briefly brought it up, Kongheng immediately nodded in agreement, stowing the treasure into his robes with solemn care. He was a man of his word; when he gave a promise, it carried the resolute air of a vow to be fulfilled even in death. Listening to him made Li Xijun's eyelids twitch, and he asked, "Master... they won't be able to scry your whereabouts, will they?"
Seeing Kongheng nod, Li Xijun realized that it was his lineage's solemn regard for vows that prompted such earnest pledges. Between laughter and tears, Li Xijun saw him off beyond the border. Looking at his retreating back, he sighed with emotion, "In antiquity, the ways were pure and simple, yet modern Buddhists are sly and crafty... They scarcely seem of the same path."
Thinking this, Li Xijun gave a self-mocking laugh. "When it comes to cunning, my own family has quite a reputation abroad as well!"
Originally intending to ride the wind back to Mount Qingdu, Li Xijun had a second thought: 'I haven't seen Ximing in a long time. I fear he might have delayed his cultivation out of playfulness again. I should go remind him.'
He wheeled about midair and descended onto Mount Wutu. Lush vegetation blanketed the mountain. Amid the trees stood a large courtyard with an attic pavilion. Outside the Pill Pavilion, someone was waiting—a figure in a white dress, wearing a veiled bamboo hat adorned with emerald jewels and pearls.
Seeing Li Xijun touch down, the woman hurriedly lowered her veil and said softly, "Lady An greets Senior."
Li Xijun paused slightly, immediately realizing who she was: An Zheyan's daughter and Li Ximing's new wife, making her his sister-in-law. He quickly lowered his gaze and said, "Sister-in-law, what are you saying? That is being too distant."
Lady An nodded and murmured, "Since Brother-in-law is here to see him, I shall take my leave first."
Li Xijun nodded, then stepped into the backyard cave dwelling. Li Ximing sat upright inside, swallowing the furnace flames into his belly. Looking up at Li Xijun, he said with palpable delight, "Come, come, come!"
Li Xijun swept his spiritual sense over him and immediately understood. He exclaimed in a startled voice, "You... broke through to the eighth layer of Qi Refinement?"
Li Ximing burst into laughter, waved his hand, and said breezily, "I had accumulated enough for a while, and when the whim struck, I simply broke through."
Li Ximing spoke casually and smugly, but Li Xijun knew him well. He knew his brother must have applied himself, merely holding back to wait for praise. So Li Xijun played along and flattered him with a few compliments, making Li Ximing roar with laughter, before adding, "Take another talisman pill, and you will be able to break through to the ninth layer of Qi Refinement. Foundation Establishment is right before your eyes."
"Naturally, naturally!" Li Ximing exhaled a breath of pent-up air and gave his guarantee, his expression turning solemn. "Once Uncle Jiao emerges from seclusion, we can select an island to gain a foothold in the Eastern Sea! Leave guarding the family home to me; I have more than enough power to manage it!"
'I knew you were lazy and wouldn't want to go to the Eastern Sea,' Li Xijun remarked inwardly. He cautioned, "I saw Lady An waiting outside earlier. Although she has a gentle temperament, you shouldn't put on too many airs. Not only do the members of the An family have high innate talent, but An Zheyan has also rendered arduous service over these years. We cannot let them down."
"Yes... yes..." Li Ximing hastily agreed and explained, "I treat her very well! I'm always courteous. I was refining pills just now, so it wasn't convenient to receive visitors."
Li Xijun nodded, hesitated a moment, and finally asked, "Meng Zhuoyun... how do you intend to handle her?"
Li Ximing paused, an awkward expression instantly surfacing on his face. He said in a low voice, "I've persuaded her many times, but she refuses to give up her vengeance and stay with our family. In a little while, I'll send her away. There's no need to say more..."
Seeing Li Xijun frown, Li Ximing quickly explained, "It's not as though I've mistreated her! The resources she was due and the alchemy techniques she was to be taught—I've provided every bit. When the time comes, our debts will cancel out, and that will sever our karmic connection."
Li Xijun clicked his tongue and shook his head. "You! Truly heartless... As I see it, what she seeks from you now isn't any of those things..."
"This..."
Having his romantic entanglement laid bare before his brother, Li Ximing was finally flustered and mildly annoyed. He stammered, "How could that be... What kind of person is she... Sigh... it was merely a transaction of the flesh."
Li Xijun cast a glance at him and softly cautioned, "Since you intend to have her leave, keep a close eye on her. Ensure she doesn't carry away anything bearing our family's insignia, lest it bring trouble in the future."
"That makes sense," Li Ximing replied absentmindedly. Li Xijun helplessly took his leave.
Only then did Li Ximing sit up straight. Several paintings drifted across the courtyard; he drew them over with a casual wave of his hand, inspected them closely for a moment, and put them away.
Spitting out the Continuous Motion Primordial Fire from his mouth, the small ripple Meng Zhuoyun had stirred in his heart was swiftly cast to the back of his mind, completely forgotten.
***
Libu Commandery, Wubu Market.
In just three months, Li Xizhi had sorted out every regulation and detail in the market. By winning over several shopkeepers of rogue cultivator origin and extending conveniences to the shops of the Xiao, Yuan, and Yang families, he had brought the entire market under his control.
'With Qingchi backing me, this was naturally effortless... none dared defy me.'
If he had lacked the backing of Qingchi and three noble clans, balancing factions and winning people over would have taken more than ten times as long. Now, with just a few orders issued, Li Xizhi already had spare time to cultivate.
According to the unspoken rules of the sect, he could have already skimmed off various marginal profits. The amounts were modest, but fearing someone might use it against him, Li Xizhi did not touch a copper.
That was precisely why no one had been willing to take charge of this market for so long. Wubu Market was not a large trading post; ordinary peak disciples felt uneasy about the risks, while disciples of direct lineages looked down on the meager pickings. Only Li Xizhi, whose heart was set on his family, found contentment here.
'The spiritual aura here is far inferior to Qingchi, but it is carefree and free of constraints. One doesn't have to live in fear and vigilance.'
As he was pondering, a subordinate stepped forward from below, cupped his hands respectfully, and said, "Reporting to My Lord, the dossiers on Tangjin Gate are here."
Li Xizhi took them and flipped through, soon finding Situ Mo. On the surface, Situ Mo was a member of Tangjin Gate's current main branch, but he was likely an orphan of the branch destroyed years ago.
Originally, Tangjin Gate had been led by the eldest son, Situ Li's lineage, who had formed marital ties with Xuanyue Gate. Later, after the founding patriarch Situ Tang perished, the second son, Situ Nu, gained the backing of Jinyu Sect, murdered his elder brother, seized power, and attained the Purple Palace realm.
Afterward, Situ Nu died, and Tangjin Gate fractured into several factions. In the end, they submitted to Qingchi Sect, and the eldest brother's lineage was restored. Situ Nu's branch was slaughtered almost to the last person, leaving only Situ Mo alive. That was the origin of his background.
'What an utter mess.'
Having read through the summary, Li Xizhi clearly discerned traces of the clash between Qingchi and Jinyu. The repeated massacres and power struggles within Tangjin Gate were nothing more than manifestations of the strife between the two great sects.
'It was an act of helplessness; otherwise, they wouldn't have secretly preserved Situ Mo's life.'
Li Xizhi felt inwardly alarmed as he read. Turning to the subordinate below, he asked, "Where is Situ Mo now? Has he taken on any assignments?"
The man below said respectfully, "Reporting to My Lord, it is said he accepted a mission to the Eastern Sea. He might not return for several years."
"Go on," Li Xizhi prompted.
The man explained, "According to cultivators from the Han, Fu, and He families who came to the market, the Xuanyue Kong clan dispatched two Foundation Establishment cultivators to a market overseas, occupying two extra islands and blockading the sea route. As a result, Tangjin Gate's market lost more than half its foot traffic.
"Originally, Xuanyue and Tangjin had cordial relations with no conflicts between them. But in recent years, relations have deteriorated, leading to this development. Tangjin Gate dispatched Situ Mo to deal with it."
Li Xizhi weighed this in his mind. He pulled out a brief letter, wrote to his family, and sent it off. Then the old servant came to report again, saying a Buddhist monk was requesting an audience.
"A monk?"
Li Xizhi grew wary. He asked carefully about the monk's appearance, and once certain it was Kongheng, he clasped a talisman in his hand before heading out to meet him.
The monk had pale skin, narrow eyes, a long face, and round ears—it was indeed Kongheng. He said solemnly, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist. Entrusted by your esteemed clan, I have brought a precious herb."
Hearing it was a precious herb, Li Xizhi knew what it was. But Kongheng did not take it out. He merely fixed his eyes on Li Xizhi and said softly, "Fellow Daoist, please present your jade pendant."
'Quite a stubborn one,' Li Xizhi thought with a smile. Although the two had met before, both were cautious. He produced the jade pendant signifying the Li family's direct lineage. Only then did Kongheng apologize and place the jade box into his hands.
Li Xizhi swept his spiritual sense over it and confirmed it was indeed the Blood Sun Fruit. He said softly, "Please stay a while, Master. The sword will soon finish reforging, and I must trouble Master to carry it back."
Kongheng nodded and withdrew. Li Xizhi let out a long breath, feeling relieved.
'Li Encheng's matter can finally be settled... I should take a trip to Xuanyuan Market and establish a connection with Li Encheng first.'
Since Situ Mo had gone to the Eastern Sea, Li Xizhi felt much more at ease. Leaving market affairs in the hands of the two old men, he took flight and flew toward Xuanyuan Market.
Xuanyuan Market was situated near Mount Dongli, very close to Libu Commandery. Having retrieved the precious herb, Li Xizhi conjured a mist over his face to conceal his features. When he landed outside the market, an Embryonic Breathing cultivator came out to greet him, asking, "Senior is...?"
Li Xizhi merely replied, "A rogue cultivator from Xunlin Plain, currently traveling far and wide."
Li Xizhi was here on private business, so he could not use his Qingchi identity; fabricating one was his only choice. The Embryonic Breathing cultivator was not surprised, taking out a circular magical artifact and saying respectfully, "Senior, please channel a wisp of true essence into this."
The demonic tribulation had raged for a long time, and all major markets had taken precautions, barring demonic cultivators from entering to prevent internal and external sabotage from breaking the markets.
Li Xizhi nodded slowly and channeled a wisp of true essence. The artifact immediately emitted a white light. The cultivator gasped, "An orthodox cultivator..."
Li Xizhi nodded, ignoring the man's fawning expression. Taking the jade token handed to him, he stepped inside. After searching through the bustling market for a while, he soon located the Enshui Pill Pavilion.
Stepping inside, a servant came forward to attend to him. Li Xizhi waved his hand and said, "Fetch your shopkeeper."
Although he had concealed his feather robe and veiled his face so his identity could not be recognized, his tone was calm and his bearing extraordinary. The servant dared not dawdle, rushing upstairs. Before long, a tall, thin man wearing a short jacket came down, smiling and cupping his hands, "I am Li Enxi. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
Li Enxi was in early Foundation Establishment, yet he treated Li Xizhi very politely. Naturally, Li Xizhi dared not act arrogant. Following him into a secret chamber, Li Xizhi wiped his face, revealing his true appearance.
Li Enxi nodded in realization; evidently, he recognized him. He replied, "So it is little friend Xizhi. I received my elder brother's instructions and have been waiting for quite some time."
Li Xizhi took out the jade box and said softly, "A modest meeting gift. Please accept it."
Li Enxi took it. A sweep of his spiritual sense told him what lay within, and he asked softly, "Little friend's surname Li... could it be the Wei Li?"
Li Xizhi nodded in confirmation. Li Enxi's face instantly lit up with delight, and he whispered, "Truly of the same family! My brothers and I had already guessed as much. Only the remnants of our Wei Li could produce several such talents."
His gaze grew much warmer as he said courteously, "Counting generations, my brothers and I are at least of Ancestor Mutian's generation... Ah, never mind, never mind. Let's not count seniority, lest it make it awkward for you to speak."
Li Xizhi nodded modestly. Their kinship was separated by a thousand years; how could any real bond remain? It was merely a means to draw closer.
In the end, Li Encheng needed a dependable noble clan, and the Li family needed an experienced pill cultivator at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment. Knowing this full well, Li Xizhi exchanged pleasantries with him.
Li Enxi whispered, "My elder brother has little lifespan remaining. Now, achieving the Purple Palace is his only way forward. In the future, we will need much assistance from our ancestral family."
Seeing him lay down his terms, Li Xizhi politely nodded and said warmly, "Naturally. It is only that my family is weak and isolated, so I fear we may not be of much help... In certain matters, we will still require guidance and care from our two seniors."
"Indeed."
The two looked at each other, considering a verbal agreement reached. Li Xizhi added, "When the time comes, we will need Senior Encheng's support within the sect..."
"Mm."
Li Enxi paused, took a pill from his robes, and smiled. "Take a look."
Li Xizhi swept his spiritual sense over it. The pill within was snow-white and translucent—it was indeed a Suiyuan Pill! He was immediately overjoyed, unsure whether Li Encheng had secretly refined it himself without using blood qi, or if he had specifically inquired into the Li family's preferences and prepared so thoroughly.
He repeatedly expressed his thanks. Li Enxi chuckled, then his expression suddenly turned fierce. "Conflict with the Wrath lineage... was unavoidable after all. For a full thousand years... these lineages still refuse to let us go..."
These words carried genuine emotion, catching Li Xizhi off guard. Li Enxi continued, "My eldest brother was also killed by monks! This hatred is shared by all of Wei Li. As long as a single breath remains in our Li clan, we will never forget the blood feud of our destroyed kingdom and slaughtered people! When my brother heard about the Maha affair, he guessed you were of the Wei Li line and has been waiting to meet you, little friend..."
Only then did Li Xizhi understand why things had gone so smoothly—there was this underlying factor. He nodded solemnly. The Qingdu Li family's grudge with the Maha had yet to be resolved, and he kept it firmly in mind. His mind stirred, and he said in a low voice, "Speaking of this matter, our whereabouts were recently exposed, and an enemy laid an ambush. The shadow of the Zhao Buddhists was behind it as well."
Li Enxi frowned, hesitating slightly. "If... you are troubled by monks, you may ask me for aid... I can see you are a clever young man, and you know how to gauge boundaries without my saying more..."
Li Xizhi naturally nodded. His relationship with Li Enxi was still shallow; he did not dare bring up Situ Mo's matter, fearing it might scare Li Enxi away. He simply replied, "If there is any trace of Buddhist cultivators, I will certainly inform Senior."
The two conversed for a while, establishing rules for future meetings. Only then did Li Xizhi turn and leave. Riding the wind away, he caressed the hilt of his sword and pondered inwardly:
'Qingchi... the Eastern Sea... Wangyue...'
'Father is already preparing to take action in the Eastern Sea. The family is steadily growing its wings; Seventh Brother and Eighth Brother both have the potential to achieve Foundation Establishment. We only await an opportunity...'
After twenty years of keeping a low profile, lying low, and acting meek in Qingchi, for the first time, his demeanor and posture turned ambitious, unreservedly revealing naked ambition:
'As long as we have the support of Li Encheng, the Yuan family, the Xiao family, and the Ning family, unifying Lake Wangyue will have legal legitimacy...'
'Yu Muxian... Yu Muxian! If only we can eliminate this man, within moments, we can swallow the entire Lake Wangyue whole!'
Chapter 414