Li Xuanxuan held the child in his arms while Li Xuanfeng looked down at the infant, deep in thought. Xuanfeng spoke up, "The matter of Qingsong Temple was intricate and tangled with conflicting interests. Regardless of whether those people possessed karmic mandates, the talents scattered across Jiangnan were nearly all swept up in one net. Taking this as a cautionary tale, our family must remain highly vigilant."
He recounted the ins and outs of Qingsong Temple and said softly, "With the reincarnation of a Golden Core, no one knows how many geniuses sprang forth across Jiangnan, all bearing some degree of karmic mandate. Several immortal sects observed them in secret, guiding them to Qingsong Temple to be utilized and consumed.
"Yet if one truly examines it, even a Purple Palace cultivator cannot discern karmic mandates. Those who came to Qingsong Temple were merely rogue cultivator geniuses who had received the greatest shares of mandate, making them easy for the sects to spot."
Looking around at everyone, he continued, "Could there also be geniuses born into great clans and the direct lineages of immortal sects? Surely there are. Even if not on the level of Tulong Sai, they are at least exceptional talents. Those clans know the perils, so they hide their own prodigies away.
"After all, a rogue cultivator meeting with smooth sailing in everything is bound to look unnatural. But when the child of an established clan or immortal sect easily advances through Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment, who could point to anything amiss?"
Li Xuanfeng added quietly, "By the time this child comes of age, our family will likely have secured control over Lake Wangyue and risen to the ranks of great clans like the Yuans and the Hans. With our ties to several Purple Palace seniors, claiming he possesses Mingyang lineage will not invite covetous eyes. On the contrary, the easily recognizable Mingyang Wei-Li bloodline is deeply coveted by Buddhist cultivators. However, high-ranking Buddhist cultivators cannot enter these lands; no matter how they lust after it, they pose less danger than the greed of Purple Palace seniors. Even so, we must be wary of Buddhist cultivators. Choosing the lesser of two evils, whether this child bears a karmic mandate or not, he shall be known as one of Wei-Li blood, the young master of the Li family."
At these words, everyone nodded in agreement. A karmic mandate was invisible and intangible, and if any grotto-heaven affairs arose, their family would receive word and know enough of the truth to avoid sending anyone in.
Seeing that everyone had taken his words to heart, Li Xuanfeng gave a nod.
As the conversation paused, Li Ximing lifted his sleeve and brought out a jade bottle. He said, "Back in Donghuo Grotto-Heaven, Zhi-ge obtained several pill formulas. Among them was the Three-Perfections Realm-Breaking Pill, and its Xuan Pill can assist in breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Over these past few years, I studied it and managed to concoct one. It is of great benefit for breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Granduncle, since you are heading to the Southern Border, why not take it with you?"
He presented the jade bottle. Inside rested a round, lustrous vermilion pill. The moment the stopper was opened, a refreshing fragrance surged forth, invigorating the spirit.
Li Xuanfeng replied, "Pills capable of aiding a Foundation Establishment breakthrough can only be refined by a rare few even within Qingchi Sect. However, I have my own arrangements for this journey to the Southern Border. You should keep it for the family's use!"
His word was final and his tone decisive, so Li Ximing had no choice but to put it away. Li Xuanfeng pondered for a moment, then drew three arrow shafts from his robes.
"Leave these three arrow shafts with the family. If an urgent crisis arises, snap one. I will sense it immediately from afar and rush back with all speed; I should be able to reach home in two to three days."
Such warning items were uncommon because they could never be preserved for long. Even the life jades that displayed life and death had to be kept close and nourished by spiritual power, needing replacement after at most a year or so. Li Xuanxuan nodded and asked, "How long can they last?"
Li Xuanfeng answered, "I crafted these during my leisure over the past few months. Ordinary spiritual energy and magical power do not last long, but after much study, I condensed them with metal gangqi. They should carry no risk of expiring within five years, and when the time comes, I will send several more back."
The arrow shafts were pitch-black, about an arm's length, without arrowheads. Four dark golden feathers hung at their tails, and upon closer inspection, faint patterns seemed etched along their surface.
Li Xuanxuan marveled at his words and carefully put the three arrow shafts away. Li Xuanfeng looked up at the sky, pinched his fingers to calculate, and remarked with a touch of regret, "The time for my departure draws near; I must be on my way."
True Person Yuansu had actually mentioned that he should not return home too often, but Li Xuanfeng kept those words to himself. Knowing his elder brother's temperament, had he shared Yuansu's sentiment, Xuanxuan would surely refuse to burden him with the arrows for fear of compromising great matters.
Stepping out into the courtyard, Xuanfeng retrieved a small jade boat from his belt and tossed it into the air, turning back with a final word of advice before departing.
Everyone nodded, watching the emerald jade boat vanish into the radiant sunset. Borrowed from Ning Wan, the boat flew with tremendous speed, disappearing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Before long, all that remained in the sky were golden clouds and an orange-red setting sun, stretching for ten thousand li in a vast canopy of golden-red splendor.
In his swaddling clothes, Li Zhouwei gazed at the setting sun with his eyes, where dark gold and crimson mingled in breathtaking harmony.
Watching Li Xuanfeng depart, the others soon dispersed. Li Chengliao happily carried the child down into the courtyard.
His wife, Lady Hu, was fast asleep. Though a Qi Refinement cultivator, the ordeal of childbirth had severely depleted her physical strength and magical power. Having taken spiritual medicine, she was resting inside the room.
His father, Li Xicheng, followed behind him with a beaming smile, twitching his mustache and constantly peering into Chengliao's arms. Father and son closed the doors, and after looking the child over again and again, Li Xicheng suddenly spoke, "Chengliao is now the clan heir. Why not follow the ancient system and call him Shizi?"
His father, Li Yuanyun, had been one of the rare mortals of the direct lineage, living a difficult life and finding little peace even in death. Though Li Xicheng had ultimately become clan head, what he could never let go of was his father.
"If your grandfather were still alive, he would feel greatly relieved."
***
Qingchi Sect.
On Qingsui Peak, the woods were blanketed in snow and the pavilion stood empty. Clad in Daoist robes, Yang Xiao'er sat on a bamboo platform, hands propping her chin.
Every time she emerged from seclusion, she would sit here. Looking down, she could clearly see the colorful rainbow light rising from the cave abode on the mountainside, where her Dao companion, Li Xizhi, was in closed-door cultivation.
The rainbow light drifted up from above the cave abode, shifting through three colors in turn until it soared to the highest point and scattered down like mist. It was the Three-Colored Rainbow Mist she had borrowed.
This spiritual item suited her husband's immortal foundation exceedingly well, so she had arranged a formation before the cave abode to confine it, hoping to increase Li Xizhi's chances of breakthrough.
Her features were somewhat plain, but the splendid robes she wore lent her a touch of elegance, and the magical power of cultivation added a radiant grace that imparted a faint celestial charm.
The leap from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment was a life-or-death pass for countless cultivators, so myriad mysterious rumors naturally circulated. Using items aligned with one's immortal foundation to lay a formation was the most widespread belief. Qingchi Sect had tested it many times and long disproven the theory, yet Yang Xiao'er, preferring to believe it might help, had fetched the spiritual item anyway.
Because he was the one in her heart, she could not help but remain on edge, waiting silently on the platform—hoping for an auspicious anomaly to arise, yet secretly dreading failure.
Li Xizhi often sighed over how, when one of their own underwent a breakthrough, success brought glory both within the sect and without, drawing congratulations from all sides; but failure left the spirit severely injured, with not a soul coming to ask after them. Such a stark disparity troubled him deeply.
In truth, she had no need for such worry. Li Xizhi was innately gifted and deeply versed in spells and scriptures. He had chosen a moment of sudden spiritual inspiration, supplemented by the Suiyuan Pill and Xuandou Pill she had secured from her maternal family. The likelihood of failure was exceedingly small.
From down below came the jingling of bells. A middle-aged man walked up, looking unexceptional and somewhat plain, with an honest air about him. Cupping his hands toward her, he said in a deep voice to greet her.
This man was their junior brother, Yuan Chengzhao, a member of the Yuan family's direct lineage. Possessing a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation, he currently wore a troubled expression, hesitating as if wanting to speak.
"How have things been lately?" Yang Xiao'er asked.
Yuan Chengzhao lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Master has gone missing in the Eastern Sea. We only know he went to Qunyi Strait. With no one in the clan to anchor the situation, everyone is coveting several treasures, making things terribly ugly.
"That clansman of mine, Yuan Chengdun, is truly gifted and currently possesses the highest combat strength in the clan. Though born of a concubine branch, he was adopted into the direct lineage. Ancestor Huyuan wants to push him to become an elder on the mountain, throwing everything into turmoil."
Yuan Chengzhao paced back and forth in agitation, fuming, "What is there to fight over? What is worth fighting for? If he is to go up the mountain, let him go up! A man like Chengdun could never remain at the foot of the mountain running errands. Those treasures are remarkable, but it would suffice to share them in rotation within the clan! What is there to fight over!"
This was an internal problem of the Yuan family, so Yang Xiao'er kept silent at first. Such occurrences were not uncommon; the fall of an ancestor brought immense fallout, and the Yuan family's situation was already comparatively mild. Yet knowing he had cultivated on the mountain since childhood and understood little of such matters, she worried he would suffer losses if he returned to his clan with such an attitude. She tactfully advised, "What they fight over is not just a seat... it is the factional interests and clan legitimacy behind it. You must not take it lightly, lest your clan follow in the footsteps of the Jiang family of Lake Yu."
Master Yuan Tuan had gone out to the Eastern Sea years ago and had not returned. As a member of the Yang family, Yang Xiao'er knew a fair bit about the situation, perhaps even more than Yuan Chengzhao did. She comforted him softly, "Do not worry. Your clan still has three Foundation Establishment cultivators; no matter what, they can hold things together."
If the three ancestors could unite their efforts, it would indeed be manageable. But Yuan Chengzhao lowered his head and murmured, "Is my family not in a similar state? The ancestor has been in closed-door cultivation attempting a breakthrough for decades, and no one knows how things stand."
Speaking of the Yang family, Yuan Chengzhao added, "Your clan senior attempted the Purple Palace breakthrough and suffered a narrow defeat. The resulting anomaly caused rain across seven commanderies for months on end—truly a magnificent spectacle! It seems he fell short by only the final step."
"It has all passed... best to look forward."
While the two were talking, they suddenly looked up, sensing something. Far to the east, a rainbow streak flew over and descended into the mountain. In an instant, spiritual mist surged, and shimmering rainbow radiance drifted across the peaks.
Yuan Chengzhao was overjoyed, and Yang Xiao'er, unable to contain herself, rode the wind downward. Sure enough, the cave abode's stone doors stood wide open, and a young man clad in a feather robe flew out!
"Not bad."
He had noble features and an extraordinary bearing, with a broad chest and an air of dignified grace. Smiling, he drew Yang Xiao'er into his arms.
Li Xizhi kissed her forehead and set her down. The moment Yang Xiao'er's eyes met his, her gaze softened like water, flowing over him and refusing to look away.
Sensing a profound transformation in his presence after the breakthrough, she flushed shyly. Her silence spoke more than a thousand words as she murmured, "The Changxia Mist you formed... it truly carries an air of nobility!"
Sweeping his spiritual sense, Li Xizhi indeed found that his appearance had grown more dignified and distinguished. Yet he cared little for such things, paying no heed to the change. Reaching out, he took the Three-Colored Rainbow Mist into his hand and examined it closely.
"A fine spiritual item! It can be forged into a magical apparatus!"
He smiled and continued, "This Changxia Mist excels in escape arts, gathering rainbows, and casting spells. Once flying with light, I will be far swifter than cultivators of the same rank, and casting spells will be much faster. Even better, it can gather rainbow mists to confound enemies and bless a mountain or territory to nurture spiritual vitality."
"It is indeed a fine foundation for holding down a domain."
Yang Xiao'er's cheeks remained slightly flushed. She gave a few hums of agreement, gazing at him with excitement, tears of joy glistening in her eyes as she giggled softly.
A woman naturally found the man she loved handsome. She leaned against him like a cat, listening as Li Xizhi spoke:
"My breakthrough went smoothly enough. Several years have slipped by in a flash, and I wonder how things are at home. Now that I have broken through to Foundation Establishment, I must seize the time to make a trip back. Father will surely be overjoyed."
A smile of anticipation rose on his face.
Bringing Yang Xiao'er up to the peak, he saw junior brother Yuan Chengzhao come forward to meet them.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother! Eldest Senior Brother has succeeded!"
Yuan Chengzhao offered his congratulations repeatedly, the worry on his brow easing considerably.
Yang Xiao'er had some understanding of matters outside, though she knew nothing of what had transpired inside the grotto-heaven. Just as she was about to share some glad tidings, Yuan Chengzhao spoke in a lowered voice, "Senior Brother, I heard news from outside that Yu Muxian is dead."
Li Xizhi froze. Before he could rejoice, seeing the expression on his junior brother's face and recalling what he had once discussed with his younger brother Li Xijun, his heart suddenly sank, and he frowned. "Who killed him?!"
Yuan Chengzhao only whispered, "He perished together with your father..."
Li Xizhi's face drained of color, and he stumbled back two paces. Beside him, Yang Xiao'er quickly stepped forward to support him. All three fell silent for several breaths.
Yang Xiao'er felt moisture on her face.
Li Xizhi's tears streamed down his neck and dripped onto his feather robe. Pressing his lips together, he forced out, "Thank you for telling me, Junior Brother."
Not wishing to disturb the couple further, Yuan Chengzhao quickly flew away on the wind.
Li Xizhi returned to the cave abode with Yang Xiao'er and took her into his arms. He looked back at the cave dwelling, the tears on his face already gone. Locking the cave abode's grand formation, he said softly, "Junior Sister, I must return to the clan. I will go to the main peak to take on an errand and return home for mourning."
Yang Xiao'er lowered her head and said, "If anything happens at home, you can send a letter. We are much freer now than we used to be."
Chapter 476