Li Chenghuai, now eleven or twelve years old, was led by the hand by Li Yuexiang. He bowed with proper decorum. Li Xizhi raised his brows and looked at them—one was his younger sister, whom he had never seen before, and the other was his own son, whom he had not seen for years.
Their faces felt both unfamiliar and recognizable, yet neither seemed particularly close to him.
Yang Xiao'er was overwhelmed with emotion. She pulled the somewhat bewildered Li Chenghuai into her arms, fussing over his well-being with endless questions. Li Xizhi, on the other hand, was left feeling a hollow pang of loss. Beside him, Li Xuanxuan watched him closely.
When a cultivator entered secluded cultivation, several years passed in the blink of an eye. It was all too easy to miss so much. That was why so many descendants of cultivation clans lacked discipline, turning erratic, arrogant, and incompetent. Moreover, the Qingchi Sect sealed off contact between the inside and outside, deliberately wearing down mortal affections—a tactic that proved remarkably effective.
Li Xizhi fell silent. He dismissed his wife, son, and sister first, and only then listened as Li Xuanxuan recounted the developments of recent years. Having listened intently to every detail, he inquired about certain occurrences within the grotto-heaven before asking in surprise, "Xiao Yongling and Tu Longjian took part in slaying Yu Muxian as well? Not a whisper of this has spread outside."
"That..."
Before Li Xuanxuan could answer, Li Xizhi thought for a moment and already understood. Nodding, he said, "The fact that the Xiao family was willing to help was already a favor to us. Naturally, our family must bear the blame. Since it is hardly a glorious deed, the Xiao family will never step forward to claim credit."
"That is indeed the case," Li Xuanxuan agreed.
Li Xizhi lifted his head, a complex look in his eyes. Though the corners of his eyes drooped with profound sorrow, the edge of his lips curled up slightly, caught between grief and sighs. "Father and I once envisioned unifying Wangyue, yet never did I imagine it would cost his life. Now that Yu Muxian is dead, Lake Wangyue will fall into our hands sooner or later."
"As for when to act..." He paused, lowering his voice. "There is at least one concern. Yu Muxian had extensive connections on Yuanwu Peak. Moving against Lake Wangyue while it remains under Yuanwu Peak's administration would be inconvenient, giving them an excuse to intervene. By my reckoning, it might easily stir up trouble..."
Li Xuanxuan understood immediately and replied, "There are still over ten years before the rotation. I suppose we must do a great deal of groundwork."
"Indeed," Li Xizhi replied. "It is neither too long nor too short—merely the span of two secluded cultivations. However, we must remain vigilant and ensure Yuanwu Peak recruits no more disciples from them."
"Recruit disciples?" Li Xuanxuan gave a faint chuckle. "Do you know what state the Yu family is in right now? With Yu Mugao dead, all the power previously concentrated from external surnames, clan elders, and collateral branches has recoiled at once. Nowadays, any descendant of the direct line who shows the slightest promise suffers a sudden death. How could they possibly offer disciples?"
Li Xizhi's face was as fair as carved jade. His gaze lowered slightly, not relaxing in the least at his grandfather's words. His voice was warm and gentle as it echoed softly in the air. "Grandfather, do not let your guard down... Throughout his life, Father held to one virtue above all: caution. That is well worth emulating."
Li Xuanxuan's smile faded, and he nodded solemnly. Li Xizhi then said softly, "The Yu family's partition of the Jiang family is a cautionary mirror close at hand."
"I understand." Li Xuanxuan knew full well what he meant. To render all of Yu Muxian's connections completely useless, tearing them apart and dividing them was undoubtedly the best method. Furthermore, doing so would give them immense leeway to advance or retreat as they saw fit. He said quietly, "I will see to it at once."
"How are the family's younger generation?" Li Xizhi brushed the previous topic aside to ask.
Li Xuanxuan nodded and answered, "The Shizi, Zhouwei, possesses the Mingyang lineage. He is only two years old and has yet to reveal his brilliance, but his innate talent should be decent at the very least.
"Chengliao carries Yuanping's demeanor—cautious in managing the household, clear-headed in affairs, dull on the outside but sharp within. Back when the matter of Xu Xiao arose, he contributed greatly. He is a fine boy, but the family has been too peaceful these past years, leaving him with little room to wield his talents.
"Chenghuai's talent is passable, with good prospects for Foundation Establishment. The two of them can serve as retainers to the Shizi, shaping him into a capable leader and securing our peace for a century."
"Zhouwei..." Li Xizhi said in surprise. "I should see him. Where is Ximing?"
"Brother!"
No sooner had he spoken than a figure clad in a golden Daoist robe appeared before the door. An Eight Trigrams diagram was embroidered on the back, and the youth carried the faint scent of elixir fire. It was none other than Li Ximing.
Over the past years, Li Ximing had devoted most of his time to concocting pills, rarely entering seclusion. Yet his natural talent was remarkably high; merely practicing cultivation while refining pills had allowed his cultivation to advance steadily.
Li Xizhi's eyes lit up. He clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder and laughed heartily.
"Where is Aunt?"
"She went to the Eastern Sea!"
When they were young, Li Ximing had often gone to watch plays with this older brother, and the two had shared a close bond. He chuckled foolishly, feeling that Li Xizhi had hardly changed from his memories, which filled him with emotion.
Li Xizhi gestured for them to draw closer, his demeanor turning somewhat urgent. After a slight hesitation, he said, "I was only able to leave this time because I accepted a mission to guard Qingsong Island."
He explained briefly. As it turned out, the Qingsong Grotto-Heaven had detached after brushing briefly against the mortal realm. Although Qingsong Island no longer produced spiritual treasures, the event had left its spiritual energy exceptionally dense for a prolonged period, fulfilling the conditions for gathering many varieties of qi and making it a blessed land.
The immortal sects never missed a chance to reap benefits. Each chose a plot of land and marked out borders. Li Xizhi had accepted an appointment to guard the area and gather qi.
"Having accepted a sect mission, time is pressing. I must report back first, then find an opportunity to return home a few times. Along the way, I can also search for traces of my master in the Eastern Sea. I truly cannot afford any delay, so there are a few matters I must clarify with Grandfather to prevent any mishaps."
Li Xuanxuan understood and listened attentively. Li Xizhi said, "First is the Yuan family. Although my master has disappeared in the Eastern Sea, causing internal discord and the loss of their backer, leading them toward ruin, a centipede dies but never falls down flat. The family must not make any rash moves, for that would only harm others and ourselves."
Li Xuanxuan shook his head with a wry smile and said solemnly, "Our two families are allies after all, and the Yuan family has aided us greatly. Naturally, that would never happen!"
"Good! If an opportunity arises, we might even lend them a hand. True friendship in times of hardship is what people remember."
Fearing that might not suffice, Li Xizhi added a word of caution, then lowered his voice into a grave tone. "Has the family paid attention to this rain? It has been pouring for two full years now. This is no longer the kind of might a Foundation Establishment cultivator could wield.
"No matter what, Yuan Licheng was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator who failed his breakthrough. This rain has lasted far too long! By my deduction, someone is likely fanning the flames behind the scenes."
His face grew tense as he continued, "What is more, I saw xiayao along the way. These creatures descend with vast floods, and by all rights, they should belong to either the Heshui or Lushui lineages. Yet I vaguely recall Master saying that Yuan Licheng cultivated the Fushui lineage!"
Li Ximing was slightly startled and whispered, "You mean... Qingchi is intentionally using divine abilities and magical power behind the scenes to cause this deluge?"
Li Xizhi nodded. "I have a few deductions drawn from the Dao of techniques. It is a long story, so I will explain it simply."
He led the two to the desk and drew a circle upon its surface with flowing rainbow light, which turned pure white.
"Every land has its own spiritual atmosphere, and Yue currently happens to be in a state of 'Profound Balanced Ether'—a very fragile balance. That venerable master of Xiuyue used profound methods, forcefully attuning it through Chi Wei and Chu Yi to make it ideal for Sword Immortal Shangyuan of Xiuyue to achieve his breakthrough.
"The Profound Balanced Ether was fragile to begin with. Having been buffeted along the way by the grotto-heaven and the Heshui Dragon race, it is already teetering on the brink of collapse. Yet from what I see now, if this spiritual rain does not cease, I fear it will wash away the Profound Balanced Ether entirely."
Li Xuanxuan frowned. "If that is the case, Xiuyue will not sit idly by."
"I believe Xiuyue has already noticed something amiss," Li Xizhi agreed, continuing, "I fear great events are on the horizon... The family must look out for itself and act according to how the situation unfolds!"
"Understood!"
Li Xuanxuan and Li Ximing nodded in agreement, Ximing looking uncharacteristically solemn. Seeing that both understood, Li Xizhi said, "In the Eastern Sea, 'Water Subsides and Lightning Rises.' It is fitting that Aunt is stationed there. Grandfather, give me a map of Zongquan Island, and I will pay a visit when I have the time."
Li Xuanxuan readily provided it. Li Xizhi lingered no longer. After conferring carefully with his wife, he turned back and said, "Xiao'er, stay home and keep Huai'er company. I shall take my leave first!"
Li Xuanxuan quickly caught hold of him, sending a voice transmission with magical power: "Find a Foundation Establishment demon beast... and do not forget to receive your talismanic roster!"
Li Xizhi nodded. The two saw him off outside Lake Wangyue, their hearts set at ease. Returning together to the mountain peak, Li Ximing remarked, "Having someone within the sect truly keeps us well-informed and prepared for everything. Moreover, through these years of cultivation in the immortal sect, Brother has already taken on the noble bearing of an immortal."
Li Xuanxuan shook his head. "Things are not easy in the sect either. Zhi'er is the most outstanding of your generation. Had he not entered the sect, your younger brother would not have had to bear such hardship."
Li Ximing paused, then sighed. "When Grandfather puts it like that, I feel thoroughly ashamed..."
Li Xuanxuan waved his hand. The old man stroked his white beard, patted the youth's back, and spoke gently: "Every brother contributes what he can. As for you..."
A look of nostalgia surfaced on his face, and he murmured, "When I was young, my brothers and elders were wise, steady, or valiant. Only I ended up on the seat of leadership, and my heart was always burdened with guilt... Later, as I grew older and saw more of the world, I finally understood that sometimes it is not because you are weak or incompetent..."
The old man paused and smiled. "...but because they were simply too exceptional. Had you been placed in any other clan, you, Li Ximing, might well have been a figure who revived a whole generation."
Li Ximing shook his golden sleeves and gave a wry smile, shaking his head. "When I saw Great-Uncle, I thought him an extraordinary being—clad in armor and robes, his eyes like those of a tiger or wolf, a truly terrifying figure of his era. I had never seen such a man. Yet I hear he still fell short of the Ancestor, who cut down the Mahoraga with his sword and suppressed both the Fei and Yu clans.
"Every time I ponder it, it seems almost unbelievable. In this lifetime of mine, I wonder how long it will be before I witness such a figure again."
Li Xuanxuan burst into laughter, declaring with rare boldness, "I fear you will spend your entire life waiting in vain!"
***
Mount Lijing.
Li Chengliao hurried out of the hall, having finished attending to clan affairs just as the sun began to sink.
He oversaw the Clan Rectory, where day-to-day duties were relatively light. A Qi Refinement cultivator had no need for year after year of secluded cultivation. In the span of a few sips of water, with a few strokes and marks of his brush, he had already processed all matters.
Compared to ordinary people, Li Chengliao's talent was fairly good, but it paled in comparison to those of the Xi-Yue generation. It was merely on par with his father's, offering little hope of Foundation Establishment, so he felt no rush to cultivate.
In his eyes, cultivation was not something to chase for a lifetime, but merely a tool for governance. Spending days in seclusion was far inferior to teaching his child or conversing with his wife.
Entering his courtyard, he heard voices from the inner chamber. Stepping inside, he indeed saw his father, Li Xicheng, clad in brocade robes and seated by the writing desk.
Across from him sat a little boy who looked barely two years old. Holding several jade sticks in one hand, the boy was arranging them on the desk with complete absorption.
"Father!" Li Chengliao greeted first.
Li Xicheng smiled and waved his hand, pointing at the young boy.
The child's features were not yet fully formed, his face soft and round, his eyes an amber gold. Hearing the sound, he looked toward Li Chengliao and said softly, "Daddy."
Li Chengliao nodded. Seeing the boy arrange the jade sticks horizontally from top to bottom into six rows, he watched in silence. Beside him, Li Xicheng lowered his voice and spoke softly: "Your uncle returned briefly and left in haste. I was in secluded cultivation at the time and missed the news."
"Uncle Xizhi..." Li Chengliao realized.
His father pondered for a moment, then said, "His meaning was... there is no need to keep the Yu family intact. Scattering them early will also spare us future complications."
Li Chengliao gave a slight nod. Father and son exchanged a glance, and Li Chengliao smiled. "Then let them scatter. Leave this matter to me."
Li Xicheng held a teacup in hand and set it lightly on the desk. "Do you have a plan? It would be best not to leave any traces behind."
Li Chengliao took a sip of tea. "That is simple. Those people are ill-informed; even if they heard of Yu Muxian's death, they probably would not believe it. Add to that the fact that a few clan elders have sealed off the news... We need only let them know."
He called out, and a Jade Court Guard soon stepped forward. Li Chengliao instructed, "Go to the treasury, retrieve the Six-Stone Cloud Plate, and ask Elder An to come over."
An Zheyan arrived shortly. As the old man aged, his temperament had grown ever more peaceful. Cupping his hands, he responded with great courtesy.
Taking the battered spirit artifact from the attendant, Li Chengliao said softly, "I must trouble you, Elder, to lead a contingent to the Yu family. Say that the Yu family framed our clan head back then, and retribution has now visited Yu Muxian. However, considering he was a heroic figure, we present this spirit artifact to entomb his mortal remains, so that his bones will not be left without a resting place."
He paused, and fearing that An Zheyan might not grasp his full intent, he gave a pointed look and said softly, "For this matter, you may make quite a display. The hook snake is still in the lake and likely has not entered seclusion yet. Have him accompany you. With a Foundation Establishment presence holding the line, we need not fear any unexpected mishaps."
An Zheyan nodded with emotion, took the spiritual artifact, and led a large contingent of the Jade Court Guard outside. Li Chengliao then summoned another person and ordered: "Inform those in-laws of the Yu family among the clans on the eastern shore who have secretly aligned with us... Have them rise up together tomorrow and sever all ties with the Yu clan."
Li Xicheng nodded silently from the side. Li Zhouwei quietly looked up at his father, his eyes filled with affectionate closeness. Li Chengliao summoned yet another person and instructed, "When mobilizing the Jade Court Guard... make plenty of noise. Ensure that Guest Retainer Lu's people see it clearly."
This person was Dou Yi, now an old man. He bowed hastily and withdrew. Li Chengliao said softly, "That Guest Retainer Lu who brought down Yu Mugao... seems to have contacted our family secretly several times, yet we never gave an answer. He is a clever man; if he learns of this beforehand, he will naturally make his move.
"This way, even if something goes wrong afterward and someone loyal to Yu Muxian goes mad and rushes in to save the day, no matter how they search souls, they will find no fault with our family!"
He gently lifted Li Zhouwei into his arms and said with a smile, "This is what is called... an open scheme."
Li Zhouwei blinked, leaning against his father's chest, muttering those two words under his breath.
Chapter 478