With Li Chengliao dispatched down the mountain under orders, the two brothers Li Ximing and Li Xijun toured the peaks. Mount Milin had originally been the mountain gate of the Jiang family. Its earth veins ran deep, and while it lacked fire veins, it possessed immense, solid earth vein strength.
Li Ximing pinched his fingers to calculate for a moment, praising, "The earth veins here carry the countenance of famed rivers and great mountains. Although its spiritual energy is somewhat wanting, its foundation can likely rival that of an ordinary Purple Palace mountain gate—it could even barely support a Purple Palace grand array."
Li Xijun nodded. Although their clan possessed numerous immortal mountains, none could truly be called a great mountain; they were all solitary peaks and bizarre crags.
Even Mount Lijing, the cradle of the Li family's rise, owed its prominence to its proximity to Lijing Town. Strictly speaking, it hardly qualified as an immortal mountain; it had been chosen back then simply because it was close at hand when the family first arose.
As for Qingdu in the lake, establishing the current Foundation Establishment grand array had pushed it to its absolute limit. It had only been possible thanks to Liu Changdie's superb array mastery; had it been anyone else, constructing it would have been near impossible.
Around ten cave dwellings had been carved out on Mount Milin. Only one or two possessed spiritual energy dense enough to rival Mount Qingdu, yet they still fell short of their clan's finest cave dwellings on Mount Wu.
The Jiang family had passed down the Yuzhen lineage for generations, and the Yu family likewise cultivated the Yuzhen Path. Although the mountain had been trampled repeatedly and lay in ruins, shattered jade still littered the ground, with several jade vessels lying scattered haphazardly.
Li Xijun lifted one with dharmic power, inspected it briefly, and said softly, "I have heard that the ancestor of the Jiang family was a disciple of the Immortal Abode who cultivated the Yuzhen Path—the very same lineage as that True Person of the Xiuyue Sect."
Li Ximing's expression turned inscrutable, and he suddenly brought up certain matters with worry, saying, "There probably isn't much time left before True Person Shangyuan attempts his breakthrough. Granduncle wrote a letter saying that before long, he and True Person Yuansu will head to the Northern Sea to observe the ceremony... Yuansu doesn't have much lifespan left either..."
The two fell silent, a subtle gloom lingering in their hearts. The Li clan had seen plenty of aristocratic families—Yu, Fei, Yuan, Xiao, and even the Chi family of Qingchi Sect—each showing different faces of established clans.
Both sensed the gathering storm. Not to mention Purple Palace immortal clans, even prominent families like theirs felt uneasy and anxious. The Xiao clan had long sealed its doors from the world and could hardly be counted on.
Meanwhile, Yuansu, who barely counted as one of their clan's backings, had little lifespan remaining. In this world, without a Purple Palace powerhouse behind you, one unknowingly becomes a bargaining chip in others' schemes.
Standing upon the mountain gate of a former Purple Palace clan, this feeling grew particularly intense. Li Xijun was silent for a moment, then could only sigh, "We can only look to the next generation."
"The Cheng generation are not dull-witted, but their cultivation is too shallow. Relying on our clan's reserves, Qi Refinement is possible, but Foundation Establishment is too difficult. Chengliao is decent, but Chenghuai's talent falls short. His parents were exceptional; his luck was simply poor..."
Although both held great confidence in Li Zhouwei, a single pillar cannot support a great hall. They constantly hoped for one or two more outstanding children to give them confidence for the future.
The higher a cultivator's realm, the greater the probability of their offspring possessing spirit apertures and good aptitude. Yet this rule was not always reliable. Li Xijun was fairly fortunate, whereas Li Chengliao's eldest son lacked a spirit aperture entirely, causing him endless regret.
Seeing their clan gradually amass an impressive foundation, yet succeeding generations rarely producing brilliant talents—even with strict upbringing preventing them from being easily deceived, there was a sense of slowly walking into the footsteps of fallen families.
"Let us see how the younger generation fares."
As it was a day worth celebrating, the two quickly dispelled that somber atmosphere. Li Chengliao happened to come up, followed by a middle-aged woman, plainly dressed, following with downcast eyes.
Li Chengliao explained, "Reporting to the two clan uncles, this is Fellow Daoist Yu Xianghua. She was originally of the Yu clan's direct line, later married to an outsider. When the Yu clan fractured and fought internally, she was hidden by a guest elder and survived."
Yu Xianghua fell to her knees beside him, tears streaming without end as she kowtowed. "I beg the two ancestors to grant a way out for my clan's bloodline... There are a hundred and eighty Yu clan men and women imprisoned in the dungeons of various peaks... My elder brother is willing to offer our techniques, seeking only..."
"Do you underestimate Foundation Establishment methods?" Li Xijun said coldly. "We do not need him to offer his arts; we have methods to obtain whatever is in your brother's hands."
"These remaining bloodlines of yours—the men will marry in as matrilocal husbands, the women will marry out, uniting with our collateral branches and taking positions as clan soldiers to oversee them over there!"
Yu Xianghua wept bitterly, lamenting, "Things have come to this; our family has no other path. The deeds of the past century were all done by Yu Muxian and his son. Since their deaths, everyone in the family spat upon them, and many Yu people even secretly colluded with your noble clan. Now our entire family is destroyed—retribution is clear and just. We only prostrate and beg for a chance to live!"
She kowtowed repeatedly until blood stained the jade bricks. Li Xijun watched quietly for a time, then said softly, "The Yu clan will be sent to the lands of the Shanyue to populate the shaman regions, where we still need people to watch over them."
Yu Xianghua murmured, "Thank you, Ancestor."
She then explained, "Reporting to the two ancestors, this secret chamber is not constructed by ordinary means. Although I am of the direct line, I was never taught the matching unlocking technique... My elder brother is of the direct line; he should know it."
She was soon led away. Li Xijun considered the matter and said softly to Li Ximing, "Those among the Yu family and their remnants who lack cultivation talent will be wed one by one to our own clansmen. After just sixty years, the contradictions and hatred can be completely shifted into enmity between the Dong people, the Shanyue, and the Yu clan."
"Using these people to oversee the Yu clan allows their hatred to vent completely. Their children will bear the surname Li, giving them an excuse to console themselves that our family did not eradicate theirs in name."
"The Qingchi Sect's calculations were not necessarily bad either—merely utilizing everything to its utmost, which makes it seem a bit dirtier."
Li Ximing nodded, "Indeed, that makes sense!"
Li Ximing smiled and shook his head. "I always thought that among us brothers, Jun-di was the kindest. In the end, you are still a true Li."
Li Xijun smiled and shook his head. "Fortunately, I am not Chi Zhiyun!"
Li Chengliao stood by listening in a daze, looking at his younger uncle with a brand-new gaze, awed by the qualities revealed in him, musing inwardly, 'Uncle's scheme... truly masters the art of driving people.'
Meanwhile, the Yu clan direct descendant had already been brought up, covered in torture marks and shackle indentations. He was silent, first bowing to the two ancestors.
Looking at the two ancestors, the man's face was deathly pale as he said, "Reporting to the two ancestors."
He rose, bit his fingertip, and formed hand seals. A jade-white light beamed from his hand onto the stone wall for a quarter of an hour. Gradually, a seam opened in the stone.
As he spoke, the vault doors slowly opened, revealing the shimmering colors of treasures inside.
Li Ximing did not enter, but smiled at him and called out, "Chengliao, call a few men up to enter the vault and retrieve the goods."
Although Li Ximing spoke casually, he remained inwardly guarded. Li Xijun was likewise cautious, wary of hidden arrays or secret traps, and did not let the Yu man enter either, lest a Purple Palace talisman remain inside that the man could use to perish together. Instead, he watched the Li clan's Jade Court Guards step forward.
The Jade Court Guards carried out goods. Soon, an exquisite box was brought out, embroidered with bright silver-white patterns on a dark, slate-gray base that showed its age.
It was opened, revealing a token resting neatly inside.
The token was lusterless, an interwoven silver-white and iron color, carved with mysterious patterns. Palm-sized, it fit neatly in hand, bone-chillingly cold, yet comfortable to hold.
Li Xijun pondered slightly and said softly, "This is the 【Six Xin Unified Metal Token】."
He instantly thought of the gray flame Guo Hongyao once wielded, which later fell into Tu Longjian's hands, named the 【Six Ding Combined Fire Token】!
Li Ximing was startled for a moment, then caught on quickly, asking, "What is it?"
Li Xijun said, "This token originally belonged to the Yu ancestor—his most formidable dharma artifact. I heard it was a Jiang family spirit artifact!"
That was a Purple Palace spirit artifact!
Li Ximing immediately grew suspicious. In the decades since the Yu clan's downfall, at least eight or ten Purple Palace figures had secretly scoured this mountain; how could a Purple Palace spirit artifact still remain? He asked, "Oh? Is there any record of its origin?"
The Yu descendant nodded slightly with a sigh, explaining, "Alas, after the ancestor died, no one in the Yu clan could use this spirit artifact. It sat in storage for decades until one day, someone came from the north."
"That person called himself by the surname Wang—True Person Jinglue."
Hearing this, Li Ximing's expression shifted immediately, turning grave. Squinting slightly, he murmured, "The Yinghua Wang family!"
"A Purple Palace immortal of that Great Wang Sword Immortal! Perhaps even his senior!"
The two were shaken, exchanging looks. Both knew what this meant: the Li clan had encountered something similar and benefited from it—the sword immortal Wang Xun who had sought sword intent and left behind a Foundation Establishment spirit root, which remained one of the Li family's greatest foundations.
They listened intently as the man said in a low voice, "That True Person came straight through, saying little, only demanding that the Yu clan hand over this spirit artifact. Powerless to resist, the Yu clan obediently yielded it."
He hesitated slightly before continuing, "That True Person did not take it for nothing. He made a promise: henceforth, whatever the Yu clan's fortunes, as long as he remained alive, he would ensure the Yu bloodline survived."
"Thus, that True Person displayed a divine ability and extracted the 【Six Xin Unified Metal】 from within the spirit artifact 【Six Xin Unified Metal Token】."
"The True Person also left a message... saying that if one ever saw golden flowers filling the northern sky with endless roars, clouds of dragons and tigers rising and falling within the cloud banks, the sun losing its radiance, and the stars dimming, one could drink a cup of wine to congratulate him."
Those words stunned all three of them. A single thought flashed through their minds: "Breaking through to the Golden Core!"
The men were immersed in this ancient legend with lingering awe. They pressed the man with a few more questions, but he knew nothing more, saying only that there were such rumors in the clan and some records in the library, which he had heard only by chance.
The Jade Court Guards were still carrying things out—gold, silver, jade treasures, spirit medicines, and dharma artifacts—things usually hard to come by, yet the men present were somewhat restless and distracted.
Yet the Yu descendant watched with an increasingly pale face, his legs trembling in agony. His expression shifted repeatedly as he watched these treasures carried out one by one. Placing his hand over the Shengyang Mansion between his brows, he murmured, "Alas! I have no face to see my ancestors."
Dharmic power erupted. The Shengyang Mansion housed his spiritual sense; unable to withstand such a blow, his breath ceased instantly. He collapsed onto the ground with a dull thud.
Li Ximing withdrew his hand that had stopped Li Xijun from intervening, letting the man have his wish. Without a word, he looked at Li Chengliao. "Dispose of the corpse."
Li Ximing nodded casually. The Yu clan might not speak of it, but who could say how much hatred lay in their hearts? The Yu people who had sold out their family's interests to defect to the Li clan were already numerous; another hundred-odd would not be an issue.
***
Xuanyue Gate.
Li Xizhi sat before a jade table, explaining the whole matter clearly.
Across the table, the host sipped tea, furrowing his brows in astonishment. "In their current state, the Chi family's situation must not be good. Yet they still have the mind to pull such moves? What is Chi Zhiyun thinking!"
Li Xizhi refilled the tea and said softly, "It is hard to say. I fear it may be something the Chi family did privately... Chi Zhiyan is narrow-minded and petty, and Ning Hejing is thoroughly selfish; both are capable of such things."
"We must still find a pretext. Whether Chi Zhiyun believes it or not, it will serve as a way out for him. If done without rhyme or reason, it would appear too suspicious."
The host smiled and rose, saying, "Rest assured, Xizhi. Such a minor matter, now that you have come, is nothing given my friendship with your father. Then I will send someone to your noble clan and Qingsui Peak to give a formal reply."
Hearing this, Li Xizhi felt relieved, thinking, 'As expected of father's good friend, his mind and methods are certainly not weak... Addressing it in a single sentence saves me from having to ask further.'
Li Xizhi nodded repeatedly, then turned back to look at Li Qinghong, saying in a low voice, "As for the Han family side, I'll entrust it to Aunt."
Li Qinghong nodded her delicate head. She agreed first, saying, "My sect's True Person gave some instructions recently, including an immortal decree to go to a place called Mount Xiashan in the Eastern Sea to capture rainbow clouds. The rainbow clouds there fall extremely quickly, beyond the reach of ordinary Foundation Establishment."
Li Qinghong rose with a smile and added, "I have accumulated enough. After this journey, I can enter seclusion to break through to late Foundation Establishment... The family matters will have to be left to my younger brothers."
With a word of farewell to Li Xizhi, Li Qinghong rode the wind out of the formation and set off toward the Eastern Sea.
Chapter 519