The Han family's Dongliu Island was renowned for producing spirit sulfur and brimstone. Their earliest ancestor had been nothing more than an independent cultivator peddling spirit sulfur, but through generations of accumulation and currying favor with various powers, they had gradually climbed to their present standing.
Li Qinghong arrived riding the wind. Dongliu Island appeared peaceful, as if all was calm and quiet. She pondered silently for a moment: *I do not know what the Han family's attitude will be; better not reveal myself just yet.*
Pinching a concealment incantation, she channeled her magic power to descend into the marketplace. The population was quite dense, with cultivators weaving through the bustling crowd. She sought out a business belonging directly to the Han family.
Being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she passed straight through the front courtyard and reached the great hall in the rear. A shopkeeper was clicking away at an abacus. He possessed Qi Refinement cultivation and was dressed like a trusted confidant of the Han family.
Purple light rippled across her, and she gradually phased into view from head to foot. She suddenly manifested in the courtyard, lightning swirling within her eyes, letting her aura flare. "Where is your family head? Have him come see me."
The man was startled at first. Taking in her appearance—the pristine jade armor, the extraordinary purple mystery bottle hanging at her waist—he immediately recognized that she was no ordinary figure.
"Greetings, Fairy! Greetings, Fairy! The family head has traveled out; I shall fetch an elder at once!"
He repeatedly begged his leave and hurried away. Before long, he ushered in a middle-aged man draped in a red robe. Looking anxious, he possessed only early Foundation Establishment cultivation. Stepping forward, he asked cautiously in a low voice, "Fairy... are you an esteemed figure from Qingchi, or have you come from Lake Wangyue?"
Li Qinghong replied calmly, "I am Li Qinghong of the Li family. I have come regarding my nephew."
The middle-aged man's face instantly went pale, and he stammered, "Nephew... Could it be Li Xizhi?!"
"My clan's Xizhi has gone missing," Li Qinghong said. "I went to Qingsong Island, only to hear that he traveled to your noble clan's domain. I wonder..."
The middle-aged man's complexion drained completely, and he mumbled, "Li Xizhi is missing! As expected!"
He quickly composed himself and said, "Fairy, this is no place to speak. Please, follow me inside."
Li Qinghong nodded. Once they entered the inner courtyard, tea was served. The Han elder strained to appear calm, but he kept turning the jade cup in his hands, speaking in a low voice: "Fellow Daoist... after all, there is friendship between our two clans, and we have traded for many years. To be fair and equitable, the responsibility for this matter largely does not lie with our noble clan."
Li Qinghong's expression grew serious. "I know a few things as well... It was to search for Yuan Tuan. Since it was for personal affairs, I will not dwell on placing blame; finding the person is paramount. Is there a general direction? I shall go look for him."
"Indeed, indeed... but I truly do not know where my elder brother took the senior! I only heard it was to search for Yuan Tuan..." He gritted his teeth and whispered, "My elder brother is dead!"
Li Qinghong was inwardly aware that the Han family head and that follower had already perished. The Han family had lost two Foundation Establishment cultivators in a single stroke—a late Foundation Establishment family head and a loyal mid Foundation Establishment servant. Having both arms severed in this manner was a grave blow sufficient to shake their foundation.
The Han elder lamented in grief, "Our clan finally produced a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet my elder brother led our man into the East Sea only to throw his life away in vain! But Qingchi is fierce. As Fairy said, they will not let this drop lightly... I beg Fairy to point a way out..."
He knew full well that this matter was of immense consequence. The Li family had ties with a Purple Palace master within the Qingchi Sect! Once Li Xizhi perished, Qingchi would never let it go lightly. His face grew even paler as another figure sprang to mind:
"Geng Metal Astral String" Li Xuanfeng!
This man's fame had grown increasingly formidable in recent years. The Han family had witnessed his demon-slaying with their own eyes—a mid Foundation Establishment demon beast had taken a few of his arrows near Dongliu Island and plunged headfirst into the sea!
*If Li Xizhi has met with mishap, how could that ferocious man let us off lightly! I hear he is utterly unreasonable; he might very well slaughter his way onto our island!*
Li Qinghong sighed secretly, thinking to herself: *The Han family does have a history of friendship with our clan. Although their family head acted out of self-interest, he ultimately perished while doing something for Zhi'er... Our family is somewhat in the wrong here, so I should not terrorize him too excessively.*
Softening her tone, she said, "Qingchi will likely send someone to interrogate, and they will not let you off as easily as I have. Fellow Daoist, you had best pray for your own good fortune!"
Seeing her demeanor soften, the Han elder hastily added, "Although I do not know what entanglement my brother had with the Daoist... if your noble clan has any demands, my Han family will do our utmost to cooperate and help your noble clan search for the Daoist's traces! So long as Qingchi's people come, your noble clan need only insist that Zhi'er asked for information and then departed, parting ways with our clan's two men. My clan has connections within the sect and will never allow your noble clan to offend Qingchi."
Li Qinghong nodded. Seeming prepared to leave on her lightning, she suddenly recalled something and remarked casually, "Only one thing: I came here in secret. From arrival to departure on this island, I have only seen that subordinate of yours. This conversation must be kept strictly confidential, not letting a third person know—act as if I never came."
Only then did the Han elder breathe a sigh of relief, yet he quickly grew tense again. Seeing Li Qinghong looking at him with a faint smile without departing, he instantly understood.
He hesitated for merely a breath; the Yuan family's Subduing Demon Twin Cudgels in his hands suddenly felt like scalding coals. He hurriedly produced them from his storage bag and spun a lie: "This item is the dharma artifact of Yuan Chengdun. It fell into the hands of a rogue cultivator and was later acquired by our family. Before we had the chance to present it to the Daoist, allow us to offer it to Fairy first!"
Li Qinghong glanced at it. The twin cudgels shimmered with a clear luster of cyan-gold, carved with intricate patterns—a rare matched pair of Foundation Establishment dharma artifacts. She replied, "Something is still missing!"
"Understood, understood!" the Han elder replied. "I shall go search for it at once."
She nodded slightly. "Many thanks."
"Fairy, please stay!" the Han elder called out, offering elaborate words of praise as he walked her out. He thought to himself: *Right... the Li family is an inland clan from the realm, and I hear they place great stock in righteousness and morality. No wonder she let my clan off so easily! Good, very good. People like this value virtue, reputation, and their standing; I must flatter her more.*
He wracked his brains to pour out compliments. Having stayed overseas for so long, Li Qinghong knew full well what these overseas clans were like; she merely hummed noncommittally to brush him off, offered a few parting cautions, and took to the sky.
Watching her figure vanish into the distance, the Han elder paused outside for several breaths, his face darkening with a ruthless edge characteristic of overseas cultivators. *I must also find an excuse to conceal the news of my elder brother's death, lest the surrounding clans get ideas.*
With a stir of resolve, he kept his hand on his sword and walked up to the threshold. The shopkeeper was waiting nearby, peeking around; seeing him, the man quickly shrank back, bowing meekly.
As the shopkeeper stepped forward, the Han elder drew his sword and brought it down, severing the man's head in a single stroke! Before the blood could erupt, it was sucked into the small gourd at his waist. Within several breaths, flesh stripped and bones crushed, the entire man had vanished without a trace.
He murmured coldly, "Moral righteousness... is truly the most luxurious of luxuries."
***
Meanwhile, the items from the secret chamber of Milin Peak had all been carried out, filling the hall to capacity.
Li Xijun was somewhat distracted, toying with the Six Xin Unified Metal Token in his hand. The token was sleek and smooth, an unbroken silver-gray; when sunlight fell upon it, it shifted back to a silver-white and purple sheen. However, the items inside had already been completely emptied; only its sturdy casing remained.
Li Ximing examined it carefully. It was also his first time seeing such an object, and he said softly, "I have never heard of this 'Unified Metal'; perhaps it is a Dao lineage from the north... Combined Fire, Harmonious Water, Unified Metal... If extrapolated this way, there should be five tokens. One wonders what their purpose is; Harmonious Water might well be in the hands of the Dragon clan."
Li Xijun said in a low voice, "Let us keep this Six Xin Unified Metal Token for now. Find an opportunity to send it to the Southern Border. Third Grand-Uncle cultivates the Gengjin Dao; it is better placed in his hands."
He mentioned it only in passing, quickly returning his gaze to the items before them. The Yu family of Milin had suffered frequent crises in recent years, and their reserves were largely exhausted. The only things that truly caught the Li family's eye were a few precious herbs.
Li Ximing inspected them thoroughly. One was light and clean, no bigger than an eyeball, snow-white and translucent, looking as if it could drift away at any moment—the healing precious herb, the Xiayunluo.
"Not bad."
Another was enveloped in rising flames, dim and hazy, slender and elongated, radiating a wave of heat—also a rare precious herb, the Taiyan Long Fruit. It was an uncommon fire-attribute precious herb. The two could only examine it from outside its seal, unable to discern which fire lineage it belonged to, though seeing its bright radiance, it did not seem to be Combined Fire.
Li Ximing then took up another jade box and lifted the lid. Inside lay a purple fruit the size of a fist, densely pitted with tiny holes, from which wisps of vapor lazily drifted outward.
"Zilianpu."
"I hear that when the World-Honored One traveled through the nations, whenever he came upon a place where the people suffered in hardship, he would pause to rest, and an exotic seed would fall, bearing the Zilianpu, which is greatly sought after by Buddhist cultivators."
Li Ximing smiled and said gently, "Kongheng has followed our family for decades, working hard and conscientiously in the East Sea without complaint, keeping to his duty. We have never bestowed anything on him; let us grant this item as a reward."
Li Xijun naturally had no objection. The two quickly packed the treasures away, and Li Ximing summoned Li Chengliao, delegating all remaining affairs to him. "Work diligently."
Li Chengliao bowed with a smile. "Yes."
Li Ximing added, "Senior Bai Rong is still waiting for me in the town. It is not good to keep him waiting long; I shall head over now."
Drifting over on the wind and snow, he entered Lijing Town and landed nearby. He saw crowds of clan members gathered beneath the hall, all craning their necks to look toward a certain side palace.
Li Ximing paused in surprise. He saw Bai Rong sitting on the eaves with one leg crossed and the other dangling over the tiles, swinging back and forth. Holding a bowl of purple berries, the fox spirit was smiling down at the crowd below. He tossed berries down even as he popped them into his own mouth, and the mortals eagerly reached up with wide eyes.
As Li Ximing arrived, the clan members below grew fearful and bowed to the ground in unison. Li Ximing descended, saw that they were all mortals, and waved his hand to dismiss them before rising into the air on the wind.
Bai Rong somewhat guiltily put away the bowl of berries and hurriedly changed the subject: "No wonder I searched all over that mountain and couldn't find Li Tongya's grave—so it was moved here! Take me to pay respects to my old friend first!"
*Truly the temperament of a fox after all,* Li Ximing thought. He nodded, guiding him toward Mount Qingdu while explaining, "The clan has now relocated to this mountain. When Senior visits next time, you may come directly to Mount Qingdu."
Bai Rong nodded and went off to rest and cultivate. Li Ximing rose on the wind, looking out over the south and east banks—both now flew his clan's banners. Nearly half of the vast Lake Wangyue was already in their hands. Silently, he reflected that the shared aspiration he and Li Yuanjiao had held all those years ago to unify Lake Wangyue was no longer far away.
Chapter 520