Li Zhouwei counted the days, stepped out of the hall, and walked down the corridor. An Siwei had long been waiting in the side hall and bowed respectfully.
"Your Highness, are you visiting Lady Chen today...?"
"With Kongheng guarding her, there is no need to go every day. Let us go see the eldest young master instead!"
Lady Chen had become pregnant earlier, so Li Zhouwei had visited her more frequently. But calculating the time, he realized he had not seen Li Jiangqian for a while. The boy had turned six, nearly reaching the age to begin cultivation.
"The eldest young master is still out on the islet. Your Highness, this way..."
Li Zhouwei looked up and asked in a low voice, "What is he doing on the islet?"
"The various branches on the islet have gradually settled. The eldest young master said he wanted to look upon the clansmen before coming to pay his respects to Your Highness."
Li Zhouwei nodded and walked out. Proceeding beyond the main hall, he saw a bustle of people crowding around the child as he approached. Those trailing behind carried book chests and large parasols, bustling in earnest. Li Zhouwei glanced back and chuckled.
"These juniors of yours certainly trail him every single day."
That light laugh sent a chill down An Siwei's spine, and he hurried to murmur in a low voice, "Your Highness, after all, the young master's maternal line comes from the An clan. Every member of our clan shares in that honor. As the young master came out to tour the islet, several of them naturally accompanied him to cater to his needs..."
"Mm."
Li Zhouwei bent down and lifted Li Jiangqian into his arms. The retinue following behind dropped to their knees in a swath. As the child turned around in his embrace, Li Zhouwei asked, "Qian'er, how is the islet?"
Li Jiangqian raised his head, lingering amusement still upon his face, and chuckled. "Quite a crowd of people! Father showed me the shore before, but it is no different from the islet. Once stepping out of this hall, they all look the same."
Li Zhouwei carried him toward the hall, while An Siwei and the others waited outside. Father and son walked into the sunlit central chamber, and the boy spoke up.
"Father speaks of kin, but I do not see how close they really are. They are all mortals, all of one mold. As for immortal cultivators... we have set up the framework, and they hang upon it."
Li Zhouwei glanced sideways at him and murmured softly, "That is order. Though people have affections, they also pursue profit. This framework for distributing interests is order—be it large or small, good or bad."
Li Jiangqian lowered his head in thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up. "Qian'er does not understand. How can there be a distinction between good and bad?"
Li Zhouwei laughed softly, a glint of appreciation surfacing in his eyes, and said gently, "For our Li family, if this framework does good by the common folk, it is good. The various surnames take this as their boundary and are governed most strictly, which is also the very source of our family's legitimacy. Some prominent clans believe our family punishes and oppresses our direct-line mortals, branch lineages, and external surnames far too harshly, only because their order was born to serve immortal cultivators."
Li Jiangqian stared blankly at him, words rising to the tip of his tongue before he swallowed them down. An instinct told him he must not ask, and he could only murmur inwardly, *'But what is the point of being good to them... Mortals are useless anyway...'*
He averted his gaze, listening as Li Zhouwei spoke in a low voice:
"This framework uses interest as its bones, maintained and glossed over by kinship and kindness. Only then can it stand firm without crumbling."
Li Jiangqian nodded obediently. After chatting a few more sentences, Li Zhouwei waved his hand for someone to lead the boy away. He sat alone on the steps, the sun tilting westward until its light bathed his dark red robe.
The intricate golden embroideries shimmered in the rays. Li Zhouwei finally withdrew his gaze and paced a few steps. Chen Yang hurried forward from outside the hall, and Li Zhouwei asked, "Still no news from the mountains?"
Chen Yang looked somewhat crestfallen and said in a low voice, "No news..."
Li Zhouwei's tone turned solemn. "Even if you cannot find the fox clan, there should at least be word of Lu Ken, the deer demon in that cave... Can you not even find that deer demon?!"
Chen Yang cupped his fists respectfully. "Your Highness, that demon cave on the southern slope of Mount Dali is tightly shut, and no minor demons have been seen going in or out. Senior White Ape captured passing demons to interrogate, but several of them knew nothing. Only recently did we hear that Lu Ken has traveled elsewhere."
Li Zhouwei turned with a frown, thinking to himself, *'Whether he truly went out or fabricated it, perhaps Ding Jiao's request is too troublesome... He found out beforehand and refused to meet.'*
This matter was rather troublesome. Though Ding Jiao had displayed considerable sincerity, Li Zhouwei had answered cautiously, promising only to pass on the word. Yet now, not even the shadow of a demon could be found...
After deliberating for a moment, he replied, "Keep inquiring."
Chen Yang acknowledged the order and withdrew. Li Zhouwei also had his own calculations: *'If there is still no news after a few years, it will mean Lu Ken refuses to meet. I can simply tell the truth. Our family made no prior promises anyway, so it will not go so far as to offend the dragons.'*
Li Zhouwei put away the rewards in the jade box and examined the five Suiyuan Pills. Sure enough, all of them were a murky gray, concocted from who knew what mixture of humans or demons. He packed them up and arranged for them to be delivered to Mount Wu so Seventh Granduncle Li Ximing could inspect them.
*'It seems Seventh Granduncle still has the two Suiyuan Pills given by the Ning family. Those can be used first.'*
According to Li Ximing, those two were almost certainly concocted by the Xiao family, replete with clear and pure spiritual qi. Li Zhouwei summoned An Siwei to make a trip to Mount Wu to ask, while weighing the matter carefully in his mind.
Quite a few in his own clan could make use of such a thing.
His father, Li Chengliao, and his young uncle, Li Chenghuai, were both at a level of cultivation where they could enter secluded breakthrough at any moment. Those slightly behind in cultivation included his aunt Li Minggong in the great desert, An Siwei just now, and Li Wen, who stood guard outside the hall holding the golden hammer...
Though said to be slightly behind, taking a talisman pill would also bring their cultivation up to the threshold of attempting Foundation Establishment. Yet Li Zhouwei had only two pills available.
He calculated quietly: *'One must definitely be reserved between Father and Young Uncle.'*
Li Zhouwei intended to leave at least one of the Suiyuan Pills for an external surname. After careful consideration, he thought to himself, *'The Suiyuan Pill is a spirit pill that aids Foundation Establishment, possessing immense allure... Being able to bestow a Suiyuan Pill versus being unable to do so represents entirely different treatment... So long as one is granted... the rest will wait with bated breath!'*
Furthermore, knowing that the Xiao family could now concoct Suiyuan Pills rather than Qingchi Sect holding a monopoly set Li Zhouwei's mind at ease. Even if those five pills had defects, the loss would not be unbearable; at worst, he could offer other goods in trade with the Xiao family.
After waiting for a time, An Siwei approached from outside the hall, holding a jade box as he bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, the items have been delivered. Lord Ximing was not in deep seclusion, so these two spirit pills have been fetched."
Li Zhouwei took them, dismissed him, and calculated the days, intending to distribute them when the ancestral sacrifice arrived. He then sat in the hall reading spell arts. Light and shadow shifted several times before Li Wen hurried forward from outside, calling out in a gruff voice, "Your Highness! The Shen family of Jiangbei has come to visit!"
***
Eastern Sea.
The Earth Abyss was a murky expanse of grayish-black, specks of rainbow light darting within it. Li Xizhi rode the rainbow, shuttling through rolling currents of dawn qi and fiend qi before coming to a halt before a stone cliff.
Transforming into a streak of rainbow light, he slipped into a fissure in the rock. After navigating through the deep gloom for a while, he came to rest in a chilly cavern.
*Drip, drop.*
The lonely sound of water rippled through the air. A massive black form was coiled along the cavern's ceiling. Pure black pupils snapped open, and a raspy, serpentine voice sounded:
"Young Master."
Li Xizhi gave a slight nod. The jade bottle in his hand flashed with light, and he let out a chuckle, speaking warmly, "Good fortune indeed. After searching the earth veins for a while, I managed to find a wisp of [Deep Sea Earth Dawn]. This substance has been extinct for many years; though its uses have gradually faded into obscurity, it remains a rare treasure."
"Congratulations, Young Master."
Inside the jade bottle, the black and red vapors sloshed gently like liquid. Li Xizhi was clearly quite satisfied as he put it away with a flick of his hand. Li Wushao rasped, "Word from the Si family has arrived. Young Master, please have a look."
When Li Xizhi first arrived here, he had coincided with a shift in the earth veins. Dawn qi and Shaoyang light drifted about, battering his internal magical power and tangling with the immortal foundation within his Qihai acupoint—a perilously hostile environment.
Fortunately, the talisman he had received was [Caiche Yunqu]. The moment that domineering, fierce dawn qi and Shaoyang light surged into him, it was swiftly and effortlessly neutralized. He managed to fare decently within these earth veins.
Yet while he could withstand it, Li Wushao had been scorched miserably, thick smoke hissing and billowing from his entire body. Li Xizhi had no choice but to shield the old demon, following the earth veins until they found a relatively safe underground cavern to settle him in first.
Upon arriving here, Li Xizhi had consulted the Jinyu Sect map and discovered a water vein nearby leading straight up into the Eastern Sea. His mind turned, and he understood much of the situation.
He had therefore stationed the old demon here to keep close watch over this water vein while he ventured out to collect spiritual materials. Now that he had returned, news from the Si family had indeed arrived.
Li Wushao's low voice carried a great deal of admiration as he spoke. "A few days after your departure, a spiritual talisman drifted down along the water vein, rushing straight toward the cavern abode, and I intercepted it."
Li Xizhi accepted the talisman and sighed. "Lord Yuanxiu truly has not entered seclusion—that is wonderful!"
No matter what, Li Wushao was a century-old demon; how could he fail to catch the shift in his tone? Terrified half to death, a chill seized his heart: *'Of course... To deduce that we are here must be Si Boxiu's doing. The origin of this talisman is unknown; one cannot speak carelessly!'*
He caught the hint at once and fell silent. Li Xizhi took the talisman and found considerable information inscribed within, seemingly in Si Tongyi's tone. After reading it through, he fell into contemplation.
*'The Si family is retreating at every turn... appearing utterly broken... I have vanished, demonic cultivators in the South Sea are causing chaos, and the Lingu family is too hard-pressed to look after itself... To them, the situation must look splendid...*
*'Chi Fupo remains cautious, still unwilling to strike openly, replacing trusted confidants bit by bit... Ning Hejing, on the other hand, can no longer hold himself back...'*
The letter mentioned that over the past few months, Ning Hejing had frequently departed the Eastern Sea, slipping in and out of the sect in secret to hold lengthy talks with Chi Xuxiao's confidants.
*'I wonder if Chi Fupo is aware. This is practically holding a sword to Chi Fupo's neck...'*
Aside from these two pieces of news, there was also a report that Li Quantao had gone to the Li family. Li Xizhi paid it little heed:
*'Quantao lacks scheming thoughts and would not harm our family; at most, he is being used as a pawn. Our clan heir has already attained Foundation Establishment; within Qingchi, only a Violet Palace cultivator could plot against him. Though Chi Fupo has some scheming wit, a single tree cannot make a forest; he will achieve nothing grand.'*
Another detail, however, made Li Xizhi furrow his brows:
*'Young Uncle Yuanqin... left the sect and met with someone unknown.'*
For Si Yuanli to obtain these reports so promptly meant his grip over Qingchi had not truly weakened. Li Xizhi was not worried about the greater situation; his only concern was his young uncle, Li Yuanqin.
*'I only hope he is not caught in the crossfire...'*
Li Xizhi examined the talisman several times. Finding no other function within it, he crushed it to powder, serving as an acknowledgment to Si Tongyi on the other end. He asked softly, "Wushao, how are your injuries?"
"Bearable..."
Li Wushao had a foul mouth and often grumbled curses, but serpentine beasts were exceptionally skilled at endurance. Buffeted by two types of fiend qi and Shaoyang light within his body was no easy ordeal, yet Li Wushao only spoke in a muffled rasp:
"Painful as it is, it is much lighter than the wounds from Combined Fire and United Water. My kind is often toyed with by dragons, so injuries from United Water are practically routine."
Li Xizhi's talisman qi was only effective upon himself, leaving him powerless to resolve the injuries within the serpent's body. He handed over some pills and said gently, "Ning Hejing is domineering; I did not dare leave you behind. Fortunately, there is little dawn qi here. Recuperate well."
"Young Master, you may go on your own; pay me no mind. The shifting earth veins, when the two vapors and the solitary light surge, are precisely when treasures are most abundant. Since you do not fear them, do not squander the time."
The old serpent lowered his head and answered no further. Li Xizhi had no choice but to transform into a rainbow and fly out of the cave, casually sealing the entrance before plunging once more into the dense dawn qi, heading eastward.
After traveling over a hundred li, Li Xizhi suddenly frowned, colorful radiance flashing between his pupils. Gazing through the thick Shaoyang light, he abruptly caught sight of something.
Amidst the rolling fiend qi within the Shaoyang light, a feathered beast lay in the earth vein, as large as an altar table. It was an exquisitely shaped, brilliantly colored fish with two wings extending from beneath its ribs, a broad, rounded head, and a flat snout. The orange feathers on its two wings beat continuously, as if struggling.
Li Xizhi halted cautiously, his brows knitting slightly as he mused inwardly, *'A xiayao?! Such a massive xiayao!'*
Li Xizhi was no stranger to the xiayao; he had seen one before, but they were typically no larger than a palm. He had never heard of one the size of a table. Seeing this xiayao lying motionless on the ground, he grew vigilant and observed it from afar.
As time passed and noon approached, the Shaoyang light weakened, a small portion even transforming into Taiyang light amidst the dense spiritual energy. Suddenly, Li Xizhi felt a chill by his ear as a faint, calm, and elegant voice rang out:
"Fellow Daoist Xizhi, what are you waiting for?"
For such words to suddenly ring out in an utterly silent earth vein with such an even tone was enough to scare an ordinary cultivator out of their wits. Moreover, with the two vapors and the solitary light clashing wildly all around, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would not linger here!
*'A Violet Palace?!'*
Li Xizhi was thoroughly horrified. Rainbow light erupted around him in an instant, and several illusory duplicates scattered in different directions to flee, while a swath of orange-red radiance soared from the figures.
[Yunzhong Jinluo]!
The orange-red specks of light that Li Xizhi transformed into leaped several times through the air before revealing his true form. Sweeping aside a sleeve of rainbow radiance, he whipped around and drew his longsword—and sure enough, someone was already standing behind him!
"Oh?"
The person seemed surprised by the speed of his spellcasting, yet remained completely motionless with hands clasped behind his back. When Li Xizhi got a clear look at the figure, he breathed an immediate sigh of relief. With a wry smile, he sheathed his sword, cupped his hands in a courteous greeting, and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior Heyun!"
The person before him had eyes bright with spirit and an effortless, natural elegance. His hair was bound immaculately, his sleeves and collar were crisp and flat, and even the two sides of his robe's hem hung in perfect symmetry. It was none other than Dongfang Heyun!
Dongfang Heyun nodded courteously, returning a bow so impeccably textbook that Jiangnan cultivators would feel ashamed, and smiled.
"We have not met for years. Fellow Daoist's strength has truly improved by leaps and bounds!"
Chapter 657