Once Yuan Fuyao said this, Li Ximing understood immediately.
*The wilderness is within the sphere of influence of the Xiao and Kong families, and our clan is about to move in. Everyone out there must be talking about him, wanting to capture him to curry favor with us... The Si family wiped out the Song clan, and his bloodline descendants are all in their hands. Tracking him down is simply a matter of whether they care to or not.*
*Coming directly to seek out our clan, however, is truly a clever way to preserve his life and wealth!*
Although Yuan Fuyao possessed a weak and cowardly temperament, his father, Yuan Chengdun, had been an indomitable hero of towering stature—slaying demons, subduing monsters, and earning illustrious renown. He had saved many common folk during the demonic disaster and had even shared a friendship with Li Yuanjiao.
The Li family had stated long ago that even if the marriage between the two families fell through, they would still look after Yuan Fuyao. Although Yuan Fuyao had made things disgraceful back then, the Li family truly would not do anything to harm him for the sake of Yuan Chengdun's memory; using him to demonstrate the magnanimity of an immortal clan was the only reasonable course.
Yuan Fuyao had most likely seen this clearly, which was why he dared to come all the way here. He possessed some petty cleverness, even knowing to see Patriarch Li Zhouwei first to keep himself from being captured by lesser figures.
At this moment, with Li Ximing seated to the side, Li Zhouwei naturally did not take the center. He remained silent beside them, yet from the cold look in his eyes, the Li family patriarch clearly saw through it all as well. Li Ximing took a sip of tea and said softly, "You overstate the matter. Our clan is in no mood to settle scores with you. Chenghuai, escort the young master back to Xunlin Plain."
Li Chenghuai respectfully acknowledged the order. Without brooking any argument, endowed with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he grabbed Yuan Fuyao, instantly leaving the middle-aged man unable to move. Having known Yuan Fuyao since youth, Li Chenghuai sighed inwardly and dragged him out.
Li Ximing sat upright, teacup cradled in his hands. Only after a long silence did he remark, "Yuan Chengdun was an outstanding hero of his time, yet he sired a son like a rat hiding in a shrine. Not having high talent is one thing, but to be so shortsighted, living solely on his father's shadow—matters of posterity are truly unpredictable."
His words held an obscure implication. Li Zhouwei could only reply softly, "Yuan Fuyao does possess a degree of quick wit, but he was spoiled by the Yuan family. Though an intelligent man, growing up in muddleheaded indulgence inevitably made him narrow-minded. Even a fool, if steeped in proper guidance day by day, can accomplish something."
Li Ximing waved his hand, retrieved a jade box from his sleeve, and said, "Let us speak no more of this. At Sword Sect, I obtained some Horn Wood Golden Tassel. Take it and make use of it to bring some benefit to the Wanling flower."
Li Zhouwei merely replied, "The matter of transplanting the Wanling flower has not yet been settled. Could it be..."
Only then did Li Ximing realize. The Wanling flower had been planted on Mount Huaqian for many years. While Mount Huaqian had been passable in the Li family's early days, it was now considered a barren place, and being near the lake shore was unsafe; naturally, it needed to be relocated to the islet.
"Then let us put it off for now. The Wanling flower is precious after all and cannot be moved lightly. I was just thinking of going to see Changxi; I will discuss this matter with him as well."
Having discussed clan affairs, Li Ximing vanished into the Great Void. Li Zhouwei stood in the hall for several breaths before taking the seat of honor. Lifting the vermilion brush, he instructed, "Have the Fengmu come up immediately."
This Fengmu was naturally the Qi Refinement cultivator who had recommended and guided Yuan Fuyao onto the islet, and was also the father of Li Hun. His name was Li Anshuo. By rights he should have been named Li Jiangshuo, but because his talent had been poor in his youth, he had failed to enter the islet and grew up outside it, so his original name was used more often. He currently served as the Fengmu of a mansion peak on the western bank.
The attendant immediately acknowledged and stepped down. After several dozen breaths, a man stepped forward below the dais and bowed in the courtyard. Without even raising his head, Li Zhouwei asked, "What benefits did you accept?"
Li Anshuo knelt down and answered respectfully, "Reporting to the Patriarch, Yuan Fuyao offered a staff technique to the clan, which was handed over to the islet as soon as he arrived."
"Cautious indeed. It seems it is Yuan Chengdun's staff technique; no wonder you took such a risk to introduce him personally."
Li Zhouwei made a notation on a scroll, showing no sign of anger as he continued, "Yuan Fuyao is not foolish either. He must have left off the grade of this staff technique... all the better to ease your future worries."
These two remarks left Li Anshuo drenched in cold sweat. He could only reply, "The Patriarch's discernment is brilliant. It was transcribed by the Yuan family themselves, which is why it bears no grade."
"Sit."
Li Zhouwei bade him sit to the side before finally raising his head. Li Anshuo averted his gaze under the patriarch's eyes, only to hear Li Zhouwei say nonchalantly, "Do not direct your schemes at the islet. Since you have such ambition, follow me to the eastern bank tomorrow; there will be plenty of places for you to scheme and maneuver.
"If you do well, you will have your rewards. If you botch it, today's matter will be settled with you alongside it."
Surprised and overjoyed, Li Anshuo hastily voiced his thanks. He clearly possessed considerable confidence, his face beaming with delight; it seemed that keeping him as a Fengmu by the lake over the years had been a waste of talent. Li Zhouwei waved a hand to dismiss him, saying, "Go on down. My second son is waiting for you in the side hall."
These words gave Li Anshuo pause once more, and he hurried to withdraw. Li Zhouwei sent someone to fetch Yuan Chengdun's staff technique and rubbed between his brows.
*This Li Anshuo... can at least be put to use...*
The Li family was truly stretched thin for talent right now. With the addition of several Foundation Establishment guest elders, the Foundation Establishment level was somewhat better off, but an awkward generational gap had formed among the Qi Refinement talents instead.
Eighty percent of the Chengming generation had fallen in battle by the river, the Zhouxing generation was sluggish, the Four Surnames of Lijing—who had served as their right arm for a century—were heavily battered, and the eastern and western banks had yet to recover their vitality. Yet amidst all this, their clan's undertakings were expanding wider and wider.
"Patriarch."
Li Zhouwei looked up and saw Li Chenghuai drift in from outside the hall like a phantom, holding up a jade slip with both hands. He reported in a low voice, "Patriarch, people from the Fei family have arrived with two pieces of news."
Taking the jade slip recording the staff technique from his hands, Li Zhouwei read it closely while listening to Li Chenghuai's quiet report:
"First, the Fei family's old patriarch, Fei Tongyu, passed away a few days ago. He died attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment; after only a few months in seclusion, he perished, leaving behind no grand signs."
"The elderly... are inevitably stubborn."
With Fei Tongyu's battered body and shallow cultivation, attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment was certain death; one hardly needed to ponder it. Fei Qingyi had written several letters in succession to dissuade him, but in the end, she failed to stop the old man.
His death was like a grain of sand, raising only a tiny ripple within the Fei family, and by the time it reached the lake, it had become merely a line of news. Li Chenghuai did not linger on it, continuing, "Fei Qingyi of the Fei family has broken through to the late stage of Qi Refinement. He has emerged from Hanyun Peak and is waiting on the islet, hoping to exert himself in service to the lake."
Short on hands, Li Zhouwei nodded. "He will go north of the river with us."
Li Chenghuai stepped down. Li Zhouwei scanned the jade slip in his hand and confirmed that Yuan Chengdun was indeed a genius; this Overcoming Demons of Mount Qing staff technique was likely of the fourth grade, easily qualifying as an heirloom treasure for an ordinary clan.
***
The Great River was the premier water vein under heaven, cutting through from east to west and thereby dividing south from north. Crossing the Great River to the north led into the lands of Jiangbei in the State of Xu, where the foremost area was the Baijiang Stream territory of the Three Mifan Sects of Mount Xiaoshi.
Riding lightning across Baijiang Stream, Li Cheng looked into the distance. To the north of Baijiang Stream lay the Tangdao Mountains of Tangjin Gate, where the rolling undulations of the range were faintly visible.
To the east was the Baiye Stream territory of Baiye Duxian Dao, obscured by vast swathes of hills and difficult to make out clearly. Behind Baiye Stream lay Chenshui Mausoleum, and further east was the Baihai Stream territory of Xuanmiao Abbey, which already reached the seashore.
If one flew higher, one could see that Jiangbei was partitioned by three water veins, from west to east: Baijiang, Baiye, and Baihai. According to Old Man Qu, these three streams were once a single river known as the Huai River. When the heavens changed and the six commanderies sank into the sea, the Huai River shifted and vanished, leaving behind only these three streams.
Accompanying Qu Bushi and An Siwei, Li Cheng arrived at Floating Cloud Cave. The route was a scene of devastation all around. The population had naturally been looted clean, and the spirit rice was utterly ruined, leaving behind only bare spirit fields.
They finally landed before the mountain gate of Floating Cloud Cave, which was situated on a low hill. Its formations had long been ripped away, and collapsed masonry lay everywhere. A few pikas with shallow cultivation rustled through the desolate courtyards. Leading him forward with practiced familiarity, Qu Bushi pointed ahead, "My lord, Fudou's immortal foundation was 'Wood Leaning on Spring.' When he perished on this mountain, vegetation sprouted rampant everywhere. In just a few months, it looks as though several decades have passed."
An Siwei went all the way to the mountaintop, used Tingcha Diting to make a few calculations, and praised, "Jiangbei's spiritual qi is flourishing indeed. No wonder every Foundation Establishment cultivator rushed here. Even a single low hill like this can sustain several Foundation Establishment cultivators in their cultivation..."
Aside from places like Mount Milin, Zhijing, and Pingya that could sustain Violet Palace cultivation, the Li clan had only a handful of places capable of supporting multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators—merely five of their sixteen mansions.
Yet the terrain here was not elevated, nor were its earth veins thick, clearly falling far short of a famous mountain. Qu Bushi merely said, "In reply to the Protector, this Floating Cloud Cave territory... has plenty of spirit fields, but most of it is rolling hills, without a single towering peak in sight! Ordinarily... the various Foundation Establishment cultivators were scattered among the low hills across the territory... Even the main mountain had very few cultivators."
Li Cheng naturally understood that Floating Cloud Cave was not as centralized as the southern factions; it was more like an alliance of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Despite its substantial scale, it was fragile and hollow, with each harboring private motives. That was why they had been completely helpless against Li Zhouwei, and why, once the overarching situation slipped from their grasp, they turned on and butchered Fudou.
"After dividing the wealth, they all fled for their lives, which actually leaves things cleaner for us."
Li Cheng dispatched Qu Bushi to survey the lands and An Siwei to inspect the mountains, while ordering their own cultivators to fan out and take possession of the territory. This Floating Cloud territory was roughly the size of Lake Wangyue's western bank, but having been deserted all around and devoid of common folk, it looked utterly desolate.
After bustling about for two or three days, they finally settled the cultivators onto the various mountains and had them repair their residences. With no commoners here, each person occupied a designated spot, making taking over the area far easier.
Waiting another half day, their clan's Embryonic Breathing cultivators arrived as well—errand-runners, farmers, and qi-gatherers—a dense crowd of nearly a hundred people. Li Cheng distributed them among the various Qi Refinement subordinates. The entire Floating Cloud territory instantly sprang to life, finally showing signs of cultivators coming and going.
While Li Cheng might not have been a master statesman, he was quite capable. Even so, it took him nearly half a ten-day period to set up the basic framework. Fortunately, Jiangbei's spiritual qi was rich and vibrant, so the subordinates were all exceptionally enthusiastic; had it been a barren land, it would have taken several times as long.
With things settled on his end, An Siwei also returned riding the wind, landing amidst the mountains and speaking softly, "There are traces of demonic beasts in nine places across the Floating Cloud territory. Six were minor demons, which the dispatched men drove away on their own. Two had late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation, which I eradicated personally. Only one appears to be the dwelling of a Demon General. Unaware of its background, I delivered an invitation, but was told it is in closed-door cultivation."
Li Cheng summoned Qu Bushi. Although the old man had no experience running administrative affairs, he was old enough to possess ample experience, and his surveying of spirit fields was very professional, with steady progress. Hearing An Siwei's report, he waved his hand and explained, "Allow this old man to inform our masters: there is a demonic flood dragon in Baijiang Stream, a figure among the dragonkind who settled in the river years ago. It is said that when dragon sons passed through Baihai Stream, they would specially send people to summon him for inquiries. He is not someone to offend lightly...
"He possesses late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation and belongs to an exceptionally noble species. Conferred the title of King of Beijin River, his jurisdiction covers not only Baijiang Stream, but all three rivers... It is just that Baijiang Stream is clearer, so the elder prefers to reside here.
"As for the one cultivating in that mountain, it is a snake demon that took the one beneath Baijiang Stream as its adoptive father, and is therefore very arrogant. Back when Fudou was here... he had to send it gifts every year."
"So it truly has backing."
An Siwei's conduct gave great peace of mind, having even sent an invitation. Li Cheng nodded secretly. Just as he was about to speak, another woman descended amidst the mountains.
She wore a red dress patterned with True Fire motifs, a golden silk ribbon tied around her waist, and held a golden lamp in her slender hand, inside of which a dot of red and white danced. Li Cheng rose to salute her, smiling, "Eldest Sister has arrived."
The gleaming golden object held in Li Minggong's hand was none other than the Hexagonal Red Flame Lamp. The Pure Feather Lihuo, softly glowing with a red-and-white hue, was lit within this lamp; merely carrying it along the way had reduced the brambles on the path to ash.
She laughed and said, "I came a step ahead; the Patriarch will arrive shortly. I came to see whether Brother Cheng's affairs at Floating Cloud Cave are finished."
"All that remains is pacifying the demons."
Li Cheng answered, frowning, "Since he is in closed-door cultivation and our clan is a Violet Palace immortal family, it is best if neither interferes with the other. Our clan does not lack for that single mountain; we can simply leave it to him for cultivation."
"This..."
Qu Bushi was adept at reading expressions. Having interacted with them over the past few days, he had long learned his new masters' style, and reminded, "Only... this demon snake is exceedingly ferocious. Ordinarily, it gave Fudou no face at all, demanding blood sacrifices every August... It is already September now; it has likely awakened long ago."
How could Li Cheng fail to understand his meaning? Even Li Minggong raised an eyebrow. Li Cheng said in a deep voice, "Oh? Then it simply does not wish to see our clan?"
Li Minggong chuckled, "Let it see us or not as it pleases. Besides, with a Violet Palace here now, would it dare utter a single superfluous word?"
Though Li Minggong responded this way out loud, she laughed at the snake in her heart:
*To say nothing of a mere descendant kin of the dragonkind, even with a true dragon son himself... my clan's Patriarch has conversed and laughed. It is only because matters concerning the fox and dragon cannot be disclosed by ourselves...*
When Li Zhouwei broke through, dragons had extended invitations and serpents had bowed! Although the Li family feared that borrowing the dragon's prestige might attract even greater enemies and so had not spread word across the realm—not to mention that their great-aunt's fate remained unknown, making them even more reluctant to speak of it—many veteran Violet Palace masters south of the river were well aware of this. Otherwise, no matter how brilliantly Li Zhouwei turned the tide, he could never have held out for over a decade and would have been killed long ago!
Li Cheng understood as well and paid it no mind, merely instructing, "Nevertheless, the invitation must still be delivered. We should at least meet with him once. Our clan intends to migrate people here; if he ever loses his mind one day... leaving the mountain to hunt for blood sacrifices, lives could be lost!"
Li Cheng spoke subtly—whether human lives or demonic lives would be lost was hard to say. Qu Bushi understood perfectly, smiling bitterly in his heart as he said tactfully, "Winning over the King of Beijin River is what matters most. This snake demon is merely relying on his backing. I only fear that Wenhu of Miyun Cave might take the initiative to curry favor with the King of Beijin River... then things would become difficult for our lake..."
Chapter 708