Instruction

Seeing him like this, Li Zhouluo had no choice but to rise and step aside, coming down from his seat to reply: "Sect Master Kong, please rise quickly. You are a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an elder... this shames me greatly." Kong Guxi did not let him help him up, rising as soon as a hand supported him. His voice was low and reverent as he replied: "Before the grace of preserving our lineage, there is no elder... The juniors of my clan are all overwhelmingly grateful to your esteemed clan. That Xuanyue has kept its spark alive today is entirely thanks to Lake Wangyue. Henceforth, whatever the Lake commands, we shall never refuse." Li Zhouluo nodded. Things were hardly easy for his own Lake Wangyue either. Right now, they were in the midst of easing relations with Duxian Dao across the river and feared Xuanyue Gate might do something rash. He said in a low voice: "The territories on the East Shore are temporarily lent to your sect to garrison. It would be best if you patrol them from day to day, but your sect need not take any special action... As for the matter of Baiye Duxian Dao, I must ask the Sect Master to swallow your humiliation and endure for the time being. Do not provoke them again and bring unnecessary trouble." Kong Guxi nodded hastily, swearing solemnly: "I have already instructed my juniors. Our Xuanyue is currently weak; when meeting rogue cultivators in daily life, we are exceedingly courteous, and we will never cross the river to cause trouble. If we bring more trouble to your esteemed clan... there will be no need for your noble clan to act; I will execute any muddle-headed disciples myself." Li Zhouluo admonished: "Be sure not to stir up trouble. When the time comes, it will not be a matter of just one or two disciples." Kong Guxi agreed. Li Zhouluo continued: "The Wilderness is an unusual place; the various houses will not allow them to occupy it forever. Once the several Real Persons reach an agreement, Duxian Dao will inevitably withdraw, and you will return then... How many disciples have you gathered so far?" At the mention of this, Kong Guxi felt cold as ice inside. He said quietly: "Reporting to the Clan Head, aside from a few Foundation Establishment cultivators of the main lineage, there remain only four in Qi Refinement, ten in miscellaneous qi, and several in Embryonic Breathing..." It was difficult for him to put into words, and his voice dropped: "When our mountain gate fell back then, a batch surrendered and a batch died. We relocated to the Wilderness and had just gathered some people when it was breached again. Duxian sent the cultivators who had previously surrendered to subdue them, and their resolve wavered." After several such blows, even the most loyal disciples knew that Xuanyue was beyond saving. Even though Kong Guxi kept declaring that a Violet Palace cultivator would soon emerge, the disciples knew they might not live to see that day... Duxian Dao also had a Violet Palace; if they defected, could they really be hunted down and held accountable one by one in the future? Thus, when the Wilderness fell, Xuanyue not only lost a vast number of loyal direct descendants of aristocratic families, but even its disciples were nearly wiped out. *Sigh!* To think that Xuanyue Gate, once one of the Three Sects and Seven Gates, was reduced to nothing more than this handful of pitiful remnants. Such a group in the former Xuanyue Gate would not have been enough to establish even a single division. Li Zhouluo could only remain silent. Kong Guxi asked apprehensively: "I noticed there are quite a few rogue cultivators on the East Shore. Xuanyue hopes to send people to take a look and recruit a few disciples..." The East Shore had always been the Li family's territory, so Kong Guxi naturally dared not overstep his bounds. Unable to recruit clan cultivators on the East Shore, he could only set his sights on the rogue cultivators. Li Zhouluo replied: "That is harmless enough, but Sect Master must exercise caution. The character of these rogue cultivators is difficult to discern; do not ruin Xuanyue's reputation." Kong Guxi nodded repeatedly, finding that this Clan Head of the Zhou generation was easier to talk to than his predecessor, which put him much at ease. Having received permission, before he even expressed his thanks, he took a jade box from his sleeve and said respectfully: "Our Xuanyue disciples are nearly gone, leaving our magical artifacts idle. Kept in our hands, they cannot be put to good use anyway. Moreover, with demonic cultivators running rampant and our defense faltering, I thought to deliver them into the hands of your noble clan's cultivators, so that each item may serve its purpose." "What is Sect Master saying?" Li Zhouluo initially declined, but Kong Guxi immediately gave him an out, replying: "There is no other intention. My clan's cultivators are nearly all gone, and the few juniors cannot bring out the full power of these magical artifacts anyway. They only end up injured, and I fear their Dao paths will be delayed. If we can ask your noble clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators to intervene, every magical artifact will be put to full use—it is solely to protect my juniors' safety. "Furthermore, I heard that the Lake is specifically sending someone over to ward off the demonic cultivators, which makes me feel even more ashamed... We cannot have your esteemed clan's cultivators make the trip for nothing..." Li Zhouluo wrangled with him for a while, pretending he could not outargue the old man, before finally accepting. Kong Guxi hastily and attentively opened the jade box, revealing a gleaming red chain of chipped jade beads within. Supporting the base of the box with one hand, the old man lifted the string of shattered jade beads with the other, draping it over four fingers and dangling it twice. His index finger trembled slightly as it rested against his middle finger, and he smiled: "This is an heirloom of my family called the [Honghun Jade Treasure]. Worn around the neck, it can invigorate blood qi and protect the body; it is quite formidable. It was once an ancient magical artifact and could even transform into a red jade chain to suppress enemies, though it can no longer do so." Seeing Li Zhouluo's expression, he quickly explained: "It was shattered during a duel in the past... A Real Person later pieced it back together, so it can no longer be considered an ancient magical artifact... but it remains extraordinarily powerful..." He quickly set the item down and lifted the false bottom of the jade box. To Li Zhouluo's surprise, a small, transparent glazed bottle lay inside, filled with a patch of gray. Kong Guxi said: "This is a relic left by our sect's Real Person. He once accepted another Real Person's invitation to hunt demons in the sea and obtained this spiritual item. It is a carapace scale of a Violet Palace demon beast. While it cannot be ranked as a full Violet Palace spiritual item, it can be counted as Violet Palace material... If your noble clan requires it, using it to craft armor would be superb. "I heard the Real Person say in private that if forged properly, it might not be inferior to an ancient magical artifact." Aside from the glazed bottle in the center, this lower layer held two Foundation Establishment magical artifacts to the left and right. Their grades were not high, merely conventional, and hardly warranted mentioning, with only explanatory jade slips placed beside them. Kong Guxi set the box aside, and finally retrieved from his sleeve a pair of bright gold, intricately patterned small cymbals shaped like two tiny straw hats. Choking back emotion, he said: "This final item... was prepared for the descendants of Fellow Daoist Chengkun... Yet I heard that he died young without leaving any bloodline behind. Ashamed beyond measure, I can only ask Clan Head to accept it on his behalf... as a token of Xuanyue's gratitude!" Li Zhouluo saw clearly that this pair of small cymbals was unmistakably refined from Geng Metal combined with some Daoist heritage—whether refined with True Qi or Violet Qi, it gave off an aura of blended, profound equilibrium. Not only was it exceedingly powerful, but even an injured lightning cultivator could wield it without the slightest discomfort. It was evident that Kong Guxi had put great thought into this... Yet Li Zhouluo himself cultivated "Geng Metal." Whether this item was meant for some so-called descendant or truly intended for him was anyone's guess... The young man mused inwardly: *What a clever Sect Master Kong.* He set the jade box aside, took out the small cymbals separately, and called out: "Since this is a gift for an elder's descendant—someone, enter!" Presently, a Mount Yuting cultivator stepped forward. Li Zhouluo ordered: "Take this item and deposit it in the clan treasury." He had the item taken away right before his eyes. Kong Guxi showed no embarrassment, nodding repeatedly as he replied: "Magical artifacts of this kind are rare nowadays and extremely useful in combat... The wonderful uses of all these magical artifacts and spiritual items are recorded in the jade slip within the box. I shall take my leave now." The sect master departed with brisk steps. Only then did Li Zhouluo return to his seat. The court guard returned, kneeling on one knee with head bowed, presenting the small cymbals with both hands as he said: "Reporting to Clan Head, without knowing the treasure's rank, I do not know which vault to deposit it into." Li Zhouluo was somewhat surprised. Looking at the magical artifact in the man's palms, he asked: "Quite clever. Which family are you from?" The guard answered: "This humble one is surnamed Dili, given name Guang, of Northern Shanyue royal stock." *Dili... Back then, it was a lowly surname among the Shanyue, yet now it belongs to royalty...* Li Zhouluo nodded slightly. "Northern Shanyue royalty" sounded imposing, but in truth, it could not compare in the slightest to families like the An, Chen, Dou, or Xu; it was merely a step above commoners. Dili Guang had sharp wits and sought to confirm the master's true intent, but Li Zhouluo genuinely had no desire to covet this magical artifact. He merely said: "It is top-grade among Foundation Establishment artifacts. Send it to Qingdu for the venerable elder to appraise." As Dili Guang prepared to withdraw, Li Zhouluo called him back and said: "You are on duty on the twenty-second... For the next two years, transfer to the main hall and follow by my side. I have received word from the venerable elder and am just about to head over." Before he could leave the hall, a message arrived stating that Chen Yang was waiting outside. Li Zhouluo held great respect for his elder brother's capable subordinate and signaled Dili Guang to leave first. A young man clad in soft armor entered the hall, smiling warmly. The moment he reached the hall, he bowed with full propriety before speaking: "Chen Yang greets the Clan Head!" Li Zhouluo nodded and said: "Congratulations. Your breakthrough, Protector, has resolved our clan's pressing crisis!" Chen Yang had remained prostrate on the ground; only upon hearing these words did he rise. A streak of ruthlessness surfaced in his eyes as he said: "Clan Head, I heard that several demonic cultivators are causing trouble on the East Shore. At a time like this, how dare these demon-practicing scum target our Lake Wangyue? Please permit me to go and teach them a harsh lesson!" This matched Li Zhouluo's intentions precisely. After all, among the clan's confidants, only Chen Yang possessed a higher-grade Immortal Foundation and excelled at combat. He said: "It was precisely for this matter that I wanted you to go. Xuanyue just delivered some magical artifacts under the banner of aiding the East Shore. Take these artifacts with you. It will bolster your strength and serve as an answer to them." Li Zhouluo promptly took the strand of [Honghun Jade Treasure] from the jade box, then retrieved the two magical artifacts from the lower layer—a shield and a pagoda—and placed them all into his hands, instructing quietly: "Between the shield and the pagoda, take whichever suits you best. Keep the [Honghun Jade Treasure] in hand as well. Mobilize these two artifacts and proceed to the East Shore... "In all things, preserving yourself remains the priority. Your Immortal Foundation is robust and your magical artifacts are potent, so a few demonic cultivators cannot make things difficult for you; just be mindful of your safety." Chen Yang took the jade slips and read them. Looking thoughtful, he picked up the shield and showed a puzzled expression: "Clan Head, as things stand, I doubt these demonic cultivators are acting on the orders of any Violet Palace... At this juncture, those who were to be offended have already been offended, and those who weren't have long since extracted themselves. If it were simple pillaging, one or two groups would make sense. But where did so many demonic cultivators come from? There are several Foundation Establishment cultivators among them! What could Foundation Establishment cultivators possibly loot on the East Shore that is worth the effort..." Li Zhouluo frowned and asked: "You mean..." Chen Yang answered in a low voice: "It is not yet clear. It seems to have ulterior motives, yet does not appear targeted at our clan. The East Shore and the Wilderness have no clear boundary, interlocking like dog's teeth. Once I reach the East Shore, I will inquire around. If Duxian's side in the Wilderness has also been attacked, it's possible these demonic cultivators are subordinates of some figure, and we are merely caught in the crossfire." "I leave this matter to you." Li Zhouluo agreed that his reasoning made sense and entrusted the task to him. Chen Yang quickly withdrew. Li Zhouluo, who had always respected his elders, kept Li Xuanxuan's summons in mind and flew straight toward Qingdu without resting for a moment. Crossing the lake waters, he soon caught sight of the colors of the Five Waters Ward the Heavens Array. Tapping his feet through the air, he landed on a secondary peak. The old man, dressed formally in deep indigo, sat quietly inside a pavilion. Li Zhouluo had already touched down in front of his courtyard and walked into the pavilion. After all, the venerable elder held such seniority that even Zhouluo's father would have had to walk respectfully here. Entering the pavilion, he bowed: "Greetings, Elder." "Come." Seeing him, Li Xuanxuan gave a kindly chuckle and had tea served. Once Li Zhouluo was settled in his seat, the old man dismissed everyone flanking them before asking: "I heard you took a Suiyuan Pill and gave it to the third lad?" At the mention of this, Li Zhouluo instinctively sensed trouble and braced himself to reply: "Reporting to Elder, that is correct." Li Xuanxuan hesitated slightly, his hoarse voice sounding aged: "A Suiyuan Pill is precious, after all. Whenever even one is mobilized, all the clan elders know of it. I specifically questioned Jiangxia, only to learn that he requested it for a close friend... "In this matter... you acted without due consideration." When those words were spoken, Li Zhouluo genuinely broke out in a cold sweat. It was only because Li Xuanxuan had always cherished the younger generation that he never reprimanded someone in public. Given the venerable elder's prestige, this single remark alone would mean that whether Li Zhouluo managed clan affairs well or poorly in the future, it would all be seen as poor. "I beseech Elder to instruct me!" he replied. Li Xuanxuan merely sighed and said: "A single pill is not a great matter in itself, and there is no need to make a fuss over it. The harm lies in taking it privately for private use. You have only just taken charge of clan affairs and hold no prestige; this matter sounds exceedingly improper... "I hear that fellow Pei Xie is first-rate in combat. You could at least have arranged a tournament open to all peak Qi Refinement rogue cultivators of other surnames and bestowed it as the first prize to convince everyone... You lack prestige, and the pill did not come from your own pocket... How could this be appropriate?" The old man looked somewhat anxious. His withered hand pressed against the teacup, lifted, and pressed down again, his voice rasping slightly: "Yet your order had already been issued, and several clan elders already know. This old man could not very well block you... You have only just assumed this seat; if I were to obstruct you like that, you would never be able to accomplish anything in the future..." Having grown up without ever lacking cultivation resources, Li Zhouluo subconsciously did not regard a Suiyuan Pill as anything extraordinary; even magical artifacts that others desperately sought were nothing special in his eyes. Having agreed so readily back then, the moment the old man pointed it out, he understood immediately and said hurriedly: "I will return at once... and deduct Jiang—deduct my own share to demonstrate fairness." Hearing this, Li Xuanxuan's brows finally relaxed. With earnest, painstaking care, he said: "Those few words just now were spoken behind closed courtyard doors by an old man. Be it your fifth brother, you, or even Han'er... I watch over every single one of your affairs carefully and will not let word leak outside. It is just that... managing the clan is not as simple as taking charge of Qingdu. You must remember this lesson for the future!" Li Zhouluo was genuinely moved. In the past, looking at this venerable elder, he had always felt the dignified bearing of a senior and held mostly respect; now, warmth and affection mingled with that respect. He said in a deep voice: "Rest assured, venerable elder. Though Zhouluo is dull-witted, I will surely consult you frequently in the future and strive to keep the clan at peace." Aside from Li Zhouwei, Li Xuanxuan relied only on Li Zhouluo among the Zhou generation for governing ability, so he did not reproach him harshly. He waved his hand immediately: "Go... go... Everyone is watching at a time like this; do not stay here too long. Treat it as merely paying your respects." Li Zhouluo understood. He kowtowed before withdrawing. Li Xuanxuan sipped his tea and sighed deeply in his heart: *The third lad is truly the clever one... With this maneuver... Luo'er would rather give up his own pill to back him, and everyone will think Clan Head Li Zhouluo favors Li Jiangxia...*