Cui Jueyin acknowledged him, only to see Li Jiangqian shake his head and say, "With Ziyan Gate's artisans moving off to the East Sea, their crafting speed gets worse by the day. But since the Real Person has not yet returned, dragging it out is fine too. The clan is stable nowadays, so none of this amounts to much of a crisis. Protector Cui, you are often over at the East Bank—do you know how things stand with Jiangxia?"
Li Jiangqian pointed toward several letters on the desk. Judging by their stationery and format, nine out of ten had been sent by Li Jiangxia. He frowned. "For several months in a row, the families of the East Bank and the tributary wildlands have suddenly fallen silent. The disciples coming to Milin have dropped sharply. This was supposed to be the triennial mountain enrollment, yet hardly anyone showed up... This is no trivial matter."
There were one hundred and eighteen families along the East Bank, and the tributary territories extended out into the Wilderness. Over the years, Li Jiangxia had nibbled away like ants and silkworms. Although they had suffered a blow from Duxian once, their foundation had not been shaken. Even though it was still called the East Bank, the area could no longer be summarized by that name alone. If the entire Wilderness were divided into five parts, the two western parts were under the Li family's remote control.
These areas were vital production grounds for spiritual materials. Now that the clan needed to forge the Purple Gen Broad Valley Mountain-Piercing Black Spike, they were even more critical, giving him no choice but to pay close attention.
Cui Jueyin nodded and replied, "I have already received word... and the reasons behind it have been thoroughly investigated... In recent years, the Muquan Gate in Shanji Commandery to the east has steadily gained a firm footing. Their cultivators are recruiting disciples on a massive scale. By all appearances, this bunch of demonic cultivators aims to follow the example of Chengyun Gate. With Ziyan Gate backing them from the shadows, they are looking to transition into an orthodox sect..."
"They are truly short of low-level cultivators, so they have lowered their standards. Their main criteria are a clean background, preferably cultivators native to Jiangnan... As for Shanji Commandery itself, its northern side is blocked by Xuanmiao Temple, and its flanks are also dominated by Taiyang lineages, leaving only the Wilderness with an abundance of cultivators... Yet the Wilderness is full of itinerant cultivators of wildly uneven quality, their inheritances scattered and disordered. Even with Muquan Gate lowering its threshold, few can meet it.
"On the other hand, just past the Wilderness lies the East Bank. As it happens, over these past years, the East Bank families have been grooming their young disciples according to season in anticipation of Milin's enrollment, paying careful attention to consolidating their cultivation and laying solid foundations rather than rushing forward. But when Muquan Gate opened its gates wide, they all went east to try their luck."
Beyond the East Bank lay the tributary lands, so the families there mainly paid tribute through mining and planting. Unlike the various prefectures across the lake, which were squarely within the Li family's domain, there was no need to negotiate back and forth as with the Ding and Mu families. Having heard this, Li Jiangqian did not appear anxious, nodding instead. "Indeed. Our family has retainers in abundance, our rules are strict, there is little pleasure to be had, and their future prospects are far inferior to entering Muquan Gate. How could serving us compare to the comfort of being a disciple of a Violet Palace sect?"
Cui Jueyin bowed and said, "The Family Head is right... Still, the Xuanmu Dao lineage is only using them to pad their ranks. Becoming an outer disciple upon entering the sect means insufficient cultivation time and meager resources; they might not find it so pleasant..."
"None of that matters... Everyone has their own ambitions, and it isn't as though we lack a cohort or two of men."
Li Jiangqian raised his eyes, glaring grimly at the scroll laid across the desk as he answered, "What I fear is that as they enter the Xuanmu Dao lineage one after another, today they'll want to bring this relative over, and tomorrow they'll want to bring that one over. If all hundred-plus families are relocated to replenish the east, what becomes of our west?"
Cui Jueyin nodded hesitantly and said softly, "The Third Young Master has cultivated and built up strength there for many years. It might be better to consolidate the East Bank and Wilderness region and establish prefectures and peaks... But I fear that would make all hundred-plus families feel endangered... It would not be an easy undertaking."
The young man in crimson robes shook his head and replied, "Prefectures and peaks cannot be expanded lightly, much less can we swallow more than a hundred families in a single bite. This concerns our family's reputation. Besides, these East Bank families serve to give the families on the islets a lower layer of cultivators to look down upon, fostering solidarity through a sense of superiority...
"Furthermore, these families are remnants dating back a century to the Jiang and Yu eras. Setting aside the declining Yu family that couldn't make a move, why didn't the Jiang family take action back then? Why didn't the Xiao family? Qingchi's rule forbidding sects and clans from expanding across states and commanderies did not come out of nowhere; it originated from the even older Yuehua Origin Mansion. Under the Origin Mansion's rule, only a paramount sect could expand across states and commanderies; even Ziyan Gate keeps within its demarcated territory.
"Secondly, this avoids bordering directly upon other Violet Palace factions... Our family has Milin to manage the families, and the Xiao family has Mount Yu... It is the same for both."
Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment, looked at the territorial map, and asked, "The Wilderness also borders the Xiao family. It is currently near Mount Yu, and surely many have gone there to cultivate as well. If the Xiao family of Lixia has made no response... this will be tricky."
He raised his head and asked, "Do all those families currently have people stationed in Milin? Revoke their positions at once. Anyone who went to Muquan Gate and failed to gain admission shall not be accepted into Milin either. I will also send someone east to make inquiries. That fellow Dai Jinquan of the Xuanmu Dao lineage seems easy enough to talk to; we will ask him first before deciding."
Li Jiangqian waved his hand to dismiss Cui Jueyin. Finally, he saw a man step up from below the hall. Di Liguang had gone to the South Sea with Li Zhouluo; the one coming up now was a member of the Dou family, who bowed and said, "Reporting to the Family Head, Retainer Miaoshui has returned."
Li Jiangqian showed deep concern and immediately raised his brows. "Alone? Or did he bring Retainer Wang?"
The man answered, "Three people returned together. They have already reached the side courtyard, and word is they are gravely injured."
Li Jiangqian immediately frowned and went down. He happened upon the three of them walking forward. Miaoshui's aura was steady, though his clothes were somewhat disheveled. He bowed first. Wang Quwan followed behind with a sword at his waist, his face pale.
The remaining one was an unfamiliar face, dripping with cold sweat, blood staining his garments. Metallic astral qi had invaded his body, chilling his limbs purple, and he bowed stiffly.
Li Jiangqian laughed heartily, stepped down from the dais, took Wang Quwan's hand, and smiled. "Quwan is truly a heaven-sent talent; you really have returned safe and sound!"
He then turned to the unfamiliar face and asked with curiosity, "And this gentleman is..."
When Li Jiangqian inquired further, Wang Quwan cupped his hands and replied, "This is Daoist Shouding of Mount Jingyi. He joined your subordinate in resisting enemies within the underground palace and was injured in the end, escaping that perilous place together with me. Considering that the journey back to the East Sea is vast and must pass through the territory of Chunyi Dao, where he might be ambushed, I invited him to rest upon the lake."
'Mount Jingyi!'
Hearing this, Li Jiangqian immediately sized him up. This Daoist Shouding looked like a young man with narrow eyes and rather unimposing features. Perhaps suffering from the backlash of some spell, his hair and beard appeared somewhat withered, and having been wounded by a spell akin to metallic astral qi, he could not even speak.
Back during the Xuanyue incident, Changxi had gifted Yuezhou Island to Mount Jingyi, making them what should have been an ally of the Xuanyue faction. Yet from start to finish, Mount Jingyi had never sent a single person or provided a single scrap of resources, leaving the Kong family to struggle alone in Jiangnan. This had indirectly led to Li Ximing being cornered completely. To put it bluntly, Sumian had at least spoken up; Real Person Xuanyi had not even opened his mouth—not letting out so much as a squeak.
The Xuanyue direct line bore deep resentment over this matter. While Xuanmiao Temple suffered no loss, Sumian was likewise deeply dissatisfied with Xuanyi. Having suffered considerably themselves, the Li family also had nothing good to say about Mount Jingyi.
Yet Mount Jingyi lacked connections in Jiangnan, and having run into Wang Quwan, he had now ended up seeking refuge with the Li family. Only someone of Li Jiangqian's deep shrewdness could smile warmly and say with utmost courtesy, "So you are an esteemed guest from Immortal Mount Jingyi! It is only right that we host you. Please rest and recuperate in our cave dwelling... If you require any resources, do not hesitate to ask."
Daoist Shouding's face was purple and his lips trembled. He barely managed an acknowledging sound before coughing up another mouthful of blood, utterly unable to voice pleasantries. Li Jiangqian bade Wang Quwan sit in the hall and had Miaoshui lead Shouding down. Only then did he return, an idea forming in his mind:
'I wonder if this fellow keeps his mouth tight. Since he is from Mount Jingyi, it would be best to sound him out and inquire a bit... probe around to find out what ties Changxi and Xuanyi actually share.'
He smiled and said, "Congratulations... How were things inside the underground palace?"
As he spoke, his gaze lingered meaningfully on Wang Quwan.
Judging from Wang Quwan's behavior just now, he must have interacted plenty with that Daoist Shouding within the underground palace. As a disciple of Jingyi, Shouding likely understood the secrets of the Mifan Dao lineage.
That raised the question: had Wang Quwan already gathered some information?
Hearing this inquiry, Wang Quwan hurriedly bowed and retrieved a large box from his sleeve. Opening it before Li Jiangqian, inside lay a red bead chain and an earthen-yellow long shield—precisely the borrowed Red Murky Jade Treasure and Hundred Stone Spiritual Shield.
He said, "Reporting to the Family Head, there are further mysteries hidden within that underground palace. Reaching the deepest part, one enters an earth vein, and plunging deeper into it reveals a pool of He Water containing an entire world within...
"Entering that pool of water, there is a palace bearing the inscription 'Great Secret Doufan'. The long plaques on either side have been stolen away. The moment one passes this palace, water, fire, and lightning rain down at once. We flew and darted through them... for a whole year.
"At first, the water, fire, and thunder were not overly powerful, but the water was He Water and the fire was Combined Fire, burning ever more intensely. Coupled with lightning striking down to shatter spells, it was fortunate that I had the two magical artifacts bestowed by the family—especially the Red Murky Jade Treasure for protection—along with 'Drifting Cloud Body' augmenting myself, that I managed to cross."
Li Jiangqian immediately sensed something was off:
'Could it be a grotto-heaven? But what grotto-heaven keeps Foundation Establishment cultivators flying for a year or a half yet trapped in the same place? How could such a thing be so immense?'
Yet Wang Quwan continued, "Only after passing through that water, fire, and thunder could one see a stretch of stone bridge. According to fellow Daoist Shouding, this bridge was forged from 'Wu Earth' spiritual materials, and an array spanned the entire bridge to suppress spiritual sense. I fumbled my way halfway across until I encountered a stone stele bearing the three characters 'Developing Metal Ordinance'. The heavens then bestowed a box of water. Once I received it, there was no road left ahead, and I had no choice but to turn back.
"When I returned and met Shouding, he said that the 'Developing Metal Ordinance' required Metal-virtue spells to break through. Not having learned any, I made my way back, but the way out had changed. A crowd inside seemed to be fighting over something, so I found a place to hide. After a year or so, seizing the chance when the crowd surged in one direction, I slipped out secretly.
"Yet the moment we exited the pool of He Water, a band of demonic cultivators ambushed us from the side. Fortunately, our magical artifacts proved capable... Daoist Shouding took the brunt of the hardship, however. Seeing his high cultivation, those demonic cultivators assumed all the treasures were on the leader's person and battered him relentlessly... forcing him to exhaust all the talismans bestowed by his master."
Li Jiangqian listened in silence before asking, "This Shouding of Mount Jingyi... how did you end up together?"
Wang Quwan answered concisely, "He was gravely injured, but he knew the way out. Shouding guided your subordinate out, and your subordinate protected him along the way."
Curiosity stirred in Li Jiangqian's heart:
'Xuanyi understands Mifan so well? It seems that if we want to obtain that precious sword, Mount Jingyi may be an aid we can rely on...'
Having said this, Wang Quwan bowed slightly, took out a box from his storage bag, and opened it before Li Jiangqian, revealing the light, translucent spiritual water inside as he reported, "Your subordinate does not recognize this spiritual material, but fortunately I managed to bring it back for the family."
Li Jiangqian immediately frowned and said, "It is an opportunity you obtained yourself; what kind of nonsense is that?"
Taking a look, he recognized it at once and said, "This is Clear Origin Spiritual Water, which can be used to cultivate ocular arts. Keep it safe. It is exactly one portion and will be of great use!"
Before Wang Quwan could reply, Li Jiangqian waved his hand and added, "Anything obtained from a Daoist repository belongs entirely to you."
Wang Quwan hesitated for a moment, then finally put it away for the time being, bowed gracefully, and said in a low voice, "Reporting to the Family Head... your subordinate noticed something peculiar... Having fought many people in the underground palace, as I delved deeper into the earth vein, the cultivators I encountered grew more formidable, yet their immortal foundations grew increasingly monotonous—seemingly limited to just a few types. I asked fellow Daoist Shouding in private, and he claimed that those entering the underground palace are grouped together by similar lineages..."
Li Jiangqian remained noncommittal, unsure whether Wang Quwan spoke the truth or a falsehood. Stroking the jade cup in his hand, he seemed to reach a decision and finally spoke:
"As expected..."
Wang Quwan looked puzzled at his words. Li Jiangqian shook his head and said, "This matter concerns the Violet Palace realm. I have some speculations... which you might find worth hearing, Quwan."
Wang Quwan bowed at once, having clearly harbored doubts for a long time. Li Jiangqian said solemnly, "If my guess is correct, this underground palace was built by Chengyun Gate, and the demonic cultivators outside the pool are Chengyun Gate's men as well. Their sect discovered a certain Dao lineage underground that requires specific immortal foundations to enter... So they distributed tokens far and wide to those possessing such foundations... letting them enter the cave dwelling on their behalf, only to strike and slaughter them when they are off guard..."
His expression turned dark as he explained, "Years ago, when Fuyun Cave fell, its cultivation methods and resources were sent over by the other two caves. The method you cultivate was sent by Fanyun Cave, which was backed by Chengyun Gate... It seems they originally intended to give it to a disciple of our family, baiting them to the pool of He Water to be killed... That place most likely cannot even be deduced by divine abilities. Fortunately, Quwan, you were cautious and did not vie with them for treasures... and the Real Person bestowed a pill allowing you to establish your foundation, which enabled you to escape unscathed."
Wang Quwan was momentarily taken aback. Li Jiangqian shook his head and smiled. "Still, the Real Person's foresight far exceeds what you and I can fathom. Perhaps he saw through Chengyun Gate's schemes long ago, and holding you in high regard, deliberately bestowed the pill for you to make a breakthrough at the critical hour, leaving them empty-handed... Chengyun Gate's petty plot instead became your fortune..."
Li Jiangqian inverted the sequence of events and casually invoked Li Ximing's name with magnanimous ease, glossing over their earlier oversight in failing to warn him. Shock gradually dawned on Wang Quwan's face. Thinking through the whole sequence, he let out a long breath.
Li Xuanxuan had bestowed magical artifacts out of genuine concern, truly wanting to protect his life; neither Li Jiangqian nor Li Zhouluo had ever laid a claim to his gains, demonstrating their unambiguous attitude. Wang Quwan bowed and murmured, "I only regret that my cultivation is shallow, and I was unable to fight with all my might to contest for more, squandering the fortune given by the Real Person in vain..."
"That is of no consequence," Li Jiangqian replied with a slight smile. "By your account, that place is by no means something a few Foundation Establishment cultivators could thoroughly explore in a single excursion. Go find Sun Bai to tend to your injuries first. I will write a letter to inquire with the Master of the Jiutian Pavilion; there will surely be insights to gain."
Chapter 811